Henry Frensham was mentioned in the 1980 Select Legislative Assembly of the Colony of Victoria that was established to consider who first found gold in Bendigo. In his book "The Gold Rush That Never Ended", Geoffrey Blainey said Henry, Frencham a journalist in a red shirt and knee boots, using a nom-de-plume "Bendigo" announced the discovery of gold. He also claimed to have had a major role in the demonstration at Bendigo against the new three pound gold licence fee. In 1854 the Government charged the miners this fee and the miners started to rebel. Frisby & Mason Photography was located at 134 Bridge Road Richmond and was first listed there in 1887.Photographic head and shoulders portrait of a grey-haired man with a grey moustache wearing a dark grey coat and a white shirt with a black tie. Highlighted in a dark cream coloured oval on a light cream coloured background. It's signed Frisby & Mason.henry frencham, first gold discovery, frisby and mason, opalotype photography

PHOTOGRAPH OF MR. J BUCHANAN AND MR. A. MENZIES AT SITE OF FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY IN VICTORIA.MR. J. BUCHANAN & MR. A. MENZIES. TAKEN WHERE THE FIRST GOLD WAS DICOVERED IN VIC. NO. 3/local history, photography, photographs, monument

SEE ABOVECOLOURED PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN 2001 OF 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY IN VICTORIA. MOB OF SHEEP MOVING ALONG FRASER STREET UNDER WELCOME BANNER.local history, photography, photographs, events and celebrations

COLOURED PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN 2001 DURING 150TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS OF FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY IN VICTORIA. PHOTO TAKEN LOOKING SOUTH ALONG SERVICE STREET.local history, photography, photographs, events and celebrations

SEE ABOVECOLOURED PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN 2001 DURING CELEBRATION OF THE FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY IN VICTORIA. TWO VOLUNTEER FIREMEN DRAWING REEL AND CART ALONG FRASER STREET, CROWDS LINING THE STREET.local history, photography, photographs, events and celebrations

COLOURED PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN DURING 150TH CELEBRATION OF FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY IN VICTORIA, JULY 2001. LOOKING WEST ALONG FRASER STREET, WELCOME BANNER ACROSS FRASER STREET.local history, photography, photographs, events and celebrations

BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPH OF MONUMENT COMMEMORATING CLUNES' FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY IN VICTORIA IN JULY 1851. MONUMENT BUILT NEAR THE EXACT SPOT THE FIRST GOLD WAS DISCOVERED IN 1851 BY JAMES ESMOND.local history, photography, photographs, monument, gold

PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN ON SERVICE AND FRASER STREET INTERSECTION DURING 150TH CELEBRATION OF THE FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY IN VICTORIA, JULY 2001. PIPE BAND MARCHING ALONG SERVICE STREET, WITH HORSE-DRAWN FLOATSlocal history, photography, photographs, events and celebrations

GOLD MONUMENT ERECTED ON SITE OF FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY IN VICTORIA 1851BRICK MONUMENT, SURROUNDED BY MESH FENCE WITH WOODEN POSTS. GRASS GROWING AROUND MONUMENT, MULLOCK HEAPS IN BACKGROUND, HOME ON CAMP PARADE.GOLD MONUMENT CLUNESphotographs, mining civic momentoes, gold monument

MONUMENT BUILT AND ERECTED ON SITE OF FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY IN VICTORIA 1851. PORT PHILLIP MINE.BLACK AND WHITE POSTCARD OF THE BRICK MONUMENT ON SCENIC DRIVE, SURROUNDED BY WOOD AND WIRE MESH FENCE WITH CAMP PARADE AND MOUNT BECKWORTH IN BACKGROUND. PLAQUE ON CEMENT BASE OF BRICK PILLAR.MONUMENT AT CLUNES. GOLD WAS FIRST DISCOVERED HERE IN VICTORIA 1851.photography, monuments, memorials& mining

