Gold Museum, Ballarat ~ Showcasing Ballarat's history

Intern Lucy Hughes uncovers the stories behind our Miner’s Rights

Interning at the Gold Museum has been an inspiring experience. It has enabled me to use what I have learnt at university in a practical work environment.

It is fascinating to research the history behind a Miner’s Right as it gains a story that otherwise may remain untouched.

Miner’s Right, 1865 (Gold Museum collection, 70.5512)

Since 1855, the Victorian government has managed gold prospecting through a licensing system known as the Miner’s Right. These certificates grant prospectors permission to search for gold in Victoria.

The Gold Museum holds over 300 Miner’s Rights which is the largest collection in the state. This collection has been recognised as significant by the Victorian Heritage Register.

There were challenges with researching this collection. Information on miners is not always found or it is hard to distinguish between people that have the potential to connect to the right.

One piece of information can begin to uncover the story of the rights and its owner. The Public Records Office of Victoria and Trove have been useful in discovering information about the miners behind the certificates.

Miner’s Right, 1901 (Gold Museum collection, 05.1199)

Theophilus Williams

Theophilus Williams came to Australia from Bristol, England. Theophilius was the director of various mining companies and went on to become the Mayor of Ballarat East. He managed both the ‘Great Redan Extended Company’ and the Llanberris Company, 1865 and 1872 respectively.[1]

Andrew Cant

Andrew Cant was originally from Scotland. He was originally a plumber in Melbourne and relocated to Ballarat where he re-established his plumbing business. Andrew also held managerial positions within various mining companies. [2]

The story of Theophilus Williams and Andrew Cant highlight the importance of researching the Miner’s Right collection; otherwise these stories may have become lost in history.

Written by Lucy Hughes, Bachelor of Arts (History) student at Deakin University.

REFERENCES

[1] ‘The Mayor of Ballarat East’, The Ballarat Star, September 1, 1894

[2] ‘Obituary’, The Ballarat Courier, September 20, 1915

Intern Charlottle Ford explores our Britt family collection

Emma Britt (Gold Museum collection, 2016.0068.84)

I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to intern at the Gold Museum for two weeks. I was given the task of helping research the Britt family collection.

John and Mary Britt migrated from Ireland to Ballarat in the 1860s. They became farmers in Dunnstown after purchasing 10 acres for £10 in 1861. That land has stayed within the family ever since.

It was interesting to discover that even today the land is now the location of the Inglenook Dairy, which is a major independent dairy brand.

Even more amazing is the fact that the Britt family now has around 1,000 living descendants, with many living in the Ballarat region.

John and Mary went on to have seven children, however it was Edmond, Cornelius and John that survived. Each of them went on to have their own families, with most of them continuing the farming tradition.

Although during my time I wasn’t able to identify everyone I’d hoped to, the ones I have been able to seem to have interesting stories of their own.

The collection also includes jewellery belonging to family members we were able to identify in historical photographs at the Gold Museum. It was an interesting experience investigating the jewellery’s brands and patterns to find their own story.

Gold cross owned by Emma Britt (Gold Museum collection, 2016.0071)

Although it was a struggle trying to recognise vintage watch brands, I enjoyed the sleuthing I had to do. Using Trove and the State Library of Victoria helped place a time-frame on when things possibly occurred.

I also got to try my hand at transcribing some of the postcards that belonged to the family. One difficulty was figuring out who sent the cards to whom, as many of the family members had the same name.

This whole experience has been amazing. As an undergraduate student it is difficult getting opportunities like this. I’m looking forward to seeing more Ballarat stories at the museum in the future.

The story of the Britt family and their collection will appear in the newly updated Gold Pavilion at the end of 2017.

Written by Charlotte Ford, Bachelor of Arts (Japanese and History) student at Federation University.

Gold Museum’s stater coin from Ancient Greece.

Front of a stater coin from Ancient Greece, 359-336 BC (Gold Museum collection, 76.0144)

Obverse of stater coin from Ancient Greece, 359-336 BC (Gold Museum collection, 76.0144)

The Gold Museum has a collection of ancient coins from Greece and Rome collected by Ballarat philanthropist Paul Simon.

One item from this collection includes the Greek stater coin from 359-336BC.

