The story of this gold fob watch is intriguing. The letter is dated March 6, 1905, 27 years after the Loch Ard was wrecked. It appears to be a quick personal note from a relative or friend who briefly writes the history of the enclosed ‘souvenir’ watch, found in Loch Ard Gorge at Port Campbell. Although the finder is not named, it is likely the letter’s author. The writer mentions that the letter and watch would be sent once photographs of the area where the watch was found had been added. The fancy, lined envelope’s date stamp is October 12th, 1917 (12.10.17), almost 12 years after the letter was written. It has a postmark from Florence (Firenze), Italy. The handwriting on the envelope differs from that of the letter, and there is no further mention of photographs being included. The condition of the watch certainly shows the effects of time in the sea. Some inner workings can be seen through broken encrustations and missing sections of its case. The winding knob on the top is recognisable even though it is covered by sand and other adhesions from the sea. Its dainty size and gold case suggest that it was made for a well-to-do female. The watch, envelope and letter were donated along with a 1971 newspaper cutting, all neatly folded and tucked with the watch into a small, strong cardboard box with metal reinforcing on the corners and a fitted lid. The newspaper article gives context to the watch, telling the story of the Loch Ard shipwreck tragedy and the two survivors, but does not refer to the watch. Perhaps one of the 17 passengers sailing on the Loch Ard, including members of the Carmichael family, owned the watch, or maybe it was amongst the cargo, as the ship’s manifest includes ‘clocks and watches £25’. . Considering the dates of the letter and the envelope, did the finder of the ‘souvenir’ watch take it to Europe? Was it used for good luck during service in the military? . Comparing the different writing on the letter and the envelope, does it suggest that the watch’s finder was overseas and asked someone to send the envelope to the intended recipient, with postage from Italy? ABOUT the address, “Glencove”: The details on the envelope are faint and obscured by stiff creases in the paper. The address appears to be “Mrs J. Mortton, Glencove, Portsea, Victoria, Australia”; though the family at that address had the surname “Morton”. Mrs J. Morton, formerly Elizabeth Ford, married her second husband, James Morton, in 1904, the year before the date of the letter. The couple lived at the Nepean Hotel before they were at “Glencove”. Although they never owned that property, it was their home when James died in 1937. Elizabeth’s nephew, Alfred Sandle Ford (1894-1981), and a nephew-in-law were overseas during World War I. Alfred Ford had moved to Melbourne as a young boy with his father. He entered service as Second Lieutenant in 1915, naming his father, Alfred Sandle Ford, as his next of kin. He served in Egypt, France and Belgium with the Australian Imperial Forces as a member of the Field Artillery Brigades. He returned to Melbourne in 1919 and worked in Richmond and Box Hill. He later married Frances Whyburn. Previously, in 1872, Elizabeth Ford’s sister, Julia Ford, acquired the 1-acre property with a 3-room house that became known as “Glencove”, Portsea. The building was originally the first school in the area, established before Crown Land sales. In the Parish of Nepean, it was first assessed for rates in 1871. Julia Ford (1843-1912) and Elizabeth Ford (1859-1957) were daughters of James Sandle Ford (1811-1890), a well-known pioneer of Portsea, formerly a convict limeburner. James Ford acquired several Crown allotments in Portsea. In 1872, he converted his old hotel into the large residential establishment known as the Nepean Hotel, which his family largely ran until it was demolished in 1971. During those years, different family members lived at the Nepean Hotel or Glencove. In 1877, Julia Ford married a significant landowner, John Cain, a limeburner from Rye. They had five daughters, four of whom were never married; Kathleen (1880-1949), Mabel (1881-1973), who was the last family member to own the house until her death, Hilda (1884-1974) and Julia Ethel (1888-1949). Some of the newspaper records refer to “Glencove”, Portsea, inform that: 1927 - Dr. and Mrs. J. E. Shilliday are staying with Mrs. R. B. Sanderson at Glencove. (Australasian) 1937 - James Morton died at his property, Glencove, Portsea, aged 83 years (Argus) 1949 - Julia Ethel Cain died at Glencove, Portsea. (Argus) 1949 - Probate application by sisters of Julia Ethel Cain, deceased, formerly of Nepean Hotel, Portsea, but late of Glencove, Nepean Highway, Portsea. The connection of the watch with the sands of Loch Ard Gorge and to the ship Loch Ard contributes to our knowledge of personal items brought to Australia in 1878, whether as the belongings of a passenger or as cargo; a gold watch would be intended for a wealthy buyer. The little artefact helps us understand the survival of artefacts in the powerful sea, over a quarter of a century after the wreck of the ship. Although many people would have visited the shipwreck site, the length of time before it was found helps us understand the effects of the sea on shipwreck artefacts. The survival of the carefully packaged watch and related documents