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Brighton Historical Society
Swimsuit, circa 1950s
This swimsuit belonged to Brighton local Joyce Fuller, nee Harries (1920-2018), who wore it at Dendy Beach in the 1950s. Ada of California was a Melbourne swimwear company founded in the early 1950s by Brighton locals Ada and Toni Murkies. Born in Poland in 1922, Ada was 17 when the Second World War reached her doorstep. She and her family were torn from their home by Soviet soldiers and sent to a brutal labour camp in Siberia as part of a series of mass deportations. In order to escape the horrific conditions of the camp, Ada and her sister Barbara joined the Soviet-backed Polish Army. During her time in the military she became close with a handsome young Jewish officer, Lieutenant Antoni Murkies, who later became her husband. After the war Toni was awarded 15 medals including the highest Polish military honour, the Virtuti Militari. Ada was awarded 10 medals, including the Order of the Cross of Grunwald. Emigrating to Australia as postwar refugees in 1948, Ada and Toni arrived in Melbourne with little to their name. Working initially in garment factories and building their connections, by the mid-1950s the couple were able to start a company of their own, with Ada designing the garments and Toni managing the business. Within ten years, Ada of California swimwear was being sold in department stores throughout Australia, and the Murkies family were able to build a permanent home of their own in Brighton. By the early 1980s they had acquired several other major labels, including Watersun. Visiting Brighton Historical Society in 2019, Ada recalled this particular swimsuit style to be a popular one, particularly with older women, as the cinched waist and pleated modesty skirt suited many body types. This was important to her, as she wanted women of all ages and sizes to look and feel good in her swimwear, and she devoted much time and attention to the fit and finish of the garments. When the company began introducing padded bras, such as the one in this swimsuit, Ada insisted on using lacy floral lining and a small ribbon rosette in the centre gore, to give women a sense of quality, femininity and care in construction.Blue one-piece swimsuit with waist tie and short finely pleated overskirt. Sleeveless with thin elasticised straps. Inbuilt padded underwire bra with label and pale pink ribbon rosette on centre gore. Fastens with back zip.Label: "Ada / OF CALIFORNIA / 38"swimwear, brighton, dendy street beach, ada of california, ada murkies, toni murkies, joyce fuller, joyce harries -
Brighton Historical Society
Bed jacket, circa 1955
This bed jacket was crocheted for Carmela Materia (1931-2018) by her mother, Giuseppa Auditore, around the time they emigrated from Italy to Melbourne. Both women were longtime Brighton locals, residing in the area from the 1950s until their deaths. Carmela Auditore was the first woman from her home village of Scaletta, Italy to emigrate to Australia. Setting sail alone in 1950 at the age of 19, she joined her brother John and uncle Frank in McCallum St, Brighton. Frank had arrived some years earlier and had spent the duration of the First World War in an internment camp. John worked at the Brighton Case Company, a box manufacturer on Nepean Highway, and paid for her passage. Carmela found a job sewing children's clothing at Drummonds, a small factory in Church St. Working eight hours a day, five days per week, netted her a weekly wage of three pounds. To earn a little extra, she washed dishes at a St Kilda Road restaurant for ten shillings a shift. Her parents, Salvatore and Giuseppa Auditore, joined her in Brighton in 1952. They rented a house behind an antique shop in Bay Street. Salvatore had been a fisherman in Scaletta, but quickly adapted to the job he found helping around the Garage at Brighton Motors in Male Street. On 14 February 1953, Carmela married her sweetheart, Salvatore Materia, at St James Catholic Church in Gardenvale. Salvatore had been living with his aunt in Well Street and worked on the wharves. Both Carmela and Salvatore were hard workers. They owned a fruit shop in Church Street where Woolworths now stands, and years later Carmela recalled the familiar 6am tap on her window each morning when her husband returned from the market. On dark winter mornings, she felt as if her hands would freeze as she helped Salvatore unload cold cabbages and cauliflowers from his truck. They later owned a shop in Ludstone Street in Hampton. After Salvatore died suddenly at the age of 48, Carmela returned to sewing, working at the Willow Fashions knitting mill in Gardenvale. She later went into partnership with her sister and brother-in-law, this time in the delicatessen business. Her parents, Giuseppa and Salvatore, spent the rest of their days with Brighton. Carmela recalled her father cheerfully walking the streets, greeting people by name. He knew everybody. He loved being in Australia and enjoyed life to the last, insisting on having bread and wine on the table at every meal.Cream crocheted wool bed jacket. Loose around bust with wide sleeves and open sides. Fastens at collar with thin braided ties, and at waist with two pearlescent plastic buttons.bed jacket, migration, 1950s, carmela auditore, carmela materia, giuseppa auditore -
Brighton Historical Society
Bodice, circa 1900
