The family Chelidae is endemic to Australia, New Guinea, and South America and consists of some 40 species of freshwater turtle. Twenty-four described species are found in Australia and three of these occur in the Murray Darling Basin. Turtles of the genus Chelodina are distinguished by their exceptionally long necks. These turles are also referred to as side-necked turtles, so named because the neck and head, when not extended, fold under the leading edge of the carapace. They are further characterised by their relatively flattened shells and their clawed webbed feet. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.This Broad Shell Turtle is stylized standing on a wooden platform. It has a long, narrow neck and a large and relatively flat shell. The head, neck and limbs are all dark grey or brown in colour and the underside is a pale brown. The feet are webbed and have long claws. The eyes are made from pale glass and the specimen has a short tale.BMM5891taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, turtle, australian turtle, australian animal, snake-necked turtle, chelidae

Original jewellery design for 'Britannia' pendant by Ernest Leviny, designed when he was living in London c1851, before travelling to the Australian goldfields of Castlemaine in late 1852. Leviny and his partner, Frederick Boocke, supplied jewellery designs to Watherston and Brogden in London. This design was made into a pendant by another London company, S.H. & D. Gass and was awarded a prize medal at the Great Exhibition of 1851 at the Crystal Palace in London. Leviny brought many of his original jewellery designs with him when he came out to Australia from Britain. See Schofield, Anne & Fahy, Kevin (1991), 'Australian jewellery: 19th and early 20th century'; Woodbridge, Suffolk, Antique Collectors Club, p. 39; Gere, Charalotte & Rudoe, Judy (2010), 'Jewellery in the Age of Queen Victoria', Pub.The British Museum p.340.This original jewellery design for the 'Britannia' pendant by noted colonial silversmith and jewellery, Ernest Leviny, is significant due to its link with the 'Britannia Pendant' awarded a prize medal at Great Exhibition of 1851, held at the Crystal Palace in London.Original jewellery design for a pendant featuring a standing woman (Britannia) holding a trident in her left hand and possible oar in her right hand, with Gothic style ornate pillars on each side and an archway overhead. Beneath the figure are three pearl drops. Drawn in pencil on grey card with gold ink highlights and red watercolour tinting.ernest leviny, jewellery, design, illustration, brittania, 1851, great exhibition of 1851

This is a typewritten account of the history of Port Fairy from 1810 to 1890. It was written by William Earle (1850 -1902). In an addenda at the back of this folder there is a note from William Earle which indicates that the booklet was written in 1896 ‘as a result of a prize offered by several residents in a Schedule issued in connection with a local Industrial Exhibition, which Prize it secured’. Does this refer to the 1896-7 Warrnambool Industrial and Art Exhibition? No evidence of this has yet been found. As this folder was given to the ShipLovers Society of Victoria Library in 1963, some ten years before Earle’s history was reprinted in 1973, it is an early copy of Earle’s original work and may have been produced in the late 19th century or early 20th century. The original material was first published by the Port Fairy Gazette in 1896.This folder is of great interest as it is an early copy of Earle’s History of Port Fairy, an important historical publication. This is a black cardboard folder containing 120 typewritten foolscap pages about the history of Port Fairy 1810-1890 (written by William Earle). Inside the front cover there is a stamp of the ShipLovers Society of Victoria Library. The front cover has a sheet of white paper stuck on with adhesive tape. It has a black and white sketch of an anchor, a sailing ship and a rope. The pages are attached to the folder with four metal studs. There is a loose sheet inside with a note about the donor of the folder and a name handwritten on the front cover. ‘W.Earle’ ‘Presented by Mr Owen, Warrnambool, May/1963’ history of port fairy, william earle, shiplovers society of victoria

This bottle has been produced in the Epsom factory of the Bendigo Pottery works and used by Alfred Darby for bottling his ginger beer in the late 1890s. In 1897 Alfred Darby leased the cordial factory in Henna Street,Warrnambool, formerly the McSweeney Cordial Factory (and today the Alderdice Brass Foundry). He used the Maltese Cross as his logo on his bottles. He also had a cordial factory in Rochester, Victoria about the same time. In 1899 Alfred Darby advertised that he had re-located his cordial business to the old ‘Echo’ newspaper building in Koroit Street but it is not known whether the business opened there or if it did, for how long. This ceramic bottle is of interest as one of the late 19th century bottles used by Alfred Darby, a soft drinks manufacturer in Warrnambool. Cordial manufacturing was an important industry in Warrnambool for over 100 years.This is a ceramic brown and buff-coloured ginger beer bottle. It has a black logo in the shape of a Maltese Cross stamped on one side and the maker’s name etched into the clay near the base. It has no stopper and the main body of the bottle is somewhat stained. ‘A. Darby Henna Street Warrnambool’ ‘The Bendigo Pottery Coy. Pty. Ltd. Epsom Bendigo’ cordial manufacturers in warrnambool, history of warrnambool

Captain William Kenney pioneered swimming baths at St Kilda after arriving in Victoria in 1852. Later, he built baths at Brighton Beach.Laminated photocopy of printed advertisement for Kenny's Baths at St Kilda and Brightoncaptain kenney, st kilda bathing ship, brighton beach baths, 19th century

This chemise is one of several linen and clothing items that were made and belonged to Mrs. Eliza Towns and donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village. Eliza was born Eliza Gould in 1857 in South Melbourne (Emerald Hill) and in 1879 married Charles Towns. In the early 1880's they moved to Nhill in western Victoria and remained there for the rest of their married life. Charles was a jeweller and later became an accountant and for many years was involved with the Shire Council, the local show committee (A & P Society), the Hospital Committee and the Board of the local newspaper (the Nhill Free Press). They had three children and lived a life that would be regarded as comfortably "middle class". Eliza probably had a treadle sewing machine and would have made many of her own clothes as well as clothes for her children - adding her own handmade embroidered or crocheted decorative trim. This chemise is machine sewn by Eliza Towns and she has added pintucks and broderie anglaise lace as a decorative element. A chemise was usually a sleeveless garment made of linen or cotton (so they could be easily washed) and its shape was much like a modern day nightgown. The name comes from the French word for "shirt" or "shift". Women wore chemises next to the skin (under the corset) to keep stains and odors away from the less washable corset and gown.This item is an example of the needlework skills of women in the mid to late 19th century - combining machine stitching with hand embroidery to personlise and embellish an item of clothing. It is also significant as an example of a practical solution to the difficulties of needing to regularly hand wash a bulky outer garment or gown in the Victorian era.A white cotton, short sleeved, knee length chemise. The fabric at the front is gathered on a yoke which is decorated with bands of five pintucks alternating with broderie anglaise lace and embroidered strips lined with pink ribbon. A different broderie anglaise design decorates the sleeve edges, neckline and center broderie anglaise strip. The back of the chemise is gathered on to the neckline. There are two bands of pintucks on each sleeve. The fabric around each armhole has been strengthened with another layer of cotton and a length of cotton has been added (from the left shoulder to the hem) to increase the width of chemise.flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, great ocean road, south west victoria, victorian era, victorian era undergarments, chemise, victorian era chemise, undergarments, pintucks, victorian chemise, eliza towns, nhill, wimmera, home sewing, machine sewn, hand made