Located in the Royal Arcade at 496 George Street, Sydney, the Falk Studios was one of Australia’s premier photographic portrait studios. Founded in 1886 by H. Walter Barnett (1862-1934), patrons included leading stage personalities, artists and writers, as well as prominent statesmen and politicians. In 1895 he established a branch in Melbourne at 94 Elizabeth Street which was managed by his siblings Phoebe and Charles. Two years later he opened a studio in London, which he operated in his own name, his expanded client list including society figures and royalty. This location of the studio this photograph was taken in is unknown although the Melbourne studio is described as being 'soft carpeted'. Cr McGowan served as Mayor in 1885 - 86 and again in 1899 - 1900. Group studio portrait of nine Bendigo Council Councillors, the Town Clerk, John Quick and six women. Photograph is mounted on card with the gold edging. Name of photographic studio is printed on the reverse. From left to right seated; unknown (male), unknown (female), unknown (female), Mayoress McGowan, Cr McGowan (Mayor), Catherine Quick, unknown (female), unknown (female). Left to right standing; unknown (male), John Quick, Cr J.H. Abbott, unknown (male), Cr J.P. Carolin, unknown (male), unknown (male), Cr Marks, Town Clerk William Honeybone.Front; The 'Flak' Studios / 496 / George Street / Sydney Verso; Falk / 496 George St / Sydney / Photographer / By / Appointment / to His Excellency / the Governorcity of bendigo, mayoress mcgowan, cr mcgowan, cr j.h. abbott, cr j.p. carolin, john quick, cr marks, town clerk william honeybone.

mayoral links City of Greater BendigoMichele Matthews collection - Advertiser Saturday 3 July 1993 - A Century of the Mayoral Chain, City of Greater Bendigo In 1893 Mayor Cr J.H. Abbott conceived the idea of a mayoral chain, a hundred years past. There are 18 links in the chain with the name and date of office. The chain now weighs 1.2 kg.mayoral names and dates of office

This album records the counting of votes for the Member of the Legislative Assembly for the Electoral District of Brighton at the Brighton Town Hall on 28 April 1928. The byelection took place to fill the seat caused by the death of Mr. Snowball. The candidates were Henry Armitage Abbott, William Fyfe Finlayson, Henry Earnest Hall, Martin Hannah, Daniel James Hoban, Alured Kelly, Ian MacFarlan, James Morrison Ramsay, Thomas Ryan. Due to there being no absolute majority, the counting of preferential votes to eliminate defeated candidates took place. Ian MacFarlan was elected as Member for the district. byelection, election, district of brighton, legislative assembly, henry armitage abbott, william fyfe finlayson, henry earnest hall, martin hannah, daniel james hoban, alured kelly, ian macfarlan, james morrison ramsay, thomas ryan, j.a. taylor, j.a. grant, town clerk, brighton town hall

The Bendigo mayoral chain or chain of office was donated by George Lansell in 1893 and manufactured from local gold by F Prescott. The design of modern mayoral chains (also known as a livery collar) mimics the ancient gold collar of Esses worn by the Lord Mayor of London which was bequeathed to his successors by Sir John Aleyn (who died in 1545) and which has a large jewelled pendant added in 1607. Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livery_collarDesigned and manufactured by Mr. E. Prescott from 9ct Yellow Gold in 1893 and believed to be made from Bendigo gold, the Bendigo mayoral chain was conceived by Mr J.H. Abbott and created with financial assistance of Mr George Lansell the "Gold King" of Bendigo who contributed the central medallion. The 18 links which made up the original chain represented serving mayors to date and were gifted by ex mayors or their representatives. The main chain consists of 35 links of quatrefoil form with the name of each mayor and the years of their term engraved and filled with black enamel. Overtime, as the chain grew too long to wear, it was separated into two joining chains eventually consisting of another 34 link section, totaling 69 links spanning years 1862 - 1988. The monogram of each mayor in gold is placed in the centre of each link and the links are connected by filigree 9ct gold joining curbs, unique to this period. The engraved central 'drop' or medallion is an eight pointed form with the body being an irregular oval containing four projections and four recesses forming the eight points. The shield section depicts the Australian emblem in miniature above and larger central Bendigo Coat of Arms filled with coloured enamel. The reverse of the medallion bears Lansell's name and is inscribed with the following: / Bendigo gold field discovered in 1851/ proclaimed municipality of Sandhurst /1855 / and city 1871/ Named changed to City of Bendigo 1891, in honor of which event / Cr J. H. Abbott, M.L.C. / inaugurated the mayoral chain / and medallion was presented to the city council / by George Lansell, Esq / to whose implicit belief in the inexhaustible / nature of our gold resources and the idefatigable energy / in developing them Bendigo mainly owns its / present prosperity / June 1893 / W. Honeybone, Town Clerk /sandhurst, bendigo, mayor, mayoral chain, george lansell, prescott, abbott, blashki, council, 1893, city of greater bendigo ceremonial item