Gladys Reed was a member of the Ormond Choral Society c 1950. and these clothing props were used in the plays and musicals when performed in the City of Moorabbin c1950 Drama, Musical and Choral Societies were founded by local residents in the City of Moorabbin c1950 to provide social, artistic and musical entertainment and development in their communities A theatrical prop for the Ormond Choral Society c1950 that simulates a 1920's flapper beaded evening wear cloche hat. White lace is over sewn with small pearl beads and 3 rows of shiny beading with large pearls and beading around edge of hat. Loops of small pearls hang from each side . Shown with beaded waistband MAV 00297 early settlers, moorabbin shire, mechanics institute cheltenham, ormond choral society, postworld war 11 settlers, housing estates moorabbin 1950, bentleigh, ormond, moorabbin, cheltenham, drama societies, musical society cheltenham, clark judy, reed gladys, reed george

The photograph depicts a group of adults dressed in everyday clothing viewing a theatrical performance of 10 adult actors dressed in Victorian era costumes. The actors are performing on a make-shift stage that features upright logs as a background. Next to the stage is a group of workers laying bricks. The audience is seated on a grassy ground in front of the stage.Black and white rectangular reproduced photograph printed on matte photographic paper.Reverse: 5655 (in black pen)/ Beechworth (in blue pen)/entertainment album, beechworth, burke museum, performance, play, theatrical performance, performers

This is a programme of the stage production of the Warrnambool Musical and Dramatic Society of "Rookery Nook" in 1955. This is one of the earliest productions associated with Joyce and Cyril Hayward who founded the Warrnambool Musical and Dramatic Society and who were the dominant theatrical couple in Warrnambool for thirty years. Today the Warrnambool Theatre Company is the successor of the Warrnambool Musical and Dramatic Society.This programme is retained as a memento of a 1950s Warrnambool theatre performance and of the early work of the Haywards who dominated the arts and theatre scene in Warrnambool in the second half of the 20th century. This programme has ten pages with a thickened card cover, sixteen advertisements and printed material, some in black and some in blue. The pages have been stapled but the staples have now been removed. Warrnambool Musical & Dramatic Society Proudly Presents "ROOKERY NOOK" by Ben Travers. TOWN HALL, WARRNAMBOOL 2nd, 3rd & 4th November 1955. Programme 1 /-cyril and joyce hayward, warrnambool

Cast photo of Cherry Blossom performers, taken on stage with set features in the background.tatura, hall, festivals, costume, female, male, performing, arts, theatrical, plays

