For most people, a cloche—the dome-shaped covering for a dish that’s removed before serving—is only ever encountered on-screen, likely in the hands of a butler in an English period drama. Not only does the word itself sound haughty (it comes from the French word for bell), it is a fundamentally theatrical object, existing to conceal and reveal food—or on occasion, a severed head. Why, if you’re not an old-timey aristocrat or movie villain, would you have use for a cloche? The answer is bugs. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of eating outside, you’re probably aware that bugs exist, and they often want some of what you’re having. Particularly during the summer and warm weather entices people into alfresco dining, the presence of bugs can be a nuisance for which there’s rarely an elegant solution. Did somebody say elegant? Let’s bring in the cloche. Specifically, let’s talk about a mesh cloche, which is different from the glinting silver semi-sphere discussed earlier. Dome-shaped but made of stiff wire mesh or cloth, this cloche is far from frivolous and is an excellent tool for any outside dining plans. First and foremost, it can keep insects out of your food, saving you from sitting and swatting your hand over the salad to keep flies away. Especially if you’re setting up a large buffet spread of dishes for a family-style meal outdoors, using mesh coverings takes a little bit of the pressure off when it comes to timing: just put the food out there, cloche it, and finish bringing everything else to the table. Also, there’s no harm in keeping them on during the meal, as it’s easy to pick up the lid, serve yourself more food, then plop it back down, in comparison with wrap, foil, or cloth, which can blow away in the wind, fall into the food, or require two hands for proper recovering. https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/covering-your-food-with-a-cloche-is-dramatic-and-useful-articleThe cloche or food cover was, and still is, the perfect way to prevent insects and other small vermin from interfering with and compromising the condition of food, both inside and outdoors.Metal oval food cover with decorative pressed tin lid and perforated holes around the side. Metal handle on top. Painted pink on top and green on the side.None.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, cloche, food, cover

The piano (Beale-Vader patented model) was donated on Thursday 19 December 1907 by Lady Northcote (Alice, wife of the Governor General of Australia) for the Siddeley Street Institute. The article in The Age dating Friday 20 December 1907: "Shortly after noon yesterday the Rey. A. Gurney Goldsmith, chaplain to the Victorian Missions to Seamen, who has just taken up residence at his quarters in the new Seamen's' Institute on the Yarra-bank, which was recently opened by his Excellence the Governor-General, was surprised at the receipt of a case of large dimensions. On opening it he found a grand piano, accompanied by a card, "With Lady Northcote's compliments." The pianoforte is one of Beale's make, and its presentation is another illustration of the determination of the vice-regal representatives in Australia to encourage local manufactures. It will be remembered that on the occasion of the opening of the institute an appeal was made to the public for a pianoforte and a billiard table. Lady Northcote has responded with the former, and it will be most useful in connection with the concerts which are given once a week to the, sailors of vessels coming up tho river. The question now arises as to who will provide the billiard table for the use of "Jack ashore," as one of the inducements for him, to visit the institute instead of' spending his spare time in the public house. "Governor Northcote and his wife had laid the foundation Stones of the first Central Institute on Siddeley street. The piano was used it for entertainments and concerts including accompaniment of silent films in the 1920s. 21st century visiting seafarers whilst on shore at the Mission, still regularly play pieces such as popular tunes and classics. A walnut case, full iron framed Upright Piano . See image details; decorative trims throughout, and identification plate inside. Screw holes indicate missing candle brackets or sconces on the two front panels.Lid Royal letters patent coat of arms; inside workings stamped plaque: " The/ Beale-Vader / Steel-wirest-plank / patented / throughout / the world"piano, royal grand piano, beale, beale-vader, music, entertainment, concerts, lady northcote, siddeley street, seamen's mission, alice northcote nee stephen, reverend alfred gurney goldsmith

Pascall products were first produced as a joint venture between the Cadbury Brothers and James Pascall at the Cadbury factory in Tasmania, Australia.The manufacturing of tins and containers with advertising or promotional packaging became widespread in the early 20th century. With the appearance of offset lithographic printing it became easier to produce quite decorative items that householders would feel comfortable placing on display on a kitchen or front room. Tins provided airtight resealable packaging that was important for keeping biscuits fresh, and ornamental tins were useful as containers. This item is a n example of an Australian manufactured decorative tin.Rectangular tin. Hinged lid with latch. Pascall's Sweets. Pascall Old Oak Toffee Assortment. On lid is colourful scene of sailors standing around a table with a model of sailing ship.tin pascall confectionery

This type of logbook was issued by the Royal Australian Air Force to non-pilot aircrew to record their flight hour and experience. This information was required for official administrative purposes. The book is incompletely filled in as recorder was "Discharged on compassionate grounds".This book is a useful reference tool.A blue, hard cover log book with details of R.A.A.F. observer/ air gunner/ telegraph operator/ radio operator, used to record exercises from bases in Victoria and South Australia. Inside, each page is printed with a table. Each column in the table has a title, 'Date', 'Hour', ' Aircraft Type and Number', 'Pilot', 'Duty', 'Remarks', 'Flying time / Day / Night'. The table has handwritten entries. air-transport flight-information royal- australian-air-force

