Jon and Alda Hubbard were operating Gellibrand Pottery around the late 1980s on the Old Beech Forrest Road in Gellibrand near Colac in the Otway region.Photo of a hand thrown jug with glaze decoration. It is stamped (impressed) "Gellibrand Pottery". ceramics, pottery, gellibrand pottery, studio pottery

Material pertaining to the production of a history of the Shire of Eltham, "Pioneers & Painters: One Hundred Years of Eltham and its Shire" in recognition of the shire's centenary in 1971 Item Title Caption 04768-1 Newspaper clipping - The Eltham of 1905; Gellibrand our first white visitor? Diamond Valley News, 24 June 1969, p5 04768-2 Newspaper clipping - The Eltham of 1905; Gellibrand our first white visitor? Heidelberger, 25 June 1969 04768-3 Notes on Eltham District Road Board Members 1866-1871 04768-4 Notes on Eltham District Road Board Members 1866-1871 04768-5 Map showing Gellibrand's likely route through district 12-13 February 1836 and Hoddles's route of Febrary 1838 04768-6 Notes by Shire Secretary, M.B. Watson regarding meeting with Reverend Longfield regarding history of St Margaret's Church 04768-7 Alan Marshall's notes from discussion with Mr. F. Barrett regarding SEPP images 611, 635 and 636 SEPP_0611 SEPP_0635 SEPP_0636 04768-8 Transcripts of letter from local residents to Charles Joseph Latrobe requesting a bridge over the Plenty River dated 10 April 1849 and his reply dated 5 May 1849; from Latrobe Library Archives - Land Branch Records 04768-9 Notes on history of Eltham Shire, Centenary events and publication of Pioneers & Painters for release in conjunction of opening of new Library 04768-10 Newspaper clipping - Glossy record of shire's romantic past and the people who made it by Fab Calafuri, Diamond Valley News, Tuesday, December 16, 1986, p18 SEPP_0755-3 Letter: Acknowledgement from Colin J. Bock, Eltham Shire Secretary to A.R. Thomas of Bendigo for copy of 1913 photograph of Shire of Eltham Councilors, 21 May 1973 A.R. Thomas' father Mr. A.G. Thomas, C.E., was the Shire Secretary at the time in 1913. Cross Ref: SEPP_0755 The idea to develop a book on the history of the Shire of Eltham to be edited by noted author, Alan Marshall in celebration of the shire's centenary was initiated in 1969. The Shire of Eltham Historical Society undertook significant research in conjunction with Alan Marshall locating material at various institutions and other societies; interviewing longer term residents and a public campaign through the local press to acquire photographic material for duplication and use in the book. The public campaign received generous response and the material collected became the genesis for the Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph collection now held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library).Paper documents of various sizes and newspaper clippingsa.g. thomas, a.r. thomas, alan marshall, bridge road, charles joseph latrobe, council members, d.w. lachlan, eltham district road board, eltham shire council, ernie orford, f. barrett, francis rogerson, g. bransprone, james donaldson, james johnston, john bell, john thomson, joseph tice gellibrand, lower plenty bridge, m.b. watson, main road, map, patrick turnbull, peter morris, pioneers and painters, post office, rev. longfield, sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, shire secretary, st margaret's church, thomas armstrong, thomas bell, thomas sweeney, william bell (1796-1870), centenary celebrations, christmas hills, clifton pugh, david newbury, dudley street, eltham, gareth jones roberts, hurstbridge, john perceval, joy peck, kangaroo ground, kinglake, lower plenty, luther haley general store, montmorency, neil douglas, panton hill, peter glass, research (vic.), sheila ferguson, shire of eltham, st andrews, yarra glen

Homes in the Hills. Historic glimpses of Barongarook, Gellibrand, Banool and Carlisle River. Norman Houghton. Soft cover. iv, 48 p.; illus, map, diagram. Artwork and layout: Desktop Dymanics. otway ranges; norman houghton; barongarook; gellibrand; banool; carlisle river; agriculture; mining; sport; homes; hills;

West Otways Narrow Gauge; The story of the Beech Forest 2ft 6in gauge railway and its connecting tramways; Norman Houghton; Light Railways v.XII, no.45, Spring 1973; soft cover; 52p.; illus. mapsPrinting - Kemera Press, Caulfield, Vic.west otways; narrow gauge; beech forest; 2ft 6in narrow gauge; tramways; colac; gellibrand; the ridge; crowes;

