This dress was worn by Brighton's first female mayor, Councillor Di Lopez, to a Mayoral Ball held at Brighton Technical School in 1977. Diane Margaret Lewis completed a law degree at the University of Melbourne, later marrying one of her classmates, criminal lawyer Ramon (Ray) Lopez. When she decided to run for the Brighton City Council in 1975, she was seen as an outside chance. Undeterred, she rallied a small group of friends and supporters and set out on an extensive door-knocking campaign that won voters to her side and successfully unseated former mayor Keith Devenport. She went on to serve two terms on council from 1975 to 1981. Di initiated many local projects, including the creation of a bike path along Nepean Highway and the first Brighton Festival, while balancing family life and a demanding ‘day job’ as personal assistant to Victorian Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation Brian Dixon. She was a member of the Women’s Electoral Lobby and a champion for women’s representation, encouraging both Sally Allmand and Kate Harman to run for council (both were successfully elected). She advocated forcefully for an open, transparent local government in which ratepayers had the chance to participate and be heard. In 1976 Di became the first woman to hold the title of Mayor of Brighton, and she made it clear from the outset that she was going to do it her way. For the annual mayoral ball in 1977, ordinarily a staid traditional function, she chose a discotheque theme based on the Rod Stewart album Night on the Town, with a broad dress code of ‘black tie or jeans’: ‘You’ve got to get with the times,’ she said. ‘We want people to wear whatever they feel comfortable in.’ Di herself chose to attend in this knee-length chamois dress embellished with strings, ribbons, beads and feathers. It was both a fashion statement, exemplifying her colourful, flamboyant and forthright style, and a political one: a declaration of her intention to lead a progressive council, embracing the new and refusing to be hemmed in by dated traditions. In 2020 she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her service to local government and to the community of Brighton.This dress has local historical significance for its association with Brighton's first female mayor, Councillor Di Lopez, who wore it to a Mayoral Ball in 1976. The dress exemplifies her flamboyant reputation, modern outlook and willingness to break norms. At the time, the dress was a radical choice for a Mayoral Ball, where women typically wore formal evening gowns. With her choice of dress, Cr Lopez was making a public statement, breaking away from dated traditions and announcing her intention to bring the Mayor's office into the 1970s. In this way, the dress also points to the wider social and political changes taking place both in Brighton and across Australia during the mid-1970s.Three quarter length chamois dress circa 1974. Machine stitched with a v-neck and full length sleeves and an uneven raw hem, the dress is decorated with narrow thongs of chamois embellished with red beads and blue feathers. The open-fronted bodice is laced with red ribbon and the skirt is decorated with a large blue wool cross stitch and a combination of blue wool and purple ribbon cross stitch. Made in the style of an Indian 'Wild West Dress'.di lopez, chamois, brighton, brighton council, brighton technical school, mayoral ball, 1970s, feminism

Fridge Magnet, featuring a photo image of Ballarat No. 26, with details of the Museum alongside, including phone number, web site and location. Yellow background. Made by Mister Magnets. 2 copies held. trams, tramways, btm, sales, fridge magnet, ballarat vintage tramway

Items belonged to Alfred Edward Boland, V59811, VX120170. Refer 2473 for service history.Cardboard with purple felt covering with the following mounted on for display re A.E Boland. 1. Set of Identity Discs, one round, one eight sided with cord attached. 2. Returned from Active Service Badge. 3. Rising Sun lapel badge, blackened brass. 4. Two x "Australia" shoulder badges, blackened brass. 5. Three x Officer shoulder rank Insignia, blackened brass."VX120107 CE BOLAND AE" (On the ID discs)badges, identity, military

Alan Telford VX146055 enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 28.9.43 age 20 years. On discharge from the Army 13.2.46 he was a Pte in 41st Aust Landing Craft Coy. Refer 331.8, 332.2, 358.3, 359.3, 360.4P..1) Set of Metal Discs " ID " one round and one six sided joined by string. .2) Brass Blackened " Rising Sun Badge " .3) Brass Blacked " Australia " Shoulder Badge Curved in Shape.1) VX 146055 Telford A RCAL A2 .2) Australian Commonwealth Military Forces .3) Australiaidentity, badges, uniform

'Laurentino' red jacket, casual, with flap pockets & black buttons with brass colour stars pressed on. Sleeves have buttoned cuffs and jacket has a band at waist. Panels from jacket flaps down front .Style is denim jacket.'Laurentino'costume, female

Clear glass rolling pin with one end open to enable filling with water.domestic equipment, food preparation, kitchen