Celluloids are a class of compounds created from nitrocellulose and camphor, with added dyes and other agents. Generally considered the first thermoplastic, it was first created as Parkesine in 1856 and as Xylonite in 1869, before being registered as Celluloid in 1870. Celluloid is easily moulded and shaped, and it was first widely used as an ivory replacement. The main use was in movie and photography film industries, which used only celluloid films prior to acetate films that were introduced in the 1950s. Celluloid is highly flammable, difficult and expensive to produce and no longer widely used, although its most common uses today are in table tennis balls, musical instruments and guitar picks. Celluloid was useful for creating cheaper jewellery, jewellery boxes, hair accessories and many items that would earlier have been manufactured from ivory, horn or other expensive animal products. It was often referred to as "Ivorine" or "French Ivory". It was also used for dressing table sets, dolls, picture frames, charms, hat pins, buttons, buckles, stringed instrument parts, accordions, fountain pens, cutlery handles and kitchen items. The main disadvantage the material had was that it was flammable.. It was soon overtaken by Bakelite.A miniature, oval, Ivorine hand mirror with floral engraving on back. An accoutrement for use in a lady's Evening bag c19thCFloral design engraving on back of mirrormoorabbin, brighton, early settlers, pioneers, cheltenham, craft work, mirors, ivorine, evening bags, celluloids, bakelite, plastics,

Celluloids are a class of compounds created from nitrocellulose and camphor, with added dyes and other agents. Generally considered the first thermoplastic, it was first created as Parkesine in 1856 and as Xylonite in 1869, before being registered as Celluloid in 1870. Celluloid is easily moulded and shaped, and it was first widely used as an ivory replacement. The main use was in movie and photography film industries, which used only celluloid films prior to acetate films that were introduced in the 1950s. Celluloid is highly flammable, difficult and expensive to produce and no longer widely used, although its most common uses today are in table tennis balls, musical instruments and guitar picks. Celluloid was useful for creating cheaper jewellery, jewellery boxes, hair accessories and many items that would earlier have been manufactured from ivory, horn or other expensive animal products. It was often referred to as "Ivorine" or "French Ivory". It was also used for dressing table sets, dolls, picture frames, charms, hat pins, buttons, buckles, stringed instrument parts, accordions, fountain pens, cutlery handles and kitchen items. The main disadvantage the material had was that it was flammable. Items made in celluloid are collectible today and increasingly rare in good condition. It was soon overtaken by Bakelite and Catalin.. A miniature, square, Ivorine hand mirror with bird engraved on back. An accoutrement for use in a lady's Evening bag c 19thCbird engraved on back of mirrormoorabbin, cheltenham, brighton, market gardeners, pioneers early settlers, mirrors, ivorine, celluloids, bakelite, plastics,

The Percy Uebergang family lived at Tooram Park, Allansford from 1912 until 1992. This booklet was part of the collection of items given into the care of the Cheese World Museum. Uebergang catalogue No. -not listed White hard cover pocket-sized street directory book with red cloth spine. The front cover has a blue and yellow background with title, contents, edition listed and a policeman in a blue uniform. The back cover has information in black print. Melbourne and suburbs maps throughout. 439 pages.COLLINS' STREET DIRECTORY/AND/PUBLIC GUIDE/8th Edition/2/6 each/CONTENTS/ Suburban Maps/Street Indices/Public Buildings/Tourist Information and Holiday Notes/Weights and Measures/Postal Rates/Calendar/Conversion Tables/Justices of the Peace/And other useful and up-to-date matterallansford, uebergang, street directory, public guide, collins, melbourne, maps, tourist information, queen city printers pty ltd, almanacs, local history

These sheets were issued with the book ‘The Practical Man’s Book of Things to Make and Do’ published in the 1950s by the Sun News-Pictorial newspaper. The authors were James Wheeler and W. Shum. The sheets provide simple drawings as a guide to making house additions (Summer House etc) and furniture (table desk, newspaper stand, book shelves, utility cupboard, drawer cabinet, corner cupboard). They were intended to be used by the home handyman. These sheets are of no particular historicalinterest but may be useful for display. They are a good example of the plans and information available to home handymen in the 1950s.These are six cream-coloured sheets of paper containing working drawings for making furniture and house additions. The drawings are printed in black and the headings and measurements are also in black print. The six sheets are enclosed in a brown paper folder which is somewhat creased and a little torn. the practical man’s book of things to make and do, home carpentry, warrnambool, history

Yearly publication showing predicted heights in metres for Port Phillip Heads, Williamstown, Portland and Stony Point (Westernport) and tidal differences for other Ports.This booklet provides tide and port information for the coastline of Victoria for the year 1976. It also has information on other aspects of weather such as wind, cloud and sea descriptions. These booklets were a useful reference for fishermen and those involved in boating along the coast of Victoria. They are published in digital form today.Sold at Stan McPhee Sports store Liebig St Warrnambool Vic showing local tides. Red card wrap around cover. 92 cream coloured pages held with 2 staples. Black print. Ports and harbour seal on the frontBooksellers stamp: ink. blue Stan McPhee Sports, green Liebig St Vic. red ...2953. 6717/75. C.H. Rixon, Government Printer, Melbourne. 51st Edition. Recommended price $3.00. Tables for Sunrise, Sunset/moonrise, moonset and transits at Port Phillip Heads & differences for other Victorian and Tasmanian Lighthouse stations.tide table, warrnambool tide table 1976, southern victorian tides

