Shows a south west view towards Sovereign Hill before the establishment of the Ballarat Historical Park Association.sovereign hill, private dwellings, landscape, ballarat, mt pleasant

beaufort, commerical, private dwellings

main road, private dwellings, buildings

This house was built by Syd Weir. Perhaps his first private dwelling construction.victoria street, ballarat east, syd weir, private dwelling, building, garden

The church was built in 1913, replacing earlier timber churches. It is currently a private dwelling.Photograph of the Methodist Church in Grantley Street, Linton, which has been printed as a postcard. Photograph shows brick church building, wooden bell tower to left, picket fence and wrought iron gates. The words "METHODIST CHURCH, LINTON" printed across lower LH edge.methodist church linton

This is a teacher's desk which came from Woodford State School. The school began in 1854 in a private dwelling with a new building constructed in 1874. The school still operates today.This is a very fine example of an early 20th century school teacher's desk. As it comes from one of the earliest schools in the district, it is of considerable significance.This is a wooden desk, now varnished, with a lift up, slanted lid with brass hinges and a brass key hole. On the top right hand side is a brass insert with a porcelain ink well. The desk has four turned legs with end struts. The desk lid may be made of pine but the rest of the desk seems to be made of a different wood. There are signs of old borer on the left hand front and the curved part on that side is missing.woodford state school, teachers desk, wooden teachers desk

Photograph of a LARGE group of children, behind the children there is a wooden fence also several small trees in wooden tree guards. To the right there is a fenced in container (rubbish container?). In the background behind the fence can be seen private dwellings. A note with the photo Eaglehawk State School Pupils, SS210, Church St. Eaglehawkperson, group, school, eaglehawk state school

2 A4 size photocopied pagesTransfer of all of estate and interest in Lot 13 on Plan of Subdivison No.41463, being part of Crown Allotment 43, Parish of Ringwood, County of Mornington (and) Certificate of Title Volume 3381 Folio 021. Covenant ... for the time being of land remaining untransferred in the said Certificate of Title ... will not within the period of fifteen years from the 17th day of October 1955 erect on the land transferred or any part thereof any building other than a private dwelling house and the usual outbuildings or more than one private dwelling house. Signed and dated 20th November, 1957.

PHOTOGRAPH BY RON DOWNS, CLUNES - KEEBLES OF CLUNES WAS FORMER TELEGRAPH HOTEL, BAILEY STREET, CLUNES. ALSO KNOWN AS MANGLES OR DUNNS HOSTEL DURING WORLD WAR 2, LATER PRIVATE DWELLING. NOW IS A RESTAURANT / BED AND BREAKFAST. THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS ON DISPLAY AT SMEATON MILL, OPEN DAY 2001.LAMINATED COLOURED COPY - PHOTOGRAPH OF KEEBLES [ORIGINALLY TELEGRAPH HOTEL] OF CLUNES WITH OLD HORSE DRAWN DRAY IN FOREGROUND.photographs, telegraph, keebles of clunes, telegraph hotel

2704.1 is a photograph of the original Methodist Church in Orbost. Following amalgamation of churches to become the Uniting Church, this building was sold off and shifted to a different site, to become a private dwelling. 2704.2 from the earliest days of white settlement in the Orbost district and until c. 1960s, pumpkins were grown for pig and cow food. These photographs are significant because they are a historical record of aspects of the Orbost district which no longer exist. Two b/w photographs/postcards of Orbost. 2704.1 b/w photo of a building, steep roof, made of wood, 3 windows along the side wall, man standing behind a fence at front. 2704.2 b/w photo of a paddock of pumpkins. Bank of trees in the background, two dead trees in foreground. 2704.1 on the back is a handwritten letter 'Dear Myrtle....' 2704.2 at bottom of postcard: ORBOST, EAST GIPPSLAND. S Vogt, Barnsdaleorbost, pumpkins

