The Waistcoat’s Owners The first owner of the waistcoat was Alfred (Alf) Gilbert White, 1868 Stretton Park, Connewarre – 1946, Mt Duneed. He was the fourth child of Andrew White, 1828-1900, and Jane Roberts, 1827-1871. His father Andrew White was born at Stretton-on-Dunsmore, Warwickshire, England, the sixth child of William White and Sarah Elkington. Andrew had come to Victoria on the James L. Bogart in 1852 with his first wife, Emily Walker. From 1854, records show he was the owner of livery stables in central Geelong before he moved into land ownership. In 1862, Andrew became a landowner with 1,400 acres in Connewarre, the Salt Water Run, then re-named Stretton Park by Andrew. Thereafter he is usually noted as a Farmer or Sheep Farmer. Emily died in 1861 and Andrew remarried Jane Roberts in 1863. Jane was the daughter of Jane (Jenefer) Pearce and William Roberts in Crowan, Cornwell, England and it is thought arrived in Victoria on the British Trident in 1855. In 1878 Andrew moved to the newly purchased “Hillside” at Mt Duneed with his family including Alfred. By 1880 Andrew held 11,095 acres in South Barwon and Barrabool. As well as being a landowner, he had other business interests including Auctioneers, Stock and Station Agents Learmonth White from 1886. However farming at Hillside, particularly wool production, was an important part of his life. For example, in 1893 10,350 sheep were shorn although the highest number of bales of wool produced was in 1892 with 174 bales under AW’s wool mark and 8 under that of Stretton Park. This was the result of shearing 9,234 sheep. There were usually six or seven shearers, shearing over a two to three week period, beginning in early or mid October. Some of the shearers bore names familiar in the district such as Gogoll, Duffield, and Baensch. Andrew White held a number of local positions including: •1863-1874 Connewarre Road Board, Chairman 1871-73 •1875-1900 South Barwon Shire Council. When the Board amalgamated with South Barwon to form the Shire of South Barwon, he was an inaugural representative of Connewarre. He was a council member for 44 years and president for the following terms: 1878-1879; 1885-1887; 1889; 1894; 1895-1896; and 1898-1899. •1878-1886, Barrabool Shire Council, President 1882 •In 1885 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace in the Southern Bailiwick •Committee member of the Geelong Racing Club, 1890-96 •In 1892 he was appointed returning officer for the South-Western Province and the electoral district of Barwon •Foundation President of Torquay Racing Club, 1893 •Mount Duneed Cemetery Trustee, 1893 Alfred Gilbert White went to Connewarre School and then to Mt Duneed School after the family moved to Mt Duneed. He then went to Geelong Grammar School as a boarder from 31 July 1883. After leaving school, in 1886, he worked as a bookkeeper for the family business Learmonth-White stock and station agents and lived at home at Hillside. He and Bessie Orchard Mathews were married in 1894. Bessie was born in Geelong in 1869, the sixth child of William Matthews and Amelia Orchard. Her family lived at “Turley,” Malop Street, Geelong, named after the hamlet of Turleigh in West Wiltshire, England. Bessie’s father, William Mathews, a butcher from Winsley, Wiltshire, arrived on the Queen of the East in Sydney in 1854 and established a successful butcher’s business with his brother James in Geelong. Her mother, Amelia Orchard, also from Winsley, arrived on the Thames in Melbourne in 1857. Alfred, Bessie and their family lived at Stretton Park, Connewarre, leasing it from Andrew. They had six children including their fourth child Douglas Alfred White, the second owner of the waistcoat. His father Andrew supported Alfred’s sheep farming at Stretton Park. In 1896 “.... eight splendid 2-tooth Lincoln rams in the wool were purchased by Mr Andrew White for his son, Mr Alfred G. White….intended for Mr White’s sheep run at Connewarre.“ Alfred White bought ‘Hillside’, 640 acres, after his father’s death and moved there with his family from Stretton Park in Connewarre. (Stretton Park was bought by his half sister Emily and her family and renamed “Morangarell”.) A family partnership was formed to run the wider station. It was then Alfred who managed the new partnership, called Stretton Park. Alfred meticulously kept the financial records of the station, as might be expected from a former bookkeeper. The detail kept is exemplified in the annual shearing records, including the names of the paddocks, the number of lambs and ewes and the shearers’ tallies. In the spring of 1900, after Andrew White had died, shearing began on 7 October and was finished on 6 November. On some days well over 500 sheep were shorn. The highest tally was 616 on 11 October. That year the overall total of sheep shorn was 9,101. Alfred was an active community member including: •South Barwon Council member (46 years), president: 1903-04; 1906-07; 1921-22; and 1931-33 •Geelong Grammar School Council member, 1908-1946 (over 37 years) •Active member of St. Wilfred’s Church of England, Mt Duneed •Director of Dennys Lascelles, 1932-1946 •Mt Duneed Cemetery Trustee, 1900 •Honorary member of the Mt Duneed Rifle Club, 1900 •Mt Duneed Mutual Improvement Association •Mt Duneed Recreation Reserve Trustee •Torquay Improvement Association Trustee •Barwon Returning Officer Douglas Alfred White, 1900 Stretton Park, Connewarre-1976, Geelong. Initially Douglas and his sisters were taught at home by a governess. Then, like his father, Douglas attended Geelong Grammar. After finishing school, he studied Engineering at Melbourne University where he met Violet Fullerton, 1900-1992, who was studying Medicine. They married in 1926 and had two children including Douglas Robert Stretton (DRS) White Melbourne, 1928–Geelong, 1989, the final owner of the waistcoat. After a successful career as an engineer with the Department of Main Roads, NSW, and serving as a Major in the Royal Australian Engineers in NT, New Guinea and Borneo during the Second World War, Douglas purchased part of Stretton Park when it was sold in 1952. He farmed “South Beach Farm” until his death in 1975. (This area now includes The Sands and Stretton Estate subdivisions.) His son DRS White also attended Geelong Grammar before studying at Dookie Agricultural College. In 1955 DRS purchased land from Peter Fisher, John Fisher and Frank Walter, naming the property “Lambidgee”. (This was part of the land that had originally belonged to Andrew White that had been sold previously.) He farmed this land for the rest of his life, continuing the family tradition. After his father’s death in 1975, the waistcoat became his and so passed to a third generation of the family.Chartreuse green and red waistcoat featuring woven wool front with six buttons, silk back with metal clasp, and red lining. The buttons feature small green beads in the centre.Label [printed]: R. Collins Hocking / GEELONG Label [handwritten]: A. G. White Esqwaistcoat, vest, design, textiles, fashion, alfred white, sheep farming, mt duneed, rural life