.1 BEIGE SOFT COVER BOOKLET WITH A DRAWING OF A MAN AND A WOMAN PUSHING A CART WITH THEIR BELONGINGS, A SIGN ON THE SIDE "GOLD MINES" ON THE BOTTOM "COME ON MISSUS GIVE 'ER A SHOVE" THE STORIES OF 102 PIONEERS 155 PAGES .2 SECOND COPY OF THE SAME PUBLICATION COVERED IN ADHESIVE CLEAR VINYL A PRINTED "WITH COMPLIMENTS SLIP" FROM HALONA SZTYNDA, ARCHIVIST, ST. PATRICKS COLLEGE BALLARAT, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA INCLUDED WITH THIS COPY.non-fictionTHE STORIES OF 102 PIONEERS IN THE CLUNES, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA DISTRICT early pioneers in and around clunes, may townsend

COLOURED PHOTOGRAPH - IAN HARRIS TAKING PHOTO OF PARADE MOVING ALONG SERVICE STREET DURING CELEBRATIONS OF 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY IN VICTORIA. PHOTO TAKEN JULY 2001. STREET CLEANER - LITTLE GEORGE - AND HELPER CLEANING ROAD AHEAD OF VINTAGE CARS.local history, photography, photographs, events and celebrations

City of Bendigo information, area, population, dwellings, property valuations, municipal revenue, gold yields. Historical information, first gold discovery, first church, Bendigo Hospital, first streets, railway opened, Coliban water supply opened, change of name from Sandhurst. 24 pages in a spring bound folder.bendigo, history, city history

Golden Point is a suburb of Ballarat, and was the site of the first Ballarat gold discovery in 1851. Black and white image showing the site of the earlies discovery of first rate mining importance to Australia. The gold occurs in gravel lying on Lower Palaeozoic slates.golden point, ballarat, gold, geology, gold discovery

Typed foolscap two sided document with information about the early history of the Bendigo Goldfield. Topics include the first gold discovery, how gullies were worked, quartz reefing, gold cakes, hand dollies and Chilian mills. Some brief statistics of the Bendigo goldfield include the total gold yield of 17,370,561 ounces plus 5,000,000 oz sold outside Bendigo. The greatest depth reached by any mine in the State, 4,593 feet below surface, or 3,700 feet below sea-level, was attained by the Victoria Quartz Company. About 100 shafts exceed a depth of 1,000 feet, of which 40 are between 2,000 and 3,000 feet deep, fifteen are between 3,000 and 4,000 feet and two are over 4,000 feet.bendigo, mining, mines department

