Stick mercury barometer, named after Admiral Robert Fitzroy of the Royal Navy (1805 - 1865) for his detailed instructions on interpreting the weather that are included with the instrument. Fitzroy was the captain of the Beagle, a weather forecaster to Charles Darwin and the second Governor of New Zealand. He developed many different types of barometers and was the first person to introduce the science of weather forecasting to the British Isles. A local manufacturer of scientific instruments, Thomas Gaunt, produced the barometer and it was adapted for the southern hemisphere by Robert Ellery, the State Astronomer based at the Melbourne Observatory. Described as "Gaunt's Fitzroy Barometers" in the original sale catalogue, it was priced from 25/- to ₤9.9s. [See Miller, M., Gaunt’s Time, 2014]. Thomas Gaunt's business was originally located at 14 Bourke Street East from 1858. In 1869-1870 he moved to new premises in the Royal Arcade, Collins Street. Gaunt's business became an institution in Victorian Melbourne and Gaunt its leading clock maker. PROVENANCE According to official minutes the barometer was purchased by the Melbourne Athenaeum in 1874. In particular, at the March meeting of the General Committee the House Subcommittee was instructed to "obtain a Fitzroy or other reliable barometer" to be "fixed in the Reading Room". The 1874 Annual Report records the purchase at ₤3.10.0. The barometer is historically significant as an example of the work of Melbourne’s leading scientific instrument maker, Thomas Gaunt. The barometer has social significance as an example of the type of accoutrements provided by the committee of the Melbourne Athenaeum for the comfort of its members. Further social significance lies in the fact that Robert Ellery, the Government Astronomer, who designed the local version of the barometer, has a direct connection with the Athenaeum being a subscription member and committee member of the Athenaeum during the 1870s. There are also records of a T Gaunt as a subscription member of the Athenaeum during the 1870s and 1880s which may be Thomas Gaunt, however, this is yet to be verified. Stick mercury barometer known as the Admiral Fitzroy Barometer. It comprises an oblong wooden case with glass front panel, ornate pediment, barometer with bulb cistern (empty of fluid),printed instructions for interpreting information given by the gauge affixed to left and right face of instrument. Includes a thermometer. The barometer appears to be intact except for the turning knobs which are missing and the mercury in the tube which is not present. Whether the instrument could be restored to working order is unknown. Front right panel, metal plaque: "Thos Gaunt, Barometer Maker, Royal Arcade, Melbourne"melbourne athenaeum, barometer, thermometer, admiral fitzroy, thomas gaunt of melbourne, robert ellery

.1) London International Exhibition of 1873 (Melbourne 1872-3) Official Record containing introductions, catalogue of exhibits, index of exhibitors, reports and recommendations of experts, official awards of commissioners and essays and statistics on the social and economic resources of the Colony of Victoria, mining and mineral statistics .2) International Exhibition Essays, 1872-3: * Progress of Victoria by William Henry Archer. This includes birth places for the People of Victoria (1871), Education. * The climate of Victoria by Robert L.J. Ellery * Wines * Preserved Meats * The climate of Victoria in reference to vegetable production. * Agriculturenon-fictionballarat distillery company, ballarat meat preserving company, william bardwell, joseph bosisto, j. brache, clunes gold mining company, hubert de castella, gutheil, butner & co., lambert & co., fabrizzio crippa, robert brough smyth, william henry archer, robert ellery, g.l. graham, wines, john bleasdale, preserved meat, james harrison, agriculture, vienna universal exhibition, mining and mineral statistics, matilda lang

The barometer was either made or sold by T. Gaunt & Co. of Melbourne, a manufacturer, importer and retailer of a wide variety of goods including jewellery, clocks and watches, navigational and measuring instruments, dinnerware, glassware and ornaments. Thomas Gaunt photograph was included in an album of security identity portraits of members of the Victorian Court, Centennial International Exhibition, Melbourne, 1888. (See below for further details.) Admiral Fitzroy Pattern Barometer History: The stick mercury barometer was named after Admiral Robert Fitzroy of the Royal Navy (1805-1865) for his detailed instructions on how to interpret the weather, which were included with the instrument. Fitzroy was the captain of the HMS Beagle, also a weather forecaster to Charles Darwin and the second Governor of New Zealand. He developed many different types of barometers and was the first person to