These magnifying eyeglasses belonged to Dr William Bottomley. Dr Bottomley received his Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Melbourne in 1906 and had a medical practice on Collins St, Melbourne. He built a log cabin in Emerald which he would use on weekends.Dr Bottomley was a member of two syndicates who purchased land from Carl Axel Nobelius nursery property. Emerald Pty Ltd purchased 600 acres and with it developed the Emerald Country Club, including a golf course and properties. The Nobelius Station Estate purchased 300 acres, which includes sites of the current Nobelius Heritage Park and Emerald Lake Park. Bottomley Drive in Emerald is named after Dr Bottomley.This object is of historic significance as it provides insight into an early design of a late-nineteenth/early-twentieth century piece of medical equipment. (Early designs of magnifying eyeglasses date back to 1876 - Kwitko et al., 1998.) It is also of social significance as they belonged to Dr William Bottomley, who was instrumental in the establishment of the Emerald Country Club.Small pair of magnifying eyeglasses made of silver-coloured metal. Lenses are thick and unframed.eyeglasses, magnifying glasses, doctors (medical), medical equipment

These magnifying eyeglasses belonged to Dr William Bottomley. Dr Bottomley received his Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Melbourne in 1906 and had a medical practice on Collins St, Melbourne. He built a log cabin in Emerald which he would use on weekends. He was a member of two syndicates who purchased land from Carl Axel Nobelius nursery property. Emerald Pty Ltd purchased 600 acres and with it developed the Emerald Country Club, including a golf course and properties. The Nobelius Station Estate purchased 300 acres, which includes sites of the current Nobelius Heritage Park and Emerald Lake Park. Bottomley Drive in Emerald is named after Dr Bottomley.This object is of historic significance as it provides insight into an early design of a late-nineteenth/early-twentieth century piece of medical equipment. The object is also of social significance as they belonged to Dr William Bottomley, who was instrumental in the establishment of the Emerald Country Club.Burgundy-coloured, cylindrical eyeglasses case. Lid closes with a snap fastener. The inside of the lid has the maker's label and the outside has the model of glasses printed in gold lettering. Early designs of magnifying eyeglasses date back to 1876 (Kwitko et al., 1998).Exterior of lid: "SPEERA" / MAGNIFIERS. / Interior of lid: OPTICIANS TO / H.M. GOVERNMENT. / W. WATSON & SONS / ESTABLISHED 1837 TD / 313 / HIGH HOLBORN / LONDON /

Dr William Bottomley was a well-known specialist, humanist and social advocate in Melbourne in the first few decades of the 20th century. He also became a member of two syndicates who purchased land from Carl Axel Nobelius nursery property. Emerald Pty Ltd purchased 600 acres and with it developed the Emerald Country Club, including a golf course and properties. Dr Bottomley retired to Emerald. TheEmerald Museum has a number of objects (including medical instruments) and documents relating to Dr Bottomley. These can be found by a 'Bottomley' search of the catalogue. The Nobelius Station Estate purchased 300 acres, which includes sites of the current Nobelius Heritage Park and Emerald Lake Park. Bottomley Drive in Emerald is named after Dr Bottomley.This portrait is of historic significance because Dr Bottomley was instrumental in the establishment of the iconic Emerald Country Club.Framed photographic portrait in color of Collins St specialist, Dr Bottomley, by Dorothy Welding, Sydney, 1930s.dr bottomley, photographic portrait, doctors (medical), dorothy welding, 1930s, photographer, emerald country club

The Gembrook Nurseries, informally known as the Nobelius Nurseries after the founder Carl Axel Nobelius, began with the purchase of sixty-three acres in 1886 and boomed in the 1890s due to opportunities provided by employment-promoting schemes to develop public parks and gardens and street shade by local and State Governments around Australia. Trees were sold to more than forty councils and Government organisations in the 1890s, including the Department of Agriculture, Lands Department and Victorian Railways. The need to transport nursery products by train via Ferntree Gully rather than by bullock dray to Narre Warren was a factor in the successful petition to develop what is now known as the Puffing Billy Railway. Railway developments in 1900 included the creation of a siding and Packing Shed, known as Nobelius Station, which is featured in this photograph. The Packing Shed was able to handle 250,000 cases of fruit each year. Gembrook Nurseries had an indirect influence on the development of other farms and industries in the region. As a wholesale nursery with high sales volumes it was an important employer of local people. Peak season for employees was during the cooler months, during most farmers' off-season. This provided local farmers with a source of income while their own farms were becoming established.The photograph is significant because it depicts personnel and infrastructure associated with the Gembrook or Nobelius Nurseries, a business which was instrumental to the development of Emerald as a settlement in the 19th and 20th Centuries and also influenced the development of public and private gardens and the farming of several species in Australia and internationally. The Nobelius Nursery is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on print media paper. The image is captioned 'Lunch Hour at the Packing Shed, Gembrook Nurseries.' It depicts thirty-one men (including one adolescent) and one woman posing for a group photograph behind approximately five large product bales resting in a rectangular metal rail cargo carriage. One of the men has a bandage across one eye. The people depicted are wearing clothing indicating the image may have been taken in the early 20th century. The Packing Shed building (built in 1900) and several stacked wooden storage crates are visible behind the group.Obverse: 59 NOR (?) 10 (?) + / LUNCH HOUR AT THE PACKING SHED, GEMBROOK NURSERIES. /1900s, gembrook nurseries, nobelius nurseries, carl axel nobelius, packing shed, railway, puffing billy railway, nursery employees, farming, agriculture, government initiatives

