Part of a selection of garments knitted by ‘Tina Knitwear’. Tina Knitwear was a successful made to order knitwear business in Brighton from the mid-1960s to around 2010, run by Assunta and Franco Liburti. Daughter Melissa Persi writes: Our parents Assunta (Mum) and Franco (Dad) Liburti ran a successful made to order knitwear business in Brighton from the mid-1960s to around 2010. Assunta was affectionately known to her family as Assuntina, therefore the business was named "Tina Knitwear" after her. Assunta and Franco were born in the beautiful seaside town of Terracina in Italy in 1933 and 1930 respectively. As was so common in Italy in the 1950s, Assunta who was in her late teens and early twenties learnt the intricate skills of machine knitting, dressmaking and pattern making. Franco on the other hand, learnt the building trade with his 2 brothers and specialised in bricklaying and tiling. As was so common after the war, Assunta and Franco yearned for a better life so they decided that they would get engaged and then migrate to Australia to be married and raise their family in Australia, a land of much opportunity which they no longer felt their beloved Italy held for them. Assunta migrated to Australia first in 1957 and later Franco joined her in 1958 where they were married. For the first few years, Franco (also known as Frank) worked as bricklayer /tiler on buildings such as the Robert Menzies building at Monash University in Clayton and various buildings in the Melbourne CBD. Assunta on the other hand put her machine knitting skills to use working in factories doing piece machine knitting for various knitwear companies. The hours were long, the conditions were difficult, and travel was onerous without a car. After their 2 older children were born, it was decided that dad would leave the building trade and they would start their own made to order knitwear business. That way they could work from home and raise their family together. Mum taught dad everything he needed to know so he could operate the knitwear machinery. They purchased COPPO knitting machines from Italy and a Linking machine from Germany. Initially they had a knitwear shopfront in Bay Street Brighton where a store assistant would take the orders and client’s measurements and Assunta would then make the garments from a small workshop in their home. Unfortunately, the assistants were not skilled dressmakers and often measurements and orders were incorrectly taken. Assunta being the perfectionist and highly skilled machinist that she was, decided that she needed to oversee the entire process from meeting the client, to taking their order, right thru to the fittings and completion of the garment. It therefore made sense that they should close the shop front and run their business from their own home in Brighton and hence “Tina Knitwear” was born. Together, for more than 40 years they ran their very respected and successful business and were well known in the Bayside area. They specialised in made to order knitwear for both men and women using mainly pure wool (from Patons, Wangaratta Mills, Japan and Italy) but also lurex and estacel. Over those years, many of their clients became their close friends. It wasn't unusual for clients to come to order garments and then end up in the kitchen chatting over a cup of Italian espresso coffee and homemade biscuits. Some of their clients were especially memorable and became lifelong friends. Mrs Connell was a dear friend of mum’s, each year she would buy tickets for the “Gown of the Year” fashion show. She would insist on taking Assunta and her 2 daughters so that we could see the latest fashions. Then there was their dear friend Ms Griffiths. She had been a Matron nurse at the Queen Victoria Hospital when she met my parents in the 1970s. She returned to live in New Zealand in the 1980s but came back to Melbourne every year to stay for 2 weeks with the sole purpose of visiting my parents (she adored them) and order garments. For those 2 solid weeks, mum and dad would only knit for Ms Griffiths and she would go back to New Zealand with at least 5 or 6 new outfits. I actually think she enjoyed mum’s homemade pasta almost as much as her new clothes! Over the years, my parents learnt to speak English very well given that majority of their clients were not Italian speaking. Their oldest child John born in 1960 learnt to speak English with the help of those clients who were such a big part of our childhood. Mum and dad always went above and beyond to ensure their clients were satisfied. Mum was an absolute perfectionist and it showed in her attention to detail and the quality of their beautiful work. You only need to look at the garments that have stood the test of time or speak to their clients to know that this is true. Their clients would always comment on how well their clothes would last and much of their clients came via word of mouth and recommendations. Occasionally there would be disagreements because mum had found an error in dad's knitting (either a wrong stitch or a sizing mistake mainly) and would ask him to redo a piece, he would argue back saying that it was fine, but we always knew who would win the argument and that the piece would get remade! Similarly, we recall discussions where mum would ask dad to find a particular colour of wool in the garage where the stock was kept. He would try to convince her that they were out of stock of that colour and that the client should choose a different colour. She would insist they had it and then after hours of searching, he would return into the house sheepishly holding the wool! Our childhood is full of beautiful memories of mum and dad always being present, clients coming and going, mum humming her favourite songs as she worked often late into the night and sometimes, we even fell asleep to the hum of the machinery. They put their heart and soul into "Tina Knitwear" and took pride in providing only the best quality garments for their clients. In Italian there is a saying “lei ha le mani d’oro” which literally translated means “she has hands of gold”. Franco enjoyed his work but for Assunta, it was more than just work and there is no better way to describe her skills, passion and dedication to her machine knitting… she truly did have “hands of gold”. We will forever be grateful that our parents’ life journey gave us the opportunity to live in a home filled with creativity, dedication and passion, amazing work ethic and mutual respect, lifelong friendships and a lifetime of love. Red princess seam coat dress with ten self covered buttons down centre front and crew neck. knitwear, clothing, italy, migrants, brighton, knitting machine, linking machine, garments, business, family, community

