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.
Ballan Shire President's Board
Can you reuse this media without permission? Yes
Public domain
This media item is listed as being within the public domain. As such, this item may be used by anyone for any purpose.
Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)
Have a question? Contact Ballan Shire Historical Society
This Memorial Board lists all the Presidents of the old Ballan Shire and is a complete record from the creation of a Road District in 1862, then the creation of a Shire in 1864 through to when the Shire was amalgamated into the Moorabool Shire in 1994.
A large memorial board listing all the Presidents of the Ballan Shire.
See photograph
An original watercolour painting surrounded by a white backing under glass in a plain brown timber frame
'Present site of Hudsons Hotel'. Edward Heffernan 86 Corner of Inglis and Stead St. 1914
The Mural is a picture in wool of the origin of the Ballan district and is made of pure wool donated by local growers.The centre panel is a reproduction of a sketch by Emma von Stieglitz in 1852 of the Ballan General Store. The ram's heads symbolise the importance of wool to the area and the circular shapes the transport of the day. Mrs Grace Slocombe designed the Mural, fifty-three local craftswomen (and one man) began the work in November 1981, and the finished work was exhibited at the 1982 Ballan Arcadian Arts Festival. The Mural was also exhibited at the 1982 Royal Melbourne Show then went on a tour of of various country areas in Victoria. It now hangs in the Ballan Old Courthouse.
The Mural is significant to the local area.
A text document on the story of the Wool Mural made for the Ballan Arcadian Festival in 1982.
ballan art and craft society, grace slocombe, kathy diamond, enid swan, jessie mclean, joyce strickland, margaret young, cynthia ranken, dorie young, wool, wool mural
The Shire of Ballan was proclaimed in November 1864. The Corporate Seal of the Shire of Ballan appeared first as an impression in September 1867 and as a wax seal in August 1868. This large metal seal was originally mounted on the wall of the Ballan Council Chambers and can now be found in the Ballan Old Courthouse.
This is a photograph of the cast metal Corporate Seal of the Shire of Ballan
See photograph
ballan shire, ballan shire seal
To commemorate the Centenary of the Great War of 1914-1918, a number of Society Members decided to compile a list of all those who served (in the various conflicts) and were either born, worked or lived in the Ballan Shire at the time. It was noted that the existing Cenotaph outside the Ballan Post Office was not entirely accurate as some names were missing and others were not from the area, thus there was a need to correct the record. Thousands of hours of research resulted in as complete a list as possible of 810 names and the printing of this book. Two copies (each of three volumes) were printed. One is held by the Ballan RSS&AILA, the other is in the archives of this Society, and both are available for research purposes.
Three substantial A4 size bound books with red leatherette covers.
We Remember 1914-1918 Vol.*
ballan shire, ww1 servicemen
A set of cuff links, two name badges and a tie pin.
johnson jeremy, johnson anne
A memento created during WW1
A doily crochet in cotton, mounted on a black background, placed under glass in a cream coloured timber frame. The text "For King and Country" can be seen, also visible is a crown and a rudimentary Union Jack.
jones isabella, barrett frances
A large journal with hard covers of soft suede leather, brown, with very faded scrolled borders. The internal pages are one week to an opening, marked Diary of Duties and Occurrences at the Ballan Police Station, with the left page for Police Duty and the right page for Horses. The pages are ruled into columns with various headings.
Ballan Police Station
ballan - police station, police daily records
This plaque commemorates 100 years of banking service in Ballan by the Commercial Bank of Australia Limited. Unveiled by the President of the Shire of Ballan, Councillor K. D. Andrew J. P. on the 11th day of April 1967.
A bronze engraved plaque mounted on a timber base
As in the photograph
ballan shire, commercial bank, andrew k.d.
Full length coloured photograph of Dugald Macpherson of Bungeeltap in traditional Highland regalia, mounted under glass in a light brown wooden frame with black and gold trim.
