This document is a personal and nostalgic account by Max CS Beck, reflecting on his childhood and Bendigo's social history during the 1950s and 1960s. Beck's father, Reg, owned and ran The Crown Hotel, which became a central social hub in Bendigo after World War II. The hotel was known for its lively atmosphere, especially during the '6 o'clock swill' when patrons rushed to buy and consume drinks before the 6 pm closing time. Colorful anecdotes, such as the story of a severed finger prank involving a tobacco tin, illustrate the camaraderie and humor among patrons. Drinking was a standing-only affair, with heavy smoking and loud conversation common. The ritual of last drinks and the clearing of the bar at closing time were daily highlights. Sawdust was used on the bar floor to manage spills and, humorously, to recover lost coins and even a diamond ring. The influx of American soldiers during the war brought new customs and challenges to local pubs, including currency confusion and overcrowding. Beck's father previously ran the Canadian Hotel in Seymour, which was popular with American troops. Beck recounts his mischievous childhood, including borrowing his father's car underage and the influence of hotel patrons on his upbringing. The narrative touches on the loneliness of having parents who worked long hours and hints at family struggles, particularly related to alcohol. Beck expresses a sense of loss for the Bendigo of his youth, noting how much the city and its culture have changed.He emphasizes the importance of treasuring memories of the past without grieving for what is gone.Bendigo Advertiser "Life the bar" and "the day a severed finger was in a pub" Sat Aug 08 2022 3486.56a Max C S Beck in front of the Old Crown Hotel 3486.56b Colour Photo Beck's Hotel Hargeaves St Bendigo in about 1980 3486.56c Article from the Bendigo Advertiser "Life the bar" and "the day a severed finger was in a pub"bendigo, beck's crown hotel, max c s beck

This photograph is held in the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute Audio Visual Collection. Please contact BMI for all print and usage inquiries. Ballarat artist and educator Geoff Wallis took a series of photographs of Ballarat Milk Bars in the 1970s. This is one of his favourites. He notes: “My ‘local’ is not the pub that stands on a corner only 100 metres from my home but the milk bar that is across the road from the pub in Peel Street North. It is an extraordinary example of the milk bar fulfilling its time-honoured role of being every suburb or town’s Aladdin’s Cave. It is well worth a visit. I photographed this milk bar in 1979 when it was a much more conventional shop and then continued on taking photographs of all the milk bars I could locate around Ballarat. The photographs were to be the starting point for an artistic project but this didn’t eventuate. Though my motivation was primarily artistic I was also interested in milk bars as familiar and essential parts of daily life. Their accoutrements of Peters Ice Cream cones, newspaper headlines, and colourful signage made them distinctive features of the townscape. Milk bars had been part of my life from when I first was sent to ‘the shop’ as a little boy clutching a ration card. My parents bought a milk bar in Camberwell when I was nine and though I only lived there for a year, it is still vivid in my mind. Lollies, comics, ice cream, milkshakes -- all the treasures essential for a happy childhood -- awaited any child who pushed through the door. Though milk bars were once scattered throughout the city, competition from many sources is making them an endangered species.”ballarat, milk bar, shop, landsborough, herald, groceries

The story of Kaurna man Uncle Lewis O'Brien and his family, beginning with his great, great grandmother Kudnarto - the first Aboriginal woman to marry a white man in South Australia. Contents: 1: Padniadlu wadu: Let's walk together in harmony 2: Kudnarto of Skillogalee Creek 3: Who was Tom Adam senior? 4: Tom and Tim Adams of Poonindie 5: The Adams Family of Point Pearce mission 6: Treasured memories and lessons from the mission 7: My difficult childhood 8: Leaving school and doing an apprenticeship 9: Joining the Merchant Navy 10: Becoming a 'land-lover' and settling down 11: Reflections on working in schools and university 12: Sharing our space 13: Achievements and celebrations.colour photographs, maps, b&w photographskaurna, south australia, political activism

This 1995 photograph of the Jacana Primary School Choir stands as a poignant historical and emotional record of early childhood education at a now-closed institution. It captures the vibrant spirit, cultural richness, and nurturing ethos that once defined the school community. More than just a group portrait, it preserves the legacy of a place that helped shape young lives and foster a strong sense of local identity. As a snapshot of its time, it also offers a charming glimpse into the fashion and hairstyles of the era, making it a treasured artefact for former students, staff, and the wider community.This photograph of the students and staff of Jacana Primary School in 1995 holds enduring historical and emotional value as a visual record of early childhood education in a now closed institution. It captures a moment in time that reflects the community spirit, diversity and educational environment of Jacana during its operational years. As the school has since closed, the image swerves as a poignant reminder of the role Jacana Primary played in shaping young lives and fostering local identity. It is a valuable artefact for former students, staff and the broader community, preserving the legacy of a place that once stood as a cornerstone of learning and connection. The image is also a record of the fashion and hairstyles of the era. Colour photograph, mounted on white card with a black border and laminated.Front; Bottom right corner: Fotek © Back: Top left corner: PH - 4520 Across back in mirror writing: Please/ do /not/ remove / this photo / from this formjacana primary school, students, staff, education, choir, 1995

