A wheat silo was erected on railway land adjacent to the Sunbury Station in 1967. Frank Millett handled the operations. As bulk handling was the preferred way to transport wheat, the silo gave local cereal growers to deliver their grain to the railhead. Over the years of the operation 200 grain wagons delivered wheat annually to the silo. In 1984 the silo was dismantled and removed.Cereal growing was one of the agricultural activities carried out in the Sunbury and surrounding areas for many years.A non-digital coloured photograph of a metal wheat silo being dismantled. A crane is beside the silo and two men are suspended from the crane in a basket to ensure that the sheets of iron land safely on the truck. wheat storage, silos, frank millett, cereal crops, sunbury railway station

The photograph was taken in The Nook. Terence O'Brien rented the land from Goonawarra from the 1890s to 1905 where he grew cereal crops. The terraces on the hillside were built to grow vines when the property was one of the first vineyards in the area. The men in the image are from L-R: Mr. Heath in the white cutter owned the chaff cutter, John Leyden with hand on fence, Michael Dillon, Terence O'Brien and Phil Ratile are on top of the haystack, Andy Burke standing with hand on hip.The growing and harvesting of cereal crops was an important agricultural industry in the early days of Sunbury's settlement by both the Indigenous People and Europeans.A non-digital photograph black and white photograph of eleven men gathering hay with the aid of a steam traction engine in a wide open valley. A hillside in the distance has been terraced and there is a house on the hill in the distance.the nook, terence o'brien, andy burke, mr. heath, michael dillon, philratile, goonawarra, vineyards

This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century. The Regent Parrot has two separate populations separated by the Nullarbor Plain: one in the Mallee regions of eastern Australia, and the other in the Wheatbelt region of southern Western Australia. Though the populations are widely separated, the birds of each region do not appear especially different, one being a little duller than the other. There are, however, other differences between the two populations, especially in how they have fared: eastern populations are endangered, while the western population is thought to be increasing. The Regent Parrot eats seeds of grasses and plants and cereal crops, especially wheat. It also eats buds and flowers, insect larvae, psyllids and lerps. It forages in pairs or small parties, usually on the ground, but also in the canopy of trees or in spilled grain on the ground. The Regent parrot is endangered in NSW and Vulnerable in VIC This Particular specimen has been mounted correctly.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.A slim parrot with a long, dusky tapering tail and back-swept wings. It is mostly yellow, with blue-black wings and tail. There is a prominent yellow shoulder patch and red patches in the wings. The bill is deep pink. It is mounted on a thin wooden branch that is attached to a wooden mount with the scientific name located Label: T.L. 430MM / W.S. 540MM / WT. 200GMS / SEX [female symbol] Mount: Polytelis / Anthopeplus / Regent Parrot taxidermy mount, regent parrot, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, bird, parrot

Feed for sheep farming is crucially important. Whether growing a sheep for breeding, wool or meat, it is vital to ensure that all sheep at whatever stage of life are maintaining or growing in weight. Sheep are often pictured grazing in paddocks; however, the grass available in a paddock is often not enough to maintain a sheep’s weight. In addition, if a sheep eats grass too low in a paddock then corrosion can affect the soil preventing any grass from growing in this location. For these reasons, supplementary feed is introduced to sheep’s diets. In most occasions’ food high in protein such as Lupins is sought. In times such as drought or to makeup a sheep’s roughage; feed such as silage, hay and straw may be required in the feeding of sheep. This is where the sickle is introduced to sheep farming. Although modern-day machines are used to harvest cereals, in times past the sickle was used for harvesting these crops. Once harvested, these crops can be fed to sheep freshly cut or dried. This sickle has been on display for 30 years at the National Wool Museum. It was at the entrance to Gallery One in the “A New Europe” wood hut display case. It was taken off display in 2021 with the “On the Land” redevelopment of this gallery space.Curved Metal serrated blade extending from carved dark wooden handletools of the trade, sheep feed, sheep farming