Black and white photograph of the Kooyong clubhouse, which was offically opened in 1929. Set above ground level, it provided blind cricket players with shelter and storage underneath, as well as a venue for dances and other social activities organised by groups and the AFB. The responsibility for the clubhouse was set out as a deed of agreement between three people (the Malvern Town Clerk, Mr Paterson and Mr Maxwell) and run independently of the Council, Blind Cricket clubs and the AFB.1 black and white image of the clubhouse at Kooyong buildings, association for the blind

Site of early village Section numbers 1 - 17​ Later became the Flat known as the Common​ Robert Russell – Surveyor​ Pinkerton, ​ Sherwin​, Bryan, ​Pyke, ​Yuille, ​ CollyerMelton Town 1853 Plancouncil

Town Plan of Meltoncouncil

This bottle was used as a form of advertising for the Wodonga Business of Samuel Mason. Samuel Mason was born at Bethnal Green, a suburb of London in 1824. He came to Australia via California, landing in Sydney in 1847. After a return to the California goldfields Samuel returned to Australia, arriving in Albury, NSW in 1855. He opened a bakery in Albury, and also commenced the manufacture of ginger beer for which he gained a reputation across Australia. Mr Mason continued in business in Albury for some time, but he established himself in Wodonga c1857, continuing a branch business in Albury. Twice a month in the early days Mr Mason walked to Beechworth for the purpose of transacting business. Occasionally he was summoned to attend the Beechworth courts as a juror. In 1901 Mr Mason retired from business, handing over the reins to his only son, Mr Samuel Mason Jr. who continued the aerated water business for some years. In about 1920 the business changed hands, being take over by E. Bartel. Samuel Mason Sr. died on 6 April 1908 and is buried in Wodonga. Mr. Mason Jr. was a prominent townsman. For some years he was a councillor of the Town Riding of the Wodonga Shire Council. He was also the first chairman of the Wodonga Water Trust in 1908. Samuel Mason Jr. moved to Melbourne in March 1920, primarily due to failing health. He died on 6 February 1929 and was interred in Melbourne.This bottle has strong local significance as it is representative of one of the earliest businesses established in Wodonga in the 1850s which operated until c1920. The business continued after 1920 under different ownership and names.2 earthenware pottery bottles manufactured by Bendigo Pottery and imprinted with the business brand of S. Mason, Wodonga. One bottle still contains a marble as part of the Codd sealing system to prevent gas from the ginger beer seeping out and the drink going flat. The bottles Within two elliptical circles are painted (in freehand) "S. MASON" in the top half and "WODONGA" in the bottom half. These are separated by an asterisk on both sides. A large "S" overlaid by a similarly large "M" is within the inner circle. 2nd bottle also includes "BREWED GINGER BEER" above the brand. At bottom of bottle 1 "PINNACLE BRAND" At bottom of bottle 2 in an oval shape: "THE BENDIGO POTTERY CO./ EPSOM/BENDIGO"s. mason wodonga, aerated drinks, bendigo pottery

Arthur Edward Stevenson enlisted on 17 September 1914 and served with the 14th Battalion of the AIF. He was killed in action at Gallipoli on 20 August 1915 at age 28. His personal effects of a belt, hairbrush, knife, postcards and photos were returned to his brother John in June 1916. Later that year, John Stevenson wrote to the Officer in Charge of base records, asking for confirmation of his brother’s death, as he had received a letter from Arthur dated 27 August 1915, seven days later than the date on which he was reportedly killed. The Army confirmed that Arthur had in fact died, and concluded that he had likely misdated his letter. In 1920, Arthur’s sister Rachel wrote to the Department of Defence, asking whether her brother’s grave had been located and again querying the date of his death. Later, she completed a form that was sent to next of kin seeking information on deceased soldiers for the Australian War Memorial’s Roll of Honour. Arthur Stevenson’s death is recorded at the Lone Pine Memorial on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Honour Certificates WW1 - From 1915 onwards, recruits in many shires and towns in eastern Australia were honoured by local government authorities. A common form of recognition was the award of honour certificates. The first honour certificates were presented in 1915 and 1916 to men who had yet to leave Australia. The designers and publishing companies solicited business directly from councils. Publishers began to print two different types of certificates: honour certificates to thank soldiers who had survived and memorial certificates to commemorate the dead. D.W. Paterson, a Melbourne publishing firm, claimed they had supplied certificates to over 150 cities and shires in Victoria and New South Wales, including the Shire of Wodonga. Paterson also had the widest range of designs The certificate signified that the officials of the community recognised and shared the family's pride and grief. The certificate was signed by S. T Parker, Shire President and R. H. Murphy, Council Secretary on 4th August 1919.This certificate is significant as it recognises service given to Australia by Arthur Edward Stevenson. Coloured certificate presented to the family of Arthur Ernest Stevenson by Wodonga Shire Council. The certificate is mounted behind glass in a wooden frame.gallipoli, world war 1, arthur edward stevenson

