This medallion was struck to celebrate the 100th anniversary of fellmongering in Mazamet in 1951. Fellmongering - In French, ‘delainage” means, literally, ‘de-wooling'. It is the industrial process of separating wool from sheepskins. In the 19th century, the southern French town of Mazamet became the world centre of délainage and played an important part in the Australian wool industry. At one time Mazamet was reputed to be the 15th richest town in Europe, and it was said that the town’s branch of the Banque Nationale de Paris (French banking firm) was the second largest in France. At its height, Mazamet had 48 fellmongeries and imported more than 100,000 tonnes of sheepskins a year from the southern hemisphere, mostly from Australia and Argentina. It also supported numerous associated industries such as tanneries, spinning mills and clothing manufacturers. In the 1980s Mazamet’s fellmongering industry fell into decline under pressure from environmental concerns and cheap imports. The town’s last two fellmongeries closed in 2004. The town continues to have a strong relation to Australia, with street names such as, Rue de Australie, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in recognition of a connection to the two distant lands. Today, half a century since wool importation largely ended, there remains a link to the past. Elite quality leather and woollen clothing companies such as Hermes and Chanel still source much of their stock in Mazamet. This medallion was presented to William Haughton and Co. who were one of Australia’s largest wool-buying companies of the first half of the 20th century. Wm Haughton had a major presence in Geelong and its “SKINS WOOL HIDES TALLOW etc.” signs were prominent on railways stations throughout the Western District and beyond. Haughtons had branches in all Australian capital cities, New Zealand, London and Bradford. Its agents in Mazamet were Maison Louis Maffre, an enterprise founded by M. Louis Maffre, mayor of Mazamet from 1912 to 1919. This medallion was donated to the National Wool Museum by the family of Sir Robert Southey AO CMG, former managing director of Wm Haughton & Co.Bronze medallion contained within purple case. On one side of the medallion, a mill worker is seen scraping the wool off the treated sheepskin. On the reverse the inception can be read.Wording: CRESCAM ET LUCEBO // CENTENAIRE / DU DELAINAGE / MAZAMET // 1851-1951. Smooth edge stamped with a cornucopia and the inscription BRONZEmazamet, fellmongering, délainage

Originating from Scotland pre-1950, this wool winder is ornately decorated featuring a male figure at its peak and a cherub at its base. Wool Winders are practical objects typically with minimal decoration; however, Wool Winders with ornate design features do exist. Scrimshaw (whale ivory) was a popular choice of material in the 18th and 19th century. It is smooth, preventing yarn from getting caught when unwinding, as well as having artistic beauty. Wool winders require a heavy base, as to not topple over when in use. It is popular to decorate these bases on more elaborate winders, such as shown in this example. The bows featured to tie the wood segments together is another feature of more elaborate models of wool winders, also highlighted in this example. This winder began life in the possession of Annie Crawford. The Crawford name has a strong connection with the town of Paisley, Scotland, and its Woollen Mills. The Crawford name can be seen working at the Woollen Mills in the 1851 Scotland Census, with Robert and his brother’s James and John working as Wool dyers. Their father Alexander also worked as a Loom Weaver. The winder immigrated with Annie when she, her husband and 3 children travelled to Australia, ready to start a new life. Most of their possessions were left behind in Scotland. This winder accompanied the family on their journey; so it stands to reason that the winder was special to them. Annie Crawford passed the winder onto her eldest daughter Joan Crawford. Joan did not have any children and so she passed the winder onto the eldest female grandchild, Fiona Crawford. Fiona Crawford continued the connection of the Crawford name with textiles, with an exhibition titled "When you go looking for me, I am not there". Utilising medieval embroidery tradition of ‘Punto Assisi, the exhibition was a reflection on the lack of women recorded in history, particularly their contribution to the domestic arts. Her work investigates both the absence of women while also honouring the unknown female makers of this now highly desired art. The Wool Winder was donated to the National Wool Museum in 2021 by Dianne Crawford, the sister of Fiona Crawford. Umbrella swift style wool winder made of metal, wood, and ribbon. Decorated at its highest point with a sculpted man standing on one leg, holding what is perhaps a rolled newspaper as though he may be bidding at an auction. Or perhaps he is holding a hank of wool. The man stands upon a three-tier platform of decreasing size and design which leads to the central metal shaft. At the base, the winder is decorated with an engraved cherub. Both figures have a small hole in one of their hands, indicating that they originally held something. Unfortunately, it is not known what this is. From the central metal shaft, this winder has 2 rows of 6 arms radiating out. These arms cross in the middle to form an X. These arms are also connected horizontally with additional arms which cross. This all forms an intricate web design, tied together with ribbon. The size of the web these arms create is adjustable, to accommodate yarns of different length. Beneath the second row of arms is a locking screw which holds this row at the desired height and width. This entire top section, beginning at the central metal shaft, can be unscrewed from its base for easier storage. The base begins in a wooden circular shape growing into a smaller ornately designed raise on which the cherub sits. From the head of the cherub the central metal shaft begins.paisley, scotland, wool winder, immigration

