This corkscrew has obviously been used as a promotional handout for clients of James McGee and Co. Information on this firm has been difficult to find but there was a well-known commercial traveller, James McGee, resident in the Warrnambool district at the end of the 19th century and it is known that his sons headed a company, James McGee and Co. that bought Sheldrick’s New Brewery in Timor Street, Warrnambool, in 1894. This brewery had been founded in 1868. In 1922 the McGee company sold the goodwill of the Warrnambool brewery to the Ballarat, Melbourne Co-Operative and Carlton and United Breweries and the local brewery closed. No information has been found on Ballangarrock Whisky.This corkscrew is an important souvenir of the last few years of operations at the Warrnambool New Brewery in Timor Street. This business had operated in Warrnambool for over 50 years.This is a metal corkscrew with a wooden handle. There is black printing on the handle. This printing is faded in parts. The metal screw is rusty.‘Jas. W. McGee & Co. Importers Warrnambool’ ‘Drink Ballangarrock Whisky’ james mcgee & co., history of warrnambool

Poem was kept by Billy, McGEE's grandson, Terry McGEE.The two-page poem 'Billy McGee in the Slips' by an unknown author. It expresses the intense excitement of Junior Cricket after a match between North Port and La Macotte at North Port Cricket Ground in 1904.sport - cricket, port melbourne cricket ground

In 1868, Walter Sheldrick, a Warrnambool butcher, established a company to operate the Warrnambool New Brewery (at the corner of Timor and Fairy Streets). The company was wound up but the brewery continued to operate as Sheldrick and Co., with Walter Sheldrick and Thomas Price as principal partners. Sheldrick died in 1893 but the brewery continued with various partners in the business. In 1894 the brewery was sold to James W. McGee and Co. and this firm operated the brewery until its demise in 1922 when it was bought out by the Ballarat, Melbourne Co-Operative and Carlton and United Breweries and closed. This demijohn is of interest as it came from the Warrnambool New Brewery (closed 1922). This brewery, known as Sheldrick’s was a prominent business in Warrnambool for over 50 years. This is a circular-shaped stone jar enclosed in a wicker case with handles. The jar has a circular yellow top with no stopper. ‘James W. McGee & Co Wmbool’warrnambool new brewery (sheldrick & co.), james w. mcgee & co, warrnambool

Tom Megee (who generally spelled his name as McGee) was a son of Thomas Megee and his wife Jane, née Head. He enlisted for military service during World War I under the name Thomas McGee. His military service record (SERN 3419) says his father was Thomas McGee of Linton, and that he had worked for Bennett's butchers in Linton before enlisting.Black and white copy of original photograph which shows a young man in military uniform.tom megee, tom mcgee

Family History of the Monaghan Family - Still Residents in our District.Light Blue Card with Dark Blue Tape, with Black Hand written titleOur Irish Ancestors and a History of their Descendants. Family History (Underlined) Monaghan Mills Hodgetts, etc Ryanstawell

Newspaper lift-out commemorating 50 years since the declaration of WWII. 'The war that forced a nation to come of age' (article p1 and continued on p22) - by Professor Manning Clark - Article provides political background within Australia to armed forces and WWII. 'The week before the world went mad' (article & photos p2) - Six sections on what was happening that week prior to war declared in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Hobart. '1939 - 1945 An Australian perspective' (article & timeline with captioned images and photos p3-8) - by Christine McGee - Article provides timeline of events at a personal/local through to national and international, influences and politics, statistics, and information on various fronts of battle from 03/09/1939 - 02/09/1945. Nursing mentioned on p6, there is a photo of a group of women in uniform walking towards the camera and the caption mentions the sinking of the Centaur, loss of 11 of 12 nurses aboard, and how 55 nurses were decorated and 82 mentioned in dispatches. 'The Australians killed in action in World War II : while serving with the nation's defence forces' (roll of honour list p9-21) - Official roll of honour for those who died between 3 September 1929 and 30 June 1947. Includes amendments. People are listed with their units surname followed by initials. 'Curtin's turn to America and the reshaping of Australia...' (article p22) - by Paul Kelly - Article looks at the circumstances and key people involved in the moving of ties away from Britain towards the United States. A large black and white newspaper lift-out with the cover showing the numerals 1939 filled with photos collaged together, several large headlines and subtitles, one article with two columns and a large captioned photo of a man in uniform with a gun on his shoulder, cigarette in his mouth, wearing a hat. Inside is a mix of articles, a timeline with photos and captions, a list of those who died with the unit they served and more photos and articles on the back cover.'WWII' [blue ink top of cover] 'Sept.2.3 1989' [blue ink top of cover]world war two, wwii, ww2, commemorative, timeline, australia

