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.
A black and white photograph in post card format of five ladies in evening dress seated in a room. The same ladies are in P0651 dressed in the same attire and seated in the same order.
Written on the back: SCOPIE.
The hotel was built some time shortly after 1842 by John Cahill, who arrived in the colony in 1842 from Thurles in Tipperary, Ireland. The building although much altered with render covering the original \blue stone structure is on the south-west corner of Macedon and Jackson Streets. The hotel was called the Ball Court because Cahill also had a hand-ball court set up behind the hotel.
Originally five hotels were built along Macedon Street between Jackson Creek and Evans Street. The Ball Court Hotel is the only one still standing and operating as a hotel.
A non-digital black and white photograph with a cream border of man and three ladies standing outside a single story blue stone hotel building with a corner entrance. AS well as the corner entrance there is another doorway on the RHS along with three narrow windows and three other windows on the other side. One of the ladies is holding a little child. Two trees surrounded by tree guards are on each side of the photograph.
Ball Court Hotel, John Cahill
ball court hotel, hotels, sunbury, macedon street, jackson street, ball court
The hotel in the photograph is the original single storey Royal Hotel with its corner entrance. It stood on the south -east corner of Evans and Brook Streets in Sunbury. The original building was damaged by fire in 1936 and a two storey red brick building replaced it on the original site with the hotel entrance facing onto Brook Street. The hotel is in close proximity to the railway station so it was able to offer accommodation to travellers visiting the Asylum.
The Royal Hotel is one of two surviving hotels built in Evans Street. Originally there were four hotels built between Station and Brook Streets along Evans Street.
A non-digital black and white photograph of a white single story hotel building showing the original corner entrance and three men standing beside it in the street. There are two other entrances on each side and three windows down one side. The iron clad roof has three chimneys.
royal hotel, sunbury, hotels, brook street, evans street
The wheat silo was erected on railway land on the west side of the railway line at Sunbury from approx 1970s - 1980s. It served as a grain storage provision for the local cereal farmers.The former CFA depot which was in Evans Street. With the expansion of the shopping centre the silo was dismantled to provide commercial development on the west side of the railway line.
The wheat silo is a reminder of past agricultural industries that were carried out in Sunbury.
A non-digital photograph of two trucks and a crane dismantling a metal wheat silo, which has been standing in an open area. A CFA pavilion is visible in the distance.
wheat storage, silos, sunbury railway station, evans street
The photograph was taken in The Nook. Terence O'Brien rented the land from Goonawarra from the 1890s to 1905 where he grew cereal crops. The terraces on the hillside were built to grow vines when the property was one of the first vineyards in the area. The men in the image are from L-R: Mr. Heath in the white cutter owned the chaff cutter, John Leyden with hand on fence, Michael Dillon, Terence O'Brien and Phil Ratile are on top of the haystack, Andy Burke standing with hand on hip.
The growing and harvesting of cereal crops was an important agricultural industry in the early days of Sunbury's settlement by both the Indigenous People and Europeans.
A non-digital photograph black and white photograph of eleven men gathering hay with the aid of a steam traction engine in a wide open valley. A hillside in the distance has been terraced and there is a house on the hill in the distance.
the nook, terence o'brien, andy burke, mr. heath, michael dillon, philratile, goonawarra, vineyards
The building in the photograph is the Boiler House which was part of the former Sunbury Asylum. It was built in the 1920s to replace an older boiler. Coal and/or briquettes were burned to produce hot water and steam which was used to heat and supply hot water for the Asylum buildings. Steam attendants monitored and maintained the furnace and boiler seven days a week. It ceased production in October 1992 and since then has served as an Arts and Cultural complex for the local community.
A non-digital black and white photograph of a large brick building with a tall chimney overlooking open rural countryside with two women sitting on the grass in the foreground. The image has been photographed from an earlier photograph.
sunbury asylum, boiler house, arts and cultural complex, performing arts
The brick buildings in the photograph are of the former Sunbury Asylum and F3 Ward is in the foreground. Initially the site on Jackson Hill also known as She0ak Hill opened as an Industrial School for orphaned or neglected children and in 1879 it became an asylum where it continued to function as an asylum until the Victorian Government closed it on 20th November 1992.
The Sunbury Asylum played an important part in Sunbury and wider community's development over 150 years. throughout its existence there was much interaction between the residents, staff and local community, many of whom were employed at 'The Hill' as it was known locally.
A sepia non-digital photograph of a large brick hospital building with three nurses standing outside it on a narrow pathway edging a garden bed. A picket fence is at the rear of the building enclosing a small yard where washing is drying on the line.
sunbury asylum, jackson hill, caloola, sheoak hill, ward f3
After a day at Gellibrand Hill where the students from Bulla Primary School were engaged in tree-planting and being shown around the park, they were driven back to school in their small school bus in a very sudden rain storm.
