The set of seven imperial weights were used in the Post Office in Wodonga. The first Post Office in Wodonga opened on the 6th June 1856, and a second Post Office was built in 1874 on the corner of Sydney Road which became High St. and South St. In 1878 there were three staff at the Wodonga Post Office, including the Postmaster/Telegraph Manager and two Office-Keepers/Messengers. The mail service in 1878 included delivery four times a day from the Railway Station to the Post Office in Wodonga, and to and from the Wodonga Post Office to Albury twice a day.The set of seven imperial weights has local and state significance as it was used in the Wodonga Post Office in North East Victoria before decimal currency was introduced in Australia in 1966. The weights also have national significance as examples of the equipment used in post offices in Australia pre 1966.Set of seven cast iron and lead weights with imperial measurements '4 oz, 8oz, 1 lb, 2 lb, 3 lb, 4 lb, and 7 lb' The exterior circular black painted cast iron encases the heavy inner grey lead component, which is visible from the underside. "4 oz.", "8 / oz.", 1 lb.", "1 lb.", "2 lb.", "3 lb.", 4 lb.", MERCURY / 7 LB." on the top of the weights in raised numbers and letters.wodonga post office, post office, victoria post offices, wodonga, north eastern victoria post offices, victorian mail service

This book belonged to Robert Giles. He obtained it in 1914 and the bookseller was Mrs Tilly Rowan who was a well-known businesswoman in Warrnambool with a book shop and newsagency in the Oddfellows Hall in Koroit Street. Robert Giles (1895-1967) was born in Wangoom and went to the Wangoom State School and the Warrnambool Agricultural High School. He served in World War One and worked at the State Savings Bank in Warrnambool from 1911 to 1921 (excluding war service). He later worked in banks in Koroit, other Victorian country districts and Melbourne and retired to Mailors Flat. He was married to Vera King and they had one child, Joyce Aurelin. A Warrnambool branch of the Savings Bank was opened in Warrnambool in 1859 and it moved into a new building in Timor Street in 1885. (This building in now part of the Archie Graham Senior Citizens’ Centre). The State Savings Bank became the State Bank of Victoria in 1980 and in 1990 was subsumed into the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. This book is retained because it belonged to Robert Giles who lived in the Warrnambool area for part of his life and who worked at the State Savings Bank in Warrnambool early in the 20th century. This is a hard cover book of 408 pages. The cover is red with a gold-coloured image of a horse and a mounted policeman on the front cover and gold printing on the spine. The book has 25 chapters of text. Two labels of the book’s seller are affixed to the front cover and a title page. The cover is much scuffed.‘July 9th 1914 Robert P. Giles State Savings Bank Warrnambool’giles family, warrnambool, state savings bank warrnambool, history of warrnambool

Black and white photographInscriptions on back of photograph SE0041 read, "'Mail' 12/1/56" and "John Gallagher, photography". On back of SE0047: Mail 12/1/56 (Page 18). Ambulance and "John Gallagher, photography". Caption for SE0047 in newspaper clipping reads: "Looking over one of the vehicles after the opening of Ringwood's Ambulance Station are L. to R. Cr. F Corr, Station Officer J. Byrne, The Premier of Victoria Mr H. Bolte, Mr E. Baker, Pres. Victorian Ambulance Service.

The Victorian Mail Network brochures, two with Official Opening of the Bendigo Mail Centre Programs. The Opening took place on Monday, 5th December, 1977.In the program are some Postal Historical notes and the program for the day. The brochure Victorian Mail Network has a map of the postal districts of Victoria with Country and Metropolitan Mail Centres and some notes on the front. On the inside, is another map from Kyneton - Echuca, Robinvale, Wentworth, Ouyen and to Bendigo via Charlton. Also Castlemaine. It has a list of the Benefits of the Scheme. On the back is a table, Standard of Service - Final posting times.bendigo, institutions, bendigo post office, document, official opening of the bendigo mail centre, the hon. eric l. robinson, m.h.r., joseph cusworth, sir john nimmo, john w henderson, r j page, cr r f turner, c g primmer, j w bourchier, b coughlan

