This box which once contained linen thread manufactured in Scotland and labelled "British" manufacture" was used for the repair/manufacture of clothing by professional seamstresses and those wives required to "do" repair stitching of family clothes. This box was manufactured in a period when the title "United Kingdom" was used (late 1700's early 1900's) to describe the union of Britain and Scotland. The label however can be misleading as the"British Manufacture" thread was manufactured in Scotland. The broad term "British Manufacture" was used for the benefit of those in the "colonies" of Australia and New Zealand, during a period when the "coined" phrase "best of British, or British best" was synonymous to "top quality". After World War II the need for "cheaper products" was more persuasive than the quality of the product. In rural areas this shift to cheaper "non British" goods was at a slower rate than in the cities. Goods such as clothing manufactured or altered by seamstresses were regarded as of a higher standard and therefor the use of linen thread from "Britain" was a sign of quality and reliability.This box which contained linen thread, "British" made, is very significant to the Kiewa Valley because it demonstrates the conditions under which households in the late 1800's and early 1900's evolved from a "domestic repair /replacement" of damaged clothing to a consumer of recycled and shop bought clothing and linen. The ability of semi isolated rural based families to purchase "off the rack" clothing was severely affected by weather, long distance over dirt roads(poorly serviced) to large towns(shops), horse/cart or slower driven cars. The purchasing of clothing was, on the whole, from trading house "mail order" consignment orders.This red paper covered box has a white covered lid (top) with black print detailing the manufacturer and contents. This box contained 150 yds of linen thread 2 cord. A small added note pasted on one side "USUAL TWIST (s)" describing the thread's appearance. Two semicircular "finger" holes on two sides of the lid permit easier removal of the lid from the base.On the top lid: "W.&J. KNOX'S" below this a crest with latin motive "MOVEO ET PROFICIOR" English translation "I proceed and am more prosperous" encircling an open winged falcon. below this "LINEN THREAD", "2 CORD." "WARRANTED" "150 Yds." Made from Flax." British Manufacture". On one side "DRABS SOFT FINISH" within a shield "KNOX'S TWO CORD 150 YARDS 30" next to this a trade mark "W & J KNOX below this "made in KILBIRNIE, SCOTLAND"thread, cord. flax, box container, linen thread, seamstress items, cardboard box

Green, red and black soft covered facsimile booklet. The book includes numerous illustrations including Ballarat City Municipal Chambers, Ballarat Banking Co. Ltd, Art Gallery of Ballarat, Ballarat Trustees, John McLeod, Pty Ltd, Ballaarat Gas Co., J. J. Goller, Star Office, Ballarat Courier Office, Morsheads, M.B. John, Rowlands, Huttons the Jewellers, Millers the Clothiers, James Smith Agricultural Machinery, Coles and Pullum, City Baths, Benoit's Sun Foundry, William Paterson Drapers, Eureka Terra Cotta and Tile Co., Ballarat Woollen & Worsted Co. Ltd, Sunnyside Woollen Mill, Red Shop tea Rooms, Allchine Bros., Brind's Dunnstown, Ballarat Breweing Co., R. Tunbridge & Sions, Ballarat Zoological Gardens, A. Cant Plumber, Hugh Jones, Eureka Reserve, W.F. Coltman, Loveland & Haslem, G. Warner, W. Cornell, Craig's Hotel, Electric Supply Company of Victoria (Ballarat), Longhurst's, P.C. Thornton, Cowley's Eureka Ironworks, W. Owen, Clarendon Ladies College, Lal Lal Falls, Corckers, Evening Echo Office, Campbell & Wilson and Broadbent brothers. A number of portraits associated with the above organisations are also reproduced in the booklet.non-fictionballarat, w miller, af alchin, a polson, wf longhurst, pj pringle, george crocker, r maddern, as rusden, w cornell, pc thorthon, w owen, cs benoit, h jones, d davies, j scullin, c walker, jh jones, j tyler, jj crifiths, n clark, s clark, cf taylor, tt hollway, morton, f davies, f herman, w knox, a cant, mb john, mwb john, wf coltman, w moir, j macleod, jj mcgowen, a hancock, j osborne, ao stubbs, rw baxter, g baxter, cg harvey, gh warner, cj coles, wj pullum, a mackenzie, jr petterson, ec chamberson, ba john, te miller, g miller, a bell, jh shelley, f sutton, re loveland, tr haslem, re loader, cuthbert, ballarat city municipal chambers, ballarat banking co. ltd, art gallery of ballarat, ballarat trustees, john mcleod, ballaarat gas co., j. j. goller, star office, ballarat courier office, morsheads, m.b. john, rowlands, huttons the jewellers, millers the clothiers, james smith agricultural machinery, coles and pullum, city baths, benoit's sun foundry, william paterson drapers, eureka terra cotta and tile co., ballarat woollen & worsted co. ltd, sunnyside woollen mill, red shop tea rooms, brind's dunnstown, ballarat breweing co., ballarat zoological gardens, a. cant plumber, hugh jones, eureka reserve, w.f. coltman, loveland & haslem, g. warner, w. cornell, craig's hotel, electric supply company of victoria (ballarat), longhurst's, p.c. thornton, cowley's eureka ironworks, w. owen, clarendon ladies college, lal lal falls, evening echo office, allchin brothers, r. tunbridge and sons, campbell and wilson, broadbent brothers, ballarat asylum, crockers

Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo Art Society. President: Hon. R H S Abbot, M.L.C., F.R.S.A. Eleventh Exhibition, in the Bendigo Art Gallery, View Street. October 10th to 31st, 1926. Hon. Treas.: C E Bulley. Catalogue Price 6d. The President, Officers, and Committee of the Bendigo Art Society express their pleasure in presenting the representative collection embodied in this Exhibition. Mr John Shirlow, the noted etcher has been good enough to get together a fine showing of works from eminent artists, who have kindly exhibited with a disire to help the Society and to encourage the local artists. The patronage and help of our citizens is earnestly solicited. Fee, for exhibiting or ordinary membership, only 5/- per annum. Should you care to join, the executive officers will only be too pleased to give any information and to receive subscriptions. Joint Hon. Secs.: J Hudspeth, V E Greenhalgh. Fine Art Section. Arists names: Elma Roach, Ida F Knox, H J Honeybone, Edith H Moore, M A Hope, Lady Barrett, G E Parker, D Hinchcliffe, Aileen R Dent, J Hudspeth, J Florence MacGregor, Madge Freeman, C E Bulley, Merle Bulley, Ethel f Crook, L M Sheridan, C G Dunlop, Ena Smith, William H oliver, E Phillips Fox, Ethel Carrick, H Septimus Power, David Davies, Norman Davies, Norman W Penrose, Margaret McCloud, Josephine Van Damme, M E Coverdale, Marion Jones,R W Bugg, L Rowe, Lucy C Newell, Claire Colgan, Charles G Stewart, Alice Newell, V E Greenhalgh, Violet Hambly. Display of Hand-Painted China: H W Tilley, M Jacobs, W McKie, A E Collier, Hilda Veale, Elma Curnow, Jean Cahill, Frank Vaughan. Collection of Australian Art: W D Knox, Esther Paterson, Dora L Wilson, A M E Bale, E F Hooton, John Rowell, Horah Gurdon, Louis McCubbin. Section A (Outdoor Study, any subject, any medium.) Members only: C G Duinlop, J Florence MacGregor, Merle Bulley, William H Oliver, Norman W Penrose. Section B Student's Section. Drawing or Design. Pupils of Schools: Stanley R Millott, Joyce Ranson, Ronald William Forbes, Dorothy Clemens, Lilian J White, Ruby A I Welch, Nancy R Hudspeth, J Honey Church, J G Graham, Ivo Steel. Section C Student's Section. Applied Art. Pupols of Art Schools: Florrie Spencer, Joyce Ranson, Ronald W Forbes, Dorothy Clemens, Lilian J White, Ruby A I Welch, Nancy R Hudspeth, Jean Honeychurch, Annie I Paterson, Isabel Blake, Beatrice Lee, Garnet Capper, Gwen Osborne, Dorothy Olds, Marjorie Crossman, Doris Shaw, Phyllis Paul, Amy Bolton. Section D Plant Form From Nature (Pulils of Schools in Bedigo Inspectorate), North Bendigo: Alan Styles, Ronald Wright, Agnes R Styles, Jean Woodman. Creek View S.S. Beryl Butcher, Grace Gerguson, Ruth Cheatley, Elmore S.S.: George Read, Hazel Farnsworth, Lorna Washington, Keith Gow, Jean Oliver, Robbie Dick. Wanalta S.S. Mary Brown, Dorothy Nelson, Isobel Roberts, Kenneth McKenzie, Frank Brown. Barnedown S.S.: Elsie Read, George Cahill, Maud Nicholas, Leonard Robbins, Benjamin Robbins. Gravel Hill S.S.: Gladys Bamford, Jean Wright, Jean Hosking, Nancy Honeychurch, Norman McLean, Norman Guy, Agnes Stilwell. Violet St S.S.: Alma Worth, G McConville, Harry Elliot. Various Schools: Wm. Hyslop, Ruby Robertson, Hilda Parkinson, Maud O'Connor, Archie L Walker, Hedley Leggo, Jan O Hoy, Edith Cheatley, John Tatchell, Jean Barell, Keith Ashcroft, John Mueller, J Howe, Eric Cohen, Alice Glover, Ivy Morphett, Allen V Horne, Yin On, R W Moon. 2 Copies of catalogue. Black print, 12 pages made up of 3 sheets of paper with 2 staples in centre.Boltons