We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land. We celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respect to Elders — past, present and future.
Please be aware that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Some material may contain terms that reflect authors’ views, or those of the period in which the item was written or recorded but may not be considered appropriate today. These views are not necessarily the views of Victorian Collections.
Users of this site should be aware that in many areas of Australia, reproduction of the names and photographs of deceased people is restricted during a period of mourning. The length of this time varies and is determined by the community.
Reuse of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander material on this site may require cultural clearances. Users are advised to contact the source organisation to discuss appropriate reuse.
This Kerosene can was used by Georgie Ah Ling, who operated a market garden on the edge of the township of Donald for over 70 years. It was filled from a larger Kerosene tin, and was used to fuel Kerosene lamps.
Cylindrical galvanised Kerosene can with oval shaped handle with a cap over the opening, chained to a smaller handle fixed to the body.
Porcelain bowl with blue circular line around rim. The centre of the bowl is decorated with a blue and brown motif of 2 children playing.
porcelain bowl, georgie ah ling, donald, market gardener.
Porcelain bowl with blue circular line around rim. The centre of the bowl is decorated with a blue and brown motif of 2 children playing
Base stamped "Made in Japan"
porcelain bowl, georgie ah ling, donald, market gardener, food bowl
Georgie's food bowl
Porcelain bowk with blue circular line around rim. The centre of the bowl is decorated with a blue and brown motif of 2 children playing.
Base stamped "Made in Japan".
porcelain bowl, georgie ah ling, donald, market gardener, food bowl
Round wooden pipe bowl with semi-circular curved stem and black mouth piece.
"K. & P. PETERSON" written on middle of silver piece joining stem and bowl. "PETERSON'S SYSTEM STANDARD" written on wooden bowl.
wooden pipe bowl, georgie ah ling, donald, market gardener.
Round, tank-shaped tobacco bowl with wooden stem and narrow metal mouthpiece. Unpolished.
wooden pipe bowl, georgie ah ling, donald, market gardener.
Hand-made by Georgie Ah Ling from the root of a tree
Long, wooden pipe handle with wider mouth piece. Tobacco bowl juts from end of pipe shaft at a 45 degree angle. Hole in bowl for tobacco to be lit.
smoking pipe, georgie ah ling, donald, market gardener.
Round metal Tobacco Tin with green and black decoration. The central motif is of a man in a suit, smoking a pipe. Tobacco still in tin.
tobacco tin, georgie ah ling, donald, market gardener.
Rectangular wooden frame with 13 spindles, 2 rounded counting buttons on each spindle on the top section and 5 on each of the bottom section. Wooden frame slots into place with grooves cut out of the corners for joining together.
wooden counting frame, abacus, georgie ah ling, donald, market gardener.
Used for weighing produce for sale.
Metal Spring weighing scales.
"Salters Spring Balance 50 lb. by 1/4 lb. BRITISH MADE PATENT"
weighing scales, georgie ah ling, donald, market gardener, salters scales.
Triangular shaped Medicine Bottle with red and cream coloured paper label around body of bottle, with Chinese characters.
medicine bottle, georgie ah ling, donald, market gardener.
Triangular shaped Medicine bottle with red and cream paper label around body of bottle, with Chinese characters.
medicine bottle, georgie ah ling, donald, market gardener.
Translation dictionary
A5 sized thin, brown paper book, bound along spine with stitching.
chinese translation dictionary, georgie ah ling, donald, market gardener.
Black glazed, stoneware/earthern ware, Chinese pot with curled rim, with white granular crystalised substance inside.
georgie ah ling, stoneware pot, cooking pot, donald, market gardener
Black and white sketch by Bert Muir of Georgie's hut on yellow paper. Unmounted, laminated with 2 metal eye clasps in top corners.
georgie ah ling, georgie's hut, donald, market gardener, bert muir, black and white sketch.
Enlarged photograph of Georgie watering his vegetables with water containers on both shoulders, in pine frame with glass.
#80
georgie ah ling, market gardener, donald.
Glossy finish, tacked on to blue card in display cabinet,located on top
georgie ah ling, photograph, hut, donald, market gardener
Given to George by Lois Davidson. This photo was created in Donald. Photo was in an issue of the "Donald Times".
Framed photograph of Georgie with his nephew.
georgie ah ling, grandnephew, donald, market gardener.
