Collector says: I adore these bright blankets with their labels depicting summer times. For most blanketeers, the Laconia Mexicana is a bit of a holy grail - for the label just as much as the blanket. Laconia made the Mexicana in 1964 and I suspect the Waverley and Onkaparinga came afterwards.Note from collector- "For more than 100 years blankets were made all over Australia in over 100 woollen mills. My aim, is to preserve 100 examples of these wonderful pieces of history. Ten years ago I started collecting the iconic Onkaparinga travel rugs, so that on movie nights at home there would be plenty to go around. Everyone had their favourite; even the cat had his own – a small red tartan one. Keeping an eye out for those travel rugs at op-shops and markets, collectable stores and bazaars, led to noticing vintage blankets. I'd never really thought about them before or paid much attention though of course I had grown up with them at my grandmother's. When I discovered my first Laconia cream blanket with blue stripes, my eyes just went gaga. Well that was it, I was hooked and since then over 500 blankets have passed through my hands. These common, everyday items, found in all households for so many decades, were traditional engagement gifts. Pairs were prized wedding presents turning into family heirlooms. They were fashionable dressers of beds, givers of warmth, bestowers of security and reliability. The comfort found in these objects resonates with almost all of us; we grew up with them ourselves or fondly recall them in a grandparent’s home. There is no modern replacement with the integrity of these old blankets, many of them now older than most of us. They are romantic, sensible, special, familiar, nostalgic and nothing else feels so appropriate in so many situations. No offense to the great Aussie doona, but from hippie to hipster, at a music festival, picnic, campsite or couch, a vintage blanket is something coveted by all. This industry that employed tens of thousands and must have been such a huge contributor to the economy is almost completely lost now. Blanket Fever is an ode to everything that came before: the land, the sheep, the shearers, the hands, the mills, the weavers, the designers, the distributors, the department stores. To the grandparents that gave them, the people that received them, the families that kept them; thank you. I’m passionate about my collection of Australian blankets manufactured in mostly Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania from the 1930s to the end of the 1960s. The collection has blankets from each of these four decades representing the styles and fashions of their time and includes dated advertisements which help determine the eras the blankets are from." Double sized check blanket, multicolourLaconia/Mexicana/Make Goodnight a Certainty/Pure Lambswool/Made in Australiawool, blanket, blanket fever, laconia, mexicana

Collector says: I adore these bright blankets with their labels depicting summer times. For most blanketeers, the Laconia Mexicana is a bit of a holy grail - for the label just as much as the blanket. Laconia made the Mexicana in 1964 and I suspect the Waverley and Onkaparinga came afterwards.Collector says: "For more than 100 years blankets were made all over Australia in over 100 woollen mills. My aim, is to preserve 100 examples of these wonderful pieces of history. Ten years ago I started collecting the iconic Onkaparinga travel rugs, so that on movie nights at home there would be plenty to go around. Everyone had their favourite; even the cat had his own – a small red tartan one. Keeping an eye out for those travel rugs at op-shops and markets, collectable stores and bazaars, led to noticing vintage blankets. I'd never really thought about them before or paid much attention though of course I had grown up with them at my grandmother's. When I discovered my first Laconia cream blanket with blue stripes, my eyes just went gaga. Well that was it, I was hooked and since then over 500 blankets have passed through my hands. These common, everyday items, found in all households for so many decades, were traditional engagement gifts. Pairs were prized wedding presents turning into family heirlooms. They were fashionable dressers of beds, givers of warmth, bestowers of security and reliability. The comfort found in these objects resonates with almost all of us; we grew up with them ourselves or fondly recall them in a grandparent’s home. There is no modern replacement with the integrity of these old blankets, many of them now older than most of us. They are romantic, sensible, special, familiar, nostalgic and nothing else feels so appropriate in so many situations. No offense to the great Aussie doona, but from hippie to hipster, at a music festival, picnic, campsite or couch, a vintage blanket is something coveted by all. This industry that employed tens of thousands and must have been such a huge contributor to the economy is almost completely lost now. Blanket Fever is an ode to everything that came before: the land, the sheep, the shearers, the hands, the mills, the weavers, the designers, the distributors, the department stores. To the grandparents that gave them, the people that received them, the families that kept them; thank you. I’m passionate about my collection of Australian blankets manufactured in mostly Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania from the 1930s to the end of the 1960s. The collection has blankets from each of these four decades representing the styles and fashions of their time and includes dated advertisements which help determine the eras the blankets are from.Queen sized checked blanket, red, blue, orange, yellow. An Onkaparinga 100% pure wool production. In emblem: Made in Australia. Name tag sewn below label: R M. Shiltonwool, blanket, blanket fever, onkapringa

