Stafford Ellinson suit: Brown striped single breasted men's suit jacket. Fine white striped fabric with tan satin lining. Two buttons on front opening. Breast pocket on LHS. Hip pockets on both sides.(Slit at centre back long sleeves with three decorative buttons at waist). RHS has double pocket. LHS has two inside pockets. Matching trousers 11400.258 & belt 11400.259. This suit was purchased by James Lerk in late 1981. He wore it frequently when he travelled around the world in 1986. He used it to advertise his home town of Bendigo.Label inside RHS, ''Stafford Ellinson''International Size 102Rcostume, male, men's suit jacket

Cream coloured satin bodice with cotton lining. Deep V shape at waist front and back. Front opening has twelve cream coloured bowl shaped buttons with bound button holes. Two centimetre stand up collar.Front has two vertical darts on either side of opening - one on each side has plastic stiffening insert.Two inserts at back. One stiffening insert in RHS. Long sleeves have split on upper edge at hem. Sleeves have trim of gathered fabric attached above wrist. Black cotton stitches visible on both sleeve seams.costume, female, bodice

Cream silk fabric dress with floral pattern of pink flowers and green leaves,Short set in sleeves, gathered at the top edge of hem. Round neckline with box pleat at centre front (9cm) with folded inserts on either side of centre seam front and back. Side zipper fastener (23cm). Fabric belt at waist secured by two cotton loops at side seams.costume, female, dress

Wedding dress cream coloured full length satin with long sleeves and a train. Sleeves gathered at the shoulder with lily pointed at the wrist. Sleeves have six fabric covered decorative buttons with three metal press studs underneath. Bodice has curved midriff panel with four pintucks defining the panel. Bodice tightly gathered at top of midriff panel. Side opening with plackett with five press studs. Two flounces at LHS from a single piece of fabric folded in half, stitched to side seam just below the sleeve(34cms). A single tie on LHS stitched to side seam at waistline (29cm). Back of the bodice has an opening from the top(10cm) fastened at neckline by two covered buttons and a hand stitched loop. Nine covered decorative buttons at centre back.Peaked collar front and back in two parts (10cm at front peaks).Front and back have centre panel with two panels shaped at the hipline. Back centre panel extends to form a long train. Length waist to centre front hem 102 cms.Length waist to centre back hem 187 cms to form train. Handkerchief hem at lower hemline. Internal seams have ragged edges.costume, female, wedding dress

White embroidered nylon. Tiny yoke topped with a Peter Pan collar, edged with gathered fine lace. Puff sleeves - pleated at shoulder, and gathered into a 1.75cm band, edged with fine, gathered lace. Gathered lace and two white ribbon( .5cm wide) bows define the yoke.Skirt 40 cm long, edged with embroidery and scalloped hemline. Two pearl buttons fasten the back of the yoke. Dress has been made to take advantage of the embroidered fabric of the train of Merle's own wedding gown.Merle Houlden made this gown for her first child, Bronwyn, using fabric from the lower tier of the train of her own wedding gown. Bri-nylon sleeveless, and embroidered nylon skirt, edged with fine lace (on the frill of the skirt). Skirt has an 8 cm frill, attached with an embroidered band of ribbon insertion. The ribbon insert is finished with two small .5cm ribbon bows. Both dress and petticoat have been made to take advantage of the embroidered fabric of Merle's own wedding dress train.costume, children's, christening dress

Light and dark grey fabric with small geometric patterns. Empire line dress with long sleeves. The bodice has two panels with diagonal pleating to shape the bust line. There are two pleated pieces at the shoulders with three pleats (12cm) into which raglan sleeves are attached. The front RHS panel crosses over the left to form a V neck line. The back has a high round neck line and plain back with two darts from the waist. The long sleeves taper to the waist with a top seam. Two small pleats gather the fabric at the top of the wrist/sleeve. The skirt is made up of nine pieces -a front slightly flared panel with 2 gored panels on either side. The back is made up of four gored panels. From the level of the waist, the skirt is lined with stiffened paper like lining. From the waist to the under bodice seam it is not lined. Centre back opening has 29cm zipper at centre back beginning 25cm below the neckline.Tag stitched inside back neckline Styled by Walton Gowns Melbourne All Rayoncostume, female daywear, dress

