For the First Peoples of south-eastern Australia, making possum skin cloaks has long been a culturally important practice. But during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, possums and other native animals were also heavily hunted by white colonists who coveted their warm and fashionable furs. This rug, made from fifteen possum pelts, was used in a Brighton home during cold winter months in the 1920s.Possum skin rug made from 15 rectangular cut pelts mounted onto a brown wool felt with cut scalloped edges. possum skin, rug, fur, 1920s

Ada of California was a Melbourne swimwear company founded in the early 1950s by Brighton locals Ada and Toni Murkies. Born in Poland in 1922, Ada was 17 when the Second World War reached her doorstep. She and her family were torn from their home by Soviet soldiers and sent to a brutal labour camp in Siberia as part of a series of mass deportations. In order to escape the horrific conditions of the camp, Ada and her sister Barbara joined the Soviet-backed Polish Army. During her time in the military she became close with a handsome young Jewish officer, Lieutenant Antoni Murkies, who later became her husband. After the war Toni was awarded 15 medals including the highest Polish military honour, the Virtuti Militari. Ada was awarded 10 medals, including the Order of the Cross of Grunwald. Emigrating to Australia as postwar refugees in 1948, Ada and Toni arrived in Melbourne with little to their name. Working initially in garment factories and building their connections, by the mid-1950s the couple were able to start a company of their own, with Ada designing the garments and Toni managing the business. Within ten years, Ada of California swimwear was being sold in department stores throughout Australia, and the Murkies family were able to build a permanent home of their own in Brighton. By the early 1980s they had acquired several other major labels, including Watersun. This swimsuit is believed to be one of a large quantity of samples, seconds and unsold Ada Productions stock donated to Brighton Historical Society in late 1990 by Brian Samuel, who worked at the company between 1979 and 1990.Black one-piece swimsuit with deep v-neck and low-cut back and high-cut legs. Halter neck. Ruched sides. Label in side: "ada / 16"swimwear, ada of california, ada productions, melbourne designers, ada murkies, toni murkies

Lacrosse stick. Hand-inscribed in throat: B BELK and BC. Materials: Wood, Leathertennis

Head and shoulder portrait of a lady. She is wearing a high neck dress with a brooch at the throat.C. J. Gearing & Co., 52 Regent St. W and 433 Strand. W. C.photograph, portrait, portrait of a lady, c j gearing & co., carte de visite

A wooden racquet with concave throat, white-painted throat and shoulders, plastic whipping, and black vinyl handle grip. Decal across throat on both sides features the inscription: JC HIGGINS/OUR OWN TRADE MARK/WHIZ. Incorporated into the logo is a speeding tennis ball design. Decal across left side of stem: MADE IN U.S.A. Handwritten 'W' across throat on obverse. Hand etched number '5186850' along stem on reverse. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Ink, Vinyl, Adhesive tape, Paint, Leather, Plastictennis

A wooden flat-top tennis racquet with solid convex throat, bevelled frame, thin lamination between throat wedge and frame, leather collar, and a fine-grooved rounded handle. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Glue, Metal, Gut, Leathertennis

A 'Popular' tennis racquet with solid convex throat, string whipping around shoulders and fine grooved handle with fantail butt. Name of model features across throat on obverse. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Glue, Metal, Gut, Leather, Stringtennis

A 'Tremont' transitional flat top tennis racquet with convex solid throat, an octagonal handle with fine grooves, and a leather end wrap. Model name printed across throat. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Metal, Glue, Gut, Leather, Inktennis

A wooden tennis racquet with composite convex throat and octagonal handle with fine grooves. Leather end wrap. Manufacturer name and trademark printed across throat: V....RY. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Metal, Glue, Ink, Gut, Leathertennis

An Horsman 'Tether' wooden tennis racquet, with laminated convex throat, & grooved octagonal handle. Horsman "Centaur" trademark decal features below the model name, across the throat on obverse. Materials: Wood, Metal, Lacquer, Ink, Gut, Leathertennis

