This is a protector used to cover the shirts or jackets of military or other uniforms that had brass buttons. The horseshoe shape enabled the button to be isolated from the rest of the top and made it easier to clean and polish without getting the jacket soiled. It would have been a common item in military or militia or band member families in the 19th and early 20th centuries. They may even be still used today for regimental uniforms. This item has no known local provenance but is of interest as an example of a cleaning object in days gone by. This is a brass button protector in the shape of a horseshoe with straight sides and rounded tips. It is slightly misshapen. It has an advertisement for Brasso metal polish etched into the brass. ‘Use Brasso Metal Polish’button cleaner/protector, brass, warrnambool, military

Coin holders were used as a convenient way of carrying coins and also as a fashion accessory, worn on a belt or as a necklace. They date from the 19th and early 20th centuries.This item is of interest as an item that was in use a 100 years ago or moreThis is a silver coin holder, circular in shape. It has an outer container with an inner mechanism for placing the coins in and pushing down the lid to hold the coins. It has a ring at the top of the outer container for attaching to a chain. The holder is somewhat battered in places and worn and marked. antiquarian coin holders, warrnambool

This souvenir of the Coronation of Edward V11 in 1902 was produced by William Ferguson when he was the Mayor of Warrnambool (1901-2). Ferguson was a jeweller, optician and watchmaker in Timor Street in the early 1900s. This is an interesting item as an example of the fervor with which the coronation of a King of England was celebrated in Warrnambool in 1902. It was appropriate at the time that the Mayor of Warrnambool should issue a commemorative ribbon as a loyal gesture from the civic authorities. This is a fragment of red silk ribbon which was a souvenir piece produced by William Ferguson in 1902 to celebrate the Coronation of King Edward V11 of England. The ribbon is braided at the sides and frayed at the edges and has a split in the middle and tears across the top section. The ribbon has an imprint of the Royal Crest, the side profiles of Edward and Alexandra and the Town of Warrnambool crest. ‘Born 1841, Crowned 1902, Edwardvs V11 Rex et Imp et Alexandra, Reg. 1902, Presented by W. Ferguson, Mayor, June 26th 1902’edward v11 coronation, william ferguson, warrnambool

Matches and match boxes were common and essential household items in the 19th century and early to mid 20th century. Today matches are used only irregularly. This match box holder was an advertising tool for Roy Pearson who had a motor service station at 100 Kepler Street, Warrnambool in the 1930s. The business was called the Super Service Station and Pearson was the agent for Triumph and Citroen cars. He sold petrol and used cars and did car repairs. In 1937 the business was run by Chorlton and GrahamThis item is of considerable interest showing the type of advertising used in Warrnambool in 1935. Apart from its utilitarian use of holding a match box, it is an advertising tool containing a 1935 calendar and it also uses humour as its main appeal. The holder features a face which shows a happy man when held one way (“This man calls at Pearson’s Service Station for satisfaction’) and a grumpy man when it is turned around (‘This man wishes he did call’). This is a metal match box holder, painted blue with yellow printing and an image of a man’s face. It has a 1935 calendar. It is much rusted on the inside and a little blotched on the outside. ‘Roy H. Pearson, Super Service Station, Ye Auto Fille Here, Phone 511, 100 Kepler Street, Warrnambool. This man calls at Pearson’s Service Station for satisfaction, This man wishes he did call’ pearson service station, warrnambool, match box holder

No information is available on this particular item but it was common practice in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to use bone as ornaments or jewellery. Tusks were used to make earrings or necklaces.This item is of interest as an example of the use of bone as ornaments or jewellery. It will be useful for display. This is a piece of curved bone (coloured black or polished) with a round metal piece at the top with a loop for attachment to a chain or fabric. It is probably a tusk from a boar or pig. The bone is somewhat blotched and the metal is a little rusted.bone jewellery, warrnambool