shows the respectful understanding of preservation of historic artefacts, even from almost 150 years ago at the time of writing (2025). Ladies' fob watch, thought to be gold. It is now covered in encrustation. A bump on the edge would be the winding mechanism for the watch. A small section of the back of the case has broken away, and an engraved surface can be seen. Face and hands are missing, revealing the spring workings inside. Donated with the watch were two documents and a newspaper cutting about the story of the shipwreck of the Loch Ard. They are all in a strong cardboard box with reinforced corners on the base and lid. Found at Loch Ard Gorge and said to have been from the Loch Ard. The three donated documents are: - 1. A rectangular envelope made of cream waxy paper lined with black and white diagonally striped paper. The top right corner, usually meant for a postage stamp, has been torn off, partly exposing text on a rectangular printed logo. A round black postmark stamp near the top centre shows the post office location and date. The address on the front is handwritten in black ink. The creases on the envelope suggest it has been folded three times. 2. A letter on cream rectangular paper features clear, handwritten script in black ink. The unevenly cut bottom edge has two short black vertical lines, possibly the tops of tall written letters. There are creases where the page has been folded three times. 3. A newspaper clipping featuring text, an illustration, and handwritten details of the newspaper’s source.1. Envelope: - Address: ”Australia (per Postage) / [looks like “Mrs J. Mortton”] / Glencove, (Portsea) / Victoria” Postmark: “FIRENZE” 12 10 17” “ - - - -PORTEN – (illegible)” Logo inside envelope: “BUSTA BRE--- / Earliera Lialia” [Italian; Busta = envelope, Earliera == earlier] 2. Letter: - “I am sending you a ‘souvenir’ from the wreck of the Loch Ard 28 years ago at Port Campbell. It is the remains of a lady’s gold watch found in the gorge where Miss Carmichael & Tom Pearce (the only two saved) were washed up. This souvenir was lying there ever since. I went down into the awful gorge & saw the cave where these two unfortunates (or fortunate perhaps, as they were saved) lived until rescued. I also saw the graves of those who were washed up from the wreck. One grave contains Dr and Mrs Carmichael & six of their children. Later on, when I can get some good views of that wild coast I will send them to you. 6/3/05.” 3. Newspaper cutting: - History of the Lochard. Refer to the Sydney Morning Herald, Nov. 28th, 1971: “Loch Ard: the wreck that became a legend” flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch ard, eva carmichael, tom pearce, loch ard gorge, loch ard souvenir, port campbell, miss carmichael, mrs carmichael, dr carmichael, 1878, loch ard: the wreck that became a legend, ladies fob watch, gold watch, fob watch, pocket watch, horology, accessory, time keeping, scientific instrument, ladies' watch, ladies' pocket watch, lady's watch, souvenir watch, survivor, clocks and watches, diagonally striped envelope lining, firenze, busta, earliera, florence, italy, glencove, portsea, victoria, 1905, 1917, nepean hotel, moreton, morton, elizabeth morton, mrs j. morton, james morton, elizabeth ford, julia ford, alfred sandle ford, frances whyburn, james sandle ford, john cain, kathleen cain, mabel cain, hilda cain, julia ethel cain, australian imperial forces, field artillery brigades, limeburner

Small white covered book with a red apple on the front. A catalogue for a travelling exhibition which included the work of Margaret Olley, Greg Creek, Lsley Dumbrell, Sue Ford, Julia Ciccarone, Lewis Miller, Pat Brassington, Vera Moller, Guy Stuart, Mary Lou Pavlovic, John R. Neeson, Dav id Keeling, Juan Ford, Sadie Chandler, Lily HIbberd, Stephen Bush, Janenne Eaton, Euan Macleod, Jenny Watsin, Tim McMonagle, Stewart Macfarlane, Nat & Ali, Maryanne Coutts, Peter Burke, Janina Green, Elissa Sadgrove. John Kelly, Jon Campbell, Dale Hickey, Elizabeth Gower, Tom Alberts, Philip Hunter.margaret olley, greg creek, lsley dumbrell, sue ford, julia ciccarone, lewis miller, pat brassington, vera moller, guy stuart, mary lou pavlovic, john r. neeson, dav id keeling, juan ford, sadie chandler, lily hibberd, stephen bush, janenne eaton, euan macleod, jenny watsin, tim mcmonagle, stewart macfarlane, nat & ali, maryanne coutts, peter burke, janina green, elissa sadgrove. john kelly, jon campbell, dale hickey, elizabeth gower, tom alberts, philip hunter, loris button, rodney scherer, gael ramsay

Photocopied newsletters.e.j. barker library, mt helen library, library, information services, ballarat teachers' college library, gillies street library, sue taylor, online era, kevin jewell, lucy cartmel, janine balharrie, vicki duke, debbie lord, gordon roberts, joanne harrison, barbara crump, teacher resource collection, trc, veronica moriarty, jo coburn, karen fitzpatrick, peter stuchberry, janet ford, julia temby, shirley randell, theresa mellings, bill hitchins, naming of the e.j. barker library, leeanne pitman, jenny leviston, kate mckay, andrea backshall, special collections, trade unions, aeneas gunn, jeannie gunn, dulcie brooks, cd-rom (transient technology), book wagon, bookmobile, jan ford, karen kealy, helen darch, alan brady, stuart macintyre, sue devine

