This novel, Jimmy of 'Murrumbar' by E.D. Oakley (Edward Daniel Oakley 1877-1962), is a children’s adventure story about an Australian indigenous boy who was educated in a mission and worked as a 'black tracker’ for the police to hunt down criminals in the bush and mountain region of the Grampian Ranges of Victoria. Oakely's parents, Thomas and Eliza, had a farm in Warrnambool called 'Oakbank'. Oakley worked at various jobs in the local district and later had his own wheat farms. When he returned to Warrnambool to build commercial premises and work in the retail industry. His influence encouraged Fletcher Jones to open a shop in Warrnambool. His novel - Jimmy of 'Murrumbar' - was written after he retired. The copy of the book in our collection does not have a publication date. The National Library of Australia lists two editions of this book, one dated 1938, the other is undetermined. It was published as part of a series called the Marcie Muir Collection of Australian children's books. No reference has been found to the author or any further works by him/her. The novel was reprinted as a reproduction in 2017 as a paperback and a leather bound edition 'Classic Reprint' by Forgotten Books. WARRNAMBOOL MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE Warrnambool's Mechanics' Institute (or Institution as it was sometimes called) was one of the earliest in Victoria. On 17th October 1853, a meeting was held where it was resolved to request the Lieutenant Governor of the Colony to grant land for the erection of a Mechanics' Institutes building. A committee was formed at the meeting and Richard Osburne chaired the first meeting of this committee. The land on the North West corner of Banyan and Merri Streets was granted but there were no funds to erect the building. The Formal Rights of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute's encompassed its aims and these were officially adopted in1859; "This Institution has for its object the diffusion of literary, scientific, and other useful knowledge amongst its members, excluding all controversial subjects, religious or political. These objects are sought to be obtained by means of a circulating library, a reading room, the establishment of classes, debates, and the occasional delivery of lectures on natural and experimental philosophy, mechanics, astronomy, chemistry, natural history, literature, and the useful and ornamental arts, particularly those which have a more immediate reference to the colony." The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute opened its first reading room in November 1884 in the National School building at the corner of Banyan and Timor Streets. The Institute was funded by member subscription, payable on a quarterly, half-yearly or yearly basis. Samuel Hannaford, the Manager of the Warrnambool Bank of Australasia, was the first Honorary Secretary of the Mechanics' Institutes, and an early President and Vice-President. He also gave several of the early lectures in the Reading Room. Another early Secretary, Librarian and lecturer was Marmaduke Fisher, the teacher at the National School. Lecture topics included The Poets and Poetry of Ireland', 'The Birth and Development of the Earth', 'The Vertebrae - with Remarks on the pleasures resulting from the study of Natural History' and 'Architecture'. In 1856 the Reading Room was moved to James Hider's shop in Timor Street, and by 1864 it was located in the bookshop of Davies and Read. In the 1860's the Mechanics' Institute struggled as membership waned but in 1866, after a series of fundraising efforts, the committee was able to purchase land in Liebig Street, on a site then called Market Square, between the weighbridge and the fire station. A Mechanics' Institute building was opened at this site in August 1871. The following year four more rooms were added to the main Reading Room and in 1873 the Artisan School of Design was incorporated into the Institute. The same year Joseph Archibald established a Museum; however, it deteriorated when he was transferred to Bendigo in 1877. In 1880, with Archibald's return to Warrnambool, the Museum was re-established, and in 1885 a new building was built at the back of the Institute to accommodate the re-created School of Design, the Art Gallery and the Museum. In 1887 the Museum section was moved to the former courthouse in Timor Street (for some time the walls of the building formed part of the TAFE cafeteria but all is now demolished)). In 1911 the Museum was transferred back to the original building and the management of the Mechanics' Institute was handed over to the Warrnambool City Council. The Museum and Art Gallery became one and housed many fine works of art, and the Library continued to grow. The building was well patronised, with records showing that at the beginning of the 20th century there were between 500 and 800 visitors. During World War One the monthly figures were in the thousands, with 3,400 people visiting in January 1915. The Museum was a much loved Institution in Warrnambool until the contents of the Museum and Art Gallery were removed to make room for the Warrnambool City Council Engineers' Department. The contents were stored but many of the items were scattered or lost. When the original building was demolished the site became occupied by the Civic Centre, which included the new City Library. (The library was temporarily located in the old Palais building in Koroit Street.) In the process of reorganisation the Collection was distributed amongst the community groups: -The new City Library took some of the historical books and some important documents, historic photographs and newspapers. -The Art Gallery kept the 19th Century art collection and some of the artefacts from the museum. -The Historical Society has some items -The State Museum has some items -Some items were destroyed -Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village has old newspapers, Government Gazettes, most of the Mechanics' Institute Library, ledgers and documents connected to the Mechanics' Institute Library, some framed and unframed artworks and some photographs. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute Library book collection is deemed to be of great importance because it is one of the few collections in an almost intact state, and many of the books are now very rare and of great value. This novel is historically significant for its story, representing the changes to Australian Indigenous culture and life after colonisation. The book appears to be that this is the only work written by E.D. Oakley. It is locally significant for being written by an early prominent Warrnambool family member. Jimmy of Murrumbar : A Story of the Amazing Ability and Fidelity of an Australian Black Tracker Author: E D Oakley (Edward Daniel Oakley) Publisher: Osboldstone & Co, Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia The label on the spine with typed text R.A. 823 OAK The front loose endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Children’s Library shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, warrnambool, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, jimmy of murrumbar, e d oakley, edward daniel oakley, novel, young adult novel, juvenile fiction, australian black tracker, law enforcement - police trackers, tracking and trailing in australia, australian bush, grampian ranges in victoria, warrnambool history, fletcher jones, oakbank, thomas and eliza oakley, indigenous literature, indigenous australians