These small collection tins were distributed to homes to encourage the 'banking' of small coins which would then be donated to assist the work of the Spastic Society of Victoria. Founded in 1948, and now known as "Scope" this is a not-for-profit organisation providing disability services throughout Victoria to thousands of children and adults with physical and multiple disabilities An example of mid 20th century fund raising.Cardboard cylinder with metal ends. Top has slot for coins. Cream coloured outer with red writing.On label "Spastic Children need your help" "Home Bank"spastic society of victoria, home bank, fundraising

Black and white photograph -Bird's Self Service - Ringwood Shopping Centre -86 Whitehorse Road

Foot paring, scissor style foot parring secateurs with replaceable blades and self spring action.

Author Margaret Rowe has three self-published novels about the lives of quilting enthusiasts.Author Margaret Rowe has three self-published novels about the lives of quilting enthusiasts.railway crossings, rowe, margaret

Apricot sleeveless long nightdress scalloped edge on neckline with self embroidery at neckline. Tie for waist.costume, female nightwear

One of Australia’s most acclaimed printmakers, Grahame King originally trained as a commercial artist in the mid-1930s. The Design Archives holds a collection of embossed advertising showcards designed by King in the 1950s which reveal examples of graphic design and typography in post-war Melbourne. The showcards were used by iconic companies for advertising and promotion on shop counters and in window displays and were produced by Firestone Embossed Showcards. Megan Atkins, 2017 Sign shows centrifugal pumps, close coupled centrifugal pumps and self-oiling piston pumps.Printed text bottom left on verso, Firestone embossed showcards PTY. LTDshowcards, advertising, graphic design, commercial art, artist

1 yard of "Surgeons" zinc oxide plaster. Self adhesive. White container with blue writing. surgical equipment

Envelope used in the office of the Minister for Public Transport during the 1990's for mailing Quarto size documents or publications. Office located at 589 Collins St. Melbourne, known as Transport House.A stationery that is associated with a now-evolved ministerial department which existed in the 1990s. White paper pre-printed envelope with a self sealing flap, printed for the Minister for Public Transport.public transport, letters, stationery, transport, minister for public transport

A black self filling fountain pen with a cap over the nib of gold coloured metal with name HASCO in gold on the cap. The pen comes in its own box of green cardboard with gold writing - 'HASCO ' Self-Filling Fountain Pen - Marvel of Value.HASCOdomestic items, writing equipment

Coat was worn by the grandmother of the donorFull length fur coat in varying shades of brown. Origin of fur unknown. Coat is lined with a rayon damask and has a deal of detail i.e. pocket with self rouched trim and bows, the hem was self rouched trim, rosettes and bows. The coat has three self-covered fur buttons closing with elasticised loops. The collar is a stand-up shawl collar. The style is 1920s. One sleeve has a split at cuff.costume, female

