This photograph is of historic interest because it shown some of the exotic plants favoured by nineteenth century gardeners.The photograph provides a different aspect of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens and provides further information about the plantings in the nineteenth century. Photocopy of a black and white photograph of palm trees, succulents and lawn. The original photo has age marks. In pencil written bottom lefthand corner, "Scene in Botanical Gardens, Ballarat and in the lefthand corner, January 3, 1883.ballarat botanical gardens, friends of ballarat botanical gardens, john garner, doctor, history, scene, plantings victorian era, john garner collection, gardens, ballarat

This photograph was taken of an avenuw of acacias on Sydney Rd, Beechworth. Picture on the left hand-side is a row of Liquidamber trees also known as American storax, hazel pine, bilsted, redgum, satin-walnut, star-leaved gum, alligatorwood, or simply sweetgum. On the right is a row of English Oak trees commonly known as common oak, pedunculate oak, or European oak. Behind the English oaks is Old Beechworth Goal. Many of the trees in the Beechworth township were planted in the 1860's and today have exceptional historical, botanical or cultural value. Their place within the built environment reflects the importance in the Victorian era of town planning for a community, wealthy in gold and civic pride.Black and white rectangular photograph. The image is printed on gloss photographic paper and mounted on cardboard. Obverse: NO INSCRIPTION Reverse: 7760 The old Acacia Avenue alongside the jail. Sydney Road Beechworth Gardens & Parks beechworth, acacia avenue, gaol, sydney road, burke museum, photograph, post card, english oak, liquidambar

This decorative bowl is typical of items used in a Victorian household for decorative purposes or to serve items such as fruit. It has been lovingly handmade and restored carefully to match the original.This alabaster bowl is representative of handmade decorative and useful items of the Victorian era.Bowl; round, hand-crafted, shallow oval alabaster bowl on a short pedestal with carved handles on opposing sides. Light brown with dark grey/black and red flecks. Stone has a polished surface, leaves outline (acanthus plant) etched inside the bowl. The pedestal has been crafted separately and expertly attached to the base. Several careful repairs were previously made to preserve the bowl.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, bowl, alabaster, decorative item, fruit bowl, handmade bowl

This childhood sketchbook of the 1918 era details the emphasis placed upon a skill of brushwork that portrayed part of the students natural environment both in Tasmanian schools and Victorian schools, especially rural schools. The close bondage between students and their environment was a reflection on the early "hands on" approach in child education. Abstract art or teaching aids which could not be identified with physical properties available to students at this period in time were of lesser value. The ability of the student to identify the artistic value of local nature eg. local plants and flowers was especial important to rural based school children who had limited excursion opportunities available to visit town/city based botanical gardens and museums. This brushwork book is very significant to the Kiewa Valley as it demonstrates that childhood relocations from one State to another were not detrimental to the students overall scholastic development. The rural environment in Tasmania was not that far removed from the rural environment of the Kiewa Valley. The skills taught in both regions were still the same and the socio-economic factors and mores were also similar. This item demonstrates the relocation of one family from Tasmania to the Kiewa Valley. The expansion in population into the Kiewa valley was quite erratic and significant population growth only came after the increase in population brought into the area by the SEC Vic Hydro Scheme introduced to quench the demand for Victoria's electricity.This book has a brown cover with black print and designs on a 150 gsm cardboard. Each page is of the same thickness as the cover but is of paper.On the outside cover and contained within a thick boarder. "EDUCATION DEPARTMENT" and below this in smaller print "TASMANIA" below this "THE TASMANIAN BRUSHWORK BOOK". Below this "FOR CLASSES IV., V., AND VI" Below this "NAME" SCHOOL" At the bottom 2 1/2d1918's educational sketchbook, 1918 children's sketchbook

During the years 1869-1935 there were well over 250 registered bamboo furniture producers in Britain. The earliest recorded firm was Hubert Bill of 14 Little Camden St, London N.W., who claimed to have been established in (1869) while Daniel Jacobs & Sons of Hackney Road, London, were still in business in 1915, after 45 years of production. Design, quality, price and methods of construction were fairly consistent throughout the whole period, but it was the imaginative and often eccentric choice of subject matter that marked differentiation between the various firms. While most produced standard tables, stands and fire-screens, the more adventurous offered for sale items such as corner shelve units, charcoal barbecue grills and musical tea tables. Shelves were often covered with embossed leather paper designs, at first imported from Japan and then later produced in England. Some firms incorporated the knobbly roots of the bamboo stems into their designs, generally to form feet. Occasionally handles to drawers and cupboards were made with these roots although they were more commonly carved as imitations. Handles were mostly of cheap metal or brass. The ends of the bamboo canes were capped with stamped metal or turned bone, ivory or wooden discs. Methods of construction fell into three categories. First and most common is that of pegging. Bamboo stems being hollow, thick dowels can easily be glued into the joints. Some firms farmed out this work of `plugging' the ends of the canes to part-time workers at home. The second method, that of pinning, was far less satisfactory as bamboo tends to split lengthwise and therefore the jointed pieces eventually disintegrated. The most efficient method was that patented in 1888 (patent No 2383) by the firm of W. F. Needham in Birmingham. It consisted of metal shoes and covers for all joints which were made by wrapping a metal strip around the stems and soldering the overlapping ends. Some joints were further strengthened by a small pin or screw. Needham was by far the largest and most successful manufacturer and their individual and superior method of construction undoubtedly gained them their reputation. A. Englander & Searle of 34 Gt Eastern St and 31 Mare St, Hackney, London, were a firm particularly concerned with methods of construction. Although they seem to have entered the bamboo furniture market at a comparatively late date, about 1898, they produced inexpensive' bamboo, aimed particularly at the export trade. Stating in their catalogue that bamboo furniture “can be exported in one piece or it can be exported in pieces and put together again. The fixing up is much facilitated by a system of marking and numbering. Further, no glue is required for putting together as the screw system only is applied”. This method of construction best fits the Etagere and this item in the flagstaff collection and it is believed to have been made by A Englander & Searle, exported in a knock down form to Australia, purchased in kit form from a dealer here and put together by the purchaser. The bamboo plant stand is a significant item as it highlight furniture fashion of the late Victorian era. This item was highly sort after in its time and although mass produced, not many examples remain because the item is so fragile so this example is a valuable addition to the Flagstaff collection. It is believed,the construction method used is by a notable and respected maker in England of bamboo furniture that was aimed specifically at the export market and probably came to Australia in kit form to be assembled by the purchaser.Bamboo plant stand with octagonal top edged with tortoise shell bamboo the top is of wood and supported by four tortoise shell bamboo legs joined at the base by a square cane covered shelf. The tortoise shell appearance is brown lacquer. Item is part of the Giles Collection. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck coast, furniture, plant stand, bamboo furniture, etagere, victorian furniture, simulated bamboo, tortise shell, a englander & searle, domestic furniture, giles collection, henry giles, cooramook, mailor’s flat, wangoom, 19th century household goods

Michael Looker of the Royal Botanical Gardens Melbourne drew up the planting plans for restoring Ballarat's historic gardens at Hymettus in 1985 for Heritage Victoria. This was done as it was the only known intact Victorian era working-mans exhibition garden in Australia with surviving layout and original documentation and photographs. Restoration of the garden was aided by an Australian Bicentenary grant.Plans for the restoration of Hymettus' front flower garden using old photographs of its exhibition gardens first opened to the public in 1917 and drawn up by the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens for Australia's Bi-centenary 1988.historic gardens, ballarat, hymettus, royal botanical gardens, melbourne, lumley, looker, heritage victoria, exhibition garden.