Gwenyth Fletcher (nee Thompson) was born in 1922 in Burwood. At six months of age her family moved to Blackheath where she lived until her marriage to John Fletcher. When Gwenyth was four years old, her grandfather was the mayor of Blackheath and as such, he had to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Kent to the town. Gwenyth presented the future King George VI and his wife Elizabeth with a posy of flowers as part of the welcoming ceremony. John and Gwenyth were married in 1951 and in 1952 they moved to Canowindra. John was working for the Presbyterian Church and they needed an assistant sheep worker at Ernabella (now Pukatja), a remote First Nations community, in the far North West of South Australia and he had worked there prior to his marriage. The work involved sheep, vehicles and general handy man work, and trips to Finke (railway 200 miles east). After marriage John was again asked to work at Ernabella. He and Gwenyth left for Ernabella in 1953 and returned in November. They then bought a property in Canowindra and the family stayed for four years before returning to Ernabella. Two children were born whilst they were in Canowindra. The family stayed for eight years at Ernabella from 1958 to April 1966. During the time at Ernabella and Fregon, three more children were born. In May 1966, the family returned to the farm in Canowindra. John and Gwenyth retired from the farm in 1985 and moved to South Canowindra. The Wagga was probably made during the time at Ernabella from children's knits and other leftovers. John had to camp out from the home a lot in order to muster sheep and the desert nights are cold. There is evidence (ties) that Gwenyth made the wagga into a swag-like product that John could easily carry. There were few resources available to her in the remote region, so she used what she had. Gwenyth was known for her reuse of everything – she never threw anything out. Everything was repurposed or recycled. Gwenyth Fletcher was my mother-in-law. Because I was interested in quilts/quilting and patchwork she gave me the blanket instead of throwing it out. She gave it to me during the 1990s. - Donor, November 2025Wagga blanket with base made from two different beige/light khaki blankets. One of the blankets is lightly striped. The top is made up of random, non-geometrical pieces of cardigans and jumpers and other blankets that are machine stitched to the bottom blankets. The cardigans are different colours - light blue, red, navy, yellow and light yellow and are knitted with different patterns. The top blanket pieces are different greys. The cardigan pieces include a pocket, button holes and one of the blanket patches has some of a blanket stitched border. The top also has some green striped material patches. The whole blanket/quilt is bordered by a wide brown patterned material. Some of this material is also used as smaller patches on holes in the cardigans. There are also some hand stitched repairs.wagga, remote community, gwenyth fletcher, king george vi, canowindra, ernabella, pukatja, swag, blanket, sheep, rural life