Royal blue rayon knee length dress made of rayon fabric. Bodice is sleeveless with three shoe string straps on each side. Straps have a decorative knot at shoulder joining the three straps. The neckline is an inverted U shape across the front. The bodice is lined with the royal blue rayon fabric. The front of the bodice has two pleated panels running diagonally from the top with the right side overlapping diagonally. The skirt is an A line shape attached to the bodice with two pleats on either side of the front and back. The skirt is lined with brown paper stiffening fabric. A 9cm horizontal band with three pleats is attached above the waist line. On each pleat is a row of decorative buttons (6, 5, 6) made of strings of clear glass beads coiled into a spiral shape. The central back opening has a 36cm zipper.Tag sown inside back of bodice on RHS - Styled by Jeffrey of Melbourne All Rayoncostume, female daywear, dress

Full length sleeveless dress of dark blue fabric with light blue all over embossed floral pattern. Front of bodice made from one piece with two darts from the waist. Back same as above. Square neckline formed by pleated section of fabric (upward facing knife pleats) across the front. The pleating continues on the shoulder panels at the front. 13cm wide at shoulders. The shoulder pieces continue to attach at the back bodice but widen to form a rounded collar effect on either side. At centre back where collar joins, a folded piece of fabric is attached to form two tails of a bow falling past the waist (39cm). A decorative metal clasp with three rows of diamantes is attached at the top of the bow, 7cm below the neckline. On the front bodice there are two decorative rows of diamantes below the shoulders where the shoulder piece joins the pleated section across the front. Front and back bodice dip slightly at centre. Side opening on LHS with 36cm metal zipper from armhole. Hook and eye at top. Fabric piping around waistline front and back. Skirt made of four pieces. Centre and side seams. Gathered into waist (bodice) with series of small pleats random (uneven) knife and box flat seams. Large stitches visible on front of bodice where pleated section is visible. 2cm wide strips of elastic hand stitched inside each shoulder section, attaching front and backs of bodice. Check collar attached.costume, female evening, dress

Cream coloured knee length dress of crimplene fabric. Fabric has all over pattern of horizontal rows of looped knot pattern. Fabric also has silver thread woven into fabric. Dress has a high round neckline both front and back. Dress is A line, with front having side darts at bust line and two 30cm darts – vertical on either side of centre front from bust line to hip line. At lower end of each dart is a false pocket flap (11cm x 5cm). Back opening from centre neckline has 54cm nylon zipper with hook and loop at neckline. Back has two vertical darts on either side of centre back. Dress has short set-in cap sleeves. Part of ensemble with 11400.521.Top inside back below neckline: Fashioned by Gina of Melbourne Registered TMS Crimplene. Made from terylene polyester fibre. Wash by hand or machine in warm water. Rinse thoroughly. Gently squeeze out surplus water. Drip dry.costume, female daywear, dress

A Line cream coloured knee length coat of crimplene fabric. Fabric has all over pattern of horizontal rows of looped knot pattern. Fabric also has silver thread woven into fabric. High round neck with stand-up collar - 4.3cm. Two press studs at top below collar, plus one hook and loop to close the collar. Full length front opening with 4.5cm band. Five 2cm fabric covered buttons – evenly spaced from neckline to below hip line. Front has two side darts at bust line. Two false pocket flaps (14cm x 5cm) set at 45° angle to side seams at hem line. Long straight set in sleeves slightly tapered to the wrist. Part of ensemble with 11400.520.Top inside back below neckline: Fashioned by Gina of Melbourne Registered TMS Crimplene. Made from terylene polyester fibre. Wash by hand or machine in warm water. Rinse thoroughly. Gently squeeze out surplus water. Drip dry.costume, female daywear, coat