Used in wood splitting to split with the grain of the wood. Splitting or stud axe bits are more wedge shaped. This shape causes the axe to rend the fibres of the wood apart, without having to cut through them. Possibly made by Kelly Axe Company after 1949.A wooden handled axe with a flat ended wedge shaped blade for hammering. There is a piece of orange cord threaded through the handle for hanging. Made in USA True temper flint edge.stud-axe tools

Handkerchiefs have been used by men and women for centuries. They could be made of any bit of cloth, but eventually they became a symbol of social status and wealth. As they became a status symbol, they also became more than just scraps of cloth, and were decorated with lace and embroidery. This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the families of the early settlers.Hand-embroidered silk dress handkerchief. Flowers embroidered on front. Fabric colour is beige.handcraft silk-handkerchief embroidery

Note from collector: I adore these bright blankets with their labels depicting summer times. For most blanketeers, the Laconia Mexicana is a bit of a holy grail - for the label just as much as the blanket. Laconia made the Mexicana in 1964 and I suspect the Waverley and Onkaparinga came afterwards.Note from collector- "For more than 100 years blankets were made all over Australia in over 100 woollen mills. My aim, is to preserve 100 examples of these wonderful pieces of history. Ten years ago I started collecting the iconic Onkaparinga travel rugs, so that on movie nights at home there would be plenty to go around. Everyone had their favourite; even the cat had his own – a small red tartan one. Keeping an eye out for those travel rugs at op-shops and markets, collectable stores and bazaars, led to noticing vintage blankets. I'd never really thought about them before or paid much attention though of course I had grown up with them at my grandmother's. When I discovered my first Laconia cream blanket with blue stripes, my eyes just went gaga. Well that was it, I was hooked and since then over 500 blankets have passed through my hands. These common, everyday items, found in all households for so many decades, were traditional engagement gifts. Pairs were prized wedding presents turning into family heirlooms. They were fashionable dressers of beds, givers of warmth, bestowers of security and reliability. The comfort found in these objects resonates with almost all of us; we grew up with them ourselves or fondly recall them in a grandparent’s home. There is no modern replacement with the integrity of these old blankets, many of them now older than most of us. They are romantic, sensible, special, familiar, nostalgic and nothing else feels so appropriate in so many situations. No offense to the great Aussie doona, but from hippie to hipster, at a music festival, picnic, campsite or couch, a vintage blanket is something coveted by all. This industry that employed tens of thousands and must have been such a huge contributor to the economy is almost completely lost now. Blanket Fever is an ode to everything that came before: the land, the sheep, the shearers, the hands, the mills, the weavers, the designers, the distributors, the department stores. To the grandparents that gave them, the people that received them, the families that kept them; thank you. I’m passionate about my collection of Australian blankets manufactured in mostly Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania from the 1930s to the end of the 1960s. The collection has blankets from each of these four decades representing the styles and fashions of their time and includes dated advertisements which help determine the eras the blankets are from." Waverley 'El Rio' Multicoloured checked Double sized blanketEl Rio Blanket/By Waverley/Pure Woolblankets, blanket fever, wool, el rio, waverley, launceston

A hand painted paper scroll, which Berthold Irving Meier (Bert. I. Myer, or BIM - a well-known Commercial Artist in Melbourne) had made when a member of the team of set designers and scenery painters, for the 8th Employment Company's production of "Sergeant Snow White", which was performed at the Melbourne University Union Theatre, in April 1943! It was a Sergeant Doc K Sternberg production, the other set designers being L/Corporal Emil Wittenberg, Private Klaus Friedeberger and Private Friedrich (Fritz) Schoenbach. The show incorporated songs and music by Kurt Kohn (pseudonym Ray Martin), with Erich Liffmann cast as Prince Charming. The masks for the ballet "Ghosts of Europe" were designed by Private Erwin Fabian. Others in the cast included Corporal A P Schmitz (ballet soloist), Sergeant Sigismund Lohde, and Sergeant H Mayer. The Production was extremely well-received and was called "a colourful and tuneful revue ......... a fine achievement of writing and direction......scenery and stage décor ingenious and amusing." There were write-ups in both "The Age" and "The Argus" Melbourne newspapers at the time. The scroll was originally housed in a wooden box, with "windows", (since lost) so that when the scroll was wound though, each scene, and the accompanying description from the original programme, could be seen.Two long pieces of paper which originally would have been one and has been rolled into a scroll. The length of paper has been divided into two and then divided into approximately 12 sections. On the left in different colours is bits of information relating to the scene. On the right are different scenes from the play.bert i myer, bim, sergeant snow white, 8th employment company, melbourne university union theatre, doc k sternberg, f schoenbach, kurt kohn, erich liffmann, erwin fabian, a p schmitz, h mayer, kathleen whelan, tatura internment camps, berthold irving meier, klaus friedeberger, emil wittenberg, friedrich (fritz) schoenbach, sigismund lohde