Print, Bendigoevent, exhibition, bendigo art society, bendigo art gallery, bendigo art society. president: hon. r h s abbot, m.l.c., f.r.s.a. eleventh exhibition, in the bendigo art gallery, view street. october 10th to 31st, 1926. hon. treas.: c e bulley. catalogue price 6d. the president, officers, and committee of the bendigo art society express their pleasure in presenting the representative collection embodied in this exhibition. mr john shirlow, the noted etcher has been good enough to ger together a fine showing of works from eminent artists, who have kindly exhibited with a disire to help the society and to encourage the local artists. the patronage and help of our citizens is earnestly solicited. fee, for exhibiting or ordinary membership, only 5/- per annum. should you care to join, the executive officers will only be too pleased to give any information and to receive subscriptions. joint hon. secs.: j hudspeth, v e greenhalgh. fine art section. arists names: elma roach, ida f knox, h j honeybone, edith h moore, m a hope, lady barrett, g e parker, d hinchcliffe, aileen r dent, j hudspeth, j florence macgregor, madge freeman, c e bulley, merle bulley, ethel f crook, l m sheridan, c g dunlop, ena smith, william h oliver, e phillips fox, ethel carrick, h septimus power, david davies, norman davies, norman w penrose, margaret mccloud, josephine van damme, m e coverdale, marion jones, r w bugg, l rowe, lucy c newell, claire colgan, charles g stewart, alice newell, v e greenhalgh, violet hambly. display of hand-painted china: h w tilley, m jacobs, w mckie, a e collier, hilda veale, elma curnow, jean cahill, frank vaughan. collection of australian art: w d knox, esther paterson, dora l wilson, a m e bale, e f hooton, john rowell, horah gurdon, louis mccubbin. section a (outdoor study, any subject, any medium.) members only: c g duinlop, j florence macgregor, merle bulley, william h oliver, norman w penrose. section b student's section. drawing or design. pupils of schools: stanley r millott, joyce ranson, ronald william forbes, dorothy clemens, lilian j white, ruby a i welch, nancy r hudspeth, j honey church, j g graham, ivo steel. section c student's section. applied art. pupols of art schools: florrie spencer, joyce ranson, ronald w forbes, dorothy clemens, lilian j white, ruby a i welch, nancy r hudspeth, jean honeychurch, annie i paterson, isabel blake, beatrice lee, garnet capper, gwen osborne, dorothy olds, marjorie crossman, doris shaw, phyllis paul, amy bolton. section d plant form from nature (pulils of schools in bedigo inspectorate), north bendigo: alan styles, ronald wright, agnes r styles, jean woodman. creek view s.s. beryl butcher, grace gerguson, ruth cheatley, elmore s.s.: george read, hazel farnsworth, lorna washington, keith gow, jean oliver, robbie dick. wanalta s.s. mary brown, dorothy nelson, isobel roberts, kenneth mckenzie, frank brown. barnedown s.s.: elsie read, george cahill, maud nicholas, leonard robbins, benjamin robbins. gravel hill s.s.: gladys bamford, jean wright, jean hosking, nancy honeychurch, norman mclean, norman guy, agnes stilwell. violet st s.s.: alma worth, g mcconville, harry elliot. various schools: wm. hyslop, ruby robertson, hilda parkinson, maud o'connor, archie l walker, hedley leggo, jan o hoy, edith cheatley, john tatchell, jean barell, keith ashcroft, john mueller, j howe, eric cohen, alice glover, ivy morphett, allen v horne, yin on, r w moon. 2 copies of catalogue. black print, 12 pages made up of 3 sheets of paper with 2 staples in centre.

