The photo shows "William Clarke" who owned and operated the first commercial Punt across the Ovens River during the goldrush daysthe photograph shows "William Clarke" who was one of the first pioneers of the township of Wangaratta as it is now known. He also built one of the first hotels in Wangaratta.Brown wooden framed photograph, greyish background with silver surround around photo of William Clarke, one of Wangaratta's foundation pioneers. The wood is from the first punt. He was the owner of the first punt to cross the Ovens river, which he had built for 500 pounds. It was sunk in 1855 after the first bridge across the Ovens river was built.William Clarke1 1839 Wangaratta William Clarke 11 William Clarke 111(my father) Nell Clarke 1884-1965 William Clarke 1 Pioneer of Wangaratta Vic. 1839 This frame is made of oak from the punt he operated over the Ovens River during the goldrush days to Beechworthclarke family, punt, sydney hotel

Tells the story of early Irish Pioneering Women who settled the Maribyrnong River Valley (formerly Salt Water River) and founded the first hotels, punts (river crossing barges) and farms in the region; and focuses on six particular women and their stories.Book now out of print. Funds from the sales of this book were used to build the monument "The Pioneer Womens Shelter" in Pipemakers Park.Book, soft card cover, 178 pagesISBN 0958808406 Book dedication "This book is dedicated to all women who made the voyage under sail"book, womens history, irish women, pioneers, maribyrnong river, salt water river

This item is from a collection donated by descendants of John Francis Turner of Wodonga. It is one of many souvenirs produced to represent landmarks in the Albury-Wodonga district. The first punt across the Murray River at Albury was established by Robert Brown in 1843. In 1861 the first Union Bridge was built. It was demolished to make way for the second Union Bridge which opened in 1898. This second bridge closed and was eventually demolished after the third and existing bridge was opened in 1961. Hancock and Sons, Stoke on Trent - Sampson Hancock, a prominent Wesleyan Methodist, started potting in 1857. In 1891 he established the business of Sampson Hancock & Sons. Sampson died in 1900 and the business was continued by his three sons - Jabez, Harry and Arthur. In 1935 the business was in financial difficulty and was made bankrupt. It was restarted as S Hancock & Sons (Potters) Ltd. and moved to the Gordon Works, Hanley - which was renamed the Corona Works. The restarted company was not a success and it finally closed in 1937, having been put into receivership on 23rd March. This information helps to establish provenance of this plate.This item comes from a collection used by a prominent citizen of Wodonga. It is representative of a items produced to represent historic landmarks or features of the district.Fine China round plate with gilt edge and image of the Union Bridge, AlburyBeneath image: " THE BRIDGE OVER THE MURRAY AT ALBURY, NSWALESalbury souvenirs, union bridge albury, albury-wodonga border, murray river bridges

Relates to a series of 5 photos:P000094-P000098 of the front of the Bridge Hotel on the corner of Murray esplanade and Hopwood gardens. These photos, taken about 1976, were before the Port Restoration Scheme renovated the hotel. The Bridge Hotel was built by Henry Hopwood in 1858. This and the Bond Store were Echuca's first 2 brick buildings. Named from Hopwood's nearby pontoon bridge. The building was bought be The Council in 1970. Restored and reopened in 1975.The Bridge Hotel is an important part of Echuca's settlement and development. It was originally built by Henry Hopwood, the European founder of Echuca, in 1859. Hopwood built the hotel to provide accommodation to people using his punts across the Campaspe and Murray rivers that area central to the landscape of the Port. The hotel was situated on the land between both rivers and punts and provided for a variety of levels of accommodation from grand rooms to very basic rooms. At the time of the photos the hotel was 120 years old and became an important part of the Port of Echuca tourism. Black and white photograph of the Bridge Hotel , showing western wing before restoration.Stamped on the reverse "Gazemore Studio, D. G. Gay, 18 Frances Street Echuca 3625.bridge hotel, echcua, port restoration scheme, bridge hotel restoration, echuca

This book was written by Ian Winchester, the grandson of James Winchester, early settler in Marlo, who worked with Alan Richardson. The book is dedicated to those who colonised the Snowy River. James Winchester was born in Geelong in 1856. He first sailed into Marlo, aged 15 and returned in the 1870's. he worked on the snagging punt on the Snowy River and also on the Paddle Steamer Curlip which towed the barges to collect the maize grown along the Snowy River.This book is a useful reference on the history of the Paddle Steamer Curlip.A thin, 22 pp, stapled paperback book, titled "P.S. Curlip & The Snowy River". It has a cream cover with a b/w photo of the Paddle Steamer Curlip in the centre. Print is black. It contains a history of the Curlip built by Samuel Richardson and is written in verse. There are b/w photographs and sketches.On front page -stamped "Orbost & District Historical Society"winchester curlip snowy-river

Nine photographs from the Country Roads Boards with Negative Numbers and description. Donated by L. J. HaywardNine photographs of the 2 car Punt and the 2 bridges between San Remo and Phillip Island. 310-01. Photograph of the two car punt operating in 1929 between San Remo and Newhaven. 310-02. Photograph of the Suspension Bridge between San Remo and Newhaven. 310-03. Photograph of the two bridges - old and new. 310-04. Photograph of the construction of the new bridge. 310-05 to 09. Photographs of the construction of the new bridge.310-01. CRB Neg No 68-1091 310-02. CRB Vic. Aust. Neg No. 61-864C 310.03. CRB Neg No. 69-1406 310-04. CRB Neg No. 67-3741 Phillip Island Bridge Sheet Pile Coffer Dam. 310-05. CRB Neg No. 68-461A. Phillip Island Bridge Portal Frame Piers on San Remo side. 310-06. CRB Neg No. 66-1012B Phillip island Bridge. The temporary steel bridge in October 1966. 310-07. CRB Neg No. 67-4019C Phillip Island Bridge. Anchor span beam 204 ft long. 310-08. CRB Neg No. 67-1826E. Phillip Island Bridge. Stressing an anchor span beam. 310-09. CRB Neg No. 67-1930F. Phillip Island Bridge. Placing the first beam on No. 3. span.suspension bridge, phillip island bridge, newhaven-san remo punt, l j hayward

Nine photographs from a collection of 33 donated by Leonie Brennan. Photographs belonged to Edward (Ted) Sands, hairdresser.Photograph 215-01 Black & White photograph of 3 people standing in front of Mr Anderson's shop in Cowes. Miss D Winson?? Mr O S Kennedy & Mr R Anderson. Photograph 215-02 Black & White photograph of landing cranes on the Cowes pier. Cowes foreshore and mature trees in background. Photograph 215-03 Black & White photograph of the early construction of Phillip Island bridge viewed from Phillip Island. Shows the base structure of the first bridge. Photograph 215-04 Black & White photograph of the Newhaven - San Remo Punt on the shore on the Phillip Island side. Photograph 215-05 Black & White photograph of Edward (Ted) Sands standing in front of R Anderson's shop in Cowes. Photograph 215-06 Black & White photograph of a koala in tree in front of shed and water tanks. Photograph 215-07 Black & White photograph of the Isle of Wight Hotel showing front footpath and shop next door. Photograph 215-08 Black & White Photograph of the Cowes beach at low tide, showing mature trees on the foreshore and boats in the water. Photograph 215-09 Black & White Photograph of Mr R Anderson's Shop in Cowes.All photographs except for one marked on front with "Cowes" the month and year 1940.cowes shop phillip island, mr anderson, mr o s kennedy, mr edward (ted) sands, isle of wight hotel phillip island, cowes pier phillip island, cowes beach phillip island, newhaven-san remo punt, wildlife - koala, koala cowes phillip island, phillip island first bridge, leonie brennan

Contents: • Next meeting, guest speaker; Robert Wuchatsch: Westgarthtown • November Meeting • Christmas Function • Society Headquarters • President’s Report • Spring Excursion • Eltham Heritage Trail • Nillumbik Heritage Study • More News • A Punt Across the Yarra at Eltham? • Former Eltham Shire Office Site The Shire of Eltham Historical Society was formed in October 1967. The first newsletter of the Society was issued May 1978 and has been published continuously ever since on a bi-monthly basis. With the cessation of the Shire of Eltham in late 1994, the Society's name was revised to Eltham District Historical Society and this name first appeared with issue No. 103, July 1995. The collection of the Society's newsletters provides a valuable resource on the history of the Society's activities, office bearers and committee members, guest speakers and subjects of historical interest pertinent to the former Shire of Eltham and the Eltham District.A4 photocopied newsletter distributed to membersnewsletter, eltham district historical society, shire of eltham historical society

