1919 Grand National Eisteddfod of Australasia: South Street Competition Ballarat Third place certificate awarded to M. J. Taffe for Champion Bugle Solo. Signed by the founder of the Competition W. D. Hill.Awarded to M. J. Taffe for Champion Bugle Solo and signed by the founder of the Competition W. D. Hill. The Taffe family, like many local families, were involved in community affairs and associations across the years. It is unusual for the generations of one family to retain these mementoes of activities in a generational home in Australia. This second Michael Taffe was active in several brass bands in the city and also was a bugler in the 71st Battalion Band.Grand National Eisteddfod of Australasia Prize Certificate.w d hill, michael taffe, ballarat, cornet solo, south street competitions, bugle, military

In 1920 Michael Taffe at 17 years of age, was awarded Junior Cornet Solo Champion at Ballarat's South St competitions, The Grand National Eisteddfod of Australasia. This competition was the premier band contest in Australia with musicians from every state and New Zealand taking part. The large framed studio portrait of Michael together with his cornet and medals was on display in the window of Allan's Music store Melbourne when the building was severely damaged by fire but these items were saved. Part of a large family collection of local & family history items at Hymettus Cottage, home to the same Ballarat family for the past 127 years. This portrait has a well documented provenance and a known owner and has hung in this historic house for the past 106 years. It forms 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 Ballarat from the 19th to the 21st century and provides interpretative capacity for family, local, and social history themes.cornet, music, michael taffe, south street competitions, ballarat

This was a small domestic bookcase made by local Ballarat family firm of A. H. Harris in 1920. The firm ceased operating c. 1980. It is stamped at the back with the firm's name and is like several pieces in this 126 year old family home of local origin.A small domestic bookcase with adjustable shelves made by A. H. Harris of Ballarat. The firm was created at Ballarat in 1928 and became notable for making church furniture including the fitting out of St Therese' on Wendouree Pde Ballarat. This is an early small piece made for the home in an Arts and Crafts style.A.H.Harris & Sons.stamped into rear of shelf.bookcase, ballarat, hymettus, taffe, a. h. harris, australian furniture

After a quiet period, interest in bookplates in Australia began to increase in the early 1970s, This example was commissioned from Andrew Thomas a Ballarat photographer and designer by Michael Taffe owner of Hymettus at Ballarat in the 1990s and is a computer assisted design. It incorporates the generational family home, Hymettus and the family coat of arms with the owner's signature.Bookplate from Hymettus Cottage and Garden, first open to the public in 1917 as champion garden City of Ballaarat. the bookmark indicates the book it is affixed to was part of the family library in the house and represents four generations from 19th, 20th and 21st centuries a rare phenomenon in urban Australia.Bookplate depicts "Hymettus", a weatherboard cottage behind a paling fence with cottage name above image and family crest below.Signature of M. J. Taffe.ballarat, bookplate, hymettus, taaffe, taffe, andrew thomas

Pokerwork was a popular home craft in the 1930s. This small domestic piece using plywood is typical of objects made at home or school in that period.One of two matching circular pieces of ply, Incised, painted and lacquered with holes top and bottom for ties with image of Kookaburra and leaves. Incised to lower centre of cover 'd'oyleys'.painted and lacquered with image of Kookaburra and leaves and Incised to lower centre of cover 'd'oyleys'.mary burke, donald, taffe, ballarat, pokerwork, craft, kookaburra

32 pages and card covers staple boundnon-fictionThis booklet includes the open factories, factory displays, pageants and open gardens at Ballarat in 1917. Open gardens were a popular attraction throughout much of the twentieth century when Ballarat was renowned as Victoria's Garden City and the state as The Garden State. factories, business, gardens, displays, ballarat, taffe, hymettus garden

