Tennis was first played at Harcourt North at the "Brooks Tennis Courts" and as it increased in popularity a team commenced playing at courts at the corner of High and Market Sts Harcourt in the early 1900s. At one time it was known as the Alexander Tennis Club.New courts at the football oval in Bridge Street were eventually replaced by courts at the new oval at Binghams Road, Harcourt. The Harcourt teams play in the Castlemaine District Lawn Tennis Association competition. This team shot, chosen at random from our holdings, depicts young players of both sexes.

Tennis has proven to be a great social game involving a high proportion of women and young people in the competition.

Colour Photograph of the 1972/3 Harcourt tennis team

Harcourt Tennis Club

Harcourt branch of the Australian Natives Association was formed in 1908, meeting in a chaff shed behind the local grocer shop. In 1911 the branch contracted with Mr Sutherland of Barkers Creek to build a hall of boxed concrete construction. Sutherland was a pioneer in the use of concrete for structural purposes.He subsequently had a career as City Engineer at Camberwell. The ANA branch conducted many social occasions in the hall and gave community leadership for upwards of fifty years in addition to its friendly society/health insurance activities.. This was the only community hall in the Harcourt community until it was superseded by the Harcourt Leisure Centre in 1991 It is now the home of Harcourt Heritage Centre.

A community hall of pioneering construction method, provided to the community by a friendly society.

black and white postcard depicting a community hall

A N A Hall, Harcourt

Presentation by members of Barkers Creek Wesleyan Church to class leader William Peeler on leaving Barkers Creek for Horsham in 1876. An inscribed certificate signed by the class members testifies to the date and circumstances of the gift.

A dated collection of domestic crockery with local associations.

China, white porcelain with green floral decoration teaset consisting of 2x plate 23cm,3x plate 18cm,3x saucer 14cm,3x cup 7cm high no markings

Ferret racing has been an integral part of the Harcourt Applefest since 1992. The ferrets depicted had been kept to assist with rabbiting in the orchards and paddocks of the rocky country around Harcourt and Mount Alexander

The photograph is significant as a reminder of the pets and hobbies of rural children and the typical entertainment of a country festival

Colour Photo depicting two boys each holding their ferret.

Charles Seelenmeyer conducted Concrete Utilities Limited (Harcourt Cement Pipe Factory). Operated in Harcourt circa 1914 to 1930 in premises situated opposite the ANA Hall on what is now the road reserve. Principal raw material was sand from the adjacent waterway ( Barkers Creek.) Principal output was concrete drainage tiles for use in district orchards but concrete blocks were also produced for construction of homes and commercial buildings. At a time of rapid expansion of the orchards this industry provided a vital piece of orchard infrastructure, mostly buried and not now visible but nevertheless a very important feature of the valley’s horticultural industry.. Homes built with these concrete blocks are a distinct part of Harcourt’s housing stock.

Harcourt Cement Pipe Co was an example of local initiative to solve a local problem using local materials.

A collection of 4 concrete building blocks

William Eagle was a pioneer orchardist in Harcourt, who brought a dray load of apple seedlings to Harcourt from Watmough’s orchard, Greensborough in 1857 to launch the industry for which Harcourt has become famous. By 1872 his orchard, in Reservoir Road, Harcourt, was fully in bearing.

A reminder that Harcourt orchards came into prominence within 15 years of establishment and Harcourt Apples have taken a pre-eminent position in the State’s horticulture industry ever since.

Certificate describing the winner of the Collection of Apples category. Beautiful Certificate displays Castlemaine Agricultural and Horticultural emblem as well as various pictures of aspects of agricultural and horticultural pursuits.

Agricultural and Horticultural Society of Castlemaine Exhibition November 1872, Certificate of Merit for Collection of Apples, Exhibited by Wm Eagle,President W Halford, Secretary J Collings

Harcourt Methodist Church was instrumental in forming the Harcourt Carpet Bowls Association with many members common to both organisations. This commenced about 1948 and is still in existence in 2017. The bowls were used at some church social evenings in addition to being used in the Harcourt Carpet Bowls competition. Mr. William A. Carr was the prime mover in this activity.

Reminds us of the rise of post-World War II community organisations to fill the social gap left by the winding up of wartime patriotic associations.

Box wooden containing a set of 12 coloured china carpet bowls -

Published by Dept. of Agriculture Division of Horticulture Victoria. Harcourt district exported immense quantities of apples and pears, each box containing fruit that had been sized (by diameter) so as to have uniform-sized fruit in the box, wrapped in tissue paper, all packed base- or stem-end against the cheek of its neigbouring piece, to restrict movement/bruising of the apples in transit. A colourful label on the end of the box had a space to insert the size and count, i.e. the number of pieces of fruit in the box. If the packer followed the chart the count was determined from the chart by reference to the diameter of the fruit as it came off the grader.