This family history book was published as a family record of the Ah Chow family. A limited number of copies were printed. Thomas William (Bill) Ah Chow was a Chinese-Australian soldier, farmer, fire lookout and legendary bushman of East Gippsland in Victoria. Many Chinese came to the Victorian gold rush in the 1850s to seek their fortune at the Omeo and Cassilis diggings. Many of the immigrants later settled and integrated into their local communities working as farm labourers, tending market gardens, making furniture, running grocery stores and cafes or practising Chinese medicine. Thomas William "Bill" Ah Chow of Bruthen, Victoria attempted to enlist early in the War but was rejected for being "not substantially of European origin". Undeterred, he reapplied and was accepted in June 1917. During his service with the 5th Battalion, he was wounded at least three times. After the War, Bill returned to Bruthen where he drove sheep, worked cattle and eventually assisted in the building of roads through the area. He became a Forestry Commission fire-spotter and built a hut called 'Moscow Villa' in 1942. He lived in the hut during the summer months and in winter, returned to his family in Ensay. Whenever there was fire danger, he rode his horse up to the fire tower on Mt Nugong and acted as look-out. Bill worked for the Forestry Commission for more than twenty years and came out of retirement to continue his duties when no suitable replacement could be found. Bill died in 1967 and is buried in Omeo. Moscow Villa still stands and is a popular camping site This is a useful reference item. As a family history it is detailed and contains useful copies of personal documents. Bill Ah Chow, along with the Ah Chow family were well known in Orbost and East Gippsland. This booklet is a testament to his life. A soft covered 97pp book with a cream cover. On the front is a coloured photograph of a Chinese man in traditional robe and hat. On the back cover is Moscow Villa. It contains information, copies of 1949 photographs, documents, hand -written letters and a will. There is an envelope attached to the inside cover containing a CD, photos and family tree.ah-chow-william-thomas family-history-ah-chow