This drill was used in the construction of the Eltham-Hurstbridge Railway extension in 1911. The device was placed over the wooden sleeper to drill holes for the iron spikes which held the rail down. Example of tools needed to build railway in early 20th Century in the Diamond Valley.Drill mechanism mounted on wooden frame. Mechanism tilts to enable holes to be drilled vertically (normal) or at angles up to 45 degrees using double hand cranks and gears. A rack can be engaged to raise and lower the mechanism and drill bit. Mechanism appears original. Base frame replaced recently. #drill, #railwayconstruction, #sleepers, #tilting, #handoperated

This medical / hospital instrument was used in the Tawonga District General Hospital which was built in the 1950s specifically for the increase in population due to the Kiewa Hydro Scheme.Historical: Shows the development of scientific hospital equipment. Provenance: Used in the Tawonga District General Hospital which was remote and therefore required good equipment. Good condition and good interpretation capacity. In a sealed sterilised bag. Large scissor like steel instrument with 2 loose identical parts. Handle end is controlled by teeth. Pivot has a screw protruding out. Instrument end is flat with a key hole at each end. Loose bits are 3 sided with a hook like attachment on 1 side. medical instrument. hospital equipment. speculum. abdominal. tawonga. mt beauty.

This tool is one of a collection of tools which are believed to have belonged to Henry Phillips. English-born carpenter, Henry Phillips (1821-1896) came to Australia with his wife Elizabeth in 1849. They lived for some time in Port Fairy before coming to Warrnambool where Henry formed a partnership with Christopher Beattie and established the undertaking firm of Beattie and Phillips in 1865. This firm continued on after the death of the two founders and lasted until the year 2000. In Warrnambool Henry Phillips was involved in the management of the Mechanics’ Institute. This tool is of interest, firstly as an example of a vintage tool and secondly as a memento of the Warrnambool carpenter and businessman, Henry Phillips. This is a hand drill with a composite material handle at one end (for one hand) and a tubular metal piece at the other end for the insertion of a bit or drill. In the middle is a circular turning piece with metal spokes and a metal handle (for the other hand). The circular piece is held together and attached to the main body of the tool with several screws. vintage tools, henry phillips, history of warrnambool

Possibly used as plough winkers on farms in the 19th and 20th century.A pair of vintage leather horse winkers with metal rings and side leather buckles to strap it around the horse's head and eyes. The pole and neck straps are adjustable and can be lengthened and tightened without altering the blinds. The front strap goes around the horse's muzzle. They were possibly Plough Winkers. The bit is missing.horse accessories, horse tack, horses, agriculture

artist, architectural drawings, margaret picken, camberwell, housesartist, architectural drawings, margaret picken, camberwell, houses

The Court House and Police Station would have be built between 1892-1900. The Constables in 1900 was McGuire, later Wade, Riely and McKenzie after that Robert Wilson and Seinfort were here, they were a bit later on. Information from reel to reel tape recording of Tom Collins in Melton 1969. Front and side views of the Court House, located near the corner of High street and Palmerston Street, Melton. emergency services, local architecture

Items in the collection re Tom Glazebrook, refer Cat No 4330.2 for his service details.1. Jungle green shoulder boards for attachment on epaulette. Rank - Major. The crown is a sewn green thread with a little bit of brown cotton trim. 2. Jungle green cloth rank badge for attachment on epaulette. Rank - Major. The crown is sewn with white, red and brown cotton. The crown is set on a black felt background.1. On the rear, you can just make out the stamp “D (upwards arrow) D”aust army, rank badges, tom glazebrook

The Country Women's Association of Victoria was a popular widely known organisation throughout Australia. The CWA aimed to improve health, welfare and education for women and children in the country.Each town / area in the Kiewa Valley had an active CWA. The Tawonga branch commenced in Feb. 1946 and often combined activities with other branches in the Kiewa Valley. One of their activities may have been to play cards.Green cotton square tablecloth for a fold-up card table. It has an yellow with a little bit of white embroidered circle / emblem in one corner. Inside the circle is "Victoria' and CWA (on top of each other as per the CWA emblem.) The edges are hemmed and a seam runs around all edges so that the square sits correctly on the table.Victoria CWAcountry women's association, tablecloth, community, volunteers, women, charity