This booklet contains a directory of businesses which operated and manufactured various goods in the 1980's . They are listed under the many different trades in the first part of the booklet and then a services guide is located in the second part of the booklet. It contains many names of local people who were involved in the businesses at the time.This is a useful directory of businesses which were operating in the early 1980's and as such provides a historical and social perspective of the city at that time. It also gives an overview of the types of manufacturing and service industries prevalent at the time.Small 40 page booklet with blue and white soft card cover. Text on front cover is white on blue background. Back cover has outline of State of Victoria in blue on white background.It has a table of contents at the front with some black and white photographs.Warrnambool Promotion and development Board. Warrnambool Premier Town 1979-1982. Philprintwarrnambool, warrnambool businesses 1980's, directory warrnambool

1 optical discnon-fictionYewen's Directory of Landholders, New South Wales 1900 This was the "first broad attempt at publishing a complete directory of landowners in New South Wales ..." The directory is divided into approximately 1900 postal localities grouped under 87 larger districts. There is an introduction and summary to each district. It indicates for each landholder whether they are dairy farmers, graziers or agriculturalists and what crops are under cultivation in the following categories - wheat, maize, barley, oats, potatoes, tobacco, sugar, other crops, grapes and orchard fruits. This a wonderful, extensive guide to over 70,000 landholders throughout NSW, by district and postal address. The main directory is supplemented by further useful information: ~ A list of butter factories, creameries cheese and bacon factories, flour mills, sugar mills, ice works etc. ~ A large fold out chart with a breakdown of crops under cultivation and livestock by district ~ A summary table of the landed estate of New South Wales ~ Indexes to the districts, the postal localities and over 50 advertisers in the directory.new south wales, landowners (nsw)

These measuring glasses would have been used by chemists and doctors for measuring ingredients for medicines and medical preparations. They could also have been used in households. One of the measurements is the drachm which was a unit of weight and a unit of volume (fluid dram) which was an apothecary measurement equivalent to 60 grains or one-eighth of an ounce. Glass measuring containers such as these could still be in use today but plastic containers are also used. These two glasses are of interest as examples of medicine measuring containers used in the 19th and 20th centuries. They will be useful for display. These are two identical clear glass containers used for measuring medicines. The measurements for tablespoons, teaspoons, ounces and drachms are marked on the side of the glass. One glass has a small chip on the upper rim. ‘Table, Tea, Ounces, Drachms’ 19th and 20th century medicine, history of warrnambool, measuring glass, medicine glass

This butter cooler was used in households to prevent butter from melting in the warmer weather. Ice would have been used in the butter container. The top of the container is domed, indicating the shape of the butter at that time (late 19th century). This butter cooler would have been a costly item and would have graced the dining table of a family that had considerable means. It would have been used on a dining table even after the invention of refrigeration in the 1880s as the eating rooms would have had little or no cooling mechanisms in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This butter cooler has no known local provenance but it is a very attractive item and is retained as a good example of a household item no longer in use. It will be very useful for display.This is a silver butter cooler with a circular base with an ornamented edge. The base has a stem holding two highly ornamented arms branching out from the sides. These arms hold an oval container which has a chased silver base and an overhanging chased silver top. Inside the container is the space to hold ice or cold water. On top of the inside of the container sits a small round lid which holds the butter and the ice. The lid has several small holes for the ice water to drain underneath. The base of this lid is impressed with moulded fruit and leaves. The oval container has an over-arching handle attached. This is highly ornamented in fretwork. The sides of the container have two projecting pieces for holding the butter cooler and two other smaller projecting pieces with chains attached for hanging the object. One of these pieces has an oval holder for turning the hinged top of the container to close the container. This top has a chased silver patterning on its top. When the lid is closed the container adapts to a globe or egg shape.‘Made and Guaranteed by Meriden B. Company 5085 U.S.A. household items, history of warrnambool, silver butter cooler

This item is a container that would have been used by a woman to hold small items such as pins. It may also have originally contained some lotion or powder but there is no trade name to indicate this. It would have been found in a bedroom. Such items as these would have been given as presents to members of the more affluent families in the early 20th century. This container has no known local provenance but is retained as an attractive item from the past. It will be useful for display.This is a round-shaped cut glass container with a plain glass base and a metal lid which fits over the top of the container. The top of the lid has an enamel circular piece inserted into the metal. This piece has a white background with a painted image of the head and shoulders of a woman in brown and flesh-coloured tonings. The lid has some dents and some discoloration.household items, dressing table containers

This barrel was probably used to hold ice but minus its insert could have been a biscuit barrel. In the days before refrigerators were common household items the barrel would have been a useful portable ice carrier for use in a hotel bar or at a table. The plaque on the side of the barrel suggests that the barrel could have been awarded as a trophy or prize in a sporting competition. This item has no known local provenance but is retained as an example of a household item from times past.This is a wooden barrel with silver-coloured metal bands on the top and bottom of the barrel, a metal handle and a detachable metal lid. A metal plaque is attached to the side of the barrel with metal pins. The inside of the barrel has a ceramic insert with a metal rim. The metal bands are much oxidized. ‘E.PN.Svintage household items, biscuit barrel, warrnambool