This is a first edition copy of the Victorian School Readers (Eighth Book) issued by the Education Department of Victoria. These readers were first published in 1928 and became standard texts for all school children up to Year Eight. They complemented the School Paper which had been published monthly for different year levels since the end of the 19th century. Both the Readers and the School Papers were in widespread use until the late 1940s and the early 1950s. William McCullagh and his wife Margaret had the property Oak Grove at Yangery at the end of the 19th century and in the early decades of the 20th century. Yangery is an agricultural area situated between Woodford and Koroit. There is a record of Silvie Jean McCullagh (parents – William and Margaret) born in 1914 and this is probably the person who owned and used this reader. This book is of interest not only because it is a first edition copy of one of the well-known Victorian School Readers but also because it was connected to the McCullagh family of Oak Grove, Yangery. This is a hard cover book of 260 pages. The cover was originally a burnished brown colour but the book has been covered with a mottled patterned cloth material (red, green and brown). The cover is partly torn off at the bottom of the spine. The book has poetry and prose extracts and includes many black and white sketches, maps, photographs and illustrations. The inscription and some other annotations throughout the book are handwritten in pencil. ‘Sylvia McCullagh, Oak Grove, Yangery, Dennington P. Office’ history of warrnambool, oak grove, yangery, mccullagh family, school readers

Victorian inquestsA database of vital records (births, deaths, marriages) from South Australia.1 compact disc in plastic casegenealogy resources, family history, victoria, victoria - inquests

This amphora or jug, with a silhouette shaped like a woman with hands on hips wearing a long flared-out skirt. The design was used in ancient Greece for pottery storage jars, the neck being narrower than the body. The amphora was discovered by Joe O'Keeffe in 1934 in a sand blowout west of Levy's Point west of Warrnambool while he was planting marram grass for Mr Duncan. An article in the Warrnambool Standard newspaper of December 21, 1985, states that the amphora may be linked to the wooden sailing ship called the Mahogany Ship (also called the Ancient Wreck). Thermoluminescence testing indicates the relic was made in the mid-to-late 1800s and experts suggest it was of North African origin. The presence of the amphora in the sand dunes, and the amphora itself, are still a mystery. The amphora was donated to Flagstaff Hill on a long-term loan by the Duncan family and displayed to the public for the first time on December 21, 1985, until February 2023 when the display was returned to storage to rest with the redevelopment of the Assistant Lighthouse Keepers Cottage (Shipwreck Museum). An extensive search for members of the Duncan Family has been undertaken by Flagstaff Hill and stakeholders to resolve the loan term loan, but the family is not known. As such to properly care for the amphora, it has been registered until ownership can be determined.The object is significant for its possible link to one of Victoria’s and Australia’s maritime mysteries, the Mahogany Ship (also known as the Ancient Wreck). It is one of very few known relics that could give evidence of the existence and history of the vessel. It is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register S438 as it is one of Victoria’s oldest recorded shipwrecks. The identity of the vessel has the potential to change Australia’s history.Amphora or jug; earthenware, orange clay with areas of cream. The vessel has a wide mouth, a deep lip, two opposing handles between the neck and shoulder, and a bulbous body. The curved handles have a design of six bands between them. There are three rings of small dots encircling the body. The underside has concentric circles in the clay, uneven edge and pinhole markings. Pinhole patterns: [3 holes above 3 holes] opposite [3 holes above 3 holes], 1 hole] [ 1 hole above 2 holes]flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, amphora, jug, mahogany ship, ancient wreck, joe o'keefe, duncan, thermoluminescence, north africa, levy point, pottery, storage jar

Compiled from newspaper reports, customs, pilots and other government records and the records of other Colonial ports, the list documents the activity of vessels containing immigrants, passengers between colonies, and the trade in wool, timber, coal and sundry merchandise sought by the expanding and developing colony of Victoria.Marten A Symevictoria, history, shipping, shipping, transport, port phillip history, family history.

Compiled from newspaper reports, customs and other Government records and records of other Colonial ports, the list documents the arrival of vessels containing assisted and unassisted immigrants before and during the gold rush, the intra-colonial trading voyages, the growth in overseas trade from Melbourne and Geelong in wool, tallow skins and gold dust and the surge of activity flowing from the discovery of gold in Victoria in 1852.Marten A Symevictoria, history, shipping, shipping, transport, port phillip history, family history.