This bodice belonged to Mary Crombie, an early Victorian dentist, who lived in Brighton while she was studying at the Australian College of Dentistry in the mid-1900s, and later returned to the area in her retirement from 1949-1971. Mary Margaret Crombie (1884-1971) was born at Coan Downs Station near Walgett, northern New South Wales, where her father Henry was station manager. After Henry’s untimely death in 1895, Mary and her mother loved for a few years with family members in St Kilda, before moving into a cottage of their own, ‘Rosewood’, at 42 Asling Street, Brighton around 1899. From here, Mary attended Oberwyl Ladies College in St Kilda and later the Australian College of Dentistry, one of only a few women to study dental surgery at the time. She was apprenticed to Ada Tovell (1865-1932), one of Victoria’s first female dentists, who had her own practice in Collins Street. Mary graduated in 1907 and the following year moved with he mother to Yarram in South Gippsland, where she took over the running of a practice owned by Sale dentist Charles Trood, eventually purchasing it from him in 1915. Speaking to a Brighton newspaper in 1961, Mary said she believed that she was the first woman to start a dental practice in Gippsland. For some locals, this took a little getting used to: “Many were amazed, and had some misgivings, when they found that the local dentist was a woman,” she said. “I always remember a huge farmer (he was about 6 ft. 4 in.), who had fortified himself at the local hotel to face the ordeal of visiting the dentist. He almost turned and ran when he saw me. … He was still more amazed when I pulled out his tooth without undue trouble.” The farmer was the best advertisement she could have asked for, telling everybody about the diminutive lady dentist who had calmly extracted his tooth. Mary practiced in Yarram until her retirement in 1949. After selling her practice she returned to Brighton, where she spent the last two decades of her life residing at 25 Oak Grove. Following her death in 1971, her relatives in Brighton donated a number of items from her home to BHS.Black satin bodice, boned, with black faceted glass buttons down the front. High collar. Both collar and cuffs are edged with a black net ruffle. Two rows of seven black crochet-covered buttons at each cuff, fastening with loops. Stray brown threads poking through fabric around the collar, shoulders and back indicate that these areas may originally have featured lace embellishments.mary crombie, 1900s -
Brighton Historical Society
Dress
This dress belonged to Brighton woman Mariam Issa, an author, public speaker and co-founder with Katharina Kons of the nonprofit organisation Resilient Aspiring Women (RAW). Born in Somalia, Mariam and her family arrived in Australia as refugees in 1998. Seeking to bring women together and foster connections, in 2012 Mariam opened her Brighton backyard to the community. The RAW community garden unites women from all cultures through gardening, food and storytelling.Long loose kaftan-style dress, turquoise cotton with black, brown and cream embroidery around neck and shoulders, depicting large brown flowers surrounded by swirling cream border. Round neck and short, loose sleeves.mariam issa, migration, somalia, resilient aspiring women -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Your Family Knitting with Wool Pattern Book
This book was owned by the late Dr Elizabeth Kerr and was donated to the Museum by the executor of her estate, Margaret Cameron. It was published by the Australian Wool Corporation to be given away with the magazine "Family Circle". It contains patterns for crocheted toy sheep, as well as knitting patterns for womens, mens and childrens garments.PURE NEW WOOL / Your / Family Knitting / with wool / Pattern Book / 11 Patterns for all your Family / from Family Circle and / The Australian Wool Corporation.knitting handicrafts - history crochet, family circle australian wool corporation, knitting, handicrafts - history, crochet -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 255
This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women.Patons / KNITTING BOOK / NO. 255 / 7d. / "ADELE" / See page 11handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 335
This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains knitting patterns for womens garments.Patons KNITTING BOOK NO. 335 / "CAROL" - See page 8 / P&B / WOOLS / 1'4d.knitting handicrafts - history, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, knitting, handicrafts - history -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 353
This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains knitting patterns for womens garments.Patons KNITTING BOOK NO. 353 / "ESTELLE" - See page 8. / P&B / WOOLS / 1'6d.knitting handicrafts - history, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, knitting, handicrafts - history -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 404
This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains knitting patterns for womens garments.No. / 404 / Patons / KNITTING BOOK / No. / 404 / P&B / WOOLS / 1'3d.knitting handicrafts - history, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, knitting, handicrafts - history -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 262
This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains knitting patterns for womens garments in fair isle knitting.Patons / KNITTING BOOK / NO. 262 / "DUNKELD" - See page 5 / P&B / WOOLS / FAIR ISLES / 1'-handicrafts - history knitting - fair isle, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting - fair isle -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 285
This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains knitting patterns for mens, womens and childrens garments.Patons / KNITTING BOOK / NO. 285 / "PAULINE" / See page 12 / 6d.handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 400
This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains knitting patterns for womens garments.No. / 400 / Patons / KNITTING BOOK / No. / 400 / "MAGNOLIA" / See page 10 / P&B / WOOLS / 1'6d.knitting handicrafts - history, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, knitting, handicrafts - history -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 538