The celebration of Queen Victoria's birthday on May 24 was renamed Empire Day in 1903 after her death in 1901. It was celebrated throughout the British Empire, including in Australia. Ballarat schools marched in procession with a salute at the Town Hall before attending church services at their respective churches. By the late 1950s the celebration became Commonwealth Empire Day the reference to Empire being dropped by the 1960s.These form part of a large family collection of bookmarks and local & family history items at Hymettus Cottage, home to the same family for the past 127 years in 2024. They have 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. They contribute to our understanding of social and family life in twentieth century Ballarat and providing interpretative capacity for family, local, and social history themes. These four bookmarks are from 1951-1954.Three Empire Day cardboard bookmarks each featuring an illustrated crown, with crossed Australian and British flags, each bookmark trimmed in gold. The first is simply for Empire Day and two commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the 1953 Royal Visit respectively.nil,empire day, royal visit, bookmarks, empire day movement, melbourne, coronation year 1953

non-fictionA small booklet outlining British and European settlement across Australia with attention given to the contribution of post-war migration.commonwealth of australia, jubilee

Plastic, cased silverplate souvenir spoon from when Hymettus Cottage and Garden, Ballarat was open to the public1985 - 2010.The Taffe family home, Hymettus was open to the public as a tourist attraction and house museum 1985 - 2010 following extensive heritage work with Victoria 150th funding and analysis from Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. The property was awarded Champion Cottage Garden for the City of Ballaarat 1915-1918. Following restoration work it was the only nineteenth century working mans' exhibition garden retaining original layout and plantings from the Victorian/Edwardian era surviving in Australia. The property has been lived in by the same family from 1899 - the present.souvenir spoon, tourism, ballarat, museum, heritage garden, historic house, open garden scheme

The popular box camera of Eastman Kodak of U.S.A. was a camera with a simple lens. It provided snapshots at a low cost and was the most popular mass marketed camera for Australians at the time. It remains in Hymettus, the home of its original owner, Patrick (Paddy) Taffe.This camera is of interest for two reasons: 1. It is an example of the Box Brownie camera which was a very popular camera owned by many Australians in the early 20th century. 2. It belonged to Patrick Taffe of Hymettus in the early 20th century and with other cameras in the house across the generations, illustrates the changes in popular photography across the century into the 21st century.Black leather covered rectangular box of heavy board. Main lens and 2 viewfinder lenses on the front. Black leather handle, one view finder and metal opening latch on the top. One view finder and a winder key on the right hand side. Red film counter viewing window on the back, with markings. Leather at rear lifting and metal attachments rusting.Stamped into leather 'Use Film 116A with a small metal plaque reading, "Made in USA by the Eastman Kodak Company Rochester NY. USA 14403."photography, ballarat, taffe, hymettus,

Believed to have been made by William Taffe of Hymettus in the early 1940s these iron scone trays were a popular baking tray in the family home of the early twentieth century.The iron tray is an example of domestic kitchen equipment used in the late 19th to mid 20th century for baking gem scones or similar in a wood stove. These particular gem scone irons are believed to have been made by William (Bill) Taffe when working at a local foundry in the late 1930s-40s.Small cast iron trays of twelve concave cups for scone mix to bake gem scones. These have been left in damp conditions and severely weathered and rusted.Nilcooking, baking, scones, ballarat, william taffe, cast iron, kitchenware

non-fictionA typescript with some pages handwritten of the life of Nathan Spielvogel founder of the Ballarat Historical Society, teacher and community leader. Tied at top corner with ribbon.memoir, spielvogel, ballarat, dimboola, jewish

non-fiction

One of a series of sketches in 1943 by war artist Geoffrey Mainwaring while covering the war in the Pacific. Mainwaring went on to take charge of the Art department at the School of Mines Ballarat, SMB now Federation University.war, landing craft, mainwaring, ballarat smb, sketch, war in the pacific, new guinea, war artist

