Showing 22421 items matching "hand-stitched"
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Lakes Entrance Historical Society
Photograph - Cycling race Lakes Entrance, Lakes Post Newspaper, 7/10/1991 12:00:00 AM
final stage of Patties Lakes Cycling Tour organised by Frank Daly, shows cyclists on Roadnight Street , Stock Street on the right hand side . Other photos 04027.1 riders in Roadknight Street Lakes Entrance approaching and crossing the finish line with Mourilyan Street on the left. Photo 04027.2 cyclists crossing the finish line on Roadnight Street , Stock Street on the right hand side Black and white photograph taken at the final stage of Patties Lakes Cycling Tour organised by Frank Daly, shows cyclists on Roadnight Street , Stock Street on the right hand side . Other photos 04027.1 riders in Roadknight Street Lakes Entrance approaching and crossing the finish line with Mourilyan Street on the left. Photo 04027.2 cyclists crossing the finish line on Roadnight Street , Stock Street on the right hand side sports, cycling, recreation -
Bendigo Military Museum
Photograph - PRESENTATION PHOTOGRAPH
Part of the Cooper Collection.Black and white photograph of two Australian Army personnel in uniform. The soldier on the left is presenting an object to the Officer on the right, who is saluting. The object held by the soldier is a hand drawn figure of a rabbit which has been stuck onto the photograph so as to appear to be being held by it's ears. Trees and vehicles in the background.Stuck onto the photograph: 'Hand drawn outline in red pen of a rabbit.'photograph, australian army -
Learmonth and District Historical Society Inc.
Baby Dress, Unknown, "Late 19th century"
This babies dress was possibly worn by Mrs Cuthbertson nee Hooper, after her birth in 1881,( Mother of Joan Charles) and is approximately 150 years old.It is hand made cream silk with smocking to the front and back of the bodice.and the wrists of the full length sleeves. It was donated by the children of Joan M Charles- Melville J Charles,Joell E Stern, Beth Z Charles and Rhonnie M Dryne.Hand made Baby's dress, depicting the craftmanship and style of dress for the late 19th century.It is only one of two Silk baby's dresses in the Learmonth and District HIstorical Society Inc.collection.Baby's dress hand made of cream silk , with smocking across front, back,and wrists.clothing, babys dress, smocking, family of joan charles, haberdashery, mrs cuthbertson hooper -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Clothing - Silk Christening Gown, Mrs. Grace Osbourne, n.d
Items hand made by Mrs. Grace Osbourne. She won prizes at the Warracknabeal Show and elsewhere for her hand work.Cream silk christening gown. Short sleeves, Peter Pan collar, skirt gathered on at waist, opening down front, single pearl button at waistline. Hand crocheted picot edge around all edges. Flowers embroidered on edges of collar, both sides of front opening, and around bottom gown and sleeves. -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Gloves
Gloves, ladies, white, kid leather. "Maclellan and Co" Made in France. Has fine stitching around seams, 4 mother of pearl buttons along wrist split and decorative stitching of 3 parallel lines on top of glove. Size 6 1/2flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Clothing - CAMISOLE, Late 18th C; early 19th C
Camisole. Sleeveless. 5cm wide embroidered lace edges the neckline and arm holes. A 7cm wide peplum, with a spoke stitched hem. Three lace loops are sewn into the back of garment, two of which enclose the blue bird, and pink flower embroidery. Machine stitched.costume, female, underwear -
Kilmore Historical Society
Footwear - Pair of child's fawn leather boots, Pair Child's boots, Unknown
Pair of child's leather boots. Fawn leather on upper, brushed cotton lined, wool rubber sole and heel. Decorative tan leather and stitching around upper. Silver coloured zip on arch with decorative stitching to toe. Stiff toe puffs and heel supportsOn sole ink stamped 'LEATHER UPPER COTTON LINED FIBER INNER SOLE WOOL RUBBER SOLE' Under decorative tan leather on upper Ink stamped '2 585 SIZE 9' On inner sole Ink stamped 'WRAY'S NATURAL FORM FOOTWEAR MADE IN ENGLAND" -
Mont De Lancey
Gloves
Worn by Heather Godden in the 1950's.Total of four pairs of gloves - Pair of long cream leather gloves, with three pearl buttons, with decorative stitching. Pair of cream kid leather wrist gloves. Pair of brown leather wrist gloves. Pair of long white evening gloves with decorative stitching. gloves, -
