659 p., text.non-fictionA compilation of facts and figures of the local government areas in Victoria in 1900.municipal directories, gazetteers, local government, victoria history

xv, 329 p. : ill. (part col.), planslocal government - victoria - history

This is a Victorian Municipal Directory for 1945, containing general information on all municipalities in Victoria, a Gazeteer, a Commonwealth Guide and a Water Supply Record. Municipal Directories were published annually in Victoria from 1867 on. This directory came from the Shire of Mortlake which was established in 1864 when it had an area of 2137 square kilometres. The Shire of Mortlake was abolished in 1994 and merged with other neighbouring shires to form the present day Shire of Moyne. This book is very useful to researchers as it contains much information on the City, Borough and Shire structures, the Council employees and Government employees of all the municipalities. It has, therefore, important local information on Warrnambool and the surrounding areas in 1945. This is a soft cover book of 1114 pages. It has a buff- coloured cover with red binding on the spine. The printed material on the covers is printed in black. It has a blue stamp of the Shire of Mortlake on several pages. The book contains several advertisements for Melbourne businesses. ‘Shire of Mortlake’ shire of mortlake, local government in victoria, warrnambool history

The History of the Formation of the Shire of Whittlesea chronicles the establishment of the Darebin, Epping, Morang, Merriang and Whittlesea road districts and shires, and their eventual formation into the Shire of Whittlesea. It also includes stories about early pioneers, local institutions, buildings and a brief account of the development of local government in Victoria. The history was compiled at the direction of the Shire of Whittlesea in 1961, by Mr. S.T.Grey. Several of the items in the manuscript were published as articles in the Whittlesea Post in 1961.Manuscript, paper, carbon copied typed text

1985 was the 150 anniversary of Victoria. Moorabin, Mordialloc, Sandringham and Phillip Island Councils organised a Cavalcade of Transport which included a re-enactment of a mail coach ride from Melbourne to Phillip Island in 1869. This trip was by Mr Ray Tovell at the invitation of William Harbison to stay with him at Phillip Island. Citizens were to dress in period costume and each municipality was to hand a letter containing local information to the coach driver along the route..Historical8 pages of typed letters and documents explaining the reasons for and details of the occasion. Also a history of the original trip.150 anniversary of victoria, transport, horse drawn coaches, stan gates, william harbison, local government

Personal stories in this book come from letters and transcripts of interviews that are housed in the archives of the Whitehorse Historicfal Society Inc. (Victoria)Whitehorse Historical Society Inc. gratefully acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government and Public Record Office Victoria for making this this project possible. Thanks to Yvonne Fitzmaurice and Peter Simmernauer for proof reading, Rob Innes for bringing the photographs up to their clearest resolution, Keith Hancock for checking the names and places in the Mitcham stories and Kahren Richardson who designed the front cover.

This is a Federation certificate showing the signatures of the Shire of Warrnambool personnel who signed the addresses presented by the Municipalities of Victoria to the Duke of York and the Governor-General in 1901 on the occasion of the Federation of the six colonies in Australia. This was a highly significant event in Australia’s history and Warrnambool shared in this occasion by voting overwhelmingly in the Referendum in favour of Federation. This certificate shows the official local government acceptance of the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia and the regard for matters of Empire and the representatives of British Royalty. It also has the signatures of the Shire personnel, many of whom were prominent men in the Warrnambool district in the early 20th century, especially Gideon Nicol, James Lindsay, Alexander Rollo and John Glasgow. It was reported in the Warrnambool Standard at the time that this certificate had been designed and illuminated by Victor Henry, an art student from Warrnambool and the son of one of Warrnambool’s Councillors, This is a certificate indicating that the Shire of Warrnambool Councillors signed the Addresses presented by the Municipalities of Victoria to the Duke of York and the Governor- General in January 1901. The certificate is mounted on card with paper binding on the edges and contains the signatures of the President of the Shire of Warrnambool, nine Councillors and the Shire Secretary. It is highly ornamented with lithographs of the crests of the six States of Australia, an archway , an image of a woman representing the British Empire, a lion, a British flag and the crest of ‘United Australia’ and other symbols. The printers of this copy were Sands and McDougalls of Melbourne. The certificate is coloured in mostly yellow, green and brown tonings. The signatures are in black ink. federation, shire of warrnambool federation certificate, warrnambool