These items are a collection of paints etc for those artists wanting to produce lustroleum and crystoleum works of art in the late 19th century and early 20th century. These works of art using lustroleum and crystoleum which were mainly metallic paints, were produced on a variety of surfaces, including glass, wood, tapestry, china and ivory. These items have no known provenance but it is known that lustroleum and crystoleum painting were popular pastimes with women in Warrnambool in the late 19th century. There are several records of women advertising classes in lustroleum and crystoleum painting in the 1880s and 90s in Warrnambool. One was these was Annie Newcombe, an art teacher who offered classes at her studio in Timor Street in 1884.This is a metal tin with a metal catch and a hinged lid. The tin contains 10 items - four glass bottles of Lustroleum, one glass bottle of gold paint, one glass bottle of purple metallic paint, one tube of green paint, one china bowl with a lip for pouring, one dish to hold paint with a broken base and one small dish for holding paint. There is also a sheet of paper containing information on the Crystoleum Company of London advertising that they supplied photographs, price list for classes, silk frames and crystal glasses. On bottles: ‘Lustroleum Registered’ ; ‘H. Bessemer, Gold Paint’, ‘Purple’, On tube: ‘Winsor & Newton, Chrome Green, Vert Anglais, London England’ crystoleum and lustroleum painting, warrnambool, paint set, artist's paints

John Brunswick from Switzerland came to U.S.A. in 1845 and established a business in Ohio making carriages and billiard tables. In 1874 a merger gave the company a new name of Brunswick and Balke Company and in 1884 it became Brunswick, Balke and Collender. In the early 20th century the company made other products including phonograph records and discs and in 1930 this section of the company was sold to Warner Brothers. Today it is known as the Brunswick Corporation. The patent for these cleaning pads was taken out in 1922. Matilda (Tilly) Rowan, the daughter of Robert and Ellen Lavery was born in Warrnambool in 1872 and by 1896 was advertising her stationery shop in the Oddfellows Hall in Koroit Street. She married Thomas Rowan in 1908. She had a music shop at 143 Liebig Street with one known date, 1930, and then transferred her business to the Oddfellows Hall building which she owned. She also operated the Plaza Picture Theatre in the same building. She died in 1948.Brunswick- Balke- Collender CompanyThese are two gramophone records cleaning pads. They are circular in shape with a tin top and felt cleaning pads. One pad is brown-coloured and the other is green-coloured. The metal tops have the name of the supplier and the name of the music shop in Warrnambool that gave out or sold the pads. The tops are painted black with gold-coloured printing. The tops have ornamental scrolls on the edges. ‘Brunswick, Mrs Rowan Music House, 143 Liebig Street, Warrnambool, ‘Phone 634, Agent for New Edison Diamond Disc Phonographs and Records, The Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, Reg.U.S. Pat.Office, M de F. Marca Industrial Registrada, patented November 1922, Philadelphia Badge Co., Phila, U.S.A.’mrs tilly rowan, brunswick- balke- collender company

This watch belonged to Norman Borthwick of Ecklin, who, with his wife and two children, Janet, aged 7 and Jack, aged 6, were survivors of the sinking of the cruise boat, Nestor, on the Hopkins River in January 1921. The boat was on its regular trip from the Hopkins River boatsheds to Jubilee Park with 80 passengers. Ten people were drowned when the boat began to take water and sank about a kilometre upstream. Norman Borthwick was wearing the watch at the time and the hands have stopped at 5.20 p.m. on the day of the tragedy. A hero of the day was Constable Sharrock who drowned after saving the lives of several of those on boardThis watch is of great significance as it is an item that belonged to Norman Borthwick who was wearing the watch when he survived the sinking of the Nestor in the Hopkins River in 1921. This was one of the great tragic incidents in Warrnambool in the early 20th centuryThis is a Swiss-made watch made of gunmetal with a glass face and a metal winder at the top and a ring to attach the watch to a chain. The figures are Roman numerals and there is a separate minute hand dial. The watch is much rusted and is not able to be easily opened to see the mechanism. The gold-coloured hands point to the time of 20 past 5. The face of the watch is discoloured on the right hand side.‘Le Duc, Swiss made’nestor sinking, norman borthwick, constable sharrock