Contents: • Next meeting, Eltham on Video • 1997 Program • Former Eltham Shire Office Site – Planning Appeal • The “Shillinglaw Trees” • Yarra River Punt, Warrandyte • Annual General Meeting The Shire of Eltham Historical Society was formed in October 1967. The first newsletter of the Society was issued May 1978 and has been published continuously ever since on a bi-monthly basis. With the cessation of the Shire of Eltham in late 1994, the Society's name was revised to Eltham District Historical Society and this name first appeared with issue No. 103, July 1995. The collection of the Society's newsletters provides a valuable resource on the history of the Society's activities, office bearers and committee members, guest speakers and subjects of historical interest pertinent to the former Shire of Eltham and the Eltham District.A4 photocopied newsletter distributed to membersnewsletter, eltham district historical society, shire of eltham historical society

62 pages : illustratednon-fictionIn 1839 a runaway horse crashed into a tree stump that stood in the middle of Bourke Street; and in 1840 there were holes in Collins Street so deep that a child was nearly drowned in one. Early Melbourne Sketchbook recaptures the exciting early days of the city, days when rainy weather rendered Elizabeth Street impassable without a punt, and when Melbourne's first city councillor was elected on the promise of free beer to his constituents. Brian Carroll has sought out an interesting collection of contemporary illustrations to take us back to the beginning of Melbourne, from the original discovery of Port Phillip in 1802. David Collins' abortive settlement at Sullivan's Bay was abandoned in 1803, and it was not until 1835 that John Batman settled on his now famous 'place for a village'. Here are fascinating stories of the men who founded and shaped Victoria's capital city: Batman, Fawkner, Bourke, La Trobe. In addition, there is a wealth of information about Melbourne's buildings and landmarks - places such as St Francis', the Post Office, the Town Hall, Princes Bridge, and Young and Jackson's. Early Melbourne Sketchbook describes vividly the historical development and cultural growth of the city that was to become Australia's financial capital and its second largest city. (Inside cover)melbourne, historic buildings

The P.S. Curlip was built by Samuel Richardson & Sons at a Tabbara sawmill in 1889. Alan Richardson, shown in the photograph, was the captain. It was operated along the Snowy River in Australia's Gippsland region between 1890 and 1919, before being washed out to sea, and broken on Marlo beach, by a flash flood in 1919. James Winchester was born in Geelong in 1856. He first sailed into Marlo, aged 15 and returned in the 1870's. he worked on the snagging punt on the Snowy River and also on the Paddle Steamer Curlip which towed the barges to collect the maize grown along the Snowy River. Wooden chutes were constructed along the river banks to load bagged maize onto the barges. The bags of maize were sent down the chutes into the waiting barges. This is a pictorial record of the iconic Paddle Steamer Curlip which has a significant association with Orbost. It records the method of loading maize onto barges through a wooden cchute.A large framed black / white photograph of the Paddle Steamer Curlip and a barge on a river. The barge is being loaded with maize through a large chute. In the background is the Snowy River bridge. the frame is wood. There is also a copy.on back of copy - " Jim Winchester, Alan & Frank Richardson, Curlip - barge & chute for loading maize"p.s.-curlip transport-shipping richardson winchester-james snowy-river maize-loading

This is the Dalgety bridge across the Snowy River. It is a steel construction.The first bridge over the river was constructed in 1888. There was a punt across the river before the bridge was built . Dalgety is a small service centre, located on the Snowy River approximately 235 km from Orbost. It was an early consideration for the site of Australia,s capital city. The Dalgety Bridge over the Snowy River has been an important item of infrastructure in the history of New South Wales for over 110 years. It was designed by noted bridge engineer J. A. McDonald,and was a technically sophisticated bridge structure for its time. This is a pictorial record of a significant structure on the Snowy River.A small black / white photograph of a large bridge over a river.bridge-dalgety-snowy-river

Published: 29 June 1934 Published title: PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOOTBALL BEGINS WITH SCOTCH--XAVIER MATCH. Published caption: “The Public Schools 1934 Football season began yesterday when Scotch met Xavier on the Olympic Park ground, and after a wonderful recovery in the third term, Scotch registered a narrow win. Pictured above is the crowd of Scotch boys who congregated behind the goal after the addition of another goal to their score.” Description: Scotch College pupils exuberantly cheer their team’s goal at the first football match of the Public Schools Premiership and Championship for 1934 between Scotch College and Xavier College at Olympic Park, Melbourne (where AAMI Park is now). Research by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer: The Public Schools Premiership and Championship was an Australian Rules football tournament held every winter, over five weeks between six schools- Scotch College, Xavier College, Melbourne Grammar, Wesley College and traditional rivals Geelong Grammar and Geelong College. The school that won the most games out of the five played, won the competition. As the 1933 Premiers, Xavier College had the honour of playing the opening match of the season on 28 June against runners-up Scotch College at Olympic Park (where AAMI Park is now). The Public Schools Premiership matches were widely reported in Melbourne’s daily newspapers with photographs and commentary of every game. Weekly society magazine “Table Talk” featured reports and seven photographs of the first games of the season. Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) wireless station 3AR interspersed their afternoon program of reproduced music with detailed descriptions of the matches. Also reporting the matches was “Forty-Years-On”, presumably a student in the 1890s, whose regular column in The Herald newspaper “Activities In The Public Schools” published all the latest news on Victoria’s public (private) schools. In his column for The Australasian 7 July 1934, “Old Boy” writes about the Scotch versus Xavier match- “For more than half the game last week, Scotch was outplayed, but took the lead early in the last term and kept it. Scotch surprised even its own supporters by its dash in the last 25 minutes. Xavier, who became over confident by the prospects of victory, could not withstand the final onslaught. In the last quarter Scotch was the better side and won by seven points.” The final score was Scotch 11.11 (77 points) and Xavier 10.10 (70 points). At the end of this exciting match the overjoyed Scotch boys swarmed over the Olympic Park fences to chair their captain, Stanley Steele and carry him shoulder high, to the pavilion. The first documented game of a variation of Australian Rules football was played at Richmond Paddock (now Yarra Park) from 7 August 1858. Australian Rules football writer Hugh Buggy of The Argus 16 April 1952 explains- “It began when boys and masters of Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar School decided to play a 40-a-side game, with the first team to score two goals to be the winner. Goal posts were pitched more than a mile apart, one set on the Jolimont Hill and the other at Punt road Richmond. Nobody defined the boundary, and the play swung over the broad acres of the park and around the gum trees. It went on and on like a Test match, from noon till dusk. After 15 hours of play on three Saturdays the score was one goal all, and the game was abandoned for that season.” Rules of the game hadn’t been decided at this time - the earliest known rules were codified a year later in 1859. A sculpture and plaque located outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), created by sculptor Louis Laumen in 2001, commemorates this game. It depicts two school boys chasing a ball along with umpire Tom Wills, a co-writer of the rules and promoter of Australian Rules football. A medley of Gaelic football, an Aboriginal game called marngrook as well as football played in English public (that is private) schools have been cited as inspiration for Australian Rules football. The word “Marngrook” meaning “game ball”, comes from the language of the Gunditjmara, First Nations people of southwestern Victoria. Marngrook was played at gatherings and celebrations and involved players competing to jump and catch the ball after it is kicked high into the air. The player that catches the ball then gets to kick it. The ball was made from possum skin, filled with pounded charcoal and tied with kangaroo sinews. Protector of Aborigines in Victoria, William Thomas (1794-1867) observed in 1841- “The men and boys joyfully assemble when this game is to be played. One makes a ball of possum skin, somewhat elastic, but firm and strong… The players of this game do not throw the ball as a white man might do, but drop it and at the same time kick it with their feet, using the instep for that purpose. The tallest men have the best chances in this game. Some of them will leap as high as five feet from the ground to catch the ball. The person who secures the ball kicks it. This continues for hours and the natives never seem to tire of the exercise.” The Victorian Football League (VFL), was founded in 1897 with eight teams playing Australian Rules football and held its first Grand Final at the MCG in 1902. From the start the games attracted large enthusiastic crowds, which included women. “Viva” writing in the Supplement to The Weekly Times-3 July 1886- LADIES COLUMN (By Viva) FOOTBALL. A Social Sketch. “…Of the popularity of football and footballers among women, there can be no doubt. Young, soft hearted girls, who would not “tread upon a worm," avow that football matches are "awfully jolly," and seem to regard accidents as a necessary part of the amusement…a great proportion of the spectators were ladies.” “Minetta” writing for Punch Magazine - “Ladies Letter, Holmby House, Toorak” 22 June 1905 “The "Football Girl" is a feminine genus at present much to the fore in Melbourne. Not that she plays football—at least not beyond a kick in the backyard or paddock—oh, dear, no! Her interest in the game is purely from a spectacular point of view. "Football Girls" usually hunt in couples, with two male barrackers attached. They know all about So-and-So's form, and whether he is a trier or has been bought. They go to each match of their particular club, and watch the play intently, their faces wearing a decidedly strained expression when their club is getting the worst of it. They are not ashamed to barrack either, when matters are progressing successfully… Yours ever, MINETTA.” The Herald 2 July 1909 published a cartoon by Ambrose Dyson depicting women football fans, which asked- “THE QUESTION OF THE DAY. Should Girls Go To Football Matches? Should they? The sex made up their mind about the matter very early on.” The resounding answer was- “Well, I’d like to see the man that would stop me!” At the final match of the 1934 tournament on August 2, Melbourne Grammar finished the season unbeaten, winning their tenth Public Schools premiership in 16 years. The Weekly Times 11 August 1934 reported-“Melbourne Grammar…had a rather lucky escape against Xavier…Had a Xavier player not touched a shot, kicked by a team-mate, as it was going through goal Grammar would have been beaten.” Final score - Melbourne Grammar 13.7 (85 points) defeated Xavier College 12.9 (81 points). Ladder for the 1934 Season- Melbourne Grammar-5 wins Wesley College- 4 wins Scotch College- 3 wins Xavier College- 2 wins Geelong Grammar- 1 win Geelong College- 0 wins The Associated Public Schools of Victoria (APS) exists today where eleven member (private) schools, including co-educational schools, participate in 21 sporting competitions throughout the year. (The descriptor “Public School” references the historical usage of the term and the model of the British public school). PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOOTBALL BEGINS WITH SCOTCH--XAVIER MATCH. (1934, June 29). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved June 18, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204824484 PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOOTBALL AT OLYMPIC PARK (1934, July 5). Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885 - 1939), p. 5. Retrieved June 18, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article149682433 PUBLIC SCHOOLS. (1934, June 29). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved June 3, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204824486 PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOOTBALL. (1936, July 3). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 18. Retrieved August 6, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11888301 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Australian_rules_football COLLEGE SPORTS (1934, July 7). The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), p. 48 (METROPOLITAN EDITION). Retrieved May 30, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article145238393 GRAMMAR CHAMPIONS (1934, August 11). Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), p. 72. Retrieved June 1, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224562842 LETS LOOK AT FOOTBALL with HUGH BUGGY (1952, April 16). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 9. Retrieved June 15, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23174340 FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AMONG THE SCHOOLS. (1934, August 7). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 4. Retrieved June 14, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205521661 https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/australian-rules-football#:~:text=In%20the%20winter%20of%201858,games%20of%20Australian%20Rules%20football. https://apssport.org.au/about/ http://lindsaymagazine.co/from-marngrook-to-australian-rules-football/ https://collection.australiansportsmuseum.org.au/objects/70993/possum-skin-ball FOOTBALL. (1886, July 3). Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), p. 6 (SUPPLEMENT TO THE STORY TELLER). Retrieved September 7, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221741193 Ladies' Letter. (1905, June 22). Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 - 1918; 1925), p. 28. Retrieved September 11, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article175410975 THE QUESTION OF THE DAY. (1909, July 2). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 9. Retrieved September 17, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242062970 Photographer notations on slide: "Scotch v Xavier - Olympic Park B42".schools, football

