Photo taken in Hygeia Street, Port Melbourne.Sepia photograph of Gertrude Florence DOWNIE.Downie Familydownie family, hygeia street

Photo taken at 8 Hygeia Street, Port Melbourne.Sepia photograph of Thomas Keith DOWNIE Downie Familydownie family, hygeia street

Photo taken in Hygeia Street, Port Melbourne.Sepia photograph of Onaway Jean DOWNIE.Downie Familydownie family, hygeia street

The rug was made at Albion Mill in Geelong. It was owned by Mr Angus Peter and Ms Mary Anne Downie, the parents of Mary Virr (the donor). They lived in Cobden. Ms Downie's family had several connections to the Geelong wool industry, in particular the Albion Mill. See attached histories and family tree.W7214 W7214 reverse. Statement from Mary Virr on offer of donation Written family history by Mary Virr, page 1 Written family history by Mary Virr, page 2 Partial family tree of Mary Virr, including connections to the wool industry. Photocopy of marriage certificate dated 13th April 1881, marriage between James Downie and Mary Cairns, the grandparents of Mary Virr. A photocopy of a reference dated 15/09/1919 from Mr E. Plumridge from the Corio Wool Scouring Company for Miss M. DownieAlbion Mills Geelong Albion Rug All Wooltextile industry textile mills, albion woollen mills co. pty ltd, weaving, albion woollen mills, geelong, victoria, textile industry, textile mills

The rug was made at Albion Mills in Geelong. It was owned by Norman Downie, the uncle of Mary Virr (the donor) who inherited the rug after Mr Downie's death in the early 1990s. Mr Downie and his family had several connections to the wool industry in Geelong. He would send pieces of fabric out to Mrs Virr and her mother in Cobden every year. See attached history.W7215 Statement from Mary Virr on offer of donation Written family history by Mary Virr, page 1 Written family history by Mary Virr, page 2 Partial family tree of Mary Virr, including connections to the wool industry. Photocopy of marriage certificate dated 13th April 1881, marriage between James Downie and Mary Cairns, the grandparents of Mary Virr. A photocopy of a reference dated 15/09/1919 from Mr E. Plumridge from the Corio Wool Scouring Company for Miss M. DownieAlbion Mills Geelong Albion Rug All Wooltextile industry textile mills, albion woollen mills co. pty ltd, albion woollen mills, weaving, geelong, victoria, textile industry, textile mills

In July 1840, Glenfine, consisting of 31,440 acres, was acquired by Thomas Downie. In March 1842 the 'Right of Run' was taken up by Thomas Chirnside who with an imported stallion 'Delapre' ran a horse stud. He apparently lived here for ten years and employed a gardener with a wife and five children from Hobart, Tasmania. Only some blocks of stone and a few trees remain of their homestead. In 1853 the property was transferred to Dr. John Chirnside, an elder brother of Thomas. I, 1857, William Rose of Naringal purchased Glenfiine where he and his family lived until 1904 when it was bought by Richard Howell's estate. It was then 39,000 acres. The present house was built by the Rowes in 1872 of bluestone quarried on the property with a cement render overall. The architect was H.R. Casselli. In 1911 R.C. Howell, son of Richard, became the owner, followed by his son in 1960. Gold was found on the property and by 1898 the township of Hollybush was first reported, situated at either side of the front entrance, on the Cressy Road. The land for the township was given by William Rowe. By 1990 Hollybush had a population of 426 persons. All of the early history of Glenfine, documents etc., were destroyed when Naringal homestead was burnt down in 1944. Glenfine was classified by the National Trust in 1974 and is on the Heritage Commission Register. Mounted black and white image of a large group of men and boys in front of a weatherboard shearing shed. The men are each holding a pair of hand shears. One young man is kneeling on top of a wool bale. A small blue biro 'x' identifies W. Todd. Glenfine was a pastoral station. The original homestead still stands.shearing sheds, shearers, rural activity, william todd, glenfine pastoral station, thomas chirnside, thomas downie, richard howell