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The Beechworth Burke Museum
From the collection of The Beechworth Burke Museum
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Photograph, Border Morning Mail newspaper, 14/5/2979

  • Cropped black and white photo of man and woman smiling and holding a document up to the camera in front of museum object.

    2653 (obverse cropped)

  • Uncropped black and white photo of man and woman smiling and holding a document up to the camera in front of museum object.

    2653 (obverse)

  • Reverse of photograph with handwritten number

    2653 (reverse)

  • Cropped black and white photo of man and woman smiling and holding a document up to the camera in front of museum object.
  • Uncropped black and white photo of man and woman smiling and holding a document up to the camera in front of museum object.
  • Reverse of photograph with handwritten number

Historical information

This photograph is recorded as depicting the presentation by Mr Alan Dunlop to Cr Val Mason, Shire President, of a 2.86-gram solid gold nugget found in the area more than 100 years ago, at the Burke Museum. The gold is reported as attached to a small amount of milk quartz mounted onto a tie pin. The photo and an article about the donation appeared in the Border Morning Mail on Friday 14th May, 1979. Alan Dunlop, pictured, was Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop's older brother.

The tie pin artefact being donated in this photo is entered into the Victorian Collections database as follows: 'This nugget was found on the Beechworth Goldfield in the late 1800s by Mr Fred McIntosh (Alan & Edward Dunlop's Uncle by marriage, husband of Elizabeth (Bessie) Dunlop), who had made it into a tie pin and presented it to the Dunlop family'.

Furthermore, Val Mason was the first female president of the former Beechworth Shire for two terms and a councillor for nine years.

Significance

This photograph is of historic significance as it depicts known individuals who have connections to key Australian figures. Alan Dunlop is the brother of famous war doctor Edward 'Weary' Dunlop, and both men are Beechworth locals. The object Alan holds is a tie pin made from gold found by the Dunlops' uncle. It's also significant as it documents visually the origin of the tie pin artefact in the Burke Museum collection, via donation by Alan Dunlop. In addition, it depicts Val Mason, the first female president of the former Beechworth Shire for two terms and a councillor for nine years.

It is of social significance as it depicts two well-known and respected Beechworth locals handling a key artefact of significance to the Beechworth Goldfields, and therefore Beechworth local history. It also shows the Burke Museum in 1979, providing research potential for those interested in the history of the development of the museum's collection.

Physical description

Black and white, rectangular photograph printed on paper.

Inscriptions & markings

Obverse:
(lllegible)

Reverse:
A02653

Subjects

References

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