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Federation University Historical Collection
Book, Ferdinand von Mueller, Introduction to Botanic Teachings at the Schools of Victoria, 1877, 1877 (exact)
Ferdinand von Mueller was an examiner of botany at the Ballarat School of Mines (SMB) between 1880 and 1888. During that era he was active in donating related items to the School. When the Ballarat School of Mines Council agreed to introduce pharmacy and botany classes in 1879, it was apparent students would require access to botanical specimens in order to further their studies. Council members, who were inspired by the work of Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, authorised development of an area along the School's northern boundary, fronting Lydiard Street South, and oversaw the establishment of the new Botanical Gardens. Baron von Mueller took a practical role the development of SMB's Botanical Gardens from the beginning. He became a generous benefactor who 'donated collections of seeds and leguminous fodder plants, including valued grasses of interest and use to agriculturalists and graziers generally' to SMB over many years. Ferdinand von Mueller's entry on the University of Ballarat Honour Roll can be found at http://www.ballarat.edu.au/curator/honour-roll/honourroll_von_mueller.shtml A light brown, hardcovered book of 152 pages. Chapters include Eucalyptus Trees; Wattles or Acacias; Casuarinas or Sheoaks; Cypress Pines or Sandarac trees; Exocarpos trees of Natice Cherry trees; Mistletoes; Native Honeysuckles or Banksias; Bellflower, Lobelia and Goodenia; Heaths; Correas; Mallow; Buttercups and Clematis; Cruciferous Plants; Mints; Orchids; grasses; ferns. The book has numerous botanical line drawings, and a comprehensive index.Inside front cover "J. Clement Souter M.D."victorian, schools, botany, ferdinand von mueller, von mueller, botanic illustrations, j. clement souter -
Federation University Historical Collection
Costume - Enamelled Buttons, Edith Alice Watson, Two Enamelled Buttons, c 1930s
Edith (Alice) WATSON (1914–2010) Murtoa | Australia The monogrammed initials on these buttons are for Alice Watson. Alice Watson studied at the Ballarat Technical Art School (at the School of Mines, Ballarat) from 1930 until 1933. Watson sat several departmental exams, including drawing and painting plant forms from nature, lettering, Composition of Form and Colour and advanced General Design, as well as dressmaking and embossed leatherwork. Her folio applies many Australian native floral elements to design. Upon graduating, Watson taught at the Murtoa High School, living with her parents until their deaths in 1972 and 1988 when she was 74 years old. Alice Watson died in Ballarat, aged 95, having conserved her beautiful student folio, which was generously gifted to the Federation University permanent Historical Collection by the Watson family. Two circular enamelled buttons with dark blue background and gold edging. The initials A W are the design feature. The A is white with gold edging and the W is red with gold edging. The reverse side is gold. They are contained in a small, green, octagonal shaped cardboard box. buttons, edith alice watson, alice watson, enamelled buttons, ballarat technical art school -
Federation University Historical Collection
Booklet, University of Ballarat Centre for Environmental Management, 1996
The Centre for Environmental Management as established in July 1995 as a strategic development initiative to consolidate the University's position as a centre for industry linked environmenttal teaching, resarech and consultancy. Page 19 "SPECIAL INITIATIVES Establishment of field Research Stations Two areas of concentration of research effort for the Centre are the Otways in the south western Victoria and the Scotia Country in the rangelands of NSW. In both these areas it is essential that ther be a secure accomodation abase for research students. In the former case there is a need for a sheltered base to enable year round field work in cold wet conditions and in the latter a base with a reliable water supply and the facilities to allow field work in very hot dry conditions which prevail from much of the year. It has been an ibjective of the Centre to establish field stations at these two sites and considerable progress has been made through the year. (i) Nanya Field Station in the Scotial Country Through the generosity of the owner, Mr Rob Taylor, an unused