Sleeveless mid blue below the knee length dress of rayon fabric. Shallow scooped front neckline. Wide shoulders extend over top of arm. Front of bodice in two parts. Top yoke is attached to 12cm midriff section. Midriff section has wide section with two side sections. Front yoke section is attached to midriff section with two small pleats under bust on either side of centre. Across the centre seam of yoke and midriff is a decorative strip of light blue lace of open floral pattern. The back of the bodice is of two pieces with centre seam attached at the waist with vertical darts on either side of centre. Back opening with 50cm metal zipper beginning 9.5cm below the rounded back neckline. Skirt is made of two pieces joined at front and back centre. Front centre panel 16cm with centre seam. From side of centre panel, the skirt is box pleated (4cm). Six box pleats on either side attached to waist of bodice. Pleats continue to back centre seam. Decorative piping attached around waistline. Machine stitched. Unlined. Faced at neck and sleeves with same fabric. Part of ensemble with 11400.523.Created by ZANKO of Melbournecostume, female daywear, dress

Mid blue waist length long sleeved jacket to be worn over 11400.522 11cm fold over collar that extends to waistline with crossover front and scalloped lapels. Right over left crossover (3.5cm) fastened with one fabric covered 2.4cm button with centre circle and narrow edge. Lapels have decorative cut out lace motifs attached – match lace across midriff of dress. Ten motifs evenly spaced around collar. Front pieces have vertical darts from hem under bust. Back of bodice has two pieces with centre seam. Vertical dart on either side of the centre seam. Unlined. Machine made. Kimono sleeves. Three quarter length. Gusset under each arm 12 x 13cm. Part of ensemble with 11400.522.Created by ZANKO of Melbournecostume, female daywear, coat

Royal blue rayon and silk short sleeved knee length dress. Back is made of two pieces with centre seam. Inverted pleat at centre 18cm above hem. Two vertical darts have been used on either side of the centre back (30cm). Both darts have been unstitched. Short set in sleeves. Front has bodice crossover to form V neck.15 cm crossover Midriff piece and skirt in one piece – straight. Bodice crossover pieces joined to midriff. Dull blue lace fabric lined with royal blue rayon, joined to midriff piece – layered horizontally with 4 tucks of 3cm showing. Attached to skirt. Skirt one piece with two knife pleats on either side of centre. LHS opening with 26cm metal zipper from 8cm below sleeve. Linen look fabric. Part of ensemble with 11400.525Created by ZANKO of Melbournecostume, female daywear, dress

Pure wool, fawn in colour, men’s cardigan. Five button, V neck front. One pocket on either side of front. Front band is 3.5cms wide and lined with cotton fabric, from the V opening to the hem to support buttons and button holes. Overlocked seams. A fine rib pattern, one cm wide is separated by a narrow one stitch gap. A finer rib, two stitches wide forms the cuffs, and lower band. Set-in sleeves.QUALITY KNITWEAR BY HANRO PURE WOOL 38costume, male, cardigan

Heavy white cotton lace dress. High round neckline with cotton drawstring ties. 6cm lace collar with scalloped edged. 7cm cap lace sleeves with fine scalloped edges. Casing at the waist with cotton ties to back. Back opening from neck line to 9cm below waist. Cotton tie at neckline at back. Two x 1cm white buttons spaced at 6cm and 12cm below neck. Hemmed edges of lace form the edges of the back opening. Two machine stitched button holes on RHS with 4.5cm layer of lace covering the button holes. LHS of opening is plain. Lace skirt made of single piece of lace fabric gathered at the waist. Seam at centre back. Skirt 31 cm. Scalloped edges dipping to V shapes. 5mm cotton ties at waist and neck go through metal ties. Machine stitched.costume, children's, infant boy's dress

Gentleman's brown suede fabric spats, bound at seams and lower edge in .75 cm leather strips. Four one cm, diameter plastic buttons at outer ankle, with four stitched buttonholes. Centre front seam is lined with a leather strip, opening edges lined with cotton tape, and finely machine stitched. A two cm wide and 16.5 cm long strap passes under the instep, and fastens with a metal buckle on the outside of the foot, leather -tapered 2.5 cm to 1.5 cm.H.E.Randall Ltd (written on fine leather label, six cm long on inside of spat. Lettering in gold. ( An English Company).costume, male footwear, spats