Harcourt’s reputation for quality fruit was enhanced by the ability to deliver uniform-sized blemish-free and unbruised fruit which then attained premium prices in the market, contributing to the prosperity of the district. The packing chart was a vital aid In order to achieve this.

Chart- two-sided black text on white paper pasted to backing board depicting columns and figures describing the required measurements for packing Rome Beauty Apples and Granny Smith Apples. 1 x pink foolscap card with black type, 1 x green foolscap card, 1 x yellow double sided foolscap card

Packing Chart for Rome Beauty Apples in Friday Moulded Trays Telescopic Carton Inside Measurements 19 3/4" x 11 7/8" x 11 1/2". W. H. Harris Senior Fruit Packing Instructor August 1968. The same wording appears on the opposite side of chart with the words Granny Smith apples replacing Rome Beauty Apples

Used by Ron Robins for delivery of eggs (30 dozen per box) to the agents for the Victorian Egg Marketing Board, in this case Soding Bros , succeeded by Sympag and Crystal Ice Works, initially to premises at 64 Mostyn St, Castlemaine (now Saffs Cafe) later to premises at south-west corner of Calder Hwy and Lockwood Road, Kangaroo Flat (now Aldi supermarket).Made obsolete by use of trolleys holding 360 dozen eggs, handled into refrigerated transport by a hydraulic tailgate loader. Original label specifies that the eggs are ; infertile; unwashed; not damp cleaned; of specified yolk colour; held at 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit and delivered within 96 hours of lay.Significance During the 1950s and 1960s many folk in Harcourt conducted poultry farms of varying sizes, utilising boxes of this type. Harcourt thus became a major producer in the Victorian egg industry. Smaller-scale operations were wiped out when the producers were expected to hold eggs in a coolroom.

Illustrates one aspect of the multi-faceted streams of income open to local landowners who conducted an orchard, bred pigs, raised fowls for egg production and kept a few cows for cream production.

Wooden box with detachable wooden lid, two internal compartments and a galvanised holder for a card on which the producer has signed a declaration as the condition and handling of the contents.

Property of Soding Bros, Melbourne

This quern was made from Harcourt granite. Querns were used for grinding wheat into flour. (Wooden handles missing from this catalogued object).It was most likely made on Mount Alexander, in spare time, by a quarry worker using his employer’s gang saw and other tools. Wheat is not now grown in Harcourt district . Early settlers engaged in cropping until they exhausted the fertility of the soil. This quern was utilized by a local pioneer who intended to be self-sufficient to the extent of grinding his own grain into flour.. Many local farmers sowed wheat immediately after clearing the land: raising of a wheat crop was evidence of use and improvement which, along with fencing and erecting other structures, was part of the mandatory steps to prove occupancy as a prelude to obtaining a Crown Grant for what had previously been deemed ‘crown land'

The quern is of interest as a symbol of the desire for self-sufficiency and as a demonstration of the extent to which granite could be worked and shaped by masonry tools.

Quern, granite, square slab with raised metal centre shaft and one rounded piece of granite with off-centre hole and side ridges.

Awarded to Lindsay Warren of Harcourt , November 1967, upon his progression to the Sovereign Rose Croix Chapter

Very ornate and costly emblem, attained at a high degree of membership.

RED CLOTH, CREAM SATIN AND GOLD THREAD MASONIC APRON WITH BELT WITH METAL CLASP, BLACK LINING

Book published by Shell Oil Company advocating use of spray to control all orchard pests & diseases. Shell Oil Co was very active in promotion of its products in Harcourt during the 1950s. The book was regarded as a good handbook guide to diseases of apples and pears.

The orchardists of Harcourt, sole traders and hardy pioneers, took more notice of the spray retailers than they did of the Dept of Agriculture, with field days and film nights organized by the Shell Oil Co being a primary source of knowledge about the prevention of orchard pests and diseases. Of course Shell advocated the use of che,mical spray to control all orchard pests and diseases. After the publication of the book ‘Silent Spring’ by Rachel Carson the orchardists turned to different methods, e.g. orchard hygiene, resistant rootstocks, biological control and quarantine and followed a minimal spray regime. .

brown cardboard-covered book of 144 pages with coloured illustrations

Shell Corporation Melbourne

The pulley block illustrates a moment in Harcourt history. According to the reminiscences of William Sanders the granite block for the Burke and Wills monument was of such weight that, in hauling it from the quarry, the weight split the yokes and snapped the chains of the bullock team employed in the task. "So Mr Blight got ropes and tackle, as, as there were plenty of trees along the route, they served as anchors to attach the ropes" Thus, with pulleys such as this, Joseph Blight moved the monolith, at snail's pace, to the Harcourt railway station in 1864.