A non-digital photograph of a small bus driving out of a natural parkland.
gellibrand hill, school excursions, bulla primary school
The students from Bulla Primary School were enjoying a tree-planting excursion at Gellibrand Hill and while they were taken for a ride around the park by the park ranger, the entire group were caught in a sudden shower of rain and had to take shelter under a large tarpaulin.
A non-digital coloured photograph of children huddled under a large waterproof sheet to shelter from a sudden shower of rain with the truck which they were all on is parked a short distance from them.
gellibrand hill, school excursions, bulla primary school
The students from Bulla Primary School were taken on an excursion to Gellibrand Hill, a native parkland near Bulla. They did tree-planting and were taken for a ride around the park in the conservation and environment truck. After the ride a park ranger spoke to the group about the park and its importance in the local area.
The excursion was included as part of the students science and environmental studies.
A non-digital photograph of a group of children gathered around a red truck controlled by the Conservation and Environment personnel while a man explains to the children the importance of the vehicle. They are in a semi-bushland area.
gellibrand hill, tree planting, bulla primary school, school excursions
The children from Bulla Primary School were taken for a ride around Gellibrand Hill on the back of a truck used by the park rangers at Gellibrand Hill near Bulla. The rangers were responsible for maintaining the bushland in the park and the students were at the park doing some tree planting.
The excursion was included in then children's science and environmental studies.
A non-digital photograph of a group of children in the back of a red conservation and environment truck in a bushland park.
tree planting, gellibrand hill, bulla primary school, conservation
As part of Environment Day observation, the students from Bulla Primary School enjoyed a tree-planting excursion to nearby Woodlands Park, a nature reserve situated close to Melbourne Airport. While they were there, the children were taken for a drive in a fire truck around the park.
The excursion was aimed to give the students an awareness of their natural environment and the importance of the native vegetation in their area.
A non-digital photograph of a number of children on the back of a fire truck waiting to be taken for a ride around the parkland. An aeroplane is flying overhead.
The students from Bulla Primary School were taken on a school excursion to nearby Woodlands Park where they took part in a tree planting activity. They were planting trees that were native to the area in a bid to replenish the parkland with natural vegetation.
The excursion aimed to give the students an awareness of the native vegetation in the area and the importance of conserving natural growth areas.
A non-digital photograph of a group of children planting young trees in a prepared area in parkland while being supervised by a number of adults
tree planting, woodlands park, bulla primary school, native vegetation
Some of the students from Bulla Primary School were taken to the local recreation ground to meet the former councillor. Pauline De Luca who was there to 'turn the first sod at the site'. The work was done by the former Bulla Shire Council on the Bulla Community Centre. A new community centre was to be built and the local recreation and sports oval was upgraded.
The upgrading of the Bulla Community Centre was an important event in the town and was needed to accommodate the town's expansion.
A non-digital coloured photograph of a lady standing behind seven students from Bulla Primary School in an open area and in front of a large grader.
bulla community centre., cr. pauline de.luca, bulla, bulla primary school
The photograph was taken when the children, who were students at Bulla Primary School were engaged in performing a variety of artistic activities which included drama, dance and music.The performances were acted out at the school and parents and the wider community were invited to attend.
A non-digital coloured photograph of a group of people seated in a sheltered outdoor area listening to eight children performing on a variety of musical instruments including keyboard, recorders and percussion in front of an audience. A teacher is standing to the left of the group observing them.
musical activities, bulla primary school
The children at Bulla Primary School were engaged in a variety of entertainment activities which included drama, dancing and musical items. The four children in this photo were singing to the accompaniment of their teacher playing the guitar.
A non-digital coloured photograph of a group seated in a covered-in outdoor area watching four children singing to the accompaniment of a man playing a guitar.
musical activities, bulla primary school
The students from Bulla Primary School were engaging in a variety of creative activities as part of their studies. The activities that they participated in were dancing, drama, singing and instrumental music. The activity in this photograph the children were preparing to lift the coloured banner into the air. It was an activity that involved group cooperation and coordination.
This activity engaged the children in group cooperation and coordination.
A non-digital coloured photograph of group of children standing in a grassed area, in a large circle while holding onto a large coloured circular banner with an adult supervising the group.
creative activities, bulla primary school
The students from Bulla Primary School were participating in drama activities which included acting, dancing and singing. The children who are dressed in traditional costumes in this photo were preparing to perform in the activities.
The variety of performing activities that the children engaged in gave them an introduction the diversity of areas of the performing arts.
A non-digital coloured photograph of a group of children with an adult gathered around in a covered-in outdoor area with four of the children dressed in traditional costumes and lined up in front of the others.
drama activities, bulla primary schooil
The children from Bulla Primary School were participating in a performing arts event at their school. The group in the photograph were singing in a choir. Other items that the children performed in were dancing, play acting and playing a musical instrument.
