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.
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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.
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Folding Ruler
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Used within the Nicholls family.
A wooden carpenter's ruler folds into four nine-inch sections with precision made brass hinges.
Paper label inscribed 'Please keep. Donated by Harry Nicholls.
Bullets of this type were used in the British Army from 1870 in Martini Henry rifles. Association with Buninyong to be researched.
Four bullets of cylindrical shape with bulbous front end.
weapons, british army, martini henry
Used by Ken Nicholls at the Buninyong State School around the 1950s.
Twelve-inch wooden ruler with measurements imprinted on front and back.
Measurement markings imprinted on both sides.
measurement, education, buninyong primary school
Reputed to have been from a train used on the Buninyong railway line. Circumstances of its finding are not recorded.
Half a nut from a train used on the former Buninyong railway line. The inside edge is threaded.
None
railways, buninyong, trains
Early twentieth form of 'safety' shaving device that followed cut-throat razors used in the nineteenth century.
Cylindrical metal handle which screws into curved metal blade holder. Blade is missing.
None
shavers, shaving, personal grooming
Used by Harry Nicholls in Buninyong from 1920s.
Round leather case with winding handle in centre of side. The two sides have sewn join. Not in working order.
'6YTT HN' scratched on leather casing and handle.
tape measures, measuring, woodwork
Ticket printed for use by people attending a banquet held during the official opening celebrations for the Buninyong Railway line on Thursday, 12 September 1889.
Printed ticket in a bronze coloured frame, with floral motif around the ticket edges. Not used.
Unused. Issued by Robert M. Harvey, Hon. Secretary.
trains, railways, buninyong railway
Short, heavy metal tool with fan-shaped working end.
metalwork, chisels, tools
Scotsburn State School, No. 2176 celebrated its Jubilee on the weekend of Saturday to Monday, 19-21 April 1930. The program included an afternoon banquet and social, church services, a monster sports meeting and a dance.
Small envelope printed with a black and white image, which enclosed a printed paper invitation and program for the Jubilee of Scotsburn State School.
schools, education, reunions, scotsburn state school
Wide dark green bottle with long, slightly bulging neck and a steep inverted conical base. Mid-nineteenth century.
Paper label attached to bottle reads: 'Goldfield's beer bottle dug up near Buninyong in 1991. Circa 1850s.'
Slim dark green bottle with conical shaped inverted bottom.
bottles, containers
The type of bottle used in the Buninyong Brewery.
Dark green bottle with conical recessed base and ridged lip.
glass, bottles, brewing, buninyong brewery
Kerr's James operated in Buninyong. Internet and Trove searches have not revealed any details on when the business operated. More local research needed.
Glass bottle with lid produced for Kerr's Jams, Buninyong. Cylindrical glass jar with glass stopper. the bottle neck and rim have been broken and some parts are missing. Glass has a green tinge.
Kerr's Jams Buninyong. A large 'M' is imprinted on the base.
containers, jars, kerr's jams
Partial manufacturer's stamp on side near base not yet identified reads 'Port... das OLASO... Pottery'. Further research needed.
Pale coloured, bottle shaped ceramic jar with no stopper. Has a partial but illegible maker's mark. Further identification required.
'Port... das OLASO... Pottery'.
pottery, containers, jars, ceramics
Two-toned pottery jay with ridged neck and wide opening. No maker's marks.
containers, pottery, ceramics
Made in Nottingham, England by K. Evans. K. Evans Potteries in Nottingham has an intriguing history. During the construction of the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway Company’s new London line (now known as the Great Central) through Nottingham, several objects of antiquarian interest were discovered. Among these treasures was an ancient pottery kiln, buried for centuries beneath the soft yellow Bunter sandstone rock that forms a significant part of the city’s foundation. The excavation took place near the point where Parliament Street intersects the railway, at a depth of ten to twelve feet below the original surface. The credit for rescuing many of these pottery fragments from destruction goes to Mr. C. B. Wright, of the late firm I. & I. C. Wright & Co., Bankers. His dedication and ingenuity allowed him to piece together broken parts, sometimes assembling as many as thirty or forty fragments to form a single complete specimen. These pottery pieces provide a fascinating glimpse into the past. Here are some details about the pottery found at K. Evans Potteries: Material: The pottery is made of coarse, reddish-brown clay. Construction: Evidence suggests that the potter’s wheel was used in their creation. Ornamentation: The vessels lack decorative patterns, except for indented or grooved handles. These handles exhibit a crude attempt at foliation, with the potter’s thumb leaving its mark. Function: The pottery likely served practical purposes, such as carrying water, ale, mead, or wine. Stew jars and drinking vessels were also part of this collection. This discovery remains almost unique, and its age continues to intrigue local antiquaries. While theories about its origin are scarce, the K. Evans Potteries offer a fascinating glimpse into Nottingham’s ancient craftsmanship.
Cylindrical brown pottery jar (Bottle) with broken neck section. Uneven and work appearance of glazed surface.