The object is significant for its connection with the explorers Burke & Wills and the foundation of the granite industry on Mount Alexander

A wooden pulley block designed for two ropes. Used for lifting heavy objects. A rope slung around the pulley block fixed the device to the rafters of the shed. Ropes were threaded over the pulley and used to lift heavy weights. Use of a pulley halves the effort required to lift or move an object. Possibly of nautical origin but applied to workshop use in later years.

A 'BUCKEYE" grape and cider press, manufactured by P.P. Mast & Co. of Springfield, Ohio, USA and distributed by P. Rohs, Sandhurst (Bendigo). The PP Mast Company was established in 1854. Their Buckeye drills, seeders and other implements played an important role in the development of American farm machinery, being sold in every American state, Europe and Australia. This press was used by the Gaasch family of Harcourt over several generations from 1898 to crush grapes for wine and vinegar making, subsequently to crush apples and then press the pulp to make apple vinegar and cider. The crushing was accompanied by lusty singing of songs and hymns such as 'Ein Feste Burg ist unter Gott'. The press was designed to be hand-operated but was later used by Harcourt Coolstores to press apples. It was then belt-driven by an electric motor. The press was restored (timber cleaned and varnished, metal shoes on base of wooden uprights, which had rotted ) by Mr. Howard Carr, 2001-

An early application of mechanics to the crushing of grapes.

Hand-driven, geared drive metal crushing parts, with metal flywheel, wooden feed hopper in vertical arrangement, wooden frame, tray and vat, with metal pressing screw installed in heavy metal yoke at front. Metal crushing section carries cast-in maker's name and patent details

'BUCKEYE" manufactured by P.P. Mast & Co. of Springfield, Ohio, USA distributed by P. Rohs, Sandhurst (Bendigo).

A pioneering response to the problem of preservation of foodstuffs in hot climates

A timber framed hessian covered cabinet with metal tray at the top and metal guttering cooled by the evaporation of water. Used to preserve cheese, butter, cream and meat and to set jellies. Invented circa 1900 at Coolgardie, W.A. and was in use until electric refrigeration became available.

State school children in the famous orchard district of Harcourt were expected to learn apple packing to a high standard, with instruction given by Dept of Agriculture specialist teachers, Classes were conducted at Harcourt Cooperative Coolstores during school hours.The pupils were expected to (and did) travel between school and packing shed by their own means without supervision..Pupils participated in state wide competitions .

Shows the extent to which vocational training in a specialized subject could be taken to support the Apple Industry of Harcourt. The decoration/artwork of the shield is to a very high standard

A wooden shield with metal adornments.

A banner is at the top with "Gerrard Challenge Shield", a central metal shield shaped plaque shows a box of apples surrounded by trees and many boxed apples in the background. Below that is a banner with " District Championship for Schools Apple Packing Classes. Below that (at the bottom) is a smaller plaque with "Competitors to be pupils & attending school children's Apple Packing Classes." "Conducted by the Department of Agriculture." On the left side are three smaller shields for the years 1934 to 1936 awarded to Castlemaine the three shields on the right are blank.

Pupil attending Harcourt and Harcourt North State Schools were trained in apple packing by visiting teacher Mr. Harris from 1930 to 1960.The Harcourt district was very prosperous due to its production and export of large volumes of uniform sized 'fancy grade' fruit

Specialist knowledge of packing apples became part of the school syllabus in Harcourt and other fruit-growing districts which relied on horticultural exports.

Award/certificate describing the winners of the Apple Packing Shield Competition presented by the Fruit Exporters Handling Committee Victoria. The award has two apple illustrations.

This is to certify that the scholars of the Harcourt North Primary School are the winners of the Fruit ExportersHandling Committee's Apple Packing Shield for the year 1930.

J Blight's quarry is located on Mt Alexander. It was opened up by Blight, a Cornish born quarryman turned gold-miner, in 1862. The quarries supplied Harcourt granite to monumental yards and building sites all over Australia.

The photo depicts the average workforce of the Harcourt granite quarry as well as the methods of transportation of the heavy blocks of stone.

