Alnis Ansons (1928-2015) was introduced to architect Kevin Knight in the lead-up to the opening of the Brighton Municipal Offices in 1961. The architect, on seeing some relief work in the artist’s home, asked Ansons if he would attempt an ambitious 70 square metre work within the council building which would wrap around the lift shaft of the three storey building. The tight deadlines and budgetary constraints imposed on the project impacted on the artist’s process but, in adapting to these limitations, Ansons developed a bold and original technique for producing commercial ceramic works. The mural, which symbolises the people of Brighton at work, worship and play, is constructed from hundreds of individual ceramic casts that have been treated with an engobe, similar to an underglaze, to produce a myriad of colours. The pieces were then fired only once, and grouted with copper grouting from top to bottom, creating a three-dimensional effect on the central column in the council chambers. Ansons was assisted during the installation by his future wife, Ralda, who was tasked with holding the pieces in position as they dried, to prevent them from sliding or shifting.Alnis Ansons, Brighton Council Chambers Mural 1961, ceramic. 750 x 595 cm. Bayside City Council Art and Heritage Collection. Commissioned c. 1960Circular ceramic relief mural around lift well in Brighton Council Chambers. The work begins on the ground floor of the Brighton Library, through to the mezzanine level up to the Chambers. mural, public art, alnis ansons, brighton council chambers, brighton library, ceramic, kevin knight, bayside chambers, bayside city council

The Department of Crown Lands and Survey (1857-1983) was responsible for the administration of survey and mapping and the sale, occupation and management of crown land throughout its existence. This aerial photograph shows parts of Brighton and Elwood and was taken on 1 December 1976brighton, elwood, department of crown lands and survey, aerial photograph, elsternwick park, point ormond, north road, ormond esplanade, st kilda street, glen huntly road, bayside, port phillip bay, map, cartographic material, melbourne project 1976

The Department of Crown Lands and Survey (1857-1983) was responsible for the administration of survey and mapping and the sale, occupation and management of crown land throughout its existence. This aerial photograph shows parts of Brighton, Hampton and Sandringham and was taken on 1 December 1976brighton, department of crown lands and survey, aerial photograph, bayside, port phillip bay, map, cartographic material, hampton, sandringham, green point, sandringham yacht club, south road, beach road, hampton street, melbourne project 1976

The Department of Crown Lands and Survey (1857-1983) was responsible for the administration of survey and mapping and the sale, occupation and management of crown land throughout its existence. This aerial photograph shows parts of Brighton and was taken on 1 December 1976brighton, department of crown lands and survey, aerial photograph, bayside, port phillip bay, map, cartographic material, melbourne project 1976, brighton yacht club, middle brighton baths, north road, st kilda street, new street

The Department of Crown Lands and Survey (1857-1983) was responsible for the administration of survey and mapping and the sale, occupation and management of crown land throughout its existence. This aerial photograph shows parts of Brighton and Hampton and was taken on 1 December 1976. brighton, department of crown lands and survey, aerial photograph, bayside, port phillip bay, map, cartographic material, melbourne project 1976, brighton yacht club, middle brighton baths, hampton, green point, brighton beach, south road, the esplanade, hampton street

bronzesculpture, swimmer, female, figure, guy boyd, public art, bayside, bayside city council, australian bicentennial project, guy martin à beckett boyd, bronze, city of sandringham, indigenous resource garden, bluff road, sandringham

This dressing gown was made from a patchwork quilt begun around the 1880s or 1890s by the daughters of William and Polly Hodgens, owners of the Adelphi Hotel near Montague Station, South Melbourne. The quilt became a communal project, added to over many years by the Hodgens children, relatives, friends and guests. Together, they filled the colourful patchwork with images and figures from their everyday lives, giving us a unique glimpse into the world of early Melbourne.Crazy patchwork dressing gown made from a patchwork bedspread. Made from irregular pieces of silk, satin, velvet and brocades and embellished with embroidered and painted motifs. Fully lined with maroon silk. Neckline trimmed with thick silk cord. Right over left fastening with two large metal press studs. One of the pieces on the back has an inscription dated 11/7/94 (1894).dressing gown, patchwork, embroidery, hand painted

Formed in 1990 by a group of current and former social services and administrative staff at the then-Brighton Council, the Lovely Learned Luscious Ladies of Brighton were a group bound by friendship, humour, fun and a delightfully strange knitting project. Each member took turns to add ten rows ten rows of knitting to the piece, following a series of handwritten rules on an attached card. The wool used was not to be bought, but could be "begged, borrowed or stolen", and previous work was not to be altered. The ladies met bi-monthly over dinner at local restaurants and hotels to swap gossip, play games and share the progress of the knitting. The work of twelve women over eighteen years, the piece documents fond memories, personal passions, wedding celebrations, the birth of a grandchild, footy triumphs, holidays and major events. It is a testament to a close-knit friendship, as expressed on the rules card: "MAY THIS PIECE SERVE TO BIND US TOGETHER".Irregular-shaped knitting project consisting of multicoloured knitted stripes in a variety of yarns and stitches created by a group of women over a period of eighteen years. The piece includes numerous additions and embellishments by the various makers, including sequins, beads, shells, badges, ornaments and laminated images.Attached yellow laminated rectangular card with handwritten rules: "1) Nominated member is to knit (in any stitch of choice) 10 rows of your best by the next meeting. 2) The yarn to be used is not to be purchased for the job but can be begged, borrowed or stolen. 3) The colour of yarn is to be left to member's discretion, but judgement will be passed by others. 4) The nominated member will not tamper with, pull out or destroy a previous member's work. 5) On returning the work to the meeting the member shall declare to what genuine purpose the piece will be put on completion (as a guide for future knitters), e.g. rug for favourite chardy, cock sock for lover. 6) The next knitter can (and shall be encouraged to) change the purpose as stated by the previous knitter. 7) This tag must not, without the permission of a majority of members, be removed. MAY THIS PIECE SERVE TO BIND US TOGETHER."brighton, brighton council, social groups, knitting, 1990s

This dress belonged to Mary Grace Medbury (nee Matthews, 1885-1967). Mary was born in Kansas, USA, and as a teenager travelled to Devon, England, before she came to Australia with her family and married Walter Ambrose Medbury (1887-1947). They lived together in Cheel Street, East Oakleigh. Walter, a building contractor, worked on numerous construction projects in the Melbourne area, including the Oakleigh Methodist Church, the HMAS Cerberus naval base and - closer to home - the former Brighton Courthouse, which was built in 1936 and still stands at 15 Boxshall Street. Mary gave the dress to her granddaughter, Fiona Nissen, when Fiona was a teenager. A Brighton local, Fiona donated it to the Society in 2013.White cotton muslin day dress with three-quarter length sleeves and square neckline, both edged with lace. The dress features white floral embroidery on the sleeves, skirt and front of bodice. Hook and eye fastenings at back.mary grace medbury, mary grace matthews, fiona nissen, migration, 1900s