During prestige, long distance train journeys some carriages had air-conditioning, and the majority of passengers had to brave unheated carriages. To offer some comfort during the winter months, the non-air-conditioned carriages were provided with footwarmers. These were metal containers roughly 100 mm thick and 300 mm wide, and about 750 mm long, which were filled with salt crystals (concentrated crystalline hydrated sodium acetate). The footwarmers were covered by sleeves of thick canvas, and two footwarmers were usually placed in each compartment of non-air-conditioned carriages. To activate the chemicals, the footwarmers were heated almost to boiling point. This was done by removing the canvas sleeves and placing the footwarmers in a large bath of very hot water. After they had been heated, they were removed from the bath and the sleeves refitted. They were then ready to be placed in the carriages. The McLaren patent foot warmer was used on railways in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia as well as South Africa and New Zealand. It was during the 1901 royal visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall that these foot warmers were first used in New Zealand in the royal carriage. Before railway carriage heating was introduced, McLaren patent foot warmers were placed on the floor of New South Wales government railway carriages from 1891 to provide a little passenger comfort. The rectangular steel container worked a bit like a hot water bottle but instead of water contained six and a half kilograms of loosely-packed salt crystals, (concentrated crystalline hydrated sodium acetate). This was permanently sealed inside the container with a soldered cap. After the foot warmer was heated in vat of boiling water for about one and a quarter hours the crystals became a hot liquid. (The melting point for sodium acetate is 58 degrees). There was a whole infrastructure of special furnaces set up at stations for the daily heating of foot warmers. By 1914 the Victorian railways had 4,000 foot warmers in service and by 1935 there were 33 furnaces at principal stations to heat them. After about 10 hours the container was picked up by the handle and given a good vertical shake which helped the cooled liquid reform into a solid mass of hot crystals. Staff or sometimes passengers shook them en route when the foot warmers began to get cold. However, as they were heavy this was only possible by fit and agile passengers. At the end of the journey the containers were boiled again for reuse on the next trip. Sodium acetate railway foot warmers were introduced in Victoria in 1889, Adelaide to Melbourne express in 1899. "Shaking up" on this service took place at Murray Bridge and Stawell on the tip to Melbourne and at Ballarat and Serviceton on the trip to Adelaide. The use of foot warmers began to decline in New South Wales from the 1930s with the first trial of carriage air-conditioning in 1936, steam heating from 1948 ad LP gas heating from 1961. By the early 1960s the main services using foot warmers were the overnight mail trains. info from : http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=67564#ixzz4UBNzVf6t Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial There was a whole infrastructure set up at stations for the daily heating of foot warmers in special furnaces. In Victoria alone in 1935 there were 33 heating works.Historic - Victorian Railways - Carriage Heater - Foot warmerA rectangular-shaped stainless steel casing with a welded seam down the back and welded ends. There is a handle at one end for carrying and shaking. Inside the foot warmer are two baffle plates and three trays to contain the sodium acetate. There was a cast-iron ball in each internal compartment. puffing billy, victorian railways, carriage haeter, foot warmer, passenger comfort, station furnace, railway ephemera, early heating methods

Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Hunter joined 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles from 20 National Service Battalion November 1956. He transferred to Papua New Guinea Volunteer Rifles in 1967, returning to VMR in 1977. He commanded A Squadron 8/13 VMR 1978-1980. He was Staff Officer Grade 1 Headquarters 3 Division 1983-1985. Following retirement he was active in the regimental museum and wrote the book "My Corps Cavalry: a history of the 13th Australian Light Horse AIF". He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia 2009 for services to military history.Representative of a period in 1980s when chain mail epaulettes was worn by officers of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles.Open-necked officer's 'Blues' jacket with chain mail epaulettes; lieutenant colonels' badges of rank and 'R' denoting Reserve of Officers status; Silver 8/13 VMR buttons and collar badges. Worn by Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Hunter who served in the regiment between 1956 and 1987.uniform, hunter douglas, vmr, oam, 3 division, pngvr, chain mail

A reporter and photographer from the Border Morning Mail Albury, visited a troop of the 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regiment on a 116 day annual exercise in September 1979. An article entitled "Hide and seek in the bush" written by Tony Wright appeared in the newspaper on 18 September 1979 accompanied, by this photograph taken by Peter Batson. Sergeant Robin Ellison, a citizen soldier, had 20 years service with the regiment.Fine study of citizen soldier from the Albury region during training.Black and white photograph of soldier wearing beret, binoculars around neck and holding an F1 submachine gun. Soldier is Sergeant Robin Ellison, 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles on exercise near Howlong, NSW, September 1979.ellison, wright, batson

