Clothing. Woman's black silk brocade bodice. High round neckline with full length front opening fastened with 13 metal hooks and eyes. Bodice fully lined with black cotton fabric and shaped in at waistline. Seven casings for boning - two on each side of front, one on each side seam and one at centre back (18cm X 1.3 cm). Casings reinforced with bright yellow cotton stitching. Cotton tape casing at hemline at waist. Long straight set in sleeves extending to a rounded shape over the back of the hand.Cross over front outer layer fastened with three hooks and eyes at the top and one at the waist. Panels of black lace run from shoulders to waist on either side of a centre insert panel (12 cm X 15cm) with five horizontal strips of velvet ribbon. Below the insert are three 7-9cm wide black lace ruffles with khaki green embroidery (Jabot effect). The back has a deep V shaped insert of vertical pin tucks and black lace, from across the shoulders to centre back. Pin tucks also on either side of front neckline.costume, female, woman's black silk brocade bodice

An imaginary gathering of the nine Australian Ships which at different times served the United Nations Forces fighting the North Koreans and Chinese during the Korean War of 1950-53. The item belonged to Clarence Stanley FLENTJAR R38429 who enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy. He served on HMAS Cerebus, Tobruk and Melville and a veteran of the Korean War. The Korean War was a war fought between North Korea and South Korea from 25 June 1950 to 27 July 1953. The war began on 25 June 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea following clashes along the border and rebellions in South Korea.North Korea was supported by China and the Soviet Union while South Korea was supported by the United Nations, principally the United States. The fighting ended with an armistice on 27 July 1953.Black frame with cream mount containing a screen print on silk depicting 9 naval ships and 4 airborne aircraft at sea Australia's Navy in the Korean War 1950-53 An imaginary gathering of the nine Australian Ships which at different times served the United Nations Forces fighting the North Koreans and Chinese during the Korean War of 1950-53. The aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney, in the centre, is being screened in close order by (clockwise from top centre) the frigates Condamine, Culgoa, Shoalhaven and Murchison, and the destroyers Tobruk, Warramunga, Anzac and Bataan. Airborne overhead are Firefly and Sea Fury aircraft from HMAS Sydney. White Plaque - mounted on glass - C S FLENTJAR 38429 HMAS Tobruk D37 Korea 1951-1952ran, korean war, hmas tobruk, hmas cerebus, hmas melville

Pair of black wool with silk facing gaiters with silk covered buttons and leather instep strap with boning. The gaiters have button holes at the top to attach to britches.presbyterian moderator

This coat was part of the Presbyterian moderator's regalia which also consisted of a tri-corn hat, black bib, lace jabot, britches, silk stockings, gaiters and buckled shoes.Black wool, lined cutaway coat with a crew neck. The coat has seven pairs of black buttons and is secured edge to edge with a single hook and eye at the 4th and 5th buttons. It has lace cuffs, braiding and pleats at the back. The black lining is quilted at the top and there is a pocket on the inside right breast. The sleeves of the coat are lined with white fabric and the lace cuffs are secured with six pearl buttons. There are faux pocket flaps on each side of the coat each secured with three buttons.presbyterian moderator, presbyterian moderator general of australia

Thai silk wall hanging on a wooden pole with plastic ends and cord for hanging. The banner is blue and aqua with black silhouettes of figures and cream felt appliqued text. There is UCA badge at the top right."BOURKE" "CARING"

Slawa built the umbrella using existing and modified umbrella parts purchased from manufacturers and other sources with the idea to develop a more practical umbrella. At the time Slawa was a student studying sculpture at the Akademie der Bildenden Kunste Wien (Academy of Visual Arts). She spent many months developing the prototypes in secret before she applied for and received a patent on 19 September 1929. The patent documentation for Flirt noted that although foldable umbrellas with telescopic shafts were not new, the inventor's umbrella was a significant improvement as it was smaller and more practical as the folding mechanism had been considerably simplified. The umbrella was included in the Inventors’ pavilion at the Vienna Spring Fair in 1931. In a contemporary newspaper report it was described as ‘the magic umbrella of the sculptress’. After the design was granted a patent, it was contracted to the firm Basch and Braun, which authorized its manufacture under licence by the largest Austrian umbrella manufacturer in Austria Bruder Wuster and a German firm Kortenbrach und Rauh. It was called Flirt. In the first year of production sales reached 10,000. This number increased steadily each year as sales spread throughout Europe and the Flirt umbrella was still being produced in the post-war period. Slawa was paid royalties till 1938, the year that she left Vienna and fled to Switzerland. In 1939 with pressure from the Nazis she sold her rights to the company Bruder Wuster. Ann Carew 2016The umbrella prototypes have national and international aesthetic significance as examples of technological innovation in industrial design. The archive has national and international scientific and research potential – detailed records concerning the development of the design, patent and its manufacture are held in the studio. The archive demonstrates the links between the realms of fine art, industrial design and manufacturing in Vienna in the early twentieth century. The sale of Slawa Horowitz-Duldig’s rights to the umbrella under duress from the Nazis makes this archive historically significant. The provenance is excellent, and the prototypes and accompanying documentation have national and international interpretative potential. Ann Carew 2016Three handmade compact foldable umbrella prototypes. The prototypes have black silk covers, a metal shaft, handle, ribs and ferrule. The shaft has a telescopic mechanism. The top and the end of the handle are metal disks. The related documents, designs, patent documentation, a hand written record of her inspiration for the design, and other archival material are also held in the Studio’s Collection.