Camera owned by Robert Gardiner in the 1950s. Purchased c 1954 at Michael's camera store, cnr Elizabeth and Bourke Street, Melbourne. Used during courtship with Barbara Hegarty Gardiner - Took sporting photos, family photos and Holiday trips.Twin Lens Reflex black camera in leather case - R (Flexo) with carrying strap. Strap holding a Weston light meter in zipped soft bag. Lens hood in leather case. Lens f 1.35 focal length 7.5cm. Film size 120|Cardboard Box. Hanimex - transparency mounts. A total of 9 items .Flexophotography, cameras, camera accessories

The garment and cap were made by Peg West for Robert. Peg was a former member of the historical society who lived at 10 Wattle Valley Road, Mitcham (1931 - 2009). She knitted many garments for family and friends. The wool was purchased by Barbara Gardiner for the jumper and cap for Robert.Man's dark grey with multi-coloured fleck wool hand knitted ribbed jumper and matching cap. The rib pattern is two knit two purl stitches. The garment is long sleeved with cuffs and a polo neck collar. The matching cap (beanie shape) has a twin back edge.costume, male, handcrafts, knitting

Biography of the Chalmers family and their 9 children and grandchildren and their connection with Christ Church, Mitcham.chalmers, mary jane, william bertram (1882 - 1918), australian tesselated tile co pty ltd, christ church anglican church, mitcham, theresa ann 1884 -, hall, henry, ellen isabel (1886 - 1887), leslie james 1887 -, ada mary 1888 -, edward ernest 1890 -, rhodes, ada rebecca, frederick thomas 1892 -, hutchinson, hilda, alfred marcus 1895 -, war memorial mitcham, beatrice maude 1896 -, hilda jean 1915 -, frederick wallace 1917 -, alfred donald 1917 -, ronald william jack 1926 -, lorna roberta margery 1926 -, robert leslie 1927 -, gorsuch, henry edward, peter, judith, fry judith, fry, james, forster, joe (rev), lugg, jennifer, andrew, nicholas edward, catherine ann, wyzenbeek, isabella

The story of the Goodwin Family of Blackburn and Toongabbie as told in the book And Time Remembered Is Grief Forgottengoodwin, george a, robert, william, young, helen, annie, percy george

Donanted by Robert Petty Family of Petty's Orchard in Doncaster/Templestowe area. The scales were owned by Gertrude Petty (nee Pye)Kitchen scales - imperial measurement, balance scale , 25lb capacity. Enamel Painted, chrome with chrome tray. Krups brand. Made in Germany.Krups Perla, made in Germanydomestic items, weighing

