Hymettus Historic Garden and its cottage museum were opened to the public in 1985 after two years of garden restoration work. The interpretive work was undertaken by Mr and a team from Melbourne's Royal Botanical Gardens and the Taffe family. Plans were drawn up by Peter Lumley and Michael Looker of the Royal Botanical Gardens and the work of restoration undertaken by the family with financial assistance from Heritage Victoria and The City of Ballaarat. historic garden, ballarat, hymettus, postcard, royal botanical gardens melbourne, restoration, city of ballaarat.

Polocrosse was a popular equestrian sport played at Prince of Wales Park Ballarat in the 1950s. This is a small family snapshot of William (Bill) Burke, brother of Mrs Mary Taffe of "Hymettus" Ballarat, with three of his polocrosse ponies taken at his home on Burrumbeet Rd Ballarat.Small snapshot On reverse "Bill Burke"

Ballroom dancing was a popular competative pastime in the 1920s and this certificate entitled the holder, Michael Taffe (III) to compete in the Amateur Championship of Ballarat in 1923.ballarat, ballroom dancing championship 1923, amateur.

The photograph shows the station master Mr John (Jack) Taffe at Port Fairy, Victoria in the late 1950s signalling for the train to depart using flag and bell. The Port Fairy Railway station was closed twenty years later in 1977.port fairy, railway history, taffe, stationmaster, railway station closures, trains, train station.

Australian Bi-Centennial medal issued for the Western Victorian Games 1988, the only time these games were undertaken despite initial plans to be a regular event.Held in 1988 the Western Victorian Games were a Bi-Centennial project of the Victorian Government proposed to be held every four years but never repeated after 1988.circular medallionAustralian Bi-Centenniarymedal, sport, westerrn victorian games

moulded on the body of the glass around the neck the word "Polygon".

A porcelain invalid feeding cup with spout and handle decorated with gilding to handle, rim and spout on white body. These invalid feeding cups were used during illness, the spout assisting when patients needed assistance in feeding medical, feeding,

The Western Victorian Games were launched as a part of the Australian Bicentenary celebrations in 1988. The inaugural games were programmed to run from the 9th - 11th December 1988 and become an annual event. The event however, never continued after 1988. The opening ceremony was conducted at Founders Hall BCAE, later Federation University.

Drinks coasters were introduced to preserve surfaces from the stains from drink glasses. This circular heavy paper coaster depicting the city's coat of arms was used by the City of Ballaarat in the 1970s and 80s until the city was merged with wider municipalities around Ballarat's urban fringe.

The Olympic Games came to Australia in 1956, the first time they had been held in the Southern Hemisphere and in Australia. The rowing and canoeing events were held on Lake Wendouree at Ballarat and local children with autograph books eagerly sought the competitors' autographs.lake wendouree, ballarat, olympic games, 1956, southern hemisphere, australia, rowing, canoeing, autograph.

Railway Station staff were an important part of the social structure of both the railway and wider communities in the 1920s. Here Michael Taffe (1) is pictured with other staff members in front of the arches at the Ballarat West Railway Station.On back of mounting board, Mick Taffe, Middle, Head Porter.

A twin pack of Gordon quality playing cards made in Australia in the 1930s.Sticker on bottom of case with M. Fogarty in ink.paper

Official envelope from the City of Ballaarat used to welcome visitors to Ballarat for the XVIth Olympic Games events held in the city in 1956. This envelope contained event tickets and promotional material for visitors to Ballarat for the Olympic Games. This was the first time the Olympic Games had been held in Australia and the rowing and canoeing events were conducted on Lake Wendouree at Ballarat from November 23rd to December 1st 1956.

The King's Cup is a perpetual trophy awarded to the winning state crew for the Australian eight oar championship, the final race of the annual national regatta held since 1878. The cup was originally awarded by the king to the winning crew of a race held between crews from the allied armies of the the First World at the Henley Regatta, UK in July 1919 and won by the AIF No 1 crew. In 1921 following requests from the Australian Rowing Association King George V decreed that the trophy be awarded as a perpetual trophy to the winning crew. The King's Cup has been rowed on the Olympic course at Ballarat's Lake Wendouree twice, in 1956 and 1962.

Hat badge of Michael Taffe, 6 RVR at the Victoria St Barracks Melbourne in 1971. The 6th Battalion Royal Victoria Regiment was a militia (Citizens Military Forces) regiment formed in 1965 from what was earlier the Royal Melbourne Regiment. Crossed rifles surmounted by crown with scroll to base bearing the word Victoria in gilt on large V in softer gilt.royal melbourne regiment, 6rvr, hat badge, victoria street, melbourne, taffe,

Small book press with rectangular pressing surface driven by worm wheel thread and turning handle. This press is still used in the Hymettus library for book repairs.ballarat, books, book repair, covers, hymettus cottage, library.

Cardinal O'Connell was Roman Catholic archbishop of Boston when this medal was created by Dora Ohlfsen in 1911.This medal was created by Ballarat born sculptor Dora Olhfsen. Ohlfsen lived and worked in Roma at the time and this medallion was created for Archbishop, Cardinal O'Connell of Boston on his achieving the cardinal's hat in 1911. Ohlfsen was born in Ballarat in 1869 and served as a nurse in Italy in World War I later sculpting the Anzac medallion to raise funds for returned soldiers.medal, ohlfsen, ballarat, cardinal o'connell, rome

Nineteen page promotional booklet for Mc Dougal and Chisolm Ballarat c. 1953.

This tie preserver with instructions on cleaning has a well documented provenance and a known owner forming part of a significant and representative historical collection that reflects Ballarat's local history from a family perspective. It contributes to our understanding of social and family life in twentieth century Ballarat and providing interpretative capacity for family, local, trades and social history themes.Printed with Instructions for use and retailer's details: With Compliments from Alf. C. White Tailor and Mercer 423 Sturt St. BALLARAT. Verso has no printing.ballarat, tailor, mercer

Small 28 page stitch bound booklet in home made cardboard binding. Front cover with greenblack and white print. There are 28 pages of 91 black & white illustrated crochet edge patterns with 6 colour plate advertising pages for Myart inside the cover pages and on back cover.. "---chet Edges" written in ink on torn paper cover (assuming the first letters were Cro).

Purchased for the household by Mary Taffe in the 1950s.An example of the use of crafted objects for household use before the introduction of lightweight mass produced plastics.Oval shaped cane Laundry/washing basket with two handles c. 1950. These baskets were produced from the 19th century until the 1950s when other materials e.g. plastic replaced them. This style of washing basket was commonly used by families until the introduction of cheap plastic baskets.nil