Philip II of Macedon appears on this coin. Young and ambitious, Phillip financed his conquest of nearby states by producing coins, called staters, made from gold captured from neighbouring mines.

Phillip was able to conquer his neighbours with a well-trained army and an abundant supply of gold coins.

The size, shape and design of modern Western coins has its origins in Ancient Greece.

The Greek empire extended from around the Black Sea, North Africa, Italy, France and Spain.

Ancient Greece was made up of small city states, where trading become essential. As a result, a currency system was developed.

The stater coin and other historical currency from the Simon collection is currently on display in our Paul & Jessica Simon Gold Pavilion.

World War One artillery shells

Artillery shell (Gold Museum collection, 75.175)

World War One  is often characterised as an artillery war.

Millions of rounds of shells were fired to devastating effect on troops and the countryside.

Soldiers who escaped being blown up by high explosive or cut to pieces by shrapnel were still in danger of suffering shell shock.

Repeated exposure to the sheer concussive force of an extended barrage often leading to the nerve and psychological damage now known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In the Belgium and French countryside farmers every year turn up an ‘Iron Harvest’ of shells, both live and spent.

This shell is on display at the Gold Museum as part of the Shrine of Remembrance’s exhibition Australia Will Be There, on show until September 18, 2016.

Written by Katrina Nicholson, Centenary Exhibition Research Officer, Shrine of Remembrance

Horse Saddlebag, 1914-1918

German Cavalry Saddlebag (Gold Museum collection, 75.0175)

World War One marked a transitional period in the use of the horse in warfare.

Cavalry had limited use after 1914 on the Western Front, where entrenched positions, and extensive barbed wire and machine gun emplacements, prevented their traditional function of breaking up enemy infantry concentrations.

After the Boer War (1899-1902) British cavalry units were increasingly trained in the use of rifles and dismounted manoeuvres, which made them more adaptable to the changed conditions.

German cavalry units maintained traditional weapons and tactics and, after 1914, were primarily used on the more mobile Eastern Front.

Horses were used for reconnaissance, messenger duties and, overwhelmingly, to haul supplies, ammunition, artillery, and ambulances, across ground that defeated mechanised transport.

It is estimated that as many as eight million horses, and countless mules and donkeys, died during World War One.

This saddlebag is on display at the Gold Museum as part of the Shrine of Remembrance’s exhibition Australia Will Be There, on show until September 18, 2016.

Written by Katrina Nicholson, Centenary Exhibition Research Officer, Shrine of Remembrance

German gas mask and case, circa 1915-17

Gas masks provided some protection from the various types of deadly gas used by the opposing sides during World War One.

Tear gas and the deadly chlorine and phosgene gases were widely used, but the irritant mustard gas was the most effective in disabling troops.

Mustard gas had a devastating effect on the skin and eyes, often leading to blindness, and, when inhaled, resulted in blistered lungs and throat.

It could linger in the soil for months until reactivated by heat.

This German gas mask is on display at the Gold Museum as part of the Shrine of Remembrance’s exhibition Australia Will Be There, on show until September 18, 2016.

Written by Katrina Nicholson, Centenary Exhibition Research Officer, Shrine of Remembrance

Ballarat’s breweries and temperance movement.

Breweries and other alcohol distilleries were established on Ballarat’s goldfields to meet diggers’ drinking needs. Alcohol was a particularly popular beverage as available water was polluted. Diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera and typhoid were a serious threat to anyone drinking local creek water. [1]

Warrenheip Brewery

The Warrenheip Brewery was established in 1887 by William Kenna. He had extensive brewing experience prior, having worked for 20 years at the Phoenix Brewery in Warrenheip and for Magill and Coghlan. Kenna’s beer gained acceptance in the local community through the usage of a large fresh water spring.

The company was sold to the Breheny brothers in 1912. Brewing ceased in 1914, and the company moved into distilling grain, as well as whiskey and gin. [2]

Warrenheip Brewery stencil (Gold Museum collection, 78.2100)

Ballarat Bitter bottle (Ballarat Historical Society, 78.2448)

Ballarat Brewing Company

Located at Lydiard St South Ballarat, Ballarat Brewing Company was established in 1895 by James Coglan of Phoenix Brewing and William Tulloch of Royal Standard Brewery.