This item is from the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art, and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. RALPH ERIC PATTISON Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 Pattison accepted a position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council. His huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower area of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine, and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave during 1942 to 1945 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) was formed by a voluntary community group in 1863, within six years of Warrnambool’s beginnings, and its Reading Room opened in 1854. The WMI operated until 1963, at which time it was one of the oldest Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria. Mechanics’ Institutes offered important services to the public including libraries, reading rooms and places to display and store collections of all sorts such as curiosities and local historical relics. In 1886 a Museum and Fine Arts Gallery were added to the WMI and by the beginning of the 20th century there was also a billiards room and a School of Art. By this time all Mechanics’ Institutes in country Victoria had museums attached. Over the years the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Library was also known as the Warrnambool Public Library the Warrnambool Library and the Free Library. Early funding from the government was for the “Free Library”. The inscription in a book “Science of Man” was for the “Warrnambool Public Library”, donated by Joseph Archibald in 1899. Another inscription in the book “Catalogue of Plants Under Cultivation in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens 1 & 2, 1883” was presented to the “Warrnambool Library” and signed by the author W.R. Guilfoyle. In 1903 the Warrnambool Public Library decided to add a Juvenile Department to library and stock it with hundreds of books suitable for youth. In 1905 the Public Library committee decided to update the collection of books and added 100 new novels plus arrangements for the latest novels to be included as soon as they were available in Victoria. In July 1911 the Warrnambool Council took over the management of the Public Library, Art Gallery, Museum and Mechanics’ Institute and planned to double the size of the then-current building. In 1953, when Mr. R. Pattison was Public Librarian, the Warrnambool Public Library’s senior section 10,000 of the 13,000 books were fiction. The children’s section offered an additional 3,400 books. The library had the equivalent of one book per head of population and served around 33 percent of the reading population. The collection of books was made up of around 60 percent reference and 40 percent fiction. The library was lending 400 books per day. In 1963 the Warrnambool City Council allocated the site of the Mechanics’ Institute building, which included the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery, for the new Municipal Offices and the Collections were dispersed until 1971. The Warrnambool Library took over the Mechanics’ Institute Library’s holdings on behalf of the Warrnambool City Council. Since the closure of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute the exact location and composition of the original WMI books and items has become unclear. Other materials have been added to the collection, including items from Terang MI, Warrnambool Court House and Customs House. Many of the books have been identified as the Pattison Collection, named after the Librarian who catalogued and numbered the books during his time as Warrnambool Public Librarian in the time before the Mechanics’ Institute closed. It seems that when Warrnambool became part of the Corangamite Regional Library some of the books and materials went to its head office in Colac and then back to Warrnambool where they were stored at the Art Gallery for quite some time. Some then went to the Warrnambool Historical Society, some stayed at the Art Gallery and some were moved to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The various stamps and labels on the books held at Flagstaff Hill show the variety of the collection’s distribution and origin. The books in the collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village date from the 1850’s to the late 1950’s and include rare and valuable volumes. Many of the books are part of the “Pattison Collection” after the Warrnambool’s Public Librarian, Mr. R. Pattison. The Pattison Collection, along with other items at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, was originally part of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s collection. The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Collection is primarily significant in its totality, rather than for the individual objects it contains. Its contents are highly representative of the development of Mechanics' Institute libraries across Australia, particularly Victoria. A diversity of publications and themes has been amassed, and these provide clues to our understanding of the nature of and changes in the reading habits of Victorians from the 1850s to the middle of the 20th century. The collection also highlights the Warrnambool community’s commitment to the Mechanics’ Institute, reading, literacy and learning in the regions, and proves that access to knowledge was not impeded by distance. These items help to provide a more complete picture of our community’s ideals and aspirations. The Warrnambool Mechanics Institute book collection has historical and social significance for its strong association with the Mechanics Institute movement and the important role it played in the intellectual, cultural and social development of people throughout the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. The collection of books is a rare example of an early lending library and its significance is enhanced by the survival of an original collection of many volumes. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s publication collection is of both local and state significance. SIGNIFICANCE The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute Collection is primarily significant in its totality, rather than for the individual objects it contains. Its contents are highly representative of the development of Mechanics' Institute libraries across Australia, particularly Victoria. A diversity of publications and themes has been amassed, and these provide clues to our understanding of the nature of and changes in the reading habits of Victorians from the 1850s to the middle of the 20th century. The collection also highlights the Warrnambool community’s commitment to the Mechanics’ Institute, and to reading, literacy and learning in the regions, and proves that access to knowledge was not impeded by distance. These items help to provide a more complete picture of our community’s ideals and aspirations. As with many Mechanics' Institutes in Australia, the one which operated in Warrnambool was established and overseen for many years by key individuals associated with the development of the city itself. The WMI publication collection is historically significant because of its association with local people, places and the key historical themes in the development of Warrnambool of rural development, industry, farming, education, and community. The collection documents and illustrates the changing interests, focus and tastes of Victorians, especially those in regional cities. Generally the individual items in the collection are not particularly rare, as examples of all probably exist in other public collections in Victoria. It is primarily because there are so very few surviving Mechanics' Institute collections in Victoria, which lends this overall collection its significance. Many items in the WMI Collection have the potential to support further research, both as individual objects and through the collection in its entirety. This material is significant for its ability to assist in the interpretation of the history of the area and adds to the general understanding of the development of the township. Many components of the WMI publication collection complement and reinforce the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum Collection, the Warrnambool Art Gallery Collection, and that in the Warrnambool Historical Society, and also contribute to a clearer understanding of the original Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute collections. This will greatly enhance the appreciation of the few surviving Mechanics' Institute collections across Victoria, and also in New South Wales. The similarities and differences between the small number of collections that have survived can provide further insights into how the people of Victoria in general, and Warrnambool in particular, constructed a civic culture of adult learning to foster an informed citizenry. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute publication collection is of both local and state significance. Plays The following is on an inside loose endpaper. "Christopher Marlowe, son of a shoemaker, born at Canterbury in 1564. Educated at Cambridge. Attached himself to the Earl of Nottingham's theatrical company, and subsequently associated with the leading men of letters. Killed in a brawl at Deptford in 1593 while a warrant for his arrest on a charge of blasphemy had been issued." Author: Christopher Marlowe Publisher: J M Dent & Sons Date: 1947Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 822 MAR Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Warrnambool Public Library covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Servicewarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, great ocean road, plays, christopher marlowe