homestead on Nanya Station was made available to the Centre. Largely through voluntary labour during research field trips during the year this previously derelict homestead has been restored to functionality and now has facilities for up to 20 research workers with a reliable water supply, cooking, washing, and refrigeration facilities. (ii) Cape Otway Resaerch Centre Negotiations have continued through the year with the potential lessees of the Cape Otway Lighthouse Precinct with the support of the Vice Chancellor and other potential user groups within the University these have reached a successful outcome. The University will be working with the lessees to develop the historic Telegraph Station as a dual purpose facility for interpretation and research." Black and white cover with clear plastic sheet. university of ballarat, centre for environmental management, martin westbrooke, richard mcewan, mal weston, john miller, nanya, telegraph station, cape otway, cape otway lighthouse station, cape otway telegraph station, field resaerch stations, s. hadden, peter dahlhaus, r.j. macewan, pat prevett, native vegetation assessment, fauna management, pest plants and animal research, soil and water assessment, conservation reserve management, paul ryan, richard macewan -
Federation University Historical Collection
Book, Mount Helen campus Development Plan 1970, 1970
... existing material with suitable broad-scale planting, mainly... material with suitable broad-scale planting, mainly of native ...Green and white soft covered booklet of 48 pages. SMB Crest is on the front cover. The content include the Mt Helen site, site planning, student residences, sporting facilities, roads and parking, pedestrian circulation, engineering services, and landscaping. Illustrations include: Plan of Mt Helen Site (July 1969, existing buildings, Functional relationship, Roads and Parking, Pedestrian Circulation, engineering Services, Landscaping, Development Plan, Plan of Academic area, Library and union Courtyards, Birds Eye View of Academic Area from north-west, etc. the master plan projects student numbers.non-fictionuniversity of ballarat, ballarat institute of advanced education, mount helen, master plan, landscape, harrison, vernon, great hall, geoff harrison, john vernon, m.b. john, contour map, student accomodation, landscaping, development plan, campus plan -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Photograph, Wombolano Park restoration sign. Heathmont. (Undated)
Sign reads as follows, "Wombolano Park restoration. Objective - to restore the park as an example of natural landscape. Implementation - Remove all alien plants, construct trails, fence restoration areas, replant areas with Australian natives, maintain for public enjoyment. A 5 year project undertaken by the Ringwood City Council and the Wombolano Park Committee of Management". -
Greensborough Historical Society
Sign, Australia. Natural Heritage Trust et al, Planting corridors for wildlife, 2000c
Banyule City Council is a participant in the federal Natural Heritage Trust Wildlife corridor programWhite plastic sign printed in dark blue and maroonnative fauna, banyule city council -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, ELTHAM ARBOR DAY 1973 - Alistair Knox with school children of the Shire of Eltham, Vic, planting native trees in the Town Park, 10 October 1973, 1973-10-10
... Knox with school children of the Shire of Eltham, Vic, planting ...Eltham Arbor Day, 10 October, 1973. School children of the Shire of Eltham planting trees with Alistair Knox in Eltham Town Park. Knox was a local architect and conservationist and councillor for the Shire of Eltham 1972-1975. The day was previously planned to take place during the visit of the Governor, Sir Rohan Delacombe to the Shire on 19th September, 1973 but cancelled that day due to inclement weather. Eltham Town Park would later be renamed Alistair Knox Park. This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book," Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Black and white photograph print 16.5 x 21.5 cmtree planting, arbor day, alistair knox, eltham town park, alistair knox park, sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, school children -
RMIT Design Archives
Diazotypes, Sketch Plan: Garden Layout - 13 Edward St. Kew