This hat was part of the uniform of the Country Fire Brigade. The organization now known as the Country Fire Authority was established in 1945 as a volunteer and community-based organization providing fire fighting and emergency services in regional and rural areas in Victoria. Today the organization includes career fire-fighters and funding is partly provided by a levy included in local Council rates. The owner of this hat is not known. This hat is of minor interest and is retained for display purposesThis is a hat with a circular flat crown made of black felt with 4 eyelets. Around the edge of the crown is a brown leather band with a fabric bow fastening and a black cloth ribbon with a red corded edging. In the centre is a brass badge with letters on it. The peak is made of patent leather with a black leather band on the upper edge with metal buttons. The inside of the peak is made of green leather. Inside the hat is a plastic covering with a leather band. There is a cloth label with yellow printing. Commonwealth Government Clothing Factory Melbourne 7 C.F.B. country fire fighting services warrnambool, history of warrnambool

These ten documents (maps, plans, photographs) mostly come from the Warrnambool City Council and most contain information on sub-divisions and titles of properties in areas around the Central Business District of Warrnambool. The dates range from 1986 to 2006. These maps, plans and photographs are of some interest as they give historical details of subdivisions in Warrnambool and date from the late 20th century. .1 This is a laminated map of the boundaries of Local Governments in Victoria. It is Sheet I of 2 and has red and blue pencil markings and black boundary markings. .2 This is a copy of a plan of a survey in black and white markings on paper. .3 This is a plan of the title details of Section 19 Warrnambool. It has black printing on buff-coloured paper. .4 This is a plan of the allotments in part of the Central Business District of Warrnambool. It is printed in black and white. .5 This is a 2006 coloured aerial photograph of the harbour at Warrnambool – Breakwater etc. .6 This is a 2006 coloured aerial photograph of the Lake Pertobe area in Warrnambool .7 This is a coloured aerial photograph of Warrnambool’s streets over-stamped with road numbers in large blockings. .8 This is a plan showing the title details of Section 11 in Warrnambool. It has black printing on buff-coloured paper. .9.1 This is a plan of sub-divisions in parts of Crown Allotments 38 & 39 in Warrnambool. It has green, pink and yellow markings with black printing. .9.2 This is a plan of the sub-divisions in parts of Allotments 38 & 39 in Warrnambool. It has pink, yellow and blue markings with black printing. It is somewhat faded. warrnambool c.b.d. maps and plans, history of warrnambool

These medals were given to school children in Victoria in 1954 as a memento of the visit to Australia of Queen Elizabeth 11 and the Duke of Edinburgh. This was the first visit to Australia of a reigning British monarch. The tour took in 57 Australian towns and cities, including ten days in Victoria. These medals have no known local provenance but are retained for display purposes..1 A circular bronze-coloured medal with the image of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh and printing on one side and a crown and printing on the other side. A bar with a decorative scroll on the top portion with printing is attached to the medal by a metal ring. The bar has a metal pin at the back. .2 as above except that the medal is a little tarnished .3 as above except that the medal is tarnished and the bar is missing. Presented to the children by the Government of Victoria Queen Elizabeth 11 Duke of Edinburgh Stokes Melb. E11R Royal Visit 1954 Victoria royal visit 1954, history of warrnambool, queen elizabeth, duke of edinburgh

The original Shire of Eltham was founded in 1871. Prior to its founding, the district was managed by the Eltham District Road Board, which was established in 1856. The initial rate assessment commenced in 1857 for the year ending October 14, 1858. The honour of being recorded with the first assessment went to a farm of 110 cultivated acres at Lower Plenty, owned by John Porter and occupied by Albert Baines. It was assessed at 6d/acre providing for a rate income of £2 15s. In July 2017, officers at Nillumbik Shire Council discovered some early Eltham Road District Assessment books and donated them to the Eltham District Historical Society. The seven volumes were the district’s first six years of rate assessments. This was a unique and significant record of early settlers in the pre-Shire of Eltham. They immediately became one of the oldest and most valuable items in our collection. An article on page 5 in the Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser, Friday, 21 November, 1941 titled: ‘District’s Early History‘ states: “The first rate book which is still in existence at the Shire Office is for the year ending October 14, 1858 and is probably the best record possible to indicate the development of the district. At the time properties were rated as follows: Cultivated land. 6d. per acre; pasture land, 1d. per acre: estimated annual value of buildings, etc., 6d in the (pound). The total amount of rate recorded for the year was £153/14/8. Properties were described as being situated at Lower Plenty, Yarra Yarra, Eltham, Lower Eltham, Kangaroo Ground, Yarra Flats, Diamond Creek and the Yarra.” Given the precious nature of this collection, priority was given to digitise the rate books and place them in suitable archival storage to minimise further handling. Subsequent discussion amongst our Collections team arrived at the conclusion that the most appropriate home for this valuable record was the Public Record Office Victoria (PROV), the archive of the State Government of Victoria and who are charged with archiving and caring for all Government related records. An approach was made to PROV who confirmed these records would complete their collection of rate assessment books for Eltham. At a small ceremony held Friday, April 20 at the Local History Centre, Eltham, members of the Society and our Collections team, along with Ms. Vicki Ward, MP for Eltham, presented the seven volumes for 1858-1863 along with the complete set of digital files to Mr. David Taylor, Community Archives Manager and Mr. Charlie Farrugia, Senior Collection Advisor, Public Record Office Victoria.Born Digitalassessment ledger, donation, eltham courthouse, eltham road district, local history centre, public records office victoria (prov), rate books, eltham district road board