introduce the science of weather forecasting to the British Isles. A local manufacturer of scientific instruments, Thomas Gaunt, produced the barometer that was adapted for the southern hemisphere by Robert Ellery, the State Astronomer based at the Melbourne Observatory. In the original sale catalogue for Gaunt's, the item is described as "Gaunt's Fitzroy Barometers" and it was priced from 25/- to ₤9.9s. History of Thomas Gaunt: Thomas Gaunt established Melbourne's leading watchmaking, optical and jewellery business during the second half of the 19th century. Gaunt arrived in Melbourne in 1852, and by 1858 had established his own business at 14 Little Bourke Street. Around 1869 he moved to new premises in Bourke Street on the corner of Royal Arcade. Gaunt's shop quickly became a Melbourne institution. Gaunt proudly advertised that he was 'The only watch manufacturer in the Australian colonies'. While many watches and clocks may have had Gaunt's name on the dial, few would have been made locally. Gaunt did make some watches for exhibitions, and perhaps a few expensive watches for wealthy individuals. Gaunt's received a telegraph signal from Melbourne Observatory each day to correct his main clock and used this signal to rate and repair ship's chronometers and good quality watches. His main horological manufacturing was directed at turret clocks for town halls, churches and post offices. These tended to be specific commissions requiring individualised design and construction. He made the clock for the Melbourne Post Office lobby, to a design by Government Astronomer Robert Ellery, and won an award at the 1880-81 Melbourne International Exhibition for his turret clock for the Emerald Hill Town Hall. He became well known for his installation of a chronograph at Flemington Racecourse in 1876, which showed the time for the race, accurate to a quarter of a second. The firm also installed the clockwork and figures for Gog and Magog in the Royal Arcade. Thomas Gaunt also developed a department that focused on scientific instrumentation, making thermometers and barometers (from imported glass tubes), telescopes, surveying instruments and microscopes. Another department specialised in electroplating for trophies, awards and silverware, and the firm manufactured large amounts of ecclesiastical gold ware and silverware, for the church including St Patrick's Cathedral. There are no records that disclose the number of employees in the firm, but it was large enough for Gaunt to hold an annual picnic for the watchmakers and apprentices at Mordialloc from 1876; two years previously they had successfully lobbied Gaunt to win the eight hour day. Gaunt's workforce was reportedly very stable, with many workers remaining in the business for 15 to 30 years. Gaunt's wife Jane died on September 1894, aged 64. They had one son and six daughters, but only three daughters survived to adulthood. Two became nuns at the Abbotsford Convent and one daughter, Cecelia Mary Gaunt (died 28 July 1941), married William Stanislaus Spillane on 22 September 1886 and had a large family. Gaunt died at his home in Coburg, Victoria, leaving an estate valued at ₤41,453. The business continued as T. Gaunt & Co. after his death. The barometer is historically significant as an example of the work of Melbourne’s leading scientific instrument maker, Thomas Gaunt. The barometer has social significance as an example of the type of scientific equipment that Thomas Gaunt expanded his horology business into producing. Further social significance lies in the fact that Robert Ellery, the Government Astronomer who designed the local version of the barometer, had a direct connection with the Melbourne Athenaeum founded in 1839 as the Melbourne Mechanics' Institution. Its purpose was "the diffusion of literary, scientific and other useful information". There are also records of a T Gaunt as a subscription and committee member of this the Athenaeum organisation during the 1870s and 1880s which may be Thomas Gaunt, unfortunately still unverified.Stick mercury barometer known as the Admiral Fitzroy Barometer. It comprises an oblong wooden case with glass front panel, ornate pediment, barometer with bulb cistern (empty of fluid), cleaning brush with printed instructions for interpreting information given by the gauge affixed to left and right face of instrument. Includes a thermometer. The barometer appears to be intact. Adapted to the Southern Hemisphere. Special remarks by Admiral Fitzroy. Made by Thomas Gaunt, Melbourne. Manufacturer's details are on back of wooden casing. Rear has upper and lower brass screw plates for securing to vertical surface."Manufactured by Thomas Gaunt, 14 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne. "flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, barometer, admiral fitzroy, thomas gaunt, thomas gaunt of melbourne, clockmaker, admiral fitzroy barometer, barometer instructions, gaunt’s fitzroy barometer, gaunt’s of melbourne, gog and magog designer, horological manufacturer, meteorological instrument, melbourne athenaeum, melbourne mechanics' institution, melbourne observatory time signal, robert ellery government astronomer, scientific instrument, stick mercury barometer, thermometer, weather forecast, t gaunt & co

