Silver commemorative trowel with a carved/turned wooden handle. Presented to Wm Dods Esqre on the occasion of his laying the foundation stone of the Free Presbyterian Church Brunswick 2nd May 1865,william dods, free presbyterian church, brunswick

This snuff horn belonged to the Rev. Thomas Hastie, pioneering Presbyterian minister at Buninyong from 1847 to 1898. It was presented to the Society by his great grand-daughter in 2010.This item is historically significant for its connection with an important figure in the history of Buninyong, who was also a notable figure in the Free Presbyterian Church in Victoria in the 19th Century.A brown snuff horn, made of ivory, with a silver band and inlaid silver decoration on the lid. The lid opens to reveal a cavity, where snuff was stored.Lid has a silver disc with the inscription 'T H'.buninyong, hastie, snuff, free presbyterian church, presbyterian church, victoria

The weatherboard Ballarat East State School SS 1071 was formerly known as Specimen Hill. According to 'Visions and Realisations' The Eureka gold lead opened in August 1852, running from Little Bendigo, south beneath Yarrowee Creek into Pennyweight flat, where it was joined 100 yards or so from the intersection of main and Eureka Streets by the Canadian Lead. State School 1071 was formerly known as Ballarat Common School No. 71, and was founded by the Free Presbyterian Church on Specimen Hill in Eureka Street, Ballarat on 01 January 1854. On 20 May 1869 the trustees of the Presbyterian School, Specimen Hill, Ballarat, consented to the transfer of the site to the Board of Education. On 01 September 1870, Specimen Hill, Ballarat, was vested in the Board and then became known as SS 1071. On 01 March 1879 the Minister, The Hon. William Collard Smith, and William Dobbie, Inspector of School Buildings, visited Ballarat to report on the buildings with a view to extensions and renovations. The minister issued instructions for the old wooden part of the school to be demolished, and brick additions to be erected, so that the whole premises would accommodate 350 students. (''Visions and Realisations: A Century of State Education in Victoria, Vol. 2'', Education Department of Victoria, 1973, p 729-730.)Black and white photograph of a weatherboard school with shingle roof known as Ballarat East (SS1071). The building has a brick chimney and bell tower. This school has Castlemaine flagging in the passages.ballarat east state school, education, st paul's school, specimen hill state school

Ascot Denominational School in Ascot opened in 1859 for the Presbyterian Free Church with 26 students, which quickly grew to 96. In 1866 the local Board of Managers offered the school to the Board of Education if it would pay the 200 pound building debt, but the offer was rejected. In 1873 Ascot Primary School (No. 16) opened. A new site was purchased in 1981 forcing the closure of School 16. Ascot State School (No. 2507) opened in February 1883..1) Twenty three children stand in from on a brick building with corrugated iron roof. They are students of Ascot Primary School. .2) Twelve males students of Ascot Primary School stand in front of a timber post and rail fence. They are the same boys as depicted in the .1) Ascot Primary School photo. Members of the Chatham family were educated at Ascot Primary School and are thought to be in these photographs. In the late 1950s and 60s the children of Phillip and Elizabeth Chatham nee Holmes also attended Ascot State School along with the children of Bill and Margaret Holmes.Verso in blue ballpoint pen "Chatham Ascot"chatham family collection, ascot, ascot primary school, ascot state school, post and rail, elizabeth holmes, bill holmes