Photocopies from "Victoria and its Metropolis: Past and Present". Chapter 19, "The Upper Yarra District" pages [402] - 415. Includes descriptions of some townships and short biographies of local residents. Victoria and Its Metropolis' is a large two volume history of Victoria, written in 1888 by Alexander Sutherland. It contains a huge amount of information on the people of the colony and its early history. The first volume covers information from the discovery of Australia, through to the exploration of Victoria and the first settlers to the pioneers. It then continues on to discuss immigration, the era of gold, the development of government, agriculture, music and art, literature and the metropolis of Melbourne. A large portion of the second volume examines the colony by district, which covers many districts throughout the state as well as the metropolitan area. Hundreds of biographical entries are scattered throughout and a comprehensive biographical index is included at the end. The British Library has scanned Volume 2 and it can be downloaded at http://access.bl.uk/item/pdf/lsidyv30336ba8 Images from the book are on Flickr Commons via the British Library https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/ Keywords in this record highlight those residents connected to Eltham and district7 A3 Pages HG Booklet 45harry gilham collection, james andrew, w. b. andrew, alfred armstrong, simon armstrong, thomas armstrong, john bell, mary ann bell, thomas m bell, ewen hugh cameron, mary cameron, james charlton, j.m conolly, andrew harkness, william hubbard, james johnston, james mcpherson, robert parry, george stebbing, joseph stevenson, j.b. thomas, james thomson, mary weller, isidore t. wilmot, john b. wilson, walter wippell

This rocket launcher has fittings to mount it onto a lifeboat or similar vessel. Once mounted, a it would be fitted with a line-throwing rocket that would be launched from the vessel and aimed over the shipwreck. The line would be fixed to the ship in distress. A heavier line would then be sent out to the wrecked vessel and survivors would be hauled to safety. Its design suggests that it dates to the First World War ear of the 1910s. The coastline of South West Victoria is the site of over 600 shipwrecks and many lost lives; even in Warrnambool’s Lady Bay there were around 16 known shipwrecks between 1850 and 1905, with eight lives lost. Victoria’s Government responded to the need for lifesaving equipment and, in 1858, the provision of rocket and mortar apparatus was approved for the lifeboat stations. In 1859 the first Government-built lifeboat arrived at Warrnambool Harbour and a shed was soon built for it on the Tramway Jetty, followed by a rocket house in 1864 to safely store the rocket rescue equipment. In 1878 the buildings were moved to the Breakwater (constructed from 1874-1890), and in 1910 the new Lifeboat Warrnambool arrived with its ‘self-righting’ design. For almost a hundred years the lifesaving and rescue crews, mostly local volunteers, trained regularly to rehearse and maintain their rescue skills. They were summoned when needed by alarms, gunshots, ringing bells and foghorns. In July 1873 a brass bell was erected at Flagstaff Hill specifically to call the rescue crew upon news of a shipwreck. Some crew members became local heroes but all served an important role. Rocket apparatus was used as recently as the 1950s. This item is significant for its connection with maritime history and marine technology. Lifesaving has been an important part of the services performed coastal Victoria, including Warrnambool, in its very early days, supported by State and Local Government, and based on the methods and experience of Great Britain. Hundreds of shipwrecks along the coast are evidence of the rough weather and rugged coastline. Ordinary citizens, the Harbour employees, and the volunteer boat and rescue crew, saved lives in adverse circumstances. Some were recognised as heroes, others went unrecognised.Rocket launcher, lifesaving equipment, attaches to rail on vessel. Schermuly's Patent, Grey metal, L shaped pipe with large clamp on one end and small, hooked U shaped fitting on the other. Connects to half-cylinder sleeve with gimbal fitting, ball joint and adjusting fittings; painted grey and red. "SCHERMULY'S PATENT" cast into clamp.Cast into metal "SCHERMULY'S PATENT" flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, rocket launcher, rocket apparatus, rocket firing equipment, lifesaving equipment, wwi, world war i, 1210s, schermuly’s patent, schermuly launcher, sea rescue, lifesaving, shipwreck, life-saving, rescue crew, rocket rescue, rocket crew, line rescue, maritime activities, marine technology, volunteer crew, boat to ship rescue, william schermuly,