Originally known as Smith's Siding, in November 1914 the siding was renamed "Pettits" following the sale of a nearby mill to the north. The sawn timber was initially carted out by bullock wagon but the mud and slush caused such difficulties that Pettits caused a thirty chain incline to be built from the mill to a tramway. The tramway connected the mill to the railway until 1924. An annual average of 2,450 tonnes of timber was despatched from the siding. No provision was made for passenger traffic. After ten years Pettit Brothers had cut out the area and moved on, abandoning the siding which was put out of commission on 23 September 1924. However, local residents, not wishing to suffer the loss of railway facilities, managed to have the siding reopened in February 1925 for goods and passengers. It was lightly patronised until all traffic ceased in 1936. B/W. Sam Knox, timber loader and tallyman, and George Pritchard, a teamster, resting at Pettit's Siding after delivering a six-horse-drawn load of timber to the Siding. Stacks of wood awaiting transport by rail are in the background.pettits siding; wyelangta; railways; smith's siding; sam knox; george pritchard;

Demonstrates communication methods to the staff of the SEC and magazine printing. Yields information about staff and the SEC benevolent system for its workers.Magazine - 32 pages printed on gloss paper with colour cover - titled 'SEC Magazine June 1936 Vol 1 - June 1936". Has a forward by the Chairman of the SEC, Mr. Francis Clements as the first magazine. Published 1 June 1936. Provides news about the SEC itself, personal Notes and Anecdotes on many people including clubs and societies. Includes notes on the late Mr. W. Knox, the ESCO Chief Accountant in Ballarat, the Electricity Supply and Tramways Employees Social club, Bendigo, Geelong, sporting clubs and fund raising for the Children's Hospital. See Reg Item 8036 for a 1937 timetable in a red folder marked G G Jobbins who became Chairman in 1937. 2nd copy added 22/6/2021trams, tramways, esco, sec, ballarat, publicity, sports, social club

W & J Knox Ltd were cotton millers in Kilbernie, Scotland during the time after the Industrial Revolution when Great Brittain exported manufactured cotton products globally. The early settlers in Moorabbin Shire had to be self reliant and made their own clothing, napery, tools and household goods. The women were skilful dressmakers and craft workers.A wooden reel of 'Knox's Three Cord' sewing cotton . 100 yardsW..J.KNOX / KILBIRNIE SCOTLAND/ 50/ 100ydsmoorabbin, brighton, early settlers, pioneers, cheltenham, knox pty. ltd. kilbirnie scotland, cotton mills, dressmaking

Document contains two separate items: 1 - "Notes on the genesis and development of the electric light and tramways of the cities of Ballarat and Bendigo" by W J K Dunstan of Ballarat. Read to the Ballarat Historical Society. Item dated on page 5 as 12/3/1963. Paper looks at the history of tramways in both Ballarat and Bendigo, ESCo, development, history, wages, the SECV, personalities, staff, electricity, power generation and horse tramways. 2 - Handwritten extracts from the Mayor's report to the Town of Malvern / Prahran about the formation and early operation of the PMTT. Compiled by Bob Prentice. Names listed on page 5: P E S Cooper - Bendigo Manager George Smith Morrison - ditto Benjamin Deakin - ESCo E J Cochrane - Bendigo E C Gurr Geelong W J Home - Co. Solicitor P J Pringle Tom Pringle A E Ford - Depot Foreman Bendigo W Knox Accountant L W West Foreman Bendigo J H Nesbit Bendigo Accountant C Coxgrove, - depot foreman Ballarat Harry Foy - ditto Chris Hodgson - ditto H C Evans Bendigo Traffic Supt H P James Ballarat Supt A V Mawby - ditto D Maxwell - Engineer Ballarat C F Cole - Engineer R F Dixon - Manager Ballarat Geo Laurens - Mains Foreman C J Callister - apprentice to Power Station Supt.Yields information about the history of Ballarat and Bendigo tramways prepared by W J K Dunstan.Manila folder containing a typed report and handwritten notes, stapled on the left hand side.tramways, bendigo, ballarat, local history, esco, secv, operations, staff

