Double Headed Rail from Ravenswood Station Siding which was dismantled circa 1987 the two rails were stored for a time at Maldon before being donated to Puffing Billy Museum Bearing makers marks of Wilson & Cammell - Dronfield- Steel works Wilson & Cammell made Steel rails at their Dronfield Steel Works, in Dronfield, North East Derbyshire, England from 1872 - 1883 Double-headed rail In late 1830s Britain, railway lines had a vast range of different patterns. One of the earliest lines to use double-headed rail was the London and Birmingham Railway, which had offered a prize for the best design. This rail was supported by chairs and the head and foot of the rail had the same profile. The supposed advantage was that, when the head became worn, the rail could be turned over and re-used. In practice, this form of recycling was not very successful as the chair caused dents in the lower surface, and double-headed rail evolved into bullhead rail in which the head was more substantial than the foot. Info from Wikipedia - Rail Profile https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_profile The first records of double headed rail being used In Victoria by Victorian Railways was in 1859, the rails, chairs, oak and trenails were imported from UK. After the 1870’s the Victorian Railways went over to using flat bottom rails, but they still needed replacement double headed rail for lines already laid and this continued up to at least 1883 Wilson & Cammell - Dronfield- Steel works Wilson & Cammell made Steel rails at their Dronfield Steel Works, in Dronfield England from 1872 - 1883 Mount Alexander & Murray River Railway The Melbourne, Mount Alexander & Murray River Railway Company received parliamentary assent in February 1853 to build Victoria's first inland railway from Melbourne to Williamstown, and Melbourne to Bendigo and Echuca. Construction commenced in January 1854 with work on a pier at Williamstown but lack of funds slowed progress, eventually prompting the company to sell out to the government. The 100-mile (162 km) section to Bendigo opened in October 1862. Its cost of £35,000 per mile made it the most expensive railway ever built in Australia. In 1864, the line was extended to Echuca, tapping into the booming Murray-Darling paddlesteamer trade. info from Museums Victoria - Victorian Railways https://museumsvictoria.com.au/railways/theme.aspx?lvl=3&IRN=450&gall=456 1863 Ravenswood Station open on the 1st Feb 1863 Victorian Railways - purchased and imported the Rail and Chairs from Raleigh, Dalgleish, White and Co. London Importation of railway plant : abstract of a return to an order of the Legislative Assembly dated 27th June 1860 for - Copies of the advertisements calling for tenders, the names of the tenderers and the accounts and correspondence with Mr Brunel relating thereto GP V 1859/60 no. C 15 http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1859-60NoC15.pdf Report from the Select Committee upon the Importation of Railway Plant : together with proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence and appendix GP V 1859/60 no. D 38 (2.9 MB) http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1859-60NoD38.pdf Ravenswood Siding When the Victorian Railways were established in 1856 they adopted one of the popular British permanent way standards - heavy 80lb (36.3kg) double-headed rail held up right in cast iron chairs attached to transverse timber sleepers by wooden pegs called trenails. The Ravenswood Railway siding was constructed in 1862 with 12 feet wrought iron double-head rail held in cast iron chairs with Ransom and May patent compressed keys. Trenails held the chairs to the sleepers and the joints were secured in joint chairs. Joints were subsequently joined using fish plates. It formed part of the Melbourne to Echuca rail line, initially known as the Melbourne, Mt Alexander and Murray River Railway. George Christian Derbyshire, the first Engineer-in-Chair of the Victorian Railways was responsible for the design and construction of the works. No new lines were built in Victoria using double-headed rail after 1870. The siding was disconnected from the main line in 1988. The Ravenswood Railway Siding demonstrates the original 1856 philosophy of the Victorian Railways to adopt British permanent way technology. The siding demonstrates significant aspects in the development of permanent way technology in England and Victoria over the period from the 1830's to the 1880's. The chairs in the Ravenswood siding are physical evidence of early railway technology rendered obsolete 120 years ago, namely joint chairs at rail joints and trenails to secure the chairs to the sleepers. The double-headed rail demonstrates an important stage in the evolution of British rail technology in the 1830s. The old fish plates, square headed bolts and square nuts demonstrate the success of fishing the rail joins. The Ravenswood siding demonstrates the earliest form of rail joint technology developed in England, and existing in Australia, the joint chair. In part of the siding the sequence of joint and intermediate chairs is consistent with the 1856 specifications, that sequence is rare with the joints secured in joint chairs. The survival of chairs in this sequence is rare and almost certainly demonstrates that they remained in continuous use at the same location from 1862 to 1988. This remnant of the Ravenswood siding has survived 126 years. The siding has proved to be the most significant of extant remnant double-headed sidings in Victoria, containing a rare combination of early permanent way technologies. Construction dates 1862, Info from Ravenswood Railway Siding Victorian Heritage Database Report http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/4693/download-report The remaining section of this siding is significant at the State and National levels in that it demonstrates the use of chaired rail by the Victorian Railways Department for the Trunk Lines and, more particularly, the following stages in the evolution of this long obsolete method of permanent way construction: a) The use of joint chairs and intermediate chairs at regular intervals inferring that the original wrought iron rail lengths were 12 feet, as is known through documentary sources to have been the case. The survival of chairs in this sequence