This novel, Jimmy of 'Murrumbar' by E.D. Oakley (Edward Daniel Oakley 1877-1962), is a children’s adventure story about an Australian indigenous boy who was educated in a mission and worked as a 'black tracker’ for the police to hunt down criminals in the bush and mountain region of the Grampian Ranges of Victoria. Oakely's parents, Thomas and Eliza, had a farm in Warrnambool called 'Oakbank'. Oakley worked at various jobs in the local district and later had his own wheat farms. When he returned to Warrnambool to build commercial premises and work in the retail industry. His influence encouraged Fletcher Jones to open a shop in Warrnambool. His novel - Jimmy of 'Murrumbar' - was written after he retired. The copy of the book in our collection does not have a publication date. The National Library of Australia lists two editions of this book, one dated 1938, the other is undetermined. It was published as part of a series called the Marcie Muir Collection of Australian children's books. No reference has been found to the author or any further works by him/her. The novel was reprinted as a reproduction in 2017 as a paperback and a leather bound edition 'Classic Reprint' by Forgotten Books. WARRNAMBOOL MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE Warrnambool's Mechanics' Institute (or Institution as it was sometimes called) was one of the earliest in Victoria. On 17th October 1853, a meeting was held where it was resolved to request the Lieutenant Governor of the Colony to grant land for the erection of a Mechanics' Institutes building. A committee was formed at the meeting and Richard Osburne chaired the first meeting of this committee. The land on the North West corner of Banyan and Merri Streets was granted but there were no funds to erect the building. The Formal Rights of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute's encompassed its aims and these were officially adopted in1859; "This Institution has for its object the diffusion of literary, scientific, and other useful knowledge amongst its members, excluding all controversial subjects, religious or political. These objects are sought to be obtained by means of a circulating library, a reading room, the establishment of classes, debates, and the occasional delivery of lectures on natural and experimental philosophy, mechanics, astronomy, chemistry, natural history, literature, and the useful and ornamental arts, particularly those which have a more immediate reference to the colony." The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute opened its first reading room in November 1884 in the National School building at the corner of Banyan and Timor Streets. The Institute was funded by member subscription, payable on a quarterly, half-yearly or yearly basis. Samuel Hannaford, the Manager of the Warrnambool Bank of Australasia, was the first Honorary Secretary of the Mechanics' Institutes, and an early President and Vice-President. He also gave several of the early lectures in the Reading Room. Another early Secretary, Librarian and lecturer was Marmaduke Fisher, the teacher at the National School. Lecture topics included The Poets and Poetry of Ireland', 'The Birth and Development of the Earth', 'The Vertebrae - with Remarks on the pleasures resulting from the study of Natural History' and 'Architecture'. In 1856 the Reading Room was moved to James Hider's shop in Timor Street, and by 1864 it was located in the bookshop of Davies and Read. In the 1860's the Mechanics' Institute struggled as membership waned but in 1866, after a series of fundraising efforts, the committee was able to purchase land in Liebig Street, on a site then called Market Square, between the weighbridge and the fire station. A Mechanics' Institute building was opened at this site in August 1871. The following year four more rooms were added to the main Reading Room and in 1873 the Artisan School of Design was incorporated into the Institute. The same year Joseph Archibald established a Museum; however, it deteriorated when he was transferred to Bendigo in 1877. In 1880, with Archibald's return to Warrnambool, the Museum was re-established, and in 1885 a new building was built at the back of the Institute to accommodate the re-created School of Design, the Art Gallery and the Museum. In 1887 the Museum section was moved to the former courthouse in Timor Street (for some time the walls of the building formed part of the TAFE cafeteria but all is now demolished)). In 1911 the Museum was transferred back to the original building and the management of the Mechanics' Institute was handed over to the Warrnambool City Council. The Museum and Art Gallery became one and housed many fine works of art, and the Library continued to grow. The building was well patronised, with records showing that at the beginning of the 20th century there were between 500 and 800 visitors. During World War One the monthly figures were in the thousands, with 3,400 people visiting in January 1915. The Museum was a much loved Institution in Warrnambool until the contents of the Museum and Art Gallery were removed to make room for the Warrnambool City Council Engineers' Department. The contents were stored but many of the items were scattered or lost. When the original building was demolished the site became occupied by the Civic Centre, which included the new City Library. (The library was temporarily located in the old Palais building in Koroit Street.) In the process of reorganisation the Collection was distributed amongst the community groups: -The new City Library took some of the historical books and some important documents, historic photographs and newspapers. -The Art Gallery kept the 19th Century art collection and some of the artefacts from the museum. -The Historical Society has some items -The State Museum has some items -Some items were destroyed -Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village has old newspapers, Government Gazettes, most of the Mechanics' Institute Library, ledgers and documents connected to the Mechanics' Institute Library, some framed and unframed artworks and some photographs. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute Library book collection is deemed to be of great importance because it is one of the few collections in an almost intact state, and many of the books are now very rare and of great value. This novel is historically significant for its story, representing the changes to Australian Indigenous culture and life after colonisation. The book appears to be that this is the only work written by E.D. Oakley. It is locally significant for being written by an early prominent Warrnambool family member. Jimmy of Murrumbar : A Story of the Amazing Ability and Fidelity of an Australian Black Tracker Author: E D Oakley (Edward Daniel Oakley) Publisher: Osboldstone & Co, Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia The label on the spine with typed text R.A. 823 OAK The front loose endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Children’s Library shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, warrnambool, 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, jimmy of murrumbar, e d oakley, edward daniel oakley, novel, young adult novel, juvenile fiction, australian black tracker, law enforcement - police trackers, tracking and trailing in australia, australian bush, grampian ranges in victoria, warrnambool history, fletcher jones, oakbank, thomas and eliza oakley, indigenous literature, indigenous australians