This item is from the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art, and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. RALPH ERIC PATTISON Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 Pattison accepted a position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council. His huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower area of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine, and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave during 1942 to 1945 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. About Ion L Idriess Ion Llewellyn Idriess was born in Waverley, Sydney, New South Wales on 20th September 1889 and passed away on 6th June 1979 in Mona Vale, Sydney, New South Wales at the age 89. After Idriess finished school he worked in the assay office of Broken Hill Proprietary mine. Both Idriess and his mother had typhoid fever when Ion was about 15 years old and it caused his mother’s death. After spending time with his Grandmother in Sydney he found work on a paddle-steamer and had a relapse of the fever. He then went into the western district of New South Wales where he worked in many different itinerant jobs, including rabbit poisoner, boundary rider, drover, sandalwood harvester, shearer, dingo shooter and opal miner. While opal mining at Lightning Ridge he wrote short stories, about life on the opal fields, for the Bulletin using the name “Gouger”. Idriess then moved to North Queensland in search of gold, tin and sandalwood. He travelled over a great deal of the Cape York Peninsula spending a lot of this travel time with local indigenous people; thus began his lifelong interest in their customs. He then spent time on cattle stations in the Gulf of Carpentaria. In 1914 Idriess travelled to Townsville and enlisted in the 5th Light Horse as a trooper. He became a specialist in sniping and was a spotter for the noted sniper Billy Sing. He saw service in Palestine, Sinai and Turkey. Idriess was wounded at Beersheba and after fighting the Battle of Gaza he was invalided home in March 1918. After recovering from his wounds Idriess again travelled to Cape York Peninsula where he worked with pearlers and missionaries in the Torres Strait Islands. He then went gold mining in Papua New Guinea, buffalo shooting in the Northern Territory of Australia and then exploring in Central and Western Australia. LITERARY WORKS OF IDRIESS In 1928 Idriess settled in Sydney and published the first of his 47 books. In 1931 - “Lasseter’s Last Ride”, became his first best seller. In the years 1932 and 1940 he published three books in each year. “The Cattle King” (1936) and “Flynn of the Inland” (1932) have gone through reprinting forty to fifty times. His last book was published in 1969. Idriess’ books where in general non-fiction and were written in a colourful and immediate story style, taken from life experiences gained during his travels. Idriess was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his service to literature in 1968. The Pattison Collection, along with other items at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, was originally part of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s collection. The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Collection is primarily significant in its totality, rather than for the individual objects it contains. Its contents are highly representative of the development of Mechanics' Institute libraries across Australia, particularly Victoria. A diversity of publications and themes has been amassed, and these provide clues to our understanding of the nature of and changes in the reading habits of Victorians from the 1850s to the middle of the 20th century. The collection also highlights the Warrnambool community’s commitment to the Mechanics’ Institute, reading, literacy and learning in the regions, and proves that access to knowledge was not impeded by distance. These items help to provide a more complete picture of our community’s ideals and aspirations. The Warrnambool Mechanics Institute book collection has historical and social significance for its strong association with the Mechanics Institute movement and the important role it played in the intellectual, cultural and social development of people throughout the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. The collection of books is a rare example of an early lending library and its significance is enhanced by the survival of an original collection of many volumes. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s publication collection is of both local and state significance. About Ion L Idriess Ion Llewellyn Idriess was born in Waverley, Sydney, New South Wales on 20th September 1889 and passed away on 6th June 1979 in Mona Vale, Sydney, New South Wales at the age 89. After Idriess finished school he worked in the assay office of Broken Hill Proprietary mine. Both Idriess and his mother had typhoid fever when Ion was about 15 years old and it caused his mother’s death. After spending time with his Grandmother in Sydney he found work on a paddle-steamer and had a relapse of the fever. He then went into the western district of New South Wales where he worked in many different itinerant jobs, including rabbit poisoner, boundary rider, drover, sandalwood harvester, shearer, dingo shooter and opal miner. While opal mining at Lightning Ridge he wrote short stories, about life on the opal fields, for the Bulletin using the name “Gouger”. Idriess then moved to North Queensland in search of gold, tin and sandalwood. He travelled over a great deal of the Cape York Peninsula spending a lot of this travel time with local indigenous people; thus began his lifelong interest in their customs. He then spent time on cattle stations in the Gulf of Carpentaria. In 1914 Idriess travelled to Townsville and enlisted in the 5th Light Horse as a trooper. He became a specialist in sniping and was a spotter for the noted sniper Billy Sing. He saw service in Palestine, Sinai and Turkey. Idriess was wounded at Beersheba and after fighting the Battle of Gaza he was invalided home in March 1918. After recovering from his wounds Idriess again travelled to Cape York Peninsula where he worked with pearlers and missionaries in the Torres Strait Islands. He then went gold mining in Papua New Guinea, buffalo shooting in the Northern Territory of Australia and then exploring in Central and Western Australia. LITERARY WORKS OF IDRIESS In 1928 Idriess settled in Sydney and published the first of his 47 books. In 1931 - “Lasseter’s Last Ride”, became his first best seller. In the years 1932 and 1940 he published three books in each year. “The Cattle King” (1936) and “Flynn of the Inland” (1932) have gone through reprinting forty to fifty times. His last book was published in 1969. Idriess’ books where in general non-fiction and were written in a colourful and immediate story style, taken from life experiences gained during his travels. Idriess was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his service to literature in 1968. Lasseters Last Ride An Epic of Central Australian Gold Discovery First Published 1931 Author: Ion Idriess Publisher: John Murray Date: 1950Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 919.4 IDR Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Servicewarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, great ocean road, ion idriess, lasseters last ride

Clunes was the site of the first official discovery of gold in Victoria on 01 July 1851, the same day that the Victoria seperated from New South Wales. Remains of an arch structure on the site of the Port Phillip Mine at Clunes, Victoria.port phillip mine, clunes, mining

Early Days on Bendigo. Recollections of life on Bendigo by F. McKenzie Clarke. Excerpt from the Bendigo Advertiser under the title ,The First Discovery of Gold at Bendigo. Copy 5123b at Specimen Cottage.F McKenzie Clarkhistory, mining.

