The Fashion & Design collection of Kew Historical Society includes examples of women’s, men’s, children’s and infants' clothing from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. While the collection includes some examples of international fashion, most items were handmade or purchased in Melbourne. An early example of swimwear from when men were able to legally swim topless in the 1930s. The fashion originated in France in the early 1930s, and slowly caught on in other countries, although was often controversial. In Australia this was less so, and by 1940 it was common attire at the beach. Pair of dark blue, woollen bathing trunks. Front skirted flap. White woollen belt with silver-coloured metal buckle. White label with blue stitched text attached to rear. Label: "Alpha" Size: SMswimwear - men's, alpha swimwear, alpha - menswear designer

Black and white copy 9.5 x 15|Black and white copy 12x18Black and white photograph of the entrance and Bullock Island. It shows the western end of Bullock Island with bathing boxes, rock groynes, and sandy shore beneath Jemmys Point. Lakes Entrance VictoriaLakes Entrance, Gippsland Lakesislands, waterways, topography

Spotting tower for lifesaving club built 1937cBlack and white photograph of eight people, some in bathing costumes, sitting on the sand hummock. Showing the observation tower in background. Tower built for Royal Lifesaving Club. Lakes Entrance Victoria people, topography, beaches

Surf Lifesaving demonstrationBlack and white photograph six members of Lakes Entrance Surf Life Saving Club, on beach, wearing bathing costumes, readying rope line reel for practice. Lakes Entrance Victoriasurf lifesaving, volunteering

Woman in early 1930's dressBlack and white small format photograph of a young woman standing on Eastern Wharf, in front of a stack of fish boxes. Two people behind her, one in bathing costume. Lakes Entrance Victoriafishing industry, wharfs

Also same image|Faded copy 10x15|Black and White 12x17.5|Black and White 20x28.5Black and white postcard of the entrance to the Gippsland Lakes, showing buildings at New Works, cranes on ends of piers, jetty and bathing boxes on bullock Island, steamer passing island. Lakes Entrance VictoriaLakes Entrance, Gippsland Lakeswaterways, islands, topography

Tin box printed with various sporting scenes. Scene on lid depicts a tennis match. Other scenes include skiing, rugby, boules, and beach bathing. No printed writing or inscriptions. Materials: Metal, Painttennis

Hardback, landscape book with watercolour painting of Sea baths at Sorrento looking east by AC Clarke on the front. Also the title in red and author Bruce Bennett in aqua. The spine has the title and author as above. On the back cover are six reproductions of sea baths and synopsis of the book. 152 pages of white, gloss paper, acknowledgements, contents, preface, 5pages of References and a 2 page Index. The end papers are of white paper. non-fictionHistory of sea baths in Victoria.sea water baths, victoria, bruce bennett, warrnambool, windmill, 1890, swimming, closed 1960s, bathing boxes, poster, warrnambool baths company, 1877

Copy of an article titled Baths at Long Gully in The Bendigo Independent February 2,. Mr Murray spoke of the deaths which occurred by drowning in dams, which was the only place available bathing in or near Long Gully.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - baths at long gully, the bendigo independent 2 feb, g j murray, t hattam

Black and white photograph six members of Surf Life Saving Club in bathing costumes, standing behind the rescue rope reel, taken at a demonstraton at Bruthen, other persons in background watching on. Lakes Entrance Victoriasurf lifesaving, volunteering

Edithvale Life Saving Club was founded in 1919.Sepia postcard of Edithvale Life-Saving Club, a double story wooden building, built on the foreshore of Edithvale beach. Bathing boxes are on the right hand side, with boats sitting on the sand and three children playing, while a man watches.Kiosk and beach, Edithvale Valentine series no 198life saving club, edithvale, edithvale beach, bathing boxes