John and Phyllis Murphy designed this house and garden in Kew for Sir Frank and Lady Macfarlane Burnet in 1959, the year before Burnet and Peter Medaware received the Nobel Prize for discovering acquired immunological tolerance. For the most highly honoured scientist to have worked in Australia, Burnet's house is modest - single storey with two bedrooms. Typical of post-war suburban housing thought, the garden is a generous, and the planting a mix of existing shrubs and trees, old favourites such as camelias, hydrangeas, lilacs, and a unusually 'a thick copse of native trees'. John Murphy (1920-2004) and Phyllis Murphy (nee Slater) (1924-) are alumni of RMIT. John commenced his architectural studies at Swinburne Technical College prior to WW2, and subsequently studied at Melbourne Technical College (now RMIT University) from 1944 to 1946. Phyllis studied architecture at Melbourne Technical College from 1942, before transferring to Melbourne University's Architectural Atelier in 1944 They both completed their Bachelor of Architecture in 1949, with Phyllis topping the fourth year, and John coming in second. They established their architectural practice in 1950. One early project was their design with Kevin Borland and Peter McIntyre for the Olympic Swimming Pool (1956). Ann Carew 2018dye, paper, garden design, kew -
Brimbank City Council Art Collection
Watercolour Painting, Viola Hederacea (Native or Ivy-Leaf Violet), 1994
Local WildflowersLocal Wildflowers Part of a series of 14 commissioned for Keilor City CouncilAR0007Details of the plant on the back of the painting -
University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus Archives
Certificate, Melbourne City Council 1939, 1939
Certificate issued by Melbourne City Council inscribed, 'This is to Certify that School of Horticulture Burnley Exhibited Cultivated Native Flowers at "Garden City," Treasury Gardens, Melbourne during the period 23rd October to 18th November, 1939, Town Hall, Melbourne. Signed by A.W. Coles, Lord Mayor of Melbourne.Certificate issued by Melbourne City CouncilCertificate issued by Melbourne City Council inscribed, 'This is to Certify that School of Horticulture Burnley Exhibited Cultivated Native Flowers at "Garden City," Treasury Gardens, Melbourne during the period 23rd October to 18th November, 1939, Town Hall, Melbourne. Signed by A.W. Coles, Lord Mayor of Melbourne.certificates, melbourne city council, flowers, plants, exhibition, treasury gardens, a.w.coles, 1939 -
University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus Archives
Document - Photocopy, Kath Deery, 1986-2016
Information about Kath Deery, incl. her plant list and description of native garden, 6 items, all photocopieskath deery, native garden -
University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus Archives
Document, V.C.A.H. Burnley Native Plant Garden, 1989?
... V.C.A.H. Burnley Native Plant Garden ... Boulevard Richmond melbourne Document V.C.A.H. Burnley Native Plant ...Brief description of Phases I and II construction of native garden. 2 pp.vcah, burnley, native gardens -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Postcard, Alexandra Gardens, Kew, 1910-1920
Named after Queen Alexandra, these beautiful gardens opened in 1908 and are designed in the formal style typical of the early 1900s.Early postcard showing architectural features and original plantings.The Alexandra Gardens, Cotham Road Kew. The postcard depicts a pedestrian bridge within the Gardens. The bridge, on which are standing two children, has rustic sides. On the evidence of this postcard, planting within the Gardens included a range of exotic specimens including a variegated aloe and water lilies. Native vegetation can be seen in the distance.alexandra gardens - kew (vic), postcards -- kew (vic.) -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Postcard, Alexandra Gardens, Kew, 1908-1918
Named after Queen Alexandra, these beautiful gardens opened in 1908 and are designed in the formal style typical of the early 1900s.Early postcard showing original architectural features and plantings.The Alexandra Gardens, Cotham Road Kew. The postcard depicts a pedestrian bridge within the Gardens. The bridge, on which are standing two children, has rustic sides. On the evidence of this postcard, planting within the Gardens included a range of exotic specimens including a variegated aloe and water lilies. Native vegetation can be seen in the distance.alexandra gardens - kew (vic), postcards -- kew (vic.) -
Beechworth Honey Archive