Series of photographs loaned for copying by Robert Collier through Keith Rooney. Photographs have been scanned by Ted Arrowsmith at 300dpi as a 'tiff' and burnt onto a CD Rom. copies of photographs were produced from the CD Rom for inclusion in the album.Black and white photograph of family gathering at St Kilda. Mrs. B. Toogood, J. Joyner, B. Toogood, Mrs. J Gee, R. Collier, F.Collier, C. Collier, Mrs. Collier. All relatives.collier fred, collier robert, collier mrs, collier george, collier blanche, orchards, tunstall

Black and white print of Chalmers Family celebrating Golden Wedding of Frederick and Hilda Chalmers (Hutchinson) on 2 May 1964.|Robert Leslie Chalmers, Lorna Roberts, Marjory Chalmers Papworth. Donald Alfred Chalmers (twin), Hilda Jean Chalmers Gorsuch, Frederick Wallace Chalmers (twin), Ronald William Jack Chalmers.chalmers, frederick, hilda, hutchinson

A history of the Forest Hill Post Office.A history of the Forest Hill Post Office.forest hill post office, post offices, peacock family, peacock robert, peacock catherine, mcarthur archibald

A book documenting a selection of former pioneer families in Australia from 1844Black bound book of 144 pages documenting 103 Germans who immigrated to Australia from 1844winter heindrick wilhelm, fankhauser david daniel, fankhauser george frederick, fankhauser george henry, fankhauser frederick william, tainton rose selina, fankhauser arthur albert, fankhauser alfred richard, fankhauser david ernest, fankhauser robert christian, shepherd esther ruby, fankhauser john butler maling, fankhauser stanley charles, fankhauser walter john, fankhauser john august

Three books, two booklets and a folder outlining the Arnott Biscuit Companynon-fictionThree books, two booklets and one folder outlining the Arnott Biscuit Companybrockhoff family, arnotts brockhoff guests

This photograph has been identified as PTE Norman Hooke (Service No. 3764), son of William Hugh Hooke and Margaret Ellen Hooke (nee Holloway). He was born in 1896 at Rutherglen, enlisted on 11th August 1915, and was killed in action in France on 2nd September 1916. His occupation before enlistment was listed as coach painter.Oval photograph, printed on a postcard, of Norman Robert Hooke in his AIF uniformWritten on back: "Norman"world war 1, world war i, hooke family, holloway family

Found in an above ground rubbish pile at Days Mill and Farm. Boot polish probably used by family or workers on site.Two tins of boot polish in flat round tins with butterfly type fastenings between the lid and the tin body. Both lids have red, black, yellow and white graphics that depict a kiwi but the wording and wording placement is different. Both tins are rusted and may contain remnants of boot polish.yeswilliam day, ann day, joseph day, robert day

Found in an above ground rubbish pile at Days Mill and farm. The cups appear to be made for use by children. Probably used by the family on site.Two small aluminum drinking vessels. One is a small battered cup with a handle, the other is a mug with an inscription, :DARLING" and is missing a handle. "DARLING"william day, ann day, joseph day, robert day

Photograph taken by Robert BillingsBlack and white photograph of trees and their reflection in a lake.Written at foot of photo: "Reflections. Rutherglen Town Lake. R.B.B."billings family, lake king, rutherglen park

Photograph is of Lake King in Rutherglen Park. Comment on the back of photo may indicate that Therese Billings entered this photo in the Rutherglen Show.Black and white photograph of trees and their reflections in a lake.Square blue rubber stamp on back of photo: "R.B. Billings, Koroit. approval No. 3825. Phone 20. Date..... No........ Chemist" Hand written on back of photo: "Therese Billings. 'By the Lake side'. Section 2"lake king, rutherglen park, billings family

Photograph of the Billings children at a picnic table at the side of Lake King.Black and white photograph of park with trees reflected on the surface of a lake. Several children are seated at a picnic table.Written on back of photo: "Rutherglen Lake. About 1953. (Stopped at [Browning?] Road)billings family, lake king, rutherglen park