The Beveridges pioneered the Swan Hill area on the Murray River and lived among the People of the Murray River. They learned the Aboriginal dialects, lore and customs. Peter Beveridge faithfully recorded these and his book was published posthumously by his family.maps, b&w illustrations, b&w photographsvictorian history, murray river

A user friendly reference tool for historians - particularly family historians. Over 750 different series of records are described in a straightforward manner to guide users through this extensive collection.charts, b&w photographsgenealogy, state records of south australia, family history, south australian history

archives, research, great britain, ireland, family history, genealogy, family tree magazine

The focus of this publication is on the range of records of most value to genealogists, those in which essential details of former lives are held. Exploring official records reveals the facts of these lives: of where and when and how men and women served their nation in wartime; or settled in a new country; or were employed on public projects; or were educated or assisted through Commonwealth government agencies.b&w photographs, copies of records, chartsgenealogy, local history, national archives of australia

document reproductions, posterssouth australia, genealogy, local history, bibliographies, public records, land records, family history

Intended as a key resource for both first-time and experienced genealogists. It offers an introduction to the role, services and collection of Public Record Office Victoria, and a guide for family history researchers using the archives.colour photographs, b&w photographs, charts, letters, records, maps, plansgenealogy, local history, family history, public records, bibliographies, catalogues, victorian history

Public Record Office Victoria and the National Archives of Australia hold many government records about Aboriginal people in Victoria. This guide is designed to help Victorian Aboriginal people find records about their family and country. It will also assist anyone researching the history and administration of Aboriginal affairs in Victoria to find relevant records.document reproductions, maps, b&w photographsarchives, archives directories, historical sources, public records, victorian history

George Robert Broadbent (1863-1947), cyclist and map publisher, was born on 3 November 1863 at Ashby near Geelong, Victoria, son of George Adam Broadbent, Lancashire-born draper, and his wife Elizabeth, née Ruffhead. When the family moved to North Melbourne Broadbent attended the Errol Street school, followed his father's trade, and became an early cycling and cycle-racing enthusiast. At various times Broadbent held most Victorian and Australian road records, and two of his performances on solid tyres—203 miles (327 km) in 24 hours on a penny farthing, and 100 miles (161 km) in 6 hours 20 minutes on a 'safety' bicycle—were never bettered. He established records for all distances between 130 and 220 miles (209 and 354 km), and for all times between 8 and 12 hours, at the Exhibition Grounds track in May 1894, and road records for 50 and 100 miles (80 and 161 km) in October 1896. The Australian Cyclist acknowledged him 'the finest road rider that Australia has ever produced'. A foundation councillor of the League of Victorian Wheelmen in October 1893, Broadbent contested the first Warrnambool-Melbourne race in 1895, and was active in the Good Roads Movement. Next year he issued a road map of Victoria, 'prepared … after some sixteen years riding and touring in all parts of the Colony', which indicated general topography, distances, and roads classified as 'good', 'fair' or 'ridden with difficulty'. It was to become Victoria's standard map, and the basis of a continuous publishing programme by Broadbent's Official Road Guides Co.Three Road Maps of Bendigo, Bendigo and Suburbs, Bendigo and Eaglehawk. Two fold out maps printed in colour and produced by Broadbent's Road Maps Pty. Ltd. 475 Collins Street Melbourne. One map printed by Bolton's Bendigo.history, bolton's, bendio broadbent maps

Alan Judge Holt as an infant. He was born 16 June 1912, one of 3 sons of Edmund Holt and his wife Ruby Ellen Sutton. His brothers were Frederick Sutton Holt (1914-1992) and Raymond James Holt (1918-2000). The family home was 9 Beatrice Avenue, Surrey Hills and the family were active members of the Surrey Hills Methodist Church. Alan married Edna Jean Pallot in 1937 and they too had 3 sons - Barry, Neville and Max. Alan and Edna and family lived at 62 Broughton Road, Surrey Hills; later Alan and Edna lived at 2 Earle Street, Mont Albert and finally 13 Berry Street, Box Hill. Alan became Secretary of the Victorian Lands Department. He was passionate about local history and was responsible for much of the backbone research and records of the Surrey Hills local history collection. He died in 1993.A young Alan Judge Holt sitting on a box. Estimated age is 2 years.alan holt, alan judge holt, infants

