There are 17 opal fields in Australia. This opal bearing stone was found in Lightning Ridge, NSW over what is known as the Great Australian Basin. This basin was formed and covers an area of 1.7 million square kilometers in eastern Australia in the Cretaceous period. This basin used to contain an inland sea, which provided an environment where silcrete eventually formed when water levels changed. This eventually seeped into other structures, and eventually hardened and formed opal. Lightning Ridge has a population of around 2000 people, with about 80 000 visitors every year. It is a historic mining town, and is known for its deposits of a rare black opal. Mining started in the area in the late 1800s, early 1900s when the black opal was discovered. This opal-bearing stone is of social and historical significance. It is from Lightning Ridge, which is well-known for being a large producer of opal stones, most famously black opal. The history of the period dates back to 140 million years, with the discovery of black opal in the early 1900s causing interest in the area. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.***A palm-sized solid mineral specimen in shades of beige and light orange*** silica based? burke museum, beechworth, geological, geological specimen, opal, opal fields, australia, lightning ridge, new south wales, great australian basin, cretaceous, silcrete, black opal, mining

"'Wuurong'' homestead (originally 'Basin Banks') was built c1867 by Donald McNicol (1812-1903) shepherd, store owner and pastoralist. The property was leased c1870 by James Dawson (1806-1900) Guardian of the Aborigines, pastoralist and environmentalist. James Dawson renamed the property 'Wuurrong'. His daughter, Isabella Park Dawson (1842-1929), recorded the languages and customs of Western Victorian First Nations people and together with her father, published the book "Australian Aborigines" (1881).Black and white photograph of ''Wuurong'' homestead Front: An Early Photograph of "Wuurrong" Built By Donald McNicolcamperdown, cdhs, wuurong, djargurd wurrung, djargurdwurrung, cdhsfirstnations

Willow started business in 1887 as a metal working company based in Melbourne Australia, making tinned biscuit and tea canisters. The outbreak of the First World War saw their manufacturing change to making armaments and essential packaging for the war effort. In the early 1920’s, the Willow brand was established. Making tin plated canisters and baking pans with the well-known Willow pattern, imprinted on them. Some other items in production at this time include billies, boilers, basins and Coolgardie safes. In the late 1950’s, the company ventured into plastics production. Stepping away from its very successful tin plating industry of more than 50 years. In 1965, the company name changed to Willow Ware Pty Ltd, to be more closely linked to its Willow brand. Willow Ware is still  in business today. A food safe known as a “Coolgardie” meat storage made by an emerging Australian company no longer in bushiness. This item gives a snapshot into early Australian manufacturing specifically aimed at the Australian market. Safe metal kitchen safe with two shelves, a hinged door and latch and a small swivel wire handle at the top. cream colour . "Made in Australia" "Willow" warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, willow ware, domestic item, coolgardie meat safe, meat safe, food safe, food preservation

This food safe is a mass-produced item made for domestic use by Willow Manufacturing in Australia fin the mid-20th century. Willow started a business in 1887 as a metalworking company based in Melbourne Australia, making tinned biscuit and tea canisters. In the First World War, the company began manufacturing armaments and essential packaging for the war effort. In the early 1920s, Willow produced domestic kitchen bakeware such as tin-plated canisters and baking pans labelled with the well-known Willow brand. Other items at this time include billies, boilers, basins and Coolgardie safes. In the late 1950s, the company ventured into plastics production. and in 1965, the name changed to Willow Ware Pty Ltd, to be more closely linked to its Willow brand. Willow Ware is still in business today.The Australian food safe is an example of domestic food storage and preservation in Australian homes from the mid-19th century and early 20th centuries. It is part of the evolution of food preservation methods leading up to our modern electric appliances. The maker, Willow, has a name associated with practical and reliable domestic products.Metal kitchen safe with two shelves, a hinged door and latch and a small swivel wire handle at the top. Painted light green. Airflow holes have been formed in each side panel. Made by Willow, Australia.Marked "Made in Australia" "Willow"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, food storage, food preservation, willow, willow manufacturing, willow australia, kitchen storage, food care, 19th century, 20th century, willow ware, domestic item, coolgardie meat safe, meat safe, food safe, coolgardie

The Ovens pottery operated from 1881 to1892 they had taken over H L & E pottery at Beechworth in 1888 but mounting debts forced the Ovens company to close in 1892. During their short ten years of operation they produced stoneware garden urns, vases, cheese dishes, ginger beer bottles, butter coolers, water filters, wine and spirit barrels, bread plates, jugs, teapots, storage jars, pots, tiles, flower pots, spittoons, basins, bowls, demijohns, lidded crocks, pipes and bricks.A significant item made by an early Australian pottery in Beechworth Victoria, this company made many utilitarian items for the Victorian domestic market. It gives us today a snapshot into early Australian companies that were unable to sustain manufacturing their products into the 20th century, due in part to the rising imports of cheaper items from overseas.Red terracotta butter cooler comprising, round base with ridged lip, and bell shaped, domed lid with spherical handle on topMarked "Ovens Pottery, Co Ltd, Patd 1890, Beechworth" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, cooler, terracotta cooler, utensil, kitchen ware, terracotta, food container, food preservation, butter cooler, ovens pottery

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

Wash basin Elfrae Made in Australia 335mm x 85mmflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Willow started business in 1887 as a metal working company based in Melbourne Australia, making tinned biscuit and tea canisters. The outbreak of the First World War saw their manufacturing change to making armaments and essential packaging for the war effort. In the early 1920’s, the Willow brand was established. Making tin plated canisters and baking pans with the well-known Willow pattern, imprinted on them. Some other items in production at this time include billies, boilers, basins and Coolgardie safes. In the late 1950’s, the company ventured into plastics production. Stepping away from its very successful tin plating industry of more than 50 years. In 1965, the company name changed to Willow Ware Pty Ltd, to be more closely linked to its Willow brand. Willow Ware is still  in business today. A food safe known as a “Coolgardie” meat storage made by an emerging Australian company no longer in bushiness. This item gives a snapshot into early Australian manufacturing specifically aimed at the Australian market.Safe metal kitchen food safe with 2 shelves, a hinged door and latch and a small swivel wire handle at the top. Painted light green, rusting.Willowwarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, safe, food safe, meat safe, coolgardie safe, domestic object, kitchen object, willow ware, food preservation, kitchen safe

A windmill may be considered one of the most iconic sights of Australian Farming life. A pump like this rest at the heart of all such windmills, turning wind energy into water for farmers both here in Australia and worldwide alike. The water windmills access is referred to as an aquifer, an underground layer of water trapped in rocks but accessible with use of water wells and windmills. Australia is home to an underground aquifer known as the Great Artesian Basin. It is the largest and deepest aquifer in the world. Stretching over 1,700,000 square kilometres, the Basin underlies nearly a quarter of the continent including most of Queensland, the south- east corner of the Northern Territory, the north-east part of South Australia and the northern part of New South Wales. The basin is 3,000 metres deep in places and is estimated to contain 64,900 cubic kilometres of groundwater. To try and give this number context, a megalitre is a million litres. The Great Artesian Basin contains 65,000 million megalitres of water. This would be enough to cover all the land on the planet in almost half a metre of water.Lift style piston pump typical of an Australian farm connected to a multi-bladed windmill. Bronze cylindrical construction coming up from removable wood base. Rotating lever is above outlet pipe which would send water to the storage tank.windmill, australian farming, great artesian basin, aquifer