Photograph on mounted card taken at the official opening of Citadel Main Street Stawell. In the background a private dwelling with corrugated iron roof and weatherboard walls. At right brick building. Bands people and civilians standing around a flagpole. To the right of the flagpole. Mrs. Maxwell (standing on the brickwork), Mr. W. Freeland (Major). Commissioner Maxwell. Mr. W. Sharpley (Town Clerk) Major Wilkinson.Black & white photo on a mounted card with a boarder. The photo is of a group of people some with musical instruments beside a flagpole. In the background is a weather board house with a corrugated iron roof. To the right a brick building. W. J. Chapman Photo Artist Stawell. Reeve (in pencil).stawell religion

The Linton Post Office building, erected in 1880, was still operational in 1982. The former Bennett family and later Todd family butcher's shop is understood to have been built in 1858. In 1982 it was a private dwelling occupied by the Jarvis family; the house on the right (lived in at the time by Maisie Hart) is thought to have been moved to the site in the 1950s, after fire destroyed an earlier house on the site.Black and white photograph showing three buildings in Sussex Street, Linton, as they were in 1982 : the Linton Post Office, the former Bennett butcher's shop, and a house lived in at the time by Maisie Hart.linton post office building, bennett's butchers, jarvis family, maisie hart

In 1900 this shop was a stationer's and newsagency owned by George Smith. It was then owned by Annie Nicholls (afterwards Annie Brown), and later by Ruby and John Sandow. Their daughter Kitty married Reg Jennings and the shop became known as "Jennings' Milk Bar". The shop evolved into a grocery/general store/confectioners. It was closed for many years before becoming "Wares Plants 'n' Things" shop/café in 2015, and is currently a private dwelling.Colour photograph of cream coloured weatherboard shop building with chimney, pitched tile roof and verandah over footpath.jennings milk bar, buildings, shops

The Star Hotel was built in 1863 as a private dwelling, by James Shackell who owned the Bond Store, next door. It was a small house consisting of only a couple of rooms. In 1867 Joseph Salomon bought the house and converted it into a hotel. He built an underground bar to "deal with the peculiarities of the Echuca climate". It was called 'The Shades'. In 1890 Jane Pygall bought the hotel, which was described by the Riverine Herald as having ' three parlours, seven bedrooms, underground bar, kitchen, bathroom, outhouses, small stables, and entrance from two streets." She changed the name to The Esplanade Hotel. In 1890 it was de-licensed along with many hotels in Echuca. It had been a very popular drinking place for all the wharf workers, who continued to to drink illegally in the underground bar. It was then that the escape tunnel to the laneway was built , so the drinkers could escape the Police raids. For many years it was a private dwelling, or an office. In 1973 the City of Echuca bought the Star Hotel and resored it. At the time this photograph was taken it was the main tourist information centre for the Port of Echuca. It now operates as a hotel, serving meals and providing performance opportunities for musicians.The Star Hotel is very significant in Echuca's history due to its proximity to the Echuca Wharf. It was the closest bar to the wharf. Despite Jane Pygall trying to improve the quality of her clientele, the wharf drinkers preferred to drink at The Star Hotel, as the Bridge Hotel catered for more upmarket clientele. After de-licensing in 1897, the workers continued to drink at The Shades Bar and even put in place elaborate strategies to enable them to drink illegally there. It is now a large eating and entertainment site, and the public are still able to visit 'The Shades Bar'.A coloured photograph of the Star Hotel building in Murray Esplanade. The photograph is taken from the east side of the street. The Shackell's Bond Store can be seen on the left of the photograph. Printed on the back are the words, "This paper manufactured by Kodak". Also on the back is green Port of Echuca stamp. Written across the front of the Bond Store are the words 'World In Wax Museum.' On a sign outside the Star Hotel are the words, "Port Information Centre. Ticket Sales. Souvenirs . Star Hotel 1867."port of echuca, star hotel, shackell, james, salomon, joseph, pygall, jane, esplanade hotel, 1863, underground bar, the shades, de-licensing of echuca hotels