This is the lid of a Cherry Tooth Paste container made by John Gosnell & Co. London. This company had its origins in the 17th century with John Gosnell joining the company in 1814. It made perfume, soap, brushes and combs and other personal household items. By 1898 the firm was based in London and known for its Cherry Tooth Paste. The practice of brushing the teeth for hygienic reasons began in the 18th century and became more popular in the 19th century. This item has no known local provenance but is interesting as an example of an early 20th century household product and is useful for display.This is a white china container lid, cracked and mended in places and chipped in other places. The container had Cherry Tooth Paste in it. The top of the lid is brown and yellow with brown and yellow printing. There is an image of the head of a young Grecian girl on the lid. ‘Cherry Tooth Paste, Patronized by the Queen, For beautifying and preserving the teeth & gums, prepared by John Gosnell & Co. Ltd., London’cherry tooth paste, john gosnell & co., warrnambool

No information is available on this particular bottle. The hand-painted flowers may have been added by the owner after purchase. Painting on glass was very popular in the 1880s and 1890s. Perfume bottles were carried by ladies to use when the odours of the surrounds were objectionable or when they needed to freshen up on a journey. This bottle is of some interest as an example of the items carried by a woman in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is useful for displayThis is a small glass perfume bottle with a rounded bottom and a silver-coloured metal stopper. The hinged stopper has a chain attached with a metal ring for attachment to a belt or purse. The top of the stopper has an ornate etching on it. There are hand-painted flowers on the side of the bottle (white, orange, green and blue)perfume bottle, warrnambool, 1880 perfume bottle

This is a jewellery box from the Warrnambool business of Stafford, the jeweller. The Staffords shop was at 120 Liebig Street and operated in the 1960s, 70s, 80s, 90s and early 2000s. The site is still a jewellery shop. This box is of minor interest as an example of a small jewellery box from the mid 20th century.This is a small cardboard box covered with salmon-pink paper on the outside. It is empty but once contained an item of jewellery. The pink paper is slightly buffed. ‘Staffords Warrnambool’staffords, jewellers, warrnambool, jeweller box

Augustus Bostock was the 9th child of Robert & Rachael Bostock of Vaucluse Epping Forest, Van Diemen’s Land. He was only 4 years old when his mother died. He was inspired by his father to seek his fortune in the Western District of Victoria. He arrived around 1850. He married Margaret Aitkin in July 1865. Augustus owned several properties in the district and leased others. He sat on the court of Warrnambool, Mortlake or Hexham as required. He resided at Marramook in Hawkesdale and later moved to Vaucluse in Hopetoun Road Warrnambool, where he died in 1920 at the age of 87. He was involved in many aspects of life in the Western District, racing, cricket, and social activities to name a few. According to other documents included in this collection of papers is a lease of Coomete from John Kershaw to Augustus Bostock. This letter relates to an adjustment to the rent and some discussion over the terms of the lease and the control of rabbits. This is one of a number of documents which relate to the Bostock family who were one of the most important pioneering families of the Western District. They owned and leased various properties around Warrnambool and were involved in many aspects of social and business life. This letter hi-lights the importance of the rabbit problem as early as 1895 to the extent that it was traded against a sizeable deduction in rent.Cream unlined paper, handwritten in black ink. Watermarked down left side. Writing is quite difficult to read.Signed John Kershaw. Dated 24th June* ’95.Addressed to Augustus Bostock.warrnambool, augustus bostock, john kershaw, coomete, 1895,

This book gives the history of the Warrnambool Rowing Club. The club was formed in 1873. In 1885 Mrs Fanny Nelson built a boathouse on the Hopkins River bank and leased it to the Warrnambool Rowing Club. A two-storeyed building for the Rowing Club was opened in 1889 and today the club operates from Proudfoot’s Boathouse near the mouth of the river. This is an important book as it details the history of the Warrnambool Rowing Club. Rowing has been a popular recreational pursuit in Warrnambool since the early days of settlement as the proximity of two rivers makes this possible and the Warrnambool Rowing Club has a history well worth recording. This is a soft-cover book of 85 pages with a white cover with a black and white photograph on the front of the old rowing club sheds on the Hopkins River and several images on the back cover of Warrnambool in the 19th century. The book has eight chapters and has pages with information on life members and committees, a Foreword, a Contents page, an Acknowledgements page, an Index and Endnotes. The book is written by Susan FinneganFront Cover: ‘City of Warrnambool Rowing Club, 140 Years on the Hopkins River’warrnambool rowing club, warrnambool