is unique and almost certainly demonstrates that they have remained in continuous use at the same location and in the same sequence from 1862 to 1988 . b) The use of joint chairs and intermediate chairs designed for use with trenails. c) The use of later intermediate chairs designed for use with steel pins and the use of fished joints with steel double head chaired rail, representing a second method of constructing the permanent way using chaired rail technology. info from Ravenswood Siding - Melbourne/Echuca Railway Line - Victorian Heritage Database Report http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/70103/download-report Addition to Citation for Melbourne to EchucaRailway Line 1/10/1990 Double Head Rail The surviving lengths of double head rail with chairs on this railway compare with one surviving similar remnant on the Geelong to Ballarat railway and are representative of permanent way construction techniques applied exclusively to the two trunk railways of the 1860's. In this respect they are rare survivors and may be unique at the national level and of technical importance at the international level to the extent that they enhance contemporary understanding of early railway building technology. Surviving lengths of chaired double head rail survive at Kyneton, Ravenswood and Bendigo on this railway and include a number of different types of cast iron intermediate and joint chairs with hardwood keys and metal pins. The Ravenswood siding is of special significance for the diversity of chair types and for the sequence of chairs recalling rail lengths known to be associated with construction of the line in 1862. Construction of the Railway Tenders closed on 24 March 1858 with no less than 133 tenders being received. A contract was let to Cornish and Bruce for £3,356,937 to commence work on 1 June 1858 and complete the line by 31 July 1861. Cornish and Bruce made quick early progress with the Melbourne to Sunbury section being officially opened on 13 January 1859. The line was officially opened to Bendigo (Sandhurst) on 20 October 1862 by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Barkly. A great banquet was held for 800 guests and this was followed by a grand ball. The extension of the line to Echuca was a relatively simple matter as that part of the line was across plain country without any significant engineering challenges. Tenders were called for the work in 1863 and the work was completed in 1864 by contractors Collier and Barry Apart from the line contractors, other firms directly involved were J Shire law and Co (sleepers), R Fulton, Langlands Brothers and Co, William Crossley (water supply), B Moreland, Langlands Brothers and Co (platelayers lorries), E Chambers (iron pins, traversers), Miller and McQuinstan (luggage vans and steam engines) and various contractors for building works. Info from Engineers Australia Engineering Heritage Victoria Nomination for Recognition under the Engineering Heritage Australia Heritage Recognition Program for the Goldfields Railways - Melbourne , Bendigo & Echuca Railway Page 25 - .2.9.2 Statement from National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Listing number B5323 for Mt Alexander/Murray Valley Rail Line: Page 69 - Theme 3 https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/portal/system/files/engineering-heritage-australia/nomination-title/Melbourne_%20Bendigo_Echuca%20Railway%20Nomination.pdf The Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company was a railway company in Victoria, Australia. It was established on 8 February 1853 to build a railway from Melbourne to Echuca on the Victorian-NSW border and a branch railway to Williamstown. The company struggled to make any progress and on 23 May 1856, the colonial Government took over the Company and it became part of the newly established Department of Railways, part of the Board of Land and Works. The Department of Railways became Victorian Railways in 1859. Construction of the Bendigo line commenced in 1858, but this private consortium also met with financial difficulties when it was unable to raise sufficient funds, and was bought out by the Victorian colonial government. The design work was then taken over by Captain Andrew Clarke, R. E., Surveyor-General of Victoria, with bridge designs completed by Bryson and O'Hara The contract for the first stage of the line from Footscray to Sandhurst (now Bendigo), was let to Cornish and Bruce for £3,356,937.2s.2d ($6.714 million) with work commencing on 1 June 1858. Completion of the permanent way was to be by 31 July 1861 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne,_Mount_Alexander_and_Murray_River_Railway_Company Victorian Railways - purchased and imported the Rail and Chairs from Raleigh, Dalgleish, White and Co. London Importation of railway plant : abstract of a return to an order of the Legislative Assembly dated 27th June 1860 for - Copies of the advertisements calling for tenders, the names of the tenderers and the accounts and correspondence with Mr Brunel relating thereto GP V 1859/60 no. C 15 http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1859-60NoC15.pdf Report from the Select Committee upon the Importation of Railway Plant : together with proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence and appendix GP V 1859/60 no. D 38 (2.9 MB) http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1859-60NoD38.pdf Victorian Railways : report of the Board of Land and Works November 1862 GP V 1862/63 no. 21 (2.8 MB) https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1862-63No21.pdfHistoric - Victorian Railways - Double Headed rail Ravenswood Railway Station and Siding Victorian Heritage Database Reports Victorian Heritage Register VHR H1100 Victorian Heritage Register VHR H1786 National Trust VHR H1100 Mount Alexander and Murray River Rail way Line National Trust2 rail lengths of Double Headed Rail made of Iron makers marks : Wilson & Cammell - Dronfield - Steel and 20 joint chairs with metal rail pins Makers mark Wilson & Cammell - Dronfield - Steel (possible date 187? very hard to read ) puffing billy, double headed rail, wilson & cammell - dronfield - steel works, ravenswood station siding, melbourne to echuca rail line, initially known as the melbourne, mt alexander and murray river railway.