In 1920 Michael Taffe was awarded Junior Cornet Solo Champion at Ballarat's South St competitions, The Grand National Eisteddfod of Australasia. This competition was the premier band contest in Australia with musicians from every state and New Zealand taking part. This Boosey & Co cornet was on display in the window of Allan's Music store Melbourne when the building was severely damaged by fire but these items were saved. Part of a large family collection of local & family history items at Hymettus Cottage, home to the same Ballarat family for the past 125. This cornet has a well documented provenance and a known owner and has been at Hymettus for over a century. Boosey & Co joined with Hawkes in 1930 to become Boosey & Hawkes. This cornet forms 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 Ballarat from the 19th to the 21st century and provides interpretative capacity for family, local, and social history themes.Heavily decorated and inscribed.cornet, music, michael taffe, south street competitions, ballarat, boosey & co

non-fictionmosaics, ballarat, world war i, aif, light horse

This woodgraining was done in the early twentieth century by Ballarat painter and decorator C. Pennant who did similar work in the city. As with his work throughout the house it shows that the metal locks were similarly woodgrained and this is a rare surviving example of his work especially in a domestic home.nil,door, architecture, interior decoration

Produced as a family memorial card at Julia's death in 1927 and retained in the family ever since in her beloved home 'Hymettus'.Julia Taffe was born Julia Berkery at Bungaree in 1868 of pioneering Irish couple Patrick and Mary Berkery who arrived and settled in the district in1853. Proud of her pioneering family and close to her uncle, Daniel Brophy, Shire President of Bungaree, MLA and Mayor of Ballarat she requested the family home remain as such. Hymettus has been kept in accordance to her wishes.ballarat, bungaree, pioneer

This bookmark was produced for the launch of the author's debut novel at Readings store State Library Victoria 12th March 2025.Created by publisher Harper Collins for the launch of Marion Taffe's debut novel, 'By Her Hand', at Readings Booksellers, State Library Victoria in April 2025. Hymettus Cottage Ballarat was Marion Taffe's childhood home from 1983-1997. Green card with title of book and Author's name to front with gold blocked symbols significant in the novel and quote from text of book on verso with [4th] indicating a Harper Collins 4th Dimension publication.Nilbookmark, debut novel, marion taffe

Temporary indoor home for the Stoddart Statues. "Fancy Seeing You Here", Courier, Monday 22nd July, 2002, front page & page 2.BBG statues valued and conserved against further vandalism after 120 years outdoors.Half page coloured photograph of Statues indoors in the Robert Clark Centre, BBG., with brief caption.Picture by Lachlan Bencejohn garner collection, garner, dr, statues, vandalism, ballarat botanical gardens, ballarat, gardens, courier

Donald Victor BLACK, gardener, served and died as a result of WW11 service, an oak tree in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens is dedicated to him, 19th March 1944. Donald V. Black was highly regarded as a gardener in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens before he saw action in the Middle East and New Guinea during World War 2. The dedication and plaque in his memory attests to one of the many sad stories of a young man lost to his family, the work he loved and his home city.All visibleAll visiblejohn garner collection, garner, dr, black, donald black, gardener, ww11, ballarat botanical gardens, ballarat, gardens, plaque, tom toop, donald victor, memorial oak tree, tablet dedication