A history dealing with the Otways from Barramunga to Lower Gellibrand by R.H. Knox, the son of an original selector, and his wife, the daughter of another original selector.Yesterday on the Otway Ridge. R.H. Knox. 1st ed. np; R.H. Knox; nd. ii, 192 p.; illus. Soft cover.otway ridge; r.h. knox; history; settlers; timber; sawmilling; farmer; transport;

Souvenir booklet of Back to Otway Football from 1907 until 1980, with an emphasis from 1921 onwards, intends to restore and preserve at least some of the history of Otway football.Otway football in review, 1907-1980. Mark Kempton (ed.). 1st ed. Colac (Vic); Herald Print; 1981. 48 p.; illus. Soft cover.otways; football; history; wyelangta; beech forest; carlisle; lavers hill; gellibrand; johanna;

The harnessing of the bountiful water resources of the Otways as a critical element in the urban and agricultural development of the Colac region.A trust in water. A history of 100 years of water supply to the Colac district. R.J. McCormick. 1st ed. np; R.J. McCormick; 1990. xxii, 324 p.; illus, map. Hard cover. ISBN 0 7241968 2 X a trust in water; r.j. mccormick; colac; water resources; sewerage; west gellibrand dam; otways;

On the 18th August, 1896, the question of selecting localities for the permanent survey of a narrow-gauge line to Beech Forest from Colac was mooted. Two potential lines were examined. In a memorandum to the Minister for Railways, dated 23rd March, 1897, the Engineer-in-Chief recommended that the eastern and longer route via Lardner's Track be adopted. The second route, while identical from Colac to Gellibrand River, differed. By a more direct route the Beech Forest terminus is reached 5 miles sooner and cost approximately L24,500 less. The direct line would also serve a larger lot of settlers and would obtain a larger lot of traffic than the alternate proposal. The Parlimentary Standing Committee on Railways examined the proposal in situ and recommended that the direct route from Gellibrand to Beech Forest should be adopted and the Lardner's Track route should be abandoned at once.Photograph, Railway Survey Camp, 4 April 1897. Inspection of alternative routes by Parliamentary Committee on Railways.People named in the photograph.beech forest; railway; survey; victorian parliament; calcutt; fraser; e.h. cameron; d. mciville; a. harris; n. mcinnes; j.s. white; j. wood; t. baker; j. gardner; t.g. watson; standing committee;

Gradient diagram. Colac to Beech Forest to Crowes. 2'6" gauge.colac; tulloh; coram; barongarook; water tanks; birnam; karwarren; hitt's siding; lovat; gellibrand; banool; wimba; mcdevitt; dinmont; devitt bros' siding; ditchley; beech forest; buchanan; ferguson; weeaproinah; pettitt bros' siding; j & m knott siding; kincaid siding; wyelangta; pettitt's siding; stalker; macknott; laver's hill; crowes; gradient;

Locomotive 8A, rolling stock, gangers and passengers, somewhere between Gellibrand and Beech Forest.beech forest; gellibrand; railway; loco 8a;

Leaving Colac the narrow gauge train goes through Tulloh. Coram, Barongarook, Kawarren, Lovat, Gellibrand, Banool, Wimba, McDevitt, Weeaproinah, Devitt Bros., and Ditchley before it reaches Beech Forest, and vice versa. The distance in miles, the height above sea level and the timing from the starting point is given. Note that Weeaproinah W NC changed its name to Dinmont when the Crowes line extension is built. Colac-Beech Forest timetable for May, 1911 showing the DOWN train from Colac to Beech Forest, and the UP train from Beech Forest to Colac plus annotations.colac; melbourne; tulloh; coram; barongarook; kawarren; lovat; gellibrand; banool; wimba; mcdevitt; weeaproinah; devitt bros.; ditchley; beech forest; railway; timetable;

A DOWN goods train consisting of a G42 locomotive, a louvre van, two NQ trucks and a guard's van awaits departure from Gellibrand. Three youths are seated in the doorway of the guard' van. On the near track further NQ trucks are parked. A water tank appears in the distance.A DOWN goods train with locomotive G42 awaits departure time from Gellibrand on 14 December 1955. B/W.gellibrand; railways; locomotive g42; louvre van; nq trucks; guard's van; water tank;

