Polocrosse was a popular equestrian sport played at Prince of Wales Park Ballarat in the 1950s. This is a small family snapshot of William (Bill) Burke, brother of Mrs Mary Taffe of "Hymettus" Ballarat, with three of his polocrosse ponies taken at his home on Burrumbeet Rd Ballarat.Small snapshot On reverse "Bill Burke"

This was a small domestic bookcase made by local Ballarat family firm of A. H. Harris in 1920. The firm ceased operating c. 1980. It is stamped at the back with the firm's name and is like several pieces in this 126 year old family home of local origin.A small domestic bookcase with adjustable shelves made by A. H. Harris of Ballarat. The firm was created at Ballarat in 1928 and became notable for making church furniture including the fitting out of St Therese' on Wendouree Pde Ballarat. This is an early small piece made for the home in an Arts and Crafts style.A.H.Harris & Sons.stamped into rear of shelf.bookcase, ballarat, hymettus, taffe, a. h. harris, australian furniture

This Daisy Pattern iron lace frieze was registered by the Cochrane foundry North Melbourne and exhibited at the Great Exhibition Melbourne in 1880. One of the most popular patterns used in Eastern Australia the actual foundry where this was cast is unknown but this example adorns the return verandah of Hymettus cottage in Ballarat.

Mr William Burke settled at Dooboobetic near Donald in the 1860s his sons eventually working their own farms on subdivisions of the original property. Archibald (Archie) whose team is pictured had a portion named "Inverleigh". His daughter married Mr Michael Taffe of "Hymettus" Ballarat where the photographic archive survives. small snapshot image badly creased of team with inscription and print on reverse.Written on reverse "G'pa Burke's team. with printed words KODAK PRINT and ink stamp 431

Michael Taffe at Hymettus, Cardigan St Ballarat was awarded the Mayoral trophy for the Champion Cottage Garden, City of Ballaarat 1915 - 1918. The garden was one of 25 working-mens' gardens competing across the city, a city acclaimed as a garden city that attracted visitors to enjoy its public and private gardens of which the community was very proud.

Michael Looker of the Royal Botanical Gardens Melbourne drew up the planting plans for restoring Ballarat's historic gardens at Hymettus in 1985 for Heritage Victoria. This was done as it was the only known intact Victorian era working-mans exhibition garden in Australia with surviving layout and original documentation and photographs. Restoration of the garden was aided by an Australian Bicentenary grant.historic gardens, ballarat, hymettus, royal botanical gardens, melbourne, lumley, looker, heritage victoria, exhibition garden.

The Catholic Church held an International Congress at Sydney in 1928. This was the first such gathering in the Southern Hemisphere and special trains were run from other states to convey visitors to the event. A range of souvenir items were purchased by Catholic families and a collection of these souvenirs including Congress rail tickets were collected and remain in the Taffe family Hymettus collection.This, the 29th Congress was the first ever held outside Europe or the USA. It was first great public demonstration of faith celebrated by Catholics in Australia this event attracted a crowd of half a million, the largest religious spectacle ever seen in Australia to that time. catholic church, catholic families, souvenir, eucharistic congress, sydney

The Catholic Church held an International Congress at Sydney in 1928. This was the first such gathering in the Southern Hemisphere and special trains were run from other states to convey visitors to the event. A range of souvenir items were purchased by Catholic families and a collection of these souvenirs including Congress rail tickets were collected and remain in the Taffe family Hymettus collection.This, the 29th Congress was the first ever held outside Europe or the USA. It was first great public demonstration of faith celebrated by Catholics in Australia this event attracted a crowd of half a million, the largest religious spectacle ever seen in Australia to that time.sydney, eucharistic congress, pope pius xi, medal,

Linoleum was introduced in the late nineteenth century and the examples at Hymettus include this original early twentieth century hall runner. While other examples in the house date to the 1940s his example from much earlier is a rare survivor of its type and vintage. It was a popular product of its time reproducing the look of encaustic tiles as were found in wealthier homes.linoleum, nineteenth century, wealth, hymettus, encaustic tiles.

Photograph of the Nathalia WWI Avenue of Honour taken in 2006 by avenue researcher Michael Taffe. The Nathalia avenue consists of Australian native trees known as Kurrajongs. This photograph forms part of a large collection of images of Avenues of Honour at Hymettus, Ballarat from Michael Taffe's twenty-five years of research into the avenues leading to his PhD ' First World War Avenues of Honour: Social History through the Landscape.'. nathalia, avenue of honour, ballarat, phd, michael taffe, social history, landscape, kurrajongs,

The elaborate fancy cotton braid known as Cornelli work on this jacket is a technique of embroidery or applique of cotton thread and braid that became popular in the nineteenth century. It was used on French doll's clothing where elaborate the Cornelli wear was stitched on for decoration. The examples used in this family also included that on men's railway uniforms and bandsmen's uniforms. This jacket belonged to Eleanor Burke (nee McKew) Mrs Mary Taffe's mother and came to Hymettus at Ballarat when she arrived here to live from Donald with husband Michael in 1945.This jacket displays elaborate fancy cotton stitching and braid known as Cornelli work, a technique of embroidery or applique of cotton thread and braid that became popular in the nineteenth century. This lady's jacket is a good example of a style popular at the end of the nineteenth, early twentieth century.