Report of Committee Meetings 19th September 1978 Works Committee Macedon Street Drain Proceeding Tree Planting Bulk is Completed Tree Lopping Maintenance is Proceeding Fairbairn Road Pre-School Completed Little Athletics Track Parsons Reserve Should be Completed this Week Sunshine Heated Pool Completion Date now End of November Ralph Street and Robert Bruce Reserve Toilet Roofs to be Poured this Week Tallingtyre Reserve Toilet Walls to be Erected this Week Bon Thomas Pre-School & Diamond Avenue Pre-School are Progressing Orama Street Pre-School Excavation Near Completion Highpoint City Pre-School Approval Still Required Sheds have been moved to Robert Bruce Reserve and Errington Reserve Report of Finance Committee Reclassifications Golden Jubilee Sunshine City Band Agenda and Forward Planning Committee Report of the Chief Health Inspector Closure of Albion North Infant Welfare Centre Application for Approval to Install a Septic Tank Recirculating Sand Filter System Fairbairn Road Report of City Engineer Planning Permit Application Place of Assembly Ballarat Road Deer Park Planning Permit Application Nursing Home Thomson Street Maidstone Planning Permit Flats King Edward Avenue Contract Cumberland Street Private Street Scheme Contract Sheffield Estate Private Street Scheme Station Road outfall Drain Through Commonwealth Property Establishment of Recycling Depot at Sunshine Tip Bon Thomas Reserve Pre-School Centre Report of the Director of Parks & Recreation Bon Thomas Reserve Development city of sunshine, alexander "alex" george gillon, fairbairn road pre-school, fairbairn road, sunshine west, parsons reserve, stanford street, sunshine, ralph street, robert bruce reserve, station road, deer park, tallingtyre reserve, kermeen street, bon thomas pre-school, quinn street, diamond avenue pre-school, diamond avenue, albanvale, orama street pre-school, orama street, st. albans, highpoint city pre-school, rosamond road, maribyrnong, errington reserve, main road east, sunshine city band, albion north infant welfare centre, ballarat road, thomson street, maidstone, king edward avenue, albion, cumberland street, sunshine north, sunshine tip, bon thomas reserve, bon thomas reserve pre-school centre

Wales Street State School poultry club lesson “Fresh eggs for breakfast will be available now in many Northcote homes. Mr Taylor of the Wales Street School, is explaining the points of a good hen to the members of the school poultry club.” Mr Taylor of Ballarat was founder of the largest Young Farmers’ Club in Western Victoria. He was also in charge of Grade 6 at Northcote’s Wales Street State School No. 3139 and president of their poultry club. The chook under inspection is the Australorp, an Australian breed developed from the UK Black Orpington and the US Rhode Island Red. It achieved world-wide popularity in the 1920s for its laying ability: in a 1922/23 world record, six hens laid an average of 309.5 eggs per hen during a 365 consecutive day trial. MCK 059 Published: The Age 16 March 1934 Featured in "Newsworthy: Melbourne in photographs 1933-1936" exhibition at East Melbourne Library, October to December 2023. Exhibition caption by project volunteer, Louise McKenzie. Photographer notations on slide: "B20" Published: 16 March 1934 The Age p3 Published title: SUBURBAN BOYS' POULTRY CLUB Published caption: Fresh eggs for breakfast will be available now in many Northcote homes. Mr. Taylor, of the Wales-street school, is explaining the points of a good hen to the members of the school poultry club. Trove article identifier: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203841415 Description: The scene is outside in a school playground. 25 schoolboys and one teacher stand around a wooden table on which a large live chicken is standing. An instructor stands beside the chicken, holding a ruler, which rests lightly on the chicken’s neck. The boys wear shorts and shirts. Mostly they wear shoes or boots and socks, although one has bare feet. Some wear a jacket, some wear ties; one has braces. Their hair has been freshly brushed. One boy stands out from the group: he appears older than the others and wears a tie, shirt and blazer, with two badges on the lapel. The young teacher wears a slightly scruffy short suit with shirt and tie; the instructor wears a dark suit with tie and hat. The boys are carrying exercise books. They look to be around 10 years of age. Research by project volunteer, Louise McKenzie: From the text of the newspaper article we know this is the Wales Street Primary School, in Northcote. It opened in 1891 when it was known as the Prince of Wales Park State School. As a result of economic depression it closed in 1892, but reopened in 1900, and in 1920 reached its peak with 1232 pupils. The instructing teacher is Mr James Taylor, who was leader of the school’s Poultry Club. He wrote articles for the Age explaining that “since 1927 when the Young Farmers Clubs were first established in Victorian State schools, poultry keeping as a school project and a hobby has become extremely popular.” He encouraged girls and boys to become involved for profit and pleasure. White Leghorn and Australorp breeds were good egg producers, but most important were, “the 4 G’s of poultry farming:— grains, greens, grit and gumption — the latter being extremely important. One might be excused also for asking that the word "grit" be read with a double meaning. Brain sees through a thing, but grit sees it through. The successful person in poultry keeping is he or she who continues to work well with the birds long after the novelty has died off.” According to a visitor to the Poultry Club, expert farmer Mr Buscomb of NUPHA, the key features of a good bird were that it should be "as wide as possible across the saddle, have a clean face, close feathers, bayonet shaped legs, and fine textured combs and wattles." The Australorp is a chicken breed of Australian origin, developed out of Black Orpington (UK) and Rhode Island Red birds. White Leghorn, Langshan and Minorca elements were also added, resulting in a very utilitarian bird known as the Australian Black Orpington (Austral-orp). It achieved world-wide popularity in the 1920s for its laying ability. In 1922-23 a team of six hens set a world record by laying 1857 eggs for an average of 309.5 eggs per hen during a 365 consecutive day trial. In Australia the Australorp is recognised in black, white and blue colouring. The Weekly Times of Saturday 24 February 1934 reported that Mr James Taylor of Ballarat, founder of the largest Young Farmers’ club in Victoria (at Murtoa) was now in charge of Grade 6 at the Wales Street State School No. 3139 and was president of their poultry club. This feature followed in The Age of 16 March 1934, with another in 28 December 1934. The topic is again featured in the Weekly Times of April 1935 – Mr Taylor was making quite an impact! References: SUBURBAN BOYS' POULTRY CLUB--PREMIERSHIP CRICKET TEAM--AROUND THE SUN DIAL--"EYES LEFT !" (1934, March 16). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved September 19, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203841415 Poultry at Northcote (1935, April 27). Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), p. 47. Retrieved September 19, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223353807 POCKET MONEY FROM POULTRY. (1934, December 28). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 14. Retrieved September 19, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205074190 A City Club (1934, February 24). Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), p. 49. Retrieved September 19, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223202561 Australorp, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AustralorpPhotographer notations on slide: "B20".schools, poultry, clubs, 1930-1939

