The aims of the Society are: (1) recording and preservation of the district's oral and written history; (2) the collection and presentation of significant artefacts relevant to local social and economic development; and (3) the research of community events and family history. Founded 1982.
Events: Historical walks; cemetery walks; 'Open House' on March Labour Day Weekend; Anzac Day display on April 25; flea market, every second Saturday from September to May.
Metal box with a hinged lid, front panel decorated with silver lettering and green background.
Tea No 290. Colchin's Tea Stores PHONE J2565 Direct Importer of Finest Teas, Coffee & Cocoas Always over the Commonwealth Standard of extract ~Blends to suit individual Tastes! 110 BRIDGE ROAD. RICHMOND.. CITY END Your recommendation favoured MELBOURNE
These School Papers, numbers 431 to 440, were distributed to pupils on a monthly basis beginning in 1896, as extra reading material in addition to the Victorian Reader. The owner, Millie Crameri (nee Rae) was a pupil at Gapsted State School Number 2241. During the 1960s the form of The School Papers changed into 3 grades of readers:Meteor, Comet and Orbit.
A complete example of a 20th century textbook used in a rural school with insights into course content and learning modes of that time.Of local significance because Millie Crameri was a well known local identity. There is a sticker inside the front cover with Millie's name and details inscribed, presumably in her own handwriting.
A brown hard cover folder containing monthly reading material for both Grades 7 and 8 during 1937. Each leaflet is preserved in the folder by inserting through cotton/linen threads.
FORDITE embossed on the front cover.
primary schools, rural schools, learning materials
Stencil used by Sgt. Albert David Lowerson, VC, a soldier settler on Merriang Estate near Myrtleford. Lowerson acquired one of 19 blocks assigned by the Closer Settlement Board on the 700 acre estate in 1920. The stencil marked bales of cured tobacco leaves prior to shipment to Melbourne. Lowerson was one of the few successful soldier settler farmers in the district, operating a piggery, dairy farming and growing tobacco for almost 20 years on "St. Quentin". (Lowerson was awarded the Victoria Cross at Mont St. Quentin on September 1, 1918.) His success and status enabled him to lead a submission on farm debt and infrastructure problems when the soldier settlement scheme was being reviewed at government level. He was active locally on these issues and supported fund raising for a war memorial, memorial hall and veteran welfare.
The stencil represents the achievements of A.D.Lowerson, VC as an isolated example of success as a WW1 soldier settler and as a local identity who stridently supported the need for recognition and support of ex-service personnel.
Stencil made of thin sheet metal, rusted .Wording of stencil "A.D.LOWERSON. MYRTLEFORD."
lowerson a.d., merriang estate, myrtleford, closer settlement board, tobacco, st. quentin, victoria cross, world war 1
1913 School photo of Buffalo River South State School. The school was 21 Km south of Myrtleford. 1913 Five members of the Fletcher family attended the school : Middle Row: Agnes (far left),Elizabeth(3rd from left ) Bruce (2nd from Right)Jeanette (far right), Front Row: Jean (2nd from left) Head Master: Mr Septimus Elmore Reference from 'Recollections IV ' (The Myrtleford & district Historical Society Inc February 2011)
School photo of a remote school which was greatly impacted by fluctuating enrollments ,threatening its ongoing existence. the importance of numbers from single Family. clothes worn at this time
Rectangular beige stained cardboard with an inserted emboss border surrounding a Sepia color photo.
Buffalo River S.S. School. F.Foxcroft photo Bright
myrtleford,victoria,buffalo river, school, fletcher 1913
Provenance not clear. Leather case has 'MMBW' inscribed in black pen, indicating an association with Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works. Item has been in the possession of Terry McCormack since 1972
Hand held brass pocket inclonometer level, circa 1920. Leather case for safe storage. Semi circular graduated dial with 90 degree vernier scale with a small (20mm) magnifying glass to aid reading the vernier scale. Above the body, mounted at the rear of the graduated dial, is a spirit level tube which is tilted by finger movement to the milled hand wheel. The height to be determined is sighted through the instrument eyepiece and the bubble tube is tilted until the bubble, viewed in the mirror inside the sighting tube, is brought level with the graticule sighted at the top of the subject object. An angle is thus obtained and by measuring the distance on the ground to the object, trigonometry can be applied to determine the height of the object.
Herga & Co. BRISBANE. Made in England
Photograph taken in the early 1930's Photographer unknown ? taken for tourism purposes
Photograph shows early buildings of Myrtleford.taken from Reform Hill looking towards Mt Buffalo
A small, square glass butter mixer. In the base is an early photograph of Myrtleford in the 1930's looking towards Mt Buffalo taken from Reform Hill In the foreground are the homes of early retailers the Robertson's and Glass Families 1870 and 1880 in the middle of the photo is the School Building No 995 and in the distance is an early building of the Butter Factory
Photograph in base of glass butter mixer is titled 'Myrtleford'
glass dish, myrtleford, homes of early retailers, butter factory, state school 995 streetscape
This plug tobacco cutter was collected locally and displayed as part of the memorabilia display at the Tobacco Company of Victoria Ltd., Myrtleford. Plug tobacco could be acquired on tobacco farms or purchased at local outlets.