Long sleeved pink silk bodice lined with pink and mauve cotton fabric. Front of bodice made of pieces with a centre seam. Centre panel insert of cream coloured embroidered net narrowing from 28 cms across high neckline to 18 cms at waist. Five black velvet bows are attached vertically at centre front from below the throat, 6 cms apart. Velvet bows hand stitched to centre front. Front panel has rounded shape dipping below the waist. On either side of front insert are two wide vertical tucks Stand up collar of embroidered net (6 cms) has two pieces of wire inserted at LHS of back opening and in front of LH shoulder. Matching wire pieces on RHS are missing. Wire pieces are hand stitched in place. The bodice has a back opening fastened with six buttons and button holes plus a hook and eye at the top below the collar. One button is missing. Buttons are white with wheel spoke pattern. Strip of hemmed silk fabric is tied to the top buttonhole. Cotton lining consists of four pieces across the back and two pieces across the front with centre seam and two darts on either side. Full gathered set in sleeves from the shoulder are gathered into a tightly fitted 20 cm lower sleeve just below the elbow. The upper sleeve has a fitted lining of mauve cotton fabric shaped to the elbow and then forming the fitted sleeve along the lower arm. The fitted lower sleeves are covered with cream coloured embroidered net and have a 10 cm opening on outer edge fastened with three buttons and button holes. Hand and machine stitched.costume, female daywear, silk bodice

Floor length dress of royal blue silk fabric with a metallic thread forming a tinsel like pattern. There is a V neck at front with a high round neck at the back. The bodice front is made from two pieces with a centre seam. The bodice is attached to midriff panel of royal blue satin. At the front the bodice is gathered slightly onto the panel with a V shape at t centre front of the panel. At the hip line centre front the midriff panel narrows and then widens and the panel extends to the hem. The centre panel is divided and has a godet insert in the centre. Fifteen decorative fabric covered buttons with roulette loops are attached at centre of midriff panel. The back of the bodice is one piece is gathered slightly into a high waisted skirt made up of four gored pieces. The side opening (21 cm) at the waist on the LHS has three metal hooks with cotton loops and two press studs. The long sleeves are set in with lily point finish at the wrist. The underside of the sleeve at the wrist has ten decorative fabric covered buttons with roulette loops. Machine and hand stitched.costume, female daywear, blue silk dress

Mid-thigh length jacket of royal blue silk fabric with a metallic thread forming a tinsel like pattern. Fully lined with blue satin. Front opening has a 5 cm border of blue satin. No fastenings. Three quarter length sleeves have 5cm borders of blue satin at the wrist. See 11400.507 .costume, female evening, blue silk jacket

Lightweight knee length linen coat with long sleeves. The coat is single breasted with a V neckline with a fold over collar of black linen fabric. There are two rows of black cotton piping on the edges of the collar. The front is made up of four pieces. The two centre panels are shaped at the bust line. The two side panels are narrow at the shoulders and flare slightly from the hip line to the hem line. There is a decorative line of stitching on the front seams. The front of the coat is fastened with three black buttons (2 cm) and button holes. The back of the coat is made up of three pieces. The centre panel is shaped in at the waistline. The two side panels are narrow at the shoulders and flare slightly from hip line to hemline. The two back seams each have three decorative black buttons (2 cm) vertically between bust line and waist. There is a decorative line of stitching on the back seams. The coat has long set in sleeves shaped at the elbow and with black linen cuffs (10 cm). There are two rows of black cotton piping on the top edge of each cuff and one row of black cotton piping on the lower edge of each cuff. There is a 14 cm cotton tape hanging tag stitched inside the coat just below the collar on the back. Machine stitched.costume, female daywear, linen coat

Full length cream synthetic fabric wedding dress with long sleeves and a train. Front and back have a yoke of lace. Three quarter length sleeves are made of the same lace with roulette trim at hem. Inner and outer edges of sleeves ruched for 3 cm. High round neck at back. V neckline at front. Front of bodice has two side darts and two under bust darts. Bodice at waist line has three decorative scallops at front and back. Synthetic fabric of bodice has woven fabric backing. Side opening on left hand side is fastened with nine press studs. Full length skirt of lighter weight opaque synthetic fabric has centre seams at front and back. Fabric is cut on the bias to form a 360? full circle skirt with a train at centre back. An additional section of fabric is attached at either side to complete the circle. At centre back of the skirt is an inverted pleat to create fullness for the train. Hemline is edged with lace with four rows of tucks above the hem, 1 cm apart. Separate petticoat of heavier woven synthetic fabric attached at waist. Petticoat cut on the bias to create 360? full circle skirt with inverted pleat at centre back to create fullness. Narrow turned over hem. Petticoat skirt dips to a V shape at centre front and back seams. Machine stitched.costume, female ceremonial, wedding dress