A4 sized newsletter from the Rural Women's Network. 39 pages total. On Page 22 "The Queen Victoria Women's Centre" buildings, structures and establishments, charitable organisation, rural life, cultural structures and establishments

Family members in this photograph are identified in the book "Dare to be Wise" - L-R: Thomas Wise, born 1858; William Bell Wise, born 1857; John Mardling Wise, born 1860; Thomas Mardling Wise holding baby Joseph James Jonah Wise, born 1868; Mary Bell Wise; Emily Rosina Wise, born 1866; Sarah Ann Wise, born 1854. The girl standing second from right is not identified but is probably Mary Wise, born 1859.Image shows the layout of what a small family holding in the second half of nineteenth century looked like. It also shows cultural and musical items important to the family along with their pets.Black and white copy of original photograph, which shows nine members of the Wise family standing in a row, at their property along Carngham Road at Linton. The photograph shows the layout of the property, with house and stables at rear, animals pens to one side, and orchard at the front. The three young boys in the photograph are holding flutes. The family's dog is lying down in front of the children to the right of the photo.wise family, houses, rural life, thomas mardling wise, mary wise (nee bell), sarah ann wise, william bell wise, thomas wise, mary wise, john mardling wise, joseph james jonah wise, emily wise, dogs

Black and white image mounted on light grey card. Image shows a weatherboard house in background, trees and a boundary fence. Two women are standing at the fence. Other side of the fence is a horse drawn cart with a man and a young female seated there.rural life, horses, horse drawn vehicles, houses

A copy of a magazine illustration of "Ballarat Covent Garden".The image shows the Ballarat fruit and vegetable circa 1890's, an important centre for local market gardnerersA black and white copy of Ballarat fruit and vegetable market feature produce, horse drawn vehicles and patrons posing for the photographer"Ballarat's Covent Garden", Alfred Hall, now Butter Fctyballarat covent garden, fruit and vegetable market, transport, rural life, coxall family, market gardens

A copy of a magazine illustration of "Ballarat Covent Garden".The image shows the Ballarat fruit and vegetable circa 1890's, an important centre for local market gardnerersA black and white copy of Ballarat fruit and vegetable market feature produce, horse drawn vehicles and patrons posing for the photographer"Ballarat's Covent Garden", Alfred Hall, now Butter Fctyballarat covent garden, fruit and vegetable market, transport, rural life, coxall family, market gardens