Tobacco farming began circa 1960 in the Kiewa Valley and consequently became one of its major industries. Many of the Italian families were involved in tobacco farming.Historical: This equipment was used on one of the first tobacco farms in the Kiewa Valley at Mongans Bridge. The dividers were home-made showing the resourcefulness of farmers living in the Kiewa Valley. Provenance: This tobacco farmer came from Italy and was sponsored to visit a tobacco farmer in Myrtleford to learn how to grow tobacco so that he could transfer those skills to his own farm in the Kiewa Valley.Wood plank with wire attached through a hole at each end in from side edge to create a stand. Another piece of wire stands vertically and is folded over to create blunt edge at the top. At the bottom it goes through the wood and along a bit to hold the wire in place. There are 6 dividers and because they are handmade the measurements vary slightly. tobacco. kiewa valley. mongans bridge. parmeson. rossaro, lorenzi brothers. grading dividers.

Possibly used as plough winkers for horses on farms in the 19th and 20th century.A pair of vintage leather horse winkers with steel rings, a bit and bars and side leather buckles to attach it to the cheek straps of the bridle to help focus the horse's vision to the front. The pole and neck straps are adjustable and can be lengthened and tightened without altering the blinds. The front strap goes around the horse's muzzle. They were possibly Plough Winkers. horse accessories, horse tack, horses, agriculture

Following the use of flat irons the base of the iron was made into a container to put glowing coals inside it and keep it hot a bit longer. This was called a charcoal iron. It had a hinged lid and air holes to allow the charcoal to keep smouldering. They are sometimes called ironing boxes, or charcoal box irons, and may come with their own stand.This item is an example of a domestic appliance in common usage before the advent of electricity.This is a charcoal iron which was heated by burning charcoal inside it. It is made of iron and has wooden handles, one on top for lifting it and one on the catch at the front that keeps the iron closed. Both of these handles were needed to load the iron with charcoal easily. As wood does not conduct heat well, these handles made the task of filling the iron much easier. The holes around the base of the iron are for letting the fumes out.Top- "M.G."iron-charcoal domestic

Note by T.H. Kneen 18 March 1992, "The Californian Redwood left of the Jacaranda was planted in 1857 according to correspondence received from Charles French (see archives). Various statements about the date of planting have been made, based on oral history." It is now known that the tree was actually planted a bit later, 1861.Colour photograph taken by P. Esdale for consideration for inclusion in, "Green Grows Our Garden," A.P. Winzenried. View of large old trees taken from the Administration Building looking towards the Shady Garden. Jacaranda in flower. Reverse of photograph showing sketch in pen.On reverse, "Some of the oldest trees at Burnley (Jacaranda) → sketch of 2 trees. Both believed to be planted in 1851."green grows our garden, a.p. winzenried, trees, jacaranda, californian redwood, charles french, garden view

Diggers & Mining. Life Of The Selectors. A BIT FROM THE SQUATTING DISTRICTS. Station Hand.-''That there was a furrin language you were speaking to your brother this morning , weren’t it, sir?.'' New Chum Brother.- ''Yes, Jerry, it was.'' S.H.- ''Learn it easy, sir!'' N.C.B.- ''Well, yes, I picked it up in about a year.'' S.H.- ''Well, Sir, I know the french man 'as been out here nigh two years, and he can't speak enough English to bail up a cow. The picture show the 2 men having the discussion with one leaning on a wooden fence. Markings; Life Of The Selectors 1860-1890 Set 432 No. 21. A Bit From The Squatting Districts- ''Melbourne Punch,'' March 31 1870. Used as a teaching aid. Used as a teaching aid.Visual Education Centereducation, tertiary, goldfields

Small sepia tone photograph: a large tin shed. There is a water tank on the far left, on the far left side of the photo there is a weatherboard house, on the far right there are double gates. There are two men working on different machines. There are lots of bits of wood lying on the ground in the bottom right corner of the photo. Written on the back in black ink is 'Back view of the Factory'buildings, commercial, cohn brothers, cohn brothers