Centenary of St. John's Presbyterian Church Forest Street, Bendigo 1872-1972. List of former Ministers of St. John's Church. A brief account of the history of the church is given. Extracts from minutes of Presbytery Church of Castlemaine 2/7/1872 states that they had not yet held any Sabbath Services in Sandhurst a grant not exceeding Twenty Pounds to meet the expenses of such Services necessary to establish a Second Charge in Sandhurst. Services were conducted in the Albion Hall, collections were obtained were liberal, Memorial signed by 104 members and adherents who expressed their desire to be recognized as a Congregation. St. John's first met at the Orderly Room (site of the Art Gallery), then at the Albion Hall (site of the Royal Princess Theatre), they then moved to St. James Hall (now Myer Store). In 1874 a weatherboard church in Forest St. was erected seating 550 persons, and named St. John's Presbyterian Church. It then became known as St John's Free Church and in 1880 it was admitted into the Presbyterian Church of Victoria and named Chalmer's Church. History accounts goes on to explain the further changes which happened within the church to 1972. Many other details have been included in the book such as the costs of the pews the 'Ladies Work Committee', a monthly church paper, Anniversary platform, securing a Manse, the year of the 'black-out', food parcels, the purchase of a building, the pioneering of religious films in church services, renovations, Sunday School, Stewardship Campaign, electronic organ. The history goes on detailing the growth of the organisations in the church; Choir, Sunday School Sunday School Ladies Auxiliary, PWMU, Afernoon Fellowship, Ladies Guild, PGF, Men's Club and Brotherhood, Bible Class, Sporting Clubs, PFA, Mission Band, Creche, Cradle Roll, Board of Management. A list of 'Memorials and Other Gifts Through the Years' from 1904 to 1972. Present 'Office Bearers of the Church'. Photo of present church on front cover, on rear cover is the church erected in 1897. With Indexchurch, centenary, st john's bendigo, st john's presbyterian church forest street bendigo centenary

The St Kilda Presbyterian Church is now part of the St Kilda & Balaclava Presbyterian Church. Its first service was inaugurated by the Free Church Synod of Victoria in May 1855, in a building at the corner of High Street and Alma Road. In October 1855 the congregation moved to a wooden building in Inkerman Street, purchased from the Independent (Congregational) Church. The present church site was purchased and the first church opened in 1860. The foundation stone for the present church building, the second to be built on the site, was laid by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Brougham Loch, on 27 January 1885. The building was opened on 30 May 1886. Wilson and Beswicke were the architects. Ralph Wilson designed the Methodist church on the corner of Princes and Fitzroy Streets and lived diagonally opposite the Presbyterian church. Charles Beswicke had toured Britain and the Continent in 1886 armed with a camera and returned to Australia with photographs of what he considered the greatest examples of architecture. He was responsible for the town halls in Brighton, Malvern, Hawthorn and Essendon and Wesleyan churches in Camberwell and Dandenong. Thomas Corley was the builder. The lofty spire was ‘a landmark to the mariner’ used by sea captains sailing up Port Phillip Bay. On a prominent position, the highest point in St Kilda, the church attracted wealthy people with legal, merchant and pastoral backgrounds.colour photographst kilda, churches, presbyterian church, balaclava

MacDonald, Murdoch, D.D., B: Western Ross; University of Edinburgh and Glasgow; 1863 ordained Nairn, Free Church of Scotland; 1876 Toorak Vic; 1883 1st professor of Systematic Theology, Ormond College, Professor Systematic Theology and Church History; 1889 Moderator Victorian Assembly; 1906 resigned and died.B & W waist length studio portrait of Rev Professor Murdoch MacDonald."Murdoch MacDonald 1883 first professor of systematic theology at Theological Hall Ormond College."macdonald, murdoch, ormond college, moderator 1889, presbyterian, professor of systematic theology

Chalmers Free Church was in Harrington Street, Hobart and was demolished in 1955. The burning bush is the emblem of the Church of Scotland. Nec Tamen Consumebatur translates to 'it was not however consumed'.White china saucer with blue rim and burning bush transfer print.Chalmers Free Church. Nec Tamen Consumebaturpresbyterian, chalmers' free church, burning bush

Part of a collection relating to the Parkin family. Announcement of the wedding of Ian Quihampton and Valerie Black at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Corowa. Probably from the Corowa Free Press. Exact date unknown.Newspaper clipping of wedding announcement with photo of the wedding couple.wedding photographs, ian quihampton, valerie black, valerie quihampton, corowa