This object and the set of five items is believed to have been made in or around the Staffordshire area in the United Kingdom. Over 1500 pottery firms have operated in Stoke-on-Trent since the early 1700's - Some lasted only a few years and some for well over 200 years. Some potters built and owned their own works. Many others were tenants in works built by others and a succession of potters occupied the same works. It was also a common practice for a works to be split between two different pottery companies or for a larger manufacturer to let out a smaller section of his works to a potter who would make wares which were not of interest to the pot works owner. Some potters purchased 'blanks' from other manufacturers and put their own decoration on them some items have two back stamps some have no marks at all. This adds to the confusion and frustration of trying to trace details of a particular manufacturer such as the subject item.The subject item at this time cannot be associated with an historical event, person or place, provenance regards manufacturer is unknown, item assessed as a collection asset as it is believed to have been produced before 1950.Ewer or jug, cream ironstone with brown flower spray floral decoration.(Part of 5 piece set containing ewer, bowl, brush vase, soap dish lid and soap dish)Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, porcelain container, toilet container, beauty container, ceramic, decorative object, pottery object

Displayed in History House.Metal-framed candle/rectangle holder with tinted glass sides.

Clothing. Navy blue velvet, on a brass frame, with a 34 cm long brass chain. A ''push-button'' 1.2 cm diameter, fastens the bag. A decorative, oval brass loop is attached to the centre of the frame. The velvet fabric is tightly gathered onto the frame. One side panel of the bag is exquisitely embroidered in a ''corded'' floral design, in pink, blue and greens. The bag is lined with a smokey blue watermark silk, with a flat pocket on one side. The bag contains a smokey blue pouch 7.5 cm square, holding a bevelled edge mirror on one side, and a pouch on the other, a blue nylon comb, two metal hair pins and a 5.5 cm long hat pin. with a pearl bead at one end.costume accessories, female, navy blue velvet embroidered bag

Small glazed wash set comprising basin and ewer (jug). Used indoors, generally in a bedroom to wash face and hands, when no running water available.Ceramic ewer (jug) and basin set, pink and white glaze with floral transfer decorationNo makers markstoilet sets, jugs, basins, ewer and basin sets

Item relates to S W ROSS VX78589, refer Cat No No 3147 for his service details. Also known as Dog Tags.Identity Discs x 3, all held together by string. .1) & .2) Pressed fibre, round, maroon colour. .3) 1/2 of octagonal, brown colour.1.) & .2) Stamped front: “VX78589 ROSS S W, Rel C-E, blood: 04” .3) Stamped front: “VX78589 ROSS S W, Rel C-E”military equipment - identification, discs

Metal tongs for curling hair with ornately carved handles.personal effects-toilet requisites, hairdressing

Back formal blazer worn by member of the Heidelberg Golf Club Bowling Club. Black men's blazer with navy lining, black buttons and embroidered pocket.Pocket embroidery: 'R.V.B.A. H.G.C.", on manufacturer's label: "Solweave by Sackville of Melbourne"hgc bowling club, clothing, bill leonard

Cardboard model, fold up of a Melbourne Z3 class tram No. 130, with in a plastic envelope, envelope and a writing sheet. Produced by OddBall Pty Ltd, of Rowville Vic. 3178, copyright 2012. Package titled "Pop-out Construction postcard", Has notes on the rear about the Melbourne tram system. Priced at $3.90 in the Museum shop - August 2017.trams, tramways, models, modelling, z3 class

Around the 1960s Vegemite produced a jar with a metal lid that could be used as a drinking glass after all the Vegemite was eaten. Many families had a number of vegemite glasses used by children as drinking tumblers. Vergemite was invented by Ballarat School of Mines alumni Cyril Callister. A small glass with three lines glass the the rim. It is known as a vegemite glass. vegemite, glass, vegemite glass., cyril callister

White wine glass produced for City of Moorabbin, incorporating gold edge and City of Moorabbin logoWhite wine glass with gold edging and City of Moorabbin logo printed in gold on front.Marked on base: France / luminarctableware, glassware, wine glass, city of moorabbin

Grace James, the creator of the items in the Grace James collection, designed and created costumes over a 19 year period (1969-1988) for her daughter Ceri. The collection of clothing ranges from evening wear to knitted garments. All the items display exemplary dressmaking skills. The designs are of the period and reflect evolving fashions of the time. Some items are copies of published designs whereas others are original creations. The collection was donated in 2006.While most of the items in the Fashion & Design Collection of the Kew Historical Society are commercially designed items of clothing, there are also items made by home dressmakers. Many of these exhibit outstanding design knowledge and technical skills. A large and important group of these items of women's clothing is contained in the Grace James collection of outfits created for the dressmaker's daughter. The items have additional significance due to information about the purpose of the creation and the date when it was constructed.Full-length cream silk taffeta bridesmaid’s dress. Same colour lace on the upper bodice and sleeves. australian fashion, grace james collection, bridesmaid's dresses, grace james, fashion design, fashion -- 1970s

