Lorna Chick was a local artist whose works depict farming and community landscapes, which reflected her main occupation of living and working on the family farm with her husband and two sons. Chick was a naïve artist who used the aerial viewpoint as a constant device in her landscapes. Her naïve art style allowed her to distort the common notion of landscape paintings being horizontal viewpoints, bringing a different understanding to her artwork.naïve artRural City of Wangaratta Collection, purchased with funds from the Wangaratta Art CouncilA rectangular aerial landscape oil painting of a farming community overlooked by eagles painted using vibrant coloursObverse: LORNA CHICK ©wangaratta art gallery, lorna chick, landscape, farming, eagles, north east victoria, painting

Relates to the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria in February 2009A4 certifcate on paperbushfire, recovery, agriculture, farming, rural community

This knife would have been a common implement used in the Orbost farming community. It dates from the pre-mechanised era when silage and hay had to be cut by hand to be fed out to stock.Associated with the farming industry of the Orbost district.A flat iron blade with large serrations on one side, two iron handles which would originally have been covered with wood.farming-implement hay-knife silage-knife

The Tawonga Store was a general store in the Upper Kiewa Valley providing for the farming community. This store had a variety of items and was the main store for many of the farming families who would travel in on horse and cart to make weekly trips to the store for supplies.George Potter owned the store before 1920. Whit Potter, George's son worked with his father for many years. See KVHS 0621 for early Ledgers, which give a comprehensive list of what type of items the residents of the Kiewa Valley purchased during this period.Rectangular sepia photo of Tawonga Store with Geo. Potter printed on its roof. Horse and cart and one early model car and one truck are parked out the front. The truck has a driver and passenger.tawonga store, george and whit potter

The Tawonga Store was a general store in the Upper Kiewa Valley providing for a farming community. This store which had a variety of items was the main store for many of the farming families who would travel on horse and cart to make weekly trips to the store for supplies. This ledger was used by the owner of Tawonga Store to keep a record of items sold and to whom. George Potter owned the Tawonga Store before 1920. Whit Potter, George's son, worked with his father for many years. Attached to this ledger is a sheaf of letters which were sent to the Potter's, which are relevant to the day to day operation of a General Store. The ledger gives a comprehensive list of what type of items the residents of the Kiewa Valley purchased during this period, thus has great historical significance. It is well provenanced and very good interpretive capacity. Green linen covered cardboard cover. Brown (leather look) paper spine. Inside cover is red and green marbled paper. It has an alphabetic index at front. 262 ledger pages, the edges of which have been marbled.Ledger - printed on a red square embossed in gold on a brown thick paper spinetawonga, general store, book-keeping, ledger, george potter, whit potter

Collection of records kept by the Secretary and Treasurer of the Warrnambool Young Farmers Club and handed in by a former memberRecords of a local club (four items)These records are kept in an A4 archival folder in our Collections section in our Archives RoomMinute books and financial records of local club (4 items)farming in the warrnambool districtfarming in the warrnambool district

This programme gives details of the 1966 Annual Show of the Warrnambool Agricultural Society. As in most country towns and cities in Australia, the annual agricultural show in Warrnambool is an important social and agricultural event, especially for the farming community. The Warrnambool Agricultural Society, originally called the Villiers and Heytesbury Agricultural Association, was established in 1854 with the first show held at Warrnambool in 1855 and continuing to the present day. This booklet is of interest as a souvenir of the Warrnambool Agricultural Society Annual Show from 50 years ago. It is of historical interest as it gives an insight into farming in the local Warrnambool area in the 1960s. This is a booklet of 60 pages. The cover has black printing and black and white photographs on the front cover and an advertisement on the back cover. The pages contain names of the Society’s office bearers, donors and details of the Show competitions and judging.