Photograph of "Marble Hall", Greensborough. The Marble Hotel, Greensborough was located at the corner of Main Street and Para Road. The first licensed hotel in Greensborough and one of the earliest brick buildings was built by James Chapman in the early 1850s as a hotel and lodging house to cater for wood carters and those trying their luck at the gold fields but served many functions over the years including post office, general store, public hall, butchers, bakers, surgery, private dwelling and baby health care centre. It got its name due to its white washed exterior. This photo is from the Lorraine Coates Collection.Photograph of early Greensborough building, now demolished.Digital copy of black and white photograph.marble hotel greensborough, james chapman, marble hall greensborough

This knife was used by Lottie Rem who ran the cookhouse at Astergren;s Timber Mill at Cabbage Tree in East Gippsland from 1954 until 1966.. It was bought in Orbost around 1957 - 1958. Sited on the banks of the Cabbage Tree Creek, the township was built by the timber mills to house their workers. Although the timber mills have disappeared, some of the buildings still remain. The "Cook House" and "Manager's House" are two buildings. The Cook House was built to supply meals to the workers of the Alstergren Mill. Some of the original interior walls were made from hessian and wallpaper. The few houses to survive to today are now used as private dwellings.The Cabbage Tree Creek township was established to support the booming timber industry of the mid 20th century. Five timber mills worked full time supporting the families that were drawn to the area's wealth of natural resources. this item is associated with the history of Cabbage Tree.A stainless steel serrated edged knife with a cream coloured handle (bone?)on blade -""Made in Sheffield expressly for Orbost Hardware and Timber Co, Orbost"alstergren-timber-cabbage-tree rem-lottie cook-house-alstergren's-timber-mill bread-knife-orbost-hardware

A4 Landata printout on Carter Real Estate letterhead - Transfer of Land signed and dated 20th November 1957.Geoffrey Francis Seymour Davies of 139 Bedford Road Ringwood, retired Medical Practitioner, registered proprietor of an estate in fee simple in the land hereinafter described subject to the encumbrances notified hereunder in consideration of the sum of £1350 paid to me by Osmond Parsons Wickham of 172 Bedford Road Heathmont, Public Servant, do hereby transfer all of my estate and interest in all that piece of land being Lot 13 on Plan of Subdivision No. 41463 in the Office of Titles, being part of Crown Allotment 43, Parish of Ringwood, County of Mornington and being part of the land more particularly described in Certificate of Title Volume 3381 Folio 021 and the said Osmond Parsons Wickham for himself and his heirs executors administrators and transferees doth hereby convenant with the said Geoffrey Francis Seymour Davies, heirs (etc.) ... will not within the period of fifteen years from the 17th October 1955 erect on the land hereby transferred or any part thereof, any building other than a private dwelling house and the usual outbuildings or more than one private dwelling house, and Osmond Parsons Wickham hereby agree that this covenant shall be notified as an encumbrance on the Certificate of Title ... with the intent that it shall run with the land and be binding upon every future registered proprietor for the time being thereof.

Telegraph Office Pleasant Creek Stawell. Part of a collection of Photographs by Mr. O.G. Armstrong as commissioned by the Shire of Stawell for the Inter-colonial and Paris Exhibition in Melbourne in 1866. The first post was office was erected at Commercial Street, Pleasant Creek in the goldfields, in June 1858, by J Harding and was a portable one. In October 1860 the first permanent Telegraph Office was erected by Cormick and Irvine for £329. In the same month the Post Office was removed from Commercial St in the Goldfields to the rear of the Telegraph office in Stawell. In February 1862 Edmond Johnson was appointed manager of Electrical Telegraph, Collector of Imposts and acting Postmaster. This building was later used as a private dwelling. It is situated in Lesley Street at the rear of the Pleasant Creek Courthouse although the right-hand wing has been removed. stawell

Market Inn William Street Port Fairy. William and Emma Osmond with two small children arrived in Belfast in 1852 as assisted migrants assigned to R.H.Woodward. Two years later William was rated for a two room stone house in William Street. By 1868 William was in business as a butcher and was the holder of a Beer and Colonial wine licence for his home which now numbers eight rooms. The licence having been granted he opened the Volunteer Arms there which he operated for two years whilst he had built, the two storied stone building next door to take advantage of the fact that a livestock sale yards was operating on the opposite side of William Street hence the name Market Inn. William died in 1876 and his sons continued to run the hotel until 1916 when the building was sold and the licence transferred to Harold Revell a retired farmer. The licence was revoked in 1918 and the building became a private dwelling. Black and white Photograph of Two story market hotel with verandah over right side 3 females and a male on footpathhotel, william street, h revell, william osmond, emma osmond, market, inn