Publication, Beefriendly: a planting guide for European honeybees and Australian native pollinators. (Leech, Mark). Canberra, 2012
319 pages, illustrated. -
Beechworth Honey Archive
Book - Publication, Bee Friendly: A Planting guide for European honeybees and Australian native pollinators (Leech, Mark)
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Beechworth Honey Archive
Publication, Nurturing natives: creating beautiful gardens with local plants of the Corowa Shire and surrounding areas (SMith, R. & Lappin, N.), Jindera, 2008
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Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages
Book, Robert Brough Smyth, The Aborigines of Victoria : volume 2 : with notes relating to the habits of the natives of other parts of Australia and Tasmania : compiled from various sources for the Government of Victoria, 2005
Historical work by the Secretary of the Board for the Protection of the Aborigines. (c.1876) Volume two is devoted to Aboriginal languages, including comparisons of Victorian languages with those from New South Wales, word lists, vocabularies, and native names of trees and plants. Volume two also includes details and customs of the aborigines in Tasmania. Includes interesting observations on the works of William Thomas, Alfred W, Howitt, Philip Chaney, Albert A.C. La Souef, John Moore Davis and Rev. William Ridley.robert brough smyth, philip chauncy, william ridley, albert le souef, a. w. howitt, john moore davis, william locke, a. f. a. greeves, language comparisons, phrenology, aboriginal social life and customs, death and burial customs, weapons, tasmania, lake tyers, lake wellington, gippsland, ballarat, brabrolong, lake hindmarsh, kotoopna -
University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus Archives
Document, VCAH Burnley Native Plant Garden, c.1990
... VCAH Burnley Native Plant Garden... Boulevard Richmond melbourne Document VCAH Burnley Native Plant ...Description of Phases I and II of construction of native gardenvcah, burnley, native gardens -
University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus Archives
Album - Colour 35mm slides, Miscellaneous Burnley Views, 1975-1988
Box of coloured slides, all from different collections. (1) "Students Margaret Oliver," on reverse,"Equipment 2190 Cultivator" (2) "Green manure crops. Field peas lupins." 1975 (3) "B.H.C." on reverse, "Seed beds." (4) "29/4/64 Crops Section." (5) "Seed Testing Lab (1966)." (6) "Julie Provan Peach stock Block." Sep (7) View of back of lawn." Aug 1980 (8) View of Ponds." ((0 Constructing Native Garden. (10) Crack Willow in winter. Jul 1978 (11) Crack Willow in summer. Jul 1988 (12) Administration Building. 1985 (13) Blossom. (14) Blossom on fruit trees. Sep (15) Children Planting. Aug 1985. Also others see Mediastudents, margaret oliver, cultivator, lupins, crops section, seed testing lab, julie provan, lawn, ponds, native garden, blossom, fruit trees, children, planting, green manure, garden views, administration building, crack willow, peach blossom, orchard, sunken garden, rose garden, flowers, acacia maidenii, vegetables -
University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus Archives
Album - Colour prints, Garden Views, 1989-1990
5 photographs of the Gardens taken when the last part of the Native Garden was being completed in the early 1990's. (1) Road from Swan Street Entrance beside Plant Science Laboratories. (2) Sunken Garden in Spring. (3) Robert Boyle Ponds prior to planting. (4) Luffmann Ponds in Spring. (5) View towards Sunken Garden from lawn.gardens, native garden, swan street entrance, plant science laboratories, sunken garden, robert boyle ponds, luffmann ponds -
University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus Archives
Album - Digitised, Sandra Pullman, Sandi Pullman Album, 1998-2000
93 photographs from Sandi Pullman's album. Scanned March 2013. Some have descriptions on reverse. Originals remain with Sandi Pullman (Student, FOBG). (13-19) John Delpratt's Grassland Project FOBG 30.05.98. (20-30) FOBG Working Bee 10.10.98 Ground Cover Trial Plots. (1-12) First Friends of Burnley Gardens Working Bee, "Planting the Back Car Park along the trainline 2nd May, 1998. (First Stage of the car park sited on Richmond City Council land at the rear of the College completed 1980.) (31-45) Back Car Park 11.09.99. (46-51) Native Garden 27.11.99. (52-53,72-75) 150th Celebration of What? Oct 2000, Ellis Stones Rockery Oct 2000. (54-58, 71, 76, 84, 86, 88-91, 93) Harvesting Grasses. (59-62) Nicki Rose from the Australian Plant Society presenting Dr Greg Moore with $1,500 cheque at an afternoon tea on the Citriodora Lawn 31.03.2000. (63-70) Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (M.I.F.G.S.) 2000. (77-83) First Pruning Day 1999.sandi pullman, sandra pullman, fobg, john delpratt's grassland, working bee, native garden, ellis stones rockery, harvesting grasses, nicki rose, australian plant society, dr greg moore, melbourne international flower & garden show, m.i.f.g.s., back car park, wrong 150th celebrations, ground cover trials -
University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus Archives
Album - Digitised, Joanne Morris, Visit to Burnley April 2014, 2014
Collection of digitised photographs taken in preparation for the Class of 1973 Reunion in 2014. Garden views and buildings. Donated by Joanne Morris, former student, in June 2014. See Digitised photos- Garden Views folder- Visit to Burnley April 2014. (1) Luffmann Ponds. (2) Administration Building. (3) Emily Gibson Beds and Ginkgo biloba. (4) Looking towards Native Garden. (5) Oak tree. (6) Looking towards Rose Garden. (7) Looking towards Stream Garden and Fern Garden. (8) Looking towards Rose Garden. (9) Plaque at entrance to Field Station. (10) New gates at entrance to Field Station donated by the Friends of Burnley Gardens. (11, 12) Field Station. (13) Plaque in Herb Garden commemorating Enid Carberry. (14) Fountain in Herb Garden commemorating Enid Carberry. (15) Forestry Building. (16-18) Inside Forestry Building. (19) Sugar Gum Table Setting donated by the Friends of Burnley Gardens. (20) Plaque on Sugar Gum Table commemorating Geoff Olive. (21, 22) View of Luffmann Ponds and Summer House. (23) Plaque at Luffmann Ponds. (24) Luffmann Ponds. (25) View of former Egg-Curator's Residence from Nursery. (26) Back of Nursery. (27,28) The Burnley entry for the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show 2014. (29) Back of Administration Building. (30) Plant Science Laboratories. (31) Student Amenities Building. (32-34) Plant Science Laboratories. (35) Citriodora Court. (36) Eucalyptus maculata at entrance to Native Garden. (37) Native Garden, James Hitchmough Grasslands. (38) Garden view. (39) Inside the Hall. (40,41) Roof Garden. (42,43) Library. (44-50) Views of the Quad and classrooms. (51) Dairy. (52) Building 904,(Centre for Urban Horticulture) now Waterway Ecosystem Research Group. (53) Yarra Boulevard entrance.class 1973, class reunion, garden views, buildings, joanne morris, students, luffmann ponds, administration building, emily gibson beds, ginkgo biloba, native garden, oak tree, rose garden, stream garden, fern garden, field station, friends of burnley gardens, plaques, herb garden, enid carberry, fountain, forestry building, sugar gum table, geoff olive, summer house, egg-curator, residence, nursery, melbourne international flower and garden show, 2014, plant science laboratories, student amenities building, citriodora court, eucalyptus, james hitchmough grasslands, roof garden, library, quad, classrooms, dairy, centre for urban horticulture, waterway ecosystem research group, yarra boulevard entrance -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, 1884
Marram grass (1st year) South Beach about 1884 planted to stop the erosion of the sand dunes having been stripped of all the tea tree and native grass cover, the tea tree bark being used for tanning leatherBlack and white Photograph of the dunes above Boarding School Bay sewn with Marram grass Marram grass (1st year) South Beach about 1884marram grass, south beach, agriculture, dunes -
Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages
Book, Aldo Massola, The Aborigines of south-eastern Australia : as they were, 1971
Contents: p.1-3; Origins, arrival in Australia; p.4-9; How they lived - camp sites, dating (including carbon dating); p.10-27; Physical appearance, skin colour, hair, clothing, body ornaments, cicatrization; exchange system, distribution of food, marriage &? sexual relations; the tribe - structure, relationship to land, territory, gives map showing locations of tribes, New South Wales, Victoria &? eastern South Australia, leadership, government, division of labour, status of women, estimated population at white settlement, density of population (Victoria); p.28-31; Language - names &? naming, reproduces Wembawemba vocabulary, notes use of secret languages, gives 12 rules