Kenneth Malcolm Mortimer was born in Leneva, Wodonga, Victoria on 9 October 1895. He attended school in Wangaratta before entering the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1913. Along with the rest of his class, he graduated in June 1915. Mortimer was appointed as a Lieutenant with the 29th Battalion on 1 July 1915. He embarked with Headquarters Staff, 29th Battalion, from Melbourne aboard HMAT Ascanuis (A11) on 10 November 1915. Whilst training in Egypt in February 1916, he was promoted to Captain. He was in command of a company of the 29th Battalion at Fromelles, Armentieres, France in July 1916. and was reported missing, presumed killed in action on 20 July 1916, aged 20 years. Mortimer’s remains were buried along with those of hundreds of others in a mass grave near Pheasant Wood, close to the battlefield. This mass grave was rediscovered in 2008. After extensive research and DNA testing, the remains of Captain Mortimer were finally identified in April 2018. He was buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery at Fromelles and his grave rededicated on July 19, 2018, 102 years after his death. A memorial tablet was erected to his memory at St Luke’s Church in Wodonga. Honour Certificates WW1 - From 1915 onwards, recruits in many shires and towns in eastern Australia were honoured by local government authorities. A common form of recognition was the award of honour certificates. The first honour certificates were presented in 1915 and 1916 to men who had yet to leave Australia. The designers and publishing companies solicited business directly from councils. Publishers began to print two different types of certificates: honour certificates to thank soldiers who had survived and memorial certificates to commemorate the dead. D.W. Paterson, a Melbourne publishing firm, claimed they had supplied certificates to over 150 cities and shires in Victoria and New South Wales, including the Shire of Wodonga. Paterson also had the widest range of designs The certificate signified that the officials of the community recognised and shared the family's pride and grief. In the earliest designs, the legend "Australia's sons answered the call" appears below the shield. This was replaced with "For Liberty/ ANZACs/ For Justice". After the United States entered the war in April 1917, the design was reworked to include the US flag. Its presence in this certificate dates its publication as late 1917. The certificate was signed by S. T Parker, Shire President and R. H. Murphy, Council Secretary on 4th August 1918. Kenneth Malcolm Mortimer was born in Leneva, Wodonga and enlisted in the AIF after training at Duntroon. He fought and died at the Battle of Fromelles, France which was the first major engagement of the AIF on the Western Front. Along with hundreds of other Australian soldiers his remains were only identified in 2018, more than 100 years after the battle.Coloured certificate presented to the family of Captain K Mortimer by Wodonga Shire Council.29th battalion, mortimer, leneva, fromelles, aif, wodonga shire, honour certificates ww1