The Feelix library was developed to help children who were blind or have low vision experience the connection with books via tactile objects. Each print book was hand selected, a clear Braille overlay placed on the pages, and items relating to the story were made or purchased and added to the kit. The kit (book and objects) was held inside a cardboard suitcase and sent through the mail in a bright orange, zippered plastic padded pouch with a carry strap. Launched at the Melbourne Zoo on 11 February 2003, ambassador Sigrid Thornton read 'Owl Babies' by Martin Waddell to the crowd. These images were taken of the families who attended, including Zoos Victoria CEO Laura Mumaw, Minister for Community Services Sherryl Garbut and RVIB CEO Doug Kent.36 digital photographs of families and official guests at launch of Feelix libraryroyal victorian institute for the blind, feelix, sigrid thornton, sherryl garbut, laura mumaw, doug kent, louise curtin

The Feelix library was developed to help children who were blind or have low vision experience the connection with books via tactile objects. Each print book was hand selected, a clear Braille overlay placed on the pages, and items relating to the story were made or purchased and added to the kit. The kit (book and objects) was held inside a cardboard suitcase and sent through the mail in a bright orange, zippered plastic padded pouch with a carry strap. Launched at the Melbourne Zoo on 11 February 2003, these images were taken of the families who attended, including Zoos Victoria CEO Laura Mumaw, Minister for Community Services Sherryl Garbut and RVIB CEO Doug Kent, and the Feelix kits displayed on the day.37 digital photographs of families and official guests at launch of Feelix libraryroyal victorian institute for the blind, feelix, sigrid thornton, sherryl garbut, laura mumaw, doug kent, louise curtin

Today’s Panton Hill Hotel was built around 1920. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p61 Panton Hill was originally known as Kingstown, and consisted of only one hotel when the Orams Reef was discovered in 1859. Kingstown was a quartz mining centre and many old mine shafts remain in the area. Orams Reef was one of the first reefs with a rich find of gold in the area. The Hotel Francais, which had been operating in 1861, was well situated on the way to Queenstown (later St Andrews). So was Herr Hirt’s Hotel and store at Smiths Gully. The Kingstown hotel, known as the Frenchman’s and in 1864 as the Hotel de France, was run by a Monsieur Emile Hude and his wife Jeanne, and known for its good food. They hosted social events, business conventions and debates, attracting patrons from as far as Melbourne. The hotel’s name was changed to Panton Hill Hotel in 1905. In 1883 Charles Caudwell built another hotel nearby, possibly in Long Gully Road,3 which it is thought, was burnt down early last century. Today’s Panton Hill Hotel, built around 1920, is the only one of the cluster of buildings in the main road, not to date from around the turn of last century. It was severely damaged by fire in 2003, then underwent extensive alterations. It is the township’s only hotel and is an example of a modest hotel building exterior, constructed early last century. In its early days the hotel also housed the first post office, newsagency and store. Orams Reef yielded a total of £100,000, and fossikers also found alluvial gold in the creeks and gullies, but there is no record of the total value of their finds. Gold greatly increased the Panton Hill population, which peaked between 1865 and 1885. On holidays large sports meetings were held with wood chopping contests and foot races and the day would end with a ball. Miners came from various countries to seek their fortune, including many from China. The Chinese became unpopular however, and gradually left the district, although some stayed and grew and sold vegetables.5 Panton Hill was named after Joseph Panton, who in 1862 was appointed Police Magistrate for the Woods Point, Heidelberg and Yarra districts. Panton was an outstanding man, who in 1852, was Commissioner of Crown Lands and Assistant Commissioner of Goldfields at Bendigo. In 1874 he was promoted to Chief Magistrate for the Melbourne Police. Panton was also an artist, becoming president of the Victorian Arts Society in 1888, and in 1913, president of the Royal Geographical Society. Despite Panton Hill’s prosperity, it still lacked many services as poor roads made access to Melbourne difficult. A horse-drawn mail coach travelled to Melbourne until 1890, when the railway came to Heidelberg. The nearest doctor was at Yarra Glen or Heidelberg, and the Indian hawker Singh’s annual visit was very welcome. A miner’s shack opposite the school was used as a post office. Today’s general store and post office in the main road dates from early last century, and has changed considerably. While most people searched for gold, the more enterprising ones established farms to feed the diggers. Farmers grew wheat, barley and oats, and sent animal skins to the Eltham tannery, to make furs in Melbourne. As gold became scarce from around 1880, miners took up farming on 19 to 20 acre (8ha) allotments. The first settlers in Cherry Tree Road included Purcell, Smith, Owens, Hughes and Shillinglaw. By 1900 all the land had been taken up around Panton Hill and Hurstbridge. The orchards in Panton Hill and the wider district, particularly of apple and pear, were very successful, and made Panton Hill a cohesive and successful community. About 1914 the Moores built the first cool-store and refrigeration plant at their orchard in Cherry Tree Road. Many settlers planted vineyards and made high quality wine, but in 1922 the blight destroyed them.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, panton hill hotel