Bound compilation of notes about Julius Grant, Park Orchards orchardist, and his involvement with the Warrandyte community, Shire of Doncaster and Templestowe as Councillor, and participant in a Cairn Committee for erection of memorial at Anderson's Creek in Warrandyte marking Louis J. Michel and party rewarded by Government as discoverers of first goldfield in Victoria. Also includes substantial coverage of Grant's theatrical involvement, Australian films, and Adam Lindsay Gordon Memorial Committee. "An Old Stager remembered for much more than just the Louis Michel Gold Memorial Cairn."

This is a program for the 1956 production of ‘My Fair Lady’ by the Warrnambool Theatre Company. This group was originally known as the Warrnambool Dramatic Society but in the late 1950s the name was changed to the Warrnambool Theatre Group. Since that time the company has produced all types of theatrical performances, many of them in the old Warrnambool Town Hall. Joyce and Cyril Hayward were associated with the company productions for many years. This program is of minor significance as a memento of the 1956 performance of ‘My Fair Lady’ by the Warrnambool Theatre Group.This is a booklet of eight pages with a green cover. There is printed material on all pages and this includes advertisements, information on the Warrnambool Theatre Company, synopsis of the story, lists of actors and associated personnel in the production, sketches and photographs and acknowledgements. The pages are stapled.Front Cover: ‘My Fair Lady’warrnambool theatre company, warrnambool, program, my fair lady

''It's dangerous to allow yourself to be loved'' This Theatrical adaptation of the ''Song of Solomon'' will challenge your perception of love. Cost at the door: $19.90 Full / $17 Friends and $12 Concession. Directed by Robert Draffin Designed by Lloyd James Cast : Mary Sitarenos , Paul English , Kerry Armstrong , Margaret Mills , Deidre Rubenstien. Musician : Chris Young .Music by Tyrone Landau and Chris YoungIt was played as a limited three week performance. It was sponsored by the Sidney Myer Fund, SBS 1224, Arts Victoria and Australian Council for the Arts.coloured flyersong of songs, athenaeum theatre, kerry armstrong

By 2000 the School’s confidence in staging theatrical productions had grown to the point where it could confidently stage Les Misérables at the Athenaeum Theatre. The production involved a cast and crew of over 140 current students, staff and Old Michaelians and almost sold out eight performances. 2001: St Michael’s becomes the first School to stage a production in Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre with the performance of Les Misérables