At the first match of the 1934 Public Schools Premiership and Championships at Olympic Park (where AAMI Park is now) between Scotch College (white shorts) and Xavier College, (black shorts) a mark is missed by Xavier players and then taken by a Scotch player. Research by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer: A crowd of schoolboys standing behind a picket fence, watch with anticipation as two teams contest a football at the goalposts. The Public Schools Premiership and Championship was an Australian Rules football tournament held every winter over five weeks between six schools- Scotch College, Xavier College, Melbourne Grammar, Wesley College and traditional rivals Geelong Grammar and Geelong College. The school that won the most games out of the five played, won the competition. As the 1933 Premiers, Xavier College had the honour of playing the opening match of the season on 28 June against runners-up Scotch College at Olympic Park (where AAMI Park is now). The Public Schools Premiership matches were widely reported in Melbourne’s daily newspapers with photographs and commentary of every game. Weekly society magazine “Table Talk” featured reports and seven photographs of the first games of the season. Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) wireless station 3AR interspersed their afternoon program of reproduced music with detailed descriptions of the matches. Also reporting the matches was “Forty-Years-On”, presumably a student in the 1890s, whose regular column in The Herald newspaper “Activities In The Public Schools” published all the latest news on Victoria’s public (private) schools. In his column for The Australasian 7 July 1934, “Old Boy” writes about the Scotch versus Xavier match: “For more than half the game last week, Scotch was outplayed, but took the lead early in the last term and kept it. Scotch surprised even its own supporters by its dash in the last 25 minutes. Xavier, who became over confident by the prospects of victory, could not withstand the final onslaught. In the last quarter Scotch was the better side and won by seven points.” The final score was Scotch 11.11 (77 points) and Xavier 10.10 (70 points). At the end of this exciting match the overjoyed Scotch boys swarmed over the Olympic Park fences to chair their captain, Stanley Steele and carry him shoulder high, to the pavilion. The first documented game of a variation of Australian Rules football was played at Richmond Paddock (now Yarra Park) from 7 August 1858. Australian Rules football writer Hugh Buggy of The Argus 16 April 1952 explains: “It began when boys and masters of Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar School decided to play a 40-a-side game, with the first team to score two goals to be the winner. Goal posts were pitched more than a mile apart, one set on the Jolimont Hill and the other at Punt road Richmond. Nobody defined the boundary, and the play swung over the broad acres of the park and around the gum trees. It went on and on like a Test match, from noon till dusk. After 15 hours of play on three Saturdays the score was one goal all, and the game was abandoned for that season.” Rules of the game hadn’t been decided at this time - the earliest known rules were codified a year later in 1859. A sculpture and plaque located outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), created by sculptor Louis Laumen in 2001, commemorates this game. It depicts two school boys chasing a ball along with umpire Tom Wills, a co-writer of the rules and promoter of Australian Rules football. A medley of Gaelic football, an Aboriginal game called marngrook as well as football played in English public (that is private) schools have been cited as inspiration for Australian Rules football. The word “Marngrook” meaning “game ball”, comes from the language of the Gunditjmara, First Nations people of southwestern Victoria. Marngrook was played at gatherings and celebrations and involved players competing to jump and catch the ball after it was kicked high into the air. The player that catches the ball then gets to kick it. The ball was made from possum skin, filled with pounded charcoal and tied with kangaroo sinews. Protector of Aborigines in Victoria, William Thomas (1794-1867) observed in 1841- “The men and boys joyfully assemble when this game is to be played. One makes a ball of possum skin, somewhat elastic, but firm and strong… The players of this game do not throw the ball as a white man might do, but drop it and at the same time kick it with their feet, using the instep for that purpose. The tallest men have the best chances in this game. Some of them will leap as high as five feet from the ground to catch the ball. The person who secures the ball kicks it. This continues for hours and the natives never seem to tire of the exercise.” The Victorian Football League (VFL), was founded in 1897 with eight teams playing Australian Rules football and held its first Grand Final at the MCG in 1902. From the start the games attracted large enthusiastic crowds, which included women. “Viva” writing in the Supplement to The Weekly Times - 3 July 1886 LADIES COLUMN (By Viva) FOOTBALL. A Social Sketch. “…Of the popularity of football and footballers among women, there can be no doubt. Young, soft hearted girls, who would not “tread upon a worm," avow that football matches are "awfully jolly," and seem to regard accidents as a necessary part of the amusement…a great proportion of the spectators were ladies.” “Minetta” writing for Punch Magazine - “Ladies Letter, Holmby House, Toorak” 22 June 1905 “The "Football Girl" is a feminine genus at present much to the fore in Melbourne. Not that she plays football—at least not beyond a kick in the backyard or paddock—oh, dear, no! Her interest in the game is purely from a spectacular point of view. "Football Girls" usually hunt in couples, with two male barrackers attached. They know all about So-and-So's form, and whether he is a trier or has been bought. They go to each match of their particular club, and watch the play intently, their faces wearing a decidedly strained expression when their club is getting the worst of it. They are not ashamed to barrack either, when matters are progressing successfully… Yours ever, MINETTA.” The Herald 2 July 1909 published a cartoon by Ambrose Dyson depicting women football fans, which asked- “THE QUESTION OF THE DAY. Should Girls Go To Football Matches? Should they? The sex made up their mind about the matter very early on.” The resounding answer was- “Well, I’d like to see the man that would stop me!” At the final match of the 1934 tournament on August 2, Melbourne Grammar finished the season unbeaten, winning their tenth Public Schools premiership in 16 years. The Weekly Times 11 August 1934 reported-“Melbourne Grammar…had a rather lucky escape against Xavier…Had a Xavier player not touched a shot, kicked by a team-mate, as it was going through goal Grammar would have been beaten.” Final score - Melbourne Grammar 13.7 (85 points) defeated Xavier College 12.9 (81 points). Ladder for the 1934 Season- Melbourne Grammar-5 wins Wesley College- 4 wins Scotch College- 3 wins Xavier College- 2 wins Geelong Grammar- 1 win Geelong College- 0 wins The Associated Public Schools of Victoria (APS) exists today where eleven member (private) schools, including co-educational schools, participate in 21 sporting competitions throughout the year. (The descriptor “Public School” references the historical usage of the term and the model of the British public). PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOOTBALL BEGINS WITH SCOTCH--XAVIER MATCH. (1934, June 29). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved June 23, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204824484 PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOOTBALL AT OLYMPIC PARK (1934, July 5). Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885 - 1939), p. 5. Retrieved May 30, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article149682433 PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOOTBALL. (1936, July 3). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 18. Retrieved May 30, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11888301 PUBLIC SCHOOLS. (1934, June 29). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved August 6, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204824486 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Australian_rules_football COLLEGE SPORTS (1934, July 7). The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), p. 48 (METROPOLITAN EDITION). Retrieved August 6, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article145238393 GRAMMAR CHAMPIONS (1934, August 11). Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), p. 72. Retrieved August 6, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224562842 LETS LOOK AT FOOTBALL with HUGH BUGGY (1952, April 16). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 9. Retrieved August 6, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23174340 FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AMONG THE SCHOOLS. (1934, August 7). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 4. Retrieved August 6, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205521661 https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/australian-rules-football#:~:text=In%20the%20winter%20of%201858,games%20of%20Australian%20Rules%20football. https://apssport.org.au/about/ http://lindsaymagazine.co/from-marngrook-to-australian-rules-football/ https://collection.australiansportsmuseum.org.au/objects/70993/possum-skin-ball FOOTBALL. (1886, July 3). Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), p. 6 (SUPPLEMENT TO THE STORY TELLER). Retrieved September 7, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221741193 Ladies' Letter. (1905, June 22). Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 - 1918; 1925), p. 28. Retrieved September 22, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article175410975 THE QUESTION OF THE DAY. (1909, July 2). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 9. Retrieved September 22, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242062970Photographer notations on slide: "Scotch v. Xavier - Olympic Park B42".football, schools