Photos of President Chas Wilks collecting pine cones from the Lone Pine descendant at the Shrine of Remembrance, the 24th Battalion tree. The cones dropped to the ground and school children are seen collecting them. Legacy has run a programme since the 1970s of propagating saplings taken from seeds of pine descended from a pine tree from Gallipoli and giving them to various clubs, schools and town councils. The photo appeared in the President's Highlights report in 1989. The caption says '1,000 seedlings from the historic Lone Pine tree near the Shrine of Remembrance will be propagated on behalf of Melbourne Legacy by the Department of Conservation Forests and Lands. Melbourne President Legatee Chas Wilks, along with the Minister for CFL, Ms Kay Setches and pupils from South Yarra Primary School helped to collect the seeds. The trees, once grown will be distributed to schools by Melbourne Legacy. Also see item at 01334 in 1993 when President Woodward was giving out saplings, it was three years later was when the saplings grown from these seeds were distributed. Legacy is helping to keep the memory of the Gallipoli "Lone Pine" alive - its spirit living on today. Presentations are made to schools, ex-service organisations and interested bodies by Legacy Clubs in the hope that they will be cherished as a symbol of nationhood and of its just pride, devotion, courage, selflessness and sense of service to others.A record of the way Legacy was propagating Lone Pine saplings for schools and organisations. The Lone Pine programme show the type of work done by Legatees to keep the memory of Gallipoli and fallen comrades alive.Colour photo x 4 of President Chas Wilks in a crane collecting pine cones at the Shrine and children collecting the cones.Handwritten '10' in a circle in blue pen.tree planting, lone pine

Original presented to Council in 1980s by the Cricketers ArmsCopy from photo hanging on Town Hall wall of Cruikshank Street 1930 (sepia print): 'Presented to the Cricketers Arms Hotel by Jack Cooper - Cruickshank (sic) Street Port Melbourne - Feb. 1930'business and traders - hotels, built environment - commercial, cricketers arms hotel, jim peterson

Mayor, Perce WHITE with City of Port Melbourne Councillors c.1986. L - R; Phillip LANG; Barry MITCHELL; Nick TSILFOGLOU; Ray JULIER; Perce WHITE; Jim MITCHELL; Fred WINDUSS; Russell GRIFFITHS; Christopher RAEBURN.Colour photograph of Mayor & Councillors c.1986 in the Council Chamber at Port Melbourne Town Hall.local government - city of port melbourne, perce maguire-white, phillip lang, barry 'bomber' mitchell, nick tsilfoglou, ray julier, frederick robert winduss, russell griffiths, chris raeburn, james malcolm (jim) mitchell

Mayor, Perce McGuire WHITE in front of the Town Hall, granting the Freedom of the City of Port Melbourne to HMAS Lonsdale. Standing to his left are Town Clerk, Fred JACKSON and Councilor Barry MITCHELL. perce mcguire white, cr barry mitchell, local government - city of port melbourne, celebrations - freedom of the city, fred jackson

William Garnsworthy Bennett was at Linton's Diggings in 1856, when he married Susan Williams. Both had migrated from England. W. G. Bennett established a butcher's shop in Linton Township, and later purchased farming land and other town allotments. William and Susan Bennett had twelve children, eight of whom survived to adulthood. W. G. Bennett was a Trustee of the Linton Town Common, was elected to the Grenville Shire Council in 1871,and founded the Linton Rifle Club. After W. G. Bennett's death in 1903, the butcher's shop was run by the Todd family. William and Susan's daughter Elizabeth (Lizzie) married William Todd in 1882.Sepia photograph of a gentleman with long sideboards, moustache and beard, wearing a suit."Mr W G Bennett, Butcher"william garnsworthy bennett, w. g. bennett [butcher]

Discusses employment at Banyule City Council in particular the planning departmentNewspaper text and colour imagebanyule city council, town planning, careers

Last City of Port Melbourne Council. Back row from left - Liana THOMPSON (Mayor), Perce WHITE, Kerry McKENDRICK, Robert BLACKMORE, Chris RAEBURN, Lyn ALLISON. Front row from left - Phil LANG, Jim MITCHELL, Brenda BEDFORD.Coloured photograph of the last City of Port Melbourne Council before amalgamation. Photograph taken in Mayor's Room at the Port Melbourne Town Hall.amalgamation, councillors, local government - city of port melbourne, port melbourne town hall, liana thompson, perce white, robert blackmore, chris raeburn, lyn allison, phil lang, jim mitchell, brenda bedford, kerry mckendrick

Entree card issued to Miss Hewitt of the National Council of Women, Victoria to attend a morning tea at St Kilda Town Hall on 3 March 1958 during the 1958 visit by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. The Queen Mother was in Australia over the period 14 February – 7 March 1958 to attend the British Empire Service League Conference in Canberra and visit Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania, Adelaide and Perth, and various provincial and country areas.White coloured circular card, discoloured with age, printed in blue on both sides and with blue ribbon attached. The reverse side has been annotated in handwriting, in blue ink, with the name of the invitee.Miss HEWITT National Council of Women, Victoriaroyal visits, queen elizabeth the queen mother, queen mother, national council of women of victoria