Group of Males at Kanya c 1916. In pencil on the back H. Mcgee enlisted June 19th 1916. Standing (in biro) Jo Kennedy - Eucalyptus, Portinton, Hughie McGee, McGrath, Tom Morton/Martin?, Sonny. Seated Alec McPherson, Sandy McKerie?, Donaly McFarlane (Highland Chief), Tommy Mannington (Jacky the rabbiter), Jim Donerty - GroomBlack and white photograph of eleven males, six standing five seated on a bench seat.In pencil on the back H. Mcgee enlisted June 19th 1916. Standing (in biro) Jo Kennedy - Eucalyptus, Portinton, Hughie McGee, McGrath, Tom Morton/Martin?, Sonny. Seated Alec McPherson, Sandy McKerie?, Donaly McFarlane (Highland Chief), Tommy Mannington (Jacky the rabbiter), Jim Donerty - Groomstawell

The Braybrook Hotel is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Melbourne’s western suburbs, a bluestone wayside inn established during the gold‑rush era and central to the early civic life of Braybrook, Sunshine, and the Ballarat Road district. In 1989, the Braybrook Hotel underwent a significant round of works that included new additions to the side and rear of the building. These works were designed to expand the hotel’s usable space while keeping the original 1850s bluestone structure intact. These photographs, taken by The Advocate newspaper, capture the period just before the new drive‑in and liquor bar were due for completion. The new large bistro area at the rear was scheduled to open in April the following year.These photographs show the 1989 additions taking shape during construction along the side and rear of the building.Launching Of Book By Prue McGoldrick By Barry Jones Sunshine Townhall 145.1braybrook hotel, ballarat road, braybrook

St Albans Square emerged during the period when Melbourne’s outer suburbs were building European‑style pedestrian plazas to support growing migrant communities. St Albans, with its large Maltese, Yugoslav, Italian, Greek, and later Vietnamese population, needed: a central meeting place, a pedestrian‑friendly shopping zone, a civic space separate from traffic, somewhere for markets, gatherings, and casual socialising. The Square was built as part of the Main Road East commercial precinct, becoming the suburb’s unofficial “town centre.”These photographs taken by The Advocate captures the installation of the 10 metre palm tree at St Albans Square is significant as the palm tree has become a long‑standing landscape marker that contributes to the visual identity and social character of the precinct. The tree was donated to Council by local Ardeer resident Peter Zafiropoulous. Positioned at the intersection of Main Road East and The Esplanade, it serves as a focal point within the plaza and reflects late‑20th‑century suburban design practices that used distinctive plantings to create recognisable civic landmarks. The tree has remained a constant feature through decades of commercial change, multicultural growth, and streetscape redevelopment, and continues to embody the continuity of community life in St Albans. Its survival into 2026 enhances its value as a living element of the suburb’s public‑realm heritage.Palm Tree St. Albans Square 284.2st. albans square, main road east, the esplanade, st. albans

No. 1 RAAF Stores Depot in Braybrook (often called the Tottenham RAAF Stores Depot) was one of the most important defence facilities in Melbourne’s west, a massive wartime logistics base built in 1944–45 and operated until 1993. The site expanded significantly after WWII, adding: RAAF Police Dog Training Centre (established 1962), supply‑officer training facilities, accommodation blocks, mess halls, chapels, gyms and sports grounds which transformed the depot into a self‑contained military community. It shaped Braybrook’s industrial landscape, employed hundreds of locals, and played a central role in Australia’s WWII and post‑war supply chain. These photographs capture only a small part of the No. 1 RAAF Stores Depot that one of Australia’s major wartime and post‑war defence logistics centres, representing the scale, organisation, and industrial capability required to support the Royal Australian Air Force from 1945 to 1993. Established during the critical final years of the Second World War, the depot consolidated dozens of scattered storage sites into a single purpose‑built facility, demonstrating the Commonwealth’s shift toward modern, centralised military supply systems. Its extensive warehouses, rail sidings, and specialised training areas illustrate mid‑20th‑century defence planning and the functional architectural style of the Department of Works. The depot played a vital role in national logistics, handling equipment, clothing, barracks stores, demobilisation materials, and returned overseas supplies. It was also a major employer in Melbourne’s western suburbs, shaping the social and economic life of Braybrook, Sunshine, and Tottenham for nearly five decades. The presence of the RAAF Police Dog Training Centre further highlights the site’s operational diversity and long‑term importance to defence readiness. Although most of the depot has been demolished, the surviving guard house and office block on Ashley Street remain as rare physical evidence of a once‑vast military complex. The depot’s legacy endures in the urban form of Braybrook and in the community memory of the thousands who worked there. Its significance lies in its contribution to Australia’s defence history, its impact on the development of Melbourne’s west, and its representation of large‑scale wartime infrastructure.R.A.A.F. Base Tour 285.1raaf no 1 store, south road, braybrook