Gellibrand station was one of the larger and more important stations possessing a waiting room, station office, parcels shed and refreshment room joined by a common verandah. The refreshment room was managed for many years by Mrs. O'Neill who, with her staff, around 1920, offered a hot meal for one shilling. In the afternoon, a "cuppa and rock cakes" was available to passengers on the train to Colac. Other patrons were workers from the various establishments in the railway yard.Gellibrand Station Master and Refreshment Room staff, plus two men, under the verandah of the Refreshment Rooms, in front of two railway lines.gellibrand; railways; refreshments; mrs. o'neill;

At its peak the Beech Forest railway employed more than 21 staff between Colac and Crowes. Gangers (men in charge of the track gangs) tended to be promoted into the Otways but many of their subordinate repairers were local recruits. A few of the men who worked in the original construction gangs of 1900-1902 remained and obtained positions in the track gangs along the line. The track was maintained by seven three-man gangs based at Colac, Barongarook, Gellibrand, Banool, Beech Forest (2), and Lavers Hill. However, track gangs lessened as the line shortened. After 1954, the sole surviving track gang, in charge of Paddy Balcombe, stayed until the line closed.A railway track gang, with helper, trolleying to a work site, on 14 December, 1955.beech forest; railways; track gang;

At its peak the Beech Forest railway employed more than 21 people between Colac and Crowes tending the line the trains ran over. The gangers (the men in charge of the track gangs) tended to be promoted into the Otways but many of their subordinate repairers were local recruits. A few of the men who worked on the original construction gangs of 1900-1902 remained and obtained positions in the track gangs along the line. The track was maintained by seven three-man gangs based at Colac, Barongarook, Gellibrand, Banool, Beech Forest (2), and Lavers Hill. The ganger for Beech Forest 2 gang resided at Wyelangta. However, the track gangs lessened as the line shortened. Three men with spades on the line, thought to be at Barongarook, c.1925. B/W.barongarook; railways; track gangs;

Railway bridge over the Gellibrand River, 1902. Note the people on the roadway bridge in the top left corner. B/W.colac; beech forest; gellibrand; railway;

Drivers were highly skilled enginemen. Taking a train from Beech Forest to down to Gellibrand required the train to be controlled at 10 mph (16 km) without running out of air. When a brake application was made the brakes on the locomotive were applied harder than the train brakes. The brakes locked up and the engine would just slide along. Drivers used a retention valve on the loco, then released the loco brakes so as not to wear out the brake shoes. So the train pulled into Gellibrand ready to pull out again after refilling the loco with water.At Gellibrand, a Down goods train is about to depart the station on 14 December 1955. The train consists of the locomotive G42, a louvre van NO, two NQ wagons and a guard's or brake van NC. B/W.gellibrand; colac; beech forest; railway;

At its peak the Colac-Beech Forest-Crowes railway employed more than 21 staff tending the lines that the trains ran over. Gangers (the men in charge of the track gangs) tended to be promoted into the Otways but many of their subordinate repairers were local recruits. A few of the men who worked on the original construction gangs of 1900-02 remained and obtained positions in the track gangs along the line, but these eased out over time. The track was maintained by seven three-man gangs based at Colac, Barongarook, Gellibrand, Banool, Beech Forest (where the second Beech Forest crew was based at Wyelangta), and Lavers Hill.Track gang on an NK wagon at Beech Forest, c.1940. Snow covers the ground. B/W.colac; beech forest; crowes; railway; track gangs;

On the 1st March, 1959, the first special train was organized by the Australian Railways Historical Society in conjunction with the Kanyana Festival Committee of Colac, Victoria. It proved so popular that additional trains were later organized. Temporarily in storage at Newport railway yards eight NBH excursion carriages were transferred to Colac which ran on the special trains until early-1962. A A.R.H.S. "Kanyana" special excursion locomotive G41, an NC guard's van and NBH excursion carriages at halts at Gellibrand while the fireman attends to the engine requirements (or 'ER' in railways' parlance). The passengers are milling outside the excursion carriages while two are talking to the driver. Houses are in the background. B/W.gellibrand; railways; kanyana special; colac; beech forest; loco g41;

Another excursion train travels to Beech Forest in 1960. At Gellibrand railway yards engine G42 leads the train with driver L. Moore and fireman, Les Ogden.B/W. Locomotive G42 and an excursion train to Beech Forest, on track number one, in 1960. The fireman, Les Ogden, hangs from the engine. The other tracks are empty.gellibrand; railway; loco g42;