Early days on Bendigo Author F.McKenzie Clarke Edited by Frank Cusack. The recollections of life on early Bendigo first appeared in the pages of the Bendigo Advertiser under the title 'The first discovery of gold at Bendigo' published by Queensberry Hill Press 86 pages. Cream colour soft cover.F. McKenzie Clarkbendigo, history, early recollections, gold mines & mining-victoria-bendigo district

A pictorial history of the Australian goldrush. In 1851 Australia's gold rush had begun, and the focus of the world suddenly turned to the hills, gullies and creeks of New South Wales and Victoria as people from all over the world rushed to the diggings. Gold mining in Australia has a rich history that began in the early 19th century, leading to significant economic growth and population influx during the gold rushes of the 1850s. The first documented discovery of gold in Australia occurred in 1823 near Bathurst, New South Wales. However, it wasn't until 1851 that significant gold deposits were found at Ophir, which triggered the first major gold rush. The discovery of payable gold led to a massive influx of prospectors and miners from around the world, particularly during the Victorian Gold Rush. By the mid-1850s, Australia was producing nearly 40% of the world's gold. The gold rushes significantly increased Australia's population, with estimates suggesting that the population tripled from 1851 to 1860 due to the influx of miners and their families. Economic Contributions: Gold mining became a cornerstone of the Australian economy, contributing to export income and the development of infrastructure. The wealth generated from gold mining helped finance the young colonies and led to the establishment of new towns and services."Gold! Off to the Diggings" by Geoff Hocking. Published by New Chum Press in 2010. Hard cover book which is black fabric. Title and author's name in gold on spine. Dust jacket is multi-colored, with different gold mining scenes on front and back. Title written on gold and black on front cover and spine. Printed in Castlemaine, Australia. 320 pp. Glossy pages. Contains both text and black and white images. Has index. ISBN 9780957897236. gold, mining, miners

Diggers and miners. Diggers and Miners. All or the gold seekers at the first great rushes to Ballarat and Mount Alexander were diggers. During the succeeding years of the gold rush decade, many goldfields were discovered; each became the focus of a rush, and the scene of a diggings. The following maps show only the principal gold fields rushed between 1851 and 1961. (The dates do not necessarily indicate the first discovery of gold in the areas.) Markings: 10 994.5 WAL. Used as a teaching aid.haminounteducation, tertiary, goldfields

The first recorded discovery of gold in Moliagul was in September 1852 and, before long, the area was flooded with over 4,000 miners. Two of those miners, John Deason and Richard Oates, had arrived in Bendigo in 1954 seeking their fortune. After eight years of little success, the friends moved to Moliagul and pegged a puddling claim. On 05 February 1869, Deason discovered a nugget near the roots of a tree, just 3cm beneath the soil. With the help of Oates, he uncovered the largest recorded alluvial gold nugget – known as the Welcome Stranger. The 61cm x 31cm nugget was taken to Dunolly to be measured on the bank’s scales, however at 69kg the gold needed to be broken on an anvil to actually fit on the scales.Photograph of the monument for the Welcome Nugget, a large gold nugget found by John Deason and Richard Oates at Moliagul.Obelisk inscription Welcome Stranger Nugget On this spot the largest nugget of gold in the world was discovered on the 5th February 1869 by John Deason and Richard Oates. Weight 2316 oz, Value £9553 Erected by the Mines Department 1897 Henry Foster Minister of Mines, D. J. Duggan M.L.A. Member for Dunollywelcome nugget, welcome nugget monument, john deason, richard oates