'... Stone bottles. K. Evans. ...Potteries of Nottingham'
ceramics, pottery, bottles
Item sold by Jones, a shop located in Bridge Street, Ballarat.
Metal button hook with hoop shaped handle, a narrow shaft ended with a small hook. The shop details are printed in relief on the handle.
Jones, Bridge Street, Ballarat
footwear, clothing accessories, button hooks
The Graham's Tannery in Buninyong was located on the western edge of town on the Midland Highway (Learmonth Street.). The location is now part of the De Soza Park walking track.
Tan leather ankle height left foot boot with six leather finished buttons. Has a leather sole.
Embossed shield on sole with the letters CRS entwined in a business identification.
footwear, tanneries, industry
History of the crucifix ownership not known at this point. To be checked.
Small moulded crucifix made of brass.
religion, christianity
The context of this object requires research.
Oblong box with sides for striking matches, purple underside and red and dark blue upper side with text.
Bryant & May, Bell & Co., Pty. Ltd., Melbourne Impregnated Safety Matches
matchboxes, bryant & may, fire
Made in the old Buninyong Library building which leased rooms to the potter.
Small clay jar with brown glaze and bat-like red coloured figure patterning. Small stopper and handle at the top.
Old Library Pottery, G.S.C., Buninyong
ceramics, pottery, old library pottery
Printed programme of events celebrating the school centenary including a Debutante Ball, Procession, School Roll Call, School Dinner, Concert, Church Service, Luncheon and Bus Tour.
White single folded card with photograph of Buninyong Primary School, No. 1270 and the programme of activities from 31 August to 2 September, 1973
buninyong state school, buninyong primary school, education, community, celebrations
Commissioned to mark the centenary of the Buninyong State (Primary) School, no. 1270.
Silver coloured medallion with Buninyong School Centenary 1873 - 1973 and laurel wreath on the front and a relief image of the original school building on the reverse.
Buninyong School Centenary 1873 - 1973; Stokes, Melb. on obverse.
buninyong state school, buninyong primary school, education
Medallion produced for the 150th Anniversary of the Buninyong Primary School in 2023.
A large silver coloured medallion with a hook at the top. Early image of the school depicted in relief on the reverse. Two examples in the collection.
Buninyong Primary School 150 Year 1873-2023
buninyong primary school, buninyong state school, education
A badge made to celebrate a history project conducted by Year 4 at Buninyong Primary School in 2010
Large round badge in grey tones showing the old bank and shops in centre of Buninyong.
Buninyong PS Local History Project Year 4 2010
buninyong state school, buninyong primary school, education, badges
Emma Jane Guyton or Worboise (née Worboys; 1825–1887) was an English novelist, biographer and editor. Her more than 50 novels feature strong Christian values and were popular in their time. Source: Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Jane_Guyton
Dark blue, book cloth covered volume, formerly used in the Buninyong Public Library. In very poor condition.
Buninyong Public Library stamp.
emma-jane guyton, emma-jane worboise, novels,
The manse is located diagonally behind the former Presbyterian Church in Buninyong. The house has been in private hands for over fifty years.
Sepia coloured copy of a photograph of the Presbyterian Manse, Scott Street, Buninyong. Image shows the original was torn in two.
manses, presbyterian church, heritage listed buildings, buninyong
The Vicar of Wakefield, subtitled A Tale, Supposed to be written by Himself, is a novel by Anglo-Irish writer Oliver Goldsmith (1728–1774). It was written from 1761 to 1762 and published in 1766. It was one of the most popular and widely read 18th-century novels among Victorians. Source: Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vicar_of_Wakefield
Hard cover, cloth bound book with gold embossed design on the cover. The book is entitled The Vicar of Wakefield, by Dr. Goldsmith. Undated.
'Buninyong Public Library' stamp used in several places in the book.
novels, oliver goldsmith, literature
Bible presented to Miss Dulcie Graham on the occasion of her wedding by her friend and minister, John D Davies, on 11 June, 1919.
Black, leather covered Bible, gold embossed title on the cover and spine and gold coloured edging on the pages.
Inscribed on inside cover 'To Miss Dulcie Graham on the occasion of her marriage, 11 June 1919 from her friend and Minister John D Davies, Buninyong.'
religion, christianity, bibles, buninyong
A Bible presented to Lily Spicer at the Yendon Sunday School on 16 May, 1886.
Dark brown cloth bound, hard covered Bible in very worn condition. Presented in 1886 to Lily Spicer from the Sunday School at Yendon, near Buninyong.
Inscribed 'Lily Spicer, Sunday School, Yendon. 16.5.86. Mr. H. Browne, Superintendent.
religion, christianity, yendon, british & foreign bible society, bibles
The prayer book was presented by the Holy Trinity Church in Buninyong to Blanche Brown in 1900.
Small black stippled leather covered prayer book with gold embossed title and cross on the front cover.
Written inside front cover: 'Blanche Brown, 1st Prize, Senior Girl's Class, Holy Trinity Sunday School, 1900'.
religion, christianity, buninyong holy trinity church, prayer books
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.