Dugald Macpherson original owner of Bungeeltap.
macpherson dugald, ballan, bungeeltap
Sepia photograph, mounted on fawn cardboard in a very dark timber frame
Councillor Dugald Macpherson J.P. Member of the Road Board 1862 - 1864 Councillor Ballan Shire Council 1864 -1873 President 1875 - 1880 Colart - Melbourne Merv Quinn 1992
ballan shire councillor, •ballan shire president, •ballan road board, macpherson dugald
ford, brawn, bant
ford, brawn, bant
A history of the Ford Family and descendants, pioneer settlers of the Morrisons/Meredith area in Victoria. Contains photographs, family trees, documents, newspaper cuttings, maps, narratives etc. Black and white only.
This book is significant in that it contains valuable historic information on the Ford and Brawn families. The publication is private and intended for the information and interest of family members and others researching the family.
Book, soft cover, perfect bound, with a leather look cover and a photograph of family members with a scrollwork surround.
ford, brawn, bant
This box of metal stamps was owned by Mr D.K. Fraser, a property owner and grazier in the Ballan district.
A timber box, split horizontally, with 27 (3x9) holes drilled vertically containing square section metal hand stamping tools each a separate letter of the alphabet.
The top lid is marked "D K F & CO 1905" and each stamp is marked "D K FRASER".
tools, ballan, fraser dk, metal stamps
The cup was presented to the Ballan Rifle Club by Mr. J. Gascard, a well known and respected resident of Ballan in 1906 and was subsequently won by Mr. S. Lay on the 8th December of that year.
Very ornate, silver plated, two handled, stemmed trophy cup with lid. Engraved. The '06' in the inscription means 1906.
Presented to Ballan Rifle Club by J. Gascard Esq. Won by S. Lay. 8.12.06
trophy, ballan, rifle club, j gascard, s lay
A map of the Korweinguboora area showing roads, forests, railway lines and properties with the owners names.
The inclusion of the names of landowners is of significance and value to historians.
A map of the Korweinguboora area showing land subdivisions and names of owners and other physical features. There is a scale in chains. No date is certain but it could be 1902. The map has been repaired with sellotape.
There are various pencil annotations but the are difficult to read.
talbot, moorarbool west, wombat, bullarto, korweinguboora, moorarbool east, dean, wombat state forest, barkstead
The map is an early one of the township of Ballan showing street names and land owners.
The map is significant in that it lists the owners of the house blocks within the township.
A map showing the township and surrounding area of Ballan in 1856. Town streets are named as are the owners of the subdivided blocks of land. The map is a lithocopy and there is a scale in chains.
"D D Fraser" is written across the top of the map and "1856" is written in the near top right corner. There are other additions to the map but they are very difficult to decipher accurately or completely.
ballan, ballan township map, ballan1856
This is a map of "Country Lands" around the Werribee River, north of Ballan in the Counties of Bourke and Grant.
A relatively small map, paper on a material backing. Shows topographical features, roads and property divisions. Scale of forty chains to one inch. The map is dated March 31st, 1859.
There is a small inscription under the chain scale that reads "No 58/364 John Phillips ? Survey 1st August 1858". The name Dugald McPherson is hand written on one of the blocks of land.
moorarbool west, moorarbool east, dugald mcpherson, county of bourke, county of grant, werribee river, ballan
This is a fairly comprehensive map of the former Shire of Ballan which is now amalgamated into the Shire of Moorabool.
A black and white map of the Shire of Ballan showing major roads, rivers, towns, settlements, State parks and forests and land subdivisions. It appears to be a copy of the original as no dates or maker or printer appear on the map. There is a scale of 2 miles to 1 inch.
gordon, ballan, bungal, kerrit bareet, borhoneyghurk, bungeeltap, ballark, yaloak, gorong, beremboke, wallace, ingliston, hunterston, millbrook, bradshaw, myrniong, blackwood, moorarbool, greendale, bayup, trentham, bullarto, korweinguboora, glenlyon, bolwarra
There is not much information on this item at the moment. The record will be updated when more becomes available.