Tobacco cutters were significant tools for pipe smokers until self-made or manufactured cigarettes began to dominate the tobacco sales market from the 1920s. Such cutters are a link to a previously common means of consuming tobacco.
A small cast iron and wooden guillotine-style tobacco cutter. The metal cutter is mounted on the wooden base, with a wooden striker plate.
Inscription "McMillan" appears on the striker plate.
tobacco cutter
The drawing book was owned by Harold Frederick Allan Trezise (1917-82) of Grade "F" at Myrtleford State ("Central") School in 1929. Allan, as he was known, was one of nine siblings born to Harold and Mary Trezise and aged 12 years when he did his pastel drawings. He was a member of a well-known local family; his father operated a local taxi and motor repairs business and indulged in gold prospecting.
The pastel drawing book clearly illustrates the capabilities of a young pupil with an artistic-creative bent and reflects on the teaching methodology used in this curriculum area at the local school. A pride of workmanship is conveyed in the well-preserved leaves of the book.
A grey-covered rectangular shaped booklet containing pages separated by tissue paper, all pages completed with shaded depictions of fruit, vegetables, geometric shapes, etc.
Each page is dated the day the drawings were completed.
pastel drawing book.
The letterpress was used to produce print jobs for the "Myrtleford Times" until its closure in 1984.
The equipment represents previous technologies in the print industry and reflects the impact of the transition through newspaper consolidations, which impact upon small circulation country newspapers.
An upright Electric Letterpress used in the newspaper industry until the 1980s, painted black with several key moving parts.
Inscription in metal facing: "VICBOLD"
letterpress.
The photograph represents the migratory labour force involved in hop growing, the major farm activity on "Panlook's Hop Gardens", Eurobin in 1934. William Panlook a descendant of a Chinese storekeeper on the Buckland Diggings, had originally commenced tobacco growing at the location until devastating frosts and unreliable tobacco prices brought a change in land use.
The photograph represents the transition that occurred from tobacco to hops cultivation in the early 1930s. It is now a permanent feature of the farming landscape at Eurobin. It depicts the reliance on migratory seasonal labour and the importance of local expertise, some of Chinese descent.
A sepia-coloured photograph of 30 hop pickers.
Inscription: "The Panlook Boys, 1934"
hop growing. panlooks hop gardens. eurobin
The hairdresser's singer was used in the local hairdressing and tobacconist shop owned by Hugh Jones from 1947-70, until such treatments were abandoned. Mr. Jones retired in 1976.
Knowledge of the use of such hairdressing aids assists in the understanding of progress made in modern hair treatments.
A green-coloured metal cylinder containing white dropless tapers (candles) which were used to singe freshly-cut hair to prevent "bleeding ends".
Black painted signage on the cylinder: "Ship Brand" "Price's White Dropless Tapers" "Manufactured by Price's patent Candle Co. Ltd., London & Liverpool"
hairdressing singer
The churn was used by Elise Weston (nee Trahair) at Barwidgee Creek and Myrtleford in the immediate post-war period. Prior to this time it was in the possession of the Trahair family on their family farm where a small dairy herd met family requirements.
The churn represents an aspect of self sufficient living in rural areas outside township boundaries. It assisted households to meet family needs using simple processing technology and more so when surplus butter could be sold on in local markets.
An upright clear-glass butter churn with screw-on metal cap, handle and gears. The churn mechanism is fully enclosed.
"Daisy" brand with "3Qt" inscribed in the glass.
glass butter churn
Such dispensers were sold in tobacconist and gift shops as everyday household novelty items.
The dispenser links the role of a Myrtleford tobacconist and hairdresser to the local tobacco industry organization, the Tobacco Company of Victoria Ltd., who housed the item after closure of his business in 1976.
Brown and cream coloured bakelite cigarette dispenser, incorporating shape of a kookabura.
Upright shape of a kookabura at one end of the dispenser.
cigarette dispenser.
The sign is one collected by shareholders or officers of the Tobacco Company of Victoria Ltd. (located in Myrtleford), who donated it following closure of the tobacco growing industry in Australia.
The advertisement acknowledges local grower links with a major tobacco manufacturer who purchased leaf from them over an extended period.
Large metal multi-coloured enamel advertising sign, rectangular in shape, depicting cigarettes in a cylindrical package,
Signage includes: Wills's "Golden Flake" Cigarettes--50s. W.D. & H.O. Wills
tobacco industry tobacco advertising
The photograph depicts the 2nd important stage in tobacco growing--transplanting seedlings into open paddocks. It depicts early post-war machinery in use at the time until affordable modern tractors were available. The planting machine has probably been adapted from the horse-drawn era pre-World War 2. The scene is one near Myrtleford in the Ovens Valley.