Black & white photograph of Addie Keating dressed in theatrical costume as Romeo. Photograph is mounted on grey board. On the back is written: To my dear friend Ethel from Loving Yours Addie. In the photo she is wearing black tights and shoes, a long decorated jacket with an embroidered wreath on the front, a large lace collar and a hat with a feather in it. She has long hair. The background of the photo is a garden setting. 'Romeo' is signed on the front of the photo.W. Vincent Kelly. Mitchell St. Bendigophoto, individual, female, photograph, addie keating, romeo, w vincent kelly

Portrait photographs of royal figures were hung in government offices and buildings. In some cases they were also displayed in homes. There are numerous portraits of Queen Elizabeth II most of which have been widely reproduced.Framed portrait photograph of Queen Elizabeth II, taken June 2, 1954, by Cecil Beaton. Although the image appears at first glance to be set in Westminster Abbey, the photographer actually employed a theatrical backdrop for the photo, which was taken in a drawing room at Buckingham Palace. Her Majesty wears the imperial state crown, created for Queen Victoria’s 1838 coronation, and holds the orb and scepter, looking every bit the picture of reigning British royalty.queen elizabeth ii, cecil beaton, royal portraits

Newspaper Clipping from "The Mail", 12-12-95. P 4 "Maroondah players"'. George ArundelBagpipe player George Arundel thinks there is something special about a man with a beard dressing up in a skirt and playing the pipes. "It's the theatrics of it all that I love", Mr Arundel, a member of the Ringwood Highland Pip[e Band, said. Mr Arundel began playing the bagpipesas a boy growing up in Glasgow in 1966, and has been playing them ever since.

Print Council of Australia Members' Print Commission, 1973Four figures swimming in a swimming pool. In the upper image there are reflected objects in the pool. The top of the image does not include the reflected object, being instead framed with a theatrical stage awning motif. These objects include a canopied shelter, rails, trees and part of a building. Four naked male figures (different views of the same figure) are swimming, jumping or standing. Foreground shows edge of pool with two deckchairs. Printed n pale blue and black inks. Mounted in cream matt with a timber frame, with glass glazing.Front: 2/15 (lower right) Swimming Pool (centre) Ermes De Zans '73 (lower left) (pencil) Back: Ermes De Zan "Swimming Pool" Etching (1973) (typed lable, upper left) 1973 (yellow sticker, upper left)

The boot consisted of a complete man's black leather work-boot resting on the ground sub-floor surface (Layers A-B) in front of the fireplace. Although the uppers had folded inwards and hardened, the fabric was in generally good condition. The newspaper consisted of a single folded sheet, comprising the front and rear pages of 'The Age' (January 2nd, 1872), which was crumpled together with a contemporary theatrical flyer. As the items were removed prior to inspection, a direct association between these items cannot be made, though it is possible that the crumpled newspaper had been originally been inside the boot. The boot is significant based on its connection to the construction of the former Royal Mint building and its potential in demonstrating a ritual building practice. Leather boot - Black leather men's ankle-high boot. The leather is dry and desiccated leading to hardening. There is a layer of dirt and mud over all surfaces. Most of the sole has been lost. Nails revealed in this area are corroding, the heal remains and is well attached - there has been a pronounced shrinkage of the leather of the heal. The lace is missing from the boot. buildings, history, architecture, former royal mint, historic building

Herbert Allan Leighton was an actor and elocution teacher known widely in the eastern states of Australia where he performed with his wife Tracy Hamilton. But all was not as it seemed. In 1903 he was arrested in Perth after suspicions were raised when he bought expensive clothing and jewellery for his wife. Subsequently six thousand pounds in banknotes was found under his bed. Another fellow from his theatre group was also arrested and charged with Bank robbery. Leighton was charged with receiving money that he knew to be stolen. Investigations by Perth police showed that Leighton was really, Victorian born, Norman Campbell. He had worked as a clerk for Victorian Savings Bank in Melbourne and then in the same role at Sydney Savings Bank in NSW. During this time he had amassed large sums of money by forgery and embezzlement, a crime that he spent 7 years in prison for. He then emerged as the newly minted H. A. Leighton actor and elocution teacher in Bendigo.Large format scrapbook collated by H.A. Leighton. Contains photographs, flyers, programs, newspaper clippings, posters, promotional photos of performers between 1905 and 1909 The material includes items from theatrical performances. The scrapbook has a heavy blue cover with maroon tape binding on the spine and the corners with thick newsprint paper pages. Paper items have been glued onto the pages with several loose items. Mostly unnamed pictures from magazines. Includes a loose certificate as pictured. Includes two pages from a ledger connected with Prescott Jewellers Bendigo. theatres, performers, music