for pronounciation; p.32-53; Religion, spirit beliefs, totemism, moieties, phratries, marriage rules; mythology, gives eaglehawk &? crow myth from Lake Victoria &? other myths illustrating origins of fire &? natural rock formations, mythical beasts (Bunyip, Mindie), stellar beliefs; magic, medicine men, powers, native remedies for sickness, describes ceremony held in Melbourne, 1847 to avert evil, sorcery, pointing bone, love magic, rain makers; messengers, appearance, etiquette, message sticks; p.54-71; Rock art, motifs, colours, decorative art, engraving of utensils, rock engravings, manufacture &? use of pigments, engraving techniques; trade system, objects bartered, meeting places for trade (Victoria), map shows possible routes (south east Australia); corroborees, purpose, body ornaments &? decorations, musical instruments; p.72-93; Ceremonial life, marriage, punishment for infidelity, birth, childhood, games &? amusements, initiation, etiquette of visiting tribes, details of ceremony, womens role, earth figures &? ground designs, bull roarers, female puberty ceremonies; p.94-133; Shelters, fire making, cooking, construction of canoes, wooden implements, use of reeds, animal skins &? sinews, shells; stone tools, cylindro conical stones, scrapers, knives &? microliths; hunting weapons, spear, other methods pits, nets; fishing methods &? spears, traps; food sharing, womens responsibilities for collecting, digging stick, cooking methods, insect foods, plant foods, water resources; manufacture &? use of spears, spear throwers, shields, clubs, boomerangs; inter- &? intratribal fighting; p.134-147; Death, disposal of body - eating of the dead, burial, cremation, platform exposure, dendroglyphs (N.S.W.), Aboriginal burial grounds (Darling &? Murray Rivers), mourning, widowhood, kopi caps (N.S.W.), causes of death, inquest ceremonies, revenge expedition, after death beliefs; p.148-157; The end of the tribes white settlement &? its impact on Aboriginal life, friction between natives &? settlers, establishment of Protectorates; copiously illustrated throughout.maps, b&w illustrations, b&w photographswemba wemba, murray river, darling river, lake victoria -
Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages
Book, Leon Costermans, Native trees and shrubs of South-eastern Australia, 1998
Coloured photos and detailed line drawings are used to give a very clear description of the specific plants and details of their locations and environments.Colour photographs, illustrations, mapsplants, botany, nsw, victoria, south australia -
Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages
Book, Denise Greig, Field guide to Australian flowers : over 1000 common Australian wildflowers, 2001
Identification of native wildflowers from around Australia. Plant families are arranged in alphabetical order.Maps, b&w illustrations, colour photographswildflowers, plants, australia, grampians, identification, vegetation zones -
Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages
Book, Neil Marriott et al, Grassland plants of South-Eastern Australia : a field guide to native grassland and grassy woodland plants of South-Eastern Australia, 1998
Detailed description of plants, one plant per page. Alphabetical listing according to botanical name, with common names provided.Maps, colour photographs, pronunciation guide, glossarygrassland, plants, south-eastern australia, botany, ecology -
National Wool Museum
Artwork, other - Paper Taxidermy, Mary-Jane Walker, Plains Wanderer, 2020
The world’s most ecologically distinct bird lives in the native grasslands of Victoria - but only just. The plains-wanderer is a small bird that was once widespread across the grasslands of south-eastern Australia. Today there are fewer than 1000 mature birds in the wild. The plains-wanderer is under threat due to habitat loss caused by overgrazing, cropping and suburban sprawl. Unlike most other birds, female wanderers are larger and more colourful and the males take care of the chicks. They are only about 15cm tall and weigh between 40-80g for the male and 55-90g for the female. Their intricate plumage mirrors the colours of their grassland home so they blend in perfectly with their surroundings. The plains-wanderer’s origins date back to when Australia was part of the Gondwana supercontinent over 60 million years ago. They are so biologically distinct that their extinction would result in the loss of a branch of the tree of life. A