One of a collection of 56 knitting pattern books donated by Mrs Hilma Carruthers. These books had been used by Mrs Carruthers, her mother and her two daughters. Book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains knitting patterns for women's and childrens garments.Featuring PATONS NYLETTE CREPE YARN NO. 538 / Patons / KNITTING BOOK / No. 538 / 2'-handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting -
National Wool Museum
Handbag, Womens handbag
... -and-the-bellarine-peninsula Handbag Womens handbag AUSTRALIA Part ...Part of the womens formal uniform for the 2002 Winter OlympicsAUSTRALIAfashion, costume, leather, sport, salt lake city -
National Wool Museum
Socks, Womens hiking socks
... -and-the-bellarine-peninsula Socks Womens hiking socks AUSTRALIA SALT LAKE ...Part of the womens casual "sportwool" uniform for the Winter Olympics, 2002.AUSTRALIA SALT LAKE 2002fashion, costume, shoes, wool, sport, salt lake city -
National Wool Museum
Sample Book, "Selected Suitings of Crusader Cloth" sample book
This book dates from the 1940s and was part of the Running Stitch collection of quilts, probably because it was common for women to acquire these books from travelling salesmen. This sample book is an example of the type made by textile mills and given to tailors to sell fabric for made to measure suits. With little money to spare during the austere years of the war, women often acquired these books from tailors when the fabrics were no longer available. They made use of the fabric sample pieces to make quilts. The Australian Woollen Mills was an example of a woollen mill which went into worsted production making good quality English-type suiting. They were very successful until the 1960's when the oversupply of worsted fabrics from Europe and Asia led to the decline of the industry in this country. This book was displayed in the Running Stitch exhibition "Wool Quilts Old and New" of 1985 where it was catalogue entry number 40.Australian Woollen Mills Crusader fabric sample book, c.1940sKnight / QUALITY SELECTED / SUITINGS / of / Crusader / CLOTH / NEVER SOLD OUT Crusader / CLOTH / Makes the best suits "Crusader" / WORSTEDaustralian woollen mills pty ltd running stitch group, cloth - worsted, running stitch collection -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 258
This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Patons / KNITTING BOOK / No. 258 / "JANINE" / See page 11 / 7dhandicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 276
This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Patons Knitting Book No. 276 / 'GLOUCESTER' - See page 12 / P&B WOOLS / 1'-handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 203
This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Patons / KNITTING BOOK / no. 203 / "THAMAR" / See page 4 / 6d.handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 434
This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.No. / 434 / Patons / KNITTING / BOOK / No. 434 / PATONS / AZALEA / DOUBLE QUICK / BEEHIVE 3-PLY / BEEHIVE 4-PLY / BEEHIVE CREPE / PATONYLE / CATKIN / P&B / WOOLS / 1'3handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 350
This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Patons KNITTING BOOK no. 350 / 8 DESIGNS / 1'4d. / P&B / WOOLShandicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 171
This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Patons Knitting Book / no. 171 / "JENNY" / See page 16 / 7d. / A PATONS & BALDWINS' PUBLICATIONhandicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 222
This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Patons / KNITTING BOOK / No. 222 / "QUICK STEP" / With or / Without Stripes / See page 9 / 6d.handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 264
This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Patons / KNITTING BOOK / No. 264 / "FELICITY" / See page 8 / 7d.handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 352
This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Patons KNITTING BOOK no. 352 / P&B / WOOLS / 1'6d.handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 319
This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Patons KNITTING BOOK no. 319 / "NOLEEN" - See page 8. / P&B / WOOLS / 1'-handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 174
One of a collection of 56 knitting pattern books donated by Mrs Hilma Carruthers. These books had been used by Mrs Carruthers, her mother and her two daughters. This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains knitting patterns for womens bedjackets, nightclothes and undergarments.Patons Knitting Book / no. 174 / "LANA" / See page 2 / 7d. / A PATONS & BALDWINS' PUBLICATIONhandicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 190
One of a collection of 56 knitting pattern books donated by Mrs Hilma Carruthers. These books had been used by Mrs Carruthers, her mother and her two daughters. This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains knitting patterns for womens garments.Patons / KNITTING BOOK / NO. 190 / "LISBETH" / See page 8 / "MARIE" / See page 10 / 6d.handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 254
One of a collection of 56 knitting pattern books donated by Mrs Hilma Carruthers. These books had been used by Mrs Carruthers, her mother and her two daughters. This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women.Patons / KNITTING BOOK / NO. 254 / 7d. / "CYNTHIA" / See page 8handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting -
National Wool Museum
Book, Knitting, Patons Knitting Book no. 263
One of a collection of 56 knitting pattern books donated by Mrs Hilma Carruthers. These books had been used by Mrs Carruthers, her mother and her two daughters. This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains knitting patterns for womens garments.Patons / KNITTING BOOK / NO. 263 / "THERESA" / See page 8 / 7d.handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting