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-men's 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. Part of the large collection of photos about places and family members from the generations at Hymettus Cottage in the City of Ballarat, contributes to an understanding of social history in the city and surrounding shires. In this instance the social importance of horticulture and gardens, in the city.gardens, horticulture, garden city, ballarat, tourism,

Portrait photograph with artistic brushwork by Ballarat photographer Thornton c.1917. Thornton & Richards were one of Ballarat's major photographic studios and their work and historic records of schools, sporting and civic events remain a major record of social and family life in Ballarat region over a century.Thornton & Richards were one of Ballarat's major photographic studios and this is an exceptional demonstration of their portraiture.portrait

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Flower shows or Horticultural exhibitions were a popular form of entertainment and scientific pastime in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and were widely reported on and followed. Ballarat was a major centre for nurseries and prided itself as a garden city promoting many shows at all levels including grand national exhibitions. Exhibitors ranged from professional hybridists, nurserymen and florists to amateur growers. This award represents the cottage or amateur class in flower shows and was awarded circa 1907. This item has well documented provenance and remains at Hymettus with the family to whom it was awarded. It forms part of a significant and representative horticultural collection which reflects the involvement of generations of the family with horticulture in a centre known as The Garden City. It contributes to our understanding of social and family life in twentieth century Ballarat, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes of garden history, local history and social history.Written onto card, 'Three Varieties of Roses'. Miss J. Taffe.ballarat horticultural society, j taffe, roses, bentley, fraser print ballarat

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.Awarded to M. J. Taffe for Champion Bugle Solo and signed by the founder of the Competition W. D. Hill. The Taffe family, like many local families, were involved in community affairs and associations across the years. It is unusual for the generations of one family to retain these mementoes of activities in a generational home in Australia. This second Michael Taffe was active in several brass bands in the city and also was a bugler in the 71st Battalion Band.Grand National Eisteddfod of Australasia Prize Certificate.w d hill, michael taffe, ballarat, cornet solo, south street competitions, bugle, military