This swagger stick belonged to Private Ernest LUCAS who served with the Royal Defence Corps between 17/6/1907 and 18/5/1919 including the 6th Battalion Middlesex Regiment In the British Army before World War I, swagger sticks were carried by all other ranks when off duty as part of their walking out uniform. The stick took the form of a short cane of polished wood, with an ornamented metal head of regimental pattern. The usual custom was for the private soldier or NCO to carry the stick tucked under his arm. Until 1939 swagger sticks were still carried by peacetime regular soldiers when "walking out" of barracks but the practice ceased with the outbreak of World War II. The 6th Battalion Middlesex Regiment can trace its history back to 7 August 1760 as part of the Middlesex Militia. In 1778 it was titled the 1st East Middlesex Militia. By royal order the regiment was later designated the Royal East Middlesex Militia on 24 April 1804. By 1855 it was using the formal title of "1st or Royal East Middlesex Regiment of Militia". In 1900 the number of regular Middlesex Regiment battalions was doubled with the formation of a new the 3rd and 4th battalions; and the two militia battalions were renumbered as 5th and 6th battalions of the regiment. The unit's standing orders of 1863 record the regimental insignia as being somewhat unusual, in that it did not include standard royal crown, but featured a five-pointed Saxon Crown atop a shield with the arms of the East Saxon Kingdom i.e. three stylised Seaxes hilted and pommeledpLong narrow round cane made from polished reddish/brown wood with brass metal tip and embossed silver topSilver metal top embossed with a crown above a shield inscribed 6th Battalion Middlesex Regtswagger stick, 6th battalion middlesex regiment, private ernest lucas