These scales came from the Nullawarre Post Office, Nullawarre being approximately 25 ks East of Warrnambool. It is a small centre for the local farming community and has some services including a store, school and hall. The Post Office has closed in more recent times and these scales are one of a number of items which came to the WDHS on its closure including a brass fire extinguisher and a 1969 telephone book. Charles Williams was a postmaster at one time and Vida Williams was post mistress. These scales are an interesting and common item with a strong connection to a local community area.These scales have a cast metal frame with a circular base and a circular vertical section which frames a brass measurement circular plate which is marked in increments up to 11 lbs and held in place with two screws. There is a rectangular metal plate at the top on which the item to be weighed would be placed. The item is quite heavy in weight.On the brass plate,: POSTAL PARCEL BALANCE SALTER'S. NO. 25 BRITISH MADE.11 LB x 1/2 OZ. Underneath this is the Salter logo.warrnambool, nullawarre post office, charles williams, vida williams

This certificate was presented at the East Gippsland Shire Council Australia Day celebrations on 26.1.2003. The veiling of McKillops bridge was a 'Year of the Outback' event. The event was organised by Orbost resident, Sr Helen Barnes RSJ. to show solidarity with rural people. The local community transformed the bridge into "a symbol of communal love and hope", when its sides were draped with hundreds of personal messages. McKillop's Bridge, located high in the Snowy Mountains, is named after George McKillop, a pioneering explorer of the area. The bridge is a vital link for isolated farming communities living beyond the Bonang highway. The Veiling of McKillops Bridge was a significant community event.A large framed certificate. An Australia Day Community Event certificate for January 2003. The frame is silver The certificate has white, green and blue print on a blue background.presented to "Veiling of McKillops Bridge on frame corner AMS by East Gippsland Shie Council signed by Cr P. Bommer (mayor)mckillops-bridge-veiling east-gippsland-shire-council-australia-day

This album was donated to the Orbost & District Historical Society after the death of Judy Walcott, a long-time member. The veiling of McKillops bridge was a 'Year of the Outback' event. The event was organised by Orbost resident, Sr Helen Barnes RSJ. to show solidarity with rural people. The local community transformed the bridge into "a symbol of communal love and hope", when its sides were draped with hundreds of personal messages. McKillop's Bridge, located high in the Snowy Mountains, is named after George McKillop, a pioneering explorer of the area. The bridge is a vital link for isolated farming communities living beyond the Bonang highway.This album is a useful reference tool.A large photo album with a bright yellow cover and 19 plastic sleeves. It contains photographs, newspaper clippings, brochures , maps and an invitation to the veiling of McKillops Bridge on 8th August 2002. It also contains the history of McKillops Bridge.On inside cover - left hand side - "To Marie with Best Wishes from Judy Walcott 8/8/2005"mckillops-bridge album

Kangaroo Ground's first school began in 1851 with 22 pupils from the district's ten families. It was a single room school located further south on the site, which also served as a Presbyterian church. The first teacher was Andrew Ross. The school building was used as a Post Office between 1854 and 1858 and during 1857 also served as a Court of Petty Sessions. With a growing farming community, a new building was warranted and the original Sate School No. 352 was closed and a new building, State School No. 2105 was oipened October 1, 1878. A residence for Head Teacher Henry Wallace School was erected in 1879 attached to the left of the school building. That residence is now home to the Andrew Ross Museum, which opened in 1993. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p35This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, kangaroo ground, andrew ross museum, eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground primary school no. 2105, kangaroo ground state school, state school no. 2105

Kangaroo Ground's first school began in 1851 with 22 pupils from the district's ten families. It was a single room school located further south on the site, which also served as a Presbyterian church. The first teacher was Andrew Ross. The school building was used as a Post Office between 1854 and 1858 and during 1857 also served as a Court of Petty Sessions. With a growing farming community, a new building was warranted and the original Sate School No. 352 was closed and a new building, State School No. 2105 was oipened October 1, 1878. A residence for Head Teacher Henry Wallace School was erected in 1879 attached to the left of the school building. That residence is now home to the Andrew Ross Museum, which opened in 1993. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p35This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, kangaroo ground, eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground primary school no. 2105, kangaroo ground state school, state school no. 2105

The site of the Post office was the south side of Eltham on the Yarra Glen road. 0.3 km SW of Ridge Rd., now freehold. The first Post Office-cum General Store at Christmas Hills was built by Thomas Young during the 1870s, when the district was a thriving farming community. Young operated postal services here from 1874 to 1909. Moreover, the two front rooms of this general store aslo served as the district's first school. When the store was demolished in the early 1900s, these school-rooms were moved to the residence next door (to the east) which took over the role of the Post Office store until the service finally closed in the early 1970s. The latter building is still in use today as a private residence". Christmas Hills Past & Present (Yarra Glen & District Historical Society, 2004)Roll of medium format 120 6x6 black and white negative film, 4 framesAgfa APX 100shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, sepp, christmas hills, post office