Princes Bridge Centenary pylons under construction Possibly taken from Young and Jacksons Hotel (formerly Princes Bridge Hotel) on the corner of Flinders and Swanston streets, Flinders Street Station’s clocks and main entrance dominate, along with its distinctive copper dome and decorative façade. The time on the main clock is 1.40pm, and the sign underneath, reflecting Melbourne’s upcoming Centenary reads, “We must accommodate our Centenary visitors! Citizens! Do your share by taking paying guests.” At left is the original Princes Bridge Station, today the site of Federation Square. The riverside tram terminus advertises a Café/Tobacconist/Refreshment Room selling cigars & cigarettes, fountain drinks & confectionery, and in smaller text: “Leave your boot repairs here”. Nearly everyone is dressed in dark suits, coats and hats. The footpaths are wide and there are no traffic lights. The roadway stretches towards the Shrine of Remembrance, not yet dedicated but very dominant on the skyline. Government House is clearly visible across the wide parkland that would come to be known as Kings Domain and that is an area of deep importance to the people of the Eastern Kulin. Originally, Birrarung was part of a network of swamps and lagoons linked to the course of the river. From 1896, Public Works Department engineer Carlo Catani, oversaw a new channel to straighten the river and the swamps and lagoons were filled with spoil from the channel works. From the same vantage point today, only the top of the tower of Government House would be visible. The photo captures the pylons along Princes Bridge, mid-construction and being installed to mark Melbourne’s Centenary. The pylons were not without controversy. Both The Argus and The Age bemoaned them for being “made almost entirely of imported softwood timber”, denying work to native hardwood timber workers and sawmillers, and leading visitors to think Australia did not have its own exceptional native hardwoods. The pylons were also variously described in their incomplete state, as unimaginative and resembling an oilfield. Published: The Age 5 September 1934 Featured in "Newsworthy: Melbourne in photographs 1933-1936" exhibition at East Melbourne Library, October to December 2023. Exhibition caption by project volunteer, Louise McKenzie Photographer notations on slide: "Pylons + St Kilda Rd C57" Published: Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), Wednesday 5 September 1934, page 11 Published title: DECORATIONS -- THEN AND NOW. Published caption: "Although not completed yet, some impression of the effect of the decorations on Princes-bridge may be obtained from the first picture which shows the majestic sweep of St Kilda road with the Shrine of Remembrance and Government House dominating the horizon. The area to the left of St. Kilda-road and in front of Government House is portion of the area which it is proposed to call the King's Domain, which extends to Domain-road and Anderson-street..." Description: East-facing, elevated view of Flinders Street Station and Princes Bridge, featuring partially completed pylons erected for Melbourne's Centenary celebrations. The Shrine of Remembrance and Government House can be seen in the distance. In the foreground are trams, cars and trucks, pedestrians, Batman Avenue tram terminus and refreshment rooms. Signage on Flinders Street Station encourages citizens to accommodate Centenary visitors. The Melbourne Centenary was held 1934-35 in celebration John Batman's proclamation that Melbourne "the place for a village". Centenary events included a visit by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester. A Centenary Cake measuring 50 feet in height and ten tons in weight was cut into 250,000 pieces and sold at 1 shilling per piece for charity. Spectacular floodlighting of city landmarks, the creation of the Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden, and the MacRobertson Air Race from London, were other notable activities. Research by project volunteer, Louise McKenzie: The photo in The Age collage of 5 September 1934 has a slightly cropped foreground. The original photo has been taken from an elevated vantage point, most probably the roof of the Nicholas Building on the corner of Flinders and Swanston streets. The right foreground is dominated by the main “clocks” entrance to Flinders Street Station, showing its distinctive copper dome and decorative façade. The time on the main clock is 1.40 pm. The main sign on the front of the Station reads, "We Must Accommodate our Centenary Visitors! Citizens! Do your share by taking paying guests. Write to The Official Centenary Accommodation Bureau, 436 Collins St. City. Tel M 4671”. Another sign at eye level at the main entrance says: “Cheap Trips on Sundays”. The sign on the end of the roof along the eastern side of the station reads, “The Babies Need Your Help! Support Broadmeadows Foundling Hospital Appeal. July and August”. Run by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, St Joseph’s Foundling Hospital was a purpose built infants’ home for up to 300 babies, plus accommodation for expectant mothers, mainly single women. In the early 1930s, the department (Victorian Children’s Welfare Department) contracted St Joseph’s Foundling Hospital to care for an additional 60 infant state wards, and up to 175 non wards at any given time. In 1931 it also operated a mothercraft training school. The centre foreground shows the commencement of Princes Bridge. Beneath the left side of the bridge was the site of the original Princes Bridge Station, by this time incorporated into Flinders Street Station, and today the area is the site of Federation Square. It was linked to Flinders Street station by the railway tracks that ran underneath the northern approach to the bridge. This photo shows a tram terminus which has a Café/Tobacconist/Refreshment Room, selling cigars & cigarettes, fountain drinks & confectionary, and a sign: Leave your boot repairs here. In the foreground is a wide roadway running south/north, comprising two vehicle lanes each heading north/south, and a central section containing two sets of tram tracks. There are cars, buses and delivery vans on the roadway. The trams visible are Glen Iris (Route No. 6; tram no. 448), Toorak (Route No. 8, tram no. 333), ? (No. 7), ? (No. 1), and ? (No. 2A). The footpaths are extremely wide. There is a square newspaper/magazine stand on the eastern side footpath. And also a “Ferry” sign. There are no traffic lights, but a policeman is visible on the roadway. There are pedestrians – men, women, children, a porter with trolley, women with prams. Clothing comprises dark suits, coats and hats for nearly everyone. There are double headed “Collins Street” lights along the side of the roadway, and along the northern riverbank. The roadway in the foreground is an extension of Swanston Street, which becomes Princes Bridge, then St Kilda Road, stretching towards the Shrine of Remembrance, and diverting past it. The Shrine had not yet been officially dedicated, and looks very white and dominant on the skyline. On the LHS of St Kilda Road, Government House is clearly visible across the wide parkland to be known as Kings Domain. The Kings Domain area is important to the people of the Eastern Kulin nation, and also has historical importance for its association with the early settlement of Melbourne and the foundation of British colonial administration in Victoria. On the southern side of the Yarra River (Birrarung) an historic rowing boathouse is visible, located adjacent to the Alexandra Gardens. Originally Birrarung was part of a network of swamps and lagoons linked to the course of the river. From 1896, under the guidance of engineer Carlo Catani* a new channel to straighten the river was created and the swamps and lagoons were filled with spoil from the channel works. The gardens were then created and completed in time for a Royal visit by the Duke of York in May 1901. The gardens are named after Alexandra of Denmark, the wife of King Edward VII. Both these areas, plus the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Shrine of Remembrance Reserve, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Government House, and the Queen Victoria Gardens together form the Domain Parklands. The extent of the subsequent plantings is evident today, where from the same vantage point only the top of the tower of Government House would be visible. *Catani was born in Florence in 1852, but after arriving in Melbourne worked as a civil engineer for the Victorian Government. His last major project was the reclamation of the foreshore of St Kilda, envisaged in the style of a European resort, complete with a split level esplanade, bathing pavilions, dance halls, amusements and a French-Italian style of landscape complete with palms. The gardens at the end of Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, now bear his name. The historic boathouse visible across the Yarra is another glimpse into Melbourne’s past. “Boathouse Row” comprises 7 amateur rowing clubs, the first established in 1859 (Melbourne University Boat Club). Other Clubs were Richmond, Melbourne, Banks, Melbourne Grammar School, Yarra Yarra and Mercantile. South of the river and west of the bridge is an area today developed into the Melbourne arts precinct of Hamer Hall and the Arts Centre. But at this time it was the home of Wirths Olympia Circus, which comprised Wirths Pleasure Park (an amusement park), a 5,000 seat auditorium – Hippodrome, a roller skating rink, a glaciarium, a cinema, and the Green Mill Dance Hall. Dog shows were also held at Olympia. The Green Mill Dance Hall closed in 1950, and the remainder of the Wirth buildings on site were destroyed by fire in December 1953. The feature of the photo is the pylons erected along Princes Bridge to mark Melbourne’s Centenary in 1934. The sixteen plastered pylons were designed by Roy Prentice, the second person to qualify as an architect at The University of Melbourne’s Bachelor of Architecture degree, in 1933, aged 27. Simon Reeves in his article marking the 100th birthday of Roy Prentice on 20 June 2006 reports that the State Electricity Commission sponsored this work, and the Argus reported that “… the pylons were “illuminated from within to give the effect of soft radiance”. Australia Home Beautiful 1 Oct 1934 reports in a very detailed and comprehensive article: The 10 taller pylons, including flagpole, were 48 ft, with a base of 8 ft. Timber-framed and faced with fibrous plaster and galvanised sheet iron, each structure was securely bolted to a concrete foundation three feet in depth. Panels of glass let into the shaft of each pylon were indirectly lit by 40, 100 watt lamps, and the upper bank of internal lamps were dyed so as to flood the panels with a deep red light. The decorative painted shields and flagpoles/pennants were illuminated by three 200 watt projectors concealed in the roof of each pylon, and were part of an electric night light decoration scheme involving 28 miles of wire to supply more than 20,000 lights. An article in the Argus on 18 October 1934 provided minute detail of the lighting erected in Melbourne for the Centenary, converting it “… into a coloured fairyland by night.” The estimated cost of 10 pounds per hour the lights were on. The display included 800 standard light poles 30 feet high which were tiered with electric bulbs concealed in inverted cones, 138 specially designed “Venetian poles” draped in flags trophies and streamers. The streets included in the electric night light decoration scheme were Bourke Street from Spring to William, the entire length of Collins Street, Flinders Street from Elizabeth to Spring, Lonsdale Street from Elizabeth to Swanston, Swanston and Elizabeth Streets from Flinders to Lonsdale, and parts of Springs and Spencer Streets. Together with the Princes Bridge pylons, approximately 28 miles of wire was required to supply power to the more than 20,000 lights. And that is just in the city of Melbourne. It was estimated the same amount of lighting was duplicated among other local councils. The pylons were not without controversy. The Argus on 28 August 1934 in an article headed “Imported Timber in Pylons” reported that the Princes Bridge pylons are “made almost entirely of imported softwood timber”, and have therefore denied work to native hardwood timber workers and sawmillers. The same day the Melbourne Age ran a similar story, bemoaning the fact that foreign oregon had been used which may lead tourists to think Australia did not have its own exceptional native hardwoods. A Camberwell City Councillor described the pylons as unimaginative, and the Herald reported that skeletons of pylons for the Centenary decorations in their present form led the area to resemble an oilfield! The Yarra River and Princes Bridge have long been a focal point of Melbourne life. In the early days of European settlement in Melbourne a rope-hauled punt carried people across the Yarra River. A surge in population and increased shipping traffic created a need for a bridge. There was difficulty in agreeing on a suitable site for the bridge (options were crossing at Elizabeth, Swanston, Queen or Market Streets), but the NSW Government favoured Swanston Street and the Melbourne Town Council decided on a temporary bridge across the Yarra spanning from the foot of Swanston Street. This first bridge was a single span timber toll bridge designed by Scottish born bridge designer David Lennox, and completed in 1845. It was 120 feet long, had a roadway of 17 feet wide, and a footpath on one side of 4 feet. It was leased to the Melbourne Bridge Company in the name of Robert A Balbirnie. The tollhouse was on the north side of the river and the toll keeper, Patrick Doherty, was credited with saving nine lives during the four years he was in charge of the toll station. The second bridge was stone (completed 1850), and named Prince’s Bridge after the HRH Prince of Wales, later Edward VII. It was designed with an elliptical single arc and an exceedingly small rise in proportion to the span. However, this design created an obstacle for flood waters, and together with Melbourne’s increasing population it was quickly apparent that a new bridge was required. At its opening on 15 November 1850 coincided with the imminent declaration of Victoria as a separate colony, it provided a moment of great celebration for Melbournians and “The opening ceremony was described as the grandest processional display witnessed in the colony.” (ToMelbourne.com.au) Princes Bridge in its present form, as depicted in this photograph, was designed by Jenkins, D’Ebro and Grainger, and constructed in 1886-88 by David Munro. John Grainger (father of Australian composer Percy Grainger) did the majority of the design work for the bridge. The structure was to have three arches each 96 feet wide measured across the river, and the banks on both sides were raised to allow more space for floodwater to flow. St Kilda Road was originally many feet below the current level. The bridge is of architectural significance for its substantial size, giant half columns, extensive use of wrought and cast iron, decorative elements (cast-iron lamps) and the skilled stonemasonry in the construction of the abutments and piers. Its main design features are similar to those of Blackfriars Bridge in London (1870). The bluestones were quarried from Footscray, the Malmsbury stones were from quarries at Kyneton, and the granite from Harcourt. The cost was met by the State of Victoria, City of Melbourne, and six out of seven of its municipalities, and their coats of arms feature on the bridge. The building of the bridge reflected the boom period of Melbourne, including the Victorian gold rush 1851- late 1860s, and its contractor, David Munro, was also responsible for the construction of Queens Bridge and Sandridge Railway Bridge. The Centenary pylons are no longer in place, but today this intersection still plays a major part in Melbourne’s daily life: people still meet “under the clocks” at Flinders Street station, and the route in and out of the city along St Kilda Road is often a feature of parades such as Moomba, the Grand Final Parade, and of course the Anzac Day Parade which commences at the Princes Bridge intersection and finishes at the Shrine of Remembrance. There are many tram routes, which cross the Bridge, and it directs pedestrians towards the Arts Precinct, the various components of Domain Park, plus the Southbank restaurant and rowing precincts. Even though this is a street scene, it feels very intimate; the viewer is instantly immersed in the activity of a Melbourne afternoon, looking down St Kilda Road from a viewpoint near today’s Federation Square. References: DECORATIONS -- THEN AND NOW. (1934, September 5). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205880269 'Flinders Street railway station', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flinders_Street_railway_station 'St Joseph’s Foundling Hospital (1901-75)', Finding Records, Department of Health and Human Services, State of Victoria, https://www.findingrecords.dhhs.vic.gov.au/collectionresultspage/St-JosephsFoundling-Hospital-Babies-Home#departmental-administration 'Alexandra Gardens', City of Melbourne, https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/community/parks-open-spaces/major-parks-gardens/Pages/alexandra-gardens.aspx 'Wirths Circus', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wirth's_Circus 'Roy Prentice: Centenary Architect', Built Heritage Pty Ltd, Simon Reeves, https://www.builtheritage.com.au/downloads/prentice.pdf 'Princes Bridge', Heritage Council Victoria, https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/817 PORT PHILLIP. (1846, April 1). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12886251 'Edward VII', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VII 'Princes Bridge', ToMelbourne.com, https://tomelbourne.com.au/princes-bridge/ 'Princes Bridge', eMelbourne, https://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM01189b.htm 'Princes Bridge', Australia for everyone, http://australiaforeveryone.com.au/files/melbourne/princes-bridge.html 'Victorian gold rush', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_gold_rush IMPORTED TIMBER IN PYLONS (1934, August 28). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 9. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10952507 Princes-Bridge Pylons. (1934, August 28). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205532235 Pylons Appear Near Princes Bridge (1934, August 18). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243104375 PRINCES-BRIDGE PYLONS. (1934, September 20). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 10. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205873535 28 Miles of Wire (1934, October 18). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 1 (The Junior Argus). Retrieved September 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10977836 'Historical references for Boathouse Row, Melbourne', http://boathouserowmelbourne.com.au/history/ 'ITALIAN DELEGATION TO HONOUR CARLO CATANI, DESIGNER OF THE ST KILDA FORESHORE, St Kilda Historical Society, 2001, https://web.archive.org/web/20070928061938/http://www.skhs.org.au/~SKHSarticles/articles/Carlo_Catani.html# HISTORY IN LIGHTS (1934, July 12). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 16. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243172436 'Dressing Melbourne for the Duke', The Australian home beautiful: a journal for the home builder. Vol 12 No. 10 (1 October 1934), page 21, 58. Retrieved September 14, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2950922209Photographer notations on slide: "Pylons + St Kilda Rd C57".centenaries, bridges, lighting, flinders street railway station