This is a glass cup which has been painted and etched at the Warrnambool Industrial and Art Exhibition of 1896-7. This exhibition lasted three months and was staged at the Liebig/Timor Streets intersection at the Warrnambool Town Hall and Council buildings with some temporary buildings added for the occasion. It was reported that 70,000 people visited the displays, attended the concerts and entered the competitions. John Villiers, a Warrnambool painter and decorator with a glassware and chinaware shop in Liebig Street, had a stall at the Exhibition. He brought from Melbourne a glass etcher who etched glass souvenirs such as this one for patrons of the Exhibition. It was the first time that glass etching had been done in Warrnambool. Alice McConnell was born in 1885 in Warrnambool to Robert McConnell and Matilda Russell so she was about 11 or 12 at the time of the Exhibition. She died at the age of 17 in Warrnambool. Her father was possibly the proprietor of the R. and J. McConnell livery stables which later became a transport company in Warrnambool.This glass is most significant because it is one of the few surviving souvenirs of the important Warrnambool Industrial and Art Exhibition of 1896-7. It is also a memento of Alice McConnell, the owner of the glass, who died at the young age of 17. The item comes from the estate of Ken Wooles who was a descendant of the Wooles family prominent in Warrnambool as monumental masons. He was also related to the McConnell family on his mother’s side of the familyThis is a glass cup with a handle. It has a curved shape and has a painting of a young girl with brown hair in a white decorative setting. The glass is etched with the name of Alice McConnell and this was done in 1897 at the Warrnambool Industrial and Art Exhibition of 1896-7. There is a crack near the handle.‘Warrnambool Exhibition, Alice McConnell, 1897’warrnambool industrial and art exhibition 1896-7, alice mcconnell

Invitation issued to Miss Hewitt of the National Council of Women, Victoria to attend a morning tea at St Kilda Town Hall on 3 March 1958 during the 1958 visit by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. The event was hosted by the Government of Victoria in association with the Women's Organizations of Victoria. The Queen Mother was in Australia over the period 14 February – 7 March 1958 to attend the British Empire Service League Conference in Canberra and visit Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania, Adelaide and Perth, and various provincial and country areas. White coloured card, discoloured with age, printed and edged in gold, with a blue Victorian Coat of Arms. Annotated in handwriting, in blue ink, with the name of the invitee.Miss Hewittroyal visits, queen elizabeth the queen mother, queen mother, national council of women of victoria

Williamstown was first incorporated as a borough on 14 March 1856. It became a town on 2 April 1886, subdivided into four wards in 28 October 1887 and was proclaimed a city on 17 May 1919. The city was proclaimed by His Excellency the State Governor, the Hon. Sir Arthur Stanley on 17 May 1919. At the same time he unveiled a photographic honour board in memory of local soldiers killed during World War One and officially opened the Town Hall/Council Chambers building at 104 Ferguson Street. The Governor was presented with this proclamation and asked to sign the parchment. The official birth of the city was celebrated by 2000 residents. Commemorates the movement of Williamstown to the status of a city and also marks the occasion of the opening of the new municipal buildings, Council Chamber and unveiling of a collective photo of local soldiers who had died during WW1.Bound Proclamation of City of Williamstown signed by Governor of State Victoria. 3rd April 1919, black tooled leather with gilt embossing, two fold with ribbon from date of visit - 17th May 1919Arnall & Jackson, Melb Proclamation City of Williamstowncouncil chambers, williamstown,