Bendigo Military Museum
Footwear - BOOTS, 1943
Boots issued to Brian CLEREHAN VX91862, refer cat 5269.2 for his service details..1) Brown leatherboot, left foot, no shoelace, black stitching with metal tacks and metal toe. boot with hard soles. .2) Brown leather boot. Right foot, brown cord laces, black stitching with metal tacks and metal toe. Hard soles Inscription on sole “9/5, N741, LO421,1943” both bootsarmy uniform, 2nd new guinea infantry battalion -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Clothing - CAMISOLE
White cotton camisole with short sleeves edged with 3cm cotton embroidered and cut work lace. Square neckline edged with two bands of embroidered and cut work lace. Bodice gathered onto a 9 cm deep peplum with rounded fronts. Three hand stitched button holes and two pearl buttons.costume, female, underwear -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Clothing - BABY CLOTHES COLLECTION: BABY PANTS, 1940s
Cream coloured hand knitted woollen baby pants. Cream cotton ribbon tie at waist. Crocheted edge on legs. Stocking stitch on lower part with three pattern rows on top half back and front. This collection of knitted and sewn garments were made in the early 1940s and were intended for a baby that was stillborn.costume, children's, baby pants -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Uniform - Hat, slouch, signed
This item was collected as a souvenir of a fund raising concert at the National Vietnams Veterans Museum. The entertainers who performed signed the hat : Marcia Jones, Lisa Edwards, Mae Parker and Wendy Stapleton. A fur felt khaki Army slouch hat with a seven fold khaki band (puggaree). the brim of the hat is bound in cross grain ribbon and turned up left hand side with a leather chin strap and internal leather band. The brim of the hat is stitched to the side of the hat. There are four signatures in black ink on the brim.On the brim of the slouch hat are the signatures :Marcia Jones, Lisa Edwards, Mae Parker and Wendy Stapleton. uniform, slouch hat, clothing, entertainers, nvvm, performers, fund raising -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Clothing - ONE PAIR OF GREY COTTON GLOVES, 1900-1920's
Grey cotton gloves. Knitted jersey fabric. Three rows of stitching, 8,8,7.5 cms long on the back of the hand. A 7.5 cms opening at the inner wrist, is fastened with a press-stud which has a flat grey 1.25cm "button type" finish. Size 9 1/2. May be men's wedding gloves.Cotton, Made in West Germany.costume accessories, male, grey cotton gloves -
Kilmore Historical Society
Clothing - Leather shoe, Pair leather dress shoes
Hand made black leather shoes with leather bow at instep. Short strap with button hole. Black bakelite button on metal ring rivetted to shoe. Size 11 stamped on sole. Leather sole and heel nailed to shoe. Fine machine stitching on top edges of shoe and down to sole from instep.Size 11 stamped on sole -
Bendigo Military Museum
Photograph - PHOTOGRAPHS 38th BN, C.1916
.2) Photo, It is not clear whether this soldier is either; Leonard James Kennedy Myers No 593 KIA or William Henry Myers No 594 both B Coy 38th Bn. Refer Cat No’s 5062.2P & 5060P for details. The other Soldiers are unknown and most likely 38th BN,Five post card photos all B&W rectangular shape. Most have been stuck on newspaper and any names have been near totally obscured. .1) Soldier with peak cap clear background writing on front. .2) Soldier standing section of photo missing, studio background. .3) Soldier with peak cap & bandolier .4) Soldier with peak cap in oval shape, pieces missing. .5) Soldier standing hands behind back, white background..1) Hand written, “Sincerely yours Lochie”, stamped, “Bartlett Bros Bendigo” .5) Hand written, “Albert Ma..lol..”photographs, 38th bn, b coy -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Drawing - Woodcuts, 1943
Camp 3. made by Gudrun and Isolde Frank, camp 3 c.Black and white sketches for calendar. 1943. 5 sketches (all have 1943 above them): 1 - 3 men with part of hut on left hand side and huts behind. Poles with wire in front of huts; 2 - 5 guards marching with rifles with a big tree to the right of the photo and a fence with 4 posts in front; 3 - part of a hut showing an open door and open window; 4 - wild flowers from in camp; 8 people standing behind a bonfire holding signs. the number 4 top right hand cornercamp 3, gudrun frank, isolde frank, frank zimmer, camp calendars, templers -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Postcard, WTP, "Sturt Street, Ballarat", 1905?
