With the visit of the American Fleet to Melbourne in early September 1908, volunteers from the the Automobile Club of Victoria took 100 officers on an excursion to the Black Spur past Yarra Glen on the 4th September 1908. (The area we know today as the Yarra Valley). The convoy travelled through Eltham, Research and Kangaroo Ground, where a group of women gathered to wave to them. This was one of the first motor vehicles to pass through Research. The visit of the American Fleet was a big deal at the time. A Program of activites was compiled. City buidlings were illuminated, a State reception was given and a concert was held. The Federal Parliament sat in Melbourne at that time. This photo was made using a home-made camera constructed by the photographer Tom Prior (brother of Mrs E.R. Reynolds). Reproduced on p86 of 'Pioneers & Painters'This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Negsepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, research (vic.), u.s.a. fleet, automobile club of victoria, drive, excursion, visitors, welcome, usa fleet, us fleet, waving, tom prior, pioneers and painters, reynolds prior collection, u.s fleet

The visit by the United States of America Fleet was in 1925.Medallion, metal, round, bronze colour with a small ring at the top for chain or such attachment, main face has a depiction of 3 warships with text around the top, opposite side has two crossed flags.On main face, "Visit by U.S.A Fleet to Australia".medallion, fleet, visit, usa

Ribbon Memento celebrating the U.S.A Fleet in Australia 1908. "Welcome". Coloured red /white and blue.

U.S. Navy Welcome Souvenir Medal: Badge with Australian and United States flags which is inscribed 2*9*08 above and underneath Bendigo Souvenir. Hanging on a rod with white, green and read ribbon with gold bars. The bars are inscribed 'Welcome above and U.S.A Navy below. Box 325numismatics, medals-commemorative, 1908 visit of the american fleet to australia. bendigo welcome.