In the years of Allan Doney’s photography, landmark buildings succumbed to fire, neglect and redevelopment. He photographed the grey sand hills from Bendigo’s mining past, the streetscapes, poppet heads, miners’ cottages, gracious homes with ornate verandahs, trams and much more. Above all, his photographs show how much of the city has survived from the 19th century – and how much has not. Through two decades of great change, Allan Doney was there to capture ways people interacted with it. Although he travelled to many other places in Northern Victoria and beyond in search of subjects for his art, he seemed to always return to Bendigo for inspiration.

In the years of Allan Doney’s photography, landmark buildings succumbed to fire, neglect and redevelopment. He photographed the grey sand hills from Bendigo’s mining past, the streetscapes, poppet heads, miners’ cottages, gracious homes with ornate verandahs, trams and much more. Above all, his photographs show how much of the city has survived from the 19th century – and how much has not. Through two decades of great change, Allan Doney was there to capture ways people interacted with it. Although he travelled to many other places in Northern Victoria and beyond in search of subjects for his art, he seemed to always return to Bendigo for inspiration.

In the years of Allan Doney’s photography, landmark buildings succumbed to fire, neglect and redevelopment. He photographed the grey sand hills from Bendigo’s mining past, the streetscapes, poppet heads, miners’ cottages, gracious homes with ornate verandahs, trams and much more. Above all, his photographs show how much of the city has survived from the 19th century – and how much has not. Through two decades of great change, Allan Doney was there to capture ways people interacted with it. Although he travelled to many other places in Northern Victoria and beyond in search of subjects for his art, he seemed to always return to Bendigo for inspiration.