A children's toilet product to aide in relief of suffering from chafing caused by nappy rash. A far cry from the present day products as the item has no description of contents. This was before legislation was introduced making the listing of ingredients compulsory.Small cylindrical can for Pears' Precipitated Fuller's Earth. Sides printed with product details. Lid printed with coloured picture of nurse and child.Printed on base of side in black: A & F PEARS, Limited / LONDON and SYDNEYbaby product, a & f pears, tin, sydney, london, printed tin, round tin, children, mothers, nappy rash, powder product, medical, victorian, printing process, font, collectable

Smith House badge

Male wool shirt made in Bradford, U.K. The shirt is cut from first fabric woven from 100% traceable Australian wool. Bradford Mills differ to Australian mills in that the entire process of producing worsted material does not take place at the one firm/factory. Rather it is split between many firm/factories specialising in their task in the production of worsted material. For example, the wool goes from merchants to combers to produce tops, the tops to spinners to produce yarn and then the yarn is sold to manufactures who weave it into cloth. After the weaving is done the cloth has to be sent to the dryers and finishers, who scour, dye and finish the cloth. Finally, the finished cloth is purchase by a fresh set of merchants, who will later sell the cloth elsewhere in England or abroad. At each these steps a new firm is handling the wool/cloth making it hard to track lineage of wool through this process and hence hard to guarantee 100% Australian wool. This shirt was purchased and worn by the donor’s husband, George H. Gerber, an Australian Wool Buyer. The shirt was purchased on one of George’s trips to Bradford in the U.K. on company business. Gerber was a second-generation Wool Traders in his family. His father, also named George H. Gerber, worked for Kreglinger & Furneau. He worked for them in Boston, U.S.A. before he died from the Spanish Flu in 1918. The company then promised a job to his oldest son (donor’s husband) once he finished school. Thus, George came to be trained as a Fine Wool Classer by Kreglinger & Furneaux (Aust.) Pty Ltd where he was employed as a Wool Buyer all his working life. He retired in 1969 as the head of their Australian office when the company was taken over Also of note, the shirt was sold with 2 add-on collars. Having additional collars was advantageous as changing only the collar increased the number of days the shirt could be worn without washing. Cream coloured shirt with black and red single thread verticle stripes.“Grandpa” collar (with 1 of its 2 supplied add-on collars included). French cuffs. Sold with 2 add-on collars, hence both ends of the collar have buttonholes to take a stud, and a partially-opened button-hole is at the centre of the neck on the outside of the collar for a second stud.Letering label on shirt: GENT’S OUTFITTER Herbert Winfield 23 CHEAPSIDE, BRADFORDbradford, u.k, kreglinger & furneaux (aust.) pty ltd, 100% australian wool

Foodstuffs - part of a 1 man 24 hr ration pack. .1) & .2) Metal cylindrical tins of Kraft Processed Cheddar Cheese, 56 g net. .3) Packet, dark green paper containing instant noodles. .4) Packet, dark green paper containing muesli bars. .5) Packet, dark green paper containing survival biscuit. .6) Packet, mid green paper containing army chocolate. .7) Packet, fawn paper containing salt. .8) Packet, clear cellophane containing sugar. .9) & .10) Tea bags with label & string. .11) Foil paper wrap of lollies.military equipment - provisions, passchendaele barracks trust, rations, 24 hour

Donated by Mrs. Doris Mattingly, a long time Secretary of N.H.S. Doris played with the tea set as a child in her family home at Murtoa in the Wimmera, Victoria.Blue enamel child's tea set with white speckle. it consists of one teapot with lid, one sugar bowl with lid, one milk jug, six cups and five saucers.toys, general

These spoons were found in an above ground rubbish pile at Days Mill & Farm.Five spoons that would have been originally silver plated. Four dessert spoons and one teaspoon. One dessert spoon is missing the handle. All spoons are in various stages of discolouration. william day, ann day, joseph day, robert day

Clothing. Beautiful cream lace in a deep curve (which possibly may have been the front or back) extending over the shoulders, into two long peaks- possibly a deep, V neckline. The lace has diamond shapes, woven in groups of four in a larger diamond shape, and also in a Maltese Cross type grouping. These appear to be ''fillers'' between circular shapes, 6 cm in diameter, of four-petalled flowers''. The outer edge has a scalloped effect, each with a Maltese Cross'' type filler. Possibly Brussells Lace. Two matching silk handkerchief Number 11414.30, No.1 of 6, No.2 of 6.costume accessories, female, lace collar

Nevett & Woodbridge House Badge. c 1979