B & W photograph showing 19 workers on the floor of the quarry using cranes to lift large blocks of granite onto lorries drawn by teams of horses. Several women and a child are watching

A manual telephone exchange, manufactured by British Ericson, History Originally in use at Cohuna. When Cohuna was converted to automatic dialing this exchange was relocated to Harcourt, to become the third and last in a bank of three exchanges. At this time Harcourt exchange was expanded to 260 lines. It was connected to the district central exchange at Castlemaine. Operated by mains power with battery back-up. Harcourt exchange was operated by Betty McLean, Miss Mitchell, Josie Hogarth, Mr. & Mrs. Heighway, Bill & Valerie Milford, Irene Bolitho and others. Decommissioned approx. 1970. Incoming calls prompted the fall of a shutter. The operator made the connection by plugging the line into the number requested. While responding to calls the operator needed her hands free to jot down the billing particulars or to write out each telegram. Nearby stood pigeonholes with various items of stationary. Many telegrams were received each day, particularly advising fruit growers on interstate markets. Most telegrams were phoned through by the operator. This exchange was restored in 2004 - 2005 by Trevor Grant.

. Many people relate to this exchange. It is a survivor of the pre-electronic era when ‘telephonist’ was a common occupation. A vital element in the communications between households and between district orchardists and their suppliers and clients.

A manual telephone exchange, manufactured by British Ericson complete with operator hands-free headset/earphones and speaker mouthpiece. Wooden case with one hundred shutters and sockets. Accommodates twelve lines with extension leads with associated switches. Operated by mains power with battery back-up. Decommissioned approx. 1970. Incoming calls prompted the fall of a shutter. The operator made the connection by plugging the line into the number requested. This exchange was restored in 2004 - 2005 by Trevor Grant.

The inaugural meeting to form Harcourt Bowling Club was held in May 1955. Cr Ben Bingham donated half an acre of land in Bagshaw st Harcourt and the club acquired a small building from Blight's Quarry to serve as a clubhouse. The first day's play took place on 24th October 1959. New clubrooms were built in 1961 with the official opening of the Club held on Saturday 11th November 1961. The club became affilaited with Bendigo District Bowling Assocaition and, in 1966/67 won the Associated division 3 pennant.

; Depicts a group of men, the core ‘movers and shakers’ of the Harcourt community, in the course of their favourite recreation, Association champions in just the seventh year after formation..

Black and white photograph of fourteen men dressed in collar and tie, white trousers and dark blazers, each bearing the club name,

HARCOURT BOWLING CLUB B.D.B.A. PENNANT WINNER - DIVISION 3- SEASON 1966-67 and the names of each player.

Presented by W Hampson, Used & loved by Rowland Hill and skillfully weilded by him in many matches played for Harcourt cricket club. Harcourt was admitted to the Bendigo District Cricket association in 1924. Formed from a small community it was said “ everyone played cricket in Harcourt” Most of the players lived on fruit orchards, owned the status symbol of the time – a motor car- and were widely regarded as people of substance. Clearly they possessed the necessary pre-requisites for acceptance into the wider cricket community.

Dates from the era when ‘gentlemen’ played cricket. Also notable for its connection with Colonel Robert Gartside, who was Killed in Action at Gallipoli on 8/05/1915

Timber cricket bat with partially bound handle, split corner, many indentations and gilt lettering

Harcourt CC Capt R Gartside Mr W Hampson, Best Bowling Average

This is Reub Eagle's North Harcourt orchard. The two workers are Walter Ellis and Dolph Eagle. The spraying equipment is a spray pump mounted on a wooden vat /horse-drawn vehicle and was an improvement on carrying a back pack spray as hoses from the equipment permitted greater ease and mobility. The pear trees are planted in rows spaced twenty feet apart and heavily pruned so that the fruit buds were to grow on the main branches.

Photograph is a historical record of orchard/horticultural techniques of the 1920s to the nineteen fifties in Harcourt.

B & W photograph shows a view of two men using hand sprays in a pear orchard. The equipment is a spray pump which is being drawn by a horse

This photo dates from circa 1896. It depicts Mrs Sarah Ann Milford, then aged 65, in a buggy somewhere in Castlemaine. Mrs Milford is holding the reins in gloved hands, having driven five miles into town from her home on the Faraday Road, Harcourt. The journey would have taken about one hour. Mrs. Milford together with her farmer/orchardist husband, worked an extensive orchard/farm, Here she is depicted having delivered apples, butter and vegetables from her family orchard to Castlemaine market. Mrs Milford is wearing a strictly tailored 'must fit snug everywhere' jacket with shoulder cape, very full sleeves, closely buttoned bodice, high neckline and rather severe collar. The skirt was separate , of lined brown twill cotton, pocket at side back. A buggy rug is strapped across her knees. The buggy rug was lined with yellow and black figured damask.