This is volume 1 of 45 held in the library at Hymettus cottage and bound in covers as a book, one of three volumes incorporating every edition in the series.. Life Australia was produced at Melbourne Victoria in 1967 and ran to 45 volumes when closed by the parent company in the USA in 1968. Although very American in the views espoused it was a significant step in attempting to produce a magazine of international focus in Australia. The brief period was also significant in Australia and the magazine covered events such as the Beatles visit to Australia, the seven day war in Israel, the conflict in Vietnam and the drowning of Prime Minister Harold Holt.The magazine, Life, was cosmopolitan and sophisticated in the USA and the Australian edition was identical in format, although fussing on local perspectives. it concentrated on serious current affairs and more profound cultural and political analysis, as well as a strong focus on fashion, lifestyle and nature. It was known for its striking front covers and high quality, stylized photography. and the local product lasted through 1967-68 producing 45 editions before ceasing and reverting to the International product.harold holt, vietnam war, australia, life australia magazine, melbourne, the beatles

98 page newspaper supplement celebrating the century 1900-2000. Includes 100 names of great Ballaratians.the courier, ballarat courier, anniversary, century, steve bracks, tom o'meara, bruce morgan, weston bate, r.f. scott and co, camerons, sunshince train crash, nellie melba, queen victoria's death, star of the east gold mine, sebastopol, phoenix foundry closure, duke of cornwall and york, duchess of cornwall and york, central highlands water, electric trams, workld war one, richard w. richards, dick richards, william dunstan, mccann's dairy centre, conscription, george merz, peace, avenues of honur, red cross, james oddie, henry sutton, band competitions, influenza epidemic, ballarat council merger, bert hinkler, frank petch, bartrop real estate, ballarat zoo, english cricket team visits ballarat, the dole, the depression, sustenance works, charles kingsford smith, ballarat centenary, black friday, world war 2, world war two, walter davis, cuthberts, albert coates, john rowan, langi kal kal soldier setttlement, ronaldson and tippett, america soldiers, united stated marines, military hospitals\corckers, gollars, robert clark, edward j. bateman, ellinor morcom, f.w. barnes and son, rex hollioake, cricket, edgar bartrop, ideal homes competition, ballarat begonia festival, percy beames, bigarelli, good neighbourhood council, baird and mcgregor, sunicrust bakeries, begonia queens, tom beaumont, thomas toop, ray murphy, alice andrews, bobby greville, jack hill, john vernon, ballarat civic hall, haymarket, royal visits, trams, olympic games, robert lemke, bob bath, boxing, norm pinney, jack barker, greg binns, geoffrey blainey, pam davies, david haymes, m.b. john, morgan b. john, austin mccallum, steve moneghetti, richard crouch, voi williams, elsi simper, e.j. tippett, kenn webb, hugh williamson, st john's lutheran church, ballarat fine art gallery, art gallery of ballarat, peter tobin funerals, keith bray, john valves, vietnam war, john dellaca, haymes paints, henry haymes, sovereign hill, gold museum, dowling forest racecourse, ballarat turf club, mt helen campus, rupert hamer, swagman, bill mahoney, constance coward-lemke, hymettus historic garden, c.v. jones, eureka flag, save bakery hill, jessie scott, anne beggs sunter, ray's tent city, art theft, woodsplitters by tom roberts, fluoride, jack chisholm, ballarat railway station fire, princess diana, prince charles, university of ballarat, university of ballarat 130 anniversary, hailstorm, ballarat brewery closure, bicentenary, flooding, recession, pat cashin funerals, camp street arts precinct, arts academy, scout jamboree, ballarat learning city, council amalgamation, linton bushfire, eureka stockade centre, russell mark, tony lockett, east timor, ballaarat general cemeteries trust, john barnes, william heres, nelson brothers funeral services, valcor australia, bob davis, john curtin, david davies

john pascoe fawkner, melbourne, taffe fawkner collection, hymettus library, ballarat