Originally a race course, the park has brought the community together with a variety of activities. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p45 Once used for horse racing, which attracted visitors from Melbourne, the Eltham Lower Park has brought the community together with a wide range of activities. Horse riding is now enjoyed as a recreation in the park as are other sports. The park also includes the Diamond Valley Railway miniature trains and a sanctuary for the rare and vulnerable Eltham Copper Butterfly. Eltham Lower Park, with other parks, forms an almost continuous green band from Eltham’s centre, along the Diamond Creek to the Yarra River.1 Before European settlement the Wurundjeri people met on this land, particularly at the junction of the Diamond Creek with the Yarra River, which they called Birr-arung. This is commemorated by the sculpture, Not just a Pretty Place by Aleks Danko, winner of the 2000 Nillumbik Art in Public Places Award. The first European to settle here was probably Henry Foley, who in 1841 used it as part of his pastoral run. Foley sold his leasehold to Joseph Wilson in 1845, who soon after sold it to Frederick Falkiner. During the 1840s the future park was part of a government square mile (2.6 sqkm) reserve, north of the Yarra, within the Parish of Nillumbik, later named Eltham. Soon the land was used for horse racing after nearby residents cleared ten acres (4ha) in the early 1850s. A three-quarter of a mile (1.2km) race secured the winner the £10 Publican’s Prize. In response to popular demand, the newly formed Eltham District Road Board petitioned the Surveyor General of the Colony of Victoria, in 1856, for 36 acres (14.6ha) of crown land for a racecourse and recreation. By 1858 the Eltham races had become an institution. ‘Many skirmishes occurred and the way home was paved with temptation, with sly-grog for sale.3 In the early 1870s, two jockeys were sons of the police officer in charge of the Eltham Police Station, Miles S Lyons. Another ten acres (4ha) was added to the area in 1866 and 12 acres (4.8ha) – Hohnes Hill – in 1870. In 1866, two acres (0.8ha) on the creek banks became an animal pound with William Walsh the pound keeper in 1870, but this was later incorporated into the park. By 1877 the area was called a public park but horse racing and training continued into the 1920s. In the mid-1900s trotters were trained on a circuit road. In 1953 the Eltham Pony Club was established and used a cross-country course on Hohnes Hill. From the mid 1950s the club held the Eltham Easter Fair at the park, later to include a procession along Main Road from the town centre to the park. The park also attracted picnic parties and campers from the inner suburbs as did Wingrove Park, and businesses catering for visitors, sprang up on the opposite side of Main Road. Bus-loads of school children visited the park for Gould League bird days in the 1960s. In 1979 the Eltham Shire Council bought Lenister Farm, linking the park with the Yarra River. The Lenister Farm wetland includes a bird hide, viewing platform and interpretive signs.5 Pioneer Henry Stooke, later Road Board chairman, bought the 11 acres (4.5ha) - later to become Lenister Farm - from the Crown in 1862. Stooke never lived on this site and the two houses at Lenister Farm were built in the 20th century. Since its formation in 1871, the Council has controlled this crown land, which it named Eltham Park. But in the 1920s Eltham Council bought land near the town centre for a park, which it named Eltham Central Park. To avoid confusion the Council renamed Eltham Park, Eltham Lower Park. Since 2004 the Yarra footbridge has linked the park with the Yarra Valley Metropolitan Park and the Main Yarra Trail.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, eltham lower park, eltham park