Three thick, curved needles of different sizes held together by thin piece of rope.
bag needles, georgie ah ling, donald. vic., chinese
Four bundles of incense sticks held together with paper decorated at the top with Chinese characters.
incense, georgie ah ling, market gardener, donald. vic., chinese
Yellow box made of cardboard with white and green decoration on lefrt side of front, with picture of a Buddha. Lapelled "Antiphlogistic Analgesic STRONG MAITREE - PAS. Made in Japan."
medicine patches, georgie ah ling, yellow box
Triangular piece of stone. Presented by Cecil Hardy from Great Wall of China 1990.
stone, georgie ah ling, great wall of china stone, donald, vic.
Cream coloured envelope decorated with a red design with Chinese lettering.
envelope, georgie ah ling, market gardener, chinese
A5 sized book bound with thin twine stitching. Block Chinese characters and images indicating parts of the body - Chinese Medicine Book.
book, chinese medicine, georgie ah ling, donald, market gardener.
White envelope with red stamp of Queen (top right). Addressed to "Mr. George Ling, Chinese Gardener".
mr. george ling, letter, market gardener, donald.
This wooden handle tool was used by Georgie Ah Ling, who operated a market garden on the edge of the township of Donald for over 70 years.
Rounded conical shaped wooden handle with metal pointed needle.
tool, wooden handle, georgie ah ling, market garden, donald
Book found in hut belonging to Georgie Ah Ling, who operated a market garden for about 70 years on the edge of the township of Donald. The title indicates that it is a medical text, yizong jinjian or 'The Golden Mirror of Medicine'. This is a compilation or compendium of Chinese medical knowledge, first published in 1742 in the reign of the Emperor Qian Long, and reprinted many times since. Apparently it still remains an important reference today.
A5 sized brown thin paper book bound with thin twine stitching with Chinese characters in red on front page and black Chinese characters and images indicating parts of the human body on inside.
Chinese characters on front page and black Chinese characters and images indicating parts of the human body on inside.
book, hut, georgie ah ling, market garden, donald, medical text, chinese
Reading spectacles found in hut belonging to Georgie Ah Ling, who operated a market garden for about 70 years on the edge of the township of Donald.
Round glass, gold coloured wire framed spectacles in a hard covered case lined with dark blue material. Gold and dark blue suppliers sticker, partly torn, on inside lid of case.
Sticker on inside of case partly torn, but probably reads "W. R. Swaby F.V.O.A. Jeweller Donald".
reading spectacles, hut, georgie ah ling, market garden, donald
Ceramic bowl found in hut belonging to Georgie Ah Ling, who operated a market garden for about 70 years on the edge of the township of Donald.
Hand-molded blue and white ceramic bowl. Outside of bowl has underglaze blue decoration of flowers, leaves and Chinese characters. Saw toothed decoration, with one line underneath, around outside rim. Half moon shape lines, with two lines through them, decorate inside rim. Two lines around inside base with one Chinese character in centre of inside base.
One Chinese character on inside base of bowl. Four Chinese characters and five plant symbols on outside of bowl.
ceramic, bowl, hut, georgie ah ling, market garden, donald
These scales were used by Georgie Ah Ling, who operated a market garden on the edge of the township of Donald for over 70 years. The scales were located in a shed next to his hut located along the Jeffcott Road opposite the Donald Racecourse. He used these scales to weigh produce before delivering it around the town by horse and cart.
Black spray painted weighing scales body, 5 weights of different sizes and repainted silver plate. One 4 lbs, two 1 lbs, one 8 oz., and one 4 oz. weight
Scales marked “TO WEIGH 28 lb”. 4 lbs weight marked “J & J Whitehouse.TIPTON. 4 lbs”. 1 lb. weight marked “W & T AVERY.LTD.BRIM 1 lbs”
scales, georgie ah ling, market garden, donald, hut,
Mr W. H. (Billy) Lewis manufactured soft drinks and cordials of many types in his factory in Woods street south, Donald. An energetic man, Mr. Lewis built up a big business, and supplied surrounding towns and districts as well as shops and customers in the Donald and Watchem areas. In the later stages of operation he was assisted by his son Alf, who died in May, 1952. Mr. W. H. Lewis died in June, 1924. The patronage accorded to the Lewis products enabled Mr Lewis to keep the factory in full production for many years.
Aqua codd-neck glass bottle. Four round indents above two neck side crimps. W. H. LEWIS DONALD moulded lengthwise on front. LEMONADE moulded horizontally on back. "M" moulded on base. Glass marble and rubber washer inside. Some inner stain.
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