Cnr Hampshire and Ballarat Road 468.2ballarat road, hampshire road, sunshine

By 1992, Sizzler had 74 restaurants across Australia, including multiple Victorian suburban sites but by 2017, only 17 Sizzlers remained nationwide, none in Victoria. The Sunshine restaurant only had a relative short operating period before it closed down. In 2026, the store was operating as the Gold Leaf Chinese Restaurant.These photographs were taken during the landscaping phase of the construction process, just prior to the store opening.Sunshine Sizzlers Sunshine 470.3ballarat road, sunshine, sizzlers

Hampshire Road became Sunshine’s main shopping centre in the early 1900s, expanded rapidly through the 1920s–1930s, flourished as a social hub in the post‑war decades, and remains the suburb’s central commercial strip. Early 1900s – First commercial strip forms The section between 72–98 Hampshire Road began trading in the first part of the 1900s, with early businesses including hairdressers, fruiterers, grocers, confectioners, newsagents, fishmongers, and tobacconists. 1920s–1930s – Rapid expansion of shops Multiple shop rows were built during this period, including: 68–70 Hampshire Road (built 1925) 72–98 Hampshire Road (shops operating by 1926–1930) 107–117 Hampshire Road (shops built 1923–1925) Businesses included grocers, butchers, confectioners, wood yards, dairies, and general stores—typical of a growing working‑class industrial suburb. 1930s–1940s – Social and civic hub emerges The strip became a major meeting place, especially around Homewood’s Café at 107–109 Hampshire Road, famous for its jukebox and proximity to the Sunshine Theatre, Town Hall, and Masonic Hall. It was a magnet for teenagers, servicemen, and families. Post‑war era – Consolidation as Sunshine’s main centre After WWII, Hampshire Road remained the suburb’s busiest commercial spine. Key features included: Cafés and milk bars Butchers and grocers Newsagents Timber yards Small specialty shops This period cemented Hampshire Road as Sunshine’s civic heart. 1960s – Renaming and redevelopment The section near the Town Hall (107–117 Hampshire Road) was renamed Sun Crescent in the 1960s, reflecting changes in road layout and civic planning Late 20th century – Modernisation Some older shop rows were demolished or redeveloped into service stations, townhouses, or new commercial buildings. Examples include: Demolition of the shop at 72 Hampshire Road (formerly Ted Whitten’s Foodland) Redevelopment of timber yards into townhouse complexes 2000s–present – Contemporary Sunshine CBD Hampshire Road continues as the primary retail and civic axis of Sunshine, hosting: Restaurants and cafés Grocers and specialty stores Medical clinics Banks and services Civic buildings and public spaces It remains the anchor of Sunshine’s designated Major Activity Centre.Sunshine Shopping Centre Hampshire Road 497.2sunshine shopping centre, hampshire road, sunshine

Photographs of traders in the Sunshine marketplace are historically important because they capture the human, social, and economic heartbeat of the suburb. They document not just shops, but the people, cultures, and everyday interactions that shaped Sunshine’s identity across decades.Sunshine Market Traders 527.1sunshine market, city place, sunshine

The Sunshine Ladies Cricket Club was an early women’s cricket team active in the Sunshine district (Sunshine, Albion, Braybrook) during the mid‑20th century. It formed during a period when women’s organised sport was expanding across Victoria, especially through local associations linked to schools, factories, and community clubs.Sunshine Ladies Cricket Team Past and Present Dempster Parksunshine ladies cricket club, dempster park, phoenix street, sunshine north

The Sunshine Croquet Club was one of the earliest formal women’s sporting clubs in Sunshine, established in 1959 and was closely tied to the social life of the H.V. McKay industrial township. The Croquet Club provided structured recreation for women in a suburb otherwise dominated by male sport.Croquet Sunshine 715sunshine croquet club, parsons reserve, stanford street, sunshine