One of a series of photographs featuring the Fisken Family and the Lal Lal EstateThe image shows the interior of the drawing room of the well known Fisken familyA black and white photograph showing the interior of the drawing room at Lal Lal Park c 1900"The drawing room, first homestead Lal Lal Park".fisken family, lal lal estate, rural life, drawing room interior

One of a series of photographs featuring the Fisken Family on the Lal Lal EstateThe image shows a water system on an early Estate near BuninyongA black and white photograph showing a creek and Arthur Fisken standing on a wooden bridge to the rear over the spillwayArchibald Fisken on the New Bridge Early 1900s, an early bridge over the spillway Lal Lal Parkfisken family, lal lal estate, rural life, water ways

Book was given to Mr Robert 'Bob' Edward Mitchell in 1938. Mr Mitchell trained as a wool classer in the 1930's and was awarded this book as the senior prize. Mr. Mitchell grew up on the Moorabinda sheep property and is on the honour roll as a past student who served in World War II from Wharparilla West State School.Large black bound book containing 12 double-sided pages, each with several wool samples mounted to a blue paper with the name of sheep breed which the wool came from. Each page also has a loose sheet of wax paper over the wool. Book can be closed and secured with a length of black material which can be tied up.world war two, robert edward mitchell, wool classing, wharparilla, wharparilla west state school, moorabinda, sheep farming, wool samples, wool, prize, student, rural life

This book is a "snapshot" in time (1950s) detailing life in Australia covering a time when a "man's word and handshake" were his moral and quasi legal bond, and the now relative defunct saying "smoko" (having a "time out" from work for a cigarette and tea or coffee). The book spans an era where the male was still the "head" of the family even though for a majority of families the women took on the many "male only" roles during the World War II period. This shift in the leadership of the family hierarchy is mentioned, so ever slightly, (not to offend the still predominant macho male image) in both rural and city environments. The effects of the war, and later the push for women's emancipation and equality in both family, social, workplace and political areas of life, since this book was published, is now finally resolved. However there are still some sections of the recent migrate population where this male dominance is causing a few problems.The significance of this book is not only because it was donated by Mrs C. Roper ( from the Roper Family, a pioneer Kiewa Valley and surrounding Region family - originally beef cattle graziers) but also a Kiewa Valley resident and family, experiencing the shift in the social and economical life of post World War II rural Australia. The strong heritage link to this region of many families still residing within its boundaries, is a clear affirmation of the bond that the Kiewa Valley and its Regions have upon family unity. This unity within the rural environment is something that is attracting more and more families from sometimes alienating city life.This printed coloured sketched, or painted paper sleeve of the book is freely wrapped over a dark red hard cover. Into the front of the cover is pressed a standing pose of a farmer with long sleeves rolled up over his elbows. Behind him and to the right are what appears to be three sacks of wheat and next to him is a merino sheep. To the left and down are two dogs one with a fox in its jaws. The book contains 240 pages, 300 illustrations in gravure and 25 pictures in full colour. The inside fly leaf is a colour photograph of a rural scene with dirt road running in the centre and to the left a farm house and a five bay open storage barnOn the tittle page is a signature "C Roper"country life, australian "outback", rural industries, life on the land, swag-man of the bush

This photograph shows Mr John Bird ( 3rd from left) ; Mr John Gilbert and Mr Lance Herbert among others having a picnic at the popular beach paddock at Old Station, Corringle, on January 1, 1897. Late in 1857 Mr Thomas T. Stirling took over Corringle Run ("Corringle" means "shallow water"). Mr Stirling and his family came from the wester district - Winchelsea. He settled at the Old Station. A few people were employed at the Orbost Stationb and there was settlement on the Orbost flats, Mr T. T. Stirling held the land from Lake Tyrers to Bemm River as a cattle run. About 1888 he became Secretary of the new Tambo Shire.This photograph is a portrait of rural life in the late 19th century. It is an insight into the dress, manners and activities of the first settlers of Orbost.Two copies of a black / white photograph of a group of men and women picnicking on the sand under tall trees.on back - "Beach Paddock - Old Station -1897" with a list of namesold-station-orbost rural-family-life

rural life, peopleCopy of B/W Photograph, Shearing at "Larundel" c 1900, shearers standing around a bale of wool outside shedbuninyong, larundel, shearers, wool