Series consists of one folder of photographs relating to Art in Public Places awards. The folder is divided into two parts: I) Presentation and Installation - 1992 Award. Colour prints featuring Shire President Pamela Sladden opening "The Tower" at Weir St Park, Montmorency. Also pictured are Shire Arts officers Caroline Shaw and Chris Marks. Folder includes: * B& W and colour photographs taken on the night of the award presentation. * Four colour photographs of Weir St Park prior to installation of tower. * Colour photographs of two alternative sites for installation of tower. 2) Selection of 18 colour photographs taken at Selection Night for the 1994 Art in Public Places award. This event took place in the new Eltham Library. Also included arc panels of32 photographs (colour and B&W) of Alistair Knox Park and the immediate area around the new Eltham Library - photocopies of these pictures were provided to artists to give them a feel for the area. Note that selection took place after the commencement of the Nillumbik Shire Council, possibly in 1995.shire of eltham archives, series listing

School of Mines Ballarat was a predecessor of Federation University.Correspondence from SMB Girls' Ex students association including letters from the secretary, invitations to attend meetings, apologies and acceptances, minutes, inaugral dinner menus and members lists. All documents vary in size.school of mines and industry ballarat, girls' ex student association, b. dulfer, g. kingsley sutton, dorothy richards, phyllis mcgregor, s. shillington, mrs a.l. arkinstall, mrs s. francis, miss ouida worthington, mrs k hale, mrs jones, mrs m mckenzie, mary green, lorna yates, denise kidd, peg wells, eileen hayes, barbara paddle, lynette atkinson, francis dowler, janet wells, rita lewis, joy mills, bonnie cody, elizabeth kinnane, beverley jennings, fay cosgrove, miss m chamberlain, gwen williams, maureen mann, nonie robertson, margaret lyttle, kathleen button, marilyn jones, rosemary paddick, nancy rimmington, mrs mary osborne, mary nolan, r. anglin, janet steele, margaret maun, mrs clare attwood, mrs d. ditchfield, heather mccallum, evelyn ditchfield, joan shearer, glenis sleeth, mrs m. mctaggart, betty hearn, mrs k. campbell, d. clemence, m. clemence, beth dalton, florence shurs, claudia mason, gwen murdoch, june murdoch, m. bailey, j. baker, j. banes, i. barr, w. beckwith, j. bilston, f. blake, v. boddinar, a. bosher, b. brookman, j. cameron, h. chasey, d. coad, r. cockburn, b. coombs, e. coombs, p. coombs, m. connell, l. cooper, m. coulter, p. crosbie, e. curnow, h. darby, d.j. davis, n. dunstan, b. elliott, o. elliott, n. eltringham, h. everleigh, m. everleigh, e. fitzgerald, m. gallie, g. gough, e. greenwood, b. guy, d. hambly, p. halse, g. harrison, h. hearn, o. hellings, d. henderson, n. henderson, m. hewitt, g. hoffman, v. hoffman, c. king, h. knox, b. lancaster, b. law, d. lawrie, g. lawry, m. lochhead, p. maloney, m. malpass, m. martin, j. matthews, morgan, g. murdock, j. murdock, b. murfett, i. murfett, c. mcilvena, e. norris, m. norris, b. patterson, h. patterson, e. prowse, l. rollan, b. ross, f. saunders, f. sheers, e. stevens, g. stevens, l. strick, v. taylor, j. trescowthick, b. veitch, j. waller, j. wallis, ms, d. williams, s.e. williams, b. william, b. willian, k. windsor, s. wyres, t. yeoman, margaret steele, r.w. richards

Newspaper article: Big crowd sees Eltham P.O. openingThe News, 31 January 1958, Opening of new post office in Eltham. Program of proceedings: Official Opening of the new Eltham Post Office by Mr D C McKenzie M.P. Friday 14th February 1975. Typescript: A History of P.M.G. Services at Eltham, prepared by Derek M Baker, Post Office Historian-Victoria, 1975, including Chronology, text, list of Sources. Sheet of proceedings: Official Opening of the new Eltham Post Office including Historical Notes. Newspaper article: Diamond Valley News, 2 July 1985, Gold brought life to the township. main road, eltham, businesses, eltham post office, e p harmer, d c mckenzie m.p., w j b pollock, a s knox, senator a j missen, derek m baker, australia post, peter jolly