The BC-639A is a ground based AM VHF receiver covering the nominal frequency range of 100 -156 m/cs. The set was built for the U.S. Army Air Force in WW2 as part of a communication system to communicate with aircraft. A system of similar intent was built in Australia during WW2 by Radio Corporation of Victoria (ASTOR), with the addition of FM facilities. This system used the ARl7 receiver and ATl7 transmitter. Many of the sets had been modified after the war by the then Dept of Civil Aviation for use as monitoring receivers.This type was used at the AeradioThe BC-639A is a ground based AM VHF receiver covering the nominal frequency range of 100 -156 m/cs. The set was built for the U.S. Army Air Force in WW2 as part of a communication system to communicate with aircraft. Dark grey US Military colourradio receiver, bc 639, bc 639a, 639, aeradio

Large families were the norm, rather than the exception up to the time of the World wars. perhaps the senseless destruction of those young lives sickened humanity- perhaps the increased taxes and cost of living resulting from the wars caused a necessary reduction in family size. Perhaps the independence won by women as they carried on their daily lives without their men, made mothers say, "Enough" The Warren family farmed the fertile Fyans Creek flats in the Grampian Mountains of Western Victoria. Some say Halls Gap was so named because the bushranger Hall holed up there in the early days. The rugged slopes and hidden gullies could have hidden a whole gang of bushrangers, but little remained undiscovered to a wandering family of 12 children growing up with their flocks and herds grazing the ranges. A tired rider could nod off, safe in the knowledge a trusty stockhorse would plod steadily homeward into the night. Responsibility quickly made youngsters capable and reliable. Then Australia went to war. There were three older brothers, then the girls, then young Frank. All the men went, including Frank. So the girls had to run the farm alone. Their mother had her hands full with the youngsters, still attending school, a daily walk over the mountain to Pomonal and return. But the loss of the men's casual wages from timber cutting and labouring jobs, meant great hardship is some method of earning a cash income had to be devised. Paying guests! That was it. So Myrtle Bank Guest House was born. City folk flocked to the mountain resort. High stepping mountain horses met them at the Stawell raid-head, with the tall and beautiful Warren girls driving them in experienced fashion, their auburn hair sometimes falling from its pins to fly free, as the dray bowled along towards the hills. The would hitch up their skirts to saw and chop wood for the stoves and fires. They milked cows and delivered calves. They shore sheep and trimmed their feet. They mustered their cattle as the seasons rolled by, and the paying guests watched and participated, fascinated. With laughter and song, the girls would wash up in a tin dish, throw on their house clothes to wait on table, sing and play piano, violin, accordion, enjoying the talk of the city and that other world so far away from their mountain home. The simple country menu was a hit, and the homemade bread, butter, jams and preserves, fruit and vegetables sent guests staggering to their armchairs. Picnics, hikes, goodbyes and welcomes blurred as the years of the war dragged by. Bookings were made and remade as the new enterprise became established. Peace was declared. the men returned A whole new building rose with two floors, inviting verandahs and bathrooms. Myrtle Bank would remain a family business all its lifetime, until buried below the Bellfield Dam, by which time more than one the girls had joined their beloved Frank, lost on Flanders Field. Article in book or magazine describing life at Myrtlebank during war years Other article written from letter from soldier P Lillis to his sister 3rd article of woman from country enlisting in WAAF Submitted by Carol of Bannockburn, Submitted by D Langley Submitted by Meryl of South Frankstonaccommodation, myrtlebank, people, warren

