A charabanc or "char-à-banc" is a type of horse-drawn vehicle or early motor coach, usually open-topped, common in Britain during the early part of the 20th century. It has "benched seats arranged in rows, looking forward, commonly used for large parties, whether as public conveyances or for excursions." It was especially popular for sight-seeing or "works outings" to the country or the seaside, organised by businesses once a year. The name derives from the French char à bancs ("carriage with wooden benches"), the vehicle having originated in France in the early 19th century. In Australia a modern similar type of bus or motorcoach, with a lateral door for each row of seats, survived up to the 1970s and was referred to as side loader bus; but all or most of them were not open-topped. (Wikipedia)

Two pages relating to buses, char-a-bancs and trams in Ballarat

bus, tram, char-a-banc, john lucas, john j. mckenna, hugh williams, a.b. smith, thomas pascoe, h.g. whiteley, walter hearne, thomas james, george skinner, sydney stapleton, hugh george lake, oscar cruikshank, robert taylor, thomas powell, wilmot, j.p. bennett

The Port Phillip Farmers Society was instituted in 1848. It was reported by the Ballarat Agricultural Society in 1859 that flax was grown in the Ballarat district. Flax was sown at Brown Hill on 04 October 1858, the seed saved, and the flax beetled on 28 February 1859. The exhibitor was T. MCKenna who was the first flax produced in the colony.

'Sample of Flax Plant First Prize Awarded to Mr T. McKenna 1857"

port phillip farmers society

Photo of a white invitation card with blue printed writing and gold edge

brown hill hotel social club ball, brown hill hotel, brown hill, dot dilges, condor

brown hill, brown hill hall, trophy, sport

brown hill hall, father christmas, christmas

brown hill, slater

Ed Bawden sits in front of a tent with a sign "Brownbill Diggings License Office. The event is the Brown Hill Family Fun Night.

ed bawden, brownhill diggins, brown hill, family fun night

Twenty five children in the Brown Hill State School Grade One school photo.

brown hill state school, brown hill primary school, education, school

Angus Comrie was the Brown Hill Policeman

Two photographs of the Comrie family at Brown Hill. .1) Angus Comrie and sons Murray, Jack, (Angus), Angus, Keith, Thomas, Roy (in front). The Methodist Sunday School Hall, Thompson Street is in the background. .2) Jack, Angus, Thomas, Keith, Murray, Roy in front. Seated: Angus (Snr) and Mary-ellen Comrie at 284 Humffray Street North.

comrie, angus comrie, brown hill methodist sunday school hall, 284 humffray street, police, mary-ellen comrie

A number of children sit on the edge of the Eureka Swimming Pool, Ballarat East.

eureka swimming pool, eureka, swimming, swimming pool

Decorated Float outside the Ballarat Town Hall in Sturt Street. Probably during the Begonia Festival

float, parade

.1) A number of boys jump into the Brown Hill Pool. .2) The diving board at Brown Hill Pool.

brown hill pool, brown hill community pool, swimming, swimming pool

brown hill progress association

brown hill progress association

Black and white photograph of eight men and one woman of the Brown Hill Progress Association Standing left to right: R. Coffield, J.C. Callinan, H. Lugg, G. Stewart Sitting left to right: A. Lakeland, W. Wilmot, E. Ellis, Mrs Bale, C. Eaton

brown hill progress association, thornton studios, r. coffield, j.c. callinan, h. lugg, g. stewart, a. lakeland, w. wilmot, e. ellis, mrs bale, c. eaton

Members of the Kinnane clan in the Brown Hill Hall.

kinnane, brown hill hall

A group photograph of the men and women of the Brown Hill Progress Association. Back Row: Charlie Rice, Bill Tainsh, Bill Proven, Ernie Williams, Bill Bawden, Eddie Dovington, Joe Morrison, Lou Heighway, George Palmer, Tim Eustace, Jack Quinn, Frank Opie, Tim Fauldo. Second Row: Melville Anstis, Frank Nankervis, Bob Shattock, Ernie Craig, Alex Clark, Harold Leeder, Chris Wendt, George Thomas. Third Row: Lil Banoy, Eric Powell, Dolly Ellis, Val Buchanan, Em McPhail, Estelle Young, Gwen Collett, Pearl Findlay, Katie Roberts, Ruby Fanar, Evelyn Hassell, Mavis McTaggart, Mr Williams, Earl Clark. Fourth row: Doris Wilton, Marg Lamont, Lil Messer, Nancy Strange, Mavis Franklin, Eva Trevenen, Gwen Grose, Millie Richards, Doris Lugg, Nell Oliver, Rita Robbins, Josie Saff, Eunice Rodda. Fifth row: Mr Lovett, George WIlliams, Miss Cousins, Mr Webb, Nellie Hodgetts, Mr Chaplin, Miss Molly Hayes, Mr Shattock, Mabel Richards, Mr Squires, Myra Reny, Prue Rooney, Jessie McIver, Mr Lavaro Front row: Jack Beng, Henry Foss, Albert Benjamin, Ralph Stout, Jack Collins

brown hill

brown hill, yarrowee creek, waterhole, water hole

Bridge of the Yarrowee Creek at Brown Hill.

brown hill, yarrowee creek, bridge

Five photographs showing the Brown Hill Swimming Pool in Humffray Street.

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Photograph of a playground between the Brown Hill Swimming Pool and the Brown Hill Hall.

brown hill, playground

Red brick hall

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The White Swan Garage, Service Station. Water Street Brown Hill

white swan service station, brown hill, petrol station

A male teacher stands to the right of a group of Grade 6 students at Brown Hill State School.

brown hill, brown hill state school

A group of children stand around Annette Myers and her pet Shetland Pony.

Verso "Star of the Pet Parade August 20th 1963 Annette Myers was the envy of the school yesterday with her pet Shetland Pony 'Curly Sue'. She took it to Brown Hill State School where she is a student and entered it in a pet and doll parade. The kids raised 74 pounds for the day"

brown hill, brown hill state school, annette myers, shetland pony

Aerial photograph of Brown Hill near Ballarat.

brown hill, aerial photograph

Copy of a photograph of Brown Hill, near Ballarat, Victoria.

w.j. hosking, brown hill

Sunday School Union Credit Certificate

Emilie Wilson, Gong Gong Wesleyan Sunday School

gong gong wesleyan church, gong gong wesleyan church sunday school, emily wilson

Methodist Sunday School Union Certificate made out to Emily Wilson.

w. h. fitchett, edward barrett, emilie wilson, gong gong, brown hill, credit certificate, sunday school union, methodist