From deceased estate of EGV memberPrinted envelope with pattern and stitch directions -Blue daisy on front and butterfly on reverse. Designed and sold by Geoff Riley, water colour artist from his shop "The Wildflower Shop", 14 Queen's Walk, Melbourne from the 1930' to the 1950's. See imagesgeoff riley, 20th century, australia, australian native flora, australian native fauna

Won at Street carnival, the Travellers' Gala in 1948 at Ballarat these bears were a popular post-war prize at such carnivals of the period when Australian motifs were seen as patriotic representations.. Nilsoft toys, koala, toys, ballarat traveller's gala

Donated by Molly CookColour photograph of a Koala on a branch of a tree."Koala Bear at Cowes"koalas, wildlife - koala, cowes, phillip island, molly cook

One of a collection of 15 photographs/postcards donated by Lois MullinsBlack & White photograph of three koalas in a tree."Australian Koala Bears"wildlife - koalas, koalas cowes phillip island, koalas, lois mullins

One of many common photos sold to tourists as souvenirsSmall black & white photo of 3 koalas in a tree.Australian Koala Bearskoalas, postcards, photographs, wildlife - koala

Donated by Molly CookBlack & White Postcard of a Koala and baby on it's back in a tree."Photo Shop Series" "Koala Bear" "Phillip Island"wildlife - koala, koalas, cowes phillip island, molly cook

Donated by Molly CookBlack & White Postcard of a Koala sitting on a tree branch."Photo Shop Series" "Koala Bear" "Phillip Island"wildlife - koala, koala, phillip island, molly cook

One of a collection of 9 photographs donated by the former Shire of Phillip Island. One of a series of photographs sold as a pack of 7 postcards for tourists/visitors to Phillip island.Black & White photograph - Koala in fork of a small tree - close-up."Koala (Australian bear)"koala, wildlife - koala, wildlife phillip island, shire of phillip island

Taken from a curtain panel. Australian animal.Cream Fillet Lace. Australian design of Koala Bear sitting in a gum tree, set in centre of square.domestic items, ornaments / decorative, handcrafts, lacemaking

(verso) C: Koala Bears, "Bear-Back-Riders (titled given by Leon Gilbert). See Native Bear Book 1930, Cazneaux Photographdaughter) on verso.koala, tree, photograph, work on paper

One of a collection of 15 photographs/postcards donated by Lois MullinsBlack & White photograph of a Koala with joey on her back."Australian Native Bear Koala" On back: "Roadley"koala with young, wildlife - koala, koala and joey, lois mullins

Part of a series of tourist postcards.Small black & white photo of two koalas close to each other in a tree.Murray Views No. 3 Australian Native Bear ‘Koala’photographs, koalas, wildlife - koala, postcards

Four postcards donated by Val Dyke.Four black & white postcards of Phillip Island. 360-01: The Phillip Island Suspension Bridge from San Remo. 360-02: View of the Isle of Wight Hotel side entrance. 360-03: The Nobbies, Phillip Island. 360-04: Koala in the fork of a tree.360-01: Photo Shop Series. Phillip Island Bridge. 360-02: Photo Shop Series. Isle of Wight Hotel. Cowes. 360-03: The Nobbies Phillip Island. Series 43. Copyright. 360-04: Photo Shop Series. Koala Bear. Phillip Island.the nobbies phillip island, wildlife - koala, isle of wight hotel phillip island, hotels, phillip island suspension bridge, suspension bridge, val dyke

Drawing of a koala bear, wearing a cap, playing a side drum. The verse reads; We are known as the 'Lions Cubs' - to some, and 'Boys of the Bull-dog breed,'' by gum! (These are credentials enough and to spare), But the symbol of symbols by which we swear, Which we maketh the foe cut and run to his lair, Is that of our mitey australian Bear. Signed Alec. Barrdrawing, pencil, mitey australian bear