Background on Bridle Path up Stony Creek Gorge Pre 1840 C. B. Hall, squatter on Mokepilly Run 1841-1842, first European to discover the Fyans Creek valley, the entrance of which became known as Hall's Gap. He later recorded that he followed a number of tracks which he assumed had been made by the Aboriginies and described one as "leading up a wild romantic glen and over on to the source of the Glenelg River". This could well have been the route taken up Stony Creek gorge by the first timber-cutters in this part of the Grampians to the saddle between the Wonderland and Mt. Difficult ranges known as Valley Gap 1850s/60s Timber cutters and shingle splitters were reported to be moving into the eastern side of the Grampians and by the mid 1860s there were a number of families connected to the supplying of timber to Pleasant Creek living in the "Hall's Gap ranges". John Wakeham, the first store owner in Pleasant Creek in 1854, established a timer-mill in upper Stony Creek Gorge in the late 1850s. Wakeham is credited for the clearing and levelling of the first bridle-path up the gorge. 1870s By the mid 1870s the track had been extended over Valley Gap to the Victoria Forest (the upper region of the Victoria Valley). McKeon's bullock team was known to have hauled red gum from the Valley to Stawell in the late 1870s and the 1880s. 1880s In 1887 an article in the Pleasant Creek news describes the Stony Creek Gorge track as "being a ledge alongside the mountain range, formed in the early days with the aid of earth and timber, along which the bullock teams used to travel to Horsham and plains of the Wimmera beyond." 1890s Gold was discovered in the catchment area of Stony Creek and by the end of the 1890s a new track was built from "near the junction of Fyan's and Stony Creeks, up the gorge to the diggings settlement. The mining Department had paid L300 for its construction and, when completed, the track was "three miles and 30 chains in length, the side cuttings at the narrowest part being 10 feet between" and "the watercourses which cross the track at various points" having been "filled up with rocks rolled down the sides of the hills, and consequently there can be no damage caused by bushfires which destroyed the former wooden bridges erected on the old track to Wakeham's saw-mill, the remains of which are still to be seen at the side of the diggings" The article goes on to further describe the track as one which "can with ease travel with a two horse conveyance either up or down" and that the workmen engaged in the construction of the track would be attending "a ball that night at McKeon's farm near the mouth of the gap to celebrate the successful completion of the undertaking". 1900s At what time the bridle path was extended beyond Valley Gap to the Wartook basin on the Mt. Difficult Range has not yet been determined. However, it is known that, by the turn of the century, people were travelling between Halls Gap and the caretakers' residence at Wartook Reservoir along what was now known as the "Bluff Road. Wartook's embankment had been constructed in 1887 and at that time there was already a track from Rosebrook Station homestead (near the present day Wartook Pottery) to the reservoir. Philip Rose owned both Rosebrook and Wartook Stations from the mid 1840s to the late 1850s and had regularly leased the Wartook basin to Cobb & Co. to rest horses there. 1920s Following the war of 1914-1918, tourism really took off in the Grampians, and Halls Gap rapidly grew. People would travel as far as they could on the many tracks then hike to the many lookouts being discovered by local tour guides. This led to the need for access across the range so that horse riders and the increasing number of vehicles could travel between Horsham and Halls Gap. To this end, the Bluff Road was improved and extended on 1929 and at its opening in March, 1930, by Lady Somers it was renamed the Mt. Victory Road.Map of Mt Victory Road and othersaccess routes, mt victory rd, bridle path, roads