Donated by Miss Edith Elms via Chrisy Northcote. Show the development of San Remo as a recreational area in 1903.Photocopy of San Remo Hotel advertisement inserted by T Bergin - Proprietor - undated, listing activities - ocean beach, exquisite scenery, excellent fishing, bathing, golf, cycling, riding, driving. Photograph of San Remo Hotel top middle.local history, documents, newspapers, san remo, local area development by europeans, black & white newspaper clipping, advertisement, newspapers san remo

Port Fairy views - gardens, river, beachMontage of 5 Photographs headed with a large flourishing banner announcing Greetings from Port Fairy (postcard)published by Wm.Thompson Port Fairy- Greetings from Port fairy,View in the gardens Port fairy ,Government wharf Port Fairy Bathing boxes Port Fairygardens, river, beach, crags, botanical gardens, bathing boxes, battery hill, wharf, government wharf, moyne river, port fairy

Gainsborough House was built of boxed poured concrete by Leslie Paynter and his father William Henry Paynter. It was opened about Christmas 1923 or 1924.Black and white photograph of Gainsborough House, Jemmys Point, showing an attractive accommodation house with veranda on front and north side. It is of concrete construction with iron roof. Guests on veranda and couple standing on road. Two soft top motor cars parked on road. Lakes Entrance VictoriaGainsborough House Jemmys Point Lakes Entrance.L Paynter, Proprietor, Phone 46, Moderate Tariff. Excellent Cuisine, Golf, Tennis, Shooting, Fishing, Surfing, Bathing.guesthouses, transport, people

Black and white postcard, showing Baths in Upper Reserve, Bendigo. Image shows three separate pools, divided with timber walkways. In background, bathing sheds, lights suspended over pools. On back of card ' Valentine's Post Card , genuine photograph'Valentine's Post Cardbendigo, hospital, bendigo, baths, upper reserve, pool, sport, swimming

Colour tinted photograph of the entrance from Bass Strait to the Gippsland Lakes. It shows the small village on the hummocks, Bullock Island with bathing boxes at western end, machinery building groyne's from Bullock Island. Boat in the water. Lakes Entrance VictoriaGippsland Lakes Entranceislands, ships and shipping, topography, waterways

Copies of an article in the Bendigo Advertiser Dec 8, 1877 mentioning a petition asking for public baths in Long Gully. Cr Sterry urged that the miners who would benefit from the baths would not be able to pay for bathing and he supported free baths.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - bendigo advertiser 8 /12/1877 & 2/2/1878, cr sterry, t hattam, mr murray

This photograph was printed from a glass negative held in the Society's picture collection. The original glass negative is part of a set donated to the Society by Ian McKenzie, a professional photographer in Kew. Bathers, ca. 1920. A group of nine young people pose for a group portrait at the beach. The bathing costumes worn by the group are in a number of styles. The photograph represents the stages of transition towards a briefer swimsuit typified by that worn by the man second from left at rear. bathers, glass negatives

The Sea Baths at Cowes were built about 1893. They were erected by the Shire Council and administered by that body. Mixed bathing was not allowed. A Red flag at certain hours gave the "all clear" signal for ladies.Looking down on Sea Baths through foreshore treelocal history, photographs, sea baths, cowes, sepia photograph, mary karney

Belonged to donor's mother.White terry towelling cotton top decorated with 2 'dots - coloured yellow,dark blue, aqua,red (pink) and grey. Nehru collar with 2 white buttons. Sleeveless. Known as Bathing coat or jacket. Patch pockets at an angle. Jacket is body length.costume accessories, female

Hand tinted photograph of a beach scene. There is a row of cypress type trees curving around to the right in the background, there are numerous people on the sand and under the trees, there are also several canvas bathing tents on the sand. Near the bottom of the photo is written The Beach , Manly, No. 14 (part of a series)place, water, beach, manly beach

Framed watercolour titled: "After the Rain" by Julie Lundgren Coulter. Set in cream window mount with engraved brass plaque affixed to lower edge. Brown painted wood frame. Features five bathing boxes on beach with grey clouds in sky and water pools in sand.