A collection of nine postcards donated by the Bass Coast Op Shop. Information on the back of No. 276-05. "Koala Bears were first seen by white explorers in the Blue Mountains, 1798. Early colonists from N.S.W. called it a "monkey bear". Koala means in Aboriginal "does not drink" or "no drink". They are slow-moving, tree-climbing, friendly marsupials with thick woolly fur coats, large ears and rubber nose. They live in gum trees and feed upon their leaves. Babies are born every two years, spending nine months in mother's pouch and then on her back for about six months, then leaving its parents and looking for a tree with comfortable branches."Nine coloured postcards of Phillip Island and wildlife. 276-01. Postcard showing four vintage vehicles displayed in the Len Lukey Memorial Museum & Gardens at the GP Race Track. 1. 1928 Austin Chummy. 2. 1926 Maxwell. 3. 1924 Model T Ford. 4. 1913 Model T Ford. 276-02. Postcard showing penguin in burrow possibly on egg/s 276-03. Postcard with two photographs of penguins coming up the beach at dusk. 276-04. Postcard with three photographs of penguins coming up the beach and people looking over the railing at them. 276-05. Postcard of a koala sitting on a branch. 276-06. Postcard of seals at Seal Rocks with man sitting on the rocks beside one. 276-07. Postcard with four photographs of koalas, penguins, Cowes Jetty and Cowes beach. 276-08. Postcard with three photographs of koalas, penguins and a seal. 276-09. Postcard with four photographs of penguins, koalas, seals and penguins.276-01. Len Lukey Memorial Museum & Gardens. Vehicle description as above in Physical Description. 276-02. Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia. On back: Australian Penguin Reserve, Phillip Island Victoria. 276-03. Australian Penguin Parade Phillip Island. 276-04. Penguins at Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia 276-05. On back: Full description of Koalas - see Historical Information below. 276-06. On back: Making friends at Seal Rocks, Phillip island, Vic. 276-07. Cowes Phillip Island. 276-08. Phillip Island Victoria 276-09. Greetings from Phillip Island. On back: Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia. Interesting aspects of this fascinating Island which gives shelter to some of Australia's unique fauna.wildlife - seals, wildlife - koala, wildlife - penguins, vintage cars, t model ford, len lukey musem, cowes beach, cowes pier, bass coast op shop

Folder donated by Joe Prince. Inside folde as writtenr: "Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia" "Situated in Westernport Bay, Phillip Island offers a delightful combination of rugged coastal scenery, quiet restful countryside, and calm sheltered coves. The tourist finds ample interesting features within easy reach of the many Guest Houses and Hotels. The native Koala Bear is seen in numerous parts of the island, and tourist parties are given the opportunity of visiting the haunts of the Penguin and Seal. Excellent beaches provide good swimming and surfing, and the sportsman finds plenty of scope for his activities. The new bridge from San Remo to Newhaven provides an alternative means of communication to that supplied by the Ferry from Stony Point to Cowes." Colour photo folder of Phillip Island. 1. The picturesque rugged coastline at Phillip Island 2. Isle of Wight Hotel, Cowes, Phillip Island 3. The Nobbies and Seal Rocks, Phillip Island 4. Summerland Beach, the home of the Fairy Penguins, Phillip Island (now called Little Penguins) 5. Overlooking the Jetty at Cowes, Phillip Island 6. View from the Jetty looking towards Cowes 7. The Australian Koala and young 8. Thompson Avenue, Cowes 9. One of the many fine beaches at Phillip Island 10. Coastal scene from Erehwon Point, Phillip Island 11. Seals on the Seal Rocks, off Phillip Island 12. The Parade of the Fairy Penguins, Phillip Island 13. Fishing craft at San RemoOn front: "Phillip Island"coastline phillip island, wildlife - koala, wildlife - penguins, wildlife - seals, cowes jetty, cowes pier phillip island, isle of wight hotel - cowes phillip island, fishing boats, the nobbies phillip island, seal rocks phillip island, seals on seal rocks phillip island, joe prince, thompson avenue, cowes

Resource book developed by Aboriginal woman in consultation with local Kurnai community of Gippsland, Victoria; includes advice on story telling, involving community and parents, Koorie parents view of schooling , how Koories learn, strategies and activities for classroom, shows symbols used in art, making animal tracks, Kurnai stories include the first man and woman, the Southern Cross and the moon, the talking dog, the echidna, robin redbreast, Tidda-lick the frog, origin of fire, Kur-bo-roo the koala bear, how the sun was made; artwork in planning lessons is copyright free.b&w illustrations, games, classroom activitiesgunai, kurnai, gippsland, lake tyers, koorie studies, dreaming stories, storytelling, koorie education

Report that Field Naturalists Club had considered the future of Koalas on Phillip Island and suggest that a bear (Koala) colony should be established at Cape Woolamai.Field Naturalists Club consider future of Koalas.local history, documents, newspapers, koalas, black & white newspaper clipping