The inks used were fabric printing inks and two colours were applied at the one time on the same roller, the roller being inked with green on one side and red on the other. The roller was a sponge paint roller 100mm wide. The technique used was 'soft bed release'. This is where the fabric is placed over a soft bed (woolen blanket with cotton overlay) and the inked block is placed on top of the fabric, then body weight is applied to the back of the block by placing the hands on the block and transferring weight through the body and into the hands. The block is then lifted and the process starts allover again.Rural City of Wangaratta CollectionA repetitive pattern of gum blossoms that has been printed on a rectangular piece of pure silk twill in green and red ink by a lino block.wangaratta art galley, print, lino block, flora, gum, christine upton, textile, australian flora

The Axminster Carpet Loom has been set up as a focal point in the centre of the National Wool Museum. The loom was originally built by Brintons in England around 1910 and was initially operating in Geelong in 1960. Brintons designed and built most of their own looms and ancillary equipment. When superseded in 1975 the loom was donated to the Melbourne College of Textiles for weaving training. The College has now donated the loom to the National Wool Museum and Brintons engineering staff has restored it to full working condition. This loom is known as an Axminster gripper loom. The gripper system was invented by Brintons in 1890 and operates using a gripper shaped like a birds beak. This grips the yarn, the yarn is then cut and the gripper swings down to place the tuft into the woven backing. This particular loom also uses a jacquard system for weaving colours. In jacquard weaving, punched cards are used to instruct the loom as to which colour to use. The system was invented by Joseph Jacquard, a silk weaver from Lyon, and was introduced in 1804. It revolutionised pattern weaving as it had the capacity to create intricate patterns through the use of the cards. By 1833 there were approximately 100,000 power-looms used in Great Britain that had been influenced by Jacquards invention. Joseph Jacquard died in 1834. Charles Babbage was later to adapt Jacquards punch-card system to produce a calculator that was the forerunner of todays methods of computer programmingAxminster carpet loom featuring over 1000 Jacquard punch cards and over 100 bobbins of different colours of wool.loom carpet wool, geelong woolbrokers' association, geelong, auction

This book at one time belonged to the Pleasant Creek Library and Mechanic Insititute, Quartz Reefs. The Adventures of a cavalcade of British Naval Officers in the Holy Land. Dedicated by permission to: Captain George Lethbridge R.N. and the Officers of H.M.S. TrafalgarBrown Spine and Cornors, front and back patterned paper cover, part missing, clear tape on spine top and bottom. Top Right Inside Cover J.W. Evans & Co. Binders 11A Flinders Way. Notice pasted on inside of front Cover. No. 1313. Pleasant Creek Library and Mechanics Institute Quartz Reef. Members will be held responsible for any damage done to books in their possession.stawell education

This book and a number of others like it were owned by the mother and aunts of the donor, Mrs Dorothy Boyle. They were prolific producers of hand knitted and hand made items of clothing and also knitted and sewed for the armed forces during the Second World War. This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains instructions on how to knit and crochet, as well as patterns.WOOLCRAFT / A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO / KNITTING & CROCHET / PATONS & BALDWINS LTD. / (Incorporated in Great Britain) / MELBOURNE and SYDNEY / 1/- / PUBLISHED WITH ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDknitting handicrafts - history crochet, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, knitting, handicrafts - history, crochet

Vest knitted during WWII from darning wool which was the only wool not rationed in Britain during the war years.Maroon Fair-Isle vest with Nordic style patterns in white. Made with darning wool. Maroon metal zip on right hand shoulder.costume accessories, female

Donated by Christine Pitt, Whitehorse Historical Society member. Umbrella is from the 1920's, belonged to her mother, Fay Pitt of Box Hill, and her grandmother, Myrtle Grant of Richmond and Brighton.Red cotton umbrella with plastic handle and paint in a marble pattern. Ten black metal spokes are tipped with red, clear plastic. Wooden shaft. Material fastened with red elastic and metal button and eye clasp. Red material covers the join of spokes to shaft. Brown cotton cord fastened around shaft for hand-hold. From the 1920's'British Make' on one spoke.costume accessories, female