Ivory coloured waist length silk wedding bodice with front opening. Silk fabric has alternating striped pattern of chequerboard pattern, running stitch pattern and diagonal woven pattern. The bodice is made of two layers of the silk fabric with cotton fabric lining. The front inner layer has two darts from the waistline. The back inner layer has a centre seam and three darts from the waist on either side. The outer layer on both front and back has three knife pleats falling from the shoulders creating a gathered effect. These side panels of pleated fabric create a deep V neckline by crossing over 5cm above the waist. The V shape neckline is filled with an insert of cream and dark green lace with a floral pattern. The lace insert extends to the throat to form a high round neckline. The neckline is edged with cream coloured woven cotton braid. The side edges of the outer layers are trimmed with cream lace with a floral pattern and 5cm zig zag peaked edges that extends from centre waist at the front, over the shoulders and to the crossover section at centre back where there is a decorative silk fabric flower stitched at the crossover point just above the waist. The front opening is fastened with fourteen hooks and eyes plus another hook and eye offset 5 cm above the waist at the crossover point. Set in long sleeves are in two sections. An inner layer of silk fabric widens to the elbow where two five cm frills of gathered tulle are attached. Each frill is edged with a row of silk stitching. Attached below the frills are two 7 cm strips of lace stitched together to form the lower part of the sleeve. The edge of the lace forms the hem at the wrist. Each sleeve has a 5 cm hemmed V shaped split from the hem at the wrist. The outer layer of the sleeve is bell shaped falling from the shoulder to the elbow. This section of the sleeve is edged with cream lace with a floral pattern and 5cm zig zag peaked edges that are stitched to the fabric of the sleeve. Ivory coloured full-length wedding skirt with train. The skirt is made in two layers. The under layer is made from cotton from the waist with a wide border of silk fabric - 18 cm wide at centre front, widening to 37 cm at the side seams. The back of this skirt extends to a train and the border widens to 48 cm. The border section is lined with cotton fabric. At the centre back, the border has two godet inserts to create fullness in the train. The outer layer of the skirt is of ivory silk fabric with alternating vertical stripes of a chequerboard pattern, a running stitch pattern and a diagonal woven pattern. The lower edge of the skirt is edged with an 18 cm border of lace patterned with embroidered circles. The edge of the lace forms a zig zag pattern of elongated V shaped peaks (7 cm). The front of the skirt dips to a V shape at centre front with the point of the V reaching the hemline. The back of the skirt dips below the front hemline in a U shape over the train. The waist band is made of cotton tape. The centre front of the waistband has an embroidered pattern in silk thread. The centre back opening is fastened with seven metal hooks with six cotton loops plus one metal eye on the waistband. There are two cotton tape hanging loops on either side of the inner waistband. Hand and machine stitched.costume, female ceremonial, wedding bodice

Cream coloured long sleeved wedding dress made of crimplene fabric. Fabric has horizontal all-over scallop pattern. Dress is fully lined with white satin fabric. Dress is an empire line shape with A line skirt. Bodice has two side darts and darts from the empire waist line. Below the waist line the skirt has two inverted pleats. The front has a wide scooped neckline with narrow shoulders. The back of the bodice has two darts from the waist line and the skirt has two darts from the waistline. The dress has a back opening from the neckline with a 43cm zipper. Set-in long sleeves are bell shaped to the wrist with a 17cm slash at the front of the sleeve. Inside each shoulder are ribbon strips with press studs to secure underwear straps.costume, female ceremonial, wedding dress