Sir George Frederic Verdon (1834-1896) emigrated to Melbourne in 1851, aged 17, and obtained a position in the office of Grice Sumner and Company, a mercantile business in Flinders Street, Melbourne. He then went into business in Williamstown and began his public career as a member of the inaugural local municipal council in 1856. The same year, he was also elected to the committee to establish the first Mechanics Institute in Williamstown. In 1859, he was elected to the legislative assembly for Williamstown and became Treasurer in November 1860. He resigned in November 1861 but was reappointed Treasurer in June 1863 under the McCulloch ministry, which lasted until May 1868. During the parliamentary recess of 1866, Verdon journeyed to England to advocate for the defenses of Victoria before the British authorities. His efforts were fruitful, securing £100,000 toward the construction of the warship HMS Cerberus, while the HMS Nelson was allocated to Victoria as a training vessel. Upon his return, he suggested that the colony establish a representative in London, which ultimately led to the creation of the Agent-General of Victoria office in 1868; Verdon was appointed as its first incumbent for a term of four years. His interests spanned science, art, and literature. In his youth, he served as an honorary assistant at the Melbourne Observatory under Robert Ellery, the Government Astronomer and fellow resident of Williamstown. An avid collector of art, he became a Trustee of the Public Library, Museums, and National Gallery of Victoria in 1872, then going on to be elected Vice-President in 1880, and President in 1883. In 1872, he was honoured with the title of Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George for his invaluable contributions to the political, scientific, artistic, and educational progress of the early colony. Verdon street Williamstown was named in his honour. source: www.williamstownhistsoc.org.au mla for williamstown, sir george verdon

The clock was either made or sold by T. Gaunt & Co. of Melbourne, a manufacturer, importer and retailer of a wide variety of goods including jewellery, clocks and watches, navigational and measuring instruments, dinnerware, glassware and ornaments. Thomas Gaunt photograph was included in an album of security identity portraits of members of the Victorian Court, Centennial International Exhibition, Melbourne, 1888. Thomas Gaunt History: Thomas Gaunt established Melbourne's leading watchmaking, optical and jewellery business during the second half of the 19th century. Gaunt arrived in Melbourne in 1852, and by 1858 had established his own business at 14 Little Bourke Street. Around 1869 he moved to new premises in Bourke Street on the corner of Royal Arcade, Gaunt's shop quickly became a Melbourne institution. Gaunt proudly advertised that he was 'The only watch manufacturer in the Australian colonies'. While many watches and clocks may have had Gaunt's name on the dial, few would have been made locally. Gaunt did make some watches for exhibitions, and perhaps a few expensive watches for wealthy individuals. Gaunt's received a telegraph signal from Melbourne Observatory each day to correct his main clock and used this signal to rate and repair ship's chronometers and good quality watches. His main horological manufacturing was directed at turret clocks for town halls, churches and post offices. These tended to be specific commissions requiring individualised design and construction. He made the clock for the Melbourne Post Office lobby, to a design by Government Astronomer Robert Ellery, and won an award at the 1880-81 Melbourne International Exhibition for his turret clock for the Emerald Hill Town Hall. He became well known for his installation of a chronograph at Flemington Racecourse in 1876, which showed the time for the race, accurate to a quarter of a second. The firm also installed the clockwork and figures for Gog and Magog in the Royal Arcade. Thomas Gaunt also developed a department that focused on scientific instrumentation, making thermometers and barometers (from imported glass tubes), telescopes, surveying instruments and microscopes. Another department specialised in electroplating for trophies, awards and silverware, and the firm manufactured large amounts of ecclesiastical gold ware and silverware, for the church including St Patrick's Cathedral. There are no