Note from collector: Godfrey Hirst Diamond blankets from the mid-1950s are always delight to find. Some of these were found in the Geelong area but one came back with me from an op shop road trip around Tasmania, another from the St Pauls op shop in Romsey. I love this pattern and find the lemon and grey colourway particularly special.Note from collector- "For more than 100 years blankets were made all over Australia in over 100 woollen mills. My aim, is to preserve 100 examples of these wonderful pieces of history. Ten years ago I started collecting the iconic Onkaparinga travel rugs, so that on movie nights at home there would be plenty to go around. Everyone had their favourite; even the cat had his own – a small red tartan one. Keeping an eye out for those travel rugs at op-shops and markets, collectable stores and bazaars, led to noticing vintage blankets. I'd never really thought about them before or paid much attention though of course I had grown up with them at my grandmother's. When I discovered my first Laconia cream blanket with blue stripes, my eyes just went gaga. Well that was it, I was hooked and since then over 500 blankets have passed through my hands. These common, everyday items, found in all households for so many decades, were traditional engagement gifts. Pairs were prized wedding presents turning into family heirlooms. They were fashionable dressers of beds, givers of warmth, bestowers of security and reliability. The comfort found in these objects resonates with almost all of us; we grew up with them ourselves or fondly recall them in a grandparent’s home. There is no modern replacement with the integrity of these old blankets, many of them now older than most of us. They are romantic, sensible, special, familiar, nostalgic and nothing else feels so appropriate in so many situations. No offense to the great Aussie doona, but from hippie to hipster, at a music festival, picnic, campsite or couch, a vintage blanket is something coveted by all. This industry that employed tens of thousands and must have been such a huge contributor to the economy is almost completely lost now. Blanket Fever is an ode to everything that came before: the land, the sheep, the shearers, the hands, the mills, the weavers, the designers, the distributors, the department stores. To the grandparents that gave them, the people that received them, the families that kept them; thank you. I’m passionate about my collection of Australian blankets manufactured in mostly Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania from the 1930s to the end of the 1960s. The collection has blankets from each of these four decades representing the styles and fashions of their time and includes dated advertisements which help determine the eras the blankets are from." King-sized, pink and mint diamond blanket, ribbon edgedName tag 'O'Malley' sewn above label/"An All Wool Blanket" /By Godfrey Hirst of Geelong/100% Virgin Woolwool, blanket, blanket fever, diamond blanket, godfrey hirst, geelong

White cup and saucer with gold edges and a scene of Blackburn Lake.Victoria Czechoslovakia 28 - Blackburn Lakedomestic items, crockery

White linen handkerchief embroidered on each corner and around the edgecostume accessories, female

Cream silk baby bonnet lace edged and embroidered in creamcostume, infants'

Till collectionTHE TILL COLLECTION SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT|The significance of the Alwyn Till Collection is that Alwyn was born in Mitcham in 1921. He attended Mitcham Primary School and Box Hill Boys High School. He served his Community mainly through his activities within the Christ Church Anglican Church Mitcham. He joined the Royal Australian Airforce in World War II in September 1939. He trained as a Pilot in Australia and Canada, was posted to England and saw action in Europe. He was shot down over France and rescued by and then joined the French Resistance and while fighting with them was fatally shot. A Baron fighting with him wrote to his mother to inform her of his death.|Alwyn's parents were Evaleen Victoria Till (nee Maggs) and Sydney Norman Till who first lived in Creek Road Mitcham, before moving to 573 Whitehorse Road Mitcham. His father served in World War I where his eyesight was damaged and he was taught by the then Blind Institute in suitcase making of which we have two examples in this collection. He died in 1931. Alwyn took over responsibility for his mother and sister Alison. We can understand how devastated his mother and sister would have been at the news of Alwyn's feeling that he must serve his country in World War 11.|His letters home were so precious to them that they carefully kept all his correspondence, notices of death and condolences from friends. After Alison's death in 2007 her relation Joan Walker transcribed each of Alwyn's letters home into two bound volumes. The executors, Joan Walker and Anne Drew deposited the original letters with the Whitehorse Historical Society. Due to their significance as historical documents of one serviceman's complete correspondence with his family the Whitehorse Historical Society Committee after consultation with the donors deposited the original letters with the State Library of Victoria. The Whitehorse Historical Society retains the copies.|Alison and her mother kept many family memorabilia and personal items which make up this significant collection as they show how people lived, worked and served in the local community and municipality.|This collection represents the love and devotion of the women to their families during the course of two world wars. The father was disabled as a result of World War 1 and died an early death and a son who thereafter took on the responsibility as head of the family at an early age. This young handsome charismatic son served his community in peace time and gave his life in World War 11. This mother and sister were devoted to his memory.Cream woven place mat with small pattern around edges.domestic items, table setting, handcrafts, weaving