Augustus Bostock was the 9th child of Robert & Rachael Bostock of Vaucluse Epping Forest, Van Diemen’s Land. He was only 4 years old when his mother died. He was inspired by his father to seek his fortune in the Western District of Victoria. He arrived around 1850. He married Margaret Aitkin in July 1865. Augustus owned several properties in the district and leased others. He sat on the court of Warrnambool, Mortlake or Hexham as required. He resided at Marramook in Hawkesdale and later moved to Vaucluse in Hopetoun Road Warrnambool, where he died in 1920 at the age of 87. He was involved in many aspects of life in the Western District, racing, cricket, and social activities to name a few. This letter is written from Marramook to Australian Mortgage Land and Finance and the contents are about classing sheep and the relevant prices. This is one of a number of documents which relate to the Bostock family who were one of the most important pioneering families of the Western District. They owned and leased various properties around Warrnambool and were involved in many aspects of social and business life. It is an interesting insight into the types of work and difficulties faced by early Australians and in the context of the Document VC000860 regarding demands for money from the National Bank written a month earlier.Cream lined paper hand written in black ink. Copy written in black ink at top left corner of page.Dated May 5th 1900. Signed Augustus Bostockwarrnambool, augustus bostock, marramook, wool classing, 1900,

Augustus Bostock was the 9th child of Robert & Rachael Bostock of Vaucluse Epping Forest, Van Diemen’s Land. He was only 4 years old when his mother died. He was inspired by his father to seek his fortune in the Western District of Victoria. He arrived around 1850. He married Margaret Aitkin in July 1865. Augustus owned several properties in the district and leased others. He sat on the court of Warrnambool, Mortlake or Hexham as required. He resided at Marramook in Hawkesdale and later moved to Vaucluse in Hopetoun Road Warrnambool, where he died in 1920 at the age of 87. He was involved in many aspects of life in the Western District, racing, cricket, and social activities to name a few. This letter is written in reply to an earlier one by Augustus making himself available to do wool and sheep classing. This states of the availability of work at Delatite Station the property of Mr. Henry Ricketson one of many properties he owned.This letter follows from previous ones showing Augustus Bostock in his quest for work. Cream lined paper with Australian Mortgage Land and Finance letterhead printed at top of letter. The letter is handwritten in black ink with adjustments written in same hand as the signer of the letter. Blue secretary stamp underneath signature.Addressed to Augustus Bostock Esq Marramook Woolsthorpe. Signed by Robert **Boyne. Dated May 15th 1900. Watermarked, Original Turkey Mill Trent. augustus bostock, warrnambool

This is a Federation certificate showing the signatures of the Shire of Warrnambool personnel who signed the addresses presented by the Municipalities of Victoria to the Duke of York and the Governor-General in 1901 on the occasion of the Federation of the six colonies in Australia. This was a highly significant event in Australia’s history and Warrnambool shared in this occasion by voting overwhelmingly in the Referendum in favour of Federation. This certificate shows the official local government acceptance of the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia and the regard for matters of Empire and the representatives of British Royalty. It also has the signatures of the Shire personnel, many of whom were prominent men in the Warrnambool district in the early 20th century, especially Gideon Nicol, James Lindsay, Alexander Rollo and John Glasgow. It was reported in the Warrnambool Standard at the time that this certificate had been designed and illuminated by Victor Henry, an art student from Warrnambool and the son of one of Warrnambool’s Councillors, This is a certificate indicating that the Shire of Warrnambool Councillors signed the Addresses presented by the Municipalities of Victoria to the Duke of York and the Governor- General in January 1901. The certificate is mounted on card with paper binding on the edges and contains the signatures of the President of the Shire of Warrnambool, nine Councillors and the Shire Secretary. It is highly ornamented with lithographs of the crests of the six States of Australia, an archway , an image of a woman representing the British Empire, a lion, a British flag and the crest of ‘United Australia’ and other symbols. The printers of this copy were Sands and McDougalls of Melbourne. The certificate is coloured in mostly yellow, green and brown tonings. The signatures are in black ink. federation, shire of warrnambool federation certificate, warrnambool