The famous 1927 ‘Ballarat Bertie’ mascot was first depicted on the labels of the company’s bottles.

Ballarat Brewing Company was sold to Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) in 1958. CUB ceased operations in Ballarat in 1989 and the site was sold to the Ballarat School of Mines. [3]

Buninyong Brewery

Buninyong Brewery (Ballarat Historical Society, 171.79)

Eureka Brewing Company bottle (Ballarat Historical Society, 78.0867)

Located at 107 Yuille Street, Buninyong Brewery was built by Thomas Shepard during the 1850s. It was known as ‘Shepard’s Brewery’ and produced crystal malt ale. [4]

Eureka Brewing Company

The Eureka Brewing Company was a soft drink manufacturer in Ballarat formed in 1897. The company produced soft drinks, cordial and bux ale, a non-alcoholic beverage brewed from malt and hops. The factory closed in 1926. [5]

Ballarat’s Temperance Movement

Many Ballarat locals and authorities were anxious about public drunkenness and excessive alcohol consumption on the goldfields.

From the 1850s onwards, concerned citizens established temperance societies to promote alcohol abstinence and the reduction of liquor licences.

The Ballarat Total Abstinence Society (BTAS) was one of the largest and longest-serving temperance organisations. Established in the 1850s, the BTAS campaigned against the increasing number of liquor establishments in Ballarat. They also extolled the virtues of living an alcohol-free life. [6]

From the mid-twentieth century, the Society began to focus on drug and alcohol prevention as general attitudes about alcohol relaxed. The BTAS continued up until the early 2000s.

SOURCES

[1] ‘Alcohol on the Goldfields’, Sovereign Hill Education Blog, last modified 21 February 2014, https://sovereignhilledblog.com/2014/02/21/alcohol-on-the-goldfields/

[2] ‘Warrenheip Brewery’, Ballarat Industrial Heritage Wiki, last modified 11 October 2013, https://bih.federation.edu.au/index.php/Warrenheip_Brewery

[3] ‘Ballarat Brewing Company’, Ballarat Industrial Heritage Wiki, last modified 5 March 2013, https://bih.federation.edu.au/index.php/Ballarat_Brewing_Company

[4] ‘Buninyong Brewery’, Ballarat Industrial Heritage Wiki, last modified 21 September 2012, https://bih.federation.edu.au/index.php/Buninyong_Brewery

[5] ‘Eureka Brewing Company’, Ballarat Industrial Heritage Wiki, last modified 25 May 2012, https://bih.federation.edu.au/index.php/Eureka_Brewing_Co.

[6] ‘Ballarat Total Abstinence Society’, The Star, November 21, 1860; ‘Ballarat Total Abstinence Society’, The Ballarat Star, October 19, 1904

Margaret McBean’s internship at the Gold Museum.

I am a Deakin University Cultural Heritage student and have just completed an internship at the Gold Museum.

Margaret photographing a chair from the Geddes Collection (Photo: Liz Marsden)

I have been fortunate in having the opportunity to work alongside Collections Manager, Elizabeth Marsden, who generously shared her knowledge and provided many experiences in supporting my learning.

My project involved auditing the Geddes Pioneer Chair Collection, a fascinating assortment of early Australian chairs and stools acquired by Sovereign Hill in 1975.

Most of the items have been handmade and they demonstrate striking improvisation, practical skills and creativity.

Improved storage space has made this project possible and the Vernon collection database presents the opportunity for optimal recording and future uploading to the website.

The internship focus was on familiarisation and practical application of collection management standards.

Existing records for each object were checked then the items were assessed for conservation needs, photographed, given new location codes and placed in the relevant storage area.

During this process, comments for future action and observations were noted and basic preservation attention was provided if necessary.

Data was added to Vernon which gave me useful experience in professional collection recording.

Wire chair from the Geddes Collection (Gold Museum, 77.037)

Further research was required at times and I was also pleased to learn new skills in object handling, digital photography and editing.

I was amazed with the way a photographic studio space could be created with minimal resources.

The key realisation for me was the importance of policies and methodical practices for collection management. A clear location system is obviously vital.

The chance to become familiar with a professional heritage organisation has been valuable.