Probably purchased from 'The Tie Shop', a British franchise that commenced operation in Australia in the early 1980s.Silk bow tie (ready made) with adjustable collar band. Dark navy blue with red, yellow and green flower and leaf pattern.|Also include is a yellow card giving location of 'The Tie Shop' outlets in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. On reverse side are graphic descriptions of tying a tie.on collar band - Santostefano by Italo Ferretticostume accessories, collar accessories, male

This mess tin belonged to MELIA JAMES HENRY : Service Number - VX18960 : Date of birth - 08 Oct 1900 : Place of birth - WARRINGTON ENGLAND : Place of enlistment - CAULFIELD VIC : Next of Kin - CHURTON MARGARET The mess tin was manufactured by Sellman & Hill (S&H) Ltd from Wolverhampton. British aluminum mess tins were used by most of the Empire early in the war. A new pattern of mess tin was developed for the Web Equipment 1937 Pattern, which was a nested, two-piece rectangular mess tin with long, folding handles. Mess tins were used to prepare or heat food but they were also used as a container from which to eat and drink. The tins were lightweight and sturdy but they became hot very quickly when heated. Mess kit consisting of two pieces: One rectangular aluminium mess tin from WWII with multiple hand-carved inscriptions on outside indicating owner and locations he was stationed in 1940 and 1941. Welded handle attachment, although handle itself is missing. There is also a small, flat bottomed aluminium cup.Multiple hand-carved inscriptions on three external sides of the mess tin: Side one: "1940 Palestine / Egypt / VX18960 / Dvr Melia. J / AASC / 1941 Libya" Side two: " BARDIA / GREECE / TOBRUK" Side three: " Gaza / Beit Jerga / Kfar Vitkin / jaff / TEL-AVIV / Jerusalem / Nazareth / Haifa" Manufacturer's hallmark stamped on side four: "S.&H. LTD / 1938" and below that a stamp of an arrow pointing upmess tin, aluminium mess tin, wwii, wwii mess tin, sellman & hill, british mess tin

British issue tin helmet webb chin strap (Brodie pattern helmet)

This pattern bayonet was used by Australian troops in World War One and Two and the Korean War. British model 1907 bayonet with leather scabbard - overall length 550mmMA 1907 x MA 4 42wwi, wwii, korea, australian

The standard British bayonet used from WW1 through to the Korean War. Pattern 1907 SMLE bayonet and scabbard.Bayonet - OA 1 o 44. Scabbard - Mangorvite 44

Part of collection of maritime artefacts donated by Wilfred Libby. Timber crate containing hand light [Aldis Lamp], resister with cable plug and switch [as lamp was converted to 240v power], envelope containing glass screen, five Mazda light gobes. Signal Lamp converted to 240v with accessories [glass screen and globes]Timber crate: Lantern outfit, Patt W 1061 Resister: Admiralty Pattern W 1000; Resistance 50.5 Ohms, 2.18 Amps. Serial Number No ES 474024 Year 1943 Globe: The British Thompson Houston Co.aldis lamp, mazda light globes

Pattern 44 webbing - British make, used in Australia in Korean and followiing conflicts.equipment, korea onward, army

