Chiltern Athenaeum Museum

02/09/2026

Tickets are limited, so get in early!

29/08/2026

29/08/2026

In 1902 John H Dean was appointed head-teacher at Chiltern State School 327, a brilliant teacher, who during his 8-year tenure in Chiltern, saw students flourish, with many going on to excel in their fields - one of these students was a young Harold Rabling.
Harold Rabling, the son of Frank and Catherine nee Mitchell was born in Clunes in 1890. The Rabling family moved to Chiltern in 1891 when Frank was appointed manager of the Chiltern Quartz Mine. He managed the Barambogie Mine and the Chiltern Valley Consols, before being appointed manager of the Prentice and Great Southern Gold Mines in Rutherglen. Whilst in Chiltern the family lived in Epsom Road with the children attending the Chiltern State School. Harold attended Chiltern State School from January 1895 to December 1904, from 1902 under the tutelage of J.H. Dean. December 1904 saw Dean encourage fourteen-year-old Harold to sit the annual examination for scholarships held by Melbourne University High - Harold Rabling, one of 224 students came second on the list, gaining 164 marks to the 167 gained by the first - this entitled him to free tuition. He continued his education at Wesley College, Melbourne, winning a scholarship to Melbourne University, and graduating in 1914 with a Bachelor of Mining and Engineering Degree. He also won the prestigious Dixon final honors scholarship, as well as excelling at athletics and captaining the Melbourne University rowing and rifle teams.
During World War 1 Harold Rabling served with the A.I.F. Field Engineers stationed in France. Shortly after the war he went to the United States, where he worked as mill superintendent for the St. Joseph Lead Company, the largest lead-mining company in America. In 1923 Mr. Rabling and his wife returned to Australia where he joined the Vacuum Oil Company Pty. Ltd. His first position was that of lubrication engineer at Melbourne. In 1935 Mr. Rabling went to New York, as assistant to the company's resident director. In 1945, he was appointed Chairman and Managing Director of the Vacuum Oil Company Pty. Ltd (later Mobil Oil). Shortly after the outbreak of World War 2, he was instrumental in forming the “Anzac War Relief Fund of New York,” a group of former residents of Australia and New Zealand along with others, who raised and sent cash and supplies to Australian and New Zealander fighting forces to the value of $200,000 per annum. During World War 2, he also played an important role in supplying petroleum products to the allied forces in the Pacific from his New York headquarters. In consequence of these actions he was awarded the King’s Medal for service in the cause of freedom.
In 1950 Rabling was influential in the Standard Vacuum Oil Co., running a radio program called the Mobil Quest, a contest to find the best singer in Australia. Mr. Rabling presented Joan Sutherland, the winner with the cash prize award which was sufficient to send her to Europe to further her music studies and singing career.
In 1948, Mr. Rabling and his wife Marjorie McMinn, entertained Helen Keller at a party in Melbourne at their home (Helen Keller was an American author, disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer. She lost her sight and hearing after a bout of illness when she was 19 months old).
In 1949 When Mr Rabling heard of the tragic loss of his former school Chiltern State School 327 to fire he donated £25 and initiated a subscription list to be opened in the “Sun Pictorial” newspaper. That paper then donated one-third of the proceeds of the Mr. Melbourne competition, being £146, and they organized an appeal in their paper which brought in over £300.
On July 26 1949, Chiltern folk gathered at the Star Theatre when representatives of the Vacuum Oil Co., “Sun News Pictorial”, and local residents took the opportunity of presenting cheques to the Mothers’ Club. And along with the monetary donations the Vacuum Oil Co. donated a magnificent Harmer & Heath sound projector valued at about £250. Unfortunately Mr Rabling was unable to attend as he was on his way to New York.
Mr. Rabling’s work with the Vacuum Oil Co., took him to much of Asia and Africa as well as Pacific countries. And when he retired he turned to writing. In 1961, in collaboration with Patrick Hamilton he produced the story of Australia entitled “Under the Southern Cross” written as an adventure story of a vigorous people conquering a continent. The book was then used as a textbook in schools. Two books by Rabling followed, in 1965, “The Story of the Pacific,” and in 1966 “Pioneers Of The Pacific - The Story Of The South Seas.”
Harold Rabling died at his daughter’s residence in Geneva Lake Wisconsin on December the 30th 1977, a life well lived.

29/08/2026

On the road to Barnawartha 1923

21/08/2026

To welcome home those who served in the First World War the Chiltern Valley community formed a "Welcome Home Committee," and raised funds by holding concerts which were a huge success. The Welcome Home celebrations saw large crowds come to help celebrate and acknowledge the service of those who returned. And the returning servicemen were presented with gold medals inscribed with their name and 'From residents of CHILTERN VALLEY on his return from the WORLD GREAT WAR.' Those who were welcomed home and received medals included Gunner Bottrell and Privates Barr, Rosengren and Guy (and more). Pictured is Private Leslie Claude Barr and the Welcome Home medal he was presented with on his return to Chiltern Valley in 1919. Thanks to Lesley Holmes for the pictures of the Pte Les Barr's medal.

