A label advertising 'Tennis Brand' Muscat grapes, by grower, H. Erickson. Materials: Paper, Inktennis

Object. Shield shaped gold medal with horn shaped suspension piece at crest with suspension ring. A smaller inner shield shape creates a border with scattered leaves. Obverse: - 3D Engraving "CENTENNIAL HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITION OF VICTORIA AWARDED TO DELBRIDGE BROS EPSOM''. Reverse: FLAT '' Presented by the Bendigo Wine & Fruit growers Association for 12 varieties Table Grapes''. See also 7900.28.numismatics, medals-civil, horrticultural show prize medal 1889

Frost pot used growers put sump oil to burn to help keep frost away frost away on young growtha tin used for a frost pot Growers would burn sump oil in frost pots to create an inversion layer and a lot of smoke to help prevent frost damage in low lying frost prone areas of the vineyard frost potfrost pot, dried fruit, grapes

George Knight was born in London in 1831. He qualified as an architect and practised as a civil engineer before coming to Australia with a younger brother in 1854. He was appointed Government Engineer shortly after arriving in Victoria, and supervised the construction of a railway line to Williamstown and the Sunbury section of the main railway line to Bendigo. Subsequently, he established a vineyard at Sunbury but soon sold it and moved to Bendigo, where he held the position of City Surveyor until retiring in 1886. During that period, he established nurseries, vineyards and orchards on four different sites in and around Bendigo, trading as the Knight Brothers. The Rosenberg nursery at Back Creek was established on former gold diggings - only after turning over the whole site to unearth the fertile soil and bury the clay and gravel that the miners had brought to the surface. One of the noteworthy plants at the nursery was a rose 'bush' measuring 19 metres long, 13 metres wide and 4 metres high. Another was the 'Grand Centennial' grape vine, bred from a Waltham cross, that yielded grapes measuring 35 mm long and 28 mm in diameter. It won a silver medal for the 'newest and finest grape variety raised in the colony' at the Melbourne Centennial Exhibition in 1895.Four page photocopied document, includes letter from Australian Orchid Foundation (16/10/2003) addressed to the Bendigo Historical Society re George William Knight, seeking a copy of a portrait of Knight; one page article on Knight and his role as a pioneer of orchid growing in Australia (by Gerald McCraith, AM) and a two page article titled 'George W. Knight, one of Victoria's earliest orchid growers, by Greg Campbell, Gerald McCraith AM and Brian Milligan.george william knight, bendigo, nursery, rosenberg nursery, back creek, grapes, roses, orchids

Edward Gadd’s coach building and blacksmith shop was on the western side of Main Road, just south of Arthur Street and alongside Hannah Lloyd’s Railway General Store. The site was later home to the Eltham Produce Store, then a BP Petrol Station and in present-day home to Healthability at 911-917 Main Road. https://maps.app.goo.gl/az9GzxmVYFRGgYa39 Note with photo: "Man with hammer is Mr Gadd; always wore leggings and played violin at local dances. On his left is Harold Norman of Research. (Sam Howard played banjo). Mrs Read (Jock's mother) played piano by ear. Research called Normantown because no one could remember who was related to who." Note the school children; one of whom may be Jock Read. In April 1922, E.Gadd took over the West Bros. blacksmithing business at Eltham. He had many prior years’ experiences with horses and their ailments, such as diseased feet and bad breath. He advertised that he kept horse medicines in stock and was prepared to undertake clipping. [THE Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser AND Diamond Creek Valley Advocate. (1922, April 7). Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser and Diamond Creek Valley Advocate (Vic. : 1917 - 1922), p. 3 (AFTERNOON.). Retrieved July 31, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57640818] A poster on the exterior wall of the shed promotes protection of vineyards from Prohibition by voting No. This would date this photo around March 1930. A vote was being held by the Victorian government which the vineyard growers were opposed to due to the ramifications it would have upon the wider industry for dried fruits and table grapes, etc as well and how it was in direct conflict with the federal government's actions of WW1 Soldiers Settlements on vineyards as it would ruin them. [HOW VINE GROWERS WOULD BE PENALISED (1930, March 28). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 - 1939), p. 4 (AFTERNOON). Retrieved July 31, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57762063] Edward Gadd died of pneumonia, July 1937. He had operated his coach building business in Eltham for 15 years (1922-1937). He lived in Research and left a wife and three sons. He was actively involved with the Research Hall and was largely instrumental in its establishment. [Death of Mr. Edward Gadd. (1937, July 23). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 - 1939), p. 1. Retrieved July 31, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56845399] Following Gadd’s death, P. Sloan of Warrandyte took over the business, which he advertised as 'Eltham Shoeing Forge'. [Advertising (1937, July 30). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 - 1939), p. 6. Retrieved July 31, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56845470] The photo was taken around March 1930 and Gadd operated his business between 1922 and 1937. This would suggest the shed would be visible in the November 1931 aerial photograph. Looking past the shed to the left the topography is relatively flat. The most probable location for the blacksmith shop, being a coach builder, would be near or on the main road. The only area in Eltham relative to other businesses that has a flattish topography with hills in the distant is around the railway station. E. Gadd’s Blacksmith shop was situated on the western side of Main Road, between Arthur and Dudley Streets and does appear to be visible in the 1931 aerial photo held by the Society. A map drawn up by Doug Orford of businesses and homes along Main Road in the 1930s shows the Gadd blacksmith shop in this precise location, just south of Staff’s general store. (See EDHS_05122). Other photos show the blacksmith shop adjacent to the Railway store and it had “Electrine Candles” advertising painted on the roof facing the southern approach along Main Road (SEPP_0611) and is just visible to the left of Lloyd’s Store c.1916-c.1922 (EDHS_02160). The rear of the shop facing the railway line is visible in EDHS_05593 Panorama at Eltham c. 1925. - Research by Peter Pidgeon, EDHS, July 2026 Sepia photographcoaches, dance band, edward gadd, eltham, harold norman, jock read, mrs read, prohibition vote, research (vic.), sam howard, vineyards, industry, school children