The Gembrook Nurseries, informally known as the Nobelius Nurseries after the founder Carl Axel Nobelius, began with the purchase of sixty-three acres in 1886 and boomed in the 1890s due to opportunities provided by employment-promoting schemes to develop public parks and gardens and street shade by local and State Governments around Australia. Trees were sold to more than forty councils and Government organisations in the 1890s, including the Department of Agriculture, Lands Department and Victorian Railways. The need to transport nursery products by train via Ferntree Gully rather than by bullock dray to Narre Warren was a factor in the successful petition to develop what is now known as the Puffing Billy Railway. Railway developments in 1900 included the creation of a siding and Packing Shed, known as Nobelius Station, which is featured in this photograph. The Packing Shed was able to handle 250,000 cases of fruit each year at the height of the nurseries' activities. The image shows the Packing Shed with boarded-up windows, suggesting it was taken prior to the purchase of the facility for use in the Puffing Billy Railway service. Gembrook Nurseries had an indirect influence on the development of other farms and industries in the region. As a wholesale nursery with high sales volumes it was an important employer of local people. Peak season for employees was during the cooler months, during most farmers' off-season. This provided local farmers with a source of income while their own farms were becoming established.The photograph is significant because it depicts infrastructure associated with the Gembrook or Nobelius Nurseries, a business which was instrumental to the development of Emerald as a settlement in the 19th and 20th Centuries and also influenced the development of public and private gardens and the farming of several species in Australia and internationally. The Nobelius Nursery is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.A coloured rectangular photograph of the Nobelius Nurseries Packing Shed. The photograph was taken in the grounds looking up towards the packing shed. There are various trees and vegetation throughout the grounds and surrounding the packing shed. The Nobelius Nurseries Packing Shed was used to sort and pack trees to be sent overseas during the 1900s-1940s.No inscriptions/marksnobelius nursery, packing shed, 2000s, puffing billy railway, nobelius heritage park

The Gembrook Nurseries, informally known as the Nobelius Nurseries after the founder Carl Axel Nobelius, began with the purchase of sixty-three acres in 1886 and boomed in the 1890s due to opportunities provided by employment-promoting schemes to develop public parks and gardens and street shade by local and State Governments around Australia. Trees were sold to more than forty councils and Government organisations in the 1890s, including the Department of Agriculture, Lands Department and Victorian Railways. The need to transport nursery products by train via Ferntree Gully rather than by bullock dray to Narre Warren was a factor in the successful petition to develop what is now known as the Puffing Billy Railway. Railway developments in 1900 included the creation of a siding and Packing Shed, known as Nobelius Station, which is featured in this photograph. The Packing Shed was able to handle 250,000 cases of fruit each year at the height of the nurseries' activities. The image shows the Packing Shed with boarded-up windows, suggesting it was taken prior to the purchase of the facility for use in the Puffing Billy Railway service. Gembrook Nurseries had an indirect influence on the development of other farms and industries in the region. As a wholesale nursery with high sales volumes it was an important employer of local people. Peak season for employees was during the cooler months, during most farmers' off-season. This provided local farmers with a source of income while their own farms were becoming established.The photograph is significant because it depicts infrastructure associated with the Gembrook or Nobelius Nurseries, a business which was instrumental to the development of Emerald as a settlement in the 19th and 20th Centuries and also influenced the development of public and private gardens and the farming of several species in Australia and internationally. The Nobelius Nursery is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. The image appears to show the Packing Shed building prior to its restoration as a tourist facility.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on print media paper. The image depicts the Gembrook Nurseries Packing Shed building with boarded up windows.Obverse: NOBELIUS NURSERIES / . WEEKEND TRADING . /1970s, gembrook nurseries, puffing billy railway, carl axel nobelius, packing shed, railway stations, farming, agriculture