A non-digital coloured photograph of five boys and seven girls are standing and sitting in an open area and performing for an audience.
bulla primary school, performing arts, choral singing
The children were students at Bulla Primary School and were participating in a bicycle education activity.
A non-digital coloured photograph of a group of children standing in an asphalted area while holding their bicycles and listening to an adult.
bulla primary school, bicycle education
The photograph was taken when students from Bulla Primary School were taken on an excursion to the Melbourne Aquarium as part of their science studies.
The excursion to the Melbourne Aquarium was part of the student's science studies,
A non-digital coloured photograph of a group of children seated on the floor listening to a person giving a talk. Some of them have notebooks and writing materials to take notes. behind them is a backdrop of an expanse of water and a reconstructed rock formation.
bulla primary schooil, school excursions, melbourne aquarium, science
The students from Bulla Primary School were visiting a circus and the ringmaster was showing them a pony, a camel and goat which were some of the animals in the circus.The site chosen for the circus must have been v=near an airport as an air control tower is visible on the skyline.
A non-digital coloured photograph of a circus ringmaster, who is holding a pony and talking to them about the donkey, the camel and the goat that are some of the circus animals. There are vehicles in the background and an air control tower is visible on the skyline.
circuses, bulla primary school, circus animals
The children from Bulla Primary School visited Glengala Primary School near Sunshine in March 1993. During their visit they joined in a number of activities with the Glengala children. In this photograph they were practicing soft ball skills in the covered courtyard area. Glangala school was one of the newer schools built in the Western suburbs in the late 1980s-early 1990s.
A non-digital coloured photograph of five young children being supervised by two adults in a sheltered courtyard of a school. The children are playing with a softball bats and balls.
glengala primary school, bulla primary school, ball handling skills, school excursions
The students from Bulla Primary School visited Glengala Park Primary School in Sunshine West in 1993 and participated in a number of activities from the Glendale children. Bicycle education was one of the activities that they enjoyed on the day.
A non-digital coloured photograph of children partaking in a lesson on bike riding on a large asphalted open space. A sports pavilion is in the background.
school excursions, glendale park primary school, bicycle education
The building is the Glendale Park Primary School situated in Sunshine West and opened in 1976. The multicultural school with 150+ students from thirty different cultural backgrounds runs a very inclusive program. The students from Bulla Primary School visited on the 3rd March 1993 and enjoyed the day learning about the school and participating in a number of activities with the students.
The visit to a school located in one of Melbourne's western suburbs was a contrast to the semi-rural primary school for the students from Bulla Primary School in the 1990s.
A non-digital coloured photograph of a red-brick school building.
glendale park primary school, bulla primary schooil, school excursions
After the police spoke to the students from Bulla Primary School and they had all had a chance to look over the rescue helicopter, the children were taken a safe distance away from the craft and watched it take off.
A non-digital coloured photograph of a group of children lined up and looking at a police helicopter in a paddock. There are a number of tall gum trees in the background.
police helicopters, policemen, bulla primary schooil
The police with their rescue helicopter visited the Bulla Primary School and talked to the students about their work and the importance of the rescue helicopter. he children were also able to see the helicopter up close.
A non-digital coloured photograph of a group of children under the supervision of some adults and policemen are being shown the workings of a police helicopter.
police helicopters, policemen, bulla primary schooil
The police flew to the Bulla Primary School in their helicopter to give the children an understanding of the work of the Police Helicopter service as well as showing them the helicopter's workings up close. In this photograph a policeman is talking to the children about the helicopter service.
A non-digital coloured photograph of a policeman talking to a group of children about the helicopter that he and two of his workmates arrived in.
police helicopters, policemen, bulla primary schooil
The police flew the helicopter and landed in the Bulla Primary School ground. On that occasion a policeman spoke to the students and informed them about the role of the police helicopter and also outlined the physical aspects of the craft. In this photograph the children were lined up so that each one was able to see inside the helicopter.
The children gained an understanding of the importance of the Police Rescue Helicopter in safety.
A non-digital coloured photograph of children lined up to see inside the helicopter that has landed in an open paddock. A number of adults are supervising as the children file past the helicopter.
policemen, police helicopters, bulla primary school
The children from Bulla Primary School were enjoying swimming lessons at a private swimming pool and are learning to swim with the aid of kick boards. The swimming classes were included in the school curriculum
A non-digital coloured photograph of five children in an indoor pool learning to swim with the aid of kick boards.A group of adults are seated at the side watching the children.
As part of the school curriculum, Bulla Primary School included swimming lessons for the students. The classes took place in a private indoor swimming pool.
The Bulla Primary School included a variety of extra curricular activities into the curriculum including swimming lessons.
A non-digital coloured photograph of children swimming with the aid of noodles in an indoor pool.
swimming classes, bulla primary schooil
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.