This dress was made for and belonged to Mrs Elizabeth McLachlan (nee Duncan, 1820-1904), wife of Reverend John Hamilton McLachlan (1813-1908), who was the first Minister of St Cuthbert's Presbyterian Church in Brighton. Elizabeth and John were married at the Free Church of Ayr at Lindsaystonn in the Parish of Kirkmickach, Ayrshire, Scotland on 15 October 1849. At this time his occupation was listed as "Minister of Presbyterian Church" and hers as "Governess". They left for Australia on the 1 November 1849 and arrived in Australia 6 months later. Apparently John's hair turned snow white during the journey due to his seasickness! The McLachlans first went to Geelong upon their arrival in 1850, then to the Western District, then Brighton, then Talbot at the height of the gold mining era. The couple had seven children: John Campbell Duncan McLachlan (b. Geelong, October 1850), Mary McLachlan (b. Geelong, November 1851), Agnes McLachlan (b. Hopkins River near Wickliff, May 1853), twins Elizabeth and Walter McLachlan (b. June 1854), Elizabeth McLachlan (b. Hesham, June 1855), Margaret McLachlan (b. Brighton, 1857). Elizabeth died in 1904. She and John are both buried in Amherst Cemetery. The dress was donated by one of her granddaughters. This circa 1849 silk blue grey window pane check dress features a high round neck and pleats on either shoulder extending over the natural shoulder line. The dress shows evidence of nine ornamental buttons down the centre front with only four blue silk buttons currently still attached. The dress fastens with thirteen concealed hook and eye closures to the waist. The Pagoda sleeves inset into the bodice in a small high armhole flaring out and finishing just below the elbow. A pale blue silk ribbon with a diagonal drawn stitch design decorates the front of the sleeve in a simple geometric design. The Pagoda sleeve is lined in a matching pale blue silk. The full skirt is pleated into the waistband and finishes just above the floor at the front. At the back the bodice features a squared off design to the princess panels shaping the dress into the body. The skirt is heavily pleated at the centre back into the waistline and finishes slightly longer at the back than the front. The skirt features two very small pockets on either side of the dress, just inside the hips. reverend john hamilton mclachlan, st cuthberts presbyterian church brighton, elizabeth mclachlan, amherst cemetery, 1840s fashion, brighton

Rev. Dr. Charles Strong arranged a meeting of some imminent citizens of Melbourne on the 17th of February 1885 when the decision was made to form the Melbourne District Nursing Society. Rev. Strong chaired the meeting, on 4th of March 1885, which accepted the Rules of the Society prepared by the Sub-committee. He chaired the first Annual meeting of the Society the following year and remained a Committee member for several years.Rev. Dr. Charles Strong had significant involvement in the establishment of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), the first District Nursing Society in Australia. He was born in Scotland and came to Melbourne with his family in 1875, initially being Minister of Scots Church in Collin Street. He left the Presbyterian church and became the first Minister of the newly formed, free religious, Australian Church in 1885. Rev. Strong cared passionately about social welfare issues and was a member of the Australian Health Society from 1880 and also president of the Convalescent Aid Society. He was involved with improving lodging houses in the slums of Melbourne and recognized the need for nursing care of the sick poor in their own homes. Many eminent citizens of Melbourne supported this idea and he arranged a meeting of these citizens, fifteen women and four men, at Mrs. William McCulloch's home on the 17th of February 1885, when the decision was made to form the Melbourne District Nursing Society. Dr. Strong, along with Dr. Caffyn, had experience of social welfare work in Scotland and were able to explain the object and scope of a District Nursing Society. A Sub-committee was formed, with Mrs. Charles Strong among the members, to draw up a Constitution and for suggestions to carrying on the Society's work. Rev. Strong chaired the meeting, on 4th of March 1885, which accepted the Rules of the Society prepared by the Sub-committee. A Special General Meeting was held on the 9th of April and the first Officers and Committee members, were elected with the Rev. and Mrs. Charles Strong being elected as members. Rev. Strong chaired the first Annual meeting of the Society the following year and remained a Committee member for several year. Reverend Dr. Charles Strong died on the 12th of February 1942 aged 97 years.This black and white portrait photograph shows an elderly Reverend Dr Charles Strong who has receding and thinning white hair and is sporting a white trimmed moustache and beard. His face shows the lines of an aging gentleman. He is wearing a winged collar on his white shirt and is wearing a black tie. He is also wearing a black jacket.melbourne district nursing society, mdns, rdns, royal district nursing service, rev. dr. charles strong