This is a soft cover book of 266 pages. It has a white cover with black printing and one sepia-coloured photograph on the front cover and one black and white photograph on the back cover. The pages contain 13 chapters with a bibliography, appendix and index. The book contains many black and white photographs and tables. non-fictionThis is a short history of Australian Country newspapers.newspapers in australia, history of warrnambool

The Warrnambool Table Tennis Association has been operating since 1958. The centre is located is in Cramer Street, Warrnambool in Albert Park. Many local churches have table tennis centres. It is a popular recreational activity. This badge is retained as memento of the Warrnambool Table Tennis Association. It is useful for display purposes.Cloth square most likely used for attaching to a uniform. The centre features a shield shaped white outline inside of which is text , two red table tennis bats and a white ball. Inside at the bottom of the shield is text enclosed in a further white outline. The background is blue. The above is printed on white cloth which surrounds the badge on all sides. WARRNAMBOOL T.T.A. table tennis

Includes Advice on Planning and Assessment, Samples on each stage, Sample Units of Work, useful Resources.maps, tableseducation, curriculum development

The Fuller cylindrical slide rule, is a cylindrical slide rule with a helical main scale taking 50 turns around the cylinder. This creates an instrument of considerable precision – it is equivalent to a traditional slide rule 25.40 metres (1,000 inches) long. It was invented in 1878 by George Fuller, professor of engineering at Queen's University Belfast, and despite its size and price it remained on the market for nearly a century because it outperformed nearly all other slide rules. He patented it in Britain in 1878, described it in a journal in 1879 and in that year he also patented it the United States, depositing a patent model. As with other slide rules, the Fuller is limited to calculations based on multiplication and division with additional scales allowing for trigonometrical and exponential functions. The mechanical calculators produced in the same era were generally restricted to addition and subtraction with only advanced versions, like the Arithmometer, able to multiply and divide. Even these advanced machines could not perform trigonometry or exponentiation and they were bigger, heavier and much more expensive than the Fuller. In the mid-twentieth century the handheld Curta mechanical calculator became available which also competed in convenience and price. However, for scientific calculations the Fuller remained viable until 1973 when it was made obsolete by the HP-35 handheld scientific electronic calculator. Fuller's calculators were manufactured by the scientific instrument maker W.F. Stanley & Co. of London who made nearly 14,000 between 1878 and 1973.Like all slide rules, logarithmic scales are used to facilitate calculations more quickly and efficiently. The spiral logarithmic scale greatly increases the precision and computing power of the slide rule. In addition, its tables provide useful information to its users, most likely engineers. Its remarkable length permitted a high level of precision in calculations; calculations could be made to 4 or 5 significant digitsThe fuller calculator, is a cylindrical slide rule with a helical main scale taking 50 turns around the cylinder. There is a papier-mache cylinder fastened to a mahogany handle. A second papier-mache cylinder is a slide fit over the first. Both cylinders are covered in paper varnished with shellac. A brass pointer with an engraved index marker at its tip is attached to the handle and a second brass pointer is attached to the top cap. On the outer cylinder is a helical logarithmic scale 500" (41'8" or about 12.5 m) in length. This cylinder can be slid and rotated upon the inner one and hence with the correct sequence of movements, multiplications and divisions can be made and the answers read off the two pointers which project over the cylindrical scale.FULLER CALCULATOR inscribed on brass pointerscientific instrument, mathematics, calculating

A damaged small brown cardboard Saw Millers' Complete Log and Timber Ready Reckoner book. It has a Preface, Tables No. 1, 2 and 3. which give full details of round timber, circumference of logs, contents of timber in general building sizes and full details of circumference of circles and more. There are handwritten notes inside the back cover. Opposite the title page is an advertisement for high grade circular saws and knives. Pp.120non-fictionLog Books and Ready Reckoners were used and still are these days to record information for many different work needs. This small one would have been very practical for ease of use kept on-hand in a pocket. It was invaluable to carriers and all persons engaged in the timber trade.books, documents, notebooks, log books, ready reckoners

This glass epergne was first owned by John Sanderson's grandmother, who lived in Wandin (Clegg Road) until the 1940s. She first purchased it in 1920 and used it as a vase before passing it on to her daughter Norma Spicer. Epergne's were first created during the early 18th century France as a table centrepiece to display 'exotic' fruits and cakes from France's colonies. They were originally made of silver, however, the late 18th century saw a rise in epergnes made of porcelain due to the growing status of the European porcelain industry. The late 19th century saw another shift as Victorian and Art glass became the name of the day, and most epergne's became increasingly more complex glass works, no longer used for holding food. This epergne is the product of these later glasswork vases, reflecting 1920s interest in uranium glass and clouded geometric patterns. Epergnes like this filtered out of popularity after World War II as large dining sets and table centrepieces became less important to every day life. Those that remained transferred to more useful roles within the household: this one being used as a vase for most of its life. Green tinted glass epergne with white clouded vertical stripes. Glass thick and slightly opaque, possibly uranium glass. Base is a fruit bowl with scalloped/ruffle edges and middle coming up into a triangle. The very edges of the fruit bowl and clouded with white and blue. A golden metal notion attaches to the middle of the fruit bowl with a globe shaped connector. Notion looks like a flat gold flower with six petals and three small leaves, with middle of the flower having a screw on which to screw the largest flute. The flower has three small bucket-shaped containers attached to it in which the smaller flutes are placed. Four flutes attach from the very middle, all bell shaped with very ends flaring out into a scalloped/ruffle edge. One large flute is screwed into the middle of the fruit bowl and stands straight up. Three smaller flutes are placed in around the larger one leaning slightly away from the centre.vases, epergne, 1920, 1920s, 20s, twenties, glass, glassware, uranium glass, radium glass, clouded glass, art deco, decorative objects, tableware, wandin, clegg road