The Fred Rochow Railways Collection incorporates photos related to the operation of the Wodonga Railway Station including different types of trains and railways staff C. 1930 – 1990. It was donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Fred Rochow, a railwayman who spent many years based in Wodonga. He joined the Victorian Railways on 17th June l947 and retired in 1988. For some time, he was a member of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen and served a term as a member of the Trades Hall Council. He had an extensive knowledge of the struggles that took place to achieve better conditions for railway workers. Fred worked for many years as a fireman and then worked his way up the ranks to driver, experiencing many changes from the days of steam locomotives through to diesel trains, locomotives and even the modern XPT train. He worked throughout Victoria at different stages of his career, with his final working years focused on the northeast of Victoria and the Albury to Melbourne line. After his retirement, Fred continued to share his love of steam miniature trains with the community.This collection has local and statewide significance as it captures images of trains, locomotives and personnel who operated the railway services in Wodonga and throughout Northeast Victoria. The railways played a critical role in opening up Victoria and connecting Australia for trade, business, social communication and transport.George Lynch had a long career with Victorian Railways. The son of a railway man, George grew up in St Arnaud near the railway line. He watched the engines go by and dreamed of being an engine driver. He started working as a cleaner in 1907. Through hard work and further study, George worked his way up to become a locomotive driver. He moved to Wodonga in 1917. At the Victorian Railways Institute examinations, George won four gold medals for Engine Working and Westinghouse Brake In 1925 he was appointed as an Instructor. George was one of four senior drivers who in rotation drove the Sydney Limited. The other drivers were Ray Murphy, F. Hobbs and George Padgett. They all lived with their families in Wodonga. George drove the first Spirit of Progress from Spencer Street to Albury. He made railway history in 1937 when the Sydney Ltd ran non-stop from Albury to Spencer Street in 3 hrs. 25 mins, clipping 25 minutes off the previous record. He retired at the age of 65 in 1953 and died at the age of 74.railways wodonga, fred rochow, wodonga railwaymen, george lynch snr

The family history of George Ridgewell. This Information was mainly obtained from records held by the Stawell Historical Society which comes from various Stawell Papers; from Stawell cemetery records, from baptisms at ST. Patricks Roman Catholic Church, Stawell; from Stawell rate records; from Hotel Licenses and Hotel records; from residential areas obtained under Miners Right and the Land Board; from accounts of Weddings and funerals and from the Victorian Index of Births, deaths & Marriages.Teal Plastic cover and spine on white sticker on spine - George Ridgewell Book 2stawell, family history

This item was whittled as a continuous piece from a broomstick handle by George Lynch. George had a long career with Victorian Railways. The son of a railway man, George grew up in St Arnaud near the railway line. He watched the engines go by and dreamed of being an engine driver. He started working as a cleaner in 1907. Through hard work and further study, George worked his way up to become a locomotive driver. He moved to Wodonga in 1917. At the Victorian Railways Institute examinations, George won four gold medals for Engine Working and Westinghouse Brake In 1925 he was appointed as an Instructor. George was one of four senior drivers who in rotation drove the Sydney Limited. The other drivers were Ray Murphy, F. Hobbs and George Padgett. They all lived with their families in Wodonga. George drove the first Spirit of Progress from Spencer Street to Albury. He made railway history in 1937 when the Sydney Ltd ran non-stop from Albury to Spencer Street in 3 hrs. 25 mins, clipping 25 minutes off the previous record. He retired at the age of 65 in 1953 and died at the age of 74.This item is significance because it was made by a long-serving locomotive driver based in Wodonga.A chain made by whittling the handle of a broomstick. It is one continuous piece of wood with a variety of shapes swivels and interlinked sections. There are 13 similar sized links and 2 larger ones. The larger links have small balls inside them.whittled objects, george lynch, railways wodonga