A collection of 6 postcards and 1 photograph taken around Phillip Island. Donated by Julie Barnett.Photograph 228-01. Black & White photograph of the Cowes Pier with vehicles and pedestrians. Rail tracks on pier. Isle of Wight Hotel in background. Sheds at end. Photograph 228-02. Black & White aerial photograph of "Broadwater" Guesthouse, Cowes. Photograph 228-03. Black & White photograph of Cowes Pier with Steamer coming in. Shed at end of Jetty and Cenotaph in the foreground. Looking north. Photograph 228-04. Black & White photograph of a Koala and her young. Photograph 228-05. Black & White photograph looking over the Cowes shoreline near Lover's Walk. Photograph 228-06. Black & White photograph of a group of penguins coming home at dusk at the "Penguin Parade". Photograph 228-07. Black & White photograph of Bert West holding a Shearwater (Mutton Bird) with it's wings outstretched.Photo 01. "Photo Shop Series". "Cowes from the Jetty". Photo 02. Aerial view of "Broadwater" Cowes, Phillip Island. No. 146 Photo 03. "Photo Shop Series". The Jetty. Cowes. Photo 04. "Photo Shop Series". "Koala Bear". Phillip Island Photo 05. "The Rose Series P3416". "Near the Lovers' Walk, Cowes, Phillip Is., Vic. Photo 06. "Penguins, Phillip Island." No. 82. Valentines Series. Photo 07. On Back: Mr West with Mutton bird at Phillip Island.wildlife - koalas, wildlife - penguins, penguin parade, bert west, wildlife - mutton birds, mutton birds, shearwaters, cowes pier phillip island, cowes jetty, lover's walk cowes, broadwater guesthouse cowes phillip island, guesthouses cowes phillip island, julie barnett

Donated by Ruth McConveyPostcard Folder with 6 coloured photographs and 6 black & white photographs of San Remo, Victoria.268-01 The Bridge San Remo Vic 268-02 Back Beach San Remo Vic (actually says "Black Beach") 268-03 Panorama from Lookout, San Remo, Vic. 268-04 Looking towards San Remo from Phillip Island, Vic. 268-05 The Pier from Bridge, San Remo, Vic. 268-06 San Remo from Newhaven, Vic. 268-07 Western Port Hotel, San Remo, Vic. 268-08 Entrance to Main Street, San Remo, Vic. 268-09 Koala Bears 268-10 San Remo Hotel, San Remo, Vic. 268-11 the Pier and Bridge, San Remo, Vic. 268-12 Main Street, San Remo, Vic.san remo victoria australia, suspension bridge san remo/phillip island, ruth mcconvey

Five of a collection of 12 photographs and postcards donated by Jill Palmer.Five black & white postcards taken around Phillip Island. 357-08: Looking from the Cowes Pier towards the Isle of Wight Hotel. Shows camel rides on the beach. 357-09: Bayview Guest House on The Esplanade, Cowes. 357-10: A koala and young on tree. 357-11: Penguins coming in at dusk at the Penguin Parade. 357-12: Broadbent's Official Map of Phillip Island.357-08: The Pier, Cowes. No. 9. 357-09: Photo Shop Series. Bayview Guest House. Cowes. 357-10: Native Bears (Koala) at Cowes No. 55B. 357-11: Photo Shop Series. Parade of the Penguins. Phillip Island. 357-12: Broadbent's Official Map. Phillip Island.cowes pier, cowes beach, wildlife - koalas, wildlife - penguins, bayview guest house cowes phillip island, map of phillip island

Souvenir Photographic Strip photo envelope donated by Anne LucasBlack & White photographs in a Souvenir Folder. Photos of wildlife and coastal scenes at Phillip Island.On Cover: "Cowes, Phillip Island. Photographic Souvenir" 230-01. "Australian Native Bears (Koalas)." 230-02. "Bathing scene at Cowes." 230-03. "The Pier, showing Isle of Wight Hotel." 230-04. "The Beach at Cowes." 230-05. "Seals on Seal Rock." 230-06. "The Beach, Cowes." 230-07. "War Memorial and Pier". 230-08. "The Pier. Cowes (Phillip Island)" 230-09. "Rocks at Cape Woolamai. Cowes (Phillip Island)." 230-10. "The Nobbies." 230-11. "Sea Birds at Phillip Island." 230-12. "Rocky Headland, Cape Woolamai." 230-13. "Australian Native Bears (Koalas)." 230-14. "Forrest Caves."wildlife - koalas, wildlife - sea birds, coastline cape woolamai, the nobbies phillip island, seals on seal rocks phillip island, wildlife - seals, cowes pier phillip island, cowes jetty, cowes beach phillip island, forrest caves, phillip island, seal rocks phillip island, cowes war memorial, war memorial cowes phillip island, cenotaph cowes phillip island, anne lucas

