Greystones station was originally part of the Glenmore run, established in 1840 by Charles Griffith. Originally a run of 55,00 acres, Glenmore was subdivided in the 1870s to form the Greystones property, owned and managed by Molesworth Greene, the nephew of Charles Griffith. The property had 11,000 sheep and was renowned for its high quality wool. In November 2023, the property of 4033 hectares was sold to overseas investors. The wool industry was a major industry in the development of the Australian economy from pre-colonial times. It gave rise to the saying that Australia 'rode on the sheep's back.'Small black and white 'carte de visite' style unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. One of a set of photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District taken in 1883 by the photographers Stevenson and McNicoll. The photo shows a group of sixteen men standing or kneeling outside a large shearing shed at Greystones, Rowsley. Behind them are two mounted men, probably overseers or managers. The standing group includes a man with a fiddle and one with a concertina. The cook, wearing a white apron and hat can also be identified. Six men have hand-held shears, three in poses of shearing a sheep. Printed On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE. Handwritten in biro along the top: Shearers at Greystones. stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, shearers, greystones estate bacchus marsh, glenmore run, wool industry, charles james griffith 1808-1863, molesworth r. green 1827-1916

This photo evokes Australian stories of shearing as an occupation, the hard work, the itinerant life-style, its legends and heroes. A strong part of the Australian identity is based on the perceptions of shearers. Banjo Paterson's song "Click Go The Shears" is still widely known and sung; the Tom Roberts painting" Shearing the Rams" is a much-loved and reproduced painting. The story of Jackie Howe who shore a record 321 sheep in October 1892 in seven hours and forty minutes remains an integral part of the shearing canon. In modern times, the film "Sunday Too Far Away", starring Jack Thompson, is ever-popular. The centrality of the shearer in Australia's understanding of itself may be traced to the central role played by the wool industry in the nation's economy, dating from its earliest colonial days. Fine Australian wool still enjoys a premier reputation in the fashion and furnishing industries. Greystones station was originally part of the Glenmore run, established in 1840 by Charles Griffith. Originally a run of 55,00 acres, Glenmore was subdivided in the 1870s to form the Greystones property, owned and managed by Molesworth Greene, the nephew of Charles Griffith. The property had 11,000 sheep and was renowned for its high quality wool. In November 2023, the property of 4033 hectares was sold to overseas investors.The wool industry was a major industry in the development of the Australian economy from pre-colonial times. It gave rise to the saying that Australia 'rode on the sheep's back.' Small black and white 'carte de visite' style unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. One of a set of photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by the photographers Stevenson and McNicoll. This photo shows a group of sixteen men, ten standing in the back row, six lying or sitting in a row at the front. From a similar photo in this collection, (VC ID 918) it can be seen that this is a group of shearers standing outside a large shearing shed at Greystones station.Printed On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE. Handwritten in biro across the top: Shearers at Greystones.stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, shearers, greystones estate bacchus marsh, wool industry

This homestead was built by Charles Griffith on a 55,000 acre Run. It replaced an earlier dwelling which was a slab hut with a bark roof. Charles Griffith, an Irish barrister, with his friend, James Moore, settled on Glenmore Station in the Parwan Valley in 1840. Their partnership lasted until 1848. In 1846, whilst in Ireland, Griffith married Miss Jane Catherine Magee, then returned to Glenmore and later took his nephew, Molesworth Richard Greene, into partnership, which arrangement proved to be long and prosperous. In 1857, they bought runs at Mount Hope and Mount Pyramid, which they kept until the days of free selection. Griffith led an active and successful public life.He was a member of the new Victorian Legislative Council in 1851, and was later an elected representative of the Legislative Assembly 1853-1859. He occupied many important public positions, including that of magistrate for Bacchus Marsh. Griffith was a devout Anglican and hosted Bishop Charles Perry at his station near Bacchus Marsh in 1849. He died in 1863 at his home in South Yarra.Small sepia unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Housed in the album, 'Photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by Stevenson and McNicoll'. The photograph shows a view of an extensive single-storey homestead consisting of three adjoining buildings, with a further building on the left of the main property. The series of three buildings is built in an elevated position, with pathways leading through a garden. At the front there is a vegetable garden which seems to be still in a state of development. The main house, possibly of brick, is set at an angle to the other two in this complex. It has a hip roof with a concave verandah on two sides with arched barge boards and simple unadorned pillars. There appears to be a hammock slung between two pillars. Two chimneys can be seen on this dwelling.The adjoining building is of a simpler design, with a lower roof line and a verandah running along the front. Two chimneys can be seen, one emitting smoke. This middle building may be a kitchen and rooms for day-to-day use. The third building is also of a simpler design, with a gable above a verandah. The purpose of this building is less clear. The different styles of construction suggest that these buildings were built separately at different times for different purposes. To the left of the main group of buildings is another cottage, smaller and of a simpler design. A fence runs along the front, clearly separating this building from the others, suggesting it may have been the dwelling of an overseer.On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE. stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, farms bacchus marsh, charles james griffith 1808-1863, glenmore station