Photographer notations on slide: "General View Of Lord Mayor's Dinner At Town Hall Nov 1936 B112" Published: The Age, Tuesday 10 November 1936, page 13 Published title: LORD MAYOR'S BANQUET Published caption: The brilliant scene inside the Melbourne Town Hall last night during the Lord Mayor’s banquet. Trove article identifier: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205939431 Description: 700 guests (all men) are seated around numerous tables in the Melbourne Town Hall for the Lord Mayor's dinner in November 1936. Before the stage is a top table of 35 men, all dressed smartly in black dinner suits, with either a black or white bow tie. Many are wearing their medals. The Lord Mayor has on his Mayoral chains, and to his right is the Governor of Victoria, Lord Huntingfield. The stage is heavily decorated with fresh flowers. Research by project volunteer, Louise McKenzie: This image takes up one quarter of the photographic space on page 13 of The Age on 10 November 1936, reflecting the importance of the event and also the sheer dramatics of the image: 700 guests (all men), a top table of 35, and all dressed smartly in black dinner suits, with either a black or white bow tie. Many are wearing their medals. The Lord Mayor has on his Mayoral chains, and to his right is the Governor of Victoria, Lord Huntingfield. Further to his right is a man with an impressive sash across his chest. It is a very animated, and rather informal, moment. Banks of fresh flowers smother the stage, which is decorated in the manner of a terrace at an English stately home. Tables are laden with food, drink and decorations, and the wait staff (men and women) are also formally dressed, in the manner of Downton Abbey. It is spectacular, dramatic, and luxurious, and perpetuates the proud descriptor of “Marvellous Melbourne” as conferred by London Journalist George Augustus Sala when he visited the city in 1885. During its 1880s boom, Melbourne was the second-largest city in the British Empire, after London, and reputedly the richest city in the world. At times the expression was used with some irony, but "...in Victoria’s centenary year, 1934, with the city mired in another depression, a publisher bravely entitled a book of souvenir photographs Marvellous Melbourne, claiming that the subject ‘still finds apt expression in the happy one-time sobriquet’.” This photo seems to reflect an ongoing pride in Melbourne and a desire for it to live up to its descriptor and celebrate its post-centenary era in style. So it is no surprise to find that on page 11 of The Age on the same day, a second photo is to be found – a cropped view of one table – along with a very detailed description of the night, its purpose, and a surprise announcement. But, who was the Lord Mayor in whose honour the dinner was held? In 1934, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne was Cr. Alexander George Wales, (born Richmond, 11 October 1885, died Elsterwick, 31 May 1962). His father was a contractor and quarry-owner, but was blinded in an industrial accident in 1899. Consequently Alexander, then aged 14, left Brunswick State School to become a railway labourer working at a quarry, and in 1903 joined the Commonwealth public service as a clerk and began studying at night school, determined to improve himself. In 1907 he was appointed secretary of the Albion Quarrying Co. (in which the family had an interest), then its managing director and chairman. As the Australian Dictionary of Biography notes, he was instrumental in expanding the company’s interests, "...becoming director of the Hardware Co. of Australia Pty Ltd, the Twentieth Century Building and Investment Society, the Albion Sand Co. and the Geelong Brick Co.”. His public career began in 1914 when he was elected to the Brunswick council. He was mayor 1917-18, and in 1925 progressed to the Melbourne City Council where he remained for 29 years, being a member of most council committees. He served three successive terms as lord mayor (1934-37), was Chairman of the council’s decorations committee for Melbourne’s centenary, president of the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board (1936), and Chairman of the Public Works Committee (1937-39). In 1936 he was elected to the Legislative Council with United Australia Party support, but later resigned over possible State government contract tender irregularities. Wales received "the customary reward” of a knighthood and was invested at Buckingham Palace by King George VI whose coronation he attended in 1937. He was an early director of what is now Ampol, and helped the development of the petroleum industry in Australia after visiting the USA in 1943 and 1946. He was impressed by that country’s wartime shipbuilding efforts and supported closer ties with the USA. “While president (1947-48) of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, Wales was a vocal critic of the Federal Labor Government, ...a staunch anti-socialist ... and a focus for conservative opposition to the Curtin and Chifley governments...” He is described as “a natural leader in business and civic politics,... a powerful force in the Melbourne City Council... opposing democratic reforms such as the creation of a Greater Melbourne Council and the abolition of plural voting, but advocat[ing] the redevelopment of city-owned property like the Eastern and Western markets...” So, this Lord Mayor’s dinner marks the third successive term in office for Governor Cr. A G Wales. The room is filled with powerful and influential men, and provided a platform for the Premier of Victoria, Albert Dunstan (1882-1950, United Country party) to announce that if the City Council would bear half the cost the State Government would build a bridge at Punt Road “at once”. He announced that the Government proposed to have the bridge built by the Country Roads Board, and allow the City Council to pay its share on convenient terms, and further, it would investigate the shared provision of more Yarra bridges. The proposal for the Punt Road Bridge was met with applause as the Yarra River constituted a serious traffic barrier. On 12 November 1936, two days after the Lord Mayor’s dinner, The Age published an article, “Building without a Plan”. It questions the appropriateness of the next Yarra bridge being the one at Punt Road, and encourages a “proper procedure” to look at the provision of additional Yarra bridges as a whole. But in fact this topic had been canvassed back in August when Melbourne City Council’s public works committee had recommended the replacement of the footbridge at Punt Road with a bridge, and if the Country Roads Board would declare this portion of Punt Road, including the river crossing, a State Highway, this could give the Board authority to construct the bridge and allocate the cost. Hence the reference at the dinner to a shared expense. Still an integral part of traffic management today, the Hoddle Bridge carries Punt Road over the Yarra River between Richmond and South Yarra in Melbourne. It is a five-lane road bridge with narrow footpaths on either side. It is of continuous reinforced concrete T-beam construction with five segmental arched spans, supported on transverse piers, and linked by concrete cross-beams. “The piers terminate in a series of tapered concrete pillars with Art Deco-styled steamlined decoration. Each pillar supports a Victorian-style lamp. The infill railings are geometric-patterned painted metal. Construction began in late 1937, and it was opened by Premier Albert Dunstan on 22 December 1938. It replaced an earlier footbridge, which in turn had replaced a punt service. The bridge (originally referred to as Punt Road Bridge) was named after Robert Hoddle, who planned central Melbourne’s Hoddle Grid, the grid of streets which form Melbourne’s central business district. Hoddle arrived in Australia from the UK in 1823 and went on to carry out surveys in NSW and Queensland before arriving in Melbourne in 1837. He designed layouts for both Melbourne and Williamstown, and later Geelong and other Victorian country areas. He was keen that major streets be at least 30 metres wide. ”With remarkable foresight he provided for wide boulevards from the city to the suburbs, but the subdivisions of early speculators in inner suburbs created the bottle-necks of today. After the separation of the colony in 1851, he became Victoria’s first surveyor-general... and advocated the provision of three-chain (60 m) roads and the widening of all existing main roads from one (20 m) to three chains." However, he was met with constant opposition and in 1853, was eased out of office. As a small and interesting aside: Hoddle was appointed auctioneer for the first sale of crown land in Melbourne on 1 June 1837. His commission was 57 pounds 12s 7d. and he bought two allotments for himself at a cost of 54 pounds. After he died his second wife married Richard Buckhurst Buxton, a member of the family which in 1860s Melbourne established the Australian property dynasty of Buxton Real Estate, Becton, MAB Corporation etc. Returning to the dinner and The Age article of 10 November 1836: Another topic of the after-dinner speeches was a reference to the upcoming Armistice Day. “The Minister of Customs (Mr White) said the proximity of Armistice day reminded us that eighteen years ago we had high hopes of prolonged peace.” The term “Armistice Day” was coined after WWI: “At 11 am on 11 November 1918, the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. The Germans called for an armistice (suspension of fighting) in order to secure a peace settlement. They accepted the allied terms on unconditional surrender. Therefore on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, a minute’s silence is observed and dedicated to those soldiers who died fighting to protect the nation. Originally known as Armistice Day, it was renamed Remembrance Day after World War Two to commemorate those who were killed in both World Wars. Today it refers to the loss of Australian lives from all wars and conflicts, accompanied by the words, "We