Worn by Donor's grandmother at Bethley Ridge near Maryborough. Unique style of embroideryApron - Brown Hostess - Lace Edged. Embroidered in fine woolcostume, female working

Metal pick with sharp edge and large hole formed for handle.mining, equipment

Jet Cameo. c1890. Jet jewellery originated from the English town of Whitby where it was mined. There were many Jet workrooms and thousands of jet pieces were worn by ladies copying Queen Victoria who made the Jet fashionable bt wearing it during her long years of mourning for her husband Albert.Square medallion with rope like edge and a female head embossed on it.costume accessories, female

Tray presented to BMFS(Cine Group) for film "Did August Schwerkolt Dig the Blackburn Lake one Sunday Afternoon"Round tray with appliqued grape decoration on edge with etched baseM.E.M.C 1971 Ten best on eight The Roisier Trophy awarded to BMFS(CINE Group) for "Did August Schwerkolt...."schwerkolt, film, sff rosier, trophy, tray

Believed to be the Advance Australia Hotel, Great Northern township.Black and white photograph of a timber building, close to the edge of a road. Written on back of photo: "The Advance Aust. Hotel on Murray Valley H/way near Rutherglen. 1949"hotels, advance australia hotel, great northern

Square glass container with curved edges, containing 30 marbles toys, marbles, children, presents, games

Yellow WHS cookery apron with Kathy embodied onto the edge Kathy

Photo shows the Grenville St shelter decorated for the Centenary of European settlement in the Ballarat district. The tram shelter has the numbers "100". "1838" and "1938" with a number of well dressed ladies outside the shelter. See items 2917 and 6418 for associated images.Yields information about the Grenville St shelter decorated for the Centenary of European Settlement.Block mounted photograph onto grey card with printed edges,ballarat, shelters, ballarat centenary celebrations, celebrations, grenville st, sturt st

White cotton runner. Inserted lace and edged with applied lace.household textiles, table runners, lace

Harry van Assche was the organiser of the RVIB's auxiliaries during the 1930's and until his death in 1942. In this letter to the Auxiliary Secretary's, Stan Hedger (Superintendent and Secretary for the RVIB) advises of Mr van Assche's death and the alternative arrangements to keep the work ongoing. Attached to the top of the letter is a newspaper article from The Sun (22/7/1942) paying tribute to this work. The letter reads: Dear Auxiliary Secretary, You will all be distressed and grieved as we are over the untimely death of our beloved friend, Mr van Assche, and I am enclosing a tribute to his memory. I think I was in a better position than anybody connected with the Institute for knowing his real worth and of the noble way in which he faced life anew in his brave unflinching determination to conquer disabilities of blindness. How well he succeeded is evidenced in our wonderful Auxiliary movement, in the multitude of friends he made wherever he went, in his never complaining attitude towards his affliction. We are heartbroken over what to me is an irreparable loss, for in my life-long experience among the blind, I have never met his peer. Other representatives will carry the torch lit by him (and he would not have liked to have thought we would fail him), and we feel that Auxiliaries will continue to do their best in memory of one who did his best for those who were sightless like himself, and for the cause for which they have so wonderfully worked in response to his appeals. Mr van Assche's Secretary and friend, Mr Webber, will act for the present, and I am sure you will all do your best to encourage him and those who may accompany him, in their desire to express the gratitude of everyone connected with this Institute for your loving kindness to Mr van Assche and to our blind babies, children and adults, who now depend upon you even more. With our kindest thoughts, Yours faithfully, Superintendent & Secretary1 letter with newspaper cutting pasted to top left edgeroyal victorian institute for the blind, auxiliaries, harry van assche