No. P4892 in the "Rose Series" of postcards. For information on Grampian House, refer to "Victoria's Wonderland" pp. 69-75. For information on the Wonderland Range refer to pp.41, 70, 73, 77, 84, 145-146 of "Victoria's Wonderland".Photo of the entrance to Grampian House. There is a grass are and a wire fence in the foreground. A track leads back into a bush area , there is a sign saying "Grampian House" attached to a tree. The peaks of a rocky range (the Wonderland Range) are visible behind.accommodation, guesthouses, scenery, wonderland range

This photo was taken at the foot of the range at Glen Isla. It was material for a Ministry of Tourism campaign.The photo shows sheep grazing in a cleared area with a rocky range rising behind. There is a wind mill in the left foreground and a fence behind the front group of sheep.'This Photograph is with, The Compliments of The . . . ,Ministry of Tourism, Government of Victoria, Please acknowledge, Photo: Michael Chesire' stamped on back. 'Glen Isla, Grampians' written on back in black pen.scenery, grampians ranges

Location unknown.The photo shows a sandy track through bushland.'Forests Commission, Victoria' inscribed on bottom, right of border. 'Publicity & Public relations Branch, When reproducing please Acknowledge Forests Commission, Victoria, Negative No. 322-14' stamped on back.access routes, roads, scenery, grampians ranges

The location in the photo is unknown.The photo shows a road, seen on a slope, in the distance, crossing through bushland'Forests Commission, Victoria' inscribed on bottom, right of border. 'Publicity & Public relations Branch, When reproducing please Acknowledge Forests Commission, Victoria, Negative No. 322-1' stamped on back.access routes, roads, scenery, grampians ranges

The photo is taken from Reed's Lookout.The photo shows the view across a valley from a (Reed's Lookout). The foreground is two large rock platforms. A reservoir (Moora Moora) and ranges can be seen in the background. Roads can be seen in the valley in the foreground.'Forests Commission, Victoria' inscribed on bottom, right of border. 'Publicity & Public relations Branch, When reproducing please Acknowledge Forests Commission, Victoria, Negative No. 322-23' stamped on back.scenery, lookouts

This photo is a view from the road at Reed's Lookout.The photo shows the view from beside a road (the road at Reed's Lookout), across bushland to a large reservoir (Lake Wartook). There is a range of peaks in the background. The road forms the foreground.'Forests Commission, Victoria' inscribed on bottom, right of border. 'Publicity & Public relations Branch, When reproducing please Acknowledge Forests Commission, Victoria, Negative No. 322-34' stamped on back.scenery, lookouts

From the inscription "V.G. 259" it would appear that this copy was made by the Victorian Government. It is a photo of Wonderland Peak.The photo shows a rocky range rising behind eucalyptus trees. There is a fallen log in the left foreground."Wonderland Peak, The Grampians, Victoria" inscribed on top left, and "V.G. 259" inscibed on lower left, of copy 1. These have been cropped out on copy 2.scenery, wonderland range

c Early 1900's. Borough Huts were originally used to house the workers for the Stawell Water Supply system, later used for holiday accommodation. For Further information see " Victoria's Wonderland p37,63,79-80,93,107.Four people sitting in a dray, two men in the front and two ladies in the back. Two horses are in the traces. They are in front of a weather board building with a galvanised iron roof, a veranda runs along the front of the building. Tall gum trees are behind the building, a mountain range can be seen vaguely in the background.water supplies, borough huts, buildings, shops

The "Nerve Test" with Bellfield Peak beyond,the Grampians, Victoria. Postcard by Nuclorvue Productions Pty. Ltd.Young man crouched on top of narrow rocky outcrop, mountains in background,steep ravines on either side.Postcard/letter no date except Tuesday,7th.scenery, grampians ranges