Four copies of Warrender Hospital and Surgery run by Dr. Stanley Cochrane, Harrison Street- McDowall corner, Mitcham - site now occupied by R.S.L. Originally Dr. Cochrane's extremely large home the hospital became two private family dwellings when its activities as hospital ceased . Dr. Cochrane had consequently built a private residence/surgery on the corner of Mitcham Road and Harrison Street.warrender hospital, cochrane, stanley, dr., mitcham private hospital

Surrey College was opened in early 1892 by Rev. Dr Frederick Darling who had been the first minister of the Presbyterian Church in Canterbury Road. He resigned this position to open the school which operated until 1908 with additional premises at 12 Vincent Street. The school had 40 boarders as well as day boys. Courses included algebra, euclid, history, typewriting, shorthand and drill. In the 1930s, Nethercourt Private Hospital took over the site. Later it became St Jude's Hospital. land in front of the building was subdivided off in the 1970s. The building is still extant as a private dwelling with York Street, Surrey Hills as the address. This is one of 3 photos donated by Susan Hobbs, whose grandfather Rev. George Edward Downton is thought to have been a student at the college. George E. Downton was born in Avoca in 1885. He was later a missionary in New Guinea and Secretary to the Australian Board of Missions in Adelaide. He died in 1926 or 1927. Sepia photo of 26 men and boys dressed in military uniform, many holding rifles. They are standing in front of a brick building with bay windows with blinds and curtains. There is a clump of foliage and grass in front of boys. "Surrey College - Surrey Hills / Principal: Rev Frdk. A. Darling, Melb. Univ./Cadet Corps, 1899." On the mount below the photo. Inscription on bottom right hand corner of photo: "Prepare for cavalry"schools, 1899, surrey hills, surrey college, rev frederick a darling, george edward downton, susan hobbs, union road, nethercourt hospital, st jude's hospital, 219-223 union road, cadet corps, 1890-1899

William and Emma Osmond with two small children arrived in Belfast in 1852 as assisted migrants assigned to R. H. Woodward . Two years later William was rated for a two room stone house in William street. By 1868 William Osmond was in business as a Butcher and was the holder of a Beer and Colonial wine license for his home which now numbered eight rooms. The license having been granted he opened the Volunteer Arms there, which he operated for two years whilst he had built, the two storied stone building next door, to take advantage of the fact that a livestock sale yards was operating on the opposite side of William street, hence the name Market Inn. William died in 1876 and his sons continued to run the hotel until 1916, when the building was sold and the license transferred to Harold Revell, a retired farmer. The license was revoked in 1918. and the building became a private dwelling . The building is still standing although the market for which it was named is long gone. It is now a private home and Art Gallery. Image of the building as it presents todayblack and white photograph of Two story bluestone market hotel with rendered front and checkered quoinshotel, building, william street, market, osmond, volunteer arms

William and Emma Osmond with two small children arrived in Belfast in 1852 as assisted migrants assigned to R. H. Woodward . Two years later William was rated for a two room stone house in William street. By 1868 William Osmond was in business as a Butcher and was the holder of a Beer and Colonial wine license for his home which now numbered eight rooms. The license having been granted he opened the Volunteer Arms there, which he operated for two years whilst he had built, the two storied stone building next door, to take advantage of the fact that a livestock sale yards was operating on the opposite side of William street, hence the name Market Inn. William died in 1876 and his sons continued to run the hotel until 1916, when the building was sold and the license transferred to Harold Revell, a retired farmer. The license was revoked in 1918. and the building became a private dwelling . The building is still standing although the market for which it was named is long gone. It is now a private home and Art Gallery. Image of the hotel with its verandah intact and buildings to the rightBlack and white photographhotel, building, william street, osmond family, market, inn