This jacket is by the prolific spinner and weaver Jean Inglis. It has been woven with a warp of commercially brought wool & a weft of hand spun Corriedale. It is completed in a Swedish lace style of weaving. The highlight of the jacket is the blue section of fabric on the top left shoulder of the wearer, which works down to the bottom right hip. This pattern looks like long thin individual separate sections of fabric stitched to the jacket; however, only one section of fabric has been added. A dying technique has been utilised to give the appearance of multiple sections. This Japanese dyeing technique is called Shibori, “to wring, squeeze or press". It is a manual tie-dyeing technique, which produces several different patterns on fabric. The specific pattern on this fabric is known as Kumo Shibori. It utilises bound resistance. This technique involves folding sections of the cloth very finely and evenly. Then the cloth is bound in very close sections. The result is a very specific spider-like design. This design requires very precise technique. Specific to this jacket, the fabric for the dyed section was made with the same fabric as the rest of the jacket. A section of the excess fabric was concertina wrapped around a 100mm pipe and tied up before dying. This gives the consistent straight blue lines, with no bleed from the dye. The sections were then sewed into the jacket with the occasional sequin added for additional decoration and glamour. The jacket won 1st prize at the 1988 Geelong Show. Jean was assisted by the dress maker Ruth Randell with some of the design and sewing. Jean always found sewing “a bit of a bore”. The jacket also has an attached swing tag. It was added to provide information to the judges at the Melbourne Show on how the jacket was created. It comes complete with Jean’s self-proclaimed terrible handwriting. It was donated to the National Wool Museum in 2021.Cream singled breasted jacket with no overlap. The jacket has no column of buttons for fastening, or lapels. It is designed to be plain, to not draw attention. The jacket is highlighted by the Shibori dyed waves on the top left shoulder of the wearer, which works down to the bottom right hip. This blue dyed section of fabric is dotted with the occasional blue sequin. Internally, the jacket features a white silk lining for comfort. The jacket ends in a straight cut hem, including at the cuffs. The jacket has an attached swing tag. The swing tag is cream with a printed thin black boarder. Within the boarder, handwriting in black ink is found. It has a hole punch in the top left corner of the swing tag for attaching to the jacket.hand spun, hand weaving, textile design, textile production, shibori, kumo shibori

Hat belonged to Leslie Ricketson's mother.Small cylindrical dark blue velvet pillbox style hat with small stiffened black half veil secured around 3 quarters of top rim of hat. Makers label attached to blue moire ribbon band. Hat fully lined in black rayon silk - hand stitched.Janifer Reg'dcostume, female underwear, trades, millinery

Chinese watercolour featuring a landscape scene with trees and birds. Features are predominately in black. Fixed to light grey silk fabric fused to cream paper scroll. Chinese symbol stamepd in red lower right corner. Brown hanging cord at top and dark brown laquered pole at bottom edge.

When Thomas Bent, politician and land speculator, was appointed Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 1892, a number of local Brighton constituents and supporters raised money to present him with an oil portrait. Bent had been a member for Brighton for 21 years, and the painting was seen as a way of showing their appreciation of his services to the Brighton constituency, as well as congratulating him to his new position as Speaker. In June 1892, British/Australian landscape and portrait artist Charles E. Gordon-Frazer was given the commission to paint the portrait. Thomas Bent is depicted as standing in his Speaker's robe on the dais beneath the canopy in the Legislative Assembly Chamber in the act of addressing the House. He wears the traditional Speaker’s dress of a black silk and gold laced robe over a three-piece black suit, lace jabot and cuffs, buckled shoes and a ceremonial long wig. The top of the gold parliamentary mace sits on the right of the work near the frame's edge.sir thomas bent, thomas bent, speaker, mayor, premier, brighton, moorabbin, land speculator, local government, councillor, official, member of lower house, portrait, parliament, ceremonial robes, legislative assembly, jabot, wig, mace

