Dinner was held at the Victoria Hotel, Rutherglen. The Shire President was Cr. S.G. Williams, J.P.Small card folder, with menu and toast list"Complimentary Dinner to the Country Roads Board tendered by the Shire President on the occasion of the opening of the Ovens River Bridge on 24th June, 1937"country roads board, ovens river bridge, opening celebration

Europeans arrived in the Kiewa and Ovens Valleys in the 1830's and 40's. Following the drought of 1838-44, seeking out the rich pastures in the fertile Valleys. It proved to be perfect conditions for dairy farming and the raising of cattle. Miners Cottages and other similar wooden structures were a common sight in the area as they were a modest form of accommodation for their period, were quick to erect and economical as they made use of locally available building materials such as local timbers.These photographs provide a snapshot into the early dwellings and architecture of the Kiewa and Ovens Valley regions, including buildings such as the church, which provided an important gathering place for social interaction, especially in these isolated areas.1-Wooden church building with no identification. Large tree in the foreground in front of church 2&3- Black and white photographs of farmland and assorted dwellings, mostly miners style cottages in a valley with mountains in the background. A bridge with wooden railings is visible over the river in the middle of the photograph, also a more modern dwelling is visible in the north east of the photograph close to the river. 4-Black and white photograph of residential homes and farmland with an unsealed road running through the middle. Foreground shows a field which has been semi cleared of trees (stumps remaining). In the background are larger farming properties with the road disappearing into the distant hills. This might be Old Tallangatta before the town was moved in 1956. 1-3 - No inscriptions 4- Signature written on back in lead pencil - Sandra Templebuildings; church; farmland

K2,3 and4 are of the Kiewa River and two of the bridges spanning the river along the valley. K3 and K4 would have been taken in the 1880's and show the type of trees and plant growth along the river prior to land clearing for farming. K5 is of the Running Creek Cricket Team and therefore there was sufficient population in the area to form and maintain a team as well as have other teams in the relatively near vicinity to provide competition. Note the horse drawn cart which provided transport. Date taken is unknown but possibly c 1910. The Mt. Buffalo Chalet was built in 1910 by the Victorian Government. It was Australia's first ski resort and has served generations of skiiers, hikers and families over the years. It was built for 3195 pounds and has had stories and wings added since and is the largest timber building in Australia. B4 is the earliest photo in this group as the garden is in early stages of development - the other photos show the growth of the shrubs and would be taken about c 1920. Note the cars and motor bikes. It closed in 2006. The other photos are of general interest only but interesting to see that there were donkey's grazing. There is no information as to their purpose on Mt. Buffalo. Four different Kiewa Valley families are represented in the photographs. Their descendants still live in the Valley and carry on the traditions of beef and dairy farming. Of particular interest is the photo of Miss Marjorie Clemence, the first School Teacher of Upper Gundowring School. Gundowring pastoral run was taken up in 1838 and occupied by framers in the 1860's. The area was known as Gundowring and Upper Gundowring. The Gundowring School was opened in 1871 and most likely the Upper Gundowring school would be built at the same time. It was School No. 2733 and situated in Boyd Road. It closed in 1953 when the Kiewa Consolidated School opened. The newspaper page describes the activities in which the local community of Kergunyah were in engaged in that period - Red Cross, Fire Brigade, cattle round up and some of the identities involved. The article photocopied from the Yackandandah times states that he (Norman Coad) "was sent to the Ovens District Hospital, Beechworth for treatment" which would mean that this was the closest hospital to the Kiewa Valley for emergencies in 1912.The Kiewa Valley photographs are of social significance showing two of the early bridges allowing the community easy access to both sides of the river and also the tree and plant growth before land clearing for farming. The photos of Mt. Buffalo Chalet have social, architectural and historical significance. the Chalet has been used by skiers, bush walkers and day trippers since its completion in 1910 and its closure in 2006. It is listed in the Victorian Heritage Register. The family photographs are of social and historical significance as they are of early farming families in the Kiewa Valley and also depict the dress, of both men and women) in the late 1880's. The write up in the Weekly Times has social significance as it depicts the social and farming activities and photos of the local residents from around that area. The article from the Yackandandah Times is of a personal nature with concern for the individual involved. Note: There is a photo of the gentleman mentioned in the article (Mr. Norman Coad) in the Families of the Kiewa Valley (F4) as above.30 black and white photographs - 5 of the Kiewa Valley, 8 of families of the Kiewa Vallley and 17 of Mt. Buffalo. Various sized photos. Page from the Weekly times and copied article from the Yackandandah Times on A4 sheet.(Note for easier identification they have been numbered and grouped - K1-5 (Kiewa Valley), F1-8 (Families) and B1-17 (Mt. Buffalo). K1: handwritten in ink, lower L hand corner "Bogong in the distance". K2: handwritten in ink lower L hand corner "Mongan's Bridge or Towonga". K3 handwritten in ink "Taken from Mongan Bridge looking up stream". K4 - no inscription. K5: handwritten in ink, back of photo "Running Creek Cricket Team". F1: handwritten in ink on back "Mrs. Heap" and lower down in pencil "1880's". F2 handwritten in pencil at top of back phot "Land at Tawonga TROVE The Y'dah Times 20/2/1913" and lower down in ink "Henry Ellis Larkin". F3: handwritten in ink bottom edge "Mrs Coad". Note that this photo is a postcard. F4: Written in ink lower edge "Norman Coad". Note this photo is also a postcard. F5: Lower left corner in Ink "Harry Larkin". F6: lower half back of photo, in ink "Bernie Maddison". F7: on back of photograph in ink "Miss Marjorie Clemence first School Teacher Upper Gundowring: and underneath, in pencil "C1880's". F8: Handwritten in ink on back of photo "Frank & Mrs. Keat & Lesley of Tawonga". Lower down in pencil "c1912-1914". B1: Back of photo in ink "The Chalet Mt. Buffalo". B2: no inscription. B3: "chalet at Bufflo" in ink lower left corner. B4: This is a post card. Written in ink is "Mt. Buffalo Chalet". B5 - B10 printed in ink, lower left corner "Buffalo". B11: no inscription. B12: "Mt. Buffalo" lower R corner. B13: "Buffalo?". B15: Printed in ink lower edge "Picnic at Buffalo". B16: "Donkeys on Mt. Buffalo" printed in ink lower edge. B17: handwritten in ink across back of photo "Donkeys & top of Mt. Buffalo with the Monileith in the distance". A4 sheet of paper describing an accident to Mr. Norman Coad. Under article is : Yackandandah Times (Vic: 1890 - 1931), Thursday 18 July 1912, page 3. A page torn from the Weekly Times, June 14, 1961 and entitled "Kergunyah has picturesque setting". kiewa valley, farming, families, kergunyah, gundowring upper, mt. buffalo chalet, briggs family, larki family, coad family, clemence family, laskowski collection

