The town of Vire is on a rocky promontory above the Vire River, situated in the south-west of the Calvados department of Lower Normandy, about half way between Caen (north-east of Vire) and Mont-Saint-Michel (to the south-west). Since 2016 the town has been part of the commune called Vire-Normandie. The town suffered quite heavily during bombardments at the end of the Second World War, and much reconstruction and renovation took place in the decade that followed the end of the war. (https://www.francethisway.com/places/vire.php) Julien Hardy, a stonemason and first discoverer of gold at Happy Valley, near Ballarat, Victoria Australia, was born near Vire, France. This photograph was taken by a descendant of Julian Hardy.Two colour photographs of buildings in the town of Vire, Normandie, France.julien hardy, vire, normandy

This is the sole remaining tower of the castle's curtain wall. The Coulonce's family had, in the Middle Ages, supplied several of the captains and governor's of Vire's fortified stronghold.A number of colour photographs of Colounces Tower, Vire, Francecolounces tower, vire, france, architecture

Colour photograph of a monument in in Vire, Francevire, france

The Old Gateway or the Saint-Sauveur Gateway (13th Century). After the old regime it had, for some time, served as a Town Hall. In august 1944, the US troops, eager to facilitate truck traffic provisioning the frontline, wanted to blow up this tower. It was saved by the energetic intervention of Mayor Andre Halbout. The town plan of 1946 rerouted Chaussee Street, which now passes to the north of the tower. The south tower, its twin, disappeared in 1788.Colour photograph of the Old Gateway, Vire, Franceold gateway, vire, france

Colour photograph inside the tower, Vire, France

Colour photographs of the Old Gateawy Tower, Vire, France

Colour photograph of a World War Two memorial in Vire, Normandy, France.world war 2, war memorial, vire, normandy, france

1940-1945 En Hommage Aux Refractares et Maquisards du Bocoage virons oui ont dit non a la loi de L'occupant Yvonne Hardy on memorial

Wooden backed plaque with a plaster ships emblem HMAS MelbourneVIRES ACQUIRIT EUNDO

Wooden shield with emblem gold bordered ships crown, centre of kangaroo holding royal crown and aboriginal weapons belowMotto: Vires Acquirit Eundo"plaque, aboriginal, melbourne

Part of "Woolcock Gallery Collection". Exhibited CEMA 1989.Flower and stem view on left, depicting two stalks shooting from a central stem. All three stems are brown with small hairs. Green leaves with rounded ends and a brown central vein with a sharp protruding point are staggered up alternatue sides of the stem. One stem has two flower buds and two flower blooms (each are in clusters). On right are (top-bottom) top view of flower, side vire of flower, top leaf vire, stem detail, bud views. Printed numbers on paper are glued to the surface of the image, with the same numbers also written in pencil. Mounted in a double matt white on pale tan) in a gold painted wooden glazed frame.Front: Pultenaea daphnoides (lower left) (pencil). CEW (signature, lower left in image) (purple pencil). Back: 28 (upper left) (pen)collin woolcock, botanical, cema, botanical drawings, woolcock collection

Julien Hardy was the first discoverer of gold at Happy Valley. A stonemason, he was born at Vire, Normandy, France. He established a stone quarry on the Melbourne Road, near Warrenheip (on the site now occupied by Shady Acres Caravan Park). From here, he quarried blocks that were used in the Ballarat Town Hall.Newsclippingjulien hardy, stonemason, gold, happy valley, shady acres, warrenheip, ballarat town hall

Wooden plaque with plastic emblem.Sailing ships over circular embossing containing effigy of a kangaroo . The wording Melbourne over circle. Scroll below circle reads : vires acquirit eundo: meaning :( It gathers strength as it goes:)

Julien Hardy married Elizabeth Sophia Francis (a widow) from Basle, Switzerland at St John's Anglican Church, Melbourne on 14 August 1858. According to the certificate, he was a stonemason, living at 27 Victoria Street, North Melbourne. His father was Julien Hardy, a carpenter, and his mother was Jean Marie Penton. He was born at Mon Joie, Normandy, France, near the town of Vire. Elizabeth Sophia Francis was the daughter of Nicholas Cage? Burchardt, a banker, and Elizabeth Leslin. The witnesses were Claude Pottee and Marie Petitjean.julien hardy,basle, switzerland, st john's anglican church, melbourne, 1858, stonemason, julien hardy, jean marie penton, mon joie, normandy, france, vire, elizabeth sophia francis, nicholas burchardt, elizabeth leslin, claude pottee, marie petitjean.

White programme for a reception to meet his Excellency Admiral Shaimamura and the Officers of the Japanese Training Squadron. Given by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne and Mrs Henry Weedon. Black and red printing. On the front cover is an emblem with Acquirit vires eu?do under a shield with a cross, a ship, a whale and some animals. At the top is a dog? On each side is a fern branch. In the centre page is the programme of music conducted by W. D. Goodall. On the back of the page are two city scenes and on the back cover are the Union Jack and the Japanese Flags. Page and cover held together by a mustard ribbon. Reception held at the Town Hall, Melbourne on 14th May, 1906.military, navy, shimamura, reception to meet his excellency admiral shimamura programme, japanese training squadron, the lord mayor of melbourne and mrs henry weedon, w d goodall