Example of wood work and woodgraining popular in 1901 when the room was decorated. Mantel and mantel surround of pine turned and carved with this central panel beneath the mantel shelf all woodgrained in an oak finish.Fireplace surround featuring under-mantel panel with decorative carved acanthus leaves in urn with a rose at each extremity all in a woodgrain finish.woodgrain, decoration, mantel, oak finish, pine

An ephemeral example of a lady's dance program from the 1930s without punch holes for ribbon. These cards were used to book dances up until the 1940s."Programme" Printed on front.

One of the many self-drafting sewing pattern books which were very popular in the 1950s to 1970 produced by Enid Gilchrist, an Australian fashion designer, who became well known for her books.

The Catholic Church held an International Congress at Sydney in 1928. This was the first such gathering in the Southern Hemisphere and special trains were run from other states to convey visitors to the event. A range of souvenir items were purchased by Catholic families and a collection of these souvenirs including Congress rail tickets were collected and remain in the Taffe family Hymettus collection.This, the 29th Congress was the first ever held outside Europe or the USA. It was first great public demonstration of faith celebrated by Catholics in Australia this event attracted a crowd of half a million, the largest religious spectacle ever seen in Australia to that time. catholic church, catholic families, souvenir, eucharistic congress, sydney

Won at Street carnival, the Travellers' Gala in 1948 at Ballarat these bears were a popular post-war prize at such carnivals of the period when Australian motifs were seen as patriotic representations..

Typical of the mass produced small items manufactured in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century for domestic use along with clothes irons, boot scrapers and griddle irons, these beetle-style boot jacks were usually located in the vestibule near the door to wedge the booted foot into and pull, removing the boot before stepping into the house with any detritus on the boot.

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Michael Taffe created his exhibition garden at Ballarat in the the late first years of the twentieth century taking out many amateur awards at flower shows which were a popular form of hobby and entertainment of the era. These particular stands were used for flowers such as pansies and were designed variously for 12, 9 or six varieties. ballarat, exhibition garden, flower shows, entertainment, amateur awards, pansies.

Three piece set made of bakelite simulating tortoiseshell and comprising powder compact, nail buffer and small container for nail powder polish.

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Horticultural award certificate for Daylesford Show 1921. Such certificates from a range of towns across the region illustrate the mobility of families and garden show enthusiasts from the early twentieth century.

Flower shows or Horticultural exhibitions were a popular form of entertainment and scientific pastime in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and were widely reported on and followed. Ballarat was a major centre for nurseries and prided itself as a garden city promoting many shows at all levels including grand national exhibitions. Exhibitors ranged from professional hybridists, nurserymen and florists to amateur growers. This award represents the cottage or amateur class in flower shows and was awarded circa 1909.. ballarat horticultural society, j taffe, roses, bentley, fraser print ballarat

Originally published by Carboni in 1856 following the Eureka Stockade at Ballarat this second edition was not published until 1942 almost ninety years later. One of the major productions of the Australian private press movement of the 1920s this second edition was produced in 1942 by Ernest Shea's Sunnybrook Press Sydney, in a limited edition of 150 copies. The book is illustrated with lino-cuts by W.E.Pidgeon and introduced by H.V.Evatt. It has a dustjacket and slip case and is signed by Shea, Evatt and Pidgeon. Only 150 produced on a handpress, rare example of Australian fine printing especially in wartime and only the second edition of Carboni's "Eureka Stockade".Book made with rag paper, dust jacket and slipcase.Numbered 128 of 150, signed by printer and artist. eureka stockade, private press, ballarat, ernest shea, sunnybrook press, sydney, carboni, second edition., evatt, pidgeon.

A footed copper fireguard round topped to compliment the Victorian fire surround. fireguard, copper, footed,

A small painting of the Taaffe family coat of arms painted on glass in reverse by Glen Taffe in 1992 as a Father's Day present for Michael Taffe.painting, glass, fathers' day.

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Photograph of the Nathalia WWI Avenue of Honour taken in 2006 by avenue researcher Michael Taffe. The Nathalia avenue consists of Australian native trees known as Kurrajongs. This photograph forms part of a large collection of images of Avenues of Honour at Hymettus, Ballarat from Michael Taffe's twenty-five years of research into the avenues leading to his PhD ' First World War Avenues of Honour: Social History through the Landscape.'. nathalia, avenue of honour, ballarat, phd, michael taffe, social history, landscape, kurrajongs,

Iron and steel fireplace fender for preventing (to fender off) potential embers or burning logs from falling from fire and landing on a floor. Removed from kitchen with the removal of the wood stove in the 1980s when a gas stove was introduced and placed in former bedroom now used as a study/library room.fender, fire, ballarat, ember, kitchen

This mounted and framed photograph of the South Ballarat Football Club was presented to Patrick Taffe who had served as Secretary and Treasurer in 1933.

This Book was presented for fancy work to Miss Annie Wilson in 1882 with A. Bain as School Principal. It has a premium plate with presentation details on the verso of the front cover. It together with an earlier book from the same school helps trace the history of the school from its origins as Alex Bain's Camp St School in the 1870s through to its renaming as the High School Ballarat pre-dating the later Education Department's Ballarat Agricutural High School re-named Ballarat High School in the early twentieth century.Identifies personalities and principles of excellence in education in nineteenth century Ballarat.

This image of the Ballarat Rowing Club in 1947 records the placings of threw crews in the Barwon regatta at Geelong in 1947 and the Ballarat Regatta in 1947. It also records the first time a new rowing style, "Leg and Body Drive" was used in rowing on Lake Wendouree at Ballarat.Photograph has light from lens across right side. Reverse has ink inscription: "Ballarat Rowing Club Lightweight Maiden Four Ballarat and Barwon Regattas, 1947. L Wallis Bow, J Nolan (2) E. McLenehan (3), J Trainor Stroke, W Hancock. Cox. Coach - Ken Baird. First crew to introduce "Leg and Body Drive" style on 14 starters at Ballarat defeated by Banks Rowing Club by three feet / Eliminated by Footscray at Barwon who won final. Stamp to centre Kodak Enlarged Print.

The Children of Mary is a Catholic organization for young people between the ages of 7 and 18. The confraternity was founded in France in the 1830s and was largely a spiritual lay confraternity for young women, this certificate of membership was issued to Irene Taffe at Loreto Convent Ballarat in 1925. irene taffe, ballarat, catholic, children of mary, ibvm, loreto convent

Printed on celluloid front "All Good Wishes".

This was the first time Ballarat's Sacred Heart College allowed girls a rowing elective and they rowed under the auspices of Kate Elliot (coach) Ballarat City Rowing Club based at Lake Wendouree Ballarat. L-R are Marion Taffe, Anne Taffe, Simone Scheelings, Danielle Herreen and coxwain Michelle Finn. Marion Taffe went on to be state and national champion and represent Australia internationally as a member of the Australian Rowing team at the world titles.

Small commercial book with advice on knitting produced by Patons & Baldwins wool co who also produced many pattern instruction books.wool, patterns, patons and baldwin, australia

Postcard of Fairyland, a popular section of Ballarat's Lake Wendouree, for recreational promenading and boating, popular with small boats and until the 1980s it was a popular section for taking visitors by paddle steamers. The Victorian colonial postage stamp featuring Queen Victoria indicates that this postcard dates from c. 1901.postcard, ballarat, lake wendouree, fairyland, paddle steamers.recreational boating, promenading.