Twelve pages document titled: ''Theatrical traditions - stage and screen in Bendigo. The document details the history of theatres in Bendigo from the early days. Paragraphs titles are: The Shamrock Hotel, The Criterion Theatre, Abbott's Lyceum, St. James Hall, The Royal Princess Theatre, The Masonic Theatre, Open air picture Theatres, The Lyric Theatre, Plaza Theatre, Eaglehawk pictures. The Golden drive-in Picture Theatres in decline, Contemporary cinemas, Community traditions, Bendigo Regional Arts Centre, Ulumbarra Theatre. The document was prepared for the Post Office Gallery exhibition and is marked Confidential.entertainment, theatre, post office gallery

This is a program for a local theatrical performance. It was produced and directed by Frances Sinclair and contains a number of dance and musical items. There are a number of local Warrnambool names among the performers such as K T Swinton, Rex Fotheringham, Mavis MacDonald, Miss Rooney, W Goodall, John Reid, George and June Philpot. The dancers ranged from tiny tots, Petite ballerinas, Corp de ballet to the belles De Paris. Some of the other items on the program are the Scottish Samba, Tut and Khamen and Fiesta in Granada by Ferdinande Del Campo Caravani111 and Monty Bellow the Atomic Bull & Co which would suggest that it around the time of the Atomic testing in the Montebello Islands in the 1950’s. A program which shows the artistic side to the city and associated humour and talent. It has a large number of names of those involved in the production and performance and would be typical of concerts performed around the country at that time. It predates the Warrnambool Theatre company which commenced production of musical items in the 1960’s.Dusty blue paper with red text running at an angle down the front cover. Diagram of a lady sitting and stitching. Brown floral border down the edge of the front and middle page. Back cover is plain apart from printer’s name on bottom centre.Kaye & Sons Printers Warrnambool.

This hat is one commonly called a fez but there are many variations of the style and colour and many different names according to the country or group wearing this type of hat. The name fez comes from the city of Fez, the capital of Morocco up to 1927. This style of hat was part of the traditional clothing of Cyprus and introduced into the Balkan countries in the Byzantine era. In the early 1800s it was made part of men’s clothing by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and was used particularly as part of the military uniform. Today in military circles it is used as part of a dress uniform only but is extensively worn by men in many countries and is now seen to be part of oriental cultural identity. This particular fez appears to be a theatrical prop.This hat is not an authentic one, being a theatrical piece, but it will be useful for display.This is a short cylindrical peakless hat made of cardboard covered with a burgundy-coloured felt. There is a black tassel attached to the top and hanging down the side of the hat. The inside of the hat has a green and white striped material around the edge and patterned material covering the rest of the inside. ‘8’men’s headwear, history of warrnambool