The opening of the Hunt Club Community & Arts Centre is one of the most important cultural milestones in Deer Park’s modern history — the moment when a 19th‑century hotel, once the social base of the Melbourne Hunt Club, was formally reborn as a community arts precinct.Dr Jim Cairns Opening Hunt Club 728the hunt club and community arts centre, ballarat road, deer park, jim cairns

Clannotes Reunion Sunshine Sizzler 241.1sizzlers, ballarat road, sunshine

These photographs, taken by The Advocate in 1992, record a quirky winter promotion at the Sunshine Swimming Pool, where trout were released into the cool, clean water and locals were invited to try their luck at fishing. The activity continued throughout the winter months, turning the pool into an unexpected seasonal angling spot.Trout Fishing Sunshine Pool 326.1 6909.01 - Sunshine Swimming Pool Kennedy Street Sunshine Trout Fishing 1992 Photographs.jpg Pictured - Michelle David & Anna Collard 6909.02 - Sunshine Swimming Pool Kennedy Street Sunshine Trout Fishing 1992 Photographs.jpg Pictured - Michelle David & Anna Collardsunshine swimming pool, kennedy street, sunshine

Ring Road Bridge Keilor Whitten Bridge 506.1whitten bridge, m80 western ring road, western ring road, sunshine north, keilor

The photographs, taken by The Advocate newspaper, document the funeral of Donald “Don” John McKay, a long‑term Albion resident, City of Sunshine Councillor, and Mayor for one term (1989–1990). Across 18 years of service on the City of Sunshine Council, Don McKay devoted extraordinary time and commitment to the community. He was a Life Governor of both the Western General Hospital and the Royal Melbourne Hospital, a Life Member of the Sunshine and Deer Park Senior Citizens Clubs, President of the Sunshine Kindergarten Bursary Committee, Trustee of Albion Pre‑School, and an active Member of the Deer Park Lions Club.Don McKay was one of Sunshine’s most dedicated civic contributors, a councillor for 18 years, a one‑term Mayor, and a volunteer leader across hospitals, kindergartens, seniors’ organisations, and service clubs. His work strengthened Sunshine’s social fabric during a period of major demographic and municipal change.Don McKay Funeral 258.1donald "don" john mckay, don mckay, sunshine presbyterian church, anderson road, sunshine

The I.C.I. Nitrocellulose Plant on Station Road, Deer Park was part of the ICI Leathercloth Factory, a major industrial complex producing nitrocellulose‑based coated fabrics “Leathercloth”. It operated as a specialised chemical works linked to explosives, aircraft fabric coatings, and waterproof materials. Nitrocellulose (guncotton reacted with nitric acid) was one of the earliest multi‑use synthetic materials. It was used for Explosives (historical origin of the Deer Park site), Aircraft fabric dope (WWI–WWII aviation coatings), Waterproof cloth and coated textiles and Leathercloth (ICI’s trade name for nitrocellulose‑coated fabric used in cars, furniture, bags, and industrial goods). The Station Road plant specialised in the nitrocellulose coating and finishing processes, not explosives manufacture.The history of the Nitrocellulose Plant is tightly connected to the evolution of the Deer Park explosives precinct and the wider ICI industrial township.I.C.I. Nitrocellulose Plant Station Road Deer Park 893.1i.c.i., station road, deer park

The Whitten Bridge, originally called the Maribyrnong River Bridge was built between 1992 and 1994. The purpose of the bridge was to carry the newly built Western Ring Road (now the M80) across the Maribyrnong River at Sunshine North. The bridge is named after Edward James “Ted” Whitten OAM, better known as Ted Whitten or by his nickname "Mr Football", one of the most iconic figures in Australian Rules Football.These photographs show the original configuration of the roadway, which consisted of two separate structures: a Northbound Bridge and a Southbound Bridge. In 2018, as part of the M80 widening project, the two bridges were stitched together to form a single, unified structure. This upgrade increased capacity from three lanes to five lanes in each direction.5670.01 - Whitten Bridge Construction (Sun Adv 506.2) 1993 Photo 01.JPG 5670.02 - Whitten Bridge Construction (Sun Adv 506.2) 1993 Photo 02.JPG 5670.03 - Whitten Bridge Construction (Sun Adv 506.2) 1993 Photo 03.JPG 5670.04 - Whitten Bridge Construction (Sun Adv 506.2) 1993 Photo 04.JPGwhitten bridge, sunshine north, western ring road, maribyrnong river bridge, m80