A collection of photographs/postcards donated by Dorothy Hurst. Her grandfather, Rev. Garthshore Stirling Home, was the vicar at the Anglican Church in Cowes - possibly in the early 1930's.235-01. Black & White photograph of Forrest Caves, Phillip Island. 235-02 & 03. Black & White photographs (identical) of two koalas up a tree. 235-04. Black & White photograph of the road to the Back Beach, Phillip Island. 235-05. Black & White photograph of a view of Cowes Pier taken through the trees on the foreshore. 235-06. Black & White photograph of Cape Woolamai Granite quarrie with people on the granite and in a boat. 235-07. Black & White photograph of waves breaking over the rock possibly near the Nobbies, Phillip Island. 235-08. Black & White photograph of The Vicarage at Cowes, Phillip Island - 1930's 235-09. Black & White photograph of a coastal scene at Phillip Island. 235-10. Black & White photograph of a coastal scene of the beach at Cowes. 235-11. Black & White photograph of waves breaking over the rocks near The Nobbies. 235-12. Black & White photograph of The Nobbies with Seal Rocks faintly in the distance. 235-13. Black & White photograph of The Nobbies with Seal Rocks in the background. 235-14. Black & White photograph of The Isle of Wight Hotel in the background. Cenotaph in foreground with a crowd of people, portable organ/piano plus music stands, people standing, children and others sitting on grass for Anzac Day or Remembrance Day. Possibly 1920s from fashions.235-01 Forrest Cave, Phillip Island 235-02 & 03 Native Bear (Koala) 235-04 The Road to the Back Beach, Cowes. 235-05 A Glimpse Thro' the Ti-Tree, Cowes. 235-06 The Quarries, Cape Wollomai, Phillip Island 235-07 The Beach near the Nobbies, Phillip Island. 235-10 The Beach at Cowes, Phillip Island. Valentine's Series M4847forrest caves, phillip island, wildlife - koalas, the nobbies phillip island, seal rocks phillip island, granite quarries, cape woolamai granite quarry, cowes cenotaph, phillip island, cowes pier phillip island, cowes beach phillip island, the isle of wight hotel cowes phillip island, cowes anglican church vicarage,phillip island, rev garthshore stirling home, dorothy hurst

Donated By Edith ElmsColour Postcard Folder of 7 Photographs of San Remo and Phillip Island. 1. Front Cover: View of Suspension Bridge, San Remo to Phillip Island. 2. "Penguin Parade ""Always Dressed for Dinner"" 3. "Marine Parade, San Remo, Vic." 4. "The Picturesque Cost, San Remo, Vic.," 5. "A Seal on the Rocks, Phillip Island, Vic." 6. "The Wharf, San Remo, Vic." 7. "Koalas or Australian Native Bears" Above descriptions as per Inscriptions on photographs. As in Physical Descriptionsan remo, wildlife - koala, wildlife - seals, wildlife - penguins, coastline, jetty san remo, phillip island, suspension bridge san remo/phillip island, edith elms