This corset cover is one of several linen and clothing items that were made and belonged to Mrs. Eliza Towns and donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village. Eliza was born Eliza Gould in 1857 in South Melbourne (Emerald Hill) and in 1879 married Charles Towns. In the early 1880's they moved to Nhill in western Victoria and remained there for the rest of their married life. Charles was a jeweller and later became an accountant and for many years was involved with the Shire Council, the local show committee (A & P Society), the Hospital Committee and the Board of the local newspaper (the Nhill Free Press). They had three children and lived a life that would be regarded as comfortably "middle class". Eliza probably had a treadle sewing machine and would have made many of her own clothes as well as clothes for her children - adding her own handmade embroidered or crocheted decorative trim. This corset cover is an excellent example of an everyday clothing item with the decorative trim favoured by women in the late Victorian era. Eliza Towns has added pintucks, embroidered feather stitch and a highly decorative hand crocheted lace trim to the neckline, sleeves and front of the bodice. Corset covers (sometimes called camisoles) began to appear in women's fashion around 1840 and continued through the late Victorian decades into the Edwardian era. The long chemise was considered too bulky to cover the corset and so the corset cover was developed to be short and light and was worn over the corset and under the bodice of the outer garment. A woman would dress into her chemise and drawers first, followed by her corset and finally her corset cover as a final layer under her dress. Corset covers served several purposes. They provided protection against sweat (and the need to regularly wash the corset), helped smooth the lines of the corset and increased a woman's modesty.This item is an example of the needlework skills of women in the late 19th century - combining machine stitching with hand embroidery and crochet to embellish an item of personal underclothing. It is also significant as an example of a practical solution to the difficulty of hand washing a corset in the Victorian era.A short (waist length) corset cover of fine cotton. Short sleeves fall from a square neckline and are gathered into a wide crocheted lace trim with a band of embroidered feather stitch. The same crocheted lace design and feather stitching are also on the square neckline which is finished with a drawstring ribbon. The bodice has a front opening with five buttons and is bordered on each side with four pintucks. It has a drawstring ribbon at the waist and an extra layer of fine cotton lining has been added to strengthen the corset cover under the arms. The back has two bands of three pintucks running vertically from the neckline to the waist.flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, warrnambool, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, nhill, wimmera, eliza towns, underclothing, corset cover, camisole, machine sewing, hand sewing, crocheted lace, pintucks, feather stitch, embroidery, underwear, victorian era underclothing, victorian era corset cover

This item of underclothing, called a "combination" is one of several linen and clothing items that were made and belonged to Mrs. Eliza Towns and donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village. Eliza was born Eliza Gould in 1857 in South Melbourne (Emerald Hill) and in 1879 married Charles Towns. In the early 1880's they moved to Nhill in western Victoria and remained there for the rest of their married life. Charles was a jeweller and later became an accountant and for many years was involved with the Shire Council, the local show committee (A & P Society), the Hospital Committee and the Board of the local newspaper (the Nhill Free Press). They had three children and lived a life that would be regarded as comfortably "middle class". Eliza probably had a treadle sewing machine and would have made many of her own clothes as well as clothes for her children - adding her own handmade embroidered or crocheted decorative trim. Combination undergarments combined the chemise and drawers into one garment. The combination is divided, or bifurcated, from the waist to the crutch for easier urinating. This one-piece type of underwear was worn by females from the 1860s and into the early 1900s. The 19th Century garments had front button closures like this one, and those made in the 1900s more often had back closures. Combination underwear was popular because the all-in-one design had far fewer gathers and bulk, making the other clothing look much smoother. Their primary use was to protect clothing from perspiration and because they were made with cotton or linen, were easy to wash. Although they were worn under the corset, next to the skin (and therefore not meant to be seen), they were often decorated with lace and embroidery. Although these combinations are made with a plain cotton fabric, Eliza Towns has incorporated pin tucks, hand embroidery and crocheted lace to embellish her garment. The collection of women’s late-19th-century undergarments is an example of clothing that women would include in their wardrobes. The garments add to the study of the evolution of women's fashions and practicality for the early Australian settlers. The careful needlework in these handmade garments and hand-worked lace trims reflect the maker’s dedication to making even serviceable garments beautiful to look at and wear.Women’s white cotton and lace all-In-one combination undergarment. The handmade underwear is a combined chemise and bloomers. It has three buttons in the front and a handmade drawstring cord around the square neckline. It is trimmed with crocheted lace (with a floral design) on the neckline, sleeves and pants. It had pintucks and feather stitching on the bodice and the left and right sides are divided from the waist to the crutch. The back of the garment is plain with a gathered section at the lower back.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, great ocean road, victorian era, combination undergarment, all-in-one underwear, combination, ‘combinations’, one-piece underwear, one-piece undergarment, chemise and bloomers, combination chemise and bloomers, divided, bifurcated, split, chemise and drawers, women’s underwear, ladies’ underwear, undergarment, women’s clothing, women’s fashion, lingerie, 19th-century undergarment, handmade clothing, handmade lace, crocheted lace, towns family, nhill, eliza towns

