An unstrung Peck and Snyder tennis racquet, with solid concave throat, beveled frame, and originally featuring a collar and end wrap. Small head size suggests this racquet was part of an early lawn tennis set. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Glue, Metaltennis

A rare collared tennis racquet with solid concave throat, fine-grooved rounded handle, small racquet head, fully leather end wrap and butt cover, and of course, a ribbon collar around shaft. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Glue, Metal, Gut, Leather, Ribbontennis

A wooden tennis racquet, with a slight tilt-top, solid concave throat; and red leather collar around shaft. The letter F is impressed into both faces of the throat. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Metal, Gut, Glue, Leathertennis

A wooden tennis racquet, apparently manufactured by Feltham, with extreme tilt-top head; solid convex throat; gold ribbon collar (now missing); and fine-grooved rounded handle. Impressed across throat on obverse: HENRY V. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Metal, Gut, Glue, Ribbontennis

A Feltham 'The Alexandra' tilt-top tennis racquet, with solid convex throat, whipping around shoulders, a slither of wood lamination beyween the throat and outer frame, and a plain handle. Company name and trademark impressed across throat on obverse. Model name impressed across crown. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Glue, Metal, Guttennis

A Wright and Ditson "The Club" tilt-top tennis racquet, with: solid, convex throat; smooth, rounded handle; and leather end wrap and butt cover. Inscription across crown and throat on obverse: "THE CLUB"/WRIGHT & DITSON/BOSTON. Materials: Wood, Gut, Lacquer, Glue, Metal, Leathertennis

A Jeffries & Malings tennis racquet, with solid concave throat, thick gut string net, and leather crown protector. Originally featured red leather collars around length of shaft, which are now lost. Materials: Wood, Gut, Leather, Glue, Lacquer, Metaltennis

A children's tennis racquet, featuring slightly lobbed head, solid convex throat, wood/cardboard laminated frame and shaft, and paper collar and end wrap. Materials: Wood, Twine, Paper, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Cardboardtennis

Book: 'The Annals of Tennis'. 226 pages. Hardcover. Edition uncertain. Materials: Paper, Ink, Cardboardtennis

Framed fashion plate showing the 'History of Fashion' from 1792-94 in France.fashion -- 1790s, fashion - france, fashion plates

Framed fashion plate showing the 'History of Fashion' during the period 1865 to 1875.fashion plates, fashion - 1870s, french fashion

Joseph Butterworth COOMBS (1842-1901), was an accountant who founded a successful mercantile trading company. At the time of his marriage to Caroline Mary MICHEL in 1969, Coombs had already purchased 10 acres of Studley Park. The acreage included land on the west of Fenwick Street that extended along lower Stawell Street to the corner of Yarra Street, all of it connected directly to the Yarra environs. A right of way to Studley Park Road was on the title, though Coombs went on to purchase more land, some of which faced Studley Park Road. In addition to owning the Studley Park acreage, Coombs later acquired 1,201 acres of land abutting the Acheron River. While retaining the Kew property he became a Taggerty Councillor and was Shire President for a time. J.B. Coombs died at Acheron Station in 1901 (aged 59 years). A few months after, tenders were called to repair the Kew dwelling, the Fenwick Street property now appearing in records with the name ‘Hope Mansell’. Caroline Coombs remained at Hope Mansell until she died in 1924, survived by three sons and five daughters. Not long after her death, advertisements appeared for the sale of the Studley Park land. The sale seems to have been a mechanism for distribution of the Estate, as the following year the original 10 acre holding was transferred to members of the family. The eldest daughter Mabel married William Younger who, with his brother Alexander, developed Younger and Mackie Courts, both south of Studley Park Road. [Research: Kerry Fairbank]In 1961, the granddaughter of Joseph and Caroline Coombs, Mabel Isola (Younger) Grattan, donated ten 19th century dresses and parasols to the Kew Historical Society. The costumes, now known as the 'Coombs Collection', are the earliest recorded items of clothing to enter the Society's collection. Each of the items in the Coombs Collection, of which this item forms a part, is historically, aesthetically and socially significant. As a collection, the costumes includes outstanding examples of morning wear, day dresses, wedding dresses, and clothing accessories, providing evidence of outstanding dressmaker skills in Victoria during the mid to late Victorian period. Periwinkle blue afternoon dress made of finely woven wool with silk quilting to the yoke and cuffs. The one-piece outfit is fastened at front with large mother of pearl buttons. The dress includes a very long train. At one stage, the buttoning at the waist has been modified, presumably due to changes in the owner's waistline. women's clothing, australian fashion, costumes, dresses

Oil on canvas

Purchased, 1984Hand-coloured wood engraving on papergippsland, artwork, permanent collection

Purchased, 1984Hand-coloured wood engraving on papergippsland, artwork, permanent collection

Donated by Simon Gregg, 2013Hand-coloured wood engraving on papergippsland, artwork, permanent collection

Purchased with the assistance of the Caltex Victorian Government Art Fund, 1984Hand-coloured wood engraving on papergippsland, artwork, permanent collection

This parasol is believed to have been used on the Goldfields of Victoria. The discovery of gold in Victoria ranged between 1851-1879. May have been worn with T0011.1.1-2, afternoon dress. This parasol is believed to have been used on the Goldfields of Victoria. There are few remaining examples of similar items used on the Victorian goldfields.A c1878 eau de nil (green) silk parasol. The parasol canopy features a decorative gathered frill, a pale green silk lining and a scalloped edge. The wooden handle is painted pale beige, with a bone ferrule.victorian goldfields, parasol, 1870s fashion

Cream silk princess line wedding dress with scalloped neck edge, ruched front bodice panel and ruched and gathered panels on skirt. Three-quarter length sleeves with slashed sleeve details. Centre back opening fastened with silk thread covered buttons.wedding dress, 1870s

Blue cloth cover with embossed detailing on cover and spine 'Tinsleys' Magazine Vol 1' 11 unnumbered pages; 760 pages ; Illus; 24cm; Handwritten inscription on front page '163; 050 R 76' Stamp on various pages 'Kilmore Mechanics Institute'british magazine, kilmore mechanics institute library.

Red cloth cover with gold embossing on the spine 406 pages ; 18cm ; IllusHandwritten inscription on first page '592' Stamp on various pages 'Kilmore Mechanics Institute'kilmore mechanics institute library.

Brown/blue marbled cover with leather spine and corners. Upper spine missing, rest of spine torn & detached from back cover. Sticky tape has been used to reattach cover to body of book. Loose pages with roughened/torn edges. Spotting and marks on pages. Evidence of many attempts at repairs using sticky tape. 832 pp. Poor condition.Nilkilmore mechanics institute library.

xxxii, 336 p. ; Frontispiece illustration. Embossed, decorative brown cover, gold embossing on spine.fictionfiction, james dodds, original collection

Certificate of Life Governorship presented to George Lansell by the Bendigo Benevolent Asylum Incorporated. Hand painted and written on card with a scene of the Bendigo Benevolent Asylum in centre and bordered with a very intricate design of flowers and leaves in tones of blue, burgundy and gold. Certificate has a curved top. Markings - L (Ludwig) Lang, Prahran.person, individual, george lansell