A small black and white photograph of L.A. Fairbairn sitting in a wicker chair outdoors. The photograph is under glass in a small timber frame with scrolled upper edges.
Labels stuck on the glass read - " the founder of L.A. Fairbairn 7 Co. St. James Bldg Melbourne" and "Lachlan Alexander Fairbairn - Ardoch tower-Essendon (1916)". A sticker, D4, is on the back of the frame.
fairbairn lachlan alexander, l a fairbairn co
The item is a Plaque struck in 1951 to celebrate the Centenary of Government in Victoria and the Centenary of the discovery of gold.
A round bronze medallion set in a green baize lift out in a black presentation case. It is a 1951 Commemorative Plaque to mark the Centenary of Government in Victoria and Centenary of the Discovery of Gold. There is a printed insert card describing the obverse and reverse sides of the Medallion.
"Presented to the Shire of Ballan 1951" is engraved on the reverse side. "1851" and "1951" are marked on the lining of the cover of the box.
medallion, plaque, shire of ballan, centenary of government
A Centenary Certificate of Appreciation presented by the RVIB to the Ballan Auxiliary for outstanding service.
A Centenary Certificate of Appreciation presented to Ballan Auxiliary for outstanding service. Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind, babies, children and adults. It bears the RVIB Seal, a logo and the words Centenary Year 100 1866/1966. It is signed by the President and the Executive Director. The certificate is cream coloured with a light blue border, under glass in a plain, beveled, light coloured timber frame.
This registration number is marked on the back of the frame.
certificate, royal victorian institute for the blind, ballan auxiliary
The book is a collection of index cards transcribed from the Register of Baptisms from 1849 to 1991 at the St. John's Anglican Church in Ballan. These cards were then photocopied ten to a page and assembled and bound into this book. The book contains Volume 1 A -K and Volume 2 L -Z and the wording on the Title Page "This is a copy of the transcription, which was completed by Roy Huggins and a team of volunteers at Ballan. Acknowledgment is given to The Rector without whose permission the project could not have been completed. March 1991."
The book is significant in that it contains a complete register of Baptisms conducted at the Church from 1849 to 1991 in alphabetical order. This is of significance to family researchers and makes a search of the records much easier.
An A4 size book which is a collection of loose pages stapled, with cardboard covers and a brown tape spine binding. About 250 pages of transcribed, photocopied index cards. Book No.105.
Pencil markings - Book No.105. Reg No. VBSH 01098
ballan, baptism records, anglican church, st johns anglican church
The former Shire of Ballan commissioned this work which ties in with the formation and early years of the Ballan Shire Historical Society. It is a collection of articles, works and memoirs written and compiled by James Henry Walsh, an early resident of Ballan, that have been edited for publication by James Turner. The book contains maps and photographs and is fully indexed. It is considered by some to be the foremost reference work on the history of Ballan.
The book is significant as it is a comprehensive collection covering the history of Ballan. It is a limited edition and now out of print.
A soft covered book, ivory in colour. Printed on the cover is - "The Walsh Papers. Edited: J.L.Turner. Memoirs of the early settlement of Western Victoria and, in particular, Ballan Shire: 1830 -1875. Written and compiled by James Henry Walsh (1863 -1930) of Ballan." The back cover is a full page sepia photograph of James Walsh (head and shoulders only) and the printed number "ISBN 0 95599911 1 5". Book No.106. 312 pages.
The book bears the stamp of the Ballan Shire Historical Society and the handwritten marking "Receipt P.1." Book No.106 and Reg No. (VC) 00909 in pencil.
walsh james henry, ballan memoirs, turner j l, ballan history
The book contains the Joint Address to His Most Gracious Majesty King Edward the Seventh from the Municipalities of Victoria, and is dated Melbourne, 30th January 1901. It contains the Cities, Towns, Boroughs, and Shires with the signatures of the chief officers of each and signatures of the Executive and Executive Committee of the Municipal Association of Victoria.
