The Wodonga Historical Society Haeusler Collection provides invaluable insight into life in late nineteenth and early twentieth century north east Victoria. The collection comprises manuscripts, personal artefacts used by the Haeusler family on their farm in Wodonga, and a set of glass negatives which offer a unique visual snapshot of the domestic and social lives of the Haeusler family and local Wodonga community. The Haeusler family migrated from Prussia (Germany) to South Australia in the 1840s and 1850s, before purchasing 100 acres of Crown Land made available under the Victorian Lands Act 1862 (also known as ‘Duffy’s Land Act’) in 1866 in what is now Wodonga West. The Haeusler family were one of several German families to migrate from South Australia to Wodonga in the 1860s. These thimbles belonged to Ilma Margaret Ernestine Haeusler (née Tasker), born in 1900 in Tallangatta. They were used in the family home between 1919 and 1928 during her marriage to Louis Alfred Haeusler (b.1878). Ilma died in childbirth in 1928, leaving one surviving son, John Alfred Lyell (b.1922). In the nineteenth and early twentieth century prior to the mass production of clothing and textiles, needlework, alongside motherhood, was the defining work of women. Hand sewing and embroidery was central in the everyday lives and domestic roles of women. This item has well documented provenance and a known owner. It forms part of a significant and representative historical collection which reflects the local history of Wodonga. It contributes to our understanding of domestic and family life in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history, social history, and women’s history. Two alloy tailors thimbles dating from the early 1900ssewing, thimble, thimbles, sew, haeusler, haeusler collection, wodonga

The Hamilton-Smith collection was donated by the children of Grace Mary Hamilton-Smith nee Ellwood (1911-2004) and John Hamilton-Smith (1909-1984) who settled in Wodonga in the 1940s. The Ellwood family had lived in north-east Victoria since the late 1800s. Grace’s mother, Rosina Ellwood nee Smale, was the first teacher at Baranduda in 1888, and a foundation member of the C.W.A. Rosina and her husband Mark retired to Wodonga in 1934. Grace and John married at St. David’s Church, Albury in 1941. John was a grazier, and actively involved in Agricultural Societies. The collection contains significant items which reflect the local history of Wodonga, including handmade needlework, books, photographs, a wedding dress, maps, and material relating to the world wars. This item is unique, handmade and has a known owner. It forms part of a significant and representative historical collection which reflects the local history of Wodonga. It contributes to our understanding of social and family life in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history, social history and women’s history. A cream coloured, hand stitched cotton dip-waist belt from the Edwardian era, with metal fastening clasps. hamilton-smith, hamilton-smith collection, ellwood, wodonga, clothing, handmade, edwardian, historical clothing, belt, dip-waist belt

The Hamilton-Smith collection was donated by the children of Grace Mary Hamilton-Smith nee Ellwood (1911-2004) and John Hamilton-Smith (1909-1984) who settled in Wodonga in the 1940s. The Ellwood family had lived in north-east Victoria since the late 1800s. Grace’s mother, Rosina Ellwood nee Smale, was the first teacher at Baranduda in 1888, and a foundation member of the C.W.A. Rosina and her husband Mark retired to Wodonga in 1934. Grace and John married at St. David’s Church, Albury in 1941. John was a grazier, and actively involved in Agricultural Societies. The collection contains significant items which reflect the local history of Wodonga, including handmade needlework, books, photographs, a wedding dress, maps, and material relating to the world wars. This collar was made using the broderie anglaise needlework technique that incorporates embroidery, cutwork and needle lace. This technique originated in sixteenth century Europe and became popular in England in the nineteenth century. In the nineteenth and early twentieth century prior to the mass production of clothing and textiles, needlework, alongside motherhood, was the defining work of women. Hand sewing and embroidery was central in the everyday lives and domestic roles of women.This item is unique, handmade and has a known owner. It forms part of a significant and representative historical collection which reflects the local history of Wodonga. It contributes to our understanding of social and family life in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history, social history and women’s history.A white cotton collar from the Edwardian period with broderie anglaise embroidery. hamilton-smith, hamilton-smith collection, needlework, clothing, sewing, embroidery, women, domestic, edwardian

Two brown vinyl hat boxes, one large and one small. On smaller hat box, back of box, centre: "2044/14". On smaller hat box, lock latch: "PATENT/No 205740/RUSTLESS".clothing, clothes, fashion, hat, hats, hat box, women, wodonga

Underwear worn by women from the late 1800s to early 1900s.White cotton, fairly plain except for tiny lace edging around neckline. Five hand worked buttonholes. Two sharing darts each side of front.underwear, costume