Teddy Meek lived in a rural community around the Streatham, Westmere, Mininera area. Farming in this community has been around for as long as people have been in the state of Victoria. The area is referred to as the Golden Plains as farming has always been rewarding in this area.This item demonstrates the changes in farming machinery over time in the area.A field with a tractor and havesting machine. Picture black and white rectangular shape."Meek" "Desma" A stamp Kodak Print No:18492agriculture, farming, streatham, westmere, mininera, farming machinery, farming equipment

No 1 Troop C Squadron 20th Light Horse Regiment drawn from the farming community of Tocumwal, personified the strength of citizen soldiering in rural Victorian and Southern NSW in the period following World War One and especially in the years immediately prior to the second World War. Building on the strength and enthusiasm of the Tocumwal Troop other Troops were raised at Finley, Berigan and Jerilderie. The Tocumwal Troop won the coveted Hutton Trophy in 1937 and 1938, defeating crack Troops from other States. The 20th Light Horse (Victorian Mounted Rifles) was raised in 1920 as part of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, Citizen Military Forces, with Headquarters at Seymour and depots along the Goulburn Valley from Mansfield to Tocumwal in southern NSW. In December 1941, 20th Light Horse (Victorian Mounted Rifles) converted from horse to mechanised, initially as 20th Motor Regiment. In 1943 the Regiment was deployed to Merauke, Dutch New Guinea. Upon its return in April 1945, the Regiment was redesignated 20th Pioneer Battalion. It was disbanded following the end of the war. 20th Light Horse was the only light horse regiment to serve overseas in WWII.This is one of a collection of photographs featuring a Light Horse regiment drawn from rural and regional Victoria in the period immediately prior to mobilisation for World War 2 (1939-1945).Black and white photograph of 17 men in Light Horse uniform posed in two ranks, being the winning Troop in the Hutton Trophy 1937 and 1938" No.1 Troop C Squadron, 20th Light Horse Regiment. Tocumwal Troop. Winner of the Hutton Trophy 1937 and 1938.Rear Row ( L to R ) Lance Corporal Tilbury, Trooper Wilton, Sergeant Clive Thorborn, Trooper Eric Huggard, Trooper Alan Bogie, Trooper Bill Adcock, Lance Corporal Alan Smibert, Trooper Eric Bourchier. Front Row ( L to R )Trooper Jim Smith, Trooper Alan Quick,Trooper Ian Parkes, Lieutenant Bob Fyffe, ( unknown ),Warrant Officer Victor Groutsch, Trooper Murray Scott, Lance Corporal Cyril Bourchier, Trooper Keith Johnson. Several members of the Troop were unable to be present when this photo was taken.They include Troopers L. Allen, W. Quick, N. Harris, C. Scott, W. Scott, I. Brodie, K. Farley and others. "hutton, trophy, tocumwal, 20th, light horse, militia

No 1 Troop C Squadron 20th Light Horse Regiment drawn from the farming community of Tocumwal, personified the strength of citizen soldiering in rural Victorian and Southern NSW in the period following World War One and especially in the years immediately prior to the second World War. Building on the strength and enthusiasm of the Tocumwal Troop other Troops were raised at Finley, Berigan and Jerilderie. The Tocumwal Troop won the coveted Hutton Trophy in 1937 and 1938, defeating crack Troops from other States. The 20th Light Horse (Victorian Mounted Rifles) was raised in 1920 as part of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, Citizen Military Forces, with Headquarters at Seymour and depots along the Goulburn Valley from Mansfield to Tocumwal in southern NSW. In December 1941, 20th Light Horse (Victorian Mounted Rifles) converted from horse to mechanised, initially as 20th Motor Regiment. In 1943 the Regiment was deployed to Merauke, Dutch New Guinea. Upon its return in April 1945, the Regiment was redesignated 20th Pioneer Battalion. It was disbanded following the end of the war. 20th Light Horse was the only light horse regiment to serve overseas in WWII.This is one of a collection of photographs featuring a Light Horse regiment drawn from rural and regional Victoria in the period immediately prior to mobilisation for World War 2 (1939-1945).Black and white photograph of single rank of 15 light horsemen with drawn sabres." Tocumwal Troop. No. 1 Troop ' C ' Squadron,20th Light Horse Regiment. Lieutenant H.G. Fyffe and Warrant Officer V.G. Groutsch on the right flank. 1937 or 1938 "tocumwal, 20lh, fyffe, warrant officer v.g. groutsch mm, uniform, horse, nulla