Bennie Simcox first came to the Monbulk area about 1860, following the first important gold discovery at the end of 1858. As the gold rush was short lived Simcox returned to Collingwood but later came back to Monbulk, built himself a hut to live in and become its first known permanent resident. The hut was burnt in the 1913 fires. Monbulk was thrown open to selection in 1894, and that's when the first farmers including Bennie Simcox went into Monbulk. It was a big, timbered country in those days. Once Ben had cleared some of his land he started to grow raspberries on it. He would be up before daylight ready to start picking. Ben also picked for a local family, the Camms to help make ends meet. When Ben Simcox was virtually at the retired stage, he wanted to develop his bit of the gully as a tourist attraction, As his nephew Fred Gay who owned the 10 acres below Ben wanted to farm, he was happy to swap his treed block with Ben. At a time when most settlers were clearing their properties, Ben Simcox, by contrast, cultivated the native plants and planted most of the large trees seen on the property today. And so Nathania Springs was developed as a tourist resort, and a mini-botanical garden. He diverted the natural water supply to form ornamental garden pools stocked with trout and tame native black fish. There were many visitors came to the Dandenongs, Some arriving in motor cars others in converted furniture vans lined with seats or charabancs with the long extended chassis and the open canvas roofs. Identities such as Billy Hughes, Madame Melba would often come to look through Nathania Springs. Bennie sold Nathania Springs to Councillor Ferdinand Thomas Le Juge, a boarding house proprietor and later the town baker in 1909 then in about 1921 Ben’s nephew Fred and his wife and family continued to open Nathania Springs to the public. It was not unusual in around 1924-25 for up to a thousand people a day to arrive at Nathania Springs to go through the gardens. At sixpence a time, that was a lot of money in those days. This photo is part of a collection of historic and social significance of the early settlement of Monbulk. Copies of photographs can be purchased from the Monbulk Historical Society.simcox, nathania springs, monbulk, 1860, berries