This croquet mallet belonged to Martha Beatrice McCullough (nee Barker), wife of George McCullough, who died in November 1931 at the age of 50. She lived at the house at 113 Koroit Street named ‘Heatherlie’ (the site of the current retirement residential units) and owned and managed the Silver Stream Café in Liebig Street. The mallet was used by her and may have been used by her mother before her. Croquet was a popular sport, especially for women after the 1880s. This is a significant item as it is an artefact associated with women’s sport in the late 19th century and early 20th century. It is also important as it belonged to a local Warrnambool resident and businesswoman whose granddaughter resides in Warrnambool today.This is a brown-coloured wooden croquet mallet. The handle has ribbed leather binding and the mallet has brass edging and brass on the under section attached with twelve brass screws. The handle is octagonal shaped. The lower section of the handle and the mallet have been varnished. On the mallet: ‘The Reel’croquet, warrnambool

Augustus Bostock was the 9th child of Robert & Rachael Bostock of Vaucluse Epping Forest, Van Diemen’s Land. He was only 4 years old when his mother died. He was inspired by his father to seek his fortune in the Western District of Victoria. He arrived around 1850. He married Margaret Aitkin in July 1865. Augustus owned several properties in the district and leased others. He sat on the court of Warrnambool, Mortlake or Hexham as required. He resided at Marramook in Hawkesdale and later moved to Vaucluse in Hopetoun Road Warrnambool, where he died in 1920 at the age of 87. He was involved in many aspects of life in the Western District, racing, cricket, and social activities to name a few. Earlier correspondence in this collection records Augustus making contact with manager of Delatite Station in regard to wool and sheep classing. This letter also relates to sheep apart from the genialities of the time.This is one of a number of documents which relate to the Bostock family who were one of the most important pioneering families of the Western District. They owned and leased various properties around Warrnambool and were involved in many aspects of social and business life. The document itself is indicative of its time and provides an insight into social contacts and customs at the time.Cream lined paper with black ink handwriting. Two pages Delatite Mansfield 2nd June 1900. Signed G Macartneywarrnambool, augustus bostock, bostock, delatite,1900,

These gramophone needles were manufactured by The Gramophone Company Limited for use in gramophones that had an arm in which to insert a needle to play an old shellac record. The Gramophone Company was an early recording company based in the United Kingdom and was the parent organization for the His Master’s Voice label of recording devices. The company was founded in 1897 and merged in 1931 with another company to form E.M.I. (Electric and Musical Industries) but the name The Gramophone Company continued in Britain until the 1970s. Gramophones were a popular household item from the late 19th century until the mid 20th century when more sophisticated recording and playing devices were invented. These gramophone needles is of some interest as an example of entertainment devices of the past. It will be useful for display. .1This is a metal box with a lid containing an image of a dog and a phonograph (‘His Master’s Voice’) painted in white and brown on a dark blue background. Inside the tin are about 150 metal gramophone needles, most of them being a little rusted. The needles are covered with a sheet of brown paper with yellow printing. The tin itself is rusted and the printing is discoloured. There is a paper sticker on the back of the box with an early catalogue number (almost obliterated). .2 Small rectangular plastic container with picture of white polar bear with blue background. It contains approximately 30 needles which have red ends and silver points. .3 small plastic bag with a number of needles..1 Front of box: ‘His Master’s Voice, Extra Loud Tone’ Back of box: Approximately 200 English gramophone needles manufactured by The Gramophone Company Limited, Sydney, Australia’. Inside: ‘Use each point once only’ (printed twice). .2 50 semi- permanent needles on front of box. On bottom Made in Germany. gramophone needles, warrnambool, e.m.i., electric and musical industries