Pair of black silk stockings identified as "La Danseuse" in gold lettering on top band. Faint 6 or 8 as size on inner of top band. Gold lettering on foot "Milanese Silk" Made in England. la danseuse, milanese silk, made in england, silk stockings

This dress and bag belonged to Mrs Edith "Dot" Paroissien (nee Jackson, born 1916), who lived in Brighton with her husband David William Paroissien. The dress was purchased from Croyde, a Melbourne designer who had a small boutique shop in Collins Street near the Block Arcade, and the bag was bought for her in London by David. Dot recalled wearing the dress in the 1950s, in particular to a ball at the Royal Exhibition Buildings for Wesley College. She wore it with suede shoes with a medium heel with straps across the instep and long white kid gloves, and accessorised with a baguette choker and drop earrings.Black silk satin sleeveless full-length evening dress. The attached bodice floats over the top of the under-dress. Asymmetrical opening on bodice which features five large flat self-covered buttons. The black suede bag has chrome fittings and buttery cream coloured satin interior. .1 dress - Label, woven black on white acetate centre back: CROYDE / MELBOURNE .2 - bag - Label, printed, black on cream acetate, interior pocket: Susan / HANDBAGS / LONDON; Label, printed, copper on black metal, interior pocket: MADE IN ITALY / FOR SUSANevening dress, croyde, melbourne fashion, melbourne designers, handbag, royal exhibition building, 1950s, edith violetta paroissien, edith violetta jackson

This item is part of the Di Reidie collection. Diane Reidie was a much loved volunteer and President of Brighton Historical Society from 1999 until 2016. Originally from New Zealand, Di and her family lived in Male Street, Brighton for many years. A vibrant and energetic person with a zest for life and a gift for bringing people together, Di was a friend to many in the Bayside community and active in local community organisations. Her tireless work as President of BHS saw her named Bayside Citizen of the Year in 2008. As a seller and collector of vintage clothing, she was passionate about fashion history; one of her many enduring contributions to BHS was her extensive work in preserving, developing and promoting the Society's costume collection. In 2018-19, Di donated more than one hundred items from her personal vintage clothing collection to the Society. The collection, which includes clothing, hats, handbags and shoes from local and international designers, is representative of Di's wide-ranging interests, colourful personality, creativity, humour and love of fashion and travel. Di purchased these 1890s shoes around 1990 and recalled wearing them to approximately three events before she donated them to BHS in 2019. Di enjoyed the novelty and conversation they would inspire due to their unusual appearance by modern standards. The shoes are indicative of Di's playful approach to clothing and life. The decorative preserved mink pelt with head featured on the vamps of these shoes is typical of Victorian era interest in and prevalent use of preserved animals for decorative purposes in clothing, millinery and household adornment. This fashion reflected social positioning of oneself as being affluent, educated and worldly. Following the death of Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert in 1861, the Queen's approach to mourning his death influenced social conventions for the public, with the wearing of black becoming a significant aspect of Victorian fashions. The shoes were made by Kendal Milne & Co, a large department store on Deansgate, Manchester. It has traded under various names and owners since it opened in 1832; it traded as Kendal Milne & Co from 1862-1919, and continued to be known by this name for many years after. The store is currently owned by the House of Fraser department store chain and is known as House of Fraser Manchester.Black silk linear quilted uppers of single piece construction with feature centre front vamp seam. Horsehair wadding can be seen along the side of the forefoot where the upper is coming away from the leather soles. Approx 4.5 cm plain black silk covered heel with leather top piece missing from right shoe. Both shoes feature the head of a small preserved mink with glass eyes. The toppling of the vamp features a decorative strip of mink fur. Inside of both shoes is a gold printed manufacturers label on the black silk insole.Manufacturers label - Made expressly for Kendall Milne and Co, Manchester.victoriana, mink pelt, taxidermy, 1890s, fur, di reidie, vintage clothing

Rectangular, Clubman tobacco tin with a light blue background and a dark blue 3.5 cm. diagonal strip across the hinged lid. It contains three small, cardboard picture cards with images and names of: a cart, a harp and a star, together with matching name lables.On lid: The merged gold letters "M", "T" and "C" surmounted by a gold crown at the top left hand end of the dark blue diagonal stripe and the name "CLUBMAN" at the right hand end, together with: "A Distinctive Cigarette" in very faded black lettering. Printed at the bottom of the lid are the words: "Silk Tipped Virginia" in black print. Also on the lid are the hand-written letters "CN" written in black permanent ink. Inside the lid: "The Clubman" with the company logo underneath. "A Distinctive Cigarette manufactured from carefully selected tobacco for discriminating smokers" "The Marcus Tobacco Co."tobacco tins, tobacco containers, smoking equipment