The photo shows "William Clarke" who owned and operated the first commercial Punt across the Ovens River during the goldrush daysthe photograph shows "William Clarke" who was one of the first pioneers of the township of Wangaratta as it is now known. He also built one of the first hotels in Wangaratta.Brown wooden framed photograph, greyish background with silver surround around photo of William Clarke, one of Wangaratta's foundation pioneers. The wood is from the first punt. He was the owner of the first punt to cross the Ovens river, which he had built for 500 pounds. It was sunk in 1855 after the first bridge across the Ovens river was built.William Clarke1 1839 Wangaratta William Clarke 11 William Clarke 111(my father) Nell Clarke 1884-1965 William Clarke 1 Pioneer of Wangaratta Vic. 1839 This frame is made of oak from the punt he operated over the Ovens River during the goldrush days to Beechworthclarke family, punt, sydney hotel

Wangaratta Toll Gates were erected after the punt was sunk and the new bridge over the Ovens river was opened in 1855; a charge was made for people, animals, carts, cars and buses and trucks later on. A gatehouse keeper lived in a residence near the gates to charge users when they crossed. The gates were refurbished by the students at the local GOTAFE college and are being rehoused as a feature of the river beautification works along the Ovens River.The Toll Gates were on the first (and only bridge at the time) that crossed near the junction of the Ovens & King rivers at Wangaratta in the mid 1800's. They are a vital part of the city's heritage.Two white timber gates, hung on white timber posts by metal hinges. wangaratta toll gates

Nicholas Caire was born on Guernsey in the Channel Islands in 1837. He arrived in Adelaide with his parents in about 1860. In 1867, following photographic journeys in Gippsland, he opened a studio in Adelaide. From 1870 to 1876 he lived and worked in Talbot in Central Victoria. In 1876 he purchased T. F. Chuck's studios in the Royal Arcade Melbourne. In 1885, following the introduction of dry plate photography, he began a series of landscape series, which were commercially successful. As a photographer, he travelled extensively through Victoria, photographing places few of his contemporaries had previously seen. He died in 1918. Reference: Jack Cato, 'Caire, Nicholas John (1837–1918)', Australian Dictionary of Biography.An original, rare photograph from the series 'Views of Victoria: General Series' by the photographer, Nicholas Caire (1837-1918). The series of 60 photographs that comprise the series was issued c. 1876 and reinforced a neo-Romantic view of the Australian landscape to which a growing nationalist movement would respond. Nicholas Caire was active as a photographer in Australia from 1858 until his death in 1918. His vision of the Australian bush and pioneer life had a counterpart in the works of Henry Lawson and other nationalist poets, authors and painters.‘Scene near the Buffalo Mountains’ : Views of Victoria (General Series) No.41 : Albumen silver photograph | Photo on card with Title and Description on reverse | Mounted 24 x 30 cm; Photo 12 x 17 cm.On Reverse: ‘This scene is taken from the banks of the Buckland River, which is about five miles distant from the Buffalo Mountains, as seen in the distance. These mountains are frequently covered with snow, in consequence of their great altitude. The Buckland River is a small tributary of the Ovens River, which flows through the Beechworth district, and eventually finds its way to the River Murray. The Bridge which is seen on the right of the picture forms the roadway which leads from the Buckland Camp to the Township of Bright.’nicholas caire (1837-1918), landscape photography