Captain Charles Ferguson was born in Scotland in 1813. He was the Master of the "Rajah" from 1838 to 1850 on voyages from England to Australia and vice versa. He became the First Chief Harbour Master for the port of Melbourne in 1852 after being the first Harbour Master and Water Police Officer in Geelong for 12 months. On the 5th of April 1841, the Rajah sailed with James Donovan M.D. as Surgeon Superintendent, and the Rajah sailed from Woolwich with 180 female convicts. The Rajah arrived on the 19th of July in Hobart, with 179 females (one died during the voyage) and 10 children. Miss Kezia Elizabeth Hayter was the matron on board. On page 28 of the "Sailing directions for Port Phillip, in the colony of Victoria including the ports of Melbourne and Geelong", a mention is made of the Mariner's Hospital and Floating Church soon to be established. There were discussions to built the hospital in Williamstown but instead the Government decided to build it in Melbourne. The Harbour Master and a commiittee decided to use the water police hulk, Emily, left unsold in 1856, to create a floating church: the Bethel was open in July 1857 with Reverend Kerr Johnston as Chaplain. Latrobe wrote a letter to Captain Cole in 1869, a few months after learning his death : "To Captain George Ward Cole † [from a draft in another’s hand] Clapham House, Lewes, Sussex, January 28th, 1869. My dear Captain Cole, Last mail will have taken out the sad intelligence of the death of our excellent old friend, Captain Ferguson. This will have been a terrible blow to his children and to his friends in the colony, who may have held reason to expect his early return to his home, with a not unreasonable prospect of ultimate restoration to health and activity. In the course of last October I went up to town with one of my children, mainly with the purpose of finding my way to Pinner, where he and Mrs. Ferguson were staying with an intimate friend. I found him in excellent health and spirits, and enjoying the prospect of a speeding resumption of the service to which he had devoted his best days, and upon the furtherance of which his entire energy was still directed. A week or two later Captain and Mrs. Ferguson went to Dover for change of air, and being still under the impression received from the advisers by whom they had been guided during their residence at a hydropathic establishment at Matlock, felt encouraged to plan almost immediate return to the colony by the Jerusalem early in December. However, certain misgivings in the mind of a medical gentleman, then in England, under whose care Captain Ferguson had at one time placed himself in Williamtown, led them to consider it judicious before departure to take the advice of some surgeon of eminence in London. Accordingly they came up to town at the close of November. The first London practitioners they consulted shook their heads, and advised consultation with Sir Wm. Ferguson. The result was that amputation, without loss of time, was pronounced necessary. The rest is soon told. He received the painful intelligence with calmness and full resignation to God's will, and underwent the operation at King's College Hospital with exemplary firmness and Courage on the 28th of November. Perfect success seemingly attended it, and there seemed, humanly speaking, to be every prospect of a prompt cure and early convalescence; everything seemed in his favour. A few days later, however, all was clouded by symptoms of hospital fever (pyoe æm ia). This resisted all control, and finally carried him off on the 27th of December, just one month after the operation. He had lived a Christian life, and his death was the peaceful and resigned death of a Christian. It was a melancholy satisfaction to me to be able to join a few friends in following his remains to their resting place in one of the outlying London cemeteries on the last day of the year. You know Mrs Ferguson well, and will be prepared to hear me say that her whole conduct and demeanour throughout this period of suspense and bitter trial has been worthy of her high character and steadfast principle. Come what will, and happen what may, I have the fullest conviction that neither the widow nor the children will be forsaken, however doubtful and clouded the future may appear, in consequence of the irreparable loss which, they have sustained. And now, dear Captain Cole, it is possible that you may already have heard all this from other sources, but I have dictated it to you under strong impulse, for I feel assured that there is no member of the community in which you live who will more sincerely deplore the loss of Captain Ferguson on private grounds; at the same time that there is no one who, from long acquaintance with his official character and services, will be in a better position to estimate their real value or the loss which the colony has sustained. The circumstances in which Captain Ferguson's family are left not only demands the utmost display of sympathy and interest on the part of friends, but may call for decided and prompt action; therefore I cannot rest satisfied without discharging what I consider my duty, and seeking to strengthen your hands as far as I may in bringing the character of his long services before the existing colonial authorities. Of his private career previous to his entering the service of the Colonial Government in 1851 nothing need be said. Captain Ferguson was appointed as the Harbour Master at Geelong in April, 1851 – a few months before the separation of the colony from New South Wales. He there did excellent service in a variety of ways calculated to advance the interests of the port, and to introduce www.latrobesociety.org.au 27 order, where, from circumstances, but little order had hitherto prevailed. His was the first appointment of this class in that locality. The separation of the colony from New South Wales took place in the month of July following. Shortly after, the late Captain Bunbury resigned the Harbour Mastership of Port Phillip. Captain Ferguson was at once (February, 1852) appointed to succeed him, and from that time performed all duties of Chief Harbour Master of the colony. The previous year (May 1851) the first gold discoveries in New South Wales had taken place, and in the month of August those of our colony followed. At the time of Captain Ferguson’s taking charge of the Port of Melbourne their influence had begun to be fully felt, and in no department more seriously than in that of the Harbour Master. This is no place for statistical details, but they must bear me out in reminding you of a few facts connected with our late friend’s career. At the time of separation that department comprised only 30 individuals of all ranks, and when he took charge the number was much reduced. There were at that time, according to the returns, no fewer than 54 vessels, registering 26,785 tons, in Hobson’s Bay alone. The crews on arrival numbered 1,235 men. Of this number only 463 remained on board, 500 having deserted, and the rest having been discharged by arrangement or pure necessity. For the first six months after Captain Ferguson’s assumption of office as Harbour Master the duties of Police Magistrate and Chief of the Water Police were superadded, and how much labour they involved may be surmised from the fact that from 1st of April to the 31st July, 1852, four months only, no less than 236 marine cases were brought before the bench at Williamstown - sometimes as many as 30 in a day. A year later (March 1853) the returns show that the number of vessels in the harbour in Hobson’s Bay alone were 91, tonnage 43,754; and passing on to the still later returns of May, 1853, two years after Captain Ferguson’s assumption of office, we find from the records that the number of ships in port had increased to 129; tonnage, 63,292; crew on board on arrival, 2872, and at the date of report, 1628; the amount of desertions at that time having, however, proportionally diminished, in consequence of the abatement of the gold fever, caused by the non-success attendant upon the labours of thousands at the goldfields. The above numbers take no account of the large number of vessels and amount of tonnage lying at the wharves at Melbourne or elsewhere. From these figures alone it may be judged what must have been a struggle in which the Chief Harbour Master was engaged from the very outset to secure order, and answer the innumerable calls on every branch of his department, at the same time that there was for many months an almost complete impossibility of securing subordinate agency, such as boatmen, pilots, and police, at any price. But I may bear witness to the untiring diligence, energy, and self-devotion with which Captain Ferguson grappled with the difficulties of his position, and the seemingly insurmountable obstacles which stood in his way. Ashore and afloat he was always ready, showing the same directness of purpose, intelligence, and forgetfulness of self. He shunned no responsibility, and turned his hand from no work, whether within or beyond the ordinary scope of his duty, which the hard necessity of the times forced the Government to bring under his notice. Already in 1852, when the overflowing of our gaol and stockade rendered the adoption of other methods of restraint absolutely necessary, and addition to the existing buildings could not be thought of, it was Captain Ferguson who first suggested the employment of hulks; and it was with his personal assistance and supervision, and under his unflagging energy, that the three first of these – the Success, the President, and the Sacramento – were purchased, fitted up, and made available for the purpose in view, and the rules and regulations for the employment and safety of the men afloat and ashore prescribed and carried out. He carried the same energy into every branch of his department, and his influence was soon apparent. His subordinates of every class became actuated by his spirit. As time moved on, the range of his duties, both ordinary and extraordinary, increased. In the formation of the quarantine station at the heads, in the management if not the erection of lighthouses, sailing directions, port and wharf regulations, buoys, signal stations, www.latrobesociety.org.au 28 steam dredging &c., he was the main and most active agent. The whole pilot establishment and regulations, men, and vessels, were under his charge; and when I left the colony in May, 1854, the entire range of ports outside Port Phillip Heads from Point Lonsdale to Portland, as well as that of Geelong had felt the influence of his intelligent supervision and care. The entire department of Chief Harbour Master, which I have numbered at the period of separation about thirty individuals, then numbered 230. The character of Captain Ferguson’s unbroken service during the fourteen years which have elapsed since I left the colony must be well known to the Government and the people he has served so long and so faithfully. I confine myself to recalling to mind those earlier, and what must have been the hardest and most difficult, period – none can know how difficult but those who were in that fierce struggle for the maintenance of order under so many disadvantages; and on this subject I have spoken advisedly and with reason, for I may truly say he worked under my own eye. I had sincere regard for the man, and just pride in the qualities of his heart, head, and hand. Whatever mistakes may have been made by the Government of the colony in those hard and difficult times (and I am quite ready to admit that there were many, especially if the past is to be judged by the light of the present), I never have hesitated in believing that, in appointing Captain Ferguson to the office he has so long filled, it was the right man in the right place. I shall be heartily rejoiced to find that the Government and inhabitants of the colony admit that this has been the case, and to learn that they have not forgotten the strong claims of one who has served them so long and so faithfully, and who, removed by God’s providence, so to say, in the maturity of his powers, has left a widow and young family behind him. I have done, I leave you to make use of this communication, or any portion of it, which you may think judicious and called for. There may be among Ferguson’s friends those who may not be sorry to be reminded of facts. By-the-bye, I may mention as a proof how completely Captain Ferguson’s mind was engrossed by devotion to his public duty, that while in Dover, only ten days before the operation, he took an opportunity to drag himself up into the lantern of the S. Foreland Lighthouse, and made a most careful scrutiny of the whole apparatus and arrangement, with a view of the adoption of any hint for the perfection of those under his charge in the colony. And now, goodbye. I trust this will find you in good health, and in comparative vigour. Believe me ever, dear Captain Cole, Yours very truly, C. J. La Trobe"The attempt for a floating church was made as early as 1853 following similar examples in London like the Seamen's Hospital. Captain Ferguson was instrumental in the foundation of the Bethel Church.Digital copies of the 37 pages ; 22 cm.1854, hobsons bay, geelong, melbourne, williamstown, sandridge, mariner's hospital, floating church, seamen's hospital, captain charles ferguson (1813-1868), kezia elizabeth hayter (1818-1885), rajah quilt, prison hulks, water police, harbour master, harbor master, gaols