In appreciating the relationship between the Gold Museum and Sovereign Hill, it was interesting to observe the helpful and collaborative interactions between staff and volunteers in varied roles.

I have particularly enjoyed the teamwork and problem solving aspects and am grateful to develop many understandings and skills.

My appreciation for the collection and individual objects has been cultivated through the internship process and I have many ‘favourites’!

Written by Margaret McBean, student enrolled in Deakin University’s Graduate Diploma of Cultural Heritage.

Early days of cycling in Ballarat

Europeans had been developing variations of the modern-day bicycle since the 18th century. By the 1860s, a commercially successful and fully operational bicycle was taking Europe.

Ballarat’s press closely followed the growing bicycle movement, reporting on the latest developments from overseas and locally.

First velocipede race at Melbourne Cricket Ground, 1869 (State Library of Victoria collection, IAN14/08/69/161)

There was much interest in Ballarat by the time the two-wheeled phenomenon reached town. One of the first bicycle sightings was in 1869 when a group of cyclists rode their velocipedes to Buninyong. One reporter called the new vehicle ‘a sort of treadmill on wheels’.

Bicycles soon became a fixture of Ballarat’s social and cultural life. Velocipede races were held at local sporting carnivals, festivals and agricultural shows.

They were also given away as prizes at local fundraising events and fetes. Ballarat cyclists, such as foundry worker James Ivey, established themselves as regular winners of velocipede events held in Ballarat and Melbourne.

Velocipede, circa 1870s. This velocipede was owned by Athol Kelly who rode it in vintage bicycle races up until the 1990s; hence the modern additions such as brakes. (Gold Museum collection, 99.0014)

The velocipede was nicknamed ‘the boneshaker’ because of its iron wheels, stiff frame and difficult steering system.

Ballarat locals were intrigued by the appearance of the velocipede.

In 1869, a crowd of 500 onlookers gathered opposite the Ballarat Post Office to see a rider propel his velocipede down Sturt Street. One onlooker described the vehicle as a ‘buggy the man worked by himself’.

Not everyone welcomed the new addition to Ballarat’s roads. Reports of collisions between cyclists and horses were used by media commentators to highlight the dangers of two-wheeled vehicles.

To learn more about the early history of cycling in Ballarat and Australia, visit the Gold Museum to see On Your Bike!and the National Museum of Australia’s Freewheeling: Cycling in Australia.

References

‘BCC Athletic Sports Meeting’, Ballarat Star, 22 October 1869.

‘News and Notes’, Ballarat Star, 27 April 1869.

‘News and Notes’, Ballarat Star, 21 May 1869.

‘News and Notes’, Ballarat Star, 8 June 1869.

‘News and Notes’, Ballarat Star, 19 June 1869.

‘News and Notes’, Ballarat Star, 23 June 1869.

‘The Velocipede Nuisance’, Ballarat Star, 10 November 1869.

‘To the Editor of the Star’, Ballarat Star, 28 June 1869.

‘Velocipede and Other Races’, Ballarat Star, 11 September 1869.

To celebrate Children’s Book Week, we have digitised a selection of children’s stories from the Gold Museum collection.

This week our blog will showcase a few publications to highlight children’s literature from the past and may be even reignite some memories!

Today, we highlight the Gold Museum’s collection of Tiger Tim’s Annual comic series from the 1920s.

Tiger Tim was a British comic book character who appeared in a weekly series of publications beginning in 1919.

Publishers also released Tiger Tim’s Annuals which featured the adventures of Tiger Tim and his friends, the Bruin Boys.

Tiger Tim’s Annuals expanded on the weekly series with additional stories, songs, games, nursery rhymes and puzzles. The annuals kept children entertained until 1956 when publication ceased.

Written by Snjez Cosic, Gold Museum Curator

Tiger Tim’s Annual, 1928 (Gold Museum collection, 94.0428)

Sylvia’s sixpence, Tiger TIm’s Annual 1928 (Gold Museum collection, 94.0428)

Now watch! New tricks to try on friends, Tiger Tim’s Annual 1928 (Gold Museum collection, 94.0428)

Fun and frolic in the sweet shop, Tiger Tim’s Annual 1927 (Gold Museum collection, 94.0426)

After the Apples game, Tiger Tim’s Annual, 1927 (Gold Museum collection, 94.0426)