This item was supplied by William Ferguson, a jeweller, watchmaker and optician in Timor Street, Warrnambool in the early part of the 20th century. He was Mayor of Warrnambool in 1901-2. It is not known to whom the spectacles belonged. This item has no specific provenance but it is of importance as an example of the type of object supplied by William Ferguson, a prominent businessman in Warrnambool in the early 1900s. This is a spectacles case made of stiffened leather with a leather handle at the top that slides back to allow the case to be opened. The top of the case lifts up to allow the spectacles to be removed. The case has the name of the supplier (W.Ferguson) stamped in gold print on the side. The case is much scuffed and the leather is worn in places. It is empty.‘W. Ferguson, Oculist, Optician, Warrnambool’spectacles case, william ferguson, jeweller and oculist., warrnambool

No specific information is available on this item. Letter openers and book marks of an ornate nature were common household and personal items in the past and are still used today. This item probably dates from the early 1900s. This item is of antiquarian interest and is useful for display as an example of household or personal items of the past.This is a stiffened velvet holder edged with gilt metal with a chain attached. The chain has a gilt book mark attached. The book mark has a metal blade with an ornamental shield at the top. The book mark can also be used as a letter opener. The holder probably originally held another letter opener or another similar item to complete the set. The case is somewhat scuffed. letter opener/book mark and case, warrnambool

These two volumes are seminal historical writings published in 1888. The author of Volume One is Alexander Sutherland (1852-1902), described as ‘a forgotten Australian intellectual’. Born in Scotland, Sutherland was a teacher, poet, biographer, novelist, scientist, philosopher and journalist. In 1902 he was the Registrar of Melbourne University and he was the Secretary of the Royal Society of Victoria. With his brother, George, he wrote a history of Australia and New Zealand which sold 100,000 copies, the first best-selling Australian history. His book, ‘The Origin and Growth of the Moral Instinct’ influenced Russian philosophical thought. This is a most significant book as it contains short biographical notes on a great number of early (19th century) residents of the Warrnambool district. As well as listing information on Warrnambool identities it includes information on residents of Purnim, Wangoom, Dennington, Panmure, Garvoc, Framlingham, Winslow, Yangery, Woodford, Mailors Flat, Grasmere, Bushfield and Allansford. It is a great resource for researchers today. The two volumes also contain illustrations pertaining to the areas around Warrnambool and are of great historical as well as artistic interest. These are two volumes of ‘Victoria and Its Metropolis’. They are leather bound with a black cover, heavily ornamented in gold around the edges of the cover and with the printed material also in gold lettering in an ornamental pattern. The spine of the covers are brown with gold ornamental patterns and printing. Volume One has 594 pages with 258 illustrations , all black and white and this volume contains writings on the early days of the colony up to 1888 and chapters on the arts, churches, education, industries, science etc. in Victoria. Volume Two has 822 pages with many black and white illustrations and chapters on the regions in Victoria and biographical notes on the pioneer settlers of these districts. Both volumes are in a very tattered condition with many loose pages and the leather binding much torn and with some parts missing. Volume One cover: ‘Victoria and its Metropolis, Past and Present’ Volume One spine: ‘Victoria and its Metropolis, Vol. 1’ Volume Two Cover: ‘Victoria and its Metropolis, Past and Present’’ Volume Two Spine: ‘Victoria and its Metropolis, Vol. 2’ 19th century victorian history, victorian pioneer settlers, alexander sutherland

No information is available regarding this item and it is not known who ‘H.W.’ is. Silver serviettes such as this one were common household items and common wedding presents in the early 20th century. The fact that this one is silver and is monogrammed suggests that it came from an affluent family. It may have been one of a set. Serviette rings are still used today, especially for formal dining occasions. This item is of interest in that it is an example of dining customs in the early 20th century. It is a display item.This is a circular silver object used to hold a folded serviette. It has four hallmarks which indicate it is British made and it has a monogram, ‘H.W.’ It is slightly tarnished and has some small dents. ‘H.W.’ (or ‘W.H.’)serviette ring, warrnambool