This item(razor) was used by men, only before fashion dictated that women should shave their legs and underarms. There is information that this razor was first used circa 1922 and it lasted up until circa 1958. It permitted the user to have a compact shaving apparatus at hand in any environment. It provided a safe and easy way of sharpening the more permanent blade. This type of razor replaced the straight, open, or cut-throat razors. The mobility of this item was further enhanced by Gillette with their double bladed disposable razor. Time taken(shaving) and costs involved where crucial factors in the ever growing pace of domestic lifestyle in the post 1920s.This historical item presents that, even though the Kiewa Region was an inland rural settlement which in the 1920's was not as close to "modern" fashions and "gadgets", the basic living conditions where still maintained at city levels. This particular razor was in its heyday a sophisticated safety razor and brought down the demand for the services of the "professional" barber(shaver). One of the problems of the superseded straight razor was the high levels of cuts and nicks to the face. As this particular razor was fairly expensive it would have been used by men who were in the middle to upper socio-economical position in Kiewa Valley before the late 1950'sThis item is a Sheffield steel(stamped inside) metal box(Viscount model) containing a red leather fine shaving strap and in its lid a grey honing stone. Both bottom and top lids are removable to allow for replacements of strap and stone. On the bottom lid appears "The Whetter" trade mark, registered in the U.S.A. in 1950.Three bands of a Greek key pattern has been pressed on the lid. A circled identification inscription. " ROLLS RAZOR Ltd, MADE IN ENGLAND" and patented information appears within this inscription. "Patented in England and Abroad. English patents numbers 467383. 284428. 242718. 242717" On the outside of the base lid within a circle are "ROLLS RAZOR" and the sketch of a long haired naked man (side view), crouched, with both hands stretched forward operating the razor. On a slab underneath are the words "The Whetter"safety razor, non disposable, men's shaving implement

Unknown timber mill in the Grampians.The photo shows an open sided building. In the building there is cut wood stacked on a trolley to the left with further, further cut wood in front of it. A steam engine can be seen in the far side of the building. Off-cuts and saw dust are visible in front of the building.timber industries, logging, sawmilling

A wooden racquet with solid, and tapered, convex throat, cloth tape shoulder reinforcements, and medium grooved handle. Features early use of laminated wood strips, nailed to side of stem, and up along throat and lower head. This is also painted brown. Inscription across throat on obverse: TUNMER/"SPECIAL". Inscription across butt cover, in French: A.A. TUNMER/& CO.//PARIS/A GARDER SOUS PRESSE. Adhered onto the throat on obverse is a small metallic - possibly silver - monogram, possibly spelling the initials K.B. On the throat on reverse, is inscription in French and Latin: MARQUE DE FABRIQUE DEPOSEE/ATA/IN HOC SIGNO VINCES. Materials: Wood, Gut, Cloth tape, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Leather, Metal, Painttennis

Cheese Dish, square shape with cut corners, white ceramic, 2 parts; base with cut corners and lid with decorative handle and air hole.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, cheese dish, covered cheese dish, kitchen ware

8490.1 - Leather mask cut to fit a small horse with attendant buckles and straps with two large holes cut out for the sake of the horses vision.

A wooden racquet with a convex throat, and altered handle. Inscription across throat on obverse: 1920/SPECIAL. Red and yellow Reach 'baseball' trademark features on throat on reverse. Manufacturing details feature across right side of stem: A.J. REACH/MAKERS. Trademark is also stamped onto butt cap. Materials: Wood, Gut, Metal, Lacquer, Glue, Ink, Paint, Leather, Cloth tape, Stringtennis

A wooden racquet with a concave throat and an octagonal handle. Throat on obverse features decal inscription: HARVARD. Throat on reverse features a decal of a crowned garter with the inscription: E. KENT. Company logo also features on blue butt cover, impress in gold. Handwritten inscription across handle on reverse reads: WILMA D. Materials: Wood, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Gut, Ink, Leather, Paint, Clothtennis

A wooden racquet with a concave throat, blue plastic shoulder and stem supports, white whipping, and grooved handle. Inscription along the throat on obverse: CONQUEROR. Manufacturer's mark, featured on throat on reverse, comprises of the letter 'M' at the centre of a circular, banded shield. Inscription: N.J. MAGNAN CORP./NORTH ATTLEBORO,MASS,U.S.A. Materials: Wood, Gut, String, Leather, Cloth, Metal, Glue, Lacquer, Ink, Plastictennis

