The Olympic Games came to Australia in 1956, the first time they had been held in the Southern Hemisphere and in Australia. The rowing and canoeing events were held on Lake Wendouree at Ballarat and local children with autograph books eagerly sought the competitors' autographs.lake wendouree, ballarat, olympic games, 1956, southern hemisphere, australia, rowing, canoeing, autograph.

Railway Station staff were an important part of the social structure of both the railway and wider communities in the 1920s. Here Michael Taffe (1) is pictured with other staff members in front of the arches at the Ballarat West Railway Station.On back of mounting board, Mick Taffe, Middle, Head Porter.

A twin pack of Gordon quality playing cards made in Australia in the 1930s.Sticker on bottom of case with M. Fogarty in ink.paper

Official envelope from the City of Ballaarat used to welcome visitors to Ballarat for the XVIth Olympic Games events held in the city in 1956. This envelope contained event tickets and promotional material for visitors to Ballarat for the Olympic Games. This was the first time the Olympic Games had been held in Australia and the rowing and canoeing events were conducted on Lake Wendouree at Ballarat from November 23rd to December 1st 1956.

The King's Cup is a perpetual trophy awarded to the winning state crew for the Australian eight oar championship, the final race of the annual national regatta held since 1878. The cup was originally awarded by the king to the winning crew of a race held between crews from the allied armies of the the First World at the Henley Regatta, UK in July 1919 and won by the AIF No 1 crew. In 1921 following requests from the Australian Rowing Association King George V decreed that the trophy be awarded as a perpetual trophy to the winning crew. The King's Cup has been rowed on the Olympic course at Ballarat's Lake Wendouree twice, in 1956 and 1962.

Hat badge of Michael Taffe, 6 RVR at the Victoria St Barracks Melbourne in 1971. The 6th Battalion Royal Victoria Regiment was a militia (Citizens Military Forces) regiment formed in 1965 from what was earlier the Royal Melbourne Regiment. Crossed rifles surmounted by crown with scroll to base bearing the word Victoria in gilt on large V in softer gilt.royal melbourne regiment, 6rvr, hat badge, victoria street, melbourne, taffe,

Cardinal O'Connell was Roman Catholic archbishop of Boston when this medal was created by Dora Ohlfsen in 1911.This medal was created by Ballarat born sculptor Dora Olhfsen. Ohlfsen lived and worked in Roma at the time and this medallion was created for Archbishop, Cardinal O'Connell of Boston on his achieving the cardinal's hat in 1911. Ohlfsen was born in Ballarat in 1869 and served as a nurse in Italy in World War I later sculpting the Anzac medallion to raise funds for returned soldiers.medal, ohlfsen, ballarat, cardinal o'connell, rome

Nineteen page promotional booklet for Mc Dougal and Chisolm Ballarat c. 1953.

This tie preserver with instructions on cleaning has a well documented provenance and a known owner forming part of a significant and representative historical collection that reflects Ballarat's local history from a family perspective. It contributes to our understanding of social and family life in twentieth century Ballarat and providing interpretative capacity for family, local, trades and social history themes.Printed with Instructions for use and retailer's details: With Compliments from Alf. C. White Tailor and Mercer 423 Sturt St. BALLARAT. Verso has no printing.ballarat, tailor, mercer

Small 28 page stitch bound booklet in home made cardboard binding. Front cover with greenblack and white print. There are 28 pages of 91 black & white illustrated crochet edge patterns with 6 colour plate advertising pages for Myart inside the cover pages and on back cover.. "---chet Edges" written in ink on torn paper cover (assuming the first letters were Cro).

Purchased for the household by Mary Taffe in the 1950s.An example of the use of crafted objects for household use before the introduction of lightweight mass produced plastics.Oval shaped cane Laundry/washing basket with two handles c. 1950. These baskets were produced from the 19th century until the 1950s when other materials e.g. plastic replaced them. This style of washing basket was commonly used by families until the introduction of cheap plastic baskets.nil

This book of carbon copies of a railway Station Master's timesheets demonstrates the nature of work, and movement required for the position of Station Master before the subject was appointed to and allocated a station.ballarat, donald, maryborough, creswick, creswick north, acting station master

fictioncover advertising silver star starch and harper's star oatmeal.

small booklet of popular song lyrics

non-fiction

One of a series of postcards from an exhibition of works by Australian Social Realist artists held in Russia in 1960. This postcard is significant to Ballarat as it links to the linocuts Counihan and others produced to commemorate the centenary of the Eureka Stockade in 1954. As this depicts a painting of an event at Ballarat significant in its context to protest for social equality that would be understood by the soviet audience. A link between Australian socialist artists and the Russian political sensibilities of the time.Black and white image of Noel Counihan's painting of Bakery Hill Ballarateureka stockade, ballarat reform league, socialism, australian art, ballarat, russia

The bookplate/premium plate identifies this book as being from the Young Men's General Debating Society South Street Ballarat 1897. This society was formed six years earlier and evolved into The Grand National Eisteddfod of Australasia or the Royal South Street Society in 1962. This book of sermons was written by Ballarat personality the Rev William Henderson who was responsible for the building of Ballarat's St Andrew's Kirk and the establishment of Ballarat College. It is one of many books of sermons published by Henderson and is the most significant of those productions, most of which are booklets. The bookplate identifies this book as belonging to one of Australia's oldest and most prestigious Eisteddfods The Royal South Street Competitions founded in 1891, the best known feature of which is the Sun Aria operatic competition. The book itself is a totally local product printed, published and bound in Ballarat in 1882, the publisher & binder being McHutchison & Campbell of Lydiard St, Ballarat.theology, sermons

These plates were produced by Ballarat potter John Gilbert at his Old Ballarat pottery in Mt Clear in 1994. Gilbert established two potteries in Ballarat , the Edinburgh Pottery at Sovereign Hill Historical village and the Old Ballarat Pottery. Gilbert studied art at the School of Mines Ballarat, now Federation University and went on to lecture there. Notable for his studio pottery these plates were more a commercial production and were among the later products from the Old Ballarat Pottery before it closed in 1994.Small stoneware plate transfer printed with "Ballarat Begonia Fesival 40th Anniversary around rim and colour print of Begonias in centre.label to the underside with printed with Old Ballarat Pottery around poppet head logo and a second triangular Made in Australia sticker.

Wastell & Cutter were Ophthalmic Opticians at Ballarat, Victoria from the 1930s until the 1970s. Small metal plaque on cover with Optometrist's name Wastell & Cutter embossed against medieval townscape image.optometrist, ballarat, glasses case

non-fictionroses, bouvardias, chrysanthemums, carnations, sweet peas, dahlias

The poem "Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels" was written by H. (Bert) Beros and published in the Courier Mail (Brisbane) on 31 October 1942.This poem gained popularity and was widely read and then published privately by Beros running to several editions. The bookmark produced in 1943 is an example of how revered and popular in the Australian public mind the New Guinea natives became. This bookmark is significant in its association with the popular legend of the loyalty and self sacrifice of the New Guinea natives popularly termed Fuzzy Wuzzy. with the added sobriquet of Angels, in their support of the Australians in New Guinea in World War II without which Australia may not have been able to halt the Japanese advance.Painted figure of New Guinea native on felt marker with caption and date 1943Fuzzy Wuzzy of New Guinea 1943 colour printed on brown feltnew guinea, aif, fuzzy wuzzy, bookmark, kokoda track, world war ii, australia

front cover green with stylised Kangaroo and Emu on ribbon featuring the words 'The Royal Visit' with southern cross on rear cover.non-fictionqueen elizabeth ii, duke of edinburgh, australia, royal visit