Kites created by Helen Bushell, Kew resident for many years, and a pioneer of kite-flying world-wide. Kites are hand-made, mainly by Helen, and many were flown in local parks of Kew. Documents provide some background to the collection, and a set of photographs, which was used in an exhibition at Hawthorn Arts Centre, help to identify the kites and where they were flown. Individual items include: 2019.0047.01 - Make Mine Fly, Vol. 1 - book of instructions for making kites fly 2019.0047.02 - School Kites - book of 14 kite designs 2019.0047.03 - Helen Bushell Reaching for the sky (exhibition catalogue, 2017) 2019.0047.04 - Hansard (Victoria) Documents - statement by Natalie Hutchins, Minister for Local Government 2019.0047.06 - "Evolution" Trefoils - collection of advertisements for kites for sale 2019.0047.05 - Kite event badges on blue cotton sash (20 badges and name-tags) 2019.0047.07- Kite honours and B.A. Deakin plus Original Patents (Australian, British and U.S.) 2019.0047.08 - Helen Bushell, 1922- A Life in Kiting (28 panels mounted on board, showing photographs of Helen Bushell's kites, for exhibition in Hawthorn Arts Centre, 2017) 2019.0047.09 - 1986 Year of Peace Dove - paper pattern (15 copies + dowel rod) 2019.0047.010 - "Peace Dove" pattern August 1995 2019.0047.011 - Collection of drawings, patterns, poem, newsletters, etc. 2019.0047.012 - "Small birds" paper patterns 2019.0047.013 - Remake of old head "Fluted Sled" 2017 HB: nylon kite in heavy cotton bag 2019.0047.014 - Long yellow tail suitable for Rainbow Serpent 1992 2019.0047.015 - Long blue tail for Rainbow Serpent 1992 2019.0047.016 - Moth c. 1975 2019.0047.017 - Hand-held peace dove (used for Helen Bushell's memorial 2017) 2019.0047.018 - "Song for Bill" kite 2019.0047.019 - 7-point clown kite Kites and associated documents belonging to Helen Bushell have local significance for Kew, as many were flown in the area. They have artistic significance in their representation of Australian indigenous, Chinese, New Guinea and other cultural symbols. Among the documents are poems, books on kite-flying written by Helen Bushell, badges and cards from international conferences, and Australian, British and American patents for kite design. One kite shows an aerodynamically-designed keel which helped to improve safety for hang-gliders.Australian Kite Society, Helen Bushell collection of kite-related material, including kites, photographs, documents, badges, etc.australian kite society, helen bushell

The Fashion & Design collection of Kew Historical Society includes examples of textiles dating from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Some of the textiles, were used as items of clothing, others as items of household decoration, or simply as travel souvenirs. These textiles were created both domestically and internationally. Predictably with the growth of an ethnically and culturally more diverse community in Kew after the Second World War, textiles, clothing and objects in the collection inevitably reflected this diversity. This form of bobbin lace is made in Malta. It is a guipure style of lace. Maltese lace is worked as a continuous width tape lace on a tall, thin, upright lace pillow called a "Trajbu" and the Bobbins are called "Combini" . Bigger pieces are made of two or more parts sewn together. Lace made in Malta was originally needle lace, from the 16th to the 19th century, when the economic depression in the islands nearly led to the extinction of lacemaking there. But in the mid 1800s, Lady Hamilton Chichester sent lacemakers from Genoa to Malta. They used the old needle lace patterns and turned them into bobbin lace, which was quicker. It was not long after its introduction that the Maltese lace developed its own style from Genoese lace. Maltese lace was shown at The Great Exhibition of 1851 and it became popular in Britain. The style was copied by lacemakers in the English Midlands, and it was one of the sources for Bedfordshire lace. Maltese lace usually has the following characteristics which are useful for identification: It is usually made from cream silk. There is often the 8 pointed Maltese cross as part of the pattern, worked in whole or cloth stitch.The pattern may also have closely worked leaves known as “wheat ears” or “oats”. These are plump and rounded in shape, rather than the long narrow leaves of other types of bobbin lace. Maltese lace edging. It shows the Wheat ears, characteristic of Maltese lacelace, maltese lace, lace tape

A Dunlop, Rod Laver, Grand Slam tennis racquet, with ribbon whipping around shoulders, which are enamel painted along with throat and shaft, and leather handle grip with patterned perforations. Model name features along throat and shaft, accompanied by decal images of the flags of U.S.A., Great Britain, Australia, and France. 'D' trademark in arrowhead device, above Dunlop logo, features across base of the shaft. Dynamic 'D' trademark features on butt cover. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Ribbon, Ink, Leather, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Enamel, Adhesive tape, String, Plastictennis