Julia Taffe was born Julia Berkery at Bungaree in 1868 of pioneering Irish couple Patrick and ---Berkery who arrived and settled in 1853. Proud of her pioneering family and close to her uncle, Daniel Brophy, Shire President of Bungaree, MLA and Mayor of Ballarat she requested the family home remain as such. Hymettus has been kept in accordance to her wishes.ballarat, bungaree, pioneer

A small flyer sent out locally to members and for wider advertising around Ballarat by the Ballarat Horticultural Society in 1914.This poster demonstrates the belief early in World War I that the war would soon be over. It highlights the lack of significance given to the war at this early stage. It is also a rare survivor of up-beat regional Australian (Ballarat) advertising during the Great War.ballarat, horticultural society, spring show, war, turkey., world war i, the great war, horticulture

1919 Grand National Eisteddfod of Australasia: South Street Competition Ballarat Third place certificate awarded to M.J.Taffe for Champion Bugle Solo. Signed by the founder of the Competition W.D.Hill.w d hill, michael taffe, ballarat, cornet solo, south street competitions

All boys aged 12 to 17 began Compulsory Military Training in Australia from 1912. The following year the militia was reformed with Ballarat East being allocated the 70th Infantry and Ballarat West being allocated the 71st Infantry. The 71st Battalion was known as the Ballarat West Battalion until changing to (City of Ballarat) Infantry with its depots reaching as far as Warrnambool. In this photograph of the prize winning 71st Battalion Bugle Band a young 16 year old Michael Taffe is a bugler and won several awards with the band and as a solo bugler. A record of the immediate post-war activities still popular in 1919-1920.Mounted photograph of bugle bandcity of ballarat infantry, 71st battalion, warrnambool, ballarat, michael taffe, ballarat west battalion, cadets., bugle band, awards, bugler

bandsman, field gun, artillery, ballarat

The log book from the ship Isabella Brown on a voyage from Melbourne to Singapore in 1867.The Isabella Brown was a wooden two masted brig launched in Scotland in 1840 for general cargo work. The log covers a voyage with general cargo from Melbourne to Singapore via Newcastle in 1867 plus another voyage carrying live sheep in 1868-69.Entries in pen and ink throughout.log book, isabella brown, melbourne, singapore., newcastle

Beaten Copper vase made by Ballarat craftsman H.H.Floate c. 1927 in the arts and crafts style.On base: H.H. Floate Craftsman Ballarat.

Edward Heffernan and Geoffrey Mainwaring were Australian artists and art educators who in their very different approaches and passions influenced hundreds of artists and art students throughout their careers. Born only days apart in October 1912 they pursued a lifelong passion for art. Heffernan from Melbourne and Mainwaring from Adelaide gave decades in art education in regional Victoria at Geelong and Ballarat respectively. Heffernan was also influential in working with Melbourne students and encouraging art through the Victorian Artists Society while Mainwaring served to use his art in documenting the role of Australia in the Second World War as an official Australian War Artist. This exhibition catalogue profiles their careers and was the first such retrospective of their lives and work brought together to celebrate their contribution to Australian art and the double centenary of their births.

The music for popular First World War composition "The Boys of the Dardenelles" by Marsh Little and arranged by J.Devlin Deane 1915 and copyrighted Sydney 1915. These cards attach to the lyre holder on the cornet for use in a marching band. This copy belonging to Michael Taffe of Ballarat and used during WWI & WWII.This is the first piece of specifically Australian patriotic music generated as a result of the disastrous campaign at Anzac. Produced in 1915 it was used in this instance by Ballarat Bands within a year of Anzac..Small music card for cornet lyre.nil,brass band, solo cornet, taffe, ballarat, music card, world war i, deane, devlin, dardenelles, quick march

Phar Lap tobacco tin, produced in Melbourne 1931 - 1932 is an early example of the use of the name and image of any Australian notable, in this case a racehorse, the tobacco referred to in the family as "The sweepings from the stable floor" due to its poor quality.Produced in, Victoria during 1931-1932 Phar Lap tobacco was Phar Lap tobacco tin, It is considered Australia's most desirable tobacco tin due to its rarity. An early example of the use of the name and image of an Australian icon the tobacco was often referred to as "The sweepings from the stable floor" due to its poor quality.Rectangular metal tin with a hinged lid. On the lid is lithographed an image of the horse's head and within a scroll the words PharLap Fine cut tobacco. Significant rusting to tin and wear to lithographic detail tobacco

Photo taken by Mary Burke (Taffe) c. 1930s.poor quality photo but well preserved.Inscribed on verso "Jack Cussens - Sydney Rd Coburg

pair of crocheted dress gloves made by 'Tess' Theresa Taafe (Lazarus) daughter of Mr Patrick Taafe of Redesdale.cotton, crocheted, dress gloves, tess lazarus, patrick taafe, redesdale.