Dr Mitchell Henry O'Sullivan worked in the Victorian country town of Casterton as a general practitioner from 1919 until his death in 1977. He also practiced obstetrics. His son, Dr David More O'Sullivan donated his obstetric bag and its contents to the College in 1999. The bag and contents are a unique time capsule of the type of instruments and pharmaceuticals used in the inter-war period. Set of two stirrups. Stirrups consist of long strips of woollen fabric with leather straps at each end and six metal rings sewn into the woollen fabric with leather at intervals.obstetric delivery

The aircraft was built in 1957 by Cliff Brown. It is an EPB 1, a 26 foot tailless sailplane designed in United States by Al Backstrom, Phil Easley and Jack Powell in 1954 as a simple, cheap, compact craft.A small number of single seat gliders of this type were built in Australia in the 1950s. As far as is presently known, the only surviving substantially complete EPB 1s are Cliff Brown’s glider and another held by the RAAF Association at Bull Creek in Western Australia. Unfortunately, no trace exists of the Flying Plank built by Glidair Sailplanes in Sydney and test flown by Fred Hoinville at Moorabbin in 1957. In addition, a larger two seat derivative (known as the Twin Plank) designed and built by Glidair Sailplanes (completed 1958) is held at the Power House Museum, Castlehill, in Sydney. Single seat tailless glider with wing tip rudders. The glider is of wood / fabric construction and has been restored for static display by recovering with new fabric and painting. Noneaustralian gliding, glider, flying wing, flying plank, home-built, cliff brown, al backstrom, fred hoinville, glidair sailplanes

The Slingsby T31 is a two seat training glider that came available in 1951. It is, in effect, a two seat version of the single seat Kirby Tutor. The T31 was marketed by Slingsby Sailplanes both as complete aircraft and kits of parts for assembly. The Australian Gliding Museum’s example (currently registered as VH-GDB) is one of five of this type to grace Australian skies. Three including GDB were assembled in Australia from kits supplied by Slingsby’s in England, the other two were delivered as completed airframes. To date only four remain of which two are airworthy. This aircraft began flying in at Caversham in Western Australia (the then home of the Gliding Club of Western Australia) in July 1956. It was badly damaged in a crash in June 1958. The wreckage was sent to Schneiders in Adelaide for repair. However, the Club decided against having the repairs done, opting instead to buy a new ES52 Kookaburra. After a couple of years, the wreck was purchased by a member of the Waikerie Gliding Club whereupon the glider was rebuilt with some modifications, including a more rounded and better streamlined fuselage nose. It returned to the air in October 1961 at Clare in South Australia. The ownership of VH-GDB passed through a number of clubs, including at Dubbo in New South Wales, Wimmera in Victoria and Pioneer Valley at Mackay in Queensland. Eventually, it came into the hands of Bill Riley of Tocumwal in New South Wales who held it in storage for many years. Riley donated the aircraft to the Museum. It has been restored to airworthiness and is flown at vintage glider rallies and on Museum open days. This exhibit is an excellent example of a Slingsby T31 Tandem Tutor, a type of glider that was used by a number of clubs in the 1950s and 1960s for dual training of pilots to the solo capability.The Slingsby T31b Tandem Tutor is an open cockpit, tandem, two-seater glider with high, pylon mounted two piece wing supported by double, wire braced, steel tube struts. The glider is fitted with a main wheel, rubber-block sprung, wooden nose skid and steel leaf sprung, brass shod tailskid. The basic controls of aileron, rudder and elevator are not supplemented with pitch trim. Wing lift spoilers and both aerotow and winch releases are fitted. The instrument panels in both cockpits are fitted with an airspeed indicator, cosim variometer and altimeter. This red and silver painted wood and fabric covered aircraft is in excellent condition having been restored to full airworthy status by the Australian Gliding Museum. SLINGSBY – T31b (nose – both sides) DB Australian Gliding Museum (rudder – both sides) It has been given Serial Number GFA/HB/12 and is registered as VH-GDBaustralian gliding, glider, sailplane, slingsby, tandem tutor, t31, gliding club of western australia, waikerie gliding club, wimmera soaring club, pioneer valley soaring club

