This photo of Stuart McKenzie in his scull on Lake Wendouree Ballarat preparing for his race representing Australia in the 1956 Olympic Games held at Ballarat. This was the first time the Olympic Games had been held in Australia or in the Southern Hemisphere.Stuart McKenzie written on back of photograph.

1920s postcard with sentimental image of lady plucking petals with birthday greeting a note from family member.

Inscription on verso of bi-fold cover "The Taffe Family Going for Gold Atlanta '96, Thank you for your support, signature Eddy & in print Anthony Edwards.rowing, ballarat, olympic games, atlanta, taffe family, dinner menu,

Inscribed on image "Michael & Marie Thanks for the support I will always remember you, Anthony Edwards Silver 2000 Bronze 1996.scull, rowing olympic games, ballarat, taffe.

This group of buildings all of which served as churches at different periods is one of the best visual demonstrations of the rapid growth of Ballarat caused by the boom years of the gold rush following the initial alluvial diggings of the 1850s. The smallest church was built in 1861 followed by the next built in 1867 and finally the construction of the grand church on the corner of Neil and Macarthur streets Soldiers' Hill in the 1890s.methodist church, uniting church, soldiers hill, ballarat.

Journal of the Australian Horticultural Industry for November - December 1991 front cover image of Michael Taffe (III) in the garden at Hymettus Ballarat. Feature article on the restoration of Hymettus Historic Garden Ballarat by Nancy Brewer.hymettus, historic garden ballarat, horticulture, magazine, hournal, nancy brewer.gardening, floral.

Postcards produced for visitors to Ballarat and Hymettus as souvenirs and for posting. These postcards were produced as promotional material for the then Heritage listed house and garden's centenary in 1998.Following receipt of Government Grant for restoration of this historic cottage and garden in 1998-99 the postcard was produced to mark the centenary of the family's purchase of the property and continuous domicile for a century.souvenir, postcard, ballarat, hymettus, heritage listing,

The Australian Mutual Provident Society was established in 1849 and issued these reversionary certificates to members annually.

Ballarat Bitter

Moulded green glass hand juice extractor with measuring base from the 1940s were the standard form for extracting and storing quantities of juice as opposed to the earlier more simple single lip base type of juicer.juice extractor, glass, measure

These handmade beaded food covers were designed to protect sauces or gravy from flies or other pests while containers were on the table. These two examples were made by Mary Burke/Taffe in the 1930s the beads providing a decorative weight to keep the cover from allowing space for pests to enter containers.pests, beads, covers, food, sauce, gravy, mary taffe.

These silver Victorian Railway Buttons were made in Melbourne by Stokes & Sons and were a standard form of button for police, railways and military during the Victorian era and in the case of the Victorian Railways until the 1960s.On the rim of back of buttons: - Stokes & Sons Melbournevictorian railways, buttons, stokes & sons, melbourne, railways, military, police.

This is one of a series of books inscribed by Assistant Station Master Michael Taffe in 1919. These books were required to be known and adhered to and were the basis of Station Master examinations for permanent appointment to the position of Station Master with the Victorian Railways. victorian railways

Scouting scarf blue with , belonging to Glen Taffe 3rd Wendouree Scouts 1980s from attending the fourteenth Australian Jamboree at Cataract Park New South Wales 1985-86.scouting movement, glen taffe, jamboree, cataract park, new south wales, 3rd wendouree scouts, ballarat.

railways, trans continental

Hymettus Historic Garden and its cottage museum were opened to the public in 1985 after two years of garden restoration work. The interpretive work was undertaken by Mr and a team from Melbourne's Royal Botanical Gardens and the Taffe family. Plans were drawn up by Peter Lumley and Michael Looker of the Royal Botanical Gardens and the work of restoration undertaken by the family with financial assistance from Heritage Victoria and The City of Ballaarat. historic garden, ballarat, hymettus, postcard, royal botanical gardens melbourne, restoration, city of ballaarat.

Polocrosse was a popular equestrian sport played at Prince of Wales Park Ballarat in the 1950s. This is a small family snapshot of William (Bill) Burke, brother of Mrs Mary Taffe of "Hymettus" Ballarat, with three of his polocrosse ponies taken at his home on Burrumbeet Rd Ballarat.Small snapshot On reverse "Bill Burke"

Ballroom dancing was a popular competative pastime in the 1920s and this certificate entitled the holder, Michael Taffe (III) to compete in the Amateur Championship of Ballarat in 1923.ballarat, ballroom dancing championship 1923, amateur.

The photograph shows the station master Mr John (Jack) Taffe at Port Fairy, Victoria in the late 1950s signalling for the train to depart using flag and bell. The Port Fairy Railway station was closed twenty years later in 1977.port fairy, railway history, taffe, stationmaster, railway station closures, trains, train station.

Australian Bi-Centennial medal issued for the Western Victorian Games 1988, the only time these games were undertaken despite initial plans to be a regular event.Held in 1988 the Western Victorian Games were a Bi-Centennial project of the Victorian Government proposed to be held every four years but never repeated after 1988.circular medallionAustralian Bi-Centenniarymedal, sport, westerrn victorian games

moulded on the body of the glass around the neck the word "Polygon".

A porcelain invalid feeding cup with spout and handle decorated with gilding to handle, rim and spout on white body. These invalid feeding cups were used during illness, the spout assisting when patients needed assistance in feeding medical, feeding,

The Western Victorian Games were launched as a part of the Australian Bicentenary celebrations in 1988. The inaugural games were programmed to run from the 9th - 11th December 1988 and become an annual event. The event however, never continued after 1988. The opening ceremony was conducted at Founders Hall BCAE, later Federation University.

Drinks coasters were introduced to preserve surfaces from the stains from drink glasses. This circular heavy paper coaster depicting the city's coat of arms was used by the City of Ballaarat in the 1970s and 80s until the city was merged with wider municipalities around Ballarat's urban fringe.

The Olympic Games came to Australia in 1956, the first time they had been held in the Southern Hemisphere and in Australia. The rowing and canoeing events were held on Lake Wendouree at Ballarat and local children with autograph books eagerly sought the competitors' autographs.lake wendouree, ballarat, olympic games, 1956, southern hemisphere, australia, rowing, canoeing, autograph.

Railway Station staff were an important part of the social structure of both the railway and wider communities in the 1920s. Here Michael Taffe (1) is pictured with other staff members in front of the arches at the Ballarat West Railway Station.On back of mounting board, Mick Taffe, Middle, Head Porter.