A reference guide of 32 pages plus cardboard covers. The volume has wire spiral binding. It includes a perpetual calendar. Other pages include tables, charts, dates, mathematical information and useful information for farmers including weights and measures and animal gestation periods.A ready reckoner including a wide range of information to facilitate everyday calculations prior to the widespread use of electrical calculators and devices. Published post 1945, the booklet also includes a chronology of World War 11 as well as a list of household antidotes in cases of poisoning.ready reckoner, calendars

.1 - 54 pages, A4 card cover centre stapled titled "Accessible Public Transport in Victoria Action Plan 2006-2012", with a Forward by the Minister for Transport, Peter Batchelor, detailing the context, progress, system wide initiatives, trains, trams, buses, regional trains and coaches and taxis and a summary of actions. Has a table of contents. .2 - 16 pages, A4 card cover, centre stapled titled "Accessible Public Transport in Victoria - Action Plan 2006 - 2012 - Summary" giving a summary of actions, progress chart, and a list of useful contacts. See Reg Item 4592 for the 2013 to 2017 document.trams, tramways, ptv, reports, transport, disability services, public transport

p.244.non-fictionThe student's and tourist's French vade-mecum : containing a comprehensive vocabulary ; and phrases and dialogues on a variety of useful or interesting topics ; together with models of letters, notes and cards ; and comparative tables of the British and French coins, weights, and measures ; the whole exhibiting, in a distinct manner, the true pronunciation of the French languagedictionaries - french language, french language - phrase books

A significant detailed book containing reference table of which plants are to be found in which local reservesA useful guide for the ongoing management of the health of reservesPhotos of children planting

