The Dandenongs have historically been regarded as good potato growing country due to the deep volcanic soil. Gembrook became the centre of the local potato industry from the 1930s with newly arrived Italian migrants becoming successful potato growers there. The peak period for potato growing in Gembrook was the 1970s and 1980s. This handbook for growing potatoes whilst produced in England and referencing English conditions may have been helpful for some local growers.Potato growing was an important local industry, particularly in Gembrook, from the late 19th century to the 1980s.Booklet divided into eight chapters about selecting and growing potatoes and getting them to market. Colored and black and white drawings, maps, graphs and photographs. 34 pages.On front cover: 'BY / DR. D. G. HESSAYON / AND / P. G. FENEMORE / potato growers handbook / 3/6d' On back cover are publisher details.potato growing, gembrook

Potato Paddock with Mt Warrenheip and Mt Buninyong in the background. potato, agriculture, paddock, mt buninyong, mt warrenheip

The Annual Sports Day in the 1920s featured a number of novelty races such as 'Thread the needle, Siamese or, in this case, Potato. The Touchstone 1926 does not include a report for the Annual Sports Day so the 'JS' cannot be confirm but could be Joyce (Sarah) Bathurst (1934) or Jean (Smith) (1934). Silver plated egg cup with spoon slit in base; engraving on base. Engraved on base: C.P.L.C. Sports 1926 / Under 10 Potato Race / J.S. potato-race, sports, clarendon-presbyterian-ladies-college, 1926

A particular triumph for Alfred Joseph Towers was his win at the Romsey and West Bourke Agricultural Society's Annual Potato Show in 1927, taking the trophy from the best potato growers in Victoria, and from the Romsey district in particular, which at that time was famed for its potato production and quality. His father, David Towers, came second in the cup competion. Romsey and West Bourke Agricultural Society, Annual Potato Show, 14 June 1927, Second Prize, for Cup Competition, exhibited by D. Towers (Beech Forest). A.R. Wilson, President: H.M. White, Secretary.romsey; west bourke; potatoes; prize;

Potatoes are known for their great liability to disease, suffering more from the ravages of fungi than any other crop, and this is largely owing to the fact that they are propagated from tubers which are just swollen portions of underground branches of the stem. Portions of the parent plant in the form of tubers or cuttings are planted year after year, so that any inherent weakness in the original is transmitted to the offspring, and therefore, without a process of selection, deterioration is sure to occur sooner or later. When the tubers are raised from seed and a good selection made from them, they are less liable to disease at least for a number of years. Handbook of fungus diseases of the potato in Australia and their treatment. D. McAlpine. 1st ed. Department of Agriculture, Victoria; Melbourne (Vic); 1911. x, 314 p.; illus., map. Hard cover.potatoes; disease; fungus; agriculture;

Digital ohotograph of potatoes growing in a paddock at Dean.victoria, hepburn shire, farming, agriculture, cropping, potatoes, gum tree, dean

B/W. Early potato planting with two horses pulling a disc plough in front of a seed potato planter, worked by Ern Minchington. Note the boot of the following man.ern minchington; potatoes; horses;

Coloured postcard photograph showing four men digging potatoes in a field.harvest, agriculture, potatoes

Coloured postcard photograph showing four men digging potatoes in a field.Printed on back of card: "Published by F. Harrison, Rutherglen"harvest, agriculture, potatoes

The potato was grown at Fred Mundy's farm, Orbost.This photograph is a reflection of social life in the first half of the 20th century. It is a whimsical, fun photograph.A black / white photograph of a potato which has been dressed as a doll.on back - "Farquhar" on front - "Potato grown at Fred Mundy's"

108 p.; 22 cmnon-fictionA chronicle of the first decade (1972–1982) of the Kooweerup Potato Festival in Victoria, Australia. It delves into the history, community involvement, and cultural significance of this unique festival, which celebrated the region's rich potato farming heritage. koo wee rup potato festival, koo wee rup (vic.), kooweerup (vic.)

Four digital images from the Koroit Irish Festival.koroit, irish, koroit irish festival, festival, potato, bagging, competition

B&W photo of Bill Hermon sitting on the back of a piece of farm equipment which is probably a potato planter. His son John is sitting in the hopper, holding light reins which are attached to the yokes of two draughthorses. John looks about four years old. They are resting. Photo taken 16th November 1947.

Collection of Frances WarrenMetal potato chipper with wooden handle. (zinc plated steel) Box shaped with sliding mechanism for forcing potato through the cutting area.'Villa' Potato Chipper. Australian. Made in England.domestic items, utensils

Circa late 1800s early 1900s a horse-drawn plough, potato digger, is one example of the implements that were widely used by early market gardeners in the Shire of Moorabbin. The flat plate, seen to the right of the photo, dug down into the ground below the potatoes and "scooped" them up. Behind the plate, two driving chains on cogs, (these chains are missing from our exhibit), then "rocked' the dug potatoes to loosen the soil from the "spuds". The potatoes were then harvested by hand. Very large tracts of land in the Shire of Moorabbin were planted with potatoes. Harvesting commenced in October, into November and on into December. Potatoes were a necessary food staple. The market gardeners were always in a rush to be first to get their potatoes to market, and hence the best price. Some market gardeners were so keen to be the first to market, (and get the most money), that they dug their potatoes "green" (or new). The only downside of this practice was that these early potatoes had to be handled with extreme care as their skins were very loose, and came off easily - so decreasing their profits.As well as taking their produce to the Melbourne and St Kilda markets, they also sent produce off to Sydney markets. It is interesting to note that a group of Chinese market gardeners were the first to access the Sydney market. .Following the 'Dendy's Special Survey' 1841 and the Crown Land Sale of 1852, land allotments were sold to pioneer settlers who established market gardens in the area of Moorabbin Shire. During the 1850s gold-rush population boom the number of market gardeners increased significantly spreading throughout the Moorabbin Shire. Potatoes were considered a staple foodstuff, so crops were regularly sown throughout the whole Moorabbin area. Circa late 1800s early 1900s. A horse-drawn plough potato digger is an example of the machines used by early market gardeners in Moorabbin Shiremelbourne, sydney, markets, vegetables, potato, dendy henry, st kilda, market gardeners, gold rush, moorabin, chinese gardeners, ploughs