The postcard shows a photograph of William Ferrier, the 25-year-old Warrnambool fisherman from South Warrnambool whose rescue of two sailors from the wrecked La Bella made him an overnight National hero, quoted as “one of the most heroic rescues in Victoria’s shipwreck history”. The La Bella was wrecked on 10th November 1905 and the photograph was taken on the next day. In the photograph, William Ferrier is seated in the centre, with four of the five survivors beside him: (from left to right) Leonard Robertson, R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. The photograph was taken by Foyle Photography Studio in Warrnambool, originally owned by James Charles Foyle. He previously had a photographic studio in Melbourne 1882 1887, then opened “Foyle’s Photo Card Studios” in Liebig St, Warrnambool. James Foyle died on 13th July 1905 and his son and daughter, Charles and Lilian Foyle continued on with the business until 1945. This photograph was most likely taken by either Charles or Lilian Foyle. The story of William Ferrier’s brave act follows on below … The ship from which the sailors were rescued was the three-masted, iron and steel barquentine the La Bella, built in Norway in 1893. She was one of two iron and steel ships by Johan Smith, the company was one of the leading shipping families in Tvedestrand, Norway. She was significant to Norwegian shipping, being one of only 27 iron and steel ships ever built in Norway. She was registered in New Zealand and engaged from 1902 in inter-colonial trading of timber in the Pacific, between New Zealand and Australia and was often in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. On 5th October 1905, the twelve-year-old La Bella left Lyttleton, New Zealand carrying a cargo of timber bound for Warrnambool, Australia. She was manned by a crew of twelve: the Master, (Captain Mylius, previously 1st Mate of La Bella, appointed Captain to La Bella on 6th February 1903) 2 Mates, Cook, six able seamen, one ordinary seaman and a boy. Bad weather en route caused her to shelter at Burnie on Tasmania's North West coast. On November 10th, the 37th day of her journey, La Bella approached Warrnambool. Captain Mylius steered her towards Lady Bay Channel in heavy south-west seas and evening mist. He ordered the helmsman to steer for the light. As the ship came round, a tremendous sea struck her on the port quarter, causing her to breach broadside in a northwesterly direction into breakers. The helm was brought round twice more, but each time heavy seas broke over her, the third time throwing the La Bella on to a submerged reef in Lady Bay now known as La Bella Reef (about 100 yards from the Warrnambool breakwater). The sea was so rough that it even wrenched a one-and-a-half ton anchor from its fastenings and into the sea. As Captain Mylius headed to the steel wheelhouse, intending to send up a rocket flare, a huge sea slammed the steel door into him (resulting in massive bruising front and back) Despite his injuries he still managed to set off a blue light, which he held up in his hands. La Bella’s lifeboats were filled with seawater and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on the shore that there was a ship in distress. The Harbour Master, Captain Roe (who lived in the Harbour Master’s House opposite Flagstaff Hill), organised a group of volunteers to crew the lifeboat because the trained crew was unavailable; the crewmen were working on a steamer in Port Fairy at the time. He then poured oil onto the water to try and smooth the sea. At around 11 pm three of the crew took shelter in the steel forecastle but the sea crashed into it and broke it up. While the rest of the crew and onlookers watched helplessly in the moonlight the bodies were washed away into the sea, never to be seen again. Some of the crew lashed themselves to the weather rail to keep from being washed away. Watson, the ordinary seaman, became tangled in the rigging lines and was too weak to move, so the 2nd Mate, Robertson, put a line onto him so that he wouldn’t wash off. Around 11 pm three of the crew were unconscious from exhaustion. The situation on La Bella was becoming dangerous. The 2nd Mate moved to the ‘house’ and soon afterwards the ship slipped in the heavy sea. The lashings of the 1st Mate and the ‘boy’ Denham had kept them safe until about 2 am when they were washed overboard; no one was able to help. One by one, the exhausted crew were being washed overboard, too weak to hold on any longer. During the night the La Bella had broken into two and the deckhouse ran out towards the sea. Two more men drowned when trying to reach the lifeboat. By sunrise, the only survivors of the twelve were the Master, 2nd Mate and three seamen. Early in the morning, Captain Roe used the rocket apparatus on shore to try and shoot a line to the ship for a safer rescue but each attempt fell short of the target. Several attempts were made by the lifeboat to rescue the stricken sailors, but the rough conditions made this difficult for the boat to get close enough to the ship and the lifeboat had to return to shore. During a final attempt to reach the ship Captain Mylius ordered his men to jump into the sea. Leonard Robertson, 2nd mate, jumped and swam towards the lifeboat, taking hold of the boat hook offered to him. Oscar Rosenholme managed to reach the boat floating on a piece of timber from the ship’s load and a third survivor, Noake, also made the boat. Along with the lifeboat rescue crew, 25-year-old William Ferrier rowed his small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain, whom he landed on the breakwater. Ferrier then returned to the ship to attempt a final rescue, losing his oars and rowlocks into the high sea. Using just a spare paddle he skulled towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the lashing that held him to the ship; the terrified sailor dropped from the ship and into the dingy. Shortly after the last man was rescued, the La Bella was lifted by a huge wave and crashed back down on the reef; she broke up and sank. The ordeal had lasted ten hours. The survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. In