Published: (1934, June 26). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Published title: VICE-ROYALTY GREETS THE KING OF THE BEASTS AT THE ZOO. Published caption: Lord Huntingfield experienced a pleasant “induction ceremony” as Patron of the Royal Zoological and Acclimatisation Society yesterday, when he made a tour of the Zoological Gardens. The picture shows the Governor, accompanied by Lady Huntingfield, inspecting the King of Beasts, who is submitting to a little playful treatment from the Director of the Gardens, Mr. Wilkie, while the Director whispers in his ear that a distinguished visitor has come to see him. (Inset), is a picture of Lord Huntingfield greeting one of the Koalas. Trove article identifier: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204818472 Description: A man wearing a hat, scarf and overcoat reaches up to pat a koala in a tree watched by a man in a hat and suit. Research by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer: In 1932, the Zoo built an Australian native animal enclosure which visitors could enter and closely view koalas, wallabies, kookaburras and magpies all placed together. The branches of the trees in the enclosure were cut so that visitors could easily see and feed the koalas sitting in them. The cost to feed each koala fresh gum leaves was fifteen shillings per week. By 1924, Queensland was the last stronghold in Australia for the koala. They were functionally extinct in South Australia, only a few hundred in NSW, and an estimated population of 1000 animals remained in Victoria. There had been a six-month open season on koalas in Queensland in 1919 where over a million had been slaughtered, however with its vast, dense forests it was impossible to accurately know their numbers. Koala fur is tough, warm and waterproof and was in high demand from consumers in Canada, Britain and the US to make hats and gloves and for lining greatcoats. In 1927, with Queensland suffering a crippling drought and high unemployment, the cash-strapped McCormack Labor Government declared an “Open Season” on koalas and “opossums” for their skins, for the month of August. (Possums were often called “opossums” at this time but they are actually possums). There were widespread protests from many groups including the Nature Lovers League, Wild Life Preservation Society of Australia, Queensland Museum, C.W.A. Royal Australian Ornithologist Union, Boy Scouts, religious and women’s groups. There were letters to newspapers from ordinary people, editorials and pleas to women to refuse to wear or purchase koala fur. People questioned the masculinity of koala hunters as it was felt that no proper bushman or sportsman would kill such a defenceless creature. The Brisbane Courier newspaper led the campaign, devoting six columns a day to “Spare the Bear”. Author Vance Palmer sent an impassioned letter to the editor of the The Brisbane Courier, 19 July 1927: “Sir- It is be hoped that the disgust which all humane people have felt at the declaration of an open season for native bears in August will not be allowed to fade away until some protest... so overwhelming and effective that the question will never be raised again. For the shooting of our harmless and loveable native bear is nothing less than barbarous. His case is entirely different from that of other furred animals. No one has ever accused him of spoiling the farmers’ wheat, eating the squatters’ grass or even spreading the prickly pear. There is not a social vice that can be put down to his account. In addition, he is comparatively defenceless. He affords no sport to the gunman, and can be trusted to present a sitting target to the creature mean enough to aim at him. For this reason he has been almost blotted out already from some areas, in days when our fauna and flora were held in such little regard that the settlers’ first instinct was to shoot every strange animal and to sink his axe into every unfamiliar tree.” The Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane, Gerald Sharp, had his letter published in The Brisbane Courier on 16 July 1927: “Sir... The extermination of fauna so distinctive of our country, especially of such harmless and pretty creatures as our native bears, seems to me a shameful thing, and this is likely to mean their extermination.” But it was all to no avail. Known as “Black August”, the government was unmoved by the public’s outrage. 10,000 licences were issued to hunters and “the slaughter of the innocents” went ahead. The newspapers were full of stories of dreadful cruelty against the helpless, benign creatures by the heartless hunters who not only used guns and spotlights but wire snares and cyanide baits so that pelts wouldn’t be damaged. Infant koalas were left orphaned and unlikely to survive without their mothers. Top quality pelts were sold at an average price of 56 shillings and 9 pence per dozen, poor quality skins for as little as 2 1/2 pence each. In December 1927, the Minister for Agriculture and Stock, Mr W. Forgan Smith told the Parliament that during the August open season 597,985 koala pelts worth £139,595 had netted the state’s coffers £6000. 