The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes is an organisation that started in 1822 in the United Kingdom. It aids members, their families, dependents of former members and other charitable organisations. Membership is open to all males over the age of 18 years. The R.A.O.B. had lodges in the Kiewa Valley including Rocky Valley, Kiewa and in Tawonga as well as in nearby towns indicating that it was a popular organisation at the time. Lodge Officers are listed on each card.8 Cardboard R.A.O.B., G.A.B. Cards folded in half each with an emblem on the centre front and all with a date of meeting at the bottom. Card A - Blue from Yackandandah, Nov. 1953; Card B - Pink from Myrtleford, March 18th; Card C - Pink from Rocky Valley, July 1955; Card D - Pink from Kiewa (Foundation and Opening) Feb. 1955; Card E - Pale blue from Wodonga, Oct. 1958; Card F- Blue from Kiewa, April 1956; Card G - Blue from Rocky Valley, July 1956; Card H - Blue from Rocky Valley, May 1958. Card I-cream from Tawonga and Rocky Valley. April 1957.Card J -beige from Rocky Valley and Tawonga January 1954. Card K-Beige from Rocky Valley and Tawonga February 1956. Item L - Invitation pink December 1957 from Rocky Valley. Signatures on the invitationr.a.o.b., royal antediluvian order of buffaloes, charity organisation, lodge organisation, tawonga lodge, rocky valley lodge, kiewa valley lodges

Originated in the United Kingdom in 1822 with a motto "No man Is At All Times Wise" and a maxim of "Justice, Truth and Philanthropy". A branch of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes was formed at Bogong by Grand Lodge Officers from Melbourne and other members. The ceremony was held at Lewis Camp Mess (Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme) with a world record of 78 new members initiated and a world record of over 100 pounds was raised. Another branch, No. 150 was opened in Mt Beauty. The Bogong and Mt Beauty lodges combined in 1948 and organised a Christmas treat for all children of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria working on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme.Historical: The Bogong R.A.O.B. was formed circa Sept. 1946 and the Mt Beauty R.A.O.B. in 1948. It was a popular organisation in Bogong and then in Mt Beauty during the construction of the K.H.E.S. This club shows how important social clubs were in making up part of the community thus making it socially historic as well. It was a voluntary charitable organisation with a complicated ceremonial tradition and enjoyed by its participants. The donor, Brian William John Bourke was a cook at the pub and other places around the town. He had lived in the area since the 1950s and passed away 2019 and is buried at Tawonga Cemetery.Small brown leather case with attached handle and sliding clips on each side. The corners are reinforced with steel.The hinge appears to be stitched on and is held by an attached leather strap on the right side. Inside: the lid has a material open gathered pocket holding 4 small books and 4 thin booklets / papers. The case holds 2 large leather red and gold cuffs, 1 red with gold decoration apron, 1 red ribboned necklace with a personal badge and 1 of the lodge and 2 short ribbons (one green and 1 blue) with badges attached including the Mt Beauty badge on horns. 1 cardboard roll with B W J Bourke / Mt Beauty on the outside and 4 certificates rolled inside. These are dated 1964, 1970, 1974, 1974 . See also KVHS 0084, KVHS 0945, KVHS 1441 Brian William John Bourkeroyal antediluvian order of buffaloes, bogong, mt beauty, charitable organisation, lewis camp mess, r.a.o.b.

Belonged to Pte William GOODMAN VX11397 ex AIF, ex POW Germany. Ref Cat No's 3568 for his service history, 3569, 3570, 3571, 3572, 3573.Small green book of lodge initiation, stapled. Property of William GOODMAN VX11397.“Grand Lodge of Victoria, GLE”book, lodge, initiation

Originated in the United Kingdom in 1822 with a motto "No Man Is At All Times Wise" and a maxim of "Justice, Truth and Philanthropy". A branch of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes was formed at Bogong by Grand Lodge Officers from Melbourne and other members. The ceremony was held at Lewis Camp Mess (Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme) with a world record of 78 new members initiated and a world record of over 100 pounds was raised. Another branch, No. 150, was opened in Mt Beauty. The Bogong and Mt Beauty lodges combined in 1948 and organised a Christmas treat for all children of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria working on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme.Historical: The Bogong R.A.O.B. was formed circa Sept. 1946 and the Mt Beauty R.A.O.B. in 1948. The Members Board, the 78 members initiated and the money raise indicate that it was a popular organisation in Bogong and then in Mt Beauty during the construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme. This club also shows how important social clubs were in making up part of the community thus making it socially historic as well. This board has good interpretive capacity as it tells the story of this club which was important to the community at the time. Large hollow wooden box with 2 wooden doors at the front that open out the from centre to a hollow box. Attached to the front of the box, at the top, is a wooden decoration with curved edges along the top. In the centre of this are the letters R.A.O.B.- the letters having been carved out of the wood and then filled with a different wood. Both doors have steel attachments and a locked padlock hangs on the door on the left. Inside the box is a white paper sign with black writing backed onto masonite. Inside the right hand side door a coloured paper sign is attached."R.A.O.B." top centre of box. "Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes" etc. on black and white sign inside box. "Mt Beauty Lodge No. 150. This is to certify that Brother (blank) initiated into ...on 19th March 1949 ....signed by Chas / Chris A. Angus, Secretary" on coloured paper inside right hand side door.royal antediluvian order of buffaloes. bogong. mt beauty. charitable organisation. kiewa hydro electric scheme. lewis camp mess, clubs, societies