The Fashion & Design collection of Kew Historical Society includes examples of textiles dating from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Some of the textiles, were used as items of clothing, others as items of household decoration, or simply as travel souvenirs. These textiles were created both domestically and internationally. Predictably with the growth of an ethnically and culturally more diverse community in Kew after the Second World War, textiles, clothing and objects in the collection inevitably reflected this diversity. This form of bobbin lace is made in Malta. It is a guipure style of lace. Maltese lace is worked as a continuous width tape lace on a tall, thin, upright lace pillow called a "Trajbu" and the Bobbins are called "Combini" . Bigger pieces are made of two or more parts sewn together. Lace made in Malta was originally needle lace, from the 16th to the 19th century, when the economic depression in the islands nearly led to the extinction of lacemaking there. But in the mid 1800s, Lady Hamilton Chichester sent lacemakers from Genoa to Malta. They used the old needle lace patterns and turned them into bobbin lace, which was quicker. It was not long after its introduction that the Maltese lace developed its own style from Genoese lace. Maltese lace was shown at The Great Exhibition of 1851 and it became popular in Britain. The style was copied by lacemakers in the English Midlands, and it was one of the sources for Bedfordshire lace. Characteristics of Maltese lace. Maltese lace usually has the following characteristics which are useful for identification. It is usually made from cream silk. There is often the 8 pointed Maltese cross as part of the pattern, worked in whole or cloth stitch.The pattern may also have closely worked leaves known as “wheat ears” or “oats”. These are plump and rounded in shape, rather than the long narrow leaves of other types of bobbin lace. Camisole, made of silk thread Maltese bobbin lace that is constructed of lengths of lace forming two rectangles with a hole for the neck. Shows the characteristic Maltese cross and wheat ears. Fabric is made of tape lace joined togethercamisoles, maltese lace, bodices

Worn by VX45541 Lieutenant Louis A Jackson who served with 2nd/8th Armoured Regiment in Australia and New Guinea during WWII. Following its return from New Guinea in 1944, 2nd/8th Armoured Regiment had a change of role and was redesignated Numbers 41, 42 and 43 Landing Craft Companies and served in Pacific Islands till the end of the war. In 1947, Louis Jackson joined the Citizen Forces (CMF) and served as a captain in the 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles. This uniform is a well provenanced, representative example of WWII clothing as worn by an officer of an armoured regiment. Service dress winter jacket with 37 pattern webbing and belt, and revolver holster. Jacket has lieutenant rank insignia, 'Australia ' metal shoulder titles, 'Rising Sun' collar badges, colour patches of 2nd/8th Armoured Regiment AIF, ribbon bar for 39-45 Star, Pacific Star, British War Medal 39-45 and Australian Service medal 39-45. Overseas service chevrons on right sleeve.uniform, 2/8th armoured regiment, jackson

The Kew Historical Society’s collection includes a wide range of leisure objects. Many of the items are European-made, generally of British origin, however there are a number that were made for the Australian market by Australian manufacturers. In the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries, there were large numbers of games produced for children and adults. These included: arcade games, board games, playing cards and puzzles. A representative sample, many now rare survivors, can be found in the collection.Children's table game. Probably made in Germany c.1926. On the box is "Ges.Gesch" which is German for trademark registered. The box includes patterns and multicoloured glass marbles. The aim of the game is to arrange the beads in the holes of the pattern. The box pictures four children playing the game. Rules: BASIC RULES There can be two aims to the game - the first to clear the board of all the pieces and the second to try and position the pieces into a specific pattern. The playing surface is a special board and set of pegs or marbles made of ivory, bone, wood and later plastic. The traditional French board is octagonal and has 37 holes to accomodate the same number of pegs. the traditional English board is circular and has 33 holes or hollows, usually to accomodate the same number of marbles (33). Often there is a channel running around the outer edge to hold eliminated pieces. Some games required all the pieces, others only a certain number. The pieces are positioned before the start of the game.Box cover: "Gloria Mosaic. Ges.Gesch"gloria mosaic, games and puzzles

Brown cloth loose covers with embossed pattern and inscription 'Cassell's Magazine Illustrated' Damaged spine vii ; 592 pages ; 25cm ; IllusHandwritten inscription '129' Stamp on various pages 'Kilmore Mechanics Institute'british magazine, kilmore mechanics institute library.