This nightgown is one of several linen and clothing items that were made and belonged to Mrs. Eliza Towns and donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village. Eliza was born Eliza Gould in 1857 in South Melbourne (Emerald Hill) and in 1879 married Charles Towns. In the early 1880's they moved to Nhill in western Victoria and remained there for the rest of their married life. Charles was a jeweller and later became an accountant and for many years was involved with the Shire Council, the local show committee (A & P Society), the Hospital Committee and the Board of the local newspaper (the Nhill Free Press). They had three children and lived a life that would be regarded as comfortably "middle class". Eliza probably had a treadle sewing machine and would have made many of her own clothes as well as clothes for her children - adding her own handmade embroidered or crocheted decorative trim. This nightgown is machine sewn by Eliza Towns and she has added a detailed design of pintucks and broderie anglaise lace to the front yoke and cuffs as a decorative element. The 1800's bought a shift in attitude towards modesty as the Victorian era progressed and by the mid to late 1800's it had become more acceptable ladies to wear simple, modest nightgowns. They tended to have a very loose fit and were usually made of linen, cotton or flannel, which had the advantage of providing warmth and also being easy to wash - a necessity for a garment worn next to the skin. Although the basic design of the nightgown was fairly simple, the wearer was free to add various types of trim e.g. lace, crochet, pintucks, embroidery etc.This item is an example of the needlework skills of women in the late 19th century - combining machine stitching with hand embroidery to personalise and embellish a practical item of clothing. It is also significant as an example of a practical solution to the difficulties that women of this era faced with regard to the washing of clothes and household linens.Lady's long, white, cotton nightgown with a V shaped bodice decorated with bands of nine pintucks alternating with strips of broderie anglaise lined with pink ribbon. The opening front placket and neckline are bordered with a simpler broderie anglaise lace. The long sleeves are gathered into cuffs with a matching V shape, pintuck and broderie anglaise design. The front placket fastens with three cream buttons although one is missing. The back of the nightgown has gathered fabric on a plain, narrow V shape yoke. A narrow gusset has been added to the both sides at the bottom of the nightgown.Noneflagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, victorian era clothing, victorian era nightgown, nightgown, nightdress, eliza towns, nhill, wimmera, textiles, clothing, machine sewing, hand sewing, pintucks, broderie anglaise, sewing

This chemise is one of several linen and clothing items that were made and belonged to Mrs. Eliza Towns and donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village. Eliza was born Eliza Gould in 1857 in South Melbourne (Emerald Hill) and in 1879 married Charles Towns. In the early 1880's they moved to Nhill in western Victoria and remained there for the rest of their married life. Charles was a jeweller and later became an accountant and for many years was involved with the Shire Council, the local show committee (A & P Society), the Hospital Committee and the Board of the local newspaper (the Nhill Free Press). They had three children and lived a life that would be regarded as comfortably "middle class". Eliza probably had a treadle sewing machine and would have made many of her own clothes as well as clothes for her children - adding her own handmade embroidered or crocheted decorative trim. This chemise is machine sewn by Eliza Towns and she has added pintucks and broderie anglaise lace as a decorative element. A chemise was usually a sleeveless garment made of linen or cotton (so they could be easily washed) and its shape was much like a modern day nightgown. The name comes from the French word for "shirt" or "shift". Women wore chemises next to the skin (under the corset) to keep stains and odors away from the less washable corset and gown.This item is an example of the needlework skills of women in the mid to late 19th century - combining machine stitching with hand embroidery to personlise and embellish an item of clothing. It is also significant as an example of a practical solution to the difficulties of needing to regularly hand wash a bulky outer garment or gown in the Victorian era.A white cotton, short sleeved, knee length chemise. The fabric at the front is gathered on a yoke which is decorated with bands of five pintucks alternating with broderie anglaise lace and embroidered strips lined with pink ribbon. A different broderie anglaise design decorates the sleeve edges, neckline and center broderie anglaise strip. The back of the chemise is gathered on to the neckline. There are two bands of pintucks on each sleeve. The fabric around each armhole has been strengthened with another layer of cotton and a length of cotton has been added (from the left shoulder to the hem) to increase the width of chemise.flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, great ocean road, south west victoria, victorian era, victorian era undergarments, chemise, victorian era chemise, undergarments, pintucks, victorian chemise, eliza towns, nhill, wimmera, home sewing, machine sewn, hand made