No specific information is available on this item. Household items made of ivory were common in the early 20th century and were often brought back to Australia from people returning from an overseas trip. Many of these types of items came from Asia. Letter openers are still is use today.This item is of interest as an example of the use of ivory in household items early in the 20th century. This use of ivory is in the main illegal today.This is a letter opener made of ivory. It has a plain blade with a rounded highly decorated handle. The decoration consists mainly of punched holes in geometrical patterns. The top has a hole for hanging up the item. There is a small split in the ivory in the middle of the handle. letter opener, warrnambool

No specific information is available on this item but miniature books, especially Bibles and dictionaries, were popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They were made to carry on the person. This item is of interest as an example of a novelty item popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is useful for display.This is a miniature Bible of 877 pages. It has a dark blue leather cover and the pages are gilt-edged. It has a folder at the back with a small magnifying glass enclosed. The cover is slightly scuffed and worn. Spine of cover: ‘Holy Bible’miniature bible, warrnambool

This item would have been owned by a man with some wealth as the silver hallmarks indicate an expensive purchase. Coin containers were used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a means of carrying some cash on the person and the matches holder was also a common item for men to carry.This item has no known local provenance but is useful as an example of social customs of the past and can be used also for display. This is a silver container divided into two sections – the top part with a hinged lid held wax matches and the bottom section has a circular recess for holding silver coins. This bottom section has a hinged lid. The top part has an indented and serrated part for striking the matches. The container is highly decorated in etched patterns with a space to engrave a person’s initials. The top has a ring with a chain for attaching the item to a chain. The container is slightly dented. Seven hallmarkssilver coin container, warrnambool, coin container

These nails came from an old building in Geelong.These nails are of interest in that they are good examples of the type of nails used early in the 20th century. They will be useful for display. These are nine old metal nails. They are rusted and some are bent. They are of varying sizes and have rectangular heads. Two have an indent at the base of the head and they are all flat in shape and taper to a point at the end. nails, warrnambool, geelong

No information is available on this item but heel protectors were commonly used by householders in the early to mid 20th century to protect shoes from scuffing and damage caused by the wear and tear of frequent use. The protectors were usually put on the boots or shoes by a member of the family. They were commonly used until the 1950s. This item is of some interest as an example of the custom in the early 20th century of using heel protectors on boots and shoes. It is a useful display item. This is a metal object in the shape of a shoe heel (semi-spherical). It has five holes to put in screws to attach to the heel of a shoe or boot. It is silver in colour and has grooves across the surface to prevent slipping. heel protector, shoe

There is no specific information available on this watch and case. The watch was made by the American Watch Company which operated from 1850 to 1957. Small cases were often used to carry a watch in the 19th and early 20th century while a person was travelling, although wooden ones do not seem to have been common. The owner of watch, ‘A.U.’ has not been identified. Until the provenance of this item is established it remains an interesting object from the past and one suitable for display. This is a wooden case embossed on the front with a flower motif. It has a hinged lid with a space hollowed out inside to hold a pocket watch. This area has been lined with felt. The case contains an American silver watch which has a highly decorated cover. The watch face has Roman numerals with a smaller seconds dial. There is a winding mechanism and a ring at the top of the watch for attachment to a chain.On silver watch case: ‘A.U.’ On watch face: A. W. Co., Waltham, Mass. travelling case and watch, american watch company, warrnambool

This book belonged to Con O’Mahony (1863-1920). He was a lawyer practising in Warrnambool in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was born in Sandhurst (Bendigo) and studied at Melbourne University. In 1883 he won the University of Melbourne Bowen Prize for his essay entitled ‘The Federation of the Australian Colonies’. The Warrnambool and District Historical Society has a set of books on the lives of the British Chancellors which was given to Con O’Mahony for winning the Bowen Prize. This book is of considerable interest because it belonged to Con O’Mahony, a prominent Warrnambool lawyer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is also a book of strong antiquarian interest. This is a hard cover book of 878 pages. It has a dark red cover with red lettering on a gold background on the front cover and gold lettering on the spine. There are 250 illustrations scattered throughout the text. The cover is somewhat scuffed, especially at the edges. The inscription in handwritten in pencil. ‘C.O’Mahony, 13.9.93,WBool’ con o’mahony