Despite the masculine-oriented property laws and society norms many Victorian women were active partners in their family business. The photo is a good record of the fashions, transport and capabilities of this pioneer.

Sepia photograph of a woman dressed in Victorian fashion, seated in a covered four wheel buggy.The horse is equipped with light buggy harness and wearing a buggy bridle.

The owner was Rita Fletcher; many locals and relatives inscribed their autographs , drew or painted pictures and , using their best calligraphy, wrote up humorous verses. In addition the book includes news clippings on the sensation of the day, the story “Will you be my woolly aphid?” which tells of a Harcourt youth who put a marriage proposal in a barrel of apples consigned to England. On receipt in England the note was published in the press The unfortunate youth received many hundreds of acceptances and became the butt of humorous verse in the English and Castlemaine newspapers.

This volume is a treasury of autographs , humorous verse then fashionable and the repository of a funny yarn from pre-WW1.It appears to have been handed around the entire district and includes verses, signatures and sketches from nearly all of the inhabitants of Harcourt, Elphinstone and Canary island districts

A red leather bound autograph book with gold letter and design on the cover. Gold leaf edges, coloured pages with gold decoration. Autographs, sketches, watercolour paintings, press clippings

Autograph Album

The Independant order of Rechabites "Hope of Australia Tent No. 109" was formed in Harcourt in July 1869 and celebrated its centenary in 1969. With a strong -minded core of Methodists and members of the Church of Christ the group provided moral leadership and social framework to a wide area for a long time. At first they met in a small hall but, the lodge having inflamed partisan passions, the hall was deliberately burnt down in 1877. Undeterred the Lodge rebuilt the hall in the same year and thus provided the only district public hall. The Hall was sold by the lodge in 1937.

; The Independent order of Rechabites, a temperance and social organsiation, was particularly strong in the Harcourt, Barkers Creek district, due to the high proportion of Methodists in the population, a demographic phenomenon resulting from the courage, prevalence and influence of Wesleyan lay preachers on the Mount Alexander Goldfields.

Ribbon/collar sashes,white, with red longitudinal stripe (Chief Ruler & Deputy Ruler only) and red border, red machine embroidery, angle stitched at lower front to form a fitted collar.

"CHIEF RULER"," DEPUTY RULER", "TREASURER", "GUARDIAN", "LEVITE" plus IOR triangle - "Truth, Fortitude, Justice" plus three heraldic shields with background foliage, Plus "Independant Order of Rechabites" plus a further decorative sheild surmounting a swage-like motto " Peace & Plenty the reward of Temperance" and "Rechabites Salford Unity" all in red on white background

The photograph was taken at the ANA Hall & depicts the Headmaster, past students & parents who organised a very successful 'Back to School" weekend for the centenary.

This photograph is a valuable record of the principal citizens of Harcourt, post WW2, given leadership by H Larter, the school headmaster, and C H James, a returned soldier/orchard supervisor turned /historian. After the Centenary CH James assembled a massive collection of Harcourt history, now in the custody of Harcourt Heritage Centre

B & W photograph showing a posed group photograph of 35 adults of the school's Centenary Committee

Apple packers were employed on piece work to pack fruit from the sizing graders into wooden boxes, following prescriptive packing charts that ensured a box of even sized fruit.

Depicts women’s occupations in horticultural district.

Photo depicting 12 women standing outside the Harcourt Fruit Growers Association packing shed on the loading dock. The registered office sign is on the wall behind Mrs I. Gibbons. There is other sign writing on the wall weather boards of the building. The weather boards to the left of the window appear to be second hand as the writing is partly covered up. It also appears to be warmer weather as all the women are in light clothing.

When the Harcourt Valley was the subject of route selection /environmental effects survey in connection with the upgrade of the Calder Highway into Freeway the Harcourt Valley Heritage Committee enumerated and researched the unique collection of granite homes to be found in the valley. The publication gives a short account of the builders and illustrates the various techniques of building in stone.

Advocacy by the Harcourt Valley Heritage Committee ensured the retention, in the face of demolition threat, of a unique collection of homes, many owner-built and of vernacular architecture.

A4 size book of 42 pages with full colour ilustrations

Granite Houses of Harcourt & Faraday

Researched and Published for the 150th anniversary of permanent settlement celebrated in 1995

Published to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the first permanent white settlement in the Harcourt valley.which was the occasion for community celebrations and of publication of a short history of squatting era pioneer Dr William Barker FRCS.

Booklet of 8 pages in a hard cover

“Dr Willam Barker and the beginnings of permanent settlement in the Harcourt Valley 1845”