the following days, an unidentified body of a young person had washed ashore; it was either Watson or Denham. The body was buried in the Warrnambool cemetery with an appropriate gravestone and inscription. William Ferrier became a national hero as news of the daring rescue spread. In recognition of his bravery in the two daring rescues, he was awarded the Silver Medal for Bravery by the Royal Humane Society and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams and a cheque for £20 from the Governor-General, over £150 subscribed by the public, including Warrnambool and district and readers of The Argus, and a gold medal from the Glenelg Dinghy Club of South Australia. Ferrier’s rescue efforts are one of the most heroic in Victoria’s shipwreck history. (William Ferrier’s son, Frank, received a similar award almost fifty years later when he helped rescue four members of the crew on the yacht Merlan after it ran on to a reef near the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. ) The wreck of La Bella now lies on her port side in 13 metres of sheltered water inside the reef she struck. The bow section is relatively intact and part of the stern has drifted north-easterly towards the mouth of the Hopkins River. The reef the La Bella struck now bears its name. Those five rescued from the La Bella were Captain George Mylius, Leonard Robertson (2nd Mate, 21 years old), R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. Those seven who lost their lives were Mr Coulson (1st mate), Charles Jackman (cook) Gustave Johnson, Pierre Johann and Robert Gent (all able seamen), Harry Watson (ordinary seaman) and Jack Denham (ship’s boy), Captain Mylius was found guilty of careless navigation; he had sailed into the bay without the services of a pilot. His Master Certificate was suspended for twelve months. Later he was also charged with manslaughter of one of the crew who had died when the La Bella was wrecked but found not guilty. The event’s adverse publicity and damage to his career took a toll on his health and he died of a heart attack six months after the wreck; he was only thirty-seven. His body was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. The La Bella was “the best documented of all sailing ships owned in New Zealand”. Her record books, ship logs, correspondence and supporting papers are still available. At the time of the tragedy, she was owned by Messers David C.Turnbull and Co. of Timaru, New Zealand timber merchants and shipping agents, who had purchased her on 13th December 1901. A detailed account of the last journey of La Bella can be read in “Leonard Robertson, the Whangaroa & La Bella” written by Jack Churchouse, published in 1982 by Millwood Press Ltd, Wellington, NZ. As well as this postcard, Flagstaff Hill’s La Bella Collection includes a photograph of the wrecked La Bella, a brass rail holder and the letter from the Prime Minister and other Members of Parliament that was sent to William Ferrier to commend him for his bravery. Some 15 – 17 ships are believed to have sunk in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the seafloor; the “La Bella” and the “Edinburgh Castle”. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. This postcard is part of the La Bella Collection and is significant at both a local and state level. Its connection to the La Bella shipwreck and the rescue of five survivors highlights the dangers of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast. The photograph of William Ferrier and four of the five survivors demonstrates the bravery of ordinary Australians who risked their lives to save victims of shipwrecks along the coast. The postcard is significant to the history of Warrnambool as it portrays William Ferrier, a local fisherman whose descendants continue to live in the area. It highlights the way of life of people who lived in coastal towns in 19th century Victoria and the effects of shipwrecks upon them. The postcard connects to the congratulatory letter which was sent to William Ferrier by the Prime Minister and Government of Australia and demonstrates the importance they attached to his efforts for Victoria and to Australia. The postcard is also an example of the photography of Foyle Photographers who were in the town of Warrnambool from the late 1800’s. Charles and Lillian Foyle took over the business when their father James died in 1905. Lillian Foyle is significant as the first woman photographer in Warrnambool. It is not known whether Charles of Lillian took this photograph. This postcard is significant because of its association with the sailing ship “La Bella”. The “La Bella” is of local and state and national significance. It is one of the only two shipwrecks discovered in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, out of the 15-17 shipwrecks in the bay. Sepia photograph of William (Bill) Ferrier (seated in the middle), heroic rescuer of two crew members of the La Bella, wrecked at Warrnambool. The photograph is a postcard and shows five men dressed formally in suits and hats. Printed below the photograph are the name and place of the photographer, a royal crest and the details of two patrons of the photographer. Also below the photograph are some handwritten words in black pen. On the back of the postcard is a handwritten message in the same writing as the front.Printed on the front of the card is “Foyle, WARRNAMBOOL” “PATRONS: / HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CORNWALL & YORK. / HIS EXCELLENCY LORD BRAS_ EY, R.O.B.” Handwritten on the front of the card is “Bill Ferrier / rescuer / Oh my hero _ _ _ “ Handwritten on the back of the card is a message. “La Bella” Wrecked off W.Bool Breakwater Nov. 1906 (_ _ _ _ show night) Payne Noake Rosenholme Robertson and Capt Mylius (saved) (moonlight bright) Watson (_ _ _ _ boy) Richwoud [possibly Richmond] drowned” and signed “Desdewoua [possibly Desdemona] Slogos”la bella, foyle, william ferrier, bill ferrier, lady bay, 1905, 10th november 1905, 11th november 1905, parliament of the commonwealth, royal humane society medal, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village

