Search Victorian Collections

This wood is made from Red River Gum tree wood, these trees live for between 500 to 1,000 years of age. The wood in this bowl has been carbon dated in the USA to be 4,500 years old.

This bowl is significant because of the age of the wood it is made from.

000016 Wooden Fruit Bowl The timber this fruit bowl was made from was a red gum tree taken from the Ovens river at Tarrawingee (12 km from Wangaratta)where it had been submerged for years. It was made on a lathe by Ken Hill. The bowl warped and cracked shortly after being turned. A piece of the wood was taken to the USA by a visitor where it was carbon dated to be 4500 years old Measurements: Diameter: 22cm Height: 6cm Colour: Dark red brown Photographed beside a piece of natural red gum Tarrawingee is 12 Km North East of Wangaratta on the Great Alpine Road Significance: 4500 year old red gum wood is rare in this area.

red river gum wooden bowl wangaratta historical society

"Wangaratta's Own", the 2nd 24th Battalion was formed in Wangaratta on 1st July 1940, during World War Two. They camped at the Wangaratta Showgrounds, where they trained until they marched out of Wangaratta on 28th September 1940. Before they marched out Alan MacFarlane and the Battalion were presented with the Battalion pennant by Wangaratta Mayor, Cr Thomas Nolan. They fought in . On 28th September 1990, the 50th anniversary of the Battalion leaving Wangaratta, (retired) Alan MacFarlane, President of the 2nd 24th Battalion Association were presented the Freedom of the City and represented with the Battalion pennant by Wangaratta Mayor, Cr Kevin Gleeson & Cr Val Gleeson, Cr Thomas Nolan's son in law & daughter.

This was an Army Battalion formed in Wangaratta. The young men interacted with the businesses, sporting & social societies & families of Wangaratta in the early 1940's. Lifelong friendships were made.

"Wangaratta's Own", the 2nd 24th Battalion was formed in Wangaratta on 1st July 1940, during World War Two. They camped at the Wangaratta Showgrounds, where they trained until they marched out of Wangaratta on 28th September 1940. Before they marched out Alan MacFarlane and the Battalion were presented with the Battalion pennant by Wangaratta Mayor, Cr Thomas Nolan. They fought in . On 28th September 1990, the 50th anniversary of the Battalion leaving Wangaratta, (retired) Alan MacFarlane, President of the 2nd 24th Battalion Association were presented the Freedom of the City and represented with the Battalion pennant by Wangaratta Mayor, Cr Kevin Gleeson & Cr Val Gleeson, Cr Thomas Nolan's son in law & daughter.

army battalion wangaratta's own world war two

WHS Inc were presented with 10,000 glass plate negatives from Thelma & Vine Photographic Studios, Murphy Street Wangaratta from the 1860's - 1950's. The glass plate negatives depict mostly portrait studies of families, weddings and special occasions; there are a few outdoor studies.

These studies are invaluable as they provide a record of fashion, family structures, significant people and events, buildings, streetscapes, transportation and landscape of Wangaratta & district from the 1860's - 1950's. These glass plate negatives provide the historical, fashion, cultural anthropological context of society from the time frame they depict.

WHS Inc were presented with 10,000 glass plate negatives from Thelma & Vine Photographic Studios, Murphy Street Wangaratta from the 1860's - 1950's. The glass plate negatives depict mostly portrait studies of families, weddings and special occasions; there are a few outdoor studies. An example of a glass plate negative is featured above, this is a goat race from the early 1900's. Goat races were common in rural towns as entertainment at agricultural shows, sporting events and other celebrations. This local jockey is Bob Sloan, who had a Men's Wear business in Wangaratta.

glass plate negatives

Mr Ernie Fitzgerald of Tarrawingee, traveled to Wangaratta, a distance of 14 Kilometres on Market days for his provisions. He was pulled along by his one of two dogs attached to a hand held leather strap (recounted by a witness who remembers Mr Fitzgerald's weekly visit to Wangaratta for supplies at The CoStore). This vehicle remains in possession of his family. This was an unique mode of transport in the 1930's, the witness was a child at the time and remembers Mr Fitzgerald and his dogs and the cart quite clearly.

This is a unique mode of transport for the area, is documented and still in existence.

WHS Inc were presented with 10,000 glass plate negative from Thelma & Vine Photographic Studios Murphy Street Wangaratta from the 1860's - 1950's. An example of a glass plate negative is featured above of Mr Ernie Fitzgerald of Tarrawingee who traveled to Wangaratta, a distance of 14 Kilometres on Market days for his provisions. He was pulled along by his one of two dogs attached to a hand held leather strap. (Recounted by a witness who remembers Mr Fitzgerald's weekly visit to Wangaratta for supplies). This vehicle remains in possession of his family.