These hames are part of the harness used by the family of Michael Conway who established a dairy farm of 35 acres in Wodonga in 1940. He and his wife Catherine nee Carroll settled there and raised 5 children. Before coming to Wodonga Michael carried on a bakery business at Urana. The hames were part of the harness attached to the horse which pulled his bakery cart. In Wodonga Michael Conway built a 2 bail dairy and milked up to 20 cows, separated the cream from the milk by hand and sold it to the local butter factory of Holdensen and Nielsen. In later years only whole milk was sold. The farm was on the outskirts of East Wodonga. Michael Conway died on 6th January 1945. The farm was later sold for residential and industrial development and includes Conway Court.This item has a clear connection to the family of Michael Conway of Wodonga, Victoria2 metal sections shaped to fit around the exterior of a horse collar. They are joined at the lower end by a chain and upper end by a leather strap. Approximately halfway up each section a hinged hook is located to which chains are hooked and attached to the cart. Towards the upper end is attached a ring through which reins pass before being connected to the bit.michael conway wodonga, horse harnesses, dairy industry wodonga

Image of a Ballarat bogie car waiting at the City stop with the Boer War Memorial in front. Taken on the last day of operation of the SEC Ballarat tramway system - 19-9-1971. In the background is the National Mutual building, Golden Star Chinese Cafe, Georges Oyster / fish shop and Ballarat TV and Electrical store which looks a bit of wreck inside.Yields information about the last day of operation of the Ballarat SEC tramways.Digital image - 120 negative tramways, tramcars, ballarat, last day, closure, sturt st, boer war memorial

The core samples in the display cabinet were obtained from the various sites at which drilling into the rock surface was carried out (under the control of design and structural engineers of the SEC Kiewa Hydro Scheme - late 1940's). This function was a precursor to the decision where to locate, in this case, the McKay Creek Power Station. The information gained by structural engineers from the core samples would be used also for the placements of underground tunnels entry and exit points and the overall effective size of the generator plant. This would have included drill and blast techniques (rock characteristics play an import part of explosion control), requirements for support structures and reinforcing cement/steel forms. The use and replenishment of diamond drill bits(the strongest available, see KVHS 0280) was dependent on the "type" of rock found (harder rock required greater numbers of drill bits). Support beams for reinforced ceilings and floors was also a necessity.These rock core samples are very significant in the formulation and placement of the underground Power Stations and their maze of tunnels (in and out) for a successful implementation of the Hydro Scheme. The amount of pre-planning and engineering studies required for such a large scheme must be undertaken to ensure that a "white elephant" was not the result.There are nine columns of rock cores, each 30mm in diameter, set in a wooden display rack. A clear plastic (slide out) protective panel is installed to the front section. Within each column are block details of the depth from which that section was brought from. See KVHS for the appropriate sketch details.Depth levels (retrieved from) are shown for each section on wooden Blocks: 1st Block: "7'10" (seven feet, ten inches), 2nd Block:"9'4" (nine feet, four inches), 3rd Block: "19'3" (nineteen feet, three inches), 4th Block: "24'2" (twenty four feet, two inches), 5th Block: "25'7"( twenty five feet, seven inches) and last block: "30' (thirty feet)"alternate energy supplies, alpine feasibility studies temperature, rainfall, sec, kiewa hydro scheme, electricity

Ballarat tram 12 waits at end of double track section in Lydiard St. Nth for 32, heading for Sebastopol to leave single line section, by Reid's Coffee Palace, 30-3-1959. Photo a bit over exposed. Has horse drawn cart in background and numerous parked cars. Both trams have large white triangles on the front dashes.'SEC Ballarat, Nos 32 and 12, Lydiard St. Nth, 30-3-1959, W.Jack Photo' in blue ink.tramways, trams, ballarat, lydiard st. nth, mair st, tram 32, tram 12

Before drills and braces, T-shaped augers were used to poke holes into wood, while smaller gimlets were used to start them.. A significant advance on the auger was the brace, which was originally designed with a single, permanently fixed bit at its end. Hand drills were often called eggbeater drills for their similarity to that common kitchen tool using a crank to drive the drill into the wood A steel hand drill with hand crank and wooden handlespioneers, early settlers, market gardeners, moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham, brighton, tools, craftsman, carpenters, , blacksmiths, builders, farmers, metalwork, woodwork, drills

Just a bit smaller than an A5 Sized hardcover book with dark blue inner cover Outer cover is only part cover - on front it has pink writing - The Pet & Live stock Series, and white writing with drawings of bees on honeycomb & a hive. On the back is a stuck down white paer with blue writing advertising the Cassell's Pet and Live Stock Series 110 pages