This black and white photograph taken c1900 at a camp in Beechworth, depicts the last six survivors of the Beechworth Chinese mining community. The two men standing on the far right are believed to be local Beechworth men. The man second-from-right is believed to be George Young, a Chinese Presbyterian catechist whose task was to fulfil the Church's remit to evangelise the Chinese population. Beechworth became home to one of the largest Chinese communities in Australia after the 1857 Buckland Riots pushed Chinese miners from their claims and they were forced to relocate their camps. Under the Protectorate system, the Chinese were required to live in camps on the outskirts of town and were subject to many additional controls and regulations. Chinese miners continued to form a large part of the Beechworth population, and surrounds, until gold ran out at the turn of the century.This photograph is historically significant for its association with the development of Victoria through the discovery of gold and the first wave of free Chinese immigration to Australia as part of the 1850s gold rush. This photograph is also of social significance for its association with the history of the Chinese community in Beechworth, and the adversity faced by Chinese immigrants during the gold rush as part of a system of Chinese protectorates and segregated camps enforced by the Victorian Government in response to the hostility and violence directed at the Chinese during this period. Black and white rectangular photograph (copy) on matte photographic paper unmountedReverse: Chinese / BMM2676 / 84-79-1 / 1998.00059 / 'UNITED SHIRE OF BEECHWORTH / SHIRE SECRETARY'beechworth, chinese camp, beechworth chinese camps, 1900s beechworth, ovens goldfield, chinese mining community, beechworth presbyterian church