952,194 “opossum” pelts were sold and £9000 made for the State. The backlash that followed helped topple the Queensland Labor Government in 1929. The Wild Life Preservation Society of Australia lobbied the Prime Minister Mr Stanley Bruce to refuse to issue exportation permits for koala pelts and from 10 November 1927 the Commonwealth Government suspended the issuing of permits. In 1930, the Society made a direct appeal to USA President Herbert Hoover and he signed an order prohibiting the importation of koala and wombat fur to USA, eliminating a major market. Koala pelts were often deliberately mislabelled “wombat” to get around restrictions. The ban most likely saved the koala from probable extinction. Three years later the Australian Federal Government banned the export of koala products. This movement against koala killing was really the first conservation campaign in Australia. It raised awareness of the vulnerability of a beloved animal and eventually brought about national parks and national laws for their protection. By 1936, community opposition to possum open seasons was beginning. The koala was made a Protected Species in all states in 1937, meaning no one is allowed to harm a koala, however the laws protecting the gum trees they rely on for food and shelter are weak. The Australian Government estimates the wild koala population in Australia is between 225,000 and 500,000 in 2024. The Australian Koala Foundation estimates the national population at less than 60,000 in 2021 with a 30% decline in three years. Habitat loss from land clearing, dog attacks, road deaths, chlamydia, bushfires and drought exacerbated by climate change, continues to cause their decline. Over eight million koalas were killed for their pelts between 1888 and 1927. Any one of the annual harvests killed more koalas than are alive now. At this time, children were also being taught to appreciate Australian native animals. In 1933, “Blinky Bill: The Quaint Little Australian” book for children was published by Angus and Robertson. It was written and illustrated by New Zealand-born author Dorothy Wall and “Dedicated to my son Peter and all other Peters and Johns and Bobs and Toms and Marys and Bettys and Joans and Pats and all kind children.” The book tells the story of Blinky Bill - a mischievous, patched knickerbocker-wearing koala and his mother and father. The story has messages of conservation and instances of human unkindness and cruelty. Mr. and Mrs. Koala and young Blinky lead a mostly idyllic family life amongst a variety of other animals in the forest. However it all changes in chapter two, when Blinky Bill’s father is distressingly shot by a hunter. There is a harrowing description of Mr. Koala’s shooting and eventual death. “The Koala family lived so happily; never thinking of harm, or that anything could happen to disturb their little home, as all they asked for were plenty of fresh gum-leaves and the warm sun. They had no idea such things as guns were in the world or that a human being had a heart so cruel that he would take a pleasure in seeing a poor little body riddled with bullets hanging helplessly from the tree-top... That same being might just as well take his gun and shoot baby kookaburras, so helpless were they all and so trusting.” “Poor Mr. Koala one day was curled up asleep in his favourite corner, when the terrible thing happened. Bang! He opened his eyes in wonder. What was that? Did the limb of the tree snap where that young cub of his was skylarking? ... bang! again. This time he felt a stinging pain in his leg... Peering over the bough of the tree he saw a man on the ground with something long and black in his arms... Another bang and his ear began to hurt. Bang! again and now his little body was stinging all over. He grunted loudly and slowly climbed up the tree, calling Mrs. Koala and Blinky as he went. He managed to reach the topmost branch... Tears were pouring down his poor little face. He brushed them away with his front paws and cried just like a baby. Fortunately Mrs. Koala and Blinky Bill were hiding in the leaves quite motionless, and the shadows of the tree made them appear as part of it. The man with the gun stood and waited a long time, then walked away, whistling as he went - the only sound to be heard in the bush except the cries of the little bear far up in the tree.” Blinky and his mother quietly and fearfully wait for Mr. Koala to wake. In the morning, grunting and crying, they feel his lifeless body with their paws. Eventually Mrs. Koala realises that her husband is dead and that they need to move to a safe place. After travelling deeper into the forest, Mrs. Koala and Blinky meet koalas Mrs. Grunty and her son Snubby and she describes how she was captured as a baby by koala fur trappers to be a pet for a little girl. The trapper forgot to bring gum leaves for the koala so they try to feed her cake, milk and bananas, making her sick. The little girl’s father relays something he read in the paper: “During the year 1920 to 1921, two hundred and five thousand six hundred and seventy-nine koalas were killed and their skins sold to the fur market, under the name of wombat.” They place the koala in a box with a teddy bear for company. The baby koala’s health deteriorates and the alarmed trapper returns her to the bush. Mrs. Grunty tells Mrs. Koala that she and Blinky are the only bears that she has seen for ten years: “I remember well the little girl’s father telling her... that not so many years ago the bush was alive with us bears, from Queensland to the south of Victoria. Now, we are so rare that we have become a curiosity, something to put in zoos, for children to see; and actually in museums. I believe our grandparents sit there in glass cases, stuffed with something inside to make them appear alive, and, oh dear, glass eyes. In New South Wales, I think we could wander for miles from one corner to another and never meet a bear. I don’t know why we were all killed. As you know, we don’t eat the farmers’ crop or ruin their orchards. All we asked for were our own gum-trees.” At the end of the book, Dorothy tells her readers - “The kindest action of all would be to leave the koala baby in his own bushland, among his own playmates, with the sun, the sky, the birds, and the gum-trees, where he will grow to manhood and live for many years - happy as he should be.” In 1934, a “Wild Zoo”, the Sir Colin Mackenzie Sanctuary, opened on 32 hectares of land, formerly part of Coranderrk Aboriginal