William and Emma Osmond with two small children arrived in Belfast in 1852 as assisted migrants assigned to R. H. Woodward . Two years later William was rated for a two room stone house in William street. By 1868 William Osmond was in business as a Butcher and was the holder of a Beer and Colonial wine license for his home which now numbered eight rooms. The license having been granted he opened the Volunteer Arms there, which he operated for two years whilst he had built, the two storied stone building next door, to take advantage of the fact that a livestock sale yards was operating on the opposite side of William street, hence the name Market Inn. William died in 1876 and his sons continued to run the hotel until 1916, when the building was sold and the license transferred to Harold Revell, a retired farmer. The license was revoked in 1918. and the building became a private dwelling . The building is still standing although the market for which it was named is long gone. It is now a private home and Art Gallery. the 4 people in the photograph are probably the Osmond sonsPhotograph of an earlier time when a verandah existed on the front and the butcher shop was attachedBlack and white photograph 2 photos exposed togetherhotel, osmond, william street, market

Surrey College was opened in early 1892 by Reverend Dr Frederick Darling who had been the first minister of the Presbyterian Church in Canterbury Road. He resigned this position to open the school which operated until 1905 with additional premises at 12 Vincent Street. The main building fronted 219-233 Union Road. The school had 40 boarders as well as day boys. Courses included algebra, euclid, history, typewriting, shorthand and drill. In the 1930s, Nethercourt Private Hospital took over the site. Later it became St Jude's Hospital. Land in front of the building was sub-divided off in the 1970s. The building is still extant as a private dwelling with York Street, Surrey Hills as the address. This is one of 3 photos donated by Susan Hobbs, whose grandfather Rev. George Edward Downton is thought to have been a student at the college. George E. Downton was born in Avoca in 1885. He was later a missionary in New Guinea and Secretary to the Australian Board of Missions in Adelaide. He died in 1926 or 1927. This photo is one of two that were originally in the Box Hill Historical Society collection. They were transferred to us in 2024. The third photo could not be located. There was also a rough family tree and notes for the Downton family with correspondence regarding the donation but this was not found.Sepia photograph on grey mount board of 15 men and boys. Eleven of the boys are dressed in whites, 5 wearing ties and 1 a bow tie, one with a boater and one with a cap. The boy seated on the right is holding a cricket bat and the boy seated on left is wearing cricket pads on his legs. There are stumps and bails in the middle of front row. Three young men are in suits and boaters with one in the back row holding items in his hands. On the right hand side of the back row is Reverend Frederick Darling, Principal of the College, who wears a top hat and tails. There is a brick building behind with windows and blinds, and some foliage and plants behind and in front of boys. "Surrey College - Surrey Hills/Principal: Rev Fredk. A Darling, Melb. Unib./Cricket Team, 1899"schools, sport, cricket, 1899, surrey hills, surrey college, rev frederick a darling, george edward downton, susan hobbs, union road, nethercourt hospital, st jude's hospital, 219-223 union road, york street, 1890-1899

James Young was a prominent businessman, land owner and public figure in the early colonial period of Bacchus Marsh. After his death in 1871 land remaining from his estate in Bacchus Marsh was sold at auction in 1873. The sale of his estate included the substantial stone residence in Bennett Street which later became known as 'Stone Villa'. The sale of his land in 1873 was conducted by local auctioneer James Crook. 29 allotments were advertised for sale, although the plan for the sale indicated 30 allotments. The sale notice in the Bacchus Marsh Express of 11 October 1873 noted that the allotments were " in the very centre and heart of the most populous and business portion of the township, at the same time being the only remaining portion of the business block available for purchase by public sale, which fact intending purchasers should not lose sight of, as the opportunity cannot occur again". The designation of a new street, 'Bennett Street', shown on the plan, is also indicated in the advertising, "In reference to the main street frontages, opposite the Border Flour Mills. The Auctioneer would also direct attention to the plan, showing the formation of a new thorough fare (Bennett street) leading from Young street into Gell street, thus opening up the township on the high, more healthy, and commanding position so much to be desired for private dwellings".An important cartographic document which indicates an early major subdivision of land in the inner urban area of the Bacchus Marsh township. This subdivision lead to the continuing residential and commercial development of the township of Bacchus Marsh in the later part of the 19th century. The location of two well known demolished public structures, the Free Gardeners Hall in Gell Street, and the Old Mechanics Institute Hall (aka the Buffs Hall), on the corner of Young and Bennett Streets, are also shown on this map.A single page paper map showing 30 blocks of land for sale around 1873 in the vicinity of Bennett Street and Lerderderg Street. Described in contemorary sources as a 'lithographed copy'. No scale is indicated. The map is pasted into a bound volume containing 76 maps or plans in total. High resolution digital image stored on BMDHS computer network. land sales bacchus marsh, bacchus marsh victoria maps, james young 1816-1871, bacchus marsh roads and streets, bennett street bacchus marsh