Rural life landscape, future townscape.Slightly faded colour photographNonesite of what became federation univercity ., rural landscape

non-fictionThis book tells the story of Margaret Gee's family, spanning three generations living on the land in picturesque North Eastern Victoria, near Beechworth-Kelly country and steeped in the history of the gold rush and early pioneers. It is the story of her indomitable father, who grew up at Silver Creek, then joined the Australian Navy, became a prisoner of war on the Burma Railway after surviving the sinking of HMAS Perth, of his wife and family.gee family, beechworth, rural families, country life -- victoria

Probably acquired because of its connection to rural life and the Irish immigrants settled in the Ballarat DistrictSix coloured images from Killarney, Ireland. * Colleen Gawn Rock * Meeting of the Waters * Upper Lake and MacGillycuddy's Reeks, Killarney * The Islands, Upper Lake * Kate Kearney's Cottage * Lower Lake and Ross Castlechatham-holmes family archive, killarney, ireland

Probably acquired because of its connection to rural life and the Irish immigrants settled in the Ballarat DistrictA postcard of a grey horse pulling a cart with a man in a hat holding a whip.chatham-holmes family collection, ireland, irish jaunting car, horse, carriage, cart, transport

The Uebergang family lived at Tooram Park, Allansford from 1912 to 1992. The bed jacket is part of a collection of items relating to rural life in the mid 20th century.White cotton bed jacket with scalloped satin stitch edging and cut work with butterfly motif lace insertions. Front closing with press studs and a tie. Cap sleeves with a V-shaped slit and butterfly motifs either side.201 (on tape at the side)costume accessories, female costume, uebergang, allansford, women's bed wear

Rev Alf Maher, an avid photographer, made a photographic record during his ministrations in Gippsland, of Church and rural life. His photo albums are lodged at Anglican Archives, Sale.Black and white photograph of St Peters Church of England, Dargo, showing a small timber building with gable roof, timber bell tower behind Church, surrounded by picket fence. Dargo Victoria buildings, churches

Possibly acquired because of a connection to rural life and the Irish immigrants settled in the Ballarat District. Harry and Edith Holmes visited this area with my mother, their daughter M. Elizabeth in the early 1950s. [Jane Dyer 2024]A town is surrounded by green fields and trees. A mountain is evident in the backgroundchatham-holmes family collection, enniskerry, wicklow, ireland, postcard

Possibly acquired because of a connection to rural life and the Irish immigrants settled in the Ballarat District. Harry and Edith Holmes visited this area with my mother, their daughter M. Elizabeth in the early 1950s. [Jane Dyer 2024]An abbey is surrounded by trees with a lake in the foreground.chatham-holmes family collection, kylemore abbey, connemara, galway, ireland

A history of rural life in the 20th century, this series covers each decade. Part 4: The great struggle 1930-1930; Part 5: Keeping the home fires burning 1940-1949; Part 7: Easy Street? 1960-1969; Part 8: A roller coaster ride, 1970-1979; Part 9: Feeling the heat, 1980-1989. Incomplete set, parts 1, 2, 6 and 10 missing.5 issues of large format newspaper supplement.country life, australia country life