No 1 Troop C Squadron 20th Light Horse Regiment drawn from the farming community of Tocumwal, personified the strength of citizen soldiering in rural Victorian and Southern NSW in the period following World War One and especially in the years immediately prior to the second World War. Building on the strength and enthusiasm of the Tocumwal Troop other Troops were raised at Finley, Berigan and Jerilderie. The Tocumwal Troop won the coveted Hutton Trophy in 1937 and 1938, defeating crack Troops from other States. The 20th Light Horse (Victorian Mounted Rifles) was raised in 1920 as part of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, Citizen Military Forces, with Headquarters at Seymour and depots along the Goulburn Valley from Mansfield to Tocumwal in southern NSW. In December 1941, 20th Light Horse (Victorian Mounted Rifles) converted from horse to mechanised, initially as 20th Motor Regiment. In 1943 the Regiment was deployed to Merauke, Dutch New Guinea. Upon its return in April 1945, the Regiment was redesignated 20th Pioneer Battalion. It was disbanded following the end of the war. 20th Light Horse was the only light horse regiment to serve overseas in WWII.This is one of a collection of photographs featuring a Light Horse regiment drawn from rural and regional Victoria in the period immediately prior to mobilisation for World War 2 (1939-1945).Black and white photograph of 16 soldiers in line with two Officers standing in front. All are wearing Light Horse uniform. Part of a collection of 20th Light Horse photographs circa 1938."Tocumwal Troop ; Left : Lt. B. Fyffe. Right: WOII V. Groutsh Military Medallight horse, tocumwal, uniform, fyffe, v.g. groutsch, hutton trophy

This item was donated as a photograph of Louisa Morrison. Louisa (or Luisa) Rosanna Morrison nee Haag came from an early settler family in the farming community of Wandin. The woman photographed is in her old age. If this is indeed Louisa Morrison, the photograph would date from the early 1940s, since she died in 1946 at the age of 70. However the costume and the style of the photo suggest an earlier date, possibly the early 1900s. This could be Louisa's mother, Emma Martha Haynes, or mother-in-law Margaret (McNeil) Morrison. The woman is shown in a garden, probably because the family were farmers/orchardists. Louisa married Daniel McNeil Morrison, who was nine years her senior , in 1900. They had four children and farmed Morrisons' Orchard in Old Hereford Road, Mt Evelyn. The Morrison home was to become the important community house in Mt Evelyn, Morrison House. Morrison Reserve is part of their land, as was Yarra Hills Secondary College, Mt Evelyn Special Developmental School and the Reserve and Athletics facilities, including a tennis club. In 1981 the land title was changed to the Shire of Lillydale, who purchased the land and established the Morrison House Community House from 1976 (ie before they legally owned the land).This picture is of social significance as it is the only reputed picture of Louisa Morrison nee Haag.Brown round cornered frame with gold colour on inner frame. Painted plaster on frame chipped on top right. Coloured (painted) photograph of seated woman in upholstered chair with large brown cushion behind her. Garden setting. Black floor length dress, high necked, long sleeved. White cap on head. White cloth showing at neck.Bottom right hand corner, signature "F. RAPHAEL". Reverse: four inscriptions, one on each straight side, stamped in ink. Top: "MADE IN / AUSTRALIA". Right side: "THIS MOUNTING IS SPECIALLY DESIGNED AND / SELECTED WORKMANSHIP AND MATERIALS / GUARANTEED". Bottom: Table, 1 row, 2 columns. 1st cell: "STYLE / 1". 2ND CELL: "PRICE / 3 GNS". Left: box with 2 columns, 1 row. Left most column is divided horizontally into two, as is the 2nd column, but at a lower level. This creates four cells. Top left: "STYLE 1". Bottom left "PRICE 2 GNS". Top right: "TO BE SOLD AT PRICE MARKED OPPOSITE ONLY ON CONDITION THAT SAME IS MOUNTED ON ONE OF OUR SAMPLE STUDIES". Bottom left: "EMPIRE ART COMPANY LIMITED".louisa, morrison, haag, morrison house, farming, orchard, mt evelyn, photograph, wandin