will remember them, Lest we forget"." There was comment at the dinner about the need to remain firm in supporting the “democratic government in the British Empire to avoid a “plunge into savagery”. There was a grave responsibility on the British people to keep democracy alive, and that could not be done without adequate defence forces... Many weak governments in non-British countries had been swept aside by strong-fisted dictators, who now were the real threat to peace”. With the benefit of hindsight these were very pertinent comments and tragically prophetic. The Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance had only been dedicated two years earlier, at a ceremony attended by the Duke of Gloucester, son of King George V. Over 300,000 citizens attended: one third of the population of Melbourne. It became the location for the Anzac Day Dawn Service. Originally the march travelled from the Shrine into the city, however, in 1936, this was reversed, and the Shrine became the termination point for Anzac Day Marches. Also significant in 1936, was the installation of a statue in the west forecourt of the Shrine: “The Man with the Donkey” (aka 'Private John Simpson and his Little Donkey'). The work is said to represent the “valour and compassion of the Australian soldier”. Its full citation, according to the City of Melbourne City Collection is: West Side of Base: "The / Man with his Donkey / Gallipoli, April 25 to May 19 / in Commemoration / of the valour and compassion / of the Australian Soldier" AFTER LANDING AT GALLIPOLI, SIMPSON, WITH HIS LITTLE DONKEY, WORKED ALONE, DAY AND NIGHT TAKING WATER TO THE FRONT LINE AND CARRYING THE WOUNDED BACK TO THE DRESSING STATIONS. HE AND HIS DONKEY WERE KILLED BY A SHRAPNEL SHELL ON THE 19TH MAY, 1915. SIMPSON WAS MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES BY SIR IAN HAMILTON, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE MEDITERRANEAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. / Erected by Public Subscription under auspices of the / Red Cross Society. East Side of Base: Private John Simpson." Their summary in background states: "A bronze figure of Simpson and his donkey with a wounded man on the donkey's back on a granite pedestal. Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick’s intrepid and short-lived exploits during the Gallipoli campaign have made him a popular figure of World War One. He has been mythologised to represent the lauded values of the digger, and he symbolises all those who went into battle unarmed. Born in England in 1892, he came to Australia in 1910. He enlisted to make his way back to England, but as a member of the 3rd Field Ambulance AIA was sent to Gallipoli. After just three weeks of bearing wounded soldiers across Shrapnel Gully on the back of his donkey, Simpson was killed by shrapnel fire. Simpson’s story became a powerful propaganda tool for enlistment in Australia, but following the war he was quickly forgotten. With the Shrine of Remembrance nearing completion in 1933, the memory of Simpson was rekindled to commemorate all who gave their lives to help others during the war. One plaque reads: ‘The / Man with his donkey / Gallipoli … / In commemoration / of the valour and compassion / of the Australian soldier’. In 1935, Wallace Anderson’s design for the memorial was selected though a competition organised by the Australian Red Cross. Anderson had served during the war and worked at the Australian War Memorial after his return. His Man with the Donkey was cast in Italy, and after some debate was sited near the shrine. Unveiled 20th June, 1936." The sculptor, Victorian-born William Wallace Anderson (1888-1975), served in France during WWI and afterwards produced a number of bronze war memorials and memorial portraits, predominantly in Victoria. “His most famous work is that of Simpson and his Donkey (1935), which he completed after winning a competition conducted by the Victorian Division of the Australian Red Cross. Anderson’s fee was 350 pounds; the cast, made by the Chiurazzi Foundry, Naples, Italy, cost 40 pounds. The work... has become well known as a symbol of the Anzac tradition.” A debate as to the siting of the statue arose from a strong view expressed by General Sir John Monash that no representation of individual members of the Australian Defence Force be located on the Shrine itself. Hence its location off to the northwest of the forecourt, in a garden of rosemary. And finally we return to the photo of the grand Lord Mayor’s dinner! An article in The Argus of 4 November 1936 refers to “Brilliant Scene at Lord Mayor’s Ball – Hall Becomes a Garden”. So now it becomes clear why the Town Hall, location of the Lord Mayor’s Dinner on 10 November 1934, only 6 days later, is so lavishly decorated. The floral decorations from the Ball are still in place - an early example of “recycling”, which is gratifying to note at a time of Depression. The reporter has captured the scene with enthusiasm: “Hundreds of tiny rose lights, hidden among pink roses, transformed the Melbourne Town Hall into a magical garden last night, when the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress (Councillor A. C. Wales, M.L.C., and Mrs. Wales) entertained about 3,500 guests at a ball. His Excellency the Governor (Lord Huntingfield) and Lady Huntingfield were present, while Rear-Admiral and Mrs. Lane Poole and officers from the visiting squadron were among the special guests. The balconies all round the hall were hidden by a white trellis, covered with pink blossoms and greenery. Rosy flowers were issued up every pillar, and great golden lamps, hanging from the door, were seated in greenery and trails of sweet peas. The organ gallery was converted into a terrace garden with stone steps leading to banks of pink azaleas, pink pelargoniums, masses of calceolarias, and the lovely deep mauve and blue of cinerarias. Slender Japanese maples and poplar trees grew from the higher slopes amid thickets of hostas, while a fascinating illusion was created by the lofty conservatory windows, which formed the background, and which were tinted cerulean blue to simulate the sky seen through glass. Large fern baskets hung from the conservatory roof, and the whole scene was enclosed in trellises of blossom. In the entrance palm green shrubs stood like sentinels round the passed floor, and flowers bloomed in misty golds. The long corridor upstairs leading to the council chamber was lined with an avenue of poplar trees in tubs. In the Lower Town Hall great banks of calceolarias and azaleas decked the upper dais, and each supper table was adorned with a different coloured flower with sprays of roses and Japanese maple laid on the snowy cloths. The adjoining supper-rooms were fragrant with the scent of huge bowls of stock in mauve, purple, and pink, while the white walls were covered with palm leaves and flowers. The roof garden below the clock tower was enclosed as a buffet with rose wreathed walls, and flowers were arranged attractively in the Lady Mayoress's rooms." References: LORD MAYOR'S BANQUET. CENTURY MAKERS AT THE M.C.G. BEFORE THE CHANGE. (1936, November 10). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 13. Retrieved September 4, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205939431 'Portrait of Sir George Wales (Lord Mayor 1934-1937)', City Collection, City of Melbourne, https://citycollection.melbourne.vic.gov.au/portrait-of-sir-george-wales-lord-mayor-1934-37/ Graeme Davison, 'Marvellous Melbourne', eMelbourne, https://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM00906b.htm THE LORD MAYOR'S BANQUET. (1936, November 10). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved September 26, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205939643 BRILLIANT SCENE AT LORD MAYOR'S BALL Hall Becomes a Garden (1936, November 4). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 14. Retrieved September 26, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11932746 'Hoddle Bridge', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoddle_Bridge 'Hoddle Bridge', Victorian Heritage Database Report, Victorian Heritage Council, https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/195689/download-report David Dunstan, 'Wales, Sir Alexander George (1885–1962)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/wales-sir-alexander-george-8951/text15737, published first in hardcopy 1990, accessed online 26 September 2024. Marjorie J. Tipping, 'Hoddle, Robert (1794–1881)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hoddle-robert-2190/text2823, published first in hardcopy 1966, accessed online 26 September 2024. BUILDING WITHOUT A PLAN. (1936, November 12). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 8. Retrieved September 26, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205949762 NEW BRIDGE AT PUNT ROAD (1936, August 12). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 10. Retrieved September 26, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11902131 'The Shrine of Remembrance', Beaconsfield’s Soldiers: https://beaconsfield.org.au/digitalmemorial/shrine-introduction/ 'Shrine of Remembrance', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrine_of_Remembrance Ken Scarlett, 'Anderson, William Wallace (1888–1975)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/anderson-william-wallace-9362/text16441, published first in hardcopy 1993, accessed online 26 September 2024. 'Man with the Donkey', City Collection, City of Melbourne, https://citycollection.melbourne.vic.gov.au/man-with-the-donkey-aka-private-john-simpson-and-his-little-donkey/ 'Remembrance Day', Australian Army, https://www.army.gov.au/about-us/history-and-research/traditions/remembrance-day Photographer notations on slide: "General View Of Lord Mayor's Dinner At Town Hall Nov 1936 B112".melbourne town hall, mayors, lord mayors, centenaries, bridges, dinners, clothing and dress, festive decorations, dances and balls, eating and drinking, shrine of remembrance, governors, monuments and memorials, 1930-1939, plants