Reserve in the Yarra Valley, exclusively displaying Australian native animals, birds and reptiles. It was later renamed Healesville Sanctuary and is now managed by Melbourne Zoo and home to over 200 species of Australian native fauna. The Sanctuary is committed to rescuing, breeding, researching and raising awareness of the vulnerability of Australian animals. Andrew Arthur Wellesley Wilkie, 1853-1948, was Director of the Melbourne Zoo from 1923 to 1936 and was associated with the zoo for 70 years. He first worked as a horticultural assistant to Government botanist Baron Ferdinand von Mueller at the Botanical Gardens at the age of 13, along with his older brother David. One of Andrew’s jobs was to capture moths for the National Herbarium. In 1857, a group of prominent Melburnians assembled at St. Patrick’s Hall to form the Zoological Society of Victoria, with the aim of introducing animals and plants from overseas. It was conceived, “For the purposes of science and for that of affording the public the advantages of studying the habits of the animal creation in properly arranged zoological gardens.” The Victorian Government granted 32 acres (13 hectares) of land to the Zoological Society at the southern end of Richmond Paddock on the opposite bank to the Botanical Gardens. (This is where AAMI Stadium and Collingwood Football Club now stand.) In 1861, the Zoological Society of Victoria was renamed The Acclimatisation Society of Victoria. Unfortunately the Yarra River frontage was damp, swampy and subject to flooding, so the animals were briefly housed at the Botanical Gardens until in 1862, the City of Melbourne donated 55 acres (22 hectares) of land at Royal Park for the fledgling zoo. Baron von Mueller secured employment at Royal Park for Andrew and David and they helped to lay out the gardens, plant trees and take care of a collection of deer, pheasants, hares and partridges. Initially the zoo was used for the acclimatisation of animals recovering from the long voyage to Australia and for breeding them for sport. In 1872, the zoo bought two lions, a leopard and a cheetah that had been seized from circus showmen Keith and Phillips when they were unable to pay the bill of butcher Mr T K Bennet of Bourke Street. The first zoo director, Mr. Albert Le Souef, negotiated with captains of ships to buy animals at overseas ports they visited and soon a multitude of exotic species arrived, including a ten-year-old Indian elephant in 1878. In 1923, after being head keeper for some years, Andrew was appointed director of the zoo. By 1933, the zoo had 110 different species of animals, 200 species of birds and 72 species of reptiles under Andrew’s care. He had personally planted all but six trees and laid out the garden beds. As director he lobbied authorities for funds to build more humane enclosures for the animals. In June 1928, Table Talk magazine wrote of Andrew Wilkie: “Up at the Zoo there is a humble gentleman who is a lion among the lions, who knows the proper specific to employ when the boa constrictor has chilblains, and who is a friend and confidant of Queenie the elephant. His fount of zoological lore has never been plumbed. It is bottomless, like his good fellowship and geniality. Every day he may be seen somewhere in the grounds of that growing sanctuary for the strange and arresting fauna and creeping things of the world, and I assure you as one who is privy to his passion that that area and its inhabitants are rarely out of his thoughts.” Andrew retired from the zoo in 1936 at the age of 83 and in 1948 died at his home in Brunswick aged 94. He and his wife Josephine had six children. The Victorian Acclimatisation Society was founded in 1861 by Edward Wilson, 1813-1878, then owner and editor of The Argus newspaper. He said that Australian indigenous animals were practically useless, providing only “a little sport and an occasional meal”. The Society believed that Australia’s plants and animals were vastly inferior to those in Europe. They wanted to introduce and acclimatise to Victoria “all innoxious animals, birds, fishes, insects and vegetables, whether useful or ornamental” for sport and for the table, and to spread indigenous animals and plants from the colony around the world. Their motto was “if it lives, we want it”. The Society was primarily responsible for introducing sparrows, starlings, sambar and hog deer, ostriches, brown trout, blackberries, and carp to the Murray River. They released the European songbirds, thrush and blackbird to quell the homesickness of British settlers. The Society also sent Australian animals like platypus, echidnas, kangaroos and koalas to Europe for scientific and novelty purposes. Thomas Austin, a wealthy sheep farmer of Barwon Park, Winchelsea (property now owned by the National Trust) was a member and in 1859 he introduced hares, blackbirds, thrushes and partridges onto his property. He is probably best known for introducing 24 breeding rabbits onto his estate as game for shooting parties. Thomas quipped, “The introduction of a few rabbits could do little harm and might provide a touch of home, in addition to a spot of hunting." In 2022, genomic data confirmed that Australia’s feral rabbit population is entirely descended from these rabbits. Biological control has brought the rabbit population down from an estimated high of 10 billion rabbits in the 1920s to approximately 200 million today, inhabiting 70% of Australian landmass (5.3 million square kilometres). In 1872, the Acclimatisation Society was renamed The Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria and they focused on importing exotic animals for display purposes to the zoo. In 1937, the Royal Acclimatisation Society of Victoria was recreated as the Zoological Board of Victoria with a focus on research of native animals threatened