THE DOLL HOUSE _ Yvonne Fitzmaurice The ten room fully furnished American farmhouse was created from an idea by former Mitcham resident, Yvonne Fitzmaurice and was constructed between 1976 and 1978 as a birthday present for her daughter, Susan. The house is a unique interpretation of early American architecture and inferior design. It is also a representation of one woman's ability to create and complete a details snapshot of a lifestyle long gone and give pleasure to family, friends and now the community. Yvonne has had an interesting and full life, born in New Zealand where was a State Registered Nurse and she specialised in hospital theatre work. Later her curiosity bought her to Australia where she worked at the Sydney hospital and with the Australia Flying Doctors service flying in and out of Wilcannia, western New South Wales. On returning to New Zealand Yvonne acted as part of a Medical cover team for the different armed services. one session in the Nary involved pursuing submarines which she described as being very exciting. In 1958 she travelled by sea through the Suez Canal to England and as a member of British Services served in the post WWII Germany for three year in the QARANC and also worked at The London Clinic with some high-profile specialists. Yvonne was introduced to her husband-to-be at a tennis party and they lived in Cambridge, UK, where their two children, Alastair and Susan, were born. On coming to Australia in 1965 as "£10 poms" (Yvonne's words) she worked in casualty at the Box Hill hospital. Initially the family lived at Blackburn South before moving to Mitcham in 1968. To help establish a new life with her family in Australia, Yvonne worked in many different positions from nursing, machine knitting for a Prahran shop, making Christmas Cards and as a commercial traveller. As a hobby she also sold a number of pastel paintings. Following the publishing of her first family history in 1994, Yvonne became a member and volunteer at the Whitehorse Historical Society where she has contributed in producing local history publication, articles for the Newsletter and has improved access to the files by creating the detailed "green files". Her interests include art, crafts and writing. Yvonne has a great philosophy, 'each day I must achieve something - no matter how small'.Hand-made child's doll's house. Built by Mrs Yvonne Fitzmaurice and finished in 1979. This house was built as a 1:12 scale and is a model of a Californian house called Peppercorn farm. House was built by Yvonne and her family and took a period of three years. A lot of the furniture is handmade and the rest is collected from various shops. "Susan Fitzmaurice" name on front of building. Date on plaque on top of front wall.na5059, na5061, na5063, na5065, na5068, na5071, na5073, na5075, na5077, na5079, na5081, na5083

Birthday books are used to record the names and birth dates of friends and relatives. This one has a quote from Charles Dickens for each day of the year .The Dickins Birthday book was chosen a a gift to Clara Skirrow, given on January 19th 1911 by Mr and Mrs B Watson. The artist, Pilford Fletcher Watson (1892-1907) was a well established and prominent artist. He was born in London and lived in Sydney, a foundation member of the Australian Academy of Arts in 1887. His works included local scenery, architecture and the interiors of historic buildings. Many of his works were bequeathed to the State Library of New South Wales. The firm Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd,, was a printer and publisher that operated in London from 1866 to circa 1960s. Its logo is the artist's easel, palette and brush. In 1960 the firm amalgamated with others to become the British Printing Corporation c. 1960. The fly page states that Ralph Tuck & Sons, Ltd. were publishers to Their Majesties, the King and Queen, and Their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales. This would mean that this book was published in the period when King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and Prince George and his wife Princess Mary were able to use these titles, that is, from 1901 to 1910. This early 20th-century Birthday Book is significant for containing quotes by the famous writer Charles Dickins. It is also significant for being illustrated by renowned artist Pilford Fletcher Watson. Ownership of a rare and beautifully presented book like this indicates the value placed on keeping in touch with friends and family in the early 1900s. Charles Dickins Birthday books were published by the same firm, with a similar layout.Book, The Dickens Birthday Book; with 6 illustrations in Colour by P. Fletcher-Watson Publisher: Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd Printed in England 1901-1910 Artist: P. Fletcher-Watson This padded red leather hardcover book has embossed gold text on front cover and spine. . The six colour illustrations throughout the book were by artist P. Fletcher-Watson; one is a portrait of Dickins. Each date of the year has a quotes from Charles Dickens' works and blank lines below. The drawing on the fly page depicts a stone building with side pillars and a logo in the centre of the horizontal beam. It has a gift inscription for Clara Skirrow on January 19th, 1911. There are several handwritten entries with names and years.Handwritten in black ink: "From Mr & Mrs B. Watson / To Clara Skirrow / With Best wishes / January 19th 1911" Illustration on fly page: Logo [artist's palette, brush and easel] Handwritten entries of names and datesflagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, dickins birthday book, birthday book, p. fletcher-watson, raphael tuck & sons ltd, 1901-1910, charles dickins, dickins quotes, illustrated, 19-01-1911, mr & mrs b. watson, clara skirrow, red cover, british printing corporation, king and queen and trh prince and princess, king edward vii and queen alexandra, antique book, rare book