fussy grass dweller, they like neither too much nor too little grass. That is where sheep grazing can help. After years of low numbers in Victoria, plains-wanderer populations have been increasing in Terrick Terrick National Park in north west Victoria, as sheep grazing maintains the grass in the park at a suitable level. With the right management, this ecologically important bird species is continuing to survive in the native grasslands of Victoria. Managing these habitats for the plains-wanderer can also support the conservation of many other threatened plant and animal species. Object: Nest of plains-wanderers by Mary-Jane Walker, 2020. Outer made from upcycled paper, internal structure steel. Nest of plains-wanderers by Mary-Jane Walker, 2020. Outer made from up cycled paper, internal structure steel. native grasslands, plains-wanderer, terrick terrick national park -
National Wool Museum
Clothing - 1984 Los Angeles Olympics Men's Opening Ceremony Shirt, c. 1984
On the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Uniforms donator Doug wrote- During the 1980s the Australian wool industry was at its most prosperous times with record numbers of sheep producing wool receiving ever increasing values due to the success of the Reserve Price Scheme, and the overall guidance of the Australian Wool Corporation (AWC). As a humble technician, my role was a low profile newly created position of “Controller, Technical Marketing” where wool was to be marketed on its technical properties, as distinct from the “Product Marketing Group” which exploited trhe traditional high profile approach of marketing wool;s superior fashion attributes. The Woolmark was the tool central to this approach. When the forthcoming Los Angeles Olympic Games was announced, the Product Marketing Group seized upon the chance to show the world that we could make top fashion garments and display them on our elite athletes on the world stage. A concept was launched using a contemporary top designer, Adel Weiss, with the most exclusive fabrics and knits available, and all with a lot of hype. This launch failed dismally for the following reasons- - The designer did a wonderful job presenting an excellent fashion range on perfect skinny models. The AOC however wanted a uniform which had an obvious Australian appearance when fitted to elite, and frequently muscular, athletes. - The fabrics chosen did not reflect the performance required by travelling athletes, there was no recognition of the need for ‘easy care.’ - There was no recognition given to the problem of measuring, manufacturing and distribution of a range of articles when the selected athlete could be domiciled anywhere in Australia. - There was no appreciation of such historical facts as Fletcher Jones, who had been unofficial suppliers dating back to the 1954 Olympics in Melbourne, and the Fletcher Jones board member, who was also an AWC board member, and was not in favour of the change. The project passed from Product Marketing to Public Relations, a big spending off-shoot of the AWC Chairman David Asimus, and due to the day to day operations of the project was passed to me and PR took care of the financial matters. The first task was to meet with the AOC and find out exactly their requirements. This lead to the production of a design and manufacturing brief, cointaining exact time lines for each event required to ensure an appropriate uniform on every athlete chosen to represent his/her country on the date given for the Opening Ceremony in Los Angeles. Working backwards the timeline becomes- 1. Noted the exact date of the Opening Ceremony. 2. Estimated the date for distributing completed garments to each athlete. 3. Estimated the time span available for measuring each athlete and commence making each component of the ensemble to the individual measurements of each athlete. 4. Decided the date for making the final choice of uniform design concept. 