Edward Heffernan and Geoffrey Mainwaring were Australian artists and art educators who in their very different approaches and passions influenced hundreds of artists and art students throughout their careers. Born only days apart in October 1912 they pursued a lifelong passion for art. Heffernan from Melbourne and Mainwaring from Adelaide gave decades in art education in regional Victoria at Geelong and Ballarat respectively. Heffernan was also influential in working with Melbourne students and encouraging art through the Victorian Artists Society while Mainwaring served to use his art in documenting the role of Australia in the Second World War as an official Australian War Artist. This exhibition catalogue profiles their careers and was the first such retrospective of their lives and work brought together to celebrate their contribution to Australian art and the double centenary of their births.

Phar Lap tobacco tin, produced in Melbourne 1931 - 1932 is an early example of the use of the name and image of any Australian notable, in this case a racehorse, the tobacco referred to in the family as "The sweepings from the stable floor" due to its poor quality.Produced in, Victoria during 1931-1932 Phar Lap tobacco was Phar Lap tobacco tin, It is considered Australia's most desirable tobacco tin due to its rarity. An early example of the use of the name and image of an Australian icon the tobacco was often referred to as "The sweepings from the stable floor" due to its poor quality.Rectangular metal tin with a hinged lid. On the lid is lithographed an image of the horse's head and within a scroll the words PharLap Fine cut tobacco. Significant rusting to tin and wear to lithographic detail tobacco

Hispano Moresque pottery charger made in Spain in the first half of the twentieth century. Such lustre ware was the inspiration for the work of English potter William de Morgan whose work is also represented at Hymettus.Large platter or charger

Photo taken by Mary Burke (Taffe) c. 1930s.poor quality photo but well preserved.Inscribed on verso "Jack Cussens - Sydney Rd Coburg

Printed bifold menu of Trans Australian Railways Dining Car Service with signatures of the Ballarat bandsmen travelling to Western Australia to compete in the national band titles 1929 at Perth.Early record of Trans Australian Rail travel and Australian brass band history and activities.bifold card printed menuFront of menu printed Trans Australian Railways Dining Car Service with signatures of the Ballarat bandsmen travelling to Perth for the national band titles in 1929. ballarat, trans continental, railway, menu, bandsmen, national band competitions, perth

The elaborate fancy cotton braid known as Cornelli work on this jacket is a technique of embroidery or applique of cotton thread and braid that became popular in the nineteenth century. It was used on French doll's clothing where elaborate the Cornelli wear was stitched on for decoration. The examples used in this family also included that on men's railway uniforms and bandsmen's uniforms. This jacket belonged to Eleanor Burke (nee McKew) Mrs Mary Taffe's mother and came to Hymettus at Ballarat when she arrived here to live from Donald with husband Michael in 1945.This jacket displays elaborate fancy cotton stitching and braid known as Cornelli work, a technique of embroidery or applique of cotton thread and braid that became popular in the nineteenth century. This lady's jacket is a good example of a style popular at the end of the nineteenth, early twentieth century.

Australian cedar music canterbury and adjustable music stand circa 1900 maker unknown.

music, taffe, cornet

A simple Edwardian mirrored hallstand made of Australian Blackwood a popular feature of Australian cottage hallways in the early 20th century following on from similar furniture of the 19th century.edwardian, hallstand, australian, cottage, hallways, blackwood, mirror.

From a large set of dispensary jars with stoppers from Ballarat chemist Palmer. Palmer

An inscribed presentation mounted photographic portrait of A. Le Mesurier Australian champion bandsman and trombonist in 1915 to a young Ballarat boy, fourteen year old Michael Taffe who later became Australian champion junior cornet soloist.Script printed on front mounting board Richards & Co Ballarat. Inscribed on back of mounting board, "To my little "mascot" Michael Taffe, Wishing you and yours the "Compliments of the Season". from Yours Sincerely A. Le Mesurier. Xmas, 1915.le mesurier, taffe, ballarat trombone, south street competitions, australian band championships.

The large free standing clockwork gramophone was a popular source of family entertainment in the first half of the twentieth century.A large free-standing gramophone with two lids and four doors to front. One lid accesses turntable and a second for storage while the front doors open to the speaker for volume control on the right and record storage on the left. gramophone, clockwork, entertainment, twentieth century.