This business was owned by father and son, Henry Archibald Wilkinson and Samuel Ronald "Ron" Wilkinson. Henry (1882-1954) was born in Shepparton and died in Bendigo. He was married to Grace Hovendon in 1908. Samuel Ronald "Ron" (1914-1995), Henry's son, was married to Florence Jean McKerlie in 1937.Conditions of sale of freehold land & dwelling by private contract dated 2nd April, 1930, issued by T.C. Watts 7 Son licensed Real Estate Agents between R. Fletcher and T.G. Fletcher executors of the will of R.H Fletcher deceased (sellers) and J. Prior (buyer) for land being Crown allotment 5 section 24 at Eaglehawk having frontage to Campbell Street of 85 links by a depth along Church Street of 223.5 links, land described in certificate of title volume 1541 folio 308073, together with all buildings and erection thereon. Price 415 pounds.organization, business, h.a. & s.r wilkinson real estate

David McKenzie obituary, Romsey Examiner 1928 Another of Australia’s very old pioneers in the person of Mr McKenzie, passed away last weekend at his daughters residence At regent at the ripe old age of 92 years ( he would be 93 in November) Born at Berwick of Tweed Scotland, the late Mr McKenzie arrived in Australia with two of his uncles in 1855 by the ship “Red Jacket”. A stone- mason by trade he worked about Melbourne and at Geelong until attack by “gold fever” but met with no success at this venture so he returned to his trade, arriving at Melton about 1860. There he married and settles for about 20 years. In 1880 the Cherokee Heights with its subdivision was famous and Mr McKenzie moved there with his daughter. He continues in his trade, his work extending to Gisborne, Bacchus Marsh, Romsey, and Springfield and other places, where to this day, may be seen monuments of his skill and through tradesmanship as a mason. During his residence in the Mount, he took a keen interest in all the affairs of Kerrie and Cherokee, and he was a familiar figure at all the public gatherings at which he nearly always filled the position of Chairman, because of outstanding qualifications. He was a man of those sterling qualities possessed by those men who laid the foundation of this country so well and truly. Loyal, broad of vision, just in thought and deed, honourable to the extreme in all dealings, fearless in the cause of right, a lover of home and family, and ready to lend a hand to all progressive movements. To the memory of those grand men the youth of today should lift their hats in reverence. Mr McKenzie was a prolific reader of educational works, and the wonderful knowledge he retained upon a variety of subjects was a source joy to those who associated with him. His wife predeceased him by 43 years ago soon after arrival in Cherokee. A Pioneer of Melton There are probably some residents left at Melton and Bacchus Marsh who will remember the late Mr McKenzie, one of them has written as follows:- I knew the late Mr. McKenzie since I was a little boy – over 50 years ago- and no better man ever lived than he, he was a good man from every point of view. The late Mr McKenzie was born on the November 25th, 1835 at Montrose, Scotland. He came to Australia in 1853 and resided for a time with his uncle the late Mr. Gibson on the Kororoit Creek near Melton. A few years later he settled in Melton. In 1861 he was married to Miss Mary Buchanan, the eldest daughter of the late Mr. George Buchanan, one of the early settlers of Melton. Deceased resided on the main road to Bacchus Marsh one mile from Melton. He was a stone- mason by trade, and some fine buildings in Melton and surrounding districts to this day, stand to his credit. He built the Presbyterian Church Melton. The old school, the Shire Hall, many private dwellings and numerous bridges. He was highly respected, as he was well known for the good work he put into all he had to do with. He also took numerous contracts in the Melton Shire, and was also employed by the Shire as Clerk of Works. He was a most conscious man. In his day he took a prominent part in all public affairs, and was a leading spirit in the old school Board. He was one of the pioneers of the Melton Rechabite Tent. He was one of the earliest workers and supporters of the Melton Presbyterian Church, of which he was an elder, and for a great number of years, its Sunday School Superintendent and Teacher. He also lead the singing for many years before the days of the organ, as he had a splendid voice, and could sing his old Scotch songs and hymns up to within six months of his death. For the past five years he has resided with one of his daughters at north Preston, where he died. He had good health up to within six months of his death and could well remember all the early happenings at Melton and surrounding districts. There are five daughters and one living son:- Margaret Mrs. Walter Wyatt Twose of Burnley Elizabeth Mrs George Shebler of Brunswick Georgina Mrs Jack Sinclair Isabel Mrs H Knight of North Preston Jane Mrs William Gibson of Warragul John W. of Fremantle - Western Australia Letter from Margaret to the Melton Presbyterian Churchchurches, local architecture