19/08/2026

The former Council Club Hotel, Conness Street Chiltern - Originally a saddlery on the site, until the 1870s when the Council Club Hotel was built here. James Wilson, owned and occupied the hotel until the early 1900s. In 1890 the Hotel premises were enlarged when Wilson purchased John Hancock’s drapery building next door (lately the Iron Bark Fish and Chips and now the All Sports Bar and Grill). Wilson added another storey, and a verandah was extended across the front of the complex one room wide, but it proved to be unstable and was later demolished. The two-storey brick building to the rear of this building is the former Billiards Room. The hotel changed hands many times until August 1940 when Mrs. Olive May Brown, the owner and occupier at the time surrendered the license and the hotel was delicensed.
In 1948 the Wangaratta Woollen Mills opened the Chiltern annexe of the Woollen Mills at the site providing employment for many locals - thanks to Elaine Richardson (nee Everon) who provided us with the following information of the factory and the employees - 'The main workspace was a large room with a small office, a lunchroom, and a small room for different machines. The unattached double story building was used as a storeroom. Main space held two double sided machines where yarn was joined from bobbins to cones. Each worker handled 8 bobbins, there were 4 or 5 women each side totalling 16 or 20. The small room held 4 to 5 women. The manager Mr Len Elliot drove truck loads of supplies from Wangaratta each morning returning each afternoon with the completed work.'
Staff Elaine remembers include Len Elliot, Mrs Freda Potter, and Janet Lord (office), Stan Jackson and Kevin Findlay (storeroom) and in the factory Elaine Everon, Jo Douglas, Amy Lappin, Mrs Tregea, Nancy Plastow, Pat Cooper, Norma Towers, Eileen & Maureen Bergin, Elsie & Dolly Cathro, Edie Peisley, Joyce Wain, Mavis & Alma Harvey, and Mary Costin. And maybe Mrs Oats, Coral Peisley, Pam Cassidy and Pat Hill also worked there.
In 1949 the mill workers celebrated their fellow workers: when the Misses Scott, Newbound, Baxter and Waite of Barnawartha left they were presented with gifts; when Eva Price married Norman Minns Eva was presented with a silver cake dish; and when Daphne Chant married Ron Howes she was presented with a silver butter dish.
In 1954, after extensions to the Wangaratta mill buildings, the Chiltern annexe was considered uneconomic and was closed. Employees were offered work at the Wangaratta Mill, Kevin Findlay was amongst those who transferred to Wangaratta.
Thanks to Sandra Buckley for sharing the photo of a group of the mill employees - Sandra's mother Maureen Roberts is on the far left. We need help with naming the others in the photo, and any further information on the mill would be appreciated.

16/08/2026

We remember with fondness Chiltern Shire Council and the Councillors that served us well

13/08/2026

The Chiltern Girl Guide 70 year celebration display included many photographs including these groups of guides in need of some names added - if known please add names to those as yet not identified - thank you

13/08/2026

The Elderly Citizens Hall was packed on Sunday with Chiltern Girl Guides both past and present celebrating 70 years of Guiding and 40 years of Chiltern’s Trefoil Guild – memories were shared, a campfire with a campfire singalong, the cutting of a celebratory cake by Tawny Owl (Norma Bagley) followed by afternoon tea and catching up with Guiding friends of old. Councillor Roberta Horne, one of many guest speakers, issued a challenge to Chiltern Guides to create a time capsule reflecting on life today, to be encapsuled and opened on the 100th birthday in 2056 – the challenge was accepted, altho' many of the elders present reckon they will be looking down from above when its opened. Then it was over to the Guide Hall to see the display of memorabilia and photos. Thanks to all who contributed to make this such a special day, including those who shared so many items and photos on display at the Guide Hall.
Remembering campsongs: Ging Gang Gooley Gooley Watchem, Ging gang goo, ging gang goo,
Ging Gang Gooley Gooley Watchem, Ging gang goo, ging gang goo
Hey la, oh hey la chey la, oh hey la chey ho
Hey la, oh hey la chey la, oh hey la chey ho
Shalla walla, shalla walla, shalla walla, shalla walla
Umpah, umpah, umpah, umpah.

07/08/2026

From the "Border Morning Mail and Riverina Times," 26 August 1912. 'CHILTERN DISTRICT ASSOCIATION - CHILTERN VALLEY PREMIERS - The final match for the premiership of the above association was played in the Chiltern Park on Saturday. The day was an ideal one for football, not a breath of wind to favor either side, and the game was keenly contested. A large number of spectators were present, the sum of £7 11/6 being taken at the gates. Green, a League umpire, umpired the game capitally, and his decisions were very prompt. Messrs. B. Dolton, and S. Snow, of Xmas-town were the goal umpires. The Time Keepers were S Carkeek and G Cooper and the Official Scorer was J A Anderson.
The Chiltern Valley No. 2 team was: H Rosengren (Captain), F Smith, Nelson, A Plum, W Plum, Alf Plum, Purser, Dodd, McGuffie, Kelly, W Withers, Harrison, Henderson, Kerr, Murray, Pearce and Teagle.
The Wodonga team: Hammond (captain), J & S De Graves, Mahony, Mathieson, Abbott, Wilson, Gardiner, Edwards, Hodgeson, Clarke, Strang, Lambourne, Richardson, Gordon, Quirk, Green, and Duncan.'
Pictured is the Chiltern Valley No.2 team, winners of the Chiltern District Football Asssociation Final of 1912 (believed to be a T. Bonsema photograph). Club colours were green and gold.
Chiltern Valley Football Club had a large following of supporters - as pictured here are the barrackers circa 1906 (Hugen & Ilsley Photographers Rutherglen) middle row - 3rd from right may be an Everon (thanks Elaine)