Sergeant JP Smith was a member of No 1 Troop C Squadron 20th Light Horse Regiment drawn from the farming community of Tocumwal, personifying the strength of citizen soldiering in rural Victorian and Southern NSW in the period following World War One and especially in the years immediately prior to the second World War. Building on the strength and enthusiasm of the Tocumwal Troop other Troops were raised at Finley, Berigan and Jerilderie. The Tocumwal Troop won the coveted Hutton Trophy in 1937 and 1938, defeating crack Troops from other States. The 20th Light Horse (Victorian Mounted Rifles) was raised in 1920 as part of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, Citizen Military Forces, with Headquarters at Seymour and depots along the Goulburn Valley from Mansfield to Tocumwal in southern NSW. In December 1941, 20th Light Horse (Victorian Mounted Rifles) converted from horse to mechanised, initially as 20th Motor Regiment. In 1943 the Regiment was deployed to Merauke, Dutch New Guinea. Upon its return in April 1945, the Regiment was redesignated 20th Pioneer Battalion. It was disbanded following the end of the war. 20th Light Horse was the only light horse regiment to serve overseas in WWII.This is one of a collection of photographs featuring a Light Horse regiment drawn from rural and regional Victoria in the period immediately prior to mobilisation for World War 2 (1939-1945).Black and white photograph of Light Horse soldier on horseback. Part of a collection of 20th Light Horse photographs circa 1939.Sgt. J.P. Smith Tocumwal Troop 20th LHRtocumwal, 20th, light horse, smith

"A piece of Scotland in the Australian bush is how author Mick Woiwod describes the "Village" of Kangaroo Ground. Settled in 1841 by a Scottish family, the Donaldsons, the town is the feature of Mrs Woiwod's latest book, "Kangaroo Ground - The Highland Taken" The book follows the history of Kangaroo Ground, from its beginnings as an exclusively Scottish farming community in the middle of nowhere to a town that became the centre of the Yarra Valley region... It took Mr Woiwod six months of intensive research and nine months to write the book on Kangaroo Ground. He spent much of his time searching archives, public records and newspaper files for detailed information on the characters who colour his book." -- Diamond Valley News November 16, 1994 This major history of Kangaroo Ground details the district’s story between 1841 and 1994, describing it as having been unique in the Yarra Valley in that its early settlers were all Scottish and its soils were more fertile than those of surrounding districts. Their soil gave them the sort of power that saw the then extensive Shire of Eltham governed from little Kangaroo Ground for a remarkable 69 years. The author describes the Kangaroo Ground landscape that these farmers worked in the early period as having been already significantly modified by Aboriginal fire-stick farming before their arrival. This publication is a significant title in the recording of the early history of the pioneers of the small area of Kangaroo Ground, VictoriaHardback Book, 312 pagesISBN 0646209000kangaroo ground, mick woiwod, pioneers, donaldson family, thomson family

