Mount Alexander Shire Council welcomed Vicki Froomes to the Council chamber on Friday 19 May to receive an historical silver jug and salver (tray).
The artefacts were originally gifted to William Froomes Jr, the first Chairman of the Castlemaine Council, upon his retirement in 1862.
Vicki Froomes, who is William Froomes Jr’s great, great granddaughter, presented the family heirloom to Castlemaine Ward Councillor Bill Maltby.
Cr Maltby said that it was an honour to receive the silver jug and salver on behalf of Council.
“We’re proud to be receiving these historical Castlemaine artefacts from Ms Froomes,” said Cr Maltby.
“We learnt from an excerpt in the Mount Alexander Mail on 18 July 1865 that Chairman Froomes was grateful for the friendships he made at Council and for the retirement gifts, which he placed in the Bank of Victoria for safe keeping.
“They were intended by Chairman Froomes to be handed down to his eldest son Arthur, and then on through the generations.
“After Arthur, it was handed down to Arthur’s son Harold, then Harold’s son Kevin, who passed it on to his daughter Vicki.
“Ms Froomes believes it’s now time for the jug and salver to be returned ‘home’ to Castlemaine.
“On behalf of Council, I’d like to thank Ms Froomes and her family for keeping these items safe and gifting them to their home town.
“We’re honoured to be receiving them and placing them on display in our beautiful town.
Council is proud to be partnering with the Castlemaine Art Museum, who will be displaying the jug and salver, and the Castlemaine Historical Society, who researched a Froomes family history for Vicki Froomes.