Contents: • An Innovative Way Of Communicating by Jim Connor • Next meeting – Annual General Meeting –2:00pm Saturday 12th April 2025; Guest Speaker Greg Burgess • Excursion – Saturday 3rd May – Allwood Neighbourhood House, Hurstbridge • Building a Railway by Peter Pidgeon • George Stebbing (c.1819 – 1896) by Richard Pinn • Gordon Craig Ford – Natural Australian Garden by Marguerite Marshall • Gordon Craig Ford by Jim Connor • Thomas McMurtrie Orr by Peter Van Eeken • Notice: Annual General Meeting – Saturday 12th April 2025 • Experience Eltham Cemetery by Julia DrewThe Shire of Eltham Historical Society was formed in October 1967. The first newsletter of the Society was issued May 1978 and has been published continuously ever since on a bi-monthly basis. With the cessation of the Shire of Eltham in late 1994, the Society's name was revised to Eltham District Historical Society and this name first appeared with issue No. 103, July 1995. The collection of the Society's newsletters provides a valuable resource on the history of the Society's activities, office bearers and committee members, guest speakers and subjects of historical interest pertinent to the former Shire of Eltham and the Eltham District.A4 newsletter distributed to members (Digital and A4 photocopy)newsletter, eltham district historical society

This object features a key with a labelled tag attached to it. It was once the key to the well-known Nepean Hotel. Also known locally as 'The Castle', likely due to its grand size and turret-like tower, the Nepean Hotel was officially established in 1872 by James Sandle Ford (https://poi-australia.com.au/points-of-interest/australia/victoria/portsea/approximate-site-ford-family-nepean-hotel-c-1870-pt-nepean-rd-near-fitzjohns-crt-portsea-mornington-peninsula-vic/). Born in 1811, Ford was only nineteen years old when he was sentenced to seven years transportation for 'Machine Breaking' in 1830. (https://nepeanhistoricalsociety.asn.au/james-sandle-ford/). He arrived in Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) in 1831 and served five years of his sentence, before being pardoned in 1836. Ford met and married Irish immigrant Hannah Sullivan in 1841 in Sydney. The following year, the couple settled in Point Nepean. Ford is often accredited with the naming of the town of Portsea - after Portsea in Hampshire, UK - and spent a lifetime establishing himself throughout the area. This included: lime burning, dairying, horse judging and breeding, and the cultivation of land and livestock. Ford died in 1890, however his hotel continued to operate for many decades, run by his descendants - including Julia Cain during the first half of the twentieth century (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/65817831) (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3734533). The hotel was demolished in 1971. This object is significant as it is important in relation to the development and prosperity of the area of Point Nepean. A door key with a rusted surface. One end of the key features a single set of teeth with three notches. Attached to the other end is a rounded handle with a hole through the middle. Looped through the hole is a piece of thin, rusted wire. The wire is looped through both the key and a hole in a white square-shaped tag. Printed on the tag are the words: 'CAIN'S HOTEL PORTSEA'. CAIN'S HOTEL, PORTSEAnepean hotel, cain family, james ford, james sandle ford, portsea hotel

Established in 1972, the Sunshine and District History Society has not only just preserved the past history of the district but has also been active in producing history books and campaigning for various preservation causes in keeping the history of Sunshine intact.5719.01 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Olwen Ford.jpg 5719.02 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - 129 Durham Road House Demolition Treat.jpg 5719.03 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Olwen Ford Harvester City Book.jpg 5719.04 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Olwen Ford Harvester City Award.jpg 5719.05 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Eva Rivera.jpg 5719.06 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Eva Rivera, Brian O'Reilly, Alan Dash, Samantha Fabry And Wally Zielinski.jpg 5719.07 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Ken Nathan, Joan Nathan Melchoir Bajda Snapshots.jpg 5719.08 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Ken Nathan, Joan Nathan Melchoir Bajda Snapshots.jpg 5719.09 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Region Railway Line Removes Barclay Reserve.jpg 5719.10 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Region Railway Line H.V. McKay Pedrestian Bridge.jpg 5719.11 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Olwen Ford Harvester City With Carmen And Frank Testa.jpg 5719.12 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - ORICA To Demolish Of Historical Significance.jpg 5719.13 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Joan Nathan.jpg 5719.14 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Fraser Street Park Selloff By Melbourne Water.jpg 5719.15 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Region Rayway Line Acquisition Of H.V. McKay Gardens.jpg 5719.16 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Region