with extinction. In an editorial for The Argus newspaper, 16 March 1856, Edward Wilson lamented: "...this country has been shamelessly stolen from the blacks. Had they been like the New Zealanders or the North American Indians, we should have bought their land, and supplied them with the means of living when we took it... In less than twenty years we have nearly swept them off the face of the earth. We have shot them down like dogs. In the guise of friendship we have issued corrosion sublimate in their damper, and consigned whole tribes to the agonies of an excruciating death. We have made them drunkards, and infected them with disease which has rotted the bones of their adults, and made such few children as are born amongst them a sorrow and a torture from the very instant of their birth. We have made them outcasts on their own land, and are rapidly consigning them to entire annihilation. There are but a few of them left, comparatively. This is what we would do for that few. We would feed and clothe every one of them.” [Note: this last sentence is italicized in the original newspaper article text]. Lord Huntingfield, (William Charles Arcedeckne Vanneck) 1883-1969, Governor of Victoria 1934-1939, was a British Conservative Party politician and the first ever Australian-born Governor of an Australian state (although he was always considered British). He was patron of the Royal Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria and was acting Governor-General for six months during the absence of Lord Gowie in 1938. Lady Huntingfield (née Margaret Eleanor Crosby) 1884-1943, his American-born wife showed great interest in social welfare and the advancement of women and children. She was president of the City Newsboys Society and Patroness of the Girls Friendly Society. In 1937, rose breeder Alister Clark named a yellow hybrid tea rose for her. In 1940, the City of Melbourne opened the Lady Huntingfield Free Kindergarten in North Melbourne, now the Lady Huntingfield Early Learning and Family Services Centre. Lady Huntingfield died in London in 1943 after her house was bombed during a German airstrike. The Lady Huntingfield Memorial Scholarship was established after the City of Melbourne raised £1000 in a public appeal conducted in her memory for students undertaking a Social Work degree at the University of Melbourne. It is awarded annually to this day. The Queen Victoria Hospital named a bed in her honour. References: VICE-ROYALTY GREETS THE KING OF BEASTS AT THE ZOO. (1934, June 26). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved August 23, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204818472 Prominent Personalities ANDREW WILKIE (1928, June 7). Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885 - 1939), p. 15. Retrieved August 29, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146562949 'Edward Wilson (journalist)', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Wilson_(journalist) 'Thomas Austin (pastoralist)', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Austin_(pastoralist) 'The Acclimatisation Society was driven by misguided ideals about 'fixing nature' in Australia', ABC News, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-04/acclimatisation-society-introduced-species-history-listen/101588262?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web Blinky Bill: the quaint little Australian (eBook); by Dorothy Wall, 1933, 2023, Project Gutenberg Australia, https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks04/0400571h.html "Black August": Queensland's Open Season on koalas in 1927 (thesis); Glenn Fowler, 1993, Australian National University, https://www.savethekoala.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Black-August.pdf Unfair game: Queensland's Open Season on koalas in 1927; Jacqui Donegan, 2000, University of Queensland, https://mesto-ku.narod.ru/koalas.pdf OPEN SEASON CONDEMNED. (1927, July 19). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 15. Retrieved September 5, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article21863465 COUNTRY WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION. (1927, July 30). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 25. Retrieved September 20, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article21866965 AUSTRALIA: Barnardo's children at Melbourne Park Zoo (1929), British Pathé, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wcrbo_cHpI 'Kodak Cinegraph Compilation No 8', ACMI Collection, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCrBng5RwFI KOALA SKINS. EXPORT BAN SOUGHT. (1927, August 4). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 10. Retrieved September 15, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article21868746 THE ABORIGINES. (1856, March 16). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 5. Retrieved September 28, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4833244 Koala Bears (1937), British Pathé, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbqgMtyuzwE Australian Koala Bear (Earliest Archive Footage: 1929), Pond5, https://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/item/152767491-australian-koala-bear-earliest-archive-footage-1929Photographer notations on slide: "Vice Regal visit to zoo B42".1930-1939, zoos, governors, koalas, conservation, possums, botanic gardens

'Willie & Wilma' two hand knitted toy bears, made for sale during the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games. The inspiration for these toys was the mascot for the Games - "Matilda" - a 13 meter tall mechanical kangaroo. These toys knitted by Dawn Bennetts for sale at Dorcas Cottage Crafts in Montmorency 1984-1986.2 hand knitted woolen toys, grey bodies with yellow and green knitted clothing.commonwealth games, knitting, koalas, knitted toys, toys