The log book from the ship Isabella Brown on a voyage from Melbourne to Singapore in 1867.The Isabella Brown was a wooden two masted brig launched in Scotland in 1840 for general cargo work. The log covers a voyage with general cargo from Melbourne to Singapore via Newcastle in 1867 plus another voyage carrying live sheep in 1868-69.Entries in pen and ink throughout.log book, isabella brown, melbourne, singapore., newcastle

Beaten Copper vase made by Ballarat craftsman H.H.Floate c. 1927 in the arts and crafts style.On base: H.H. Floate Craftsman Ballarat.

Linoleum was introduced in the late nineteenth century and the examples at Hymettus include this original early twentieth century hall runner. While other examples in the house date to the 1940s his example from much earlier is a rare survivor of its type and vintage. It was a popular product of its time reproducing the look of encaustic tiles as were found in wealthier homes.linoleum, nineteenth century, wealth, hymettus, encaustic tiles.

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.

A Kodak Photograph folder of snapshots of rowing crew images from the 1956 Olympic Games at Lake Wendouree, Ballarat.

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.

Photograph of Ballarat Rowing Club house on Lake Wendouree in 1901 with crowds celebrating the finish of an event at the annual rowing regatta..photograph, lake wendouree, rowing,lake wendouree, ballarat, regatta, 1901.

Rare event of eighteen rowing eights lined up for start of race at Ballarat's Lake Wendouree in March 1948.Ballarat Regatta March 1948 Start of eighteen maiden eights won by Wendouree, in ink on verso.

After a quiet period, interest in bookplates in Australia began to increase in the early 1970s, This example was commissioned from Andrew Thomas a Ballarat photographer and designer by Michael Taffe owner of Hymettus at Ballarat in the 1990s and is a computer assisted design. It incorporates the generational family home, Hymettus and the family coat of arms with the owner's signature.Bookplate depicts "Hymettus", a weatherboard cottage behind a paling fence.Signature of M. J. Taffe.ballarat, bookplate, hymettus, taaffe, taffe, andrew thomas

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