From the 1970's onward the relative isolation of regional areas was improving in "leaps and bounds". Social amenities, and life styles were changing at a great rate. Items such as this camera (recreational/life style/non professional) capture of the altering socio economic balance of rural based activities provided the catalyst for greater appreciation by city dwellers to the benefits of rural life. The greater levels of communicative avenues, especially the visual (photography, pictures, television and the internet), from the beginning of this period and throughout the time frame (1970 to the 2000s) has cut the major restraints of what was rural "isolationism".The significance of this type of camera, being a small two lens (normal, telescopic) and portable piece of equipment, allowed non professional tourists, locals or visitors to visually display the uniqueness of the Kiewa Valley and Alpine regions. This method of promotional and intimate visual reproduction of not only physical but also through personal involvement, of the photographer to the audience, a greater psychological impact, by the nature of intimacy involved. This type of photography is one of the most effective stimuli to promote the unique qualities of the Kiewa Valley region.This Item is dual lens (22mm,44mm) camera comprising of an elongated oblong shape, black hard plastic shell. It has a slightly rough surface(for a better fingers grip), two latches are located at the back, one to release the camera from its hinged protective cover and one to move to the next picture frame (film is within a cartridge).On swing cover "Kodak Tele 1 " on back in small print "MADE IN USA" On camera body "KODAK TELE EKTRA 1" underneath "CAMERA" and on slide switch(front) to change lenses:"Tele" and "Norm" kodak two lens camera, photographic hobby usa made camera

While the exact history of this item is not recorded, handworked items were an important feature of home and social life in rural districts in the 19th and 20th centuries. Of some local social significance.White cotton hand crocheted teardrop shape evening bag, mesh pattern with scallops radiating from rose motif in centre (front and back), scalloped edge, 3 small decorative baubles, lined with fine cotton,with drawcord. Condition and colour good. Age not determined but probably 20th century.Nonehome made, handcraft, handbag, evening bag, bridal wear, crotchet work, hand work, decorative work

These domestic kitchen bags were donated to the National Wool Museum by Lila Gore. Lila donated Children’s Clothing (RGE 8324) to the museum in 2022 and at her time of donating, inquired as to whether the museum would also be interested in these bags she had been collecting. Lila said there was no reason as to why she was saving the bags, other than she liked the art works and thought they were too good to end up in landfill. She had thought perhaps she would make something out of the bags, or perhaps give the bags to a friend to make something. When Lila was donating the Children’s Clothing to the museum, she thought that the National Wool Museum would be the perfect home for the bags. Domestic kitchen bags such as these date from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. They were used at home, usually by women, containing household items which would not spoil, such as flour, sugar, animal feed, seeds, and other commodities. In modern times a trip to the supermarket is a daily chore, in the past however, these trips happened far less often, with big sacks such as these a large reason why. In the rural US and Canada, Feed sack dresses and Flour sack dresses, were an iconic part of rural life from the 1920s through the Great Depression, World War II, and post-World War II years. Australia also reused these sacks, typically for making wagga style blankets, but re-use for clothing was not unusual.Calico bag with yellow and blue graphic text on front.Front: COOK-WELL \ SELF- \ RAISING \ FLOUR \ PREPARED WITH \ PHOSHATE AERATOR \ HENRY BERRY & Co (A/S??Ltd) \ 568 580 COLLINS STREET \ MELBOURNE \ NET 7 LBSwagga, flour, oats, bag, calico, lila, gore, depression, war, kitchen

These domestic kitchen bags were donated to the National Wool Museum by Lila Gore. Lila donated Children’s Clothing (RGE 8324) to the museum in 2022 and at her time of donating, inquired as to whether the museum would also be interested in these bags she had been collecting. Lila said there was no reason as to why she was saving the bags, other than she liked the art works and thought they were too good to end up in landfill. She had thought perhaps she would make something out of the bags, or perhaps give the bags to a friend to make something. When Lila was donating the Children’s Clothing to the museum, she thought that the National Wool Museum would be the perfect home for the bags. Domestic kitchen bags such as these date from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. They were used at home, usually by women, containing household items which would not spoil, such as flour, sugar, animal feed, seeds, and other commodities. In modern times a trip to the supermarket is a daily chore, in the past however, these trips happened far less often, with big sacks such as these a large reason why. In the rural US and Canada, Feed sack dresses and Flour sack dresses, were an iconic part of rural life from the 1920s through the Great Depression, World War II, and post-World War II years. Australia also reused these sacks, typically for making wagga style blankets, but re-use for clothing was not unusual.Calico oat bag with graphic image on front showing three bears holding porridge bowls with yellow background and red, white and black text. Back of bag shows red and white graphic image of a woman wearing a dress and heeled shoes holding a coffee cup, with red and white text.Front: THREE BEARS \ PORRIDGE \ FLAKED \ OATMEAL \ SOMEBODYS BEEN TASTIN' MY PORRIDGE \ AN' THEY'VE EATEN IT ALL UP \ Jas. F. McKenzie & Co. Pty. Ltd. \ AUSTRALIA \ 7 LBS. NET. Back: MCKENZIES \ EXCELSIOR \ COFFEE \ ESSENCEwagga, flour, oats, bag, calico, lila, gore, depression, war, kitchen