Published: (1934, June 26). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Published title: VICE-ROYALTY GREETS THE KING OF THE BEASTS AT THE ZOO. Published caption: Lord Huntingfield experienced a pleasant “induction ceremony” as Patron of the Royal Zoological and Acclimatisation Society yesterday, when he made a tour of the Zoological Gardens. The picture shows the Governor, accompanied by Lady Huntingfield, inspecting the King of Beasts, who is submitting to a little playful treatment from the Director of the Gardens, Mr. Wilkie, while the Director whispers in his ear that a distinguished visitor has come to see him. (Inset), is a picture of Lord Huntingfield greeting one of the Koalas. Trove article identifier: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204818472 Description: A man wearing a hat, scarf and overcoat reaches up to pat a koala in a tree watched by a man in a hat and suit. Research by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer: In 1932, the Zoo built an Australian native animal enclosure which visitors could enter and closely view koalas, wallabies, kookaburras and magpies all placed together. The branches of the trees in the enclosure were cut so that visitors could easily see and feed the koalas sitting in them. The cost to feed each koala fresh gum leaves was fifteen shillings per week. By 1924, Queensland was the last stronghold in Australia for the koala. They were functionally extinct in South Australia, only a few hundred in NSW, and an estimated population of 1000 animals remained in Victoria. There had been a six-month open season on koalas in Queensland in 1919 where over a million had been slaughtered, however with its vast, dense forests it was impossible to accurately know their numbers. Koala fur is tough, warm and waterproof and was in high demand from consumers in Canada, Britain and the US to make hats and gloves and for lining greatcoats. In 1927, with Queensland suffering a crippling drought and high unemployment, the cash-strapped McCormack Labor Government declared an “Open Season” on koalas and “opossums” for their skins, for the month of August. (Possums were often called “opossums” at this time but they are actually possums). There were widespread protests from many groups including the Nature Lovers League, Wild Life Preservation Society of Australia, Queensland Museum, C.W.A. Royal Australian Ornithologist Union, Boy Scouts, religious and women’s groups. There were letters to newspapers from ordinary people, editorials and pleas to women to refuse to wear or purchase koala fur. People questioned the masculinity of koala hunters as it was felt that no proper bushman or sportsman would kill such a defenceless creature. The Brisbane Courier newspaper led the campaign, devoting six columns a day to “Spare the Bear”. Author Vance Palmer sent an impassioned letter to the editor of the The Brisbane Courier, 19 July 1927: “Sir- It is be hoped that the disgust which all humane people have felt at the declaration of an open season for native bears in August will not be allowed to fade away until some protest... so overwhelming and effective that the question will never be raised again. For the shooting of our harmless and loveable native bear is nothing less than barbarous. His case is entirely different from that of other furred animals. No one has ever accused him of spoiling the farmers’ wheat, eating the squatters’ grass or even spreading the prickly pear. There is not a social vice that can be put down to his account. In addition, he is comparatively defenceless. He affords no sport to the gunman, and can be trusted to present a sitting target to the creature mean enough to aim at him. For this reason he has been almost blotted out already from some areas, in days when our fauna and flora were held in such little regard that the settlers’ first instinct was to shoot every strange animal and to sink his axe into every unfamiliar tree.” The Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane, Gerald Sharp, had his letter published in The Brisbane Courier on 16 July 1927: “Sir... The extermination of fauna so distinctive of our country, especially of such harmless and pretty creatures as our native bears, seems to me a shameful thing, and this is likely to mean their extermination.” But it was all to no avail. Known as “Black August”, the government was unmoved by the public’s outrage. 10,000 licences were issued to hunters and “the slaughter of the innocents” went ahead. The newspapers were full of stories of dreadful cruelty against the helpless, benign creatures by the heartless hunters who not only used guns and spotlights but wire snares and cyanide baits so that pelts wouldn’t be damaged. Infant koalas were left orphaned and unlikely to survive without their mothers. Top quality pelts were sold at an average price of 56 shillings and 9 pence per dozen, poor quality skins for as little as 2 1/2 pence each. In December 1927, the Minister for Agriculture and Stock, Mr W. Forgan Smith told the Parliament that during the August open season 597,985 koala pelts worth £139,595 had netted the state’s coffers £6000. 952,194 “opossum” pelts were sold and £9000 made for the State. The backlash that followed helped topple the Queensland Labor Government in 1929. The Wild Life Preservation Society of Australia lobbied the Prime Minister Mr Stanley Bruce to refuse to issue exportation permits for koala pelts and from 10 November 1927 the Commonwealth Government suspended the issuing of permits. In 1930, the Society made a direct appeal to USA President Herbert Hoover and he signed an order prohibiting the importation of koala and wombat fur to USA, eliminating a major market. Koala pelts were often deliberately mislabelled “wombat” to get around restrictions. The ban most likely saved the koala from probable extinction. Three years later the Australian Federal Government banned the export of koala products. This movement against koala killing was really the first conservation campaign in Australia. It raised awareness of the vulnerability of a beloved animal and eventually brought about national parks and national laws for their protection. By 1936, community opposition to possum open seasons was beginning. The koala was made a Protected Species in all states in 1937, meaning no one is allowed to harm a koala, however the laws protecting the gum trees they rely on for food and shelter are weak. The Australian Government estimates the wild koala population in Australia is between 225,000 and 500,000 in 2024. The Australian Koala Foundation estimates the national population at less than 60,000 in 2021 with a 30% decline in three years. Habitat loss from land clearing, dog attacks, road deaths, chlamydia, bushfires and drought exacerbated by climate change, continues to cause their decline. Over eight million koalas were killed for their pelts between 1888 and 1927. Any one of the annual harvests killed more koalas than are alive now. At this time, children were also being taught to appreciate Australian native animals. In 1933, “Blinky Bill: The Quaint Little Australian” book for children was published by Angus and Robertson. It was written and illustrated by New Zealand-born author Dorothy Wall and “Dedicated to my son Peter and all other Peters and Johns and Bobs and Toms and Marys and Bettys and Joans and Pats and all kind children.” The book tells the story of Blinky Bill - a mischievous, patched knickerbocker-wearing koala and his mother and father. The story has messages of conservation and instances of human unkindness and cruelty. Mr. and