Property sketches done for Frank Gordon Real Estate in the 1990s. 117 Graham Stbuilt environment - domestic, frank gordon & co, graham street

Property sketches done for Frank Gordon Real Estate in the 1990s. 114 Raglan Stbuilt environment - domestic, frank gordon & co, raglan street

Property sketches done for Frank Gordon Real Estate in the 1990s. 179 Stokes St built environment - domestic, frank gordon & co, stokes street

These photographs, taken by The Advocate in 1993, were published as part of the newspaper’s ongoing column profiling local traders across the district.The Sunshine Advocate’s feature on local traders was a modest yet well‑liked column that played a meaningful role in strengthening community identity. Through these regular profiles, the newspaper promoted local businesses and helped shape Sunshine’s understanding of its developing commercial district.7352.01 - Sunshine Traders Feature 1993 Photographs (Advocate 479.1).JPG 7352.02 - Sunshine Traders Feature 1993 Photographs (Advocate 479.1).JPG 7352.03 - Sunshine Traders Feature 1993 Photographs (Advocate 479.1).JPG 7352.04 - Sunshine Traders Feature 1993 Photographs (Advocate 479.1).JPG

These photographs, taken by The Advocate in 1991, of the Sunshine North Ladies Club enjoying a social occasion at the Sunshine North Football Club Rooms, Dempster Park, Phoenix Street, Sunshine North.7448.06 - Sunshine North Ladies Club 1991 Photographs (Advocate 501.1).JPG 7448.06 - Sunshine North Ladies Club 1991 Photographs (Advocate 501.1).JPG 7448.01 - Sunshine North Ladies Club 1991 Photographs (Advocate 501.1).JPG 7448.02 - Sunshine North Ladies Club 1991 Photographs (Advocate 501.1).JPG 7448.03 - Sunshine North Ladies Club 1991 Photographs (Advocate 501.1).JPG 7448.04 - Sunshine North Ladies Club 1991 Photographs (Advocate 501.1).JPG 7448.05 - Sunshine North Ladies Club 1991 Photographs (Advocate 501.1).JPG 7448.06 - Sunshine North Ladies Club 1991 Photographs (Advocate 501.1).JPGsunshine north ladies club, dempster park, phoenix street, sunshine north

These photographs, taken by The Advocate in 1989, are of Bob Sibson, from the Dutch Club Sunshine fitting a windmill to the top of a building. The Sunshine Dutch Club was a social and cultural organisation formed by Dutch migrants who settled in Sunshine, St Albans, and Deer Park during the post‑war period. The club did not operate from a dedicated building; instead, it met in rented halls, RSL rooms, and church spaces throughout Sunshine. Activities included Dutch‑language evenings, card nights, Sinterklaas celebrations, folk dancing, shared meals, and community support for new arrivals. The club served as an important cultural anchor for Dutch families employed in local industries such as HV McKay, ICI Deer Park, and the rail workshops. Windmills are central to Dutch heritage due to their role in shaping the country’s physical and economic development. They enabled large‑scale land reclamation, allowing communities to create polders and transform wetlands into productive farmland. Windmills also supported early industry, contributing to economic growth and technological innovation. Beyond their practical functions, windmills hold cultural importance as symbols of resilience, engineering ingenuity, and the Dutch relationship with water. The Sunshine Dutch Club is significant for its role in supporting Dutch migrant identity and community cohesion in Melbourne’s western suburbs. It provided a space for cultural continuity, language maintenance, and intergenerational connection during a period of rapid suburban growth and demographic change. Although informal and unincorporated, the club contributed to Sunshine’s multicultural heritage and reflects the broader pattern of migrant community organisations that shaped social life in the region. Its activities preserve memory of Dutch settlement and cultural expression in Sunshine from the 1950s to the 1980s.7476.01 - Dutch Club Sunshine 1989 Photographs (Advocate 837).JPG Bob Sibson 7476.02 - Dutch Club Sunshine 1989 Photographs (Advocate 837).JPG Bob Sibson 7476.03 - Dutch Club Sunshine 1989 Photographs (Advocate 837).JPG Bob Sibson 7476.04 - Dutch Club Sunshine 1989 Photographs (Advocate 837).JPG Bob Sibson 7476.05 - Dutch Club Sunshine 1989 Photographs (Advocate 837).JPG Bob Sibsondutch club sunshine