The Gembrook Nurseries, informally known as the Nobelius Nurseries after the founder Carl Axel Nobelius, began with the purchase of sixty-three acres in 1886 and boomed in the 1890s due to opportunities provided by employment-promoting schemes to develop public parks and gardens and street shade by local and State Governments around Australia. Trees were sold to more than forty councils and Government organisations in the 1890s, including the Department of Agriculture, Lands Department and Victorian Railways. The need to transport nursery products by train via Ferntree Gully rather than by bullock dray to Narre Warren was a factor in the successful petition to develop what is now known as the Puffing Billy Railway. Railway developments in 1900 included the creation of a siding and Packing Shed, known as Nobelius Station, which is featured in this photograph. The Packing Shed was able to handle 250,000 cases of fruit each year at the height of the nurseries' activities. The image shows the Packing Shed prior to the purchase of the facility for use in the Puffing Billy Railway service. Gembrook Nurseries had an indirect influence on the development of other farms and industries in the region. As a wholesale nursery with high sales volumes it was an important employer of local people. Peak season for employees was during the cooler months, during most farmers' off-season. This provided local farmers with a source of income while their own farms were becoming established.The photograph is significant because it depicts infrastructure associated with the Gembrook or Nobelius Nurseries, a business which was instrumental to the development of Emerald as a settlement in the 19th and 20th Centuries and also influenced the development of public and private gardens and the farming of several species in Australia and internationally. The Nobelius Nursery is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. The image appears to show the Packing Shed building prior to its restoration as a tourist facility.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on print media paper. The image depicts the Gembrook Nurseries Packing Shed building. The building is made from weatherboard and features a brick chimney. There is also a tall tree standing next to the chimney.Obverse: IUS NURSERIES / TRADING ... /gembrook nurseries, puffing billy railway, carl axel nobelius, packing shed, railway stations, farming, agriculture

Booklet compiled by the Emerald Rural Fire Brigade 'in the interests of public safety' detailing fire prevention measures for domestic properties. Date unkown but would have been before construction of Cardinia Dam in the early 1970s and when Emerald Telephone Exchange was still in use. Advertisements contain useful historical information with names and phone numbers of various businesses in the town. The card is a list of phone numbers to ring in case of fire, with names and addresses of members of the brigade, local doctor (I. S. Murphy) and police.12 page typewritten and roneod booklet with centre staple, pink cover with illustration; includes diagrams and advertisements -white card printed in red with list of phone numbers - some damage to edges of paper; some rusting from stapleemerald, victoria, australia, fire prevention, firefighters, businesses, emerald rural fire brigade, lockyer's, emerald, nobelius & co., webber's self service, elto service station, emerald electrics, peter searle, emerald motors, h.a. sherriff, bill stephens, emerald co-operative society

The township of Emerald was settled after gold was discovered in the area in 1858. Emerald's 'square mile' was established and roads between the township, other towns in the region and Melbourne were established (with alterations to the original layout in the intervening years). From these first years of the settlement roads and services to support the transport of goods (from businesses making and repairing carts and drays to mechanics' workshops to service cars and industrial vehicles) were integral to the economic survival and development of the township. Closely associated with the history of Emerald is the history of the Gembrook or Nobelius Nurseries, which transported trees and other plants to parks and private gardens in Melbourne, in other Australian locations and in many other countries. Impassable roads to transport goods in Winter, and the difficulty of transporting goods by bullock team or horse and cart over a route that at that time went via the railway station at Narre Warren led to Carl Axel Nobelius and other local business owners successfully lobbying the Victorian Government to build the narrow gauge railway to the Ferntree Gully line that is now operated as the tourist attraction 'Puffing Billy.' Puffing Billy was primarily a goods transport service, but did transport passengers in both directions of travel for both everyday needs and recreational purposes. The Puffing Billy service did not remove the need for local families and businesses to provide their own transport options, however, whenever they needed to move smaller loads or to access places not served by the railway lines or stations. In the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries transport options included carts of various sizes pulled by horses, oxen or bullocks. In the 1920s and 1930s cars (which had existed in Australia in early forms from approximately 1896) began to replace horses as the primary mode of transportation across Australia. By the end of the Second World War cars dominated transport options in rural areas as well as urban. Correspondingly, businesses to service vehicles shifted from focusing on repairs and maintenance of harnesses and cart structures to the repair and servicing of cars and other vehicles. Museum records indicate that the image was taken in the Shell Service Station in Emerald in approximately 1990. There is still a Shell Service Station in Emerald, located at 336-338 Belgrave-Gembrook Road, though it is now part of the Coles Express network.This image is significant because it provides insights into the development of automotive and engineering workshop businesses in the region, part of the progression from wheelwright and cartwright businesses in the days of oxen drays to businesses servicing cars and other vehicles. As part of this, it also provides insight into the equipment available at the time the photograph was taken, which is speculated to be the late 1980s or early 1990s. Identification of the two men pictured may also help ascertain the significance of the image.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on print media paper. The image depicts two men standing in front of a piece of mechanic's workshop equipment on which a Bridgestone tyre has been loaded. One of the men is wearing long-sleeved overalls, the other is wearing dark trousers and a polo-neck T-shirt. Museum records indicate the photograph may have been taken at the Shell Service Station.Obverse: BRIDGESTONE / SF-340 EAGER /emerald, victoria, australia, transport, automotive services, shell service station, cars, motor vehicles, puffing billy, businesses, local business