5. Decided the date for distribution of the design brief to selected designers. These five steps were spread out over a two year period. The Commonwealth Games occur midway between each Olympic Games, work on the Olympic uniform commences the week after the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony and MUST be ready by the prescribed day two years hence. The project also had to remain cognisant of trade politics existing within the span of the task, as well as the temperament of designers in general. It is no overstatement to say that in the past every designer in Australia believed they could, and should, be chosen to design the Australian Uniform. The final choice of designer almost always faced criticism from the fashion press and any designer who had been overlooked. However, with the contenders receiving an exacting brief the numbers of serious contenders greatly reduced. The Los Angeles Olympic Uniforms. A further reason for the AWC bid failure to design the LA uniform was that the AOC had already chosen Prue Acton to design it. This was based on her proven performance during previous games as she had a talent for creating good taste Australiana. Her design concepts also considered the effect when they were viewed on a single athlete as well as the impact when viewed on a 400 strong team coming on to the arena. A blazer trouser/skirt uniform in bright gold was chosen for the formal uniform. It was my task to select a pure wool faille fabric from Foster Valley weaving mill and have sufficient woven and ready within the prescribed timeline. The trouser/skirt fabric selected was a 60/40 wool polyester plain weave fabric from Macquarie Worsted. This fabric had a small effect thread of linen that was most attractive when dyed to match some eucalyptus bark Prue had brought back from central Australia. For the Opening Ceremony uniform, Prue designed a series of native fauna, a kookaburra for the men’s shirt and a pleated skirt with a rural scene of kangaroos, hills and plants. This presented an insurmountable printing challenge to the local printing industry as it had an unacceptably large repeat size and the number required (50) was also commercially unacceptable. The solution was a DIY mock up at RMIT and the employment of four student designers. The fabric selected for this garment was a light weight 19 micron, pure wool with a very high twist yarn in alternating S and Z twist, warp and weft. This fabric proved to be the solution to a very difficult problem, finding a wool product which is universally acceptable when worn next to the sin by young athletes competing in the heat of a Los Angeles summer. Modifications to this fabric were developed to exploit its success when facing the same problem in future games. Garment Making- The most exacting garment in the ensemble is the tailored blazer, plus the related trouser/skirt. Unfortunately tailoring athletes that come in various shapes and sizes such as; - Weight lifters develop an enormous chest, arms and neck size. A shirt made to a neck size of 52 would produce a shirt with cuffs extending well beyond the wearer’s hands. - Basketball players are up to 7 feet tall and garments relying ona chest measurement grading would produce a shirt with cuffs extending only to elbow length. - Swimmers develop enormous shoulders and slim hips, cyclists by contrast develop thighs I liken to tree trunks and a uniform featuring tight trousers must be avoided at all cost. Suffice to say many ensembles require specialist ‘one off’ treatment for many athletes. Meanwhile there is a comfortable in between group who can accept regular sizes so you can cater for these by having back up stock with plenty of built in contingencies. Athletes may be domiciled anywhere in Australia, this creates a fundamental problem of taking their measurements. The Fletcher Jones organisation was key to answering this problem due to their presence in every capital city, as well as many provincial towns around Australia. Each athlete on being selected for the Olympic Team was simultaneously requested to visit their nearest Fletcher Jones shop. The standardised measurement data collected was shared with the other manufacturers, e.g. Pelaco Shirts, Holeproof Socks and Knitwear, Maddison Belts, and even Hush Puppy Shoes. As the time for the Games approached the AOC made arrangements for combining meeting of all. Selected available athletes at the Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, where, among other things, they were fitted and supplied with their uniform. The method evolved as follows.Men’s cream coloured button up, collared shirt. Images of a kookaburra have been printed onto the shirt, a single kookaburra on the left breast and a pair of kookaburras on the reverse of the shirt. The kookaburras are printed in a brown tone to complement the cream colour of the fabric.On tag - FMaustralian wool corporation, 1984 los angeles olympics, olympic uniforms, men's uniforms, sport, athletes