This specimen was recovered from Mica Schist, Canada. Chalcopyrite is a copper iron sulfide mineral with a chemical composition of CuFeS2. Its name derives from the Greek words for copper (chalco-) and brass (pyrite). It can be found in shades of yellow, green and grey, and, when exposed to acid, it can change to purple, blue, violet and yellow tones. Weathering can cause loss of its metallic luster and its brass-yellow colour. Chalcopyrite forms under various conditions, with the most significant deposits being hydrothermal in their origin. It is known globally as the most important ore of copper for thousands of years, and is thus considered a very important mineral formation. Given its golden appearance, it is often confused for the mineral gold, earning it the popular reputation as 'fool's gold' or 'yellow copper'. However, it can be straightforwardly distinguished from gold; the latter is soft, with higher specific gravity and a yellow streak, whereas chalcopyrite is brittle, easily scratched by a nail, and has a greenish grey streak. Copper was the first metal that was used by people. It was discovered by the Neolithic man about 9,000 years ago and it gradually replaced stone as it was easier to be shaped. In Australia, search for copper began after the European settlement, leading to the discovery of substantial deposits, like the one at the Olympic Dam in South Australia, which is regarded as one of the largest copper deposits in the world. Chalcopyrite has been used for copper since smelting processes began approximately five thousand years ago. Although by no means rare, this the specimen of this mineral can be used to reflect a wider history of industrial uses of copper for a significant portion of human history. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.A solid hand-sized copper iron sulfide mineral of brass yellow, often with an iridescent tarnish, with greenish-black streak and submetallic luster. Chalcopyrite can be formed in several ways, including crystalizing from accessory minerals in igneous rocks, or from magma or within volcano sulfide deposits. Most commonly, chalcopyrite are found in hydrothermal conditions, where it forms in hydrothermal veins. As a member of the tetragonal crystal system, it often takes the shape of tetra-headed crystals, often with striations along the sides of the crystals. #18 Copper pyrites/(chalcopyrite) in/Laurentian Slate/(page 315 of inventory)/page missing from/descriptive catalogue/ Other label: 81 /fool's gold, chalcopyrite, mineral, rock, geology, geological, hydrothermal, neolithic, european settlement, olympic dam, south australia, stone, deposits, specific gravity, greenish grey streak, brittle, mineral gold, metallic luster, cufes2, greek words