William MacMahon Ball (‘Mac’ Ball) was Professor of Political Science at Melbourne University from 1949 to 1968, having lectured there since 1923. He became known as an ABC commentator on international affairs from the early 1930s to the early 1960s. Between 1940 and 1944 he was Controller of Overseas Broadcasting (which later became Radio Australia). In 1945, he was political consultant to the Australian Delegation at the conference leading to the establishment of the United Nations, and in 1946 was the British Commonwealth Representative on the Allied Council during the post-war occupation of Japan. Mac and his wife Katrine (plus daughter Jenny) came to Eltham in 1942, and in 1945 moved into an old timber cottage at the eastern end of York Street. With help from Alistair Knox, Sonia Skipper, Gordon Ford and John Harcourt, the house was totally renovated to become an early example of Eltham mud-brick. Mac died in 1986 and is buried in Eltham Cemetery with Katrine. Part of their land backing onto Bridge Street was donated to Eltham Shire Council and is now a reserve called MacMahon Ball Paddock. In Loving Memory W. MacMahon Ball A.C. 29. 8. 1901 – 26. 12. 1986 Also Katrine S. Ball 1st Nov. 1899 to 29th Oct. 1991 Loved wife of Mac. Ball Mother of Jenny Grandmother of Bronwyn, David and Michael Much belovedBorn Digitaleltham cemetery, gravestones, katrine s. ball, william mcmahon ball

Copy of possible Rose Stereograph Co. postcard “View at Eltham, Vic.”, c.1924 looking southwest from Main Road near York Street to Bridge Street and the original 1875 bridge across what is now the Alistair Knox Park The land in the foreground was first bought from the Crown by J.M. Holloway in 1851. The land was sub-divided and called "Little Eltham". Bridge Street was created as part of the sub-division. Most of the sub-division was residential lots but the creek valley was divided into lots for small farms. Council started to buy the land for the Eltham Town park in the early 1960s. The area was used as a garbage tip and filled above the flood plain of the creek. Development of the land for a park began in the early 1970s. The house on the right was owned for many years by the Hill family until Council bought it in the early 1960s. The house was built in the 1850s or 60s. The house on the left stood on what is now the southwest corner of Susan and Bridge Streets. The Braithwaite family was associated with this house. The double line of fencing in the foreground was a continuation of York Street to the creek. The Bridge Street bridge was built in 1875 and replaced in 1958. (Ref: Early view of Little Eltham; Byways of History by Colleen Ison, Publication unk, 24 August 1982) Reproduced on p61 of 'Pioneers & Painters' Date estimated on same as View at Hurstbridge featuring Wattle Valley EstateThis photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 120 format B&W negative Prints 17 x 25 cm and 10 x 15 cmsepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, bridge street, bridge, alistair knox park, braithwaite, bridge street bridge, eltham town park, hill family home, main road, pioneers and painters, york street

The names come from a variety of areas, from as far away as Glenmaggie, and may reflect who contributed a set sum for a presentation. Appears to have originally been framed. Fritz Horstman was first chair of the Upper Maffra Co-operative Butter and Cheese Factory in 1904.An important example of a locally-produced Illuminated address, as opposed to those of a more grandiose nature that were purchased from "outside".Illuminated address, unframed, presented Dec 1885 to Fritz Horstman, following his representing residents in the Maffra Shire for seven years. Signatories are: H. Amey, A. Allardyce, G. Lyndon, J. Gerrand, H. Crisp, T. Smith, indec, J. Atkinson, D. Miller, N.Nicholson, T. Martin, W. Clement, A. Clark, J.W. Hagan, T. Pollock, Osborn Bros, T. Anderson, J (?) herkes, J. Knox, J.Boland, P. Boland, J. Clyne, J. Forsyth, R. Ferguson, J. Cromb, H. Smith, R. Fullerton, A. Gerrand, Wm McCole, A. Morrison and 20 other ratepayers, John Williams, R. Harper, David Clyne, P. Mellon, J. Macfarlane. All appear to be written in the same hand, and are not actual signatures. Whole address appears to be executed in a rather amateur manner, rather than being from a commercial artist/calligrapher.local government, dairying