This register records items dispensed from the chemist from 1943 until 1947 together with names and prices.Larger ledger printed and bound by Berry Anderson & Co bookbinders and stationers Ballarat. Ledger contains 78 pages double rulled down centre of each page with a further 26 unpaginated indexed pages following.handwritten throughout.pharmacy, chemist, prescriptions, drugs, ballarat, palmer

The Kodak No2A folding autographic Brownie was introduced by the Eastman Kodak Co in 1915 and several variants were produced between 1915 and 1925. There is a door in the back,and a stylus for writing on the back of the film for labelling the negatives. A Christmas present from her parents to Mary Burke (Taffe) in 1928. Basic bellows or folding camera unusual for its time because the lens is behind the shutter. There is a screw thread in front of the shutter for additional 'portrait' lenses. Base of the box has 691162 inscribed in pencil (possibly a stock number) followed by £3/9/6 and Xmas Eve 1928 in blue ink indicating its price and date of presentation. This is followed in pencil by a later signature M.Taffe.camera, mary burke, donald, ballarat,

Original owner's signature, Charles Sartori on front free endpaper.

The decorative art-nouveau style leadlight side and transom lights were a popular form of entrance lighting set into recessed panels in late Victorian homes at Ballarat. This home built by local architect/builder Thomas Turton features these popular glass lights.The side and transom lights at Hymettus form part of a significant and representative historical collection that reflects Ballarat's local history from a family perspective and popular art and architecture movements at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. They contribute to our understanding of social and family life in twentieth century Ballarat and providing interpretative capacity for family, local, art, architecture and social history themes.ballarat architects and architecture,, hymettus, taffe, art nouveau, leadlight

Hecla electric kettle manufactured in Australia.

Silk ceremonial collar of Mr A. Burke St Arnaud who was a member of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society (HACBS).hibernian, australasian, hacbs, st arnaud, victoria, burke, ceremonial, collar.

Pokerwork was a popular home craft in the 1930s. This small domestic piece using plywood is typical of objects made at home or school in that period.One of two matching circular pieces of ply, Incised, painted and lacquered with holes top and bottom for ties with image of Kookaburra and leaves. Incised to lower centre of cover 'd'oyleys'.painted and lacquered with image of Kookaburra and leaves and Incised to lower centre of cover 'd'oyleys'.mary burke, donald, taffe, ballarat, pokerwork, craft

This is volume 1 of 45 held in the library at Hymettus cottage and bound in covers as a book, one of three volumes incorporating every edition in the series.. Life Australia was produced at Melbourne Victoria in 1967 and ran to 45 volumes when closed by the parent company in the USA in 1968. Although very American in the views espoused it was a significant step in attempting to produce a magazine of international focus in Australia. The brief period was also significant in Australia and the magazine covered events such as the Beatles visit to Australia, the seven day war in Israel, the conflict in Vietnam and the drowning of Prime Minister Harold Holt.The magazine, Life, was cosmopolitan and sophisticated in the USA and the Australian edition was identical in format, although fussing on local perspectives. it concentrated on serious current affairs and more profound cultural and political analysis, as well as a strong focus on fashion, lifestyle and nature. It was known for its striking front covers and high quality, stylized photography. and the local product lasted through 1967-68 producing 45 editions before ceasing and reverting to the International product.harold holt, vietnam war, australia, life australia magazine, melbourne, the beatles

The Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society was formed at Ballarat in 18 and William Taffe was Ballarat President in 1940 when presented with this mounted and framed photograph and photo-lithographic certificate.Thornton Richards & Co Ballarat inscribed on mounting board. Details of the subject, W.J.Taffe written in on the certificate.

A romance novel set in colonial Victoria and written by Matilda Dixie (Goldstraw) prominent early Ballarat personality who established Queens College Ballarat in 1877. Written and published in 1894 under the pseudonym of Noel Hope.matilda dixie, goldstraw, queens college, ballarat, noel hope.

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

The third Michael Taffe to live at Hymettus cottage Ballarat was dux of his class at the local parish school, St Patrick's Drummond St in 1958 and 1959. These mass produced premium plates were a popular insertion for such awards from their inception in Europe in the eighteenth century until the late twentieth century. The library collection at Hymettus includes examples from several Catholic schools, Wesleyan Sabbath Schools, Ballarat's McBains' High School, Ballarat College, Fintona in Camberwell and this from the Christian Brothers school at Drummond St Ballarat.Printed Awarded to and infilled with Michael Taffe Dux Second Year 1959.bookplates, premium plates, ballarat, christian brothers, fintona, weslyan sabbath schools,