These domestic kitchen bags were donated to the National Wool Museum by Lila Gore. Lila donated Children’s Clothing (RGE 8324) to the museum in 2022 and at her time of donating, inquired as to whether the museum would also be interested in these bags she had been collecting. Lila said there was no reason as to why she was saving the bags, other than she liked the art works and thought they were too good to end up in landfill. She had thought perhaps she would make something out of the bags, or perhaps give the bags to a friend to make something. When Lila was donating the Children’s Clothing to the museum, she thought that the National Wool Museum would be the perfect home for the bags. Domestic kitchen bags such as these date from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. They were used at home, usually by women, containing household items which would not spoil, such as flour, sugar, animal feed, seeds, and other commodities. In modern times a trip to the supermarket is a daily chore, in the past however, these trips happened far less often, with big sacks such as these a large reason why. In the rural US and Canada, Feed sack dresses and Flour sack dresses, were an iconic part of rural life from the 1920s through the Great Depression, World War II, and post-World War II years. Australia also reused these sacks, typically for making wagga style blankets, but re-use for clothing was not unusual.Calico oat bag with graphic image on front showing three bears holding porridge bowls with yellow background and white and black text.Front: THREE BEARS \ PORRIDGE \ ROLLED \ OATS \ SOMEBODYS BEEN TASTIN' MY PORRIDGE / AN' THEY'VE EATEN IT ALL UPwagga, flour, oats, bag, calico, lila, gore, depression, war, kitchen

These domestic kitchen bags were donated to the National Wool Museum by Lila Gore. Lila donated Children’s Clothing (RGE 8324) to the museum in 2022 and at her time of donating, inquired as to whether the museum would also be interested in these bags she had been collecting. Lila said there was no reason as to why she was saving the bags, other than she liked the art works and thought they were too good to end up in landfill. She had thought perhaps she would make something out of the bags, or perhaps give the bags to a friend to make something. When Lila was donating the Children’s Clothing to the museum, she thought that the National Wool Museum would be the perfect home for the bags. Domestic kitchen bags such as these date from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. They were used at home, usually by women, containing household items which would not spoil, such as flour, sugar, animal feed, seeds, and other commodities. In modern times a trip to the supermarket is a daily chore, in the past however, these trips happened far less often, with big sacks such as these a large reason why. In the rural US and Canada, Feed sack dresses and Flour sack dresses, were an iconic part of rural life from the 1920s through the Great Depression, World War II, and post-World War II years. Australia also reused these sacks, typically for making wagga style blankets, but re-use for clothing was not unusual.Calico oat bag with colour image and black text. Image shows a full length brown horse with bridle.Front: PARSONS FARM ANIMAL SERIES No.3 \ SUFFOLK \ The Suffolk, often known as the Suffolk Punch, originated in the County of Suffolk, England \ and is noted for its hardiness. From 15 to 16 hands in height. The Suffolk in general is smaller than \ the Clydesdale. The head is rather coarse, with the neck short. The body long deep and wide with \ a round full appearance. The croup is straight and legs short and free from leather. The invariable \ colour is chestnut, varying from light to dark.wagga, flour, oats, bag, calico, lila, gore, depression, war, kitchen