Snow at Beech Forest, taken before 1910 approximately from Ditchley around to the train yards at Beech Forest. B/W. beech forest; snow; ditchley;

Railway bridge over the Gellibrand River, 1902. Note the people on the roadway bridge in the top left corner. B/W.colac; beech forest; gellibrand; railway;

The first engines to run on the Colac-Beech Forest line between 1900 and 1902 as work trains were A Class locomotives, otherwise known as 'Coffee Pots'. They were based and serviced at Colac, but coal stages were erected at Barongarook and Wimba water tanks because of the lengthy periods of waiting time required to unload sleepers and rails or to load ballast.An A Class train on a revetment hauling timber and men to build the Colac-Beech Forest railway, with a steep hillside in the background.. B/W.colac; beech forest; railway; timber;

B/W/ "NA" class locomotive, NQR wagons and NC guard's van hauling timber near Gardner's property in Beech Forest in 1912. Note the workmen clustered on the engine and wagons.beech forest; railway;

Beech Forest was the principal despatch centre for split timber and mining laths in 1906, most of which was carried to the railway yards by bullock wagons, or a horse-hauled wooden tramline along the Olangolah Road to the east of the town. At the yards it awaited trans-shipment by rail.B/w. 190mm x 265mm. Timber stacked in the Beech Forest railway yard. Four roads passing. A goods shed in the background. beech forest; railways;

The last goods train ran from Beech Forest and Weeaproinah on Wednesday, 27th June 1962, laden with NQR wagons full of timber and a guard's van. The crew was driver Clarrie Kenyan and fireman John Spence.B/W. 195mm x 267mm. Locomotive G42 bearing the inscription " 27th June 1962, Last train from Weeaproinah" traverses the point, the crew, driver Clarrie Kenyan and fireman John Spence looking at the camera.colac; beech forest; weeaproinah; railways;

J.W. Gardner erected premises in Beech Forest which formed the core of a village. No further progress was made until access was facilitated though the development of a narrow gauge railway approved by the Victorian Parliament in 1898. Construction commenced in 1900. From this time Colac and Geelong business interests began investment in Beech Forest and established various retail and service establishments over the next few years. In 1902 three early settlers, Gardner, Charles Buchanan and John Cockerill, divided part of their land or bought land which was sold to businesses. On these subdivisions were created saleyards, general stores, a post office, bakery, blacksmithing, banks, a police station and lock-up, a public hall, churches, a state school, bootmaker, butcher, solicitor's office, hairdresser, billiard's saloon and newsagency.B/W. 188mm x 266mm. A general view of Beech Forest township in c.1903.beech forest; township;

B/W. A train for Beech Forest between Dinmont and Beech Forest in c.1915.beech forest; dinmont; railways;

In 1898 a recommendation for a railway of 2 ft 6 in gauge was handed down by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways, to cost $138,000. Construction of the Colac-Beech Forest railway line began in 1900. About 100 men were employed in laying and ballasting the track while others formed the earthworks and the building of culverts and bridges. The earthworks of gravel ballast 150 mm deep were formed by horse and scoop or by shovel. Once the bed had been laid surveyors went along to check the layout, particularly all check rail curves and all 100 metre curves which the surveyors in the picture are doing.B/W. Three men surveying the construction of a curved bed on which track will be laid, near Barongarook, Victoria.colac; beech forest; barongarook; railways;

Plans for a rail connection between Colac and Beech Forest had been drawn up in 1884 and 1889 but proofed inconclusive because of the enormous cost involved in building a railway in such difficult terrain. Because of the financial depression in the early 1890s such expenditure went of hold. Towards the end of the decade planners recognised that a narrow gauge could be a viable alternative and it was taken up by the community, Parliamentary representatives and the government, although Victorian Railways administration was against the idea. This was overridden. The 1898 Parliament approved a 2 foot 6 inch gauge from Colac to Beech Forest although strict financial limits were set. The route was to be the most direct and the infrastructure the most basic. Construction began in 1900 entailing very steep grades and myriad curves until it finished in 1902. Surveyors and their assistants came before and during the track laying for the whole distance.B/W. Survey camp for the Colac-Beech Forest railway in 1901, showing nine tents, ten men including a cook, survey instruments, and three bicycles. Note the cooking fire on the right.colac: beech forest; railways; survey;