Mrs. Koala and young Blinky lead a mostly idyllic family life amongst a variety of other animals in the forest. However it all changes in chapter two, when Blinky Bill’s father is distressingly shot by a hunter. There is a harrowing description of Mr. Koala’s shooting and eventual death. “The Koala family lived so happily; never thinking of harm, or that anything could happen to disturb their little home, as all they asked for were plenty of fresh gum-leaves and the warm sun. They had no idea such things as guns were in the world or that a human being had a heart so cruel that he would take a pleasure in seeing a poor little body riddled with bullets hanging helplessly from the tree-top... That same being might just as well take his gun and shoot baby kookaburras, so helpless were they all and so trusting.” “Poor Mr. Koala one day was curled up asleep in his favourite corner, when the terrible thing happened. Bang! He opened his eyes in wonder. What was that? Did the limb of the tree snap where that young cub of his was skylarking? ... bang! again. This time he felt a stinging pain in his leg... Peering over the bough of the tree he saw a man on the ground with something long and black in his arms... Another bang and his ear began to hurt. Bang! again and now his little body was stinging all over. He grunted loudly and slowly climbed up the tree, calling Mrs. Koala and Blinky as he went. He managed to reach the topmost branch... Tears were pouring down his poor little face. He brushed them away with his front paws and cried just like a baby. Fortunately Mrs. Koala and Blinky Bill were hiding in the leaves quite motionless, and the shadows of the tree made them appear as part of it. The man with the gun stood and waited a long time, then walked away, whistling as he went - the only sound to be heard in the bush except the cries of the little bear far up in the tree.” Blinky and his mother quietly and fearfully wait for Mr. Koala to wake. In the morning, grunting and crying, they feel his lifeless body with their paws. Eventually Mrs. Koala realises that her husband is dead and that they need to move to a safe place. After travelling deeper into the forest, Mrs. Koala and Blinky meet koalas Mrs. Grunty and her son Snubby and she describes how she was captured as a baby by koala fur trappers to be a pet for a little girl. The trapper forgot to bring gum leaves for the koala so they try to feed her cake, milk and bananas, making her sick. The little girl’s father relays something he read in the paper: “During the year 1920 to 1921, two hundred and five thousand six hundred and seventy-nine koalas were killed and their skins sold to the fur market, under the name of wombat.” They place the koala in a box with a teddy bear for company. The baby koala’s health deteriorates and the alarmed trapper returns her to the bush. Mrs. Grunty tells Mrs. Koala that she and Blinky are the only bears that she has seen for ten years: “I remember well the little girl’s father telling her... that not so many years ago the bush was alive with us bears, from Queensland to the south of Victoria. Now, we are so rare that we have become a curiosity, something to put in zoos, for children to see; and actually in museums. I believe our grandparents sit there in glass cases, stuffed with something inside to make them appear alive, and, oh dear, glass eyes. In New South Wales, I think we could wander for miles from one corner to another and never meet a bear. I don’t know why we were all killed. As you know, we don’t eat the farmers’ crop or ruin their orchards. All we asked for were our own gum-trees.” At the end of the book, Dorothy tells her readers - “The kindest action of all would be to leave the koala baby in his own bushland, among his own playmates, with the sun, the sky, the birds, and the gum-trees, where he will grow to manhood and live for many years - happy as he should be.” In 1934, a “Wild Zoo”, the Sir Colin Mackenzie Sanctuary, opened on 32 hectares of land, formerly part of Coranderrk Aboriginal Reserve in the Yarra Valley, exclusively displaying Australian native animals, birds and reptiles. It was later renamed Healesville Sanctuary and is now managed by Melbourne Zoo and home to over 200 species of Australian native fauna. The Sanctuary is committed to rescuing, breeding, researching and raising awareness of the vulnerability of Australian animals. Andrew Arthur Wellesley Wilkie, 1853-1948, was Director of the Melbourne Zoo from 1923 to 1936 and was associated with the zoo for 70 years. He first worked as a horticultural assistant to Government botanist Baron Ferdinand von Mueller at the Botanical Gardens at the age of 13, along with his older brother David. One of Andrew’s jobs was to capture moths for the National Herbarium. In 1857, a group of prominent Melburnians assembled at St. Patrick’s Hall to form the Zoological Society of Victoria, with the aim of introducing animals and plants from overseas. It was conceived, “For the purposes of science and for that of affording the public the advantages of studying the habits of the animal creation in properly arranged zoological gardens.” The Victorian Government granted 32 acres (13 hectares) of land to the Zoological Society at the southern end of Richmond Paddock on the opposite bank to the Botanical Gardens. (This is where AAMI Stadium and Collingwood Football Club now stand.) In 1861, the Zoological Society of Victoria was renamed The Acclimatisation Society of Victoria. Unfortunately the Yarra River frontage was damp, swampy and subject to flooding, so the animals were briefly housed at the Botanical Gardens until in 1862, the City of Melbourne donated 55 acres (22 hectares) of land at Royal Park for the fledgling zoo. Baron von Mueller secured employment at Royal Park for Andrew and David and they helped to lay out the gardens, plant trees and take care of a collection of deer, pheasants, hares and partridges. Initially the zoo was used for the acclimatisation of animals recovering from the long voyage to Australia and for breeding them for sport. In 1872, the zoo bought two lions, a leopard and a cheetah that had been seized from circus showmen Keith and Phillips when they were unable to pay the bill of butcher Mr T K Bennet of Bourke Street. The first zoo director, Mr. Albert Le Souef, negotiated with captains of ships to buy animals at overseas ports they visited and soon a multitude of exotic species arrived, including a ten-year-old Indian elephant in 1878. In 1923, after being head keeper for some years, Andrew was appointed director of the zoo. By 1933, the zoo had 110 different species of animals, 200 species of birds and 72 species of reptiles under Andrew’s care. He had personally planted all but six trees and laid out the garden beds. As director he lobbied authorities for funds to build more humane enclosures for the animals. In June 1928, Table Talk magazine wrote of Andrew Wilkie: “Up at the Zoo there is a humble gentleman who is a lion among the lions, who knows the proper specific to employ when the boa constrictor has chilblains, and who is a friend and confidant of Queenie the elephant. His fount of zoological lore has never been plumbed. It is bottomless, like his good fellowship and geniality. Every day he may be seen somewhere in the grounds of that growing sanctuary for the strange and arresting fauna and creeping things of the world, and I assure you as one who is privy to his passion that that area and its inhabitants are rarely out of his thoughts.” Andrew retired from the zoo in 1936 at the age of 83 and in 1948 died at his home