Written for the centenary of Shire of Phillip Island and WoolamaiHistoricalHard cover book with dust cover in pale blue. Black and white with photos.Stamped 'Phillip Island & District Historical Society'. Signed by ? 11 councillors?phillip island, victoria, history, woolamai, shire, bass, joseph white, local government, phillip island shire councillors, grantville

This "first reader" for children in a Victorian Primary school was fashioned by the period that it was printed in (1951), and the associated educational principles was applied by the Victorian Educators. It defines the role play of young children, at this point, in their educational development and contained within the(1950's) "society's" mores and expectations. This book was widely used by state schools in Victoria including Mt Beauty and Tawonga Primary Schools.This reader is significant to the Kiewa Valley because it demonstrates that there was still a very marked "one book" fits all school environmental approach by State educators which the local schools were apart of. This book is one of the KVHS children's school book collection, which many were donated by local families whose children went to Mt Beauty Primary School. Therefore this reader represents a social history significance for the period from 1950's and 60's. The book is in good condition, consequently making it suitable for exhibitions, and highlighting schools in the Kiewa Valley along with what local children read in these schools. This primary school reader has an orange cover with "John and Betty" printed in green. Below this is the green outline of a young boy leading his dog(Scottish Terrier) on a lead. Behind him is the red outline of a young girl (bow tied waist belt) in front of a cat(tail up). A thick green line is situated below the figures. The cover is 180 gsm thick. Inside the book are colored sketches of a boy and a girl playing well defined "boy" and "girl" activities (gender specific for the period of print 1951) Below these activities are simple descriptive words for the above activities.On the front page "John and Betty" below this "The earliest Reader for the Little Ones". Below this "Illustrations by Marjorie Howden" Further down the page and in smaller print is "Education Department of Victoria 1951". Below this and under a fine line "A.C. Brookes, Government Printer, Melbourne"first grader reader, primary education 1950's style

This book was written by Alexander Sutherland from the discovery of Australia, through to the exploration of Victoria and the first settlers to the pioneers. It then continues on to discuss immigration, the era of gold, the development of government, agriculture, music and art, literature and the metropolis of Melbourne. There were two volumes. It was published to co-incide with the centenary of Australia's first settlement.This book is a history of Victoria and Melbourne to 1888 and is useful resource for all local and social historians of Victoria and the metropolis of Melbourne.A very large book. It has no cover. Pages are gold edged and there is string in the binding.history-victoria sutherland-alexander melbourne-history