"The Committee, Blind Members and Staff acknowledge and record for posterity the outstanding service given to the blind people of Victoria by (blank) This exceptional contribution, which has enriched the quality of their living, was made in a selfless and warmhearted manner in the Association tradition of caring and sharing. Inherent in the many attributes displayed were the admirable qualities of leadership, loyalty, consistency of purpose, and a great generosity of spirit. In recognition of this distinguished service we now pay tribute to and honour Katharine Margaret Rose in the presentation of the John Wilson Award." Signed by Diana J. Jones (President), John Cook (staff representative), B. J. Sittlington (Chairman, Blind Members Council) on 16th October 1967.1 cream A3 page with tan border around edgeassociation for the blind, katharine (kitty) rose

This certificate for the registration of the business name 'Voice Print' was registered with the Victorian Corporate Affairs in 1995.1 white page with single blue edge mounted on cardboardForm 2, Business Names (Act) 1962, Section 7(4) and (5) Corporate Affairs Office, Victoria I hereby certify that the business name ... was on ... registered pursuant to and subject to the Business Names Act 1962. Given under my hand at Melbourne, this 13 October 1995 ... for Commissioner for Corporate Affairsassociation for the blind, corporation records

Aboriginal artifact (possibly found in garden in Bank Street Port Fairy By Chris Sharpells) 2 entries in green book under different numbers namely 792 and 814 state thisStone axe smoothed at long end to make cutting edgelocal history, ethnographic material, hunting, fishing, axe, gathering, stone, aboriginal

"The Board, Tilly Aston Customer Council and Staff acknowledge and record for posterity the outstanding service given to blind and vision impaired people in Victoria. This exceptional contribution was made in a selfless and warmhearted manner and continues Vision Australia's tradition of caring and sharing. Inherent in the many attributes displayed were the admirable qualities of leadership, loyalty, consistency of purpose, and a great generosity of spirit. In recognition of this distinguished service we now pay tribute to and honour Neil and Elizabeth Maxwell in the presentation of the John Wilson Award on 6th October 2000." Signed by John Cook - Chief Executive Officer, ? Chairman, Tilly Aston Customer Council and Malcolm Daubney, President.1 white A3 page with blue border around edgevision australia foundation, neil maxwell, elizabeth maxwell

Cream small square tablecloth with embroidered edge and centre panels.tablecloths

A colour slide a USA Destroyer 130 on Port Philip in 1957. It was during Operation Float which was an event run by Melbourne Legacy to take Junior legatees on an outing. It could have been to naval boats such as HMAS Cerberus or to a Yacht club. It gave the junior legatees the opportunity to see a naval boat in action, spend time on the water or try sailing. In 1957 it appears to be several smaller boats taking small groups of children out on the bay. Was with many other slides taken in the 1950s and 1960s. The slides have been photographed to make digital images and moved to archive quality sleeves. In many cases the original images were not well focussed and the digital image the best available.A record of outings being organised for children.Colour slide of a destroyer in a red edged Kodachrome cardboard mount.Printed on reverse in red ink 'Kodachrome Transparency / Processed by Kodak'. Handwritten in blue ink 'USA Destroyer 130 / 19'. Imprinted in black ink '15'operation float, junior legatee outings

Bookmark of Mrs. Edward Hunter Snr, circa 1890Silk bookmark, with fringed edges, and a 'Forget Me Not' motif and text."When with varied scenes, you wander. Whatsoever be your lot. As on bygone days you ponder then I ask forget me not."bookmarks

Flat belts were widely used in line shafting to transmit power in mining applications. The flat belt is a simple system of power transmission that can deliver high power at high speeds. The belts were used with pulley wheels.Long canvas belting with frayed edges, wrapped up in coil.