The ES52 Kookaburra is a two seat high wing glider – sailplane of wooden construction designed by Harry Schneider and built Edmund Schneider Pty Ltd. It was first flown on 26 June 1954 and became the glider of choice for training new pilots of many gliding clubs around Australia in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Several found there way to New Zealand. Further two kits were sent to Brazil and at least one of these was finished and flow successfully. The ES52 performed well with a glide ratio of about 22:1 and had soaring and cross-country capabilities. A notable feature of the ES52 design was the staggered side-by-side seating arrangement of the cockpit. This made for good in flight communication between instructor and trainee. Overall, thirty six were built by Edmund Schneider Pty Ltd. A longer wing version (the ES52B) was also introduced that had a better glide ratio (around 25:1). Five examples of this version were built. In Germany a modified ES52 was built incorporating a metal tube fuselage frame and with the addition of a engine driven propeller mounted on top of the wing which enabled the glider to be self launching. This museum collection item consists of the fuselage, tailplane, elevators, fin, rudder from the Mark I, ES 52 Kookaburra, formerly registered as VH-GFF and last owned by the Barcaldine and District Airsports Club of Queensland. The glider was in a damaged condition when it was acquired by the Museum. A decision was made by the Museum to repair the glider for display rather than endeavouring to restore it to an airworthy condition. The reconstruction of the wings is being undertaken by using parts of damaged ES 52 Kookaburra wings (as it happened from later ES 52 Marks). The Log Book for VH-GFF reveals operational life with a succession of gliding clubs around Australia. This exhibit will be of interest to gliding enthusiasts wishing to inspect the popular two seat club trainer of a by-gone era.This is a wood and fabric covered aircraft that is being rebuilt from the components of several aircraft as a non-flying exhibit.Fuselage marked with Edmund Schneider Pty Ltd Serial Number 9 and comes from the glider previously registered as VH-GFF.australian gliding, glider, sailplane, edmund schneider, es 52, kookaburra, barcaldine and district airsports club, victorian motorless flight group, alice springs gliding club, raaf richmond, raaf williamtown, gayndah gliding club, blackwater gliding club, southern downs aero and soaring club, charleville gliding club

The Schneider ES50 Club was built in 1953 and is the only one of its type. It was designed by Schneider to comply with specifications laid down by the Gliding Federation of Australia for a basic two seat training glider*. It was first flown on 10 May 1953 and delivered to the Renmark Gliding Club. The log book shows that it later passed to other gliding clubs, namely Millicent Gliding Club, Corangamite Soaring Club, Sydney Technical College Gliding Club. Overall, as at September 1967, the glider had logged over 5000 flights and a total airtime of 388 hours. The Museum volunteers have partly refurbished the ES50 to static display standard. [*Plans were also prepared for a single seat version which never eventuated] This glider is one of Edmund Schneider Pty Ltd earliest Australian designs. However, it was a later Schneider design, the ES 52 Kookaburra, which was accepted by many Australian gliding clubs for filling their need for a basic two seat training glider in the 1950s and 1960s. This is a two seat high wing aircraft of mainly wood and fabric construction. The cockpit area of the fuselage is fabric over tubular steel framing. Given serial number 3 by manufacturer and registered as VH-GHPaustralian gliding, glider, sailplane, schneider, es50, renmark gliding club, millicent gliding club, corangamite soaring club, sydney technical college gliding club