in Brunswick aged 94. He and his wife Josephine had six children. The Victorian Acclimatisation Society was founded in 1861 by Edward Wilson, 1813-1878, then owner and editor of The Argus newspaper. He said that Australian indigenous animals were practically useless, providing only “a little sport and an occasional meal”. The Society believed that Australia’s plants and animals were vastly inferior to those in Europe. They wanted to introduce and acclimatise to Victoria “all innoxious animals, birds, fishes, insects and vegetables, whether useful or ornamental” for sport and for the table, and to spread indigenous animals and plants from the colony around the world. Their motto was “if it lives, we want it”. The Society was primarily responsible for introducing sparrows, starlings, sambar and hog deer, ostriches, brown trout, blackberries, and carp to the Murray River. They released the European songbirds, thrush and blackbird to quell the homesickness of British settlers. The Society also sent Australian animals like platypus, echidnas, kangaroos and koalas to Europe for scientific and novelty purposes. Thomas Austin, a wealthy sheep farmer of Barwon Park, Winchelsea (property now owned by the National Trust) was a member and in 1859 he introduced hares, blackbirds, thrushes and partridges onto his property. He is probably best known for introducing 24 breeding rabbits onto his estate as game for shooting parties. Thomas quipped, “The introduction of a few rabbits could do little harm and might provide a touch of home, in addition to a spot of hunting." In 2022, genomic data confirmed that Australia’s feral rabbit population is entirely descended from these rabbits. Biological control has brought the rabbit population down from an estimated high of 10 billion rabbits in the 1920s to approximately 200 million today, inhabiting 70% of Australian landmass (5.3 million square kilometres). In 1872, the Acclimatisation Society was renamed The Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria and they focused on importing exotic animals for display purposes to the zoo. In 1937, the Royal Acclimatisation Society of Victoria was recreated as the Zoological Board of Victoria with a focus on research of native animals threatened with extinction. In an editorial for The Argus newspaper, 16 March 1856, Edward Wilson lamented: "...this country has been shamelessly stolen from the blacks. Had they been like the New Zealanders or the North American Indians, we should have bought their land, and supplied them with the means of living when we took it... In less than twenty years we have nearly swept them off the face of the earth. We have shot them down like dogs. In the guise of friendship we have issued corrosion sublimate in their damper, and consigned whole tribes to the agonies of an excruciating death. We have made them drunkards, and infected them with disease which has rotted the bones of their adults, and made such few children as are born amongst them a sorrow and a torture from the very instant of their birth. We have made them outcasts on their own land, and are rapidly consigning them to entire annihilation. There are but a few of them left, comparatively. This is what we would do for that few. We would feed and clothe every one of them.” [Note: this last sentence is italicized in the original newspaper article text]. Lord Huntingfield, (William Charles Arcedeckne Vanneck) 1883-1969, Governor of Victoria 1934-1939, was a British Conservative Party politician and the first ever Australian-born Governor of an Australian state (although he was always considered British). He was patron of the Royal Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria and was acting Governor-General for six months during the absence of Lord Gowie in 1938. Lady Huntingfield (née Margaret Eleanor Crosby) 1884-1943, his American-born wife showed great interest in social welfare and the advancement of women and children. She was president of the City Newsboys Society and Patroness of the Girls Friendly Society. In 1937, rose breeder Alister Clark named a yellow hybrid tea rose for her. In 1940, the City of Melbourne opened the Lady Huntingfield Free Kindergarten in North Melbourne, now the Lady Huntingfield Early Learning and Family Services Centre. Lady Huntingfield died in London in 1943 after her house was bombed during a German airstrike. The Lady Huntingfield Memorial Scholarship was established after the City of Melbourne raised £1000 in a public appeal conducted in her memory for students undertaking a Social Work degree at the University of Melbourne. It is awarded annually to this day. The Queen Victoria Hospital named a bed in her honour. References: VICE-ROYALTY GREETS THE KING OF BEASTS AT THE ZOO. (1934, June 26). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved August 23, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204818472 Prominent Personalities ANDREW WILKIE (1928, June 7). Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885 - 1939), p. 15. Retrieved August 29, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146562949 'Edward Wilson (journalist)', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Wilson_(journalist) 'Thomas Austin (pastoralist)', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Austin_(pastoralist) 'The Acclimatisation Society was driven by misguided ideals about 'fixing nature' in Australia', ABC News, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-04/acclimatisation-society-introduced-species-history-listen/101588262?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web Blinky Bill: the quaint little Australian (eBook); by Dorothy Wall, 1933, 2023, Project Gutenberg Australia, https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks04/0400571h.html "Black August": Queensland's Open Season on koalas in 1927 (thesis); Glenn Fowler, 1993, Australian National University, https://www.savethekoala.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Black-August.pdf Unfair game: Queensland's Open Season on koalas in 1927; Jacqui Donegan, 2000, University of Queensland, https://mesto-ku.narod.ru/koalas.pdf OPEN SEASON CONDEMNED. (1927, July 19). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 15. Retrieved September 5, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article21863465 COUNTRY WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION. (1927, July 30). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 25. Retrieved September 20, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article21866965 AUSTRALIA: Barnardo's children at Melbourne Park Zoo (1929), British Pathé, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wcrbo_cHpI 'Kodak Cinegraph Compilation No 8', ACMI Collection, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCrBng5RwFI KOALA SKINS. EXPORT BAN SOUGHT. (1927, August 4). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 10. Retrieved September 15, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article21868746 THE ABORIGINES. (1856, March 16). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 5. Retrieved September 28, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4833244 Koala Bears (1937), British Pathé, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbqgMtyuzwE Australian Koala Bear (Earliest Archive Footage: 1929), Pond5, https://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/item/152767491-australian-koala-bear-earliest-archive-footage-1929Photographer notations on slide: "Vice Regal visit to zoo B42".1930-1939, zoos, governors, koalas, conservation, possums, botanic gardens