Unknown

three wheel steerable chair

Wangaratta Toll Gates were erected after the punt was sunk and the new bridge over the Ovens river was opened in 1855; a charge was made for people, animals, carts, cars and buses and trucks later on. A gatehouse keeper lived in a residence near the gates to charge users when they crossed. The gates were refurbished by the students at the local GOTAFE college and are being rehoused as a feature of the river beautification works along the Ovens River.

The Toll Gates were on the first (and only bridge at the time) that crossed near the junction of the Ovens & King rivers at Wangaratta in the mid 1800's. They are a vital part of the city's heritage.

Two white timber gates, hung on white timber posts by metal hinges.

wangaratta toll gates

Two brothers - surname Wain - found this phonogram at the Chiltern tip. It was recovered and restored by Mr Gray of Chiltern and presented to the Wangaratta Historical Society by Mr Bruce Kirkwood in 1967. Edison cylinder records were obtained and these are able to be played on this machine. These Edison phonograms were highly sought after and valued as an alternate entertainment in the homes of those who had the means of affording this machine.

Brown table model Edison Phonogram Wooden box base with fluted metal horn Plays metal cylindrical records

edison phonogram

This window was originally above the door at 29 Murphy Street, a butcher shop run by Jas. Ferguson and Company and later bought by Bob Hoysted who had worked for Jas Ferguson as an apprentice. The window sits in a painted wood frame and illustrates a pastoral scene with a cow, two grazing sheep and a path leading to an open gate. Butcher shops typically illustrated their business with illustrations of the animals they sold. The painted glass pieces are held together by lead. Some of the pieces are textured. The artist is unknown. It is possible that the window was imported from Europe since decorative glass works in Australia at the end of the 19th century were rare, if not non-existent. Decorating store fronts with windows such as this one was popular in Melbourne at the end of the 19th century.

These jars were used in Chemist shops as advertising and storage of medical herbs.This jar was donated to the WHS by a local woman whose great uncle had a Chemist business in Boulder Kalgoorlie in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s. The great uncle Harry Saxon Lee was born in 1869 in Ballarat and died in Perth W A in 1967. The Chemist shop in Boulder Kalgoorlie later became a museum.

The clock made of marble, known as the Handcock Clock at the Wangaratta Museum, was presented to Harriet and Charles Handcock of Myrrhee near Wangaratta on Anzac Day in 1917, by the Oxley Shire, for the commitment of eight of their nine sons to the First World War. Two of their sons were killed during the war and three others came home with injuries. One young son and two girls were left home. The Handcock Clock was donated to the Wangaratta Historical Society in 1967 and is on display in the Museum.

There is a plaque on the front of the clock with the date, presenters, and reason for presentation.

The Fire Bell The first constituted meeting to form a Wangaratta volunteer Fire Brigade took place on 16th May 1876 at the Council Club Hotel Murphy Street Wangaratta. In June 1876 Council agreed to provide a Fire Bell at a cost of 10 pounds. In 1895 the bell was erected in Ford Street at the purpose built Fire Station that was later to become the Wangaratta Historical Society Museum. The bell can be seen in place in the Old Fire Station photo 000001.

This photo shows the foundation stone that was erected on the Manchester Unity Hall site when it was built in 1961. The building was demolished to make way for the Local Government Center, presently housing the Rural City of Wangaratta. The first meeting of Manchester Unity members was held in Wangaratta 1863.

This was an important sociocultural group in Wangaratta during the mid 20th Century.

This photo shows the foundation stone that was erected on the Manchester Unity Hall site when it was built in 1961. The building was demolished to make way for the Local Government Center, presently housing the Rural City of Wangaratta and other government departments.

manchester unity hall wangaratta muioof

In this era women of Marianne Gibson's position in society were chaperoned and chauffeured, their role was that of wife and mother, busy in their home. Women did not have the vote and those who worked were servants who lived with families. The Gibson family was well respected in the community and Marianne was the mother of 8 children.