Doily - square white linen with eyelet embroidery and a scalloped edge.doilies

Mrs. F. WilmsCut glass sugar basin with gilt edge. Matching no. 504.sugar bowls

This silver tray was donated by the family of John Watson and was used when they lived in de Kerilleau Homestead for three generations. de Kerilleau Homestead was built for William Huon, son of the early pastoralist Paul Huon, in 1870 and named after the family's ancestral estate in France. The original lease of the Wodonga Run was granted to Paul Huon as No. 202 on 7th February 1837, about a year after his cousin Charles Huon had squatted on the land. Kenneth Darnton Watson bought de Kerilleau homestead in 1922 where the Watson family lived for three generations, caring for the land and serving the Wodonga community. Kenneth, his son Ian Darnton Watson and his grandson John Kenneth Darnton Watson all served on the Wodonga Council. John Kenneth Darnton Watson was born on 28 August 1960 in Wodonga. After completing his primary schooling locally, he boarded at Geelong College from 1973. John joined the rowing crews, starting in the 8th VIII crew and reaching the 1st VIII crew in 1978. He received multiple House colours awards for cross country, athletics and rowing and received School colours for rowing. On completion of his schooling, John spent some time jackarooing before studying farm management at Marcus Oldham College in Geelong, Victoria. He then returned home to de Kerilleau, Wodonga to manage the family property. In 1984 John married Christine Honybun, daughter of David Lewis Honybun and Marian Josephine Edkins. John and Christine had three sons. John was community minded and involved in a number of local organisations such as Apex and agricultural societies. He was elected to Wodonga City Council in 1997, serving until 2004. Due to increased pressure on available land to cater for the growth of Wodonga, some of the property was sold and in 2003 John donated 200 ha of Huon Hill‘s western slopes to the City of Wodonga. After this time, he moved away from farming to become a Hungry Jack's franchisee. In 2009, the hard decision was made to sell de Kerilleau and John and his family moved into Wodonga. After sadly losing Christine to cancer in 2017, John became a member and Deputy Chairperson of the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust Fund Board and Ambassador for the Sunshine Walk. Tragically after his own cancer battle, John Kenneth Darnton Watson passed away on 24 August 2023, aged 62 years following a life of service to the Wodonga community.This item is significant because it was owned by a prominent Wodonga family and came from a Historic Homestead in WodongaA circular silver tray with an embossed design around the outer edge.watson family wodonga, de kerilleau homestead, john watson, peter charlesworth

Unaddressed invitation to a cocktail party hosted by St Kilda Mayor and Mayoress, Cr. and Mrs. I.B. Trayling, at St Kilda Town Hall on 20 November 1971.White card with rounded edges, printed in black on one sidest kilda mayoral function

McNamara family collectionDeckle edge cream card with blue pine cone decoration.Cares and prayersprayer, mcnamara, religion

The photo shows the intersection of Collins and Swanston Streets looking south. It shows an early version of the City Square. In the photo is the Town Hall, the Gas & Fuel buildings, St Paul's Cathedral, and in the top left-hand corner an advertisement for "Qantas". Several trams are in the view plus the Tram Recovery Vehicle parked alongside the City Square on stand-by. See reference for the Square History - based on the paving, late 1970s,Yields information about the City Square,Colour postcard by Sandscene International, No. V36 with a serrated edge - No. JSC1219postcards, collins st, swanston st, city square, tramways, r10 vehicle, w2 class, trams, melbourne town hall

The photo shows the Flinders St station building at dusk. An MMTB bus and tram are waiting at the traffic lights. Tram fitted with marker lights shows a route number of "29" - which was discontinued in Nov. 1970. Marker lights commenced to be installed in 1970.Yields information about Flinders St station in about 1970.Colour postcard by Sandscene International, No. V7 with a serrated edge - No. JSC316postcards, route 29, flinders st station, flinders st, swanston street