Herbert A Leighton was an actor and Elocution teacher, known widely in the Eastern states of Australia where he performed with his wife Tracy Hamilton. However all was not as it seemed. In 1903 he was arrested in Perth after suspicions were raised when he purchased expensive jewellery and clothes for his wife. Subsequently six thousand pounds in banknotes was found under his bed. Another fellow from his theatre group was also arrested and charged with bank robbery. Leighton was charged with receiving money knowing it was stolen. Investigations by the Perth police showed that Leighton was really Norman Campbell who had been born in Gippsland. He had worked as a clerk in the Victorian Savings Bank in Melbourne and then in the same role in the Sydney Savings Bank. During this time he had amassed large sums of money by forgery, a crime he spent seven years in prison for. He then emerged as the newly minted H. A. Leighton, actor and elocution teacher in Bendigo. .Large format scrapbook collated by D H Leighton. Contains photographs, flyers, programs, invitations, newspaper clippings, posters, promotional photos of performers between 1901 and 1936. The material includes items from theatrical performances and programs from Bendigo and other cities. Includes information about Amy Castles and other Bendigo performers including Alex J Hamilton. Includes information about a large number of performers who visited Bendigo. Many of the items overlap others. The scrapbook has a heavy pink cover with green tape binding on the spine and the corners with brown paper pages. Paper items have been glued onto the pages. leighton, hamilton, amy castles, theatres, performers, music

Harry Montague Marks was Secretary of the Fair committee for many years, an actor in many of its theatrical productions and its Chairman for some time. He was also Secretary of the Bendigo Agricultural Show Society for 35 years, a councilor for nine years and mayor of the city in 1897-1897. He died at his residence "Turriff" Carpenter St. in 1916. His wife was Mary Leech, daughter of Samual Leech of Castlemaine. It is likely that Miss W Leech and Mary are the same person. Mary was possibly known as Mary (Winne) Leech. The first half of the diary contains mostly cutout pictures and prints that you would find in a girl's scrapbook. The second half contains many newspaper articles and mementos to do with the Mayor Harry Marks.Diary of Miss W Leech, scrapbook contains 151 pages of cuttings and newspaper articles relating to Bendigo. DVD Digital Copy of Marks/Leech Scrapbook. Tif and JPG images of Diary. PDF of Diary.history, bendigo, miss w leech diary, harry montague mark, mark marks, mary leech, bendigo mayor

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the Eastern Freeway through the Yarra Valley over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations.The Kew City Hall in Cotham Road, designed by Harold Bartlett, was intended as the initial phase in a scheme to develop an entire civic precinct. This was representative of a widely-held belief, of the immediate post-war era, that a district's civic centre should be precisely that – not just a single grand building for official use, but a dedicated precinct providing a range of community facilities as well as an administrative function. The Kew masterplan was later abandoned. The City Hall was designed to cater for public or official functions. Its interior had a small stage at one end for intimate theatrical productions, a larger stage at the other (with sunken orchestra pit) for musical performances, plus the most up-to-date equipment for live TV transmission."Kew Town Hall"ron setford, photographs -- kew (vic.) -- 1960s, kew town hall

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the Eastern Freeway through the Yarra Valley over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations.The Kew City Hall in Cotham Road, designed by Harold Bartlett, was intended as the initial phase in a scheme to develop an entire civic precinct. This was representative of a widely-held belief, of the immediate post-war era, that a district's civic centre should be precisely that – not just a single grand building for official use, but a dedicated precinct providing a range of community facilities as well as an administrative function. The Kew masterplan was later abandoned. The City Hall was designed to cater for public or official functions. Its interior had a small stage at one end for intimate theatrical productions, a larger stage at the other (with sunken orchestra pit) for musical performances, plus the most up-to-date equipment for live TV transmission.Nilron setford, photographs -- kew (vic.) -- 1960s, kew town hall

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the Eastern Freeway through the Yarra Valley over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations.The Kew City Hall in Cotham Road, designed by Harold Bartlett, was intended as the initial phase in a scheme to develop an entire civic precinct. This was representative of a widely-held belief, of the immediate post-war era, that a district's civic centre should be precisely that – not just a single grand building for official use, but a dedicated precinct providing a range of community facilities as well as an administrative function. The Kew masterplan was later abandoned. The City Hall was designed to cater for public or official functions. Its interior had a small stage at one end for intimate theatrical productions, a larger stage at the other (with sunken orchestra pit) for musical performances, plus the most up-to-date equipment for live TV transmission.Nilron setford, photographs -- kew (vic.) -- 1960s, kew town hall