The Marianne Gibson Quilt is one of the finest examples of crazy patchwork quilting known to exist globally. It features items from her husband's hardware shop, household objects, oriental designs as well as local fauna and flora and the quality of the needlework is outstanding. It is extremely well preserved and unfaded. For a short film about the Marianne Gibson Quilt, visit Culture Victoria: http://www.cv.vic.gov.au/stories/marianne-gibsons-crazy-patchwork-quilt/11762/marianne-gibsons-crazy-patchwork-quilt/

The Marianne Gibson Quilt is owned by the Wangaratta Historical Society and was placed on the Victorian Heritage Register in 2011. Marianne Gibson was born in Ireland and 1863 and married her cousin Alexander McCulla Gibson in 1864 in Wangaratta. The quilt is"...one of the finest examples of a crazy patchwork quilt in the world" (Victorian Heritage Register) and is composed of 9 blocks featuring silks and velvets with a backing of beige silk. The crazy patchwork style popular between 1876 and 1920 encompasses many different patterns that tell stories of that age and uniquely showcases local flora and fauna. Marianne made the quilt between 1891 and 1896. She loved flowers, birds, her garden and especially her family. This is evident in her quilt embroidery and stitching so lovingly demonstrated. Marianne died on 8th March 1911. She left the quilt to her daughters Clara and Edith who gave it to their housekeeper Miss Alma Gard in 1934. When Miss Gard retired to a nursing home in 1985 the quilt was donated to the Wangaratta Historical Society.

MG 1891

marianne gibson quilt crazy patchwork local fauna flora

The Wangaratta Tin Kan Band, a significant part of local folklore, was formed mainly for the purpose of raining funds for the district hospital. The original drum was a discarded carbine tin, hence the band's name Tin Kan Band. The band was formed in 1914 by Syn Emery and was active until 1935. Music was important in this era for public and social functions. The instruments played were tin whistles, mouth organs, accordions, banjos, violins, guitars, drums, wash boards and anything that would make a musical sound; they often made their own instruments such as one string fiddles. Each band member had their own distinctive costume. The band members were mostly business men and shop owners who used their talents to entertain at public functions. They organized sports meetings, dances, concerts and anything that would help the hospital financially and in the depression of the 1930's; they were the mainstay that helped keep the hospital going.

Very significant in local public and social functions and a part of local folk lore.

The Wangaratta Tin Kan Band, a significant part of local folklore, was formed mainly for the purpose of raising funds for the district hospital. The original drum was a discarded carbine tin, hence the band's name Tin Kan Band. The band was formed in 1914 and was active until 1935. Music was important in this era for public and social functions. The instruments played were tin whistles, mouth organs, accordions, banjos, violins, guitars, drums, wash boards and anything that would make a musical sound; they often made their own instruments such as one string fiddles. Each band member had their own distinctive costume. The band members were mostly business men and shop owners who used their talents to entertain at public functions. They organized sports meetings, dances, concerts and anything that would help the hospital financially and in the depression of the 1930's; they were the mainstay that helped keep the hospital going.

tin kan band syn emery music

The Wangaratta Historical Society Inc. (WHS) was established in 1959 and moved into its present home in the 1970s. Wangaratta in North East Victoria has a population of over 27 thousand people and is situated at the junction of the King and the Ovens Rivers. Agriculture has always been a big part of its history as well as education, health and manufacturing. The museum was originally a fire station built 1895 and included living quarters for its staff. The building is owned by the Rural City of Wangaratta who are great supporters of the WHS The museum was bequeathed 10,000 glass negatives from the late 1800s to the 1950s these were by the Vine & Thelma studios of mostly, portraits, weddings and historical photos. Also owned by the WHS is the Maianne Gibson crazy patchwork quilt made by a Wangaratta woman in the 1890s and now Heritage listed. This Quilt is housed in an specially controlled conditions. The Wangaratta Historical Society Museum was accredited in 2012 under the Museums Accreditation Program.

The photo shows "William Clarke" who owned and operated the first commercial Punt across the Ovens River during the goldrush days

the photograph shows "William Clarke" who was one of the first pioneers of the township of Wangaratta as it is now known. He also built one of the first hotels in Wangaratta.

Brown wooden framed photograph, greyish background with silver surround around photo of William Clarke, one of Wangaratta's foundation pioneers. The wood is from the first punt. He was the owner of the first punt to cross the Ovens river, which he had built for 500 pounds. It was sunk in 1855 after the first bridge across the Ovens river was built.

William Clarke1 1839 Wangaratta William Clarke 11 William Clarke 111(my father) Nell Clarke 1884-1965 William Clarke 1 Pioneer of Wangaratta Vic. 1839 This frame is made of oak from the punt he operated over the Ovens River during the goldrush days to Beechworth

clarke family, punt, sydney hotel