The historic Victorian ‘couta boat “Viator” was built by renowned boat builder J.R. Jones of Williamstown in Melbourne, between 1890 and 1920. He was one of the early builders of this design. The features of Viator - carvel planked, open cockpit, vertical stem and straight keel, single mast and a pivoting centreboard - are all characteristics of an early Bass Strait ‘couta boat. This has been confirmed by experienced Victorian ‘couta boat restorer Tim Phillips. Viator served as a ‘couta fishing boat in the Warrnambool area until the mid-1930s, then some say she served as a mail ferry across to Portland. Later it was used as a fishing and recreation boat for local families. For years Viator sat in a paddock in East Warrnambool until purchased in 1975 and donated to Flagstaff Hill. ‘COUTA BOATS - The ‘couta design for vessels is believed to have originated at Port Phillip, Victoria, for the purpose of the Barracouta (‘couta) fishing industry, being both fast and seaworthy. , The 'couta fish was an important food fish in Australian waters, supplying Melbourne with plenty of inexpensive fish. VIATORY’S OWNERS - Some of Viator’s history is known: - 1940, registered Port Fairy and owned by G.J. Richards. - 1941-1945, registered in Port Fairy and owned by Jens “Peter” Petersen. - 1950’s “Brusher” Richards of Warrnambool and Port Fairy used it for fishing. - Peter Watson and his son also went fishing in Viator. - Frank Ferrier, boat builder, was an owner (son of ‘La Bella’ hero, William Ferrier) - Arthur Rogers owned Viator too, then sold it to Terry Pridmore and Wayne Moorefield - The Viator was stored in a paddock, unused, in Fairmont Avenue, Warrnambool, where it was gradually deteriorating. - 1975 Viator was purchase at a very reasonable price from Pridmore, then donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. RESTORATION - Shipwright Erik Mikkelsen soon started restoration on the Viator after it arrived at Flagstaff Hill in 1975. In 2006 the Maritime Museums of Australia awarded a grant to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village to assist with the restoration and renovation of the Viator. Its restoration continues today in the care of Flagstaff Hill’s boat builder. J R. JONES - boat builder The photograph of the EVA MYRL shows the builder J R Jones with his team of workers. The other photograph shows a vessel built by J R Jones' son, J B Jones of Footscray, and his team of boat boulders. The photograph of the EVA MYRL was taken by E. A. Dond---. The other photograph is of the Sturrock Coot, taken a Albert Park Lake in St Kilda.The Viator is the most significant boat in the Flagstaff Hill's fleet, being the last remaining local 'couta boat and one of few existing examples of this craft. Viator received Heritage status with the Australian Maritime Museums Council and is listed on the Australian Register of Historical Vessels in 2006 (ARHV Number: HV000561). Viator was built in Victoria in the early days by renowned boat builder J.R. Jones, and sailed by fishermen for many years, both local and on the coastal waters of Victoria, and was possibly used for the mail service. It is significant for being used for the fishing trade, for government service, perhaps as a mail boat, and for recreation by local families.Vessel, the ‘Viator’, an historic Victorian ‘couta boat, handmade by renowned boat builder This J.R. Jones 'couta boat, the Viator, was built in Williamstown, c.1890-1920. The single mast vessel has a Caravel hull built from New Zealand Kauri, blackwood, with a red gum keel and a jarrah stem and stern. It has a pivoting centreboard. Two photographs are included; one of the builder with his team, the other is of his son J B Jones, with his team. Marked "Viator" Photograph 1759.2: "E. A. Dond---" (indecipherable". Handwritten on back "Grandfather / J R Jones / Built" Photograph 1759.3; sign within photograph "J B JONES / BUILDER / FOOTSCRAY", stamped in the card, bottom right " ----- / MELBOURNE" and handwritten on the back "I think this is Mr Abel Sturrock Coot Albert Park Lake"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, arhv hv000561, arthur rogers, bass strait ‘couta boat, “brusher” richards of warrnambool and port fairy, clinker hull boat, ‘couta crafted boat c 1890-1905, ‘couta fishing boat, erik mikkelsen shipwright, g.j. richards of port fairy, jens “peter” petersen, john lindsay, old mail boat, pivoting centerboard boat, peter watson, single-masted ketch, terry prodmore and wayne moorefield, vessel viator, viator a historical vessel, victorian ‘couta boat, victorian barracoota boat, warrnambool ‘couta boat, western victoria fishing boat, western victoria mail boat, hv000561, australian register of historical vessels, erik mikkelsen, j b jones, j b jones boat builder, footscray, sturrock coot, sturrock, j r jones, j r jones boat builder, williamstown, eva myrl