Faded brown cloth loose cover with embossed pattern and gold inscriptions Missing spine viii ; 480 pages ; 25cm ; IllusHandwritten inscription on front page '190' Stamp on various pages 'Kilmore Mechanics Institute'kilmore mechanics institute library., british magazine

Used by lightkeeping families. The twenty shards of crockery represent tableware from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The pieces were recovered from a rubbish dump in the grounds used by previous lightstation residents. They include blue and white transfer-printed tableware in the ubiquitous ‘Willow’ pattern as well as floral designs with distinctively British flowers, both of which remained in constant production by all the major Staffordshire companies and were hugely popular with the Australian market. Other pieces in the collection include part of a plate with a distinctive red and yellow border, a small Chinoiserie jug probably dating from the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, and fragments of heavier, more utilitarian white ceramic ware. A few of the shards are printed with trademarks or other insignia, and closer examination of these marks as well as the patterns should be able to yield information on their date and manufacturer. Most if not all the fragments are from affordable, everyday wares that were common in lower income homes. Numerous ceramic fragments are also held in the Cape Otway Lightstation collection.Domestic crockery fragments x 20. Some have been burnt.

Very badly damaged red cloth covered hardcover book, The Christian Endeavour Hymnal. The title is written at the top of the front cover in gold and black lettering with the symbol E in a circular pattern in the middle. Black lines surround the edges. 532 p.non-fictionThis hymnal is issued under the auspices of the Council of the Christian Endeavour Union of Great Britain and Ireland. It is noted to have been recognised in the great Australian Commonwealth.religious books, hymnals

Johnson Brothers was a British tableware manufacturer and exporter that was noted for its early introduction of "semi-porcelain" tableware. In 2003, the manufacturing of Johnson Brothers products in Britain ceased and was transferred to China. Owned by Wandin J. SebireWhite ceramic patterned soap dish with green floral design. Set includes base and lid."Vienna" Johnson Bros Englandsoap dish, dishes

A faded, damaged burgundy colour hardcover book with an embossed self pattern on the cover. It's title: The History of Guernsey is printed in gold lettering on the spine with the author's surname Tupper, Second Edition, London and the publisher Simpkin, Marshall at the bottom. Protecting each black and white illustration is a tissue paper page. Pp. 596. At the back there is an Appendix and Index.non-fictionThis book is The History of Guernsey and its Bailiwick; With Occasional Notices of Jersey. The Bailiwick of Guernsey is comprised of the Islands of Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm. Situated 10 to 30 miles off the north-west coast of France, the Channel Islands are not part of the United Kingdom. They are dependent territories of the British Crown, as successor to the Dukes of Normandy.history, history of guernsey, ancient history

These bottles may have been in use in the 1940's or earlier. Cordial drinks came in bottles bought at a local grocery store. The shape of the bottles changed as did the stopper or seal. Bottles were recycled remaining the property of the manufacturer - 1. O.T. Ltd., Australia and 2. Lemos Australia in these samples. It appears these bottles may have the remains of a soft drink or cordial which is now dark in colour. Two vintage glass bottles: 1. A clear glass bottle with an embossed decorative leaf pattern around the neck. It has a rusted metal cap. 2. An embossed diagonal square patterned clear glass bottle with a rusted screw top lid. It has an oval shape on the front where the paper label was glued; there are the remains of a label.1. 'This bottle is the property of O.T. Ltd.' 2. 'Design No. 9072 Australia No. 8449 India 6888661 Great Britain. No. 1826 United Union of South Africa........ Only contents sold'. 2. 'Lemos. Registered trade mark.'bottles, beverage bottles, glass, cordial