The flour bag is an example of packaging from the grocery store, Moran & Cato's. Moran & Cato's were a large chain of grocery stores operating from the late nineteenth century to the mid twentieth century across Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales. The address on the flour bag is for the warehouse (wholesale depot) of the business which was a significant building in Brunswick St, Fitzroy.The flour bag provides a snapshot of packaging for a well known grocery store of the early twentieth century. The advertisement on the back for 'Cleaned Fruits' is an example of advertising that highlighted important facts relevant to that time (e.g. "latest Special Machinery" and "with running water").Small calico flour bag for self-raising flour (7lb) supplied from Moran & Cato's in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne. The front of the bag includes not only the detail of the business but ideas for baking, images of wheat and claims as to its excellence. The back of the bag has a written advertisement for 'Cleaned Fruits' another product of the company.Front - Wheaten Flour, Moran & Cato's, Trade mark The M & C Brand Registered, 7lbs Nett, The Highest Standard of Purity and Excellence, prepared with phosphate aerator, Self-raising Flour, For making scones bread cakes puddings & pastry, Warehouse & Office- Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne Back - Moran & Cato's, Cleaned Fruits are Perfection, (advertising text), The Same High Quality, The Same Prices at all our Branches.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, calico, domestic object, textile, food storage, moran & cato's, flour bag, self-raising flour

This simple device was/is used in the armed and other services to help keep uniforms clean when polishing the buttons and badges.

The book is designed to help middle years students in the Boroondara area to understand and discover more of the local history of their citycamberwell, boroondara

Parry Collection In 2003, the Bendigo Town Hall was returned to its 19th-century splendour after an extensive restoration and renovation program including plasterworks, murals and gold leaf worked by artists and artisans. The original Bendigo Town Hall was designed in 1859 by Bendigo's town clerk, George Avery Fletcher. A council chamber was added in 1866 and a hall for the trading of grain, known as the Corn Exchange, was added in 1871-72. Although the architecture of the additional buildings adhered to that of the original building, the completed building was unpopular with both the citizens and council of the era. In a series of major works from 1878 to 1902 the Bendigo Town Hall was transformed by the architect William Vahland who was given the task of converting the hall into something worthy of Bendigo's leading position as the "City of Gold".[2] His work included extensive new offices, enlargement of the main hall and council chambers, the introduction of an interior decorative scheme, a clock tower and mansard roof. The exterior facades were also remodelled in the classical style. Vahland commissioned Otto Waschatz, who had just decorated the Royal Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark, to design the hall's interior which featured decorative plaster adorned with 22-carat gold leaf, reflecting the opulence of the "city built on gold". The end result, completed in 1885, was one of Vahland's most significant works and has been considered the finest "boom style" building of its kind in Victoria.Bendigo Town Hall Self Tour and conservation timeline brochure. 1. A yellow paper map with the history of the town hall on one side and a self guide tour and plans on the other side. 2. A glossy 4 page guide to the history of the town hall and timeline.history, bendigo, merle lummis collection, bendigo town hall

A self-contained demountable balance scale set mounted and housed in a timber box. Complete with balance weights - scales, balance, scientific instrument

Green canvas roll up containing four items for cleaning and maintaining SLRs (self loading rifles)Rolls cleaning accessories 7.62mm Rifle mk 1 cat. no. 1005.66.100.2016slr, cleaning kit

Local girl. Margaret Ord local flower farmers. Grew up in BlackburnCream nylon self embroidered flowers on back and cuff also included packet Dents washing powder.dents all nylon made in Hong Kongcostume accessories, glove accessories

A self promotional document of Ben Stennett for re-election in Springfield Ward of the Whitehorse Council elections 2016.A self promotional document of Ben Stennett for re-election in Springfield Ward stennett, ben, councillors

Catalogue card reads, 'Ringwood Christmas 1918. Self, Jack, Bill and Annie'

The pioneer farmers and market gardeners in Moorabbin Shire had to be self sufficient and made their own tools and clothing and grew their own food. Some had been farmers in England and brought with them tools that would help them establish homes in the new countryAn example of the typical tools used by pioneers in Moorabbin Shire as they built homes and established farms. c1880 This spokeshave, is a wooden hand - plane that has a very short flat metal sole, used for smoothing curved surfaces.moorabbin, brighton, cheltenham, market gardeners, pioneers, farmers, tools, planes wood

Sepia photograph of a woman sliding down a sand dune, with ocean in the background. Helped by a man and another person kneeling in the background.Sand sliding at Barry’s Beachphotographs, barry’s beach, phillip island, berry’s beach, phillip island, social life and customs

From the trousseau of Lynn, Sam (Mrs). Samuel Lynn (1865-1949) was a farmer and grazier at Jarrahmond. Bred Clydesdales.This item has aesthetic significance as an example of a hand-made item of the early 20th century.Lace worked tea cosy with thick wadding to help preserve heat. White thread on white linen with silk lining.tea-cosy handcrafts lacemaking trousseau lynn-sam