records that disclose the number of employees in the firm, but it was large enough for Gaunt to hold an annual picnic for the watchmakers and apprentices at Mordialloc from 1876; two years previously they had successfully lobbied Gaunt to win the eight hour day. Gaunt's workforce was reportedly very stable, with many workers remaining in the business for 15 to 30 years. Gaunt's wife Jane died on September 1894, aged 64. They had one son and six daughters, but only three daughters survived to adulthood. Two became nuns at the Abbotsford Convent and one daughter, Cecelia Mary Gaunt (died 28 July 1941), married William Stanislaus Spillane on 22 September 1886 and had a large family. Gaunt died at his home in Coburg, Victoria, leaving an estate valued at ₤41,453. The business continued as T. Gaunt & Co. after his death. Post Office and Clock History: Warrnambool’s Post Office has been in existence since 1857, when it was originally situated on the corner of Timor and Gilles Street. In March 1864 the Warrnambool Borough Council purchased this clock from Henry Walsh Jnr. for the sum of £25, “to be put up in front of the Post Office”. Henry Walsh Jnr was the eldest son of Melbourne’s Henry Walsh, maker and retailer of clocks, watches, thermometers and jewellery. In 1854 Henry Walsh Jnr. began business in Warrnambool as a watchmaker and jeweller later becoming a Councillor with now a local street named after him. The Post Office was extensively remodelled in 1875-76. Early photographs of this building show that the clock was installed on the northern outside wall, Timor Street, under the arches and between the 2 centre windows, where it could be seen by passers-by. Although spring loaded clocks date back to the 15th century, and fob and pocket watches evolving from these date to the 17th century, personal pocket watches were only affordable to the very fortunate. Public clocks such as this Post Office clock provided opportunity for all to know the time, and for those in possession of a personal watch to check and set their own timepieces to the correct time. During post office reservations during the 1970s the clock was removed and was eventually donated to the Flagstaff Collection. The Clock’s maker Thomas Gaunt, is historically significant and was an established and well renowned scientific instrument and clock maker in Melbourne during the 1860s. He was at that time the only watchmaker in the Australian colonies. In the 1870’s and 1880’s he won many awards for his clocks and was responsible for sending time signals to other clocks in the city and rural areas, enabling many businesses and organisations to accurate set their clocks each day. Warrnambool Borough Council purchased this clock from Henry Walsh Jnr. for the sum of £25 and the clock used to stand in front of the Warrnambool post office to allow ordinary citizens to set their time pieces as they walked by. The item is not only important because it was made by a significant early colonial clock maker and retailed by a locally known clock maker and jeweler but also that it was installed in the Warrnambool Post Office a significantly historical building in it's own right. Built in 1857 and regarded as one of the oldest postal facilities in Australia, with a listing on the National Heritage Database, (ID 15656). This 1864 hall clock originates from the Warrnambool Post Office. The clock glass is hinged to the top of the clock face and has a catch at the bottom. The metal rim of the glass is painted black. The clock face is metal, painted white, with black Roman numerals and markings for minutes and five minutes. The tip of the small hour hand is shaped like a leaf. "T. GAUNT / MELBOURNE" is printed in black on the clock face. The winding key hole is just below the centre of the clock face. The key winds a fusee chain mechanism, attached to the brass mainspring barrel that powers the pendulum with an 8-day movement. The speed of the clock can be adjusted by changing the position of the weight on the pendulum, lengthening or shortening the swing; raising the pendulum shortens its swing and speeds up the clock. The metal fusee mechanism has an inscription on it. The rectangular wooden casing is with a convex curve at the bottom that has a hinged door with a swivel latch. The original stained surface has been painted over with a matte black. There are two other doors that also allow access to the clock’s workings. The case fits over the pendulum and workings at the rear and attaches to the clock by inserting four wooden pegs into holes in the sides of the case then into the back of the clock. A flat metal plate has been secured by five screws onto the top of the case and a hole has been cut into it for the purpose of hanging up the clock. There is a nail inside the case, possibly used for a place to the key."T. GAUNT MELBOURNE" is printed on the clock face. “6 1 3” embossed on the back of the fusee mechanism behind the clock. warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, shipwrecked artefact, clock, warrnambool post office, fusee, henry walsh jnr, thomas gaunt, t gaunt & co, post office clock