3600 Bill Kinsella and Carmel Kinsella at Carmel's Birthday party. -1 Carmel Kinsella cutting her birthday cake. -2 Carmel Kinsella. -3 Three photographs of cloths belonging to the Kinsella family. -4 Three photos of clothing, one of a purple silk undergarment, one of black silk dress the third of a embroidered. -5 Three photos, one of a top hat, another of long boots and the third a Bullock drivers bell. -6 Photograph of Illumination given to Thomas Kinsella from the Magdala mine workers when Thomas left to travel back to Ireland to visit his sick mother. -7 Four photographs of objects, one of a Pianola, second of a clock Carmel Kinsella bought for her birthday (80th in 1993). Third wire strainers, Forth Croquet green numbers and mallet head. -a Wording on Illumination (see description, inscriptions and markings). -8 Photograph of Martin Cahill. Born 1881 died 21.06.1947. Married to Eileen Kinsella 1920. -9 Bill Kinsella at 3LK Radio Starion Lubeck where he worked for 38 years. Bill was also called William Jennings Kinsella after his father. -10 The iron decorative gates at Kinsella's farm also called "Magdala" -11 The original Kinsella house on "Magdala" farm. The back room with a flat roof and 4 windows was moved from "Mayo Park" where the Kinsella's originally lived across Station Creek. -12 Photo of Tom Capell as a young man. The son of Jane Teresa Kinsella & William A. Capell. -13 Sarah Kinsella nee Peardon married William Jennings Kinsella. -14 Photograph of Sarah & Jennings Kinsella children Thomas Wade Kinsella, Clare Best, Carmel Kinsella, Bill Kinsella. Photo taken at Kendal's farm near Lubeck Series of colour and black and white photographs taken at the Kinsella's farm "Magdala" Lubeck July 2006.stawell

Print Council of Australia Members' Print Commission, 1973Image of a purple enclosure - one continuous tent wall with an open back. No roof. Front entrance is indicated by a partition to one side of the tent, edged in brown, opening in an inverted 'v'. Inside the tent is a swing with a seat and chains aloft in swinging motion. A black rope lies on the ground. Five black poles hold up the tent walls, secured by green cords to black pegs in the ground/ Mounted in dark cream matt and in a wooden frame with glass glazing.Front: 30/60 (lower left) "Play in swing in carny tent" (centre) Sigi Gabrie 73 (lower right) (pencil) Back: Sigi Gabrie "Play - in wing in carny tent" (1973) Silk screen and Litho (top left) (Typed table)

Refers to Service of 3/745787 Lieut. K. J. Mackay..1) Black wool uniform jacket. Four pockets. Four gold buttons on front centre. Top pockets - brass button each. Motif on button is a shield with a crown. Collar badges of 38 Bn Northern Victorian Regiment. Two gold pips on epaulettes. .2) Trousers black. Red stripe on leg outers. Fly shuts with black buttons. Waistline has black buttons. Two side pockets, One rear pocket, One fob pocket. .3) Shirt - cream/white. One breast pocket. Opaque plastic buttons. .4) Cap - Officers. Black with red band. Silver 38 Bn badge. .5)Tie - black silk. .6) Belt - black, wool with brass bronze..1) Written in jacket “3/745787 - K.J. Mackay”. .2) Written inside trousers - “Sgt. Mackay K.J. SP COY. 3/745787 K.J. Mackay”.38 bn, post ww2, passchendaele barracks trust

.1) Black Military Jacket - four pockets. brass buttons with AMF motif - 2 epaulettes - 2 on top pocket, 4 on chest. There are three officers pips on each epaulettes. It has a 38 Bn - Northern Victorian RACT silver badge on each collar. It has a quantity of six medal ribbons. War Medal 1939-45/ Defence Medal/ Pacific Star/ Africa Star/ 1939-45 Star/ Australian Service Medal. .2) White shirt - long sleeved - possibly silk. .3) Tie black - possibly silk. It is stitched in place. .4) Trousers black, red stripe, black buttons.The shirt has a sales ticket "St. Vincent de Paul, Cost $0.30”ww2, formal army uniform, passchendaele barracks trust

Twenty page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and images. The colour cover shows a woman leaning on a chair and holding a stick, wearing a crochet top and silk skirt.front: [printed] Patons / charm / BOOK No. 756 / COMING FASHIONS / Knit and crochet a dress, / top and bonnet - an / evening blouse (or beach / cover-up) - a cable- / trimmed jumper - and / three collar and cuffs sets. / 2'6 / 25 CENTSfashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, patons