During construction of the railway in 1901 a ballast siding was originally opened 4.5 km south of Barongarook but the ballast proved inferior and a new ballast siding was opened 4 km south of Gellibrand to provide material for track construction. A spur siding, with points facing Beech Forest and a capacity for six trucks, was cut into the side of a slope. Above this was erected a loading bin and chute. This stone was of durable quality so the siding continued in commission after 1902 for periodic track re-ballasting. By the mid-1920s Victoria Railways found it more economic to use ballast from elsewhere so the siding was closed by 1925 and the rails lifted.B/W. Gellibrand Ballast Siding loading ballast down the slope, with five workmen watching at the base.gellibrand; ballast; railways;

In 1955 staff numbers were reduced to an absolute minimum with one track gang at Beech Forest and one at Colac, one of whose members resided at Gellibrand. No new sleepers were issued to the track gangs after 1955/56, cut down ones being used instead. Albert Denning, the son of a Gellibrand selector, worked at Driver's planing mill and Hitt's Lardner mill before joining Victorian Railways in 1928 as an engine cleaner at Beech Forest and Crowes, the last one in both places. He later became a track repairer at Gellibrand and worked with this and the Colac track gang until 1962. Bill Jamieson was a track repairer on the Colac-Gellibrand gang from the 1950s until 1962, and witnessed the official policy of minimum maintenance in the last years of the line.B/W. 201mm x 254mm. In c.1950, the Colac track gang near Kawarren, featuring, from left to right, Bill Jamieson, Albert Denning, and Don Loury on an NKS motor trolley..colac; kawarren; railways; track gangs;

Laurie McCabe was in charge of Beech Forest Station until October 1929. When the timber industry went into decline because of poor markets and the crippling effects of the 1929 strike, and when road haulage signalled the beginning of a new transport era it was the beginning of the end. As a result staffing levels were severely cut over the period 1927/29 with the two station masters at Beech Forest and Gellibrand replaced by caretakers in October 1929. The line was then supervised by travelling station masters of whom Laurie McCabe was one of two.B/W. Laurie McCabe in charge of Beech Forest Railway Station in the 1920s, pictured on track one just down from the station buildings. Note the slight snow covering on the tracks.beech forest; railways; laurie mccabe;

Four examples of saw mills placed in station yards were seen on the Beech Forest line of which one was the War Service Homes Commission weatherboard planning mill at Gellibrand. It operated between 1920 until 1923 for both inwards and outwards cartage of timber. As an alternative to Colac Reginald Driver, the WSHC operator, chose Gellibrand in September, 1920 as the site for a mill fitted with the latest double-bladed planning machine. The rough cut boards were sent by train from Driver's mills at Ferguson, Wyelangta and Macknott, off loaded at Gellibrand, and later reloaded for the trip to Colac.B/W. War Service Homes Commission Saw Mill at Gellibrand station in 1920. Six men loading palings onto a NQR wagon.gellibrand; war service homes commission; planing mill; railways;, gellibrand; war service homes commission; planing mill; railways;

Gellibrand station became the railhead for traffic to the Carlisle River and Lardners, as well as the centre of timber and fruit trade. Outward loading was substantial at the time the photograph was taken. Sawn and split timber, firewood, sleepers and piles were loaded in large quantities. The general expansion in traffic led in October 1923 to the laying of an additional loop siding and provision for a goods shed., B/W. In 1922, Gellibrand station with passengers and workmen on the station concourse, and NQR wagons aligned ready to move. Note the water tank on the left and the start of the Refreshment Room on the right.gellibrand; railways;

Colour. After closure of the railway line, Gellibrand looking towards Beech Forest on 26 April 1964. The station buildings and water tank are still standing as well as clear impressions left by the tracks. Telephone lines are marked. A person is near the water tank.gellibrand; railways;

B/W. An NA class engine, a number of NQR open wagons, two NUU louvre vans and a NC guard's van climb between Gellibrand and Beech Forest. A man stands near the engine.beech forest; gellibrand; railways;

In 1902 a ballast siding was opened 4 km south of Gellibrand to provide materials for track construction. A spur siding with a capacity for six trucks was cut into the side of a slope. Above this was erected a loading bin and chute. The stone proved to be of durable quality so the siding continued after 1902 for periodic track re-ballasting works. The points were set for the main line and spiked shut when the siding was not in use. By the mid-1920s the Victorian Railways found it more economic to use ballast from Penshurst, so the siding was closed by 1925 and the rails lifted.B/W. Gellibrand ballast pit siding at 19 miles (30.6 km) south of Colac. gellibrand; gellibrand siding; railways;