5 x A4 pages photocopy extract of book alan selman, andrew paul, anthony scott, captain andrew wauchope, charles le page, charles mason, christmas hills, cornelius g. stewart, daniel murphy, david lithgow, dennis rourk, donald mcintyre, donald mcrae, dr william ronald, duncan mcnab, e kidgell, edward moore poyner, eltham, ewan robertson, fern tree gully, george payne, george rae, george robert white, george stebbing, george thomas wiggin, gilbert marshall, h. perrin, h.w. paul, hazel glen, healesville, henry scarce snr, isidore t. wilmot, james john madden\, james keets, james lindsay, james mcpherson jnr, james mcpherson snr, james quigley, james thomson, james williamson, john b, john george maddicks, john hicks petty, john p lithgow, john pulbrook snr, john ryder, john williamson, joseph pett, joseph stevenson, kangaroo ground, lilydale, michael mclaughlin, michael supple, morang, mrs e. ronald, mrs john mason, mrs mary weller, mrs murphy, narrewarren, nelson andrew, patrick woulfe, peter le page, richard robert woolcott, richard tamplin king, ringwood, riobert lum, robert lithgow, robert parry, robert stevenson, st hubert's, thomas mcintyre jnr, thomas mcintyre snr, thomas moses, thomas payne, thomas quale, thomas sherwin, thomas younger, upper yarra, walter wippell, wandin yalloak, whittlesea, william kennedy ross, william laidley, william lalor, william sebira, william towt, wilson, yan yean, yarra flats, yering

Stevenson, Robert, Kangaroo Ground, was born in the County of Evelyn, Victoria in 1845, He is the son of the late Joseph Stevenson and retains the property purchased by his father, with 47 acres adjoining, making in all 127 acres, where he carries on farming, and also a vineyard, the grapes from which have taken a number of prizes at agricultural societies’ shows at Heidelberg and other places. He was married in 1872, and has a family of two sons and five daughters. From: Victoria and it’s Metropolis: Past and Present by Alexander Sutherland ; R. L. J. Ellery ...[et.al. Melbourne : McCarron, Bird, 1888]. Page. 414 This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital imagesepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, kangaroo ground, bankhead, robert stevenson, stevenson homestead

1927 – Henry Hocking 1928 – Myr. Mortimer 1929 – B.M. Dennis 1930 – Bessie M Dennis 1931 – Mary. L. Archbold 1932 – Edith O. Strong 1933 – Victor Payne 1934 – Nancy Exon 1935 – Hilton Dyring 1936 – Edna Scoles 1937 – Olive Dennis 1938 – Bruce Addis 1939 – Tessie Priest 1940 – Myrtle Wright 1941 – Ailsa Dennis 1942 – Dorothy Scoles 1943 – Robert Briggs 1944 – Douglas Cracknell 1945 – B.L. Delmenico 1946 – Valmae Colling 1947 – Joy Cocks 1948 – Judith Botten 1949 – Malcolm Archer 1950 – Brian Schreck 1951 – John Dawe 1952 – Sally Smirftt 1953 – Keith Campbell 1954 – John Burch 1955 – J. Retallick 1956 – L. Williamson 1957 – P. Kouwenberg 1958 – Inge. Schuber 1959- Linday Burch 1960 – Garry Wiseman 1961 – Heather McMillan 1962 – Linda Preece 1963 – Gail Nancarrow 1964 – Robyn Retallick 1965 – Brian Jenkins 1966 – Reg. Ellery 1967 – Suzanne Skinner 1968 – Lynette Jenkins 1969 – Bettie Exon 1970 – Janice Cox 1971 – Kerry Pollerd 1972 – Norma Ellery 1973 – John Bari From 1983, The Chewton School awarded the award on their own behalf 1983 – Robyn Dredge 1984 – Sharon Tizzard and Shannon Grey 1985 – Julie Tizzard 1986 – Karen O’Meara 1987 – Tammy Smith 1988 – Maggie McCormack 1989 – Rebbecca Say &Trinity Mawson 1990 – Amber Mawson 1991 – Lucy Norwood 1992 – Emma Cohen & Aimee London 1993 – J. Troutbeck-Noy

1929 - J.L. Hughes 1930 - Elizabeth Bateman 1931 - R.J. Pollard 1932 - R. J Pollard 1933 - Lorna Ellery 1934 - R.H. Monkhouse 1935 - Allan Pollard 1936 - Alice McCristal 1937 - William E Bassett 1938 - Lillian Jean Pollard 1939 - June Mary Oxley 1940 - Mary E. Monkhouse 1941 - Gracie E.M. Clinton 1942 - Kenneth Pollard 1943 - Kevin Morrish 1944 - Clifford Pollard 1945 - Beryl. G. Rawlins 1946 - June Birchall 1947 - Robert Rawlins 1948 - Barbara Morrish 1949 - D. W. Rawlins 1950 - John S. Watson 1951 - Elsie O. Swift 1952 - Edward Rawlins 1953 - William Creed 1954 - F.L. Finning 1955 - John. W. Pollard 1956 - Peter R. Starr 1957 - Margaret Higgins 1958 - Lynette Pollard 1959 - Glen Bassett 1960 - Kelvin Bankin 1961 - Pam Bankin 1962 - Elizabeth Langridge 1963 - Not Awarded 1964 - Robyn Day 1965 - John Holden 1966 - Brian Pollard 1967 - Terese Holden 1968 - Jennifer Day 1969 - Lorraine Leversha 1970 - Julieanne Holden 1971 - Leah Ades 1972 - Peter Grant 1973 - Susanne Pollard