The photo is of the Fyans Valley, taken from Chatauqua Peak. Lake Bellfield and Mount William can be seen in the background. The photo belonged to the Forestry Commission Victoria.A photo of a valley between mountain ranges. A lake can be seen in the background. A road runs through the middle of the valley with houses on both sides."Fyans Vaslley from Chataqua Peak. Incl L. Bellfield & Halls Gap. photo belongs to F.C.V. Stawell. Return to V. Young, Horsham" written on back in green pencil. The "Chatauqua Peak" has been overwritten in black-lead pencil. "LC.71" is also written on the back in black-lead pencil.scenery, grampians ranges

Photo is of Moora Moora in the Victorian Valley. Typical of the time as a promotional image taken by Forests Commission Victoria.View over a large Valley with ranges in the distance. Roads through the valley are visible and a body of water in the middle right of the photograph. A rocky outcrop is in the left side foreground.Publicity & Public Relations Branch. When reproducing please acknowledge Forests Commission Victoria Negative no. 322-26scenery, grampians ranges

Photo is of the "Victoria Valley" taken from around the area of Reed's Lookout. The body of water is Moora Moora Reservoir. The background range is Victoria Range. Photo is typical of promotional photos taken by Forests Commission VictoriaRocky outcrop in foreground and a large, thick tree covered valley, with mountain ranges in the background. A body of water (near top, middle) and some roads can be seen c1960sscenery, grampians ranges

Photo is of Victoria Valley with Moora Moora Reservoir and the Victoria Range in the background. Photo would have been taken from around Reed's lookout area. Photo typical of promotional photos of the time by Forests CommissionLarge, densely treed valley with a body of water in background. Some roads can be seen particularly right foreground. There is a mountain range in the background. c1960sscenery, grampians ranges

Photo is of Victoria Valley with the Victoria Range in the background. Photo is typical of promotional photographs taken by Forests Commission at that time.a thick bush covered valley in foreground (shadowed). Mountain range in background. Photographed from a high spot looking down and across the valley. c1960sscenery, grampians ranges

Valley is now known as Fyans Valley but in the 1840-50s it was called Lady Mary's Vale. See p. 111 of 'Victoria's Wonderland' for historical information.A valley with a cleared area stretching along the valley floor. A mountain range runs along the left and into the distance of the photograph. a rocky outcrop, bushes and trees appear in the front and right of the photo. c 1940-1950sscenery, fyans valley

Photo depicts Fyans Valley. The road is The Grampians/ Dunkeld Road, leading to Dunkeld towards the right or Halls Gap travelling towards the left. Fyans Creek is visible in parts at the foot of the range (middle of Photo). Photo appears to have been taken from Bellfield Pk area. Photo is typical of those taken by Forests Commission of Victoria in the 1960sPhoto shows a mountain range in the background with a valley. The Valley has a band of a mostly cleared grassy section (middle of photo) with a fairly dense treed area in the foreground. A road and some buildings can be seen where the cleared land meets the treed area.scenery, fyans valley

The CD-Rom includes a range of electronic correspondence sent 'Big Cats Victoria and Simon Townsend and JohnTurner. Their website states: Big Cats Victoria Southern Australia, including south western West Australia, has a history of reports of ‘panther’ like predators dating back to the later half of the 19th century. The animals were usually described as being of black or tan colouration and with the proportions of a medium sized big-cat such as a Leopard or Puma. The records can be found in newspaper, radio and television archives, Government reports, a very few books and on the internet. The historical material is based on anecdotal reportage and has contributed to the mythification of the subject. Some Government agencies at both State and Local levels (in New South Wales), have collected records of sightings or investigated stock deaths purported to be associated with so called ‘panther’ kills. They remain understandably non committal due to the lack of a specimen of such a predator of undeniable authenticity. While other types of unknown predator have been reported in various parts of Australia they are not the concern of this website. For purposes of economy we, John Turner and Simon Townsend, confine our investigations to western Victoria and south eastern South Australia. (http://bigcatsvic.com.au/) A CD-ROM of multiple emails and image attachments relating to assorted sightings, footprints, killings, etc from big cats in the Otways of Victoria. The electronic mail was sent to 'Big Cats Victoria' Images include: This item is part of the Australian Animal Folklore Collectionaustralian animal folklore collection, ja sharp, simon townsend, neville bayley, st kilda, peter stefanis, toolangi, puma, tom daniel, footprint, pawprint, cryptozoology, rex gilroy, lancefield tiger, anglesea, berringa, matthew charles, jutin fitzclarence, harry carlin, patty smith, johannes beach, nerida, stirling ranges, daryl hardy, brook kelly, carl rose, ashley hall, jonathan smith, sally ballieu, lorraine balck, wayne bower, ian riordon, aleda turna, john turner, dave moyle, ben rayner, stewart leach, colin boord, sheryl mahoney, beech forest, otways, tooborac, geoff black, panther, brad blake, priscilla prescott, beau kapitiany, ramsay hosn, clare jones, darren guthrie, tallarook, josh fairway, linda wescon, lithgow, john turner, southern grampians