Railway Line Power Poles To Be Placed Through H.V. McKay Gardens.jpg 5719.17 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Stuart McKay Talmage Street House Demolition.jpg 5719.18 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Historical Society Wins Cultural Achievement Award.jpg 5719.19 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Historical Society Wins Cultural Achievement Award.jpg 5719.20 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Alan Dash Curator.jpg 5719.21 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Fraser Street Park Selloff By Melbourne Water Page 1.jpg 5719.22 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Olwen Ford Page 1.jpg 5719.22 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Olwen Ford Page 2.jpg 5719.23 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Frank Ford With John 'Jack' Horace Jackson Movies.jpg 5719.24 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Mircofiche Scanner Grant.jpg 5719.25 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - John Willaton Sunshine Technical School.jpg 5719.26 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Sunshine Harvester At Canberra's National Museum Of Australia.jpg 5719.27 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Historical Bus Tours.jpg 5719.28 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - ICI Historical Buildings Saved.jpg 5719.29 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Black Powder Mill.jpg 5719.30 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Walter 'Wally' O'Brien Deer Park Explosive Factory Site.jpg 5719.31 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Stuart McKay Talmage Street House Demolition.jpg 5719.32 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Julia Gillard Page 1.jpg 5719.32 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Julia Gillard Page 2.jpg 5719.33 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Frank Ford And John 'Jack' Horace Jackson Films.jpg 5719.34 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Sunshine City Bowling Club And Stuart McKay Talmage Street House Demolition.jpg 5719.35 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Melchior Bajada Sunshine Photographic Exhibition.jpg 5719.36 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Third Time Lucky For Brimbank Council.jpg 5719.37 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Russell Street Gates Devonshire Road.jpg 5719.38 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Stories Taken From War.jpg 5719.39 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - John Willaton ICI Factory Deer Park.jpg 5719.40 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Shaun Crosbie Our Lady's Church.jpg 5719.41 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - A Glimpse Of Brimbank's Past Page 1.jpg 5719.41 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - A Glimpse Of Brimbank's Past Page 2.jpg 5719.42 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Sunshine Bowls Club Page 1.jpg 5719.42 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Sunshine Bowls Club Page 2.jpg 5719.43 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Sam David Old Sunshine Pool.jpg 5719.44 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Sunshine Railway Disaster 100 Year Crash Remembered.jpg 5719.45 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - H.V. McKay Ferguson Clock Tower.jpg 5719.46 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Leslie 'Les' Noble Death Of Local History Buff.jpg 5719.47 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Visy Care Hub.jpg 5719.48 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - 1907 & 1908 Council Meetings Reactments.jpg 5719.49 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Migrants Look Back.jpg 5719.50 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Mary Paul.jpg 5719.51 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Marie Zielinski And Alan Dash Smith Stone.jpg 5719.52 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Harvester May Hang From New Civic Centre Ceiling.jpg 5719.53 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Brian O'Reilly And Alan Dash Soldier Tribute Push.jpg 5719.54 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Alan Dash And John Hedditch Avenue Of Honour May Make A Comeback.jpg 5719.55 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - 129 Durham Road Heritage House Could Go.jpg 5719.56 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Alan Dash History On Shaky Ground.jpg 5719.57 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - SDHS Recording History.jpg 5719.58 - Sunshine And District Historical Society In Local Print Media - Alan Dash Preserving History.jpgsunshine and district historical society

George Tibbits, University of Melbourne. Faculty of Architecture, Building and Town & Regional PlanningIndex system that support the research for Beechworth : historical reconstruction / [by] George Tibbits ... [et al]Arranged by street names of BeechworthEach index card includes: street name and number of property, image of property, allotment and section number, property owners and dates of ownership, description of the property according to rate records, property floor plan with dimensions.beechworth, george tibbitsbeechworth, george tibbits