A wooden, transitional flat-top racquet with a solid convex throat, and fine grooved handle. Manufacturer's mark stamped across throat on obverse, comprises of a hexagram with the text: BEST IS BEST/S&S/L/THRO' THE WORLD. Stamped model name along stem on obverse: THE RENSHAW. Stamped inscription across throat on reverse: BENETFINK/LONDON. Materials: Wood, Gut, Leather, Metal, Glue, Lacquertennis

An Osan 'Macro 2001' graphite tennis racquet with open throat, plastic butt cap and handle wrapped with leather. Manufacturer's name and model name on side of right throat pillar. Manufacturer's 'double half-moon' logo features on lower section of throat and on butt cap. Manufacturer's logo and name are printed repeatedly on leather grip wrap. Materials: Adhesive tape, Leather, Ink, Vinyl, Graphite, Plastictennis

A Slazenger 'Plus' metal tennis racquet, with double shaft, blue metal throat reinforcement; blue metal shaft casing; and a handle wrapped in black perforated Slazenger-branded leather. Manufacturer name & logo appear on white plastic butt cap and on throat reinforcement on reverse. Model name appears on shaft pillar and on throat reinforcement on obverse. Materials: Metal, Plastic, Leather, Adhesive label, Nylon, Stringtennis

A Wright and Ditson 'Criterion' tennis racquet, with: concave throat; bevelled crown; string whipping around shoulders; and, shallow-grooved, thick octagonal handle. Decal inscription along throat on obverse: CRITERION. Retailers details feature below across shaft. Wright & Ditson cursive logo features along throat on reverse. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Glue, Metal, Paint, Ink, Leather, Gut, Stringtennis

A Wright and Ditson 'DC Model' (i.e. Davis Cup Model) tennis racquet, with: concave throat; bevelled crown; string whipping around shoulders; and, bald, thick octagonal handle. Decal inscription along throat on obverse: WRIGHT & DITSON/DC/MODEL. Wright & Ditson cursive logo features along throat on reverse. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Glue, Metal, Paint, Ink, Leather, Gut, Stringtennis

A Spalding 'Model AH' tennis racquet, featuring: concave throat; bevelled crown; whipping over hide reinforced shoulders; and, fine-grooved, octagonal handle. 'A.G. Spalding & Bros. Made in U.S.A.' logo encircling ball trademark features on throat on reverse. Decal of model name features across throat on obverse. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Glue, Metal, Ink, Gut, Leather, Paint, String, Hidetennis

A Spalding 'Model EH' tennis racquet, featuring: concave throat; bevelled crown; whipping over hide reinforced shoulders; and, fine-grooved, octagonal handle. 'A.G. Spalding & Bros. Made in U.S.A.' logo encircling ball trademark features on throat on reverse. Decal of model name features across throat on obverse. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Glue, Metal, Ink, Leather, Paint, String, Hide, Guttennis

A Spalding 'Tournament' model tennis racquet, featuring concave throat and fine-grooved wooden handle with leather end wrap and butt cloth . White reinforcement tape around shoulders. Manufacter logo features on throat on reverse. Model name features on throat on obverse. Manufacturer logo printed on butt cloth. Materials: Wood, Metal, Lacquer, Glue, Leather, Gut, Ink, String, Adhesive tapetennis

A Wright & Ditson 'Columbia' tennis racquet, with: composite convex throat; bevelled crown; and, fine-grooved handle. Model name features across throat on obverse. Manufacturer details feature along right side of shaft, and across butt cover. Wright & Ditson Championship 'tennis player on ball' trademark features across throat on reverse. Materials: Wood, Metal, Lacquer, Glue, Ink, Leather, Guttennis

A wooden Horsman 'Model G' tennis racquet, with oriental gut (silk) strings, laminated convex throat, and, a rounded handle. Inscription across crown, on obverse: MODEL G. Horsman 'Centaur' trademark features on throat, on obverse. On throat, on reverse, is a moon-face sticker with inscr. 'THANKS' across top. Carved inscr. along shaft on obverse: ELMER. Materials: Wood, Metal, Lacquer, Ink, Glue, Silktennis