Members of the Presbyterian faith were among the first settlers in the North-east of Victoria, and in the year 1842 the Presbytery of Melbourne requested the Rev. Peter Gunn, Minister of the Gaelic Church, Melbourne, to visit Presbyterians along the Murray River. This was the first of a series of annual visits, and was of a missionary nature. In May 1851, the Rev. David Hunter Ballantyne was appointed to the Wodonga district based out of Albury. In 1860 the Presbytery of Beechworth was formed, and from it two large presbyteries have grown - Wagga Wagga and Beechworth. In the early days the services at Wodonga were held in the old court house, which still stands. Wodonga Presbyterian Church continued as part of the Parish of Albury until the end of 1887, when it was placed under the administration of the Session of the Beechworth Church, with a home missionary in charge. Mr William Cooper was placed in charge for the first months, then Mr William Smith, a city missionary who had recently arrived from Scotland, was appointed. Mr Smith conducted a cordage factory at Stonleigh. He remained as missionary in charge for the next 10 years, and in that time the church steadily progressed. Plans were made for the erection of the building which now stands in High Street, Wodonga. Mr John Whan was a Founding Member of the Church and was appointed Sunday School Superintendent, an office which he held for 46 years, rendering extensive and valued service to the church and congregation. With a growing congregation and realising the challenges presented to the Church by changing conditions, land for a new church was sought. In September 1950 property was purchased in Nilmar Avenue in Wodonga and the new Presbyterian Church St Stephens became their new home. With the amalgamation of the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches, the new Church became the Uniting Church. The original Presbyterian Church was later sold to the Free Serbian Orthodox Church.These photographs are significant because they provide evidence of the changing nature of religious worship and groups in Wodonga.A collection of black and white photographic images depicting the first Presbyterian Church at Wodonga. The Church was later taken over by the Free Serbian Orthodox Church.presbyterian church, free serbian orthodox church, wodonga churches

When the Free Serbian Church was established in Wodonga it was the only one in a country centre and the third Serbian Church established in Australia. It had a congregation of approximately 40 members. The Church was originally the first Presbyterian Church in Wodonga. It is a rectangular brick building with a red Colourbond gable roof to the nave area and a domed roof to the rear of the nave. Many features of the architecture from the original building remain. However, changes were made during the refurbishment by the Free Serbian congregation. The original façade red brickwork was rendered and painted white and it was modified to include two round arched relief panels. The upper relief panel was divided into three blocks of colour - red, pale blue and grey, with a centrally located gold cross. The relief panel above the double timber front doors has a gold cross and Serbian iconography. A cross was located on the wall at the apex of the gable and a cross rising up from the gable. The original pointed gothic style windows were replaced with round arched windows. The window hardware now includes wrought iron decorative features. A domed roofed area was constructed to the rear of the nave. The perimeter fence and gates included decorative wrought iron elements. The gates are particularly decorative with floral emblems and Serbian and English text in wrought iron. These photographs are significant because they provide evidence of the changing nature of religious worship and groups in Wodonga.A collection of black and white and coloured photographic images depicting the Free Serbian Orthodox Church, Wodonga. The Church was originally the first Presbyterian Church in Wodonga. It was extensively modified in 1961-62.free serbian orthodox church, wodonga churches, presbyterian church, religion wodonga

This was presented to the Rev Yule on 22 February 1907. Alexander Yule was born in 1830 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland becoming licenced in the Free Church of Scotland in 1854. He came to Australia in 1870 where he became Minister of Erskine church, Carlton. In 1892 College Church Parkville was established by members of the Erskine congregation. In 1891 he was moderator of Victoria. He died on 18 April 1907.Framed illuminated composite presentation art work which has illuminated text, the Presbyterian symbol of the burning bush, a photograph and illustrations of the College Church, Ormond College, University of Melbourne. It is signed by ten people.presbyterian miniter rev alexander yule ma, r. johnston smith, m. reid robertson, john mather, adam kennedy, maggie adam, h. s. richardson, lily v. grant, david j. scott, m. e. downes, j. downes., the college church parkville, alexander yule 1830-1907