Worn by Broadmeadows Shire SecretaryOwned by previous Shire SecretaryTop Hat worn by Mr. Albert T.C. Cook, Broadmeadows Shire Secretary, Black silk with cork skeleton with box white card. Inside Hat: Crown: Logo Christys' London/ Made in England for Lincoln Stuart & Propt. Ltd. Melbourne. On leather band, Logo Christys' London/ 6 5/8 / Made in England for/ Lincoln Stuart & co. Propt. Ltd. Melbourne Box: Logo Christy's London/ Trademark. Top of Box: Shipping label, Lincoln, Stuart, See imagesbroadmeadows, shire, secretary, cook

Items issued to Bertram Charles Addington. Refer to Cat No 6853.3 for B.C Addingtons service details.1) Vest, white long sleeves, WO1 metal badges of rank on arms. On collars are metal badges - Oak wreath laurels, Crown on top, crossed swords in centre. Letter “R” on epaulettes. .2) Shirt, cream/white. Long sleeved, 6 buttons on front. .3) Black bow tie, with a neck band attached. .4) Cummerbund, red silk.Written on cummerbund is = “24/01 Addington B. 1/9/72”army, formal uniform, passchendaele barracks trust

Postcard with black and white image of Marle Hall Llandudno woven in pure silk surrounded by 1.5cm border with printed geometric pattern frame. Handwritten on top of postcard "How do you like this style Will". On reverse, addressed to Miss Dean McKenzie Street Golden Square Victoria Australia. 2/1/2 penny blue stamp posted in Australia attached W. H. Grant and Co Coventrypostcard

J.Campbell started a Draper , Outfitter and Milliner store in the Pioneer house on Percy Street in Portland Victoria in 1896. Advertisements found on Trove from November 20 1899 shows the store selling Spring goods, Millinery, Dress goods, prints, piques and muslins. Another advertisement on Trove from September 27 1907 shows the store showing their Spring and Summer Goods, including Choice Millinery, Latest Dress Fabrics, Laces and Silks, Blouses and Skirts.Paper account from J. Campbell, wholesaler and family draper to Mrs Cummings, in the sum of 4/6 for a blouse. Printed form, details handwritten in black ink top right hand corner is missing, and top left hand corner has two holes in the paper. Paper is cream and has darker brownish patches at the top. PIONEER HOUSE PERCY STR / Portland, Mar / Mrs Cummings / BOUGHT OF J. CAMPBELL, / (LATE A. MARRIOTT.) / Wholesale and Family Draper, Outfitter and Milliner. / DRESSMAKING IN ALL ITS BRANCHES. / Accounts rendered monthly to avoid errors / Jan ** 1 Blouse 4/6 4.6draper, portland trade, accounts, womens clothing, city of portland, betty vivian, betty vivian collection

This Bible and cover belonged to Ethel Ardlie, nee Ryan (1880-1967). In 1903 she married Arthur Stanley Ardlie of Warrnambool. Arthur Ardlie was the son of the prominent Warrnambool lawyer, William Ardlie and his wife Mary and the grandson of John and Mary Ardlie, pioneer settlers in Warrnambool. Ethel and Arthur Ardlie had three daughters, Olive (1905- 1912), Dorothy (1910-1993) and Agnes (1915-1993). They lived at Aroona, Princess Street, Warrnambool.These items are of great interest firstly because they are examples of the type of Bible and cover that families owned in the mid 20th century. Also they are mementoes of a prominent family in Warrnambool in the 20th century, with the Bible containing important information on this family. .1 This is a Bible with a black cover with gold lettering on the spine. The cover is stained. The pages contain the Old Testament (1086 pages), a Family Register section, the New Testament (306 pages) and some coloured maps. Amongst the pages are two pressed pansies and two loose sheets. .2 This is a brown tooled leather cover for the Bible with a brown silk lining and a brown cord attached to the top of the spine for use as a bookmark. The front cover has an embossed image of seven figures. The edges of the spine of the cover are torn. Ethel M. Ardlie (x2) Aroona, Warrnambool ardlie family, history of warrnambool

This hat belonged to a Warrnambool undertaking firm, Beattie and Phillips. This firm was established by Christopher Beattie and Henry Phillips in 1865 and was originally situated in Koroit Street. Beattie’s son, James, took over the business in 1916 and moved to new premises at 82 Fairy Street about 1928. In 1945 the business management was transferred to James Leahy and the firm continued until 2000. The top hat was used by both James Beattie and James Leahy and would have been one of several used by the employees in this undertaking business. The suppliers of the hat were Cramond and Dickson (note that the name ‘Cramond’ is misspelt on the hat itself). John Glass Cramond and James Dickson established their clothing and drapery and ironmongery business in Warrnambool in 1855 and it continued to operate in Liebig Street until 1974. This is a highly significant item for three reasons: 1. It belonged to, and was used by, two directors of the undertaking firm of Beattie and Phillips, a most prominent business in Warrnambool for 135 years 2. It was supplied by the firm of Cramond and Dickson, a dominant retail shop in Warrnambool for 119 years 3. It is an important example of a social custom of the past – the wearing of formal wear, including a top hat, by funeral employees (even to the extent of taking the hat by rail for funerals etc outside of Warrnambool) This is a black top hat with paper and silk inserts in the inside crown and a brown leather lining stitched on to the inside of the brim. There is black corded ribbon around the brim and around the outside of the hat. The brim is made of felt with the crown showing a shiny pile. There is a small round metal insert on the top of the crown. A piece of a newspaper dated 1st January 1931 is stitched into the inside of the brimInside the hat on the bottom of the crown – ‘Extra Quality’; ‘Crammond (sic) & Dickson Warrnambool’ with a stamp logo on the silk – a British logo with a lion and a unicorn with the words – ‘Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense’ and ‘Dieu et Mon Droit’ In biro on inside crown are the letters ‘J.L.’ undertaker's hat, beattie and phillips, christopher beattie, henry phillips, warrnambool history