This unique aircraft was conceived in 1943 as a two seat trainer. A very large part of the design work can be attributed to Jock Barratt and Harold Bradley. The general layout adopted is similar to the Kite I and Kite II single seat sailplanes of Martin Warner and Allan Campbell. Having regard to this heritage, the glider was originally named Kite III but renamed Pelican 2, perhaps because it was the second two seat training glider built by the Waikerie Gliding Club – the first being the Pelican, a reconfigured Pratt Utility glider. Pelican 2 was first flown in 1952 and regularly since then, at least until about 1992. The Pelican 2’s performance was found to be very good for sailplanes of its era and was often used for more advanced flying in addition to training new pilots. Very few changes have been made to the Pelican 2 over the years. The undercarriage was modified after its initial testing to improve the placement of the wheels. The trailing edge of the rudder (originally straight) was rounded adding to the surface area. The twin shoulder tow line bridles were replaced with a belly hook when aviation design rules declared shoulder bridles dangerous and a nose hook has since been added to allow for aero-towing. A unique home grown sailplane design associated with Australian gliding pioneers Wooden 2 seat glider sailplane with fabric covering. Distinctive features include the pod and boom fuselage with side by side seating for pilot and a second person. The canopy of perspex supported by aluminum framing opens with port and starboard segments separately folding upwards and forward. The instrument panel includes altimeter, airspeed indicator, slip indicator and variometers. In addition to the usual controls, there is a trim operated by a small wheel mounted centrally, at head height, on the bulkhead at the rear of the cockpit. Incorporated in the skid under the fuselage pod are two wheels (one approximately midships and the other at the rear end). It has a three piece cantilever wing of approximately nearly 17 metres. The ailerons run almost full length of the outer wing segments. A Gottingen 426 section has been used changing to M6 at the tips. Outer wing segments are joined to the centre section to give about 300 mm of dihedral at the tips. The glider is equipped with airbrakes. The colour scheme consists of orange fuselage with black nose and skid. The tailplane / elevator and rudder are painted white. The wing is predominantly white with an orange leading edge. Registration VH-GFY On each side of rudder – “Pelican II” in black lettering on a rectangle of silver On each side of fuselage pod the letters ‘FY’ On each side of the fuselage, below the edge of the cockpit opening – “WAIKERIE” in black paint. australian gliding, glider, sailplane, kite, pelican, waikerie gliding club, jock barratt, harold bradley, martin warner, allan campbell

The Bocian is a versatile training sailplane that first flew in 1952. The type has been modified in several respects over the course of production by SZD (tailplane and rudder in particular). About 600 have been built; many for export to 27 countries (including Australia). The aerobatic capability and fine performance (best glide ratio of 26) has enabled the Bocian to be used to train competition pilots as well as those of lesser experience. Many world gliding records were set in the 1950s and 1960s in Bocian gliders. The Museum’s example is a type D test flown in Poland on 3 and 4 April 1963. It was imported into Australia in September 1963 by Austerserve Pty Ltd. The first owner was the Alice Springs Gliding Club and the glider had name “Cumulus” painted on the side of the fuselage (since removed). The glider had recorded 726 hours 46 minutes flying time from 2138 launches as at July 1967 when it was transferred to the Darwin Gliding Club. It appears that the glider was damaged in June 1968. The substantial repairs to the fuselage, both wings and tailplane and other minor repairs were completed on 13 October 1968. The glider continued flying with the Darwin Gliding Club until August 1969 at which time the service to that club amounted to 59 hours 7 minutes flying time from 348 flights. Between August 1969 and August 1976 no flights are recorded in the logbook. It is understood that on its last flight at Bachelor, south of Darwin in the Northern Territory (August 1969) it was severely damaged when it crashed after spinning while being auto-tow launched (although this is not expressly mentioned in the logbook). Reg Hancock purchased the damaged glider and rebuilt the port wing and restored it to airworthy condition (September 1976). It was then transferred to Colac, Victoria, and used by the Colac Gliding Group at the Yeo airfield until February 1981, adding another 153 hours from 403 flights to the glider’s record. After airworthy inspection in September 1982 the glider was used by the Geelong Gliding Club until 1983 (logbook details not held). The 20 year survey was then due and the glider fell out of service. In the course of the most recent restoration attempt it was discovered that the glue used in construction had deteriorated and that it was no longer feasible to bring it back to an airworthy condition. Subject to restoration, this exhibit may be representative of the 1950s - 1960s Bocian two seat sailplane typeThis exhibit is a large two seat glider /sailplane of wood and fabric construction. All components are present with the exception of instruments. However, at the time that the aircraft was transferred to the Museum it had been taken apart for major restoration work. As received it is stripped of the top coats of paint and a number of components (including, amongst others, tip fairings, nose cone and cockpit elements) that were removed for facilitating the repair process. The glider, serial number 803, was registered as VH-GNLaustralian gliding, glider, sailplane, bocian, cumulus, alice springs gliding club, darwin gliding club, colac gliding group, geelong gliding club, hancock