A thin hard cover book with a royal blue cover and gold leaf title title with an upright leaf embellishment on the left. Book No.108. 16 pages.
With the compliments of the Executive Committee of the Municipal Association of Victoria.
king edward v11, municipal association of victoria, royal visit 1901
A short history of St. Brigid's (Catholic) School from it's beginnings as the Ballan Catholic Common School No. 100 at St. Agnes Church c. 1859 up to the present in 2010. The book contains teacher and class photographs, information on the establishment of Catholic Schools in Victoria, and a section on the history of Catholics in Ballan and the beginnings of the Church community. Recent events are covered as are recollections and interviews with former pupils.
Significant to past and present students and staff, also to those researching family history and education within the local area.
A small paperback book with an olive green cover on which is centered an oval coloured photograph of the school. 62 pages.
schools, ballan, st brigids, catholic schools
A small map of the Bullarook State Forest Reserve. Drawn on a fine buff coloured paper attached to a stiff cloth backing sheet. The title is hand written and includes a "scale one mile to one inch" hand written also. The map is signed "John Wrigglesworth, assistant ? and dated 26/6/1869" although the month and year are almost illegible.
moorabool west, state forest, bullarook, eastern moorabool river, werribee river, moorabool east, blakes saw mill, wombat, andersons saw mill
A map of the Kerrit Bareet area within the County of Grant showing properties and names of owners in 1944.
Significant to people researching land usage and ownership. Also those researching families in the area at that time.
A map of Kerrit Bareet in the County of Grant. Black printing on buff coloured paper. Details roads, rivers, railways, property boundaries and names of property owners and towns and villages. The map is easily readable although there is some physical damage and that and the borders have been reinforced with sellotape. Shows a Scale in Chains and Price 2/.
gordon, bungal, kerrit bareet, lal lal, moorarbool river, warrenheip, bungaree, wallace, moorarbool west
This volume of the Sacred Law was presented to the Ballan Shire Historical Society on the 30th September 2009, following the closure of the Ballan Masonic Lodge No. 205 on the 9th February 2009. The Bible is assumed to have served the Lodge from it's Consecration on the 15th February 1908 until the Lodge closed. It was presented to the Society in a timber display case with a glass cover containing as well the Masonic Compass and Square and a plaque reading "Donated by Ballan Lodge No. 205 on the Return of the Warrant, February 2009". The display case measures 60.5cm wide, 59cm deep and 19.5cm high.
A black leather covered copy of the King James version of the Holy Bible,
holy bible, masonic lodge
A map of the Ballark area within the County of Grant showing roads, waterways, property boundaries and property owners in 1915.
Significant to people researching land usage and ownership. Also those researching families in the area at that time.
A map of Ballark in the County of Grant. Black printing on buff coloured paper. Extra notations by hand and various coloured highlighting of certain features. Details roads, rivers, property boundaries and names of property owners and districts. The map is easily readable although there is some physical damage to the borders and some sellotape residue. Shows a scale in Chains and the number L.6030
Various numbers and directional arrows added to map.
bungal, borhoneyghurk, bungeeltap, ballark, beremboke, moreep, meredith, morrisons, moorarbool river
This DVD was produced to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the Gordon Primary School in 2007. It is a pictorial history covering that period consisting of still photographs in a slide show format.
DVD in a plastic case with a custom printed cover insert depicting a photograph of Gordon Primary School Class of 1882. Contains still photographs of staff, students, school grounds, functions, etc. over the last 125 years. A pictorial history set out in five (slide show) chapters with a sound track to accompany. DVD compiled and designed by Diane Lawson 2007. All proceeds from the sale of this DVD will be donated to the Gordon Primary School.
school, gordon, primary school, 125th anniversary
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.