"My current practice explores and questions ideas about social, cultural and historical inherited gender stereotypes. The images used are sourced from toys, games, models and references to childhood from my own collection. One such toy is a model plane of the Enola Gay. This screenprint, sourced from the box, shows an image of young boy happily clutching his toy plane. The surface of the print is embossed with images of the nuclear weapon that was dropped on Hiroshima."Darren BRYANT ( 06/06/1971- ) Born Lismore, New South Wales Darren’s work explores the familiar landscapes of childhood, identity and the everyday. He received a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Printmaking) from the Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, in 1992 and a Bachelor of Visual Arts in Fine Art (Printmaking) from Griffith University, Brisbane, in 1993. This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 2000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.Framed limited edition print of a boy playing with a toy aeroplane. art, artwork, printmaking, toy, aeroplane, darren byant, print council of australia, available

Peter CLARKE (1969- ) Gunditjamara (Lake Condah) Born Heywood, Victoria At two months old Peter Clarke was removed from his parents and placed in a Catholic boy's orphanage in Ballarat. The orphanage was closed and Peter was moved to a public orphanage where he discovered 'manners were not a necessity and you often had to take before you were ever given in this orphanage. ... This new orphanage was not a home for me but a prison of sadness and despair.' Disconnected from his country and lore Peter Clarke chose "my own path to land, county and water". Although his childhood memories are dark and bleak, he uses vibrant colours. This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 1000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.Mallee Wood didgeridoo with vibrant colours. A natural wood imperfections have been used to emphasise what is recognisable as a frog. This work was purchased from the "My Art, My Life, My Colours' exhibition at the Federation University Post Office Gallery, May 2008.art, artwork, aboriginal, peter clarke, didgeridoo, stolen generation, st joseph's orphanage, sebastopol, my art, my life, my colours' exhibition, federation university post office gallery

Wesley PEMBERTHY (1920- ) Born Broken Hill, New South Wales Wesley Pemberthy spent his childhood in Adelaide, South Australia. As an adult he lived in Bendigo, Ballarat, Clunes, Creswick, Daylesford and Perth. While in Perth he studied at Perth Technical School (1933-1937), followed by studies under the tutorship of Norman Lindsay in New South Wales. This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 2000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.Framed landscape. Signed lower right "Pemberthy '93"art, artwork, pemberthy, wesley pemberthy, available, landscape

Hard cover book. Martin Hyde “The Dukes Messenger” Author: John Masefield Publisher: Wells Gardner Darton & Co Date: 1928 to 1949 Further Information: Blue Cloth hardcover with lettering and patterning to spine in black. Publisher Logo to front cover with title & authors name. The spine has a Library label with an inscription.fictionMartin Hyde, the Duke's Messenger is a historical novel set in the late 17th century, following a young boy named Martin Hyde as he moves from a carefree childhood in rural Suffolk into a web of intrigue in London. Orphaned young, Martin goes to live with his uncle in London, where he becomes tangled up in royal conspiracies and secret missions. After his father's death in 1685, the 12-year-old goes to live with his uncle and eventually becomes messenger for James Scott, Duke of Monmouth, as Monmouth tries to build support for his claim to the English throne after the death of Charles II. It's often compared to Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island or Kidnapped a boy's-own adventure that takes Martin overseas and eventually back to England to take part in the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685, with a rival working for the Crown whom he has to outwit. A reviewer also notes a small, restrained love-story thread Martin's messenger rival turns out to be a girl in disguise which nudges the book slightly outside the standard boys'-adventure genre of its era.warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, martin hyde the dukes messenger, john masefield, book, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, pattison collection, warrnambool library, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library

Hard cover book. The Midnight Folk Author: John Masefield Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd Date: 1930-1940 Further Information: Two-tone quarter binding dark green/black spine and quarter shelf-back with red cloth sides, with hand-lettered ink text on the spine "The Midnight Folk / Masefield"). The spine has a Library label with an inscription.fictionThe Midnight Folk (first published in 1927) is a celebrated fantasy novel for young readers written by John Masefield. The story centres on a young, lonely orphan named Kay Harker, who lives in a country house guarded by his stern governess. Kay learns that his great-grandfather, Captain Harker, lost a valuable treasure—the plunder of the Santa Barbara—that was entrusted to him. Kay sets out on a quest to locate the lost treasure. Guided by his cat, Nibbins, and an assortment of talking animals, witches, goblins, and nocturnal creatures (the titular 'Midnight Folk'), Kay journeys through magical, dream-like realms. The story seamlessly weaves together British folklore, nautical high adventure, piracy, and childhood wonder.warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, the midnight folk, john masefield, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, pattison collection, warrnambool library, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library