Art CollectionImage depicts a black background featuring two white squares on top of one another. The white squares have rust-coloured lines and circles in them, as well as blue circles and lines. These blue lines are much thicker. The frame is wooden and has a white mount and glass.Front: 8/10 (lead pencil, lower left) Sentinel (lead pencil, centre) Stephen Spurrier 68 (lead pencil, lower right) Back: Stephen Spurrier "Sentinel" (1969) Silk Screen and Etching (printed on white strip, clear plastic cover)

Through many millennia, various suture materials were used or proposed. Needles were made of bone or metals such as silver, copper, and aluminium bronze wire. Sutures were made of plant materials (flax, hemp and cotton) or animal material (hair, tendons, arteries, muscle strips and nerves, silk, and catgut).[citation needed] The earliest reports of surgical suture date to 3000 BC in ancient Egypt, and the oldest known suture is in a mummy from 1100 BC. A detailed description of a wound suture and the suture materials used in it is by the Indian sage and physician Sushruta, written in 500 BC. The Greek father of medicine, Hippocrates, described suture techniques, as did the later Roman Aulus Cornelius Celsus. The 2nd-century Roman physician Galen described sutures made of surgical gut or catgut. In the 10th century, the catgut suture along with the surgery needle were used in operations by Abulcasis. The gut suture was similar to that of strings for violins, guitars, and tennis racquets and it involved harvesting sheep or cow intestines. Catgut sometimes led to infection due to a lack of disinfection and sterilization of the material. Joseph Lister endorsed the routine sterilization of all suture threads. He first attempted sterilization with the 1860s "carbolic catgut," and chromic catgut followed two decades later. Sterile catgut was finally achieved in 1906 with iodine treatment. The next great leap came in the twentieth century. The chemical industry drove production of the first synthetic thread in the early 1930s, which exploded into production of numerous absorbable and non-absorbable synthetics. The first synthetic absorbable was based on polyvinyl alcohol in 1931. Polyesters were developed in the 1950s, and later the process of radiation sterilization was established for catgut and polyester. Polyglycolic acid was discovered in the 1960s and implemented in the 1970s. Today, most sutures are made of synthetic polymer fibers. Silk and, rarely, gut sutures are the only materials still in use from ancient times. In fact, gut sutures have been banned in Europe and Japan owing to concerns regarding bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Silk suture is still used today, mainly to secure surgical drains. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgical_suture#:~:text=Sutures%20were%20made%20of%20plant,a%20mummy%20from%201100%20BC. This tin contains a variety of surgical threads and accessories that were used by Dr W.R.Angus. It was donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village by the family of Doctor William Roy Angus, Surgeon and Oculist. It is part of the “W.R. Angus Collection” that includes historical medical equipment, surgical instruments and material once belonging to Dr Edward Ryan and Dr Thomas Francis Ryan, (both of Nhill, Victoria) as well as Dr Angus’ own belongings. The Collection’s history spans the medical practices of the two Doctors Ryan, from 1885-1926 plus that of Dr Angus, up until 1969. ABOUT THE “W.R.ANGUS COLLECTION” Doctor William Roy Angus M.B., B.S., Adel., 1923, F.R.C.S. Edin.,1928 (also known as Dr Roy Angus) was born in Murrumbeena, Victoria in 1901 and lived until 1970. He qualified as a doctor in 1923 at University of Adelaide, was Resident Medical Officer at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 1924 and for a period was house surgeon to Sir (then Mr.) Henry Simpson Newland. Dr Angus was briefly an Assistant to Dr Riddell of Kapunda, then commenced private practice at Curramulka, Yorke Peninsula, SA, where he was physician, surgeon and chemist. In 1926, he was appointed as new Medical Assistant to Dr Thomas Francis Ryan (T.F. Ryan, or Tom), in Nhill, Victoria, where his experiences included radiology and pharmacy. In 1927 he was Acting House Surgeon in Dr Tom Ryan’s absence. Dr Angus had become engaged to Gladys Forsyth and they decided he would take time to further his studies overseas in the UK in 1927. He studied at London University College Hospital and at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and in 1928, was awarded FRCS (Fellow from the Royal College of Surgeons), Edinburgh. He worked his passage back to Australia as a Ship’s Surgeon on the on the Australian Commonwealth Line’s SS Largs Bay. Dr Angus married Gladys in 1929, in Ballarat. (They went on to have one son (Graham 1932, born in SA) and two daughters (Helen (died 12/07/1996) and Berenice (Berry), both born at Mira, Nhill ) Dr Angus was a ‘flying doctor’ for the A.I.M. (Australian Inland Ministry) Aerial Medical Service in 1928 . The organisation began in South Australia through the Presbyterian Church in that year, with its first station being in the remote town of Oodnadatta, where Dr Angus was stationed. He was locum tenens there on North-South Railway at 21 Mile Camp. He took up this ‘flying doctor’ position in response to a call from Dr John Flynn; the organisation was later known as the Flying Doctor Service, then the Royal Flying Doctor Service. A lot of his work during this time involved dental surgery also. Between 1928-1932 he was surgeon at the Curramulka Hospital, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. In 1933 Dr Angus returned to Nhill where he’d previously worked as Medical Assistant and purchased a share of the Nelson Street practice and Mira hospital from Dr Les Middleton one of the Middleton Brothers, the current owners of what was once Dr Tom Ryan’s practice. Dr L Middleton was House Surgeon to the Nhill Hospital 1926-1933, when he resigned. [Dr Tom Ryan’s practice had originally belonged to his older brother Dr Edward Ryan, who came to Nhill in 1885. Dr Edward saw patients at his rooms, firstly in Victoria Street and in 1886 in Nelson Street, until 1901. The Nelson Street practice also had a 2 bed ward, called Mira Private Hospital ). Dr Edward Ryan was House Surgeon at the Nhill Hospital 1884-1902 . He also had occasions where he successfully performed veterinary surgery for the local farmers too. Dr Tom Ryan then purchased the practice from his brother in 1901. Both Dr Edward and Dr Tom Ryan work as surgeons included eye surgery. Dr Tom Ryan performed many of his operations in the Mira private hospital on his premises. He too was House Surgeon at the Nhill Hospital 1902-1926. Dr Tom Ryan had one of the only two pieces of radiology equipment in Victoria during his practicing years – The Royal Melbourne Hospital had the other one. Over the years Dr Tom Ryan gradually set up what was effectively a training school for country general-practitioner-surgeons. Each patient was carefully examined, including using the X-ray machine, and any surgery was discussed and planned with Dr Ryan’s assistants several days in advance. Dr Angus gained experience in using the X-ray machine there during his time as assistant to Dr Ryan. Dr Tom Ryan moved from Nhill in 1926. He became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1927, soon after its formation, a rare accolade for a doctor outside any of the major cities. He remained a bachelor and died suddenly on 7th Dec 1955, aged 91, at his home in Ararat. Scholarships and prizes are still awarded to medical students in the honour of Dr T.F. Ryan and his father, Dr Michael Ryan, and brother, John Patrick Ryan. ] When Dr Angus bought into the Nelson Street premises in Nhill he was also appointed as the Nhill Hospital’s Honorary House Surgeon 1933-1938. His practitioner’s plate from his Nhill surgery states “HOURS Daily, except Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturday afternoons, 9-10am, 2-4pm, 7-8pm. Sundays by appointment”. This plate is now mounted on the doorway to the Port Medical Office at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, Warrnambool. Dr Edward Ryan and Dr Tom Ryan had an extensive collection of historical medical equipment and materials spanning 1884-1926 and when Dr Angus took up practice in their old premises he obtained this collection, a large part of which is now on display at the Port Medical Office at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in Warrnambool. During his time in Nhill Dr Angus was involved in the merging of the Mira Hospital and Nhill Public Hospital into one public hospital and the property titles passed on to Nhill Hospital in 1939. In 1939 Dr Angus and his family moved to Warrnambool where he purchased “Birchwood,” the 1852 home and medical practice of Dr John Hunter Henderson, at 214 Koroit Street. (This property was sold in1965 to the State Government and is now the site of the Warrnambool Police Station. ). The Angus family was able to afford gardeners, cooks and maids; their home was a popular place for visiting dignitaries to stay whilst visiting Warrnambool. Dr Angus had his own silk worm farm at home in a Mulberry tree. His young daughter used his centrifuge for spinning the silk. Dr Angus was appointed on a part-time basis as Port Medical Officer (Health Officer) in Warrnambool and held this position until the 1940’s when the government no longer required the service of a Port Medical Officer in Warrnambool; he was thus Warrnambool’s last serving Port Medical Officer. (The duties of a Port Medical Officer were outlined by the Colonial Secretary on 21st June, 1839 under the terms of the Quarantine Act. Masters of immigrant ships arriving in port reported incidents of diseases, illness and death and