The photograph depicts the slow adaptation of modern tobacco farming methods in the immediate post-war period and the type of terain suitable for tobacco growing. The labour intensive nature of tobacco planting is also depicted.
A colourized photograph of tobacco planting activity in a paddock near Myrtleford.
Inscription: Planting Tobacco N.E. Victoria"
tobacco farming tobacco planting machinery
The photograph depicts the magnitude of the tobacco industry in the late 1960s to 1970s era when many Myrtleford district growers contributed to the annual tobacco harvest. The impact of post-war migration from southern Europe was playing an important role in reaching harvest records.
The photograph reflects the "golden years" of tobacco growing in the district, which continued into the 1970s, prior to later deregulation in the 1980s and 90s and the ceasing of production altogether in 2006. This sales floor attracted local farming families to observe activities off-season in Melbourne, before the sales were conducted at a complex in Myrtleford.
A monochrome photograph displaying a large tobacco selling floor
Inscription: "VIEW OF THE SHOW FLOOR OF DALGETY-NZL's BROOKLYN WOOL STORE ON 27-6-1966 WHEN 15,940 BALES OF TOBACCO LEAF VALUED AT $3,507,000 WERE DISPLAYED. IT WAS THE BIGGEST DISPLAY OF TOBACCO LEAF EVER SEEN IN AUSTRALIA"
tobacco industry, myrtleford tobacco selling floor
This sign was required to be displayed in the vicinity of gold mining sites. Myrtleford district was known to have had 100 sites within a ten mile radius of the town; the sign was recovered by Charlie McFadyen, a local prospector and fossicker, of some 60 years
The sign relates to local gold mining activity, a key source of wealth and employment from 1854 to the late 19th century. Such signs continued to be in use during the period between World War 1 and 2,including the period of the Great Depression.
Tin rectangular mining sign embossed with a warning
Inscription: "THIS LAND IS AURIFEROUS AND SUBJECT TO MINING CONDITIONS"
auriferous mining
The bell was installed in the late 1880s at Myrtleford State School 955, Elgin Street, Myrtleford and rang there until the school relocated to a new site in early 1939. The bell followed the pupils to O'Donnell Avenue, but was dismantled and placed in storage in the 1950s.
This bell is tied to the early daily life of state schooling in Elgin Street, from the commencement of the decline of gold mining in the district until immediately before the outbreak of World War 2. It is also related to the daily lives of children who participated in the "consolidation" of state schooling at O'Donnell Avenue and the development of "higher elementary" education.
Large complete brass school bell with steel tongue.
Inscription: "C. Wilson & Co., Founders, Glasgow, A.D. 1885"
school bell c. wilson & co., glasgow myrtleford state school 955
This whole of school photograph depicts the school pupil population in the "prosperous twenties". The pupils have been congregated against the external wall on the SE side of the school outside the Head Master's office and pupil's cloakroom. This is one of several photographs taken in 1922; others feature composite groups of classes.
The photograph records the post-war school population at its peak in 1922. The following year,St. Mary's Convent School would commence and numbers at Myrtleford State School 955 would decline for the rest of the decade. The coverage of the whole school population provides a snapshot of all families attending the school.
A monochrome photograph of the whole pupil enrolment at the Myrtleford township school
School and Photographer name inscribed: "State School Myrtleford, 1922" "J. Check"
myrtleford state school 955
Early in 20th century, a small group of girls at Myrtleford State School 955 participated in honouring Empire Day each May by "dressing up" to represent Britannia.
This select group of girls celebrates the might of Britannia in the first full year of World War 1. It reflects the type of celebrations schools were expected to participate in at that time and for some years to come. Alice O,Donnell, the tallest, centre pupil in the group, was to lose her life on the Australian Hospital Ship "Centaur" when it was sunk by a Japanese submarine off the Queensland coast in May, 1943.
A monochrome photograph of a small group of pupils at Myrtleford State School 955 in 1915, celebrating Empire Day. Pupils include from left: Isobel Robertson, Linda Croucher, Rene Johnson, Alice O'Donnell, Agnes Collins, Dorrie Peters, Madge O'Donnell.
Photograph is inscribed: "T. Foxcroft, photo"
empire day myrtleford state school 955 alice o'donnell
The portrait depicts Sgt. A.D. Lowerson V.C. after receipt of his award at Buckingham Palace on March 1, 1919. It links the town and the Lowerson family to events in World War 1.
A.D. Lowerson was awarded the Victoria Cross as the result of bravery and leadership in the capture of Mont St. Quentin on September 1, 1918, particularly for his bombing of a German strongpoint. He refused to leave his post, despite wounds, for two days. He is the only winner of the V.C. in north east Victoria, beyond Euroa. Lowerson's name has been memorialized in a street name, the local swimming pool and Soldiers Memorial Square and with others on church and state school honour boards.
Monochrome portrait of Sergeant Albert David Lowerson, Victoria Cross (1896-1945), standing, in gold frame.
a.d. lowerson, v.c. mont st. quentin