Wangaratta Toll Gates were erected after the punt was sunk and the new bridge over the Ovens river was opened in 1855; a charge was made for people, animals, carts, cars and buses and trucks later on. A gatehouse keeper lived in a residence near the gates to charge users when they crossed. The gates were refurbished by the students at the local GOTAFE college and are being rehoused as a feature of the river beautification works along the Ovens River.The Toll Gates were on the first (and only bridge at the time) that crossed near the junction of the Ovens & King rivers at Wangaratta in the mid 1800's. They are a vital part of the city's heritage.Two white timber gates, hung on white timber posts by metal hinges. wangaratta toll gates

Bags such as this one were used by bookmakers to collect and securely hold punters' bets at racing events. This bag belonged to Charlie Cox, a second-generation Australian bookmaker. His father, George Gordon Cox, ran bookmaking operations primarily during the 1920s and 1930s. After serving in the Air Force during the Second World War, Charlie entered the business during the 1940s, initially fielding at greyhound, trots and gallop meetings. In the early 1960s he moved to Melbourne, where he got his first big financial break when he was offered an interstate license to operate on the rails at all city tracks. He was a leading Melbourne bookmaker on the interstate rails racing circuit from the 1960s to the 1990s, from which period this bag originated.White painted leather bag with metal fastening mechanism. A short painted leather handle is joined to the bag by metal fastening clips.Painted on one side of the bag in black letters: "C.C. COX / INTERSTATE RAILS".bookmakers, horse racing, charlie cox, c. c. cox, interstate rails