Three pages of research by Rita Hull on Friendly Societies. Includes name of Society, when established, the number of Members, and the years 1865,1875, 1881,1891, 1895 and 1907 (an asterisk if they were still operating). Listed are the Society names and the different Court, Lodge, etc. under the name. They are: Manchester Unity Independent Order of Odd Fellows M.U.I.O.O.F. - Loyal Bendigo Loyal Gold Miners' Pride, Loyal James Roe, Loyal Strangers' Refuge, Loyal Heart of Friendship, Loyal Albert, Loyal Sir Henry Barkly, Loyal Catherine, Loyal Darling and Earl of Hopetoun. Ancient Order of Foresters A.O.F. - Court Royal Oak, Court Queen of the Forest, Court Pride of the Forest, Court Happy Valley, Court Bendigo, Court Banner of Hope, Court Sherwood, Court King of the Forest, Court Alexandra, Court Victoria and Court Star of Bendigo (Women). Independent Order of Oddfellows I.O.O. - Loyal Sandhurst Lodge, Court Weeroona and Golden Star Rebekah. Independent Order of Rechabites I.O.R. - Tent Star of Bendigo, Tent Refuge, Tent Cobden, Tent Olive Branch, Tent Laurel, Tent Sutton and Tent Herald of Peace. Sons and Daughters of Temperance - Royal Diadem Division, Ark of Safety, Royal Septre, Hope of Sandhurst (Ladies), Princess Beatrice (Ladies), Lady Loch (Ladies) and Laurel (Ladies). Grand United Order of Oddfellows G.U.O.O.F. - Lodge Star of Eaglehawk, Lodge Sandhurst, Lodge Pride of Bendigo, Lodge Olive Branch and Lodge Belvidere. United Ancient Order of Druids U.A.O.D. - Lodge Quartzopolis, Lodge Eldorado, Lodge Caractacus, Lodge Bendigo and Lodge Sandhurst. Order of St Andrew (Scottish Constitution) - Bendigo Lodge No 1. Order of St Andrew (All Nations) - Lodge Sandhurst and Lodge Unity. Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes R.A.O.B. - Provincial Grand Lodge No 1, Prairie Lodge, Forest Lodge and Southern Cross Lodge. The Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society H.A.C.B.S. - St Kilian's No 4 and Eaglehawk Branch. Independent Order of Good Templars - Lodge Bendigo, Lodge Guiding Star, and Lodge Hope of Golden Square. Loyal Orange Institution of Victoria - Lodge William Lodge and Loyal Governor Bowen (Pride of Eaglehawksocieties, order of .., list, list of friendly societies, rita hull, manchester unity independent order of odd fellows m.u.i.o.o.f., ancient order of foresters a.o.f., independent order of oddfellows i.o.o., independent order of rechabites i.o.r., sons and daughters of temperance, grand united order of oddfellows g.u.o.o.f., united ancient order of druids u.a.o.d., order of st andrew (scottish constitution), order of st andrew (all nations), royal antediluvian order of buffaloes r.a.o.b., the hibernian australasian catholic benefit society h.a.c.b.s., independent order of good templars, loyal orange institution of victoria, australian natives association a.n.a.

A Mechanics Institute in Bacchus Marsh dates from sometime in the 1850s. The foundation stone for this hall dates from 1858. The hall was located on the corner of Young Street and Bennett Street on land donated by James Young. In 1883 a new and larger Mechanics Institute Hall was built in Main Street. The old hall was purchased by Thomas Anderson and for some years was a private residence. It was later bought by the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB) and became a Lodge for that order. In its later years it was known locally as 'The Buff's Hall'. It was eventually demolished in the late 20th century. Built in Young Street on land owned by James Young, a prominent citizen of Bacchus Marsh, this Hall was the venue for the commencement of the political campaign of Alfred Deakin, and later for the campaign of Peter Lalor, a leader of the Eureka Rebellion.Small sepia 'carte de viste' style unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Housed in the Jeremeas Family Album which contains photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by the photographers Stevenson and McNicoll. The photo is of a single-storey brick building. The front has a gabled entrance with a central doorway and two windows, one on either side of the door. A plaque has been inset in the gable above the door. The hip roof is shingled. Three windows run along the side of the building. A picket fence on very uneven footage runs along the front. The entrance gateway has two steps up to the entry and is decorated with an ornate lantern supported by a slim metal framework. Another lantern is fixed to the left of the front door.Printed On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE. stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, mechanics institutes, halls, bacchus marsh mechanics institute

The posters depict banners of ribbons and medals and are part of the Order of Buffalos, Royal Antediluvian. See KVHS 0084 and KVHS 1460See KVHS 0084 and KVHS 14607 brightly coloured posters mounted on blue cardboard for the Buffalo Lodge including one titled 'The Buffalo Recorder' with 'Tawonga / 200 Witness Opening' on the occasion of its opening. r.a.o.b., tawonga buffalos