Thomas S. Hart was a teacher at the Ballarat School of Mines, and a member of the Ballarat Field Naturalists ClubArticle with illustrations published by the Royal Society of Victoria by Thomas S. Hart. The following plates are included: Fig 1. The Main Divide and some of the transverse ridges Fig 2. Hills on and near the Divide at the Ercildoun and Ascot Gaps Fig. 3. Profile of the Divide at Ascot Gap. Fig. 4. Sketch of the Hills west and north-west from Mt Buninyong - - The divide in Ascot Gap from Mt Blowhard (Serra Range, Mt William, Mt Ararat, Larne Gerin, Ben Major, Mt Cole, Mt Misery, Mt Bolton) Fig. 5. Diagram to illustrate the possible courses of the leads south of the present Divide - Burrumbeet Basin (Smythesdale, Ballarat, Lal Lal , Mt Doran, egerton, Parwan Creet, Rowsley Fault, Eastern Plateau) Fig. 6. Diagramatic cross section of the grampians, south of Hall's Gap. Profile of the Pyranees, from maiden Hill - Diagramatic Section of the Grampians south of Hall's Gap. (Mt Cole, Mt Mitchell, Ben Major, Ben More, Avoca Hill, Hall's Gap.) Fig. 7. Profile of the Pyrenees as seen from Maiden Hill near Waubra.thomas hart, thomas s. hart, ballarat school of mines, ballarat field naturalists club, royal society of victoria, western victoria, ballarat, great dividing range, mt william, volcano, volcanic plains, waterways, lal lal basin, yarrowee creek, ballarat common, lava flow, wendouree, warrenheip, ballarat plateau, mt elephant, grampians, t.s. hart, mt buangor, mt beckworth, mt misery, mt bolton, lal lal iron ored, mt ararat, mt wiliam, mt cole, burrumbeet, mt warrenheip, daylesford, waubra, ercildoun gap, smythesdale, lal lal falls, parwan valley, burrumbeet creek, staffordshire reef, pyranees, bacchus marsh, rowsley fault, ben nevis, avoca hill, landsborough hill, mt blowhard, weatherboard, mclean's hill, fyan's creek, thomas stephen hart, lal lal

Victorian Rangers Orderly Room “A” Company. Victoria Ranges 1898. Taken probably in front of Wimmera Street Rooms. Includes three Akins boys. Charles Henry "Harry" Akins Back row in front of window beside Bass Drummer. Charles Alfred Akins front row fifth from right. Bugler Donald Gordon Akins front row third from right.stawell

significant as a work of art by local Pyrenees artist, locally significant to the Central Highlands Region of Victoria as a representation of local landscape and/or culturelandscape scene of Pyrenees ranges in two partssigned: F Kunz (lower left) verso: THE PYRENEES FROM OLD SHIRLEY ROAD 2016 verso (affixed): 2018 Beaufort Agricultural Society Pyrenees Shire Council Aquisitive Prize Winner FRANK KUNZ

significant as a work of art by local Pyrenees artist, locally significant to the Central Highlands Region of Victoria as a representation of local landscape and/or culture painting of landscape with mountain range"Signed: D LIM (lower right) Verso (affixed): DAWN LIM BARKLEY & BEYOND $250 Acylic "