The Hutton Trophy or Shield was awarded annually to the best Light Horse Troop in Australia. The trophy is now held at the Armoured Centre Puckapunyal. Inter-regimental competition was strong in the years between WWI and WWII. Annually, the best troop in the regiments of the 3rd (Vic), 4th (SA), 5th (WA) and 6th (Tas) Military Districts competed for the Hutton Trophy and the Lord Forster Cup. The 20th Light Horse (Victorian Mounted Rifles) was raised in 1920 as part of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, Citizen Military Forces, with Headquarters at Seymour and depots along the Goulburn Valley from Mansfield to Tocumwal in southern NSW. In December 1941, 20th Light Horse (Victorian Mounted Rifles) converted from horse to mechanised, initially as 20th Motor Regiment. In 1943 redesignated 20th Pioneer Battalion and deployed to Merauke, Dutch New Guinea. The regiment was disbanded at the end of the war, 1945. 20th Light Horse was the only light horse unit to serve overseas in WWII.No 1 Troop C Squadron 20th Light Horse Regiment drawn from the farming community of Tocumwal, personified the strength of citizen soldiering in rural Victorian and Southern NSW in the period following World War One and especially in the years immediately prior to the second World War. Building on the strength and enthusiasm of the Tocumwal Troop other Troops were raised at Finley, Berigan and Jerilderie. The Tocumwal Troop won the coveted Hutton Trophy in 1937 and 1938, defeating crack Troops from other States.Rare photograph of presentation of iconic RAAC trophy. Complements other items in the collection.Black and white photograph of two soldiers in Light Horse uniform with large trophy being Colonel G.A. Street MC presenting the Hutton Trophy to Sergeant H.G. Fyffe, troop leader of the Tocumwal Troop 20th Light Horse, winners of the 1937 competition. Sergeant Fyffe, later Captain Fyffe, 9th Division Cavalry Regiment served in North Africa and was awarded the Military Cross. hutton, light horse, fyffe, street, military, trophy

Stan and Mary Parker commenced the Plant Farm in Smythe Street Wodonga in February 1949. The nursery consisted of two blocks, on one of which their house was built. They started off with approximately £70 and a 1939 Singer mini-Ute. In the early days most customers came from the farming community. In late 1951 the Parkers purchased to a new site on the corner of High and Osburne Streets. Business went well and in 1957 they purchased the adjoining block. They later demolished the old house on the corner of High Street and Osburne Street, building a new home lower on the same block. As the nursery prospered Stan and Mary built a shop and showrooms with glassed-in portion for the indoor plants and a large shaded area for the display of shrubs. In 1978 they sold the nursery to Mr. & Mrs. John Gale. In 1981 the Wodonga Plant farm was purchased Geoff and Kay Pollard and they moved to its current location at the corner of Beechworth Road and Huon Creek Road. Initially they brought it as an investment but it soon got into their blood and chose to not only continue but expand the nursery and its offerings. This included a large showroom, a water shop which specialises in pool equipment, chemicals and water testing, a children's playground and an outdoor blind centre. Further expansions led to the addition of a Tuscan-style cafe on the site which has become a meeting place. The business was nominated the Yates Victorian Best Garden Centre in Australia for many years and won the award in 1997. In 2024, the Wodonga Plant Farm is still a vibrant and popular business being operated by the Pollard Family.These items are significant because they document the story of respected Wodonga Business which has served the community for over 60 years.A selection of photographs and article documenting the story of the Wodonga Plant Farmearly wodonga businesses, wodonga plant farm, pollard family, geoff and kay pollard

Fawcett Hall is 14 kilometres North West of Alexandra, North East Victoria, in Spring Creek Road and is set amongst a small picturesque rural farming and business community with hills as a backdrop and Stony Creek running alongside the public reserves property boundary. Part of our hall building dates back to its establishment in 1882. Originally the hall served as a Mechanics Institute and Public Library and later as a primary school.Colour photograph of a weatherboard Hall.fawcett hall and public library, fawcett, fawcett mechanics' institute