Joyce Hazard local photographer has taken the picture. Joyce is the wife of William Hazard (dec) Joyce Hazard is a resident of Emerald, Colour photographNonejoyce hazard, emerald

on page 11finhaven, kew, mr john inerrarity buchan, cup day, picnics, social events, fan album, reverend john reginald weller (1880-1969)

The Grinton Collection. Peeling spuds, Soldiers on board ship on the way home. Refer Cat No, 1280 for Jack Grintons service details.Photograph framed. Photograph - black and white photograph on paper depicting four men peeling potatoes with ship's wall and deck area. Frame - Timber, light varnish finish, Perspex front, cardboard backing."Group 5: Quota 45 - Journey Home" "M. Peeling potatoes".framed accessories, camera on the somme, ww1, 38th bn, grinton, hmat karmala

Twisties showbag, no content: paper bag with paper handle, with yellow and red design; one side advertising Twisties and showing a cartoon character carrying a bag of the snack; the other side advertising potato chips[obverse] Twisties / The wholesome super snack / [reverse] Enjoy Snack Potato Chips /food

Digital photograph showing potatoes groing in the red dirt at Dean.agriculture, soil, farming, horticulture, potato, hepburn, dean

This photograph shows Gladys Marriott, aged 15, in the potato fields of her father's property in Moorabbin. Her cousin Graeme (centre) and younger brother Alfred (right) are with her. Moorabbin is a suburb in the City of Kingston that was originally established as a rural market gardening communityThe Marriott property in Moorabbin was adjacent to a secret wartime wireless receiving station established in March 1942 in Chesterville Road, Moorabbin. The station was established on requisitioned market garden properties, and soon housed WRAN (Women's Royal Australian Navy) personnel and up to 35 US Navy servicemen. The Navy personnel intercepted Japanese coded communications and then despatched these by motorbike messenger to Queens Road, St Kilda where the Directorate of Naval Communications and the code-breaking unit called FRUMEL (Fleet Radio Unit - Melbourne) were housed. The information intercepted by the wireless receiving station helped shape the Allied response to Japan's advances in the Pacific. Declassified defence records show that this unprepossessing station handled some of World War II's most sensitive secrets, however the local community were unaware of its significance. Gladys Marriott, working on her father's property, would regularly take the family's cows to graze in the fields adjoining the station with no concept of what the Navy personnel were doing. Black and white photograph of a young woman and two small boys standing around a wooden crate filled with potatoes. They each have potatoes in their hands. They are standing in a field. Handwritten in red ink: A 601 / 72% Handwritten in black ink: CHAP 6. Handwritten in black ink: GLADYS STOTT (MARIOTT) / DURING WAR YEARS / With Spybase Storymarket garden, children, farming, local production, world war ii, wireless receiving station, moorabbin

Interior surfaces are abrasive, rather like coarse sandpaper. Turning the handle rotates the potatoes or other vegetables, causing them to rub against the surfaces and so losing their skin.'Pronto' potato or other vegetable, peeler. Burgundy enamel tin on the outside, grey abrasive interior surface.Pronto The "Pronto" Peeling Machinepotato peelers, food processing equipment

This medal, dated 1858, was awarded to local farmer Marcus Macartney by the Victorian Agricultural Society on the 21 April 1858, for the prize 'PotatoesThe medal is of local historical significance"for its association with the early promotion of agriculture in Victoria through public shows and competitions in the 1850's; and its link to the emergence of the Koroit-Tower Hill area,with its rich volcanic soil, as a properous farming district, especially for potato-growing." (Helen Doyle, Significance Assesment: Koroit & District Historical Society.)Circular medal with small knob on top.Äround circumference/""EXTRA PRIZE VICTORIAN AGRICULTUREAL SOCIETY. Engraving on medal "Potatoes/Awarded To/Mr Marcus Macartney /April 21st/1858 Reverseägricultural shows, potatoes, koroit, tower hill

Tippetts are generational potato farmers at DeanColour photograph of Tippett's farm at Dean, Victoria. dean, flood, tippett, potato, farming, agriculture

As it the Branch is not specified it has been assumed that the Potato Race was awarded to Hampton's Senior Rays' group.Light blue card certificate with gold edging and blue badges and text. The badges are of the Methodist Girls' Comradeship, Methodist Order of Knights and the Methodist Girls' Comradeship Rays' Section badges at the top and is issued by the Province of Victoria and Tasmania. The certificate has the award winners completed. The winners names and positions are written on the back."HAMPTON" "POTATO RACE 13 years & under" "26.9.64" "Beverley J. Lowe STATE SUPERINTENDENT" On back: "Brenda Anderson (captain)" "Judy ? (last runner)" "Margaret Ackland (fourth runner)" " Marjorie Thompson (second runner)" "Joyce McAdams (first runner}"methodist girls' comradeship, methodist girls' comradeship rays' section, methodist order of knights, beverley j lowe state supt., brenda anderson, margaret ackland, marjorie thompson, joyce mcadam