This pressed brass artefact is a highly decorative side bracket for distancing a gas lamp flame from the internal wall of a building. It is hollow and made of light gauge metal, with an innovative aesthetic design, but no internal piping to transport gas. It was recovered from the wreck of the LOCH ARD. There are similar artefacts in the Flagstaff Hill collection. The LOCH ARD left Gravesend (London) on 2 March 1878, bound for Melbourne, with a crew of 37, 17 passengers, and a diverse and valuable cargo of manufactured goods, luxury items, and refined metal. Some of the cargo was destined for display at Melbourne’s first International Exhibition in 1880. At 3 am, 1 June 1878, the ship was wrecked against the high limestone cliffs of Mutton Bird Island on Victoria’s south west coast near Port Campbell. Only two people survived the disaster — Tom Pearce, a male crew member, and Eva Carmichael, a female passenger. The cargo proved too difficult to salvage in the vessel’s exposed condition and was largely written off. The manifest of goods in the LOCH ARD’s holds included “Fittings gas (4 cases)”. The gas lighting of streets, public buildings, and the dwellings of wealthier private citizens was already well-advanced in the cities and major towns of the Australian colonies. In 1841 Sydney was the first to be gas-lit with 23 street lamps, 106 hotel lamps, and 200 private residences connected to the Darlinghurst “gasometer” by an underground network of metal pipes. “The dim days of oil and tallow are gone by!” pronounced one newspaper, flushed with civic pride. The 1850s Gold Rush promoted a similar attitude of confidence and affluence in the Colony of Victoria. In 1855 Melbourne was connected to its own system of subterranean gas pipes despite the same high rates of 25 shillings per 1000 cubic feet being charged, (reduced to 15 shillings in 1865 with cheaper sources of coal). By1858 Kyneton had its own gasworks to light the town (fuelled by eucalyptus leaves) and Geelong followed suit in 1860. Had the LOCH ARD reached its intended destination in 1878, it is probable that the 4 cases of brass gas light fittings on board would have found a ready market.The LOCH ARD shipwreck is of State significance — Victorian Heritage Register S417. The gas light bracket is an example of lamp fittings and plumbing from the late 19th century.A pressed brass lighting bracket recovered from the wreck of the LOCH ARD. It would be used for attaching, but simultaneously offsetting, a gas nozzle to a wall. Highly decorative in an unusually ‘modern’ or ‘art-deco’ style, with sweeping curves dissected by angular geometric pattern, and supporting a short, vertical bar with a gas nozzle on top. It is constructed of light gauge metal, with splitting along seams, and some delicate tracery is missing. Outer surface has been polished, removing sediment, but greenish oxidation remains in dents and joins. warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck artefact, maritime museum, gas lamps, gas lighting, gas works, brass fittings, gas pipes, loch ard, 1878 shipwreck, victorian affluence, colonial gas lighting