"In April 1969, the first major residential development in Melton began with the release of 148 homes for purchase. This was the first stage of a staggered release of a planned 30,000 homes for 100,000 people by 1990. The development, called Westmelton Satellite City, was described as ‘a preview of tomorrow’.101 It was the first estate built in a ‘modern’ style, with curved streets, and dozens of culs de sac. Westmelton was also the first major development in Victoria to build all the supply lines to the houses – including electricity and telephone lines – underground. The six different home designs in Westmelton were ‘specially designed for the future’, and with allotments ten feet wider than regulations required, there was plenty of ‘space for gracious living’ and for a family swimming pool. The developers of this new estate were active in promoting Westmelton as a new community within the Shire of Melton. By 1971, the Westmelton City News reported that Ian McIntosh, General Manager of Westmelton, had given away $100,000 on behalf of the company ‘to aid community projects’. This included a $72,000 donation towards building a community centre in Westmelton, and $25,000 for the shire’s Olympic-sized swimming pool. Ian McIntosh and his family moved to Melton and Ian said he was ‘very much aware of the needs of [the] Westmelton community’. By the end of 1971, Westmelton was home to 100 new families. The modern residences were obviously an appealing drawcard, but so was the country feel that characterised Melton. Mrs C. Allen, described as a ‘housewife’, said she and her husband chose to move to Westmelton because of ‘the quality homes ... and we both love the clean, fresh, natural environment that surrounds us’. Similarly, Mr W. Coxhead, insurance consultant, moved to Westmelton because of the ‘clean, fresh country air’. Accountant Mr B. Swanton echoed their sentiments, describing Westmelton as ‘far enough away from the industrial pollution carried over Melbourne suburbs by prevailing westerly winds’. The new development attracted an increasing number of young, professional couples and families, representing the beginning of a significant shift from the predominantly rural and farming community of the district’s past. The Westmelton development had four different ‘neighbourhoods’ designed to cater to a variety of different lifestyle needs. Westmelton was the first to be established, followed by Brookfield, which offered ‘superb land in a rustic setting’. Brookfield Acres offered ‘wide open spaces with lots of room for a pool and even a tennis court’ on huge one-acre blocks, while Westlake was an innovative development with ‘different sized homesites’ and ‘lakeside living’.Westmelton was the first of many residential developments that would come to play a huge role in shaping the shire in the decades to follow".A marketing brochure for the Westmelton Satellite City developmentlocal significant events, council

The Megalithic Passage Tombs of Newgrange, Knowth, Dowth, Fourknocks, Loughcrew and Tara are located in the present day County Meath in Ireland's Ancient East. The Boyne Valley Mounds at Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth were built around 3200BC making them older than Stonehenge in England and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Built by Neolithic farming communities about 5000 years ago, the passage tombs have clear astronomical alignments such as the Winter Solstice Sunrise at Newgrange and the Equinox Sunrise at Loughcrew. Judging from the splendour and magnificence of Newgrange and Knowth it is likely that these temples of the ancestors were places of astrological, spiritual, religious and ceremonial importance, much as present day cathedrals are places of worship where dignitaries may be laid to rest. There is a lively debate about whether these wonderful megalithic structures were built primarily as burial tombs, sacred temples or astronomical observatories. While passage tomb is the traditional description for Newgrange and similar structures, chambered cairn or passage mound are the descriptions favoured by those who consider the passage tomb description too narrow. The large stones surrounding and inside the Passage Tombs are decorated with Megalithic Art such as spirals, concentric circles, triangles, zigzags and images which have been interpreted as the sun, moon and the human face. Irish passage tombs tend to occur in clusters traditionally described as a Necropolis or cemetery. The Boyne cluster includes Newgrange, Knowth, Dowth and Townleyhall. The other great clusters in County Meath are on the hills around Loughcrew. The ancient Boyne Valley passage tomb mounds at Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth have been designated World Heritage Site status by UNESCO and attract 200,000 visitors per year. The sites and Visitor Centre are managed by the OPW (Office of Public Works). Newgrange is best known for the illumination of its passage and chamber by the winter solstice sun. The site is open to the public with controlled access to the passage and chamber. Tours of Newgrange start at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre located near the village of Donore, Co. Meath. Knowth has two passages and is surrounded by seventeen satellite cairns. The site is open to the public; however there is no public access to the interior passages and chambers. Tours of Knowth also start at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre. Dowth is the only one of the three large Brú na Bóinne Passage Tombs which is not accessible from the Visitor Centre situated on the south bank of the river. Visitors to Dowth must drive directly to the site on the north bank, a couple of miles from the Slane / Drogheda road. Fourknocks with its short passage leading into a wide pear shaped chamber is in similar style to Tombs in Portugal. Just inside the main chamber to the left of the entrance is one of the few representations of a human face from the Neolithic Period in ancient Ireland. Entrance to Fourknocks Megalithic Passage Tomb. Megalithic Art - Loughcrew, Co. Meath Loughcrew Cairns form the largest complex of Megalithic structures in Ireland. The Cairns contain symbolic engravings similar in style to Newgrange. Like other Passage Tombs in ancient Ireland, they have clear astrological alignments.Tara was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland in the first millennium A.D. however Tara is also the site of a Passage Tomb known as the Mound of the Hostages that was built about 2,500 B.C. knowth, newgrange, megalith, ireland, world heritage, neolithic