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the Eastern Freeway through the Yarra Valley over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations.The Kew City Hall in Cotham Road, designed by Harold Bartlett, was intended as the initial phase in a scheme to develop an entire civic precinct. This was representative of a widely-held belief, of the immediate post-war era, that a district's civic centre should be precisely that – not just a single grand building for official use, but a dedicated precinct providing a range of community facilities as well as an administrative function. The Kew masterplan was later abandoned. The City Hall was designed to cater for public or official functions. Its interior had a small stage at one end for intimate theatrical productions, a larger stage at the other (with sunken orchestra pit) for musical performances, plus the most up-to-date equipment for live TV transmission.Nilron setford, photographs -- kew (vic.) -- 1960s

The Warrnambool Industrial and Art Exhibition of 1896-7 was held for three months in the Town Hall/Council Chambers/ Mechanics Institute buildings with additional temporary buildings placed on the Liebig and Timor Streets corner area. It was one of the biggest events ever held in Warrnambool with an estimated 70,000 attending. John Villiers, the owner of a glassware and crockery shop in Liebig Street and a well-known theatrical performer, had a large display stand at the Exhibition. He displayed glassware items from Britain and Europe and sold souvenirs of the Exhibition. Villiers engaged Mr Bartholomew, a Melbourne engraving artist, and he gave engraving exhibitions at Villiers’ stall. Glass etching had not been seen in Warrnambool previous to this. No doubt many of his engraved objects were sold and this glass tumbler would be one of these. This is a valuable and significant item because:- 1. It is an important souvenir from the Warrnambool Industrial and Art Exhibition of 1896-7, the only one we have from Villiers’ stall. 2. It is an example of what is believed to be the first etching on glass to be done in Warrnambool. The identity of ‘M.R.’ is not known. This is an etched glass tumbler from the Warrnambool Industrial and Art Exhibition of 1896-7. It is plain glass with a solid base. A three branched frond of fern is on one side of the glass and a two-branched frond of leaves on the other. ‘Warrnambool Exhibition, M.R. 1897’ warrnambool, warrnambool industrial and art exhibition 1896-7, etched glass tumbler, john villiers 1896, warrnambool souvenirs, villiers

Waa Waa – Crow Feathers is a painting from Aunty Marlene Gilson’s 2022 exhibition ‘Bunjil Wour Kun Ya – Spirit of My Ancestors’. This work tells the story of Waa-Waa, the first Wadawurrung to see a white man, Matthew Flinders and his crew surveying the southern Australian coastline near the You Yangs on 1 May 1802. Speaking to Wyndham Art Gallery’s curatorial framework themes of Foregrounding, Habitat and Localism, the work portrays in Wadawurrung lore the first sighting of a European and acknowledges Australian First Nations peoples original and ongoing connections with land, history, politics and knowledges of place. The scene is overlooking the You Yangs which is deeply connected with the local place and habitat of the Werribee Plain. Aunty Marlene Gilson is a Wathaurung (Wadawarrung) Elder living on country in Gordon, near Ballarat. Marlene Gilson’s multi-figure paintings work to overturn the colonial grasp on the past by reclaiming and re-contextualising the representation of historical events. Learning her Wathaurung history from her grandmother, Gilson began painting while recovering from an illness. The artist’s meticulously rendered works display a narrative richness and theatrical quality akin to the traditional genre of history painting. Gilson, however, privileges those stories relating to her ancestral land, which covers Ballarat, Werribee, Geelong, Skipton and the Otway Ranges in Victoria. Often including her two totems, Bunjil the Eagle and Waa the Crow, Gilson’s paintings not only reconfigure historical narratives, but display her spiritual connection to Country. australian first nations art, cultural story, australian painting, wathaurung, female artist