Des Martin lived all his life in Wodonga, except for his years of service during World War Two. He was raised on the family property Aherlo in the Huon Creek Valley. In 1937 he joined the 8th Light Horse Regiment but in May 1940 led his Wodonga Troop into the 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion, which saw service in Syria, Java, New Guinea and Borneo. After the war, Des returned to Aherlo and his horses. He was granted permission by the Victorian Racing Club to participate as an amateur “gentleman” rider. He was a founder of the Victorian Amateur Riders Association and also the Murray Valley Hunt Club, for which he was Master for 21 years. He was a prolific writer, cartoonist, photographer and poet, contributing to The Border Morning Mail, The Age, and the Herald and Weekly Times amongst other publications. Des Martin’s other literary works included Australia Astride (1959), A Tale of Twin Cities, Part One (1981) and Backing up the Boys (1998). In 1976, Des wrote an historical novel, “Many a Mile”, based on a fictional region which highly resembled the Albury-Wodonga and Upper Murray area of Victoria. It was set in the last 10 years leading up to Federation. Throughout this period tensions (caused by fluctuating border duties, including an infamous impost on cattle and horses) occasioned the intermittent posting of heavily armed police detachments along the River Murray. Des also wrote eight 50-minute scripts from “Many a Mile” as a television series and were presented to Michael Pate, one of Australia’s leading actors and producers. Also, funding was sought through the Australian Broadcasting Commission ... unfortunately the series never came to fruition. This album is a pictorial precis, including photos and scene descriptions, created to promote the concept of the series and have it produced locally in North Eastern Victoria featuring local settings, skilled horsemen and actors. It was to be called “Ringer’s River” ... Ringer being the title accorded to either a top cattle hand, or the fastest shearer in the wool shed. Des Martin died on 12th April 1995.These albums and images are significant because they document literature written by a prominent member of the Wodonga community. The presentation of this precis was supported by several significant district families and individuals.Documents written to introduce the concept of "Ringer's River" to gain interest for the development of a television seriesdes martin, many a mile, ringer's river, northeast victoria stories

A small book of 125 pages containing information, photographic images and sketches. The book is printed on buff coloured paper with a green trim around the front cover. It also includes a comprehensive bibliography. The cover features a sketch of a Cobb & Co. Coach.This booklet was produced for Victoria's sesquicentenary celebrations. It tells the story of Victorian postal services starting with the appointment of Melbourne's first official Postmaster Mr E J Foster on 13th April 1837. This position changed hands frequently and by 1851 Victoria's 8th Postmaster Alexander McCrae held the position. The construction of one of Melbourne's oldest landmarks began in three stages beginning in 1859 and was completed in 1867. The book includes developments in the mail service including by sea and overland by horseback and Cobb and Co. coaches. The mail coach contractors on the Melbourne to Albury route in 1854 was George Foster followed in 1856 by Patrick Mulcare. Other chapters in this publication include transporting the mail by rail and air as well as details about a small number of post offices and people who dedicated themselves to ensuring the mail reached its destination safely.victorian postal service, australia post history