the Port Medical Officer made a decision on whether the ship required Quarantine and for how long, in this way preventing contagious illness from spreading from new immigrants to the residents already in the colony.) Dr Angus was a member of the Australian Medical Association, for 35 years and surgeon at the Warrnambool Base Hospital 1939-1942, He served as a Surgeon Captain during WWII1942-45, in Ballarat, Victoria, and in Bonegilla, N.S.W., completing his service just before the end of the war due to suffering from a heart attack. During his convalescence he carved an intricate and ‘most artistic’ chess set from the material that dentures were made from. He then studied ophthalmology at the Royal Melbourne Eye and Ear Hospital and created cosmetically superior artificial eyes by pioneering using the intrascleral cartilage. Angus received accolades from the Ophthalmological Society of Australasia for this work. He returned to Warrnambool to commence practice as an ophthalmologist, pioneering in artificial eye improvements. He was Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist to Warrnambool Base Hospital for 31 years. He made monthly visits to Portland as a visiting surgeon, to perform eye surgery. He represented the Victorian South-West subdivision of the Australian Medical Association as its secretary between 1949 and 1956 and as chairman from 1956 to 1958. In 1968 Dr Angus was elected member of Spain’s Barraquer Institute of Barcelona after his research work in Intrasclearal cartilage grafting, becoming one of the few Australian ophthalmologists to receive this honour, and in the following year presented his final paper on Living Intrasclearal Cartilage Implants at the Inaugural Meeting of the Australian College of Ophthalmologists in Melbourne In his personal life Dr Angus was a Presbyterian and treated Sunday as a Sabbath, a day of rest. He would visit 3 or 4 country patients on a Sunday, taking his children along ‘for the ride’ and to visit with him. Sunday evenings he would play the pianola and sing Scottish songs to his family. One of Dr Angus’ patients was Margaret MacKenzie, author of a book on local shipwrecks that she’d seen as an eye witness from the late 1880’s in Peterborough, Victoria. In the early 1950’s Dr Angus, painted a picture of a shipwreck for the cover jacket of Margaret’s book, Shipwrecks and More Shipwrecks. She was blind in later life and her daughter wrote the actual book for her. Dr Angus and his wife Gladys were very involved in Warrnambool’s society with a strong interest in civic affairs. Their interests included organisations such as Red Cross, Rostrum, Warrnambool and District Historical Society (founding members), Wine and Food Society, Steering Committee for Tertiary Education in Warrnambool, Local National Trust, Good Neighbour Council, Housing Commission Advisory Board, United Services Institute, Legion of Ex-Servicemen, Olympic Pool Committee, Food for Britain Organisation, Warrnambool Hospital, Anti-Cancer Council, Boys’ Club, Charitable Council, National Fitness Council and Air Raid Precautions Group. He was also a member of the Steam Preservation Society and derived much pleasure from a steam traction engine on his farm. He had an interest in people and the community He and his wife Gladys were both involved in the creation of Flagstaff Hill, including the layout of the gardens. After his death (28th March 1970) his family requested his practitioner’s plate, medical instruments and some personal belongings be displayed in the Port Medical Office surgery at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, and be called the “W. R. Angus Collection”. The repair of open wounds is essential to prevent infection and death. The W.R. Angus Collection is significant for still being located at the site it is connected with, Doctor Angus being the last Port Medical Officer in Warrnambool. The collection of medical instruments and other equipment is culturally significant, being an historical example of medicine from late 19th to mid-20th century. Dr Angus assisted Dr Tom Ryan, a pioneer in the use of X-rays and in ocular surgery. Black tin with hinged lid, containing reels and packets of surgical silk, gut and metal suture threads, scalpel blades, chamois and metal blade holder with tensioned chamois piece across top. (W.R. Angus Collection)‘MEDRAFIL, Dr MULLER- MEERNACH, Nr O, MADE IN GERMANY.’ printed on one of the paper bags in the box containing a suture bobbin. 'PEARSALL'S LONDON' printed on some bobbins. 'J A DEKNATEL & SON INC, QUEENS VILLAGE, LONG ISLAND NEW YORK' printed on others.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, surgical silks and sutures, dr w r angus, medical equipment, surgical instrument, dr ryan, ophthalmology, s.s. largs bay, warrnambool base hospital, nhill base hospital, flying doctor, medical history, medical treatment, mira hospital, medical education, sutures, surgical silk