Pru Sanderson, in her groundbreaking ‘City of Kew Urban Conservation Study : Volume 2 - Development History’ (1988), summarised the periods of urban development and subdivisions of land in Kew. The periods that she identified included 1845-1880, 1880-1893, 1893-1921, 1921-1933, 1933-1943, and Post-War Development. These periods were selected as they represented periods of rapid growth or decline in urban development. An obvious starting point for Sanderson’s groupings involved population growth and the associated economic cycles. These cycles also highlighted urban expansion onto land that was predominantly rural, although in other cases it represented the decline and breakup of large estates. A number of the plans in the Kew Historical Society’s collection can also be found in other collections, such as those of the State Library of Victoria and the Boroondara Library Service. A number are however unique to the collection.The Kew Historical Society collection includes almost 100 subdivision plans pertaining to suburbs of the City of Melbourne. Most of these are of Kew, Kew East or Studley Park, although a smaller number are plans of Camberwell, Deepdene, Balwyn and Hawthorn. It is believed that the majority of the plans were gifted to the Society by persons connected with the real estate firm - J. R. Mathers and McMillan, 136 Cotham Road, Kew. The Plans in the collection are rarely in pristine form, being working plans on which the agent would write notes and record lots sold and the prices of these. The subdivision plans are historically significant examples of the growth of urban Melbourne from the beginning of the 20th Century up until the 1980s. A number of the plans are double-sided and often include a photograph on the reverse. A number of the latter are by noted photographers such as J.E. Barnes.The Dale Estate in Deepdene was made possible by the death of Robert Sparrow Smythe, Australian journalist, newspaper editor/owner and theatrical manager. Smythe lived in his residence ‘Highate’, Deepdene until his death in 1917. In the subdivision proposed one year later, before the end of the First World War, 18 allotments were to be created. The very fragmentary plan in the Society’s collection notes that a large weatherboard [house] will need to be removed. This may be Smythe’s own home. The proposed subdivision included allotments facing Burke and Whitehorse Roads and Dale Street. Bordering the subdivision is the Deepdene Station and the Outer Circle Railway Line. The clear directions on the plan indicate that in 1918 it was possible to travel by train from Deepdene to East Camberwell and Ashburtonsubdivision plans - deepdene, the dale estate

Herbert A Leighton was an actor and Elocution teacher, known widely in the Eastern states of Australia where he performed with his wife Tracy Hamilton. However all was not as it seemed. In 1903 he was arrested in Perth after suspicions were raised when he purchased expensive jewellery and clothes for his wife. Subsequently six thousand pounds in banknotes was found under his bed. Another fellow from his theatre group was also arrested and charged with bank robbery. Leighton was charged with receiving money knowing it was stolen. Investigations by the Perth police showed that Leighton was really Norman Campbell who had been born in Gippsland. He had worked as a clerk in the Victorian Savings Bank in Melbourne and then in the same role in the Sydney Savings Bank. During this time he had amassed large sums of money by forgery, a crime he spent seven years in prison for. He then emerged as the newly minted H. A. Leighton, actor and elocution teacher in Bendigo.Large format scrapbook collated by H.A. Leighton. Contains photographs, flyers, ribbons, banners, programs, invitations, newspaper clippings, posters, promotional photos of performers between 1901 and 1904. The material includes items from theatrical performances and programs from Bendigo and other cities. Includes information about Bendigo performers including Alex J Hamilton. Includes information about performers who visited Bendigo. Many of the items overlap others. The scrapbook has a heavy brown cover with black tape binding on the spine and the corners with brown paper pages. Written on the front cover Musical & Dramatic Notes in red and black ink plus a drawing of a woman in a long dress seated on a bench. Paper items have been glued onto the pages with several loose items. Leighton CollectionH A Leighton. Fecit. 24.11.00. Bendigo. Written inside the front cover on a drawing of an artist's palette above a picture of Alex Hamilton.leighton, hamilton, amy castles, theatres, performers, music