Bags such as this one were used by bookmakers to collect and securely hold punters' bets at racing events. This bag belonged to Charlie Cox, a second-generation Australian bookmaker. His father, George Gordon Cox, ran bookmaking operations primarily during the 1920s and 1930s. After serving in the Air Force during the Second World War, Charlie entered the business during the 1940s, initially fielding at greyhound, trots and gallop meetings. In the early 1960s he moved to Melbourne, where he got his first big financial break when he was offered an interstate license to operate on the rails at all city tracks. He was a leading Melbourne bookmaker on the interstate rails racing circuit from the 1960s to the 1990s, from which period this bag originated.White painted leather bag with metal fastening mechanism. A short painted leather handle is joined to the bag by metal fastening clips. A long painted leather strap is joined to the bag by metal fastening clips.Painted on one side of the bag in black letters: "C.C. COX / INTERSTATE RAILS". "C.C. COX" is also painted in black at either end of the shoulder strap.bookmakers, horse racing, charlie cox, c. c. cox, interstate rails

Henry Froud's Blacksmith Coach Building and Wheelwright's business set up at original surveyed site west of present township, nearer to cemetery turnoff,. Business first moved to corner of Princes Highway and Bruthen Road, (now site of Black Stump Store), then moved to premises built by Harry Froud on south side of highway, corner of Punt Road, (present site of BP Garage).Black and white photograph of Harry Frouds first coach factory west of present township, showing three men in front of four wheeled vehicles including a steam engine. Three workshops in background, two having bark roofs, man in centre identified as Harry Froud, William Henry. Johnsonville Victoria. transport, factory, people, local history

First timber road bridge over the Tambo River at Swan Reach officially opened 20 December 1905, after which punt was removed to BairnsdaleBlack and white postcard of the lifting bridge over the Tambo River at Swan Reach, Victoria. Man on horse standing on dirt road to Metung beside the river. Punt previously used to cross river visible against western bank of river.Tambo River (16 miles from Bairnsdale)bridges, waterways

Black and white photograph of the punt on the Mitchell River and the first bridge under construction. In distance can be seen the growing township of Bairnsdale Victoriaboats and boating, businesses, rivers

The Rev. Peter D. Blackwood was ordained in 1977 and his first placement was at Burwood Heights. He has had several placements, including as Presbytery Minister and Associate General Secretary of the Synod. He is now retired. This picture was taken after a church protest in Warrnambool. "Members of the Warrnabool UC walked home from church on Sunday 28 September, in a protest against Sunday racing. The 150-strong congregation left cars parked outside the church, which coincidentally blocked all car spots outside the local TAB. The vehicles were left parked throughout the afternoon, creating an inconvenience for punters wanting to place a quick bet. UC minister, the Rev. Peter Blackwood said the congregation decided on this form of protest after the TAB had ignored objections from the UC that the TAB be open on Sundays…"B & W photograph of Peter Blackwood standing with arms folded, by the door to a TAB at Warrnambool.C&N identificationblackwood, peter d., warrnambool protest, tab on sundays

Rev. Thomas Staines Brittingham Woodfull (1863 - 1941). Born Maldon in 1863, but grew up in Prahran and attended the Punt Rd Church. Qualified as a pharmacist. Worked as a local preacher before being ordained in 1887. Appointed to Sandhurst in 1887 before being sent as Conference Evangelist to Tasmania, where he conducted missions. Married Gertrude Lily Abey (1872 - 1941) in 1891. Returned to Victoria in 1893 and served at Kerang, Maldon, Shepparton, Flemington & Essendon, Collingwood, Bendigo, Albert Park, Brunswick, Box Hill. Retired in 1930. Was active in the campaign against the Collingwood tote. President of the Methodist Conference 1923. Father of William (Bill) Woodfull, Australian cricketer of the 1920s and 1930s and Captain of the Australian First Eleven during the notorious "Bodyline" Test series.B & W waist length studio portrait of the Rev. T.S. B. Woodfull, mounted on grey card."Rev T.S B. Woodfull"thomas staines brittingham, gertrude lily abey, bill woodfull, president of conference, evangelist, methodist, minister, pharmacist.

174p. : ill., non-fictionHistory of Shepparton's first 150 years. Including closer settlement, irrigation, multiculturalism.shepparton (vic.), history, book

Without bridges, Kew remained cut off from the City of Melbourne, only being accessible by Punt. Private and public bridges were constructed from the 1850s, beginning with the Hawthorn Bridge linking Bridge and Burwood Roads. A bridge across the Yarra at Burke Road was created as early as 1873. Since that first wooden bridge, a number of later bridges, typically on concrete pylons have been built, in 1926 and again during the 1970s.Angle view of the new Yarra bridge [ie. The Burke Road bridge] taken from the Kew side, showing the bridge’s structure. Trees line the river’s edge. In the distance can be seen a distant line of houses stretching to the horizon. The river appears to have an S-shaped bend beyond the bridge. The postcard, No. 227, was produced by the Valentine Publishing Co. Pty Ltd., of Queen Street, Melbourne.burke road bridge - kew (vic), bridges - kew (vic)