Photo appears to be taken soon after the opening of the electric trams, as the tramway is well paved compared to the rest of the street which shows vehicle tracks etc. For similar images see Reg. items 834, 838, 2151 and 8998. Note the roof of a small horse-drawn vehicle crossing in the center foreground of the photograph - this vehicle is shown in detail in other images. Shows buildings along the north side of Sturt St. and the building at the SE corner of Doveton St. ESCo tram has a destination board on the front dash of the tram.Yields information about Sturt St soon after the opening of the Ballarat Electric tramwayPrinted black and white postcard of an ESCo tram near the intersection of Doveton St. and Sturt St. travelling west along the south side of Sturt Street. Could be a reproduction postcard - very high gloss finish of photograph. Titled "Sturt Street, Ballarat" in the bottom left-hand corner printed on a white strip at the bottom of the postcard. On rear of photograph are printed letters "W.T.P." - possibly publisher, in the stamp area "Printed in Germany". Card has been marked for areas for the correspondence and address. In bottom right hand corner "$8-" in pencil.trams, tramways, ballarat, doveton st, sturt st, esco -
Federation University Historical Collection
Hand written document, Ballarat Junior Technical School Correspondence 1921, 1921
Ballarat Junior Technical School opened in 1913. It was located at the Dana Street State School. As numbers grew a larger building was needed. Plans were drawn and a school built within the grounds of the School of Mines. Students started at this new school in 1921. It was officially opened on 9 September 1921 by Sir Alexander, resident of Creswick, local member for North Ballarat and the Minister for Education. He also opened the School Fair which coincided with the buildings ceremony. This was a fair on a grand scale and lasted two days and nights. Staff and students worked for weeks making articles for sale. A parent's committee led by Mr J Rogerson, a local police detective, had been organizing for months. As part of the ceremony for the opening of the school the Strachan Orchestra was engaged to play. .1 Taxi hire provided transport for the Strachan Orchestra for two visits at a total cost of Five Shillings. This hand written slip shows the date of payment and by whom .2 This item is the receipt N A Strachan sent to Mr Steane, Headmaster of the school, for the payment of Two Pounds, cost for engaging the Orchestra. Money raised funded the dodge-ball court, purchased a typewriter, a second-hand piano, an inter-room telephone system, an epidiascope and film projector.Hand written notes on lined paper. .1 Invoice; .2 Receipt.1 Signature of W. Button .2 Signature of N.A. Strachan.ballarat junior technical school, dana street, ballarat school of mines, minister for education, member for north ballarat, school fair, strachan orchestra, receipt, albert steane, ceremony, taxi, typewriter, piano, telephone system, payment notice, sir alexander peacock -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Photograph, March 1895
Loch Ard was bound for Melbourne in 1878 loaded with passengers and cargo when it ran into a rocky reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: an apprentice, Tom Pearce and a young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. The wreck of Loch Ard still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island and much of the cargo has been salvaged. Some was washed up into what is now known as Loch Ard Gorge following the shipwreck. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. The photograph is significant for its association with the wreck of the Loch Ard. This wreck has been protected as a Historic Shipwreck since 11 March 1982, under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act (1976) Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from Loch Ard is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register. The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the Loch Ard. The Loch Ard collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The Loch Ard collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes). The collection is also historically significant for its association with the Loch Ard, which was one of the worst and best known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history. The Loch Ard collection meets the following criteria for assessment: Criterion A: Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion B: Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion C: Potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria’s cultural history. Photograph of Miss Eva Carmichaels Cave at Loch Ard Gorge where the survivors found shelter. Reverse has four areas of torn surface, perhaps were photo had been mounted. Hand written text in pencil and in ink.Reverse of photograph Hand written in pencil “ … refuge … which he … offer words … Miss Carmichael. He then … on the …“ Hand written in ink “Loch Ard Gorge / Miss Carmichael’s cave” and “ Mr J Swinton / Warrnambool / March 1895” flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, loch ard shipwreck, 1878 shipwreck, loch ard gorge, miss eva carmichael -
National Wool Museum
Textile - Baby Romper Suit, Kathryn Knitwear, c.1960
Kathryn Knitwear, founded by Robert Blake, manufactured high quality children’s knitwear in Melbourne from the 1940s – 1980s. Robert Blake began manufacturing children’s knitwear in his bedroom in Strathmore using a hand powered machine in the late 1940s. The operation moved to Ascot Vale and Essendon, before eventually establishing a factory in Moonee Ponds in the early 1950s. The business continued to expand, necessitating a move to a new factory in Broadmeadows. By 1962, the Broadmeadows factory was producing an average of 20,000 garments per month, which increased to 24,000 by 1964. Robert Blake’s Son, Brendan recalls that “The Kathryn brand was famous around Australia, anywhere children needed to keep warm and dress smartly. It also won a number of wool fashion awards”, including the 1969 Wool Awards, which was held by the Australian Wool Bureau and published in Women’s Weekly. The Kathryn range was designed for durability, comfort and care, without sacrificing style. They used patterning techniques that increase stretchiness, comfort and fit, as well as integrating decorative elements into the fabric to prevent them from being bulky, uncomfortable or tight. Making longevity of style a priority, Brendan Blake remembers that “there was one particular garment that was in the range for at least thirty years”. He also recalls “In the past, when women have found out that I was associated with Kathryn Knitwear, they would often relate to me the story of a garment they had purchased or received as a gift and, when their child had grown out of it, they would hand it on to another child. Several ladies have told me of purchasing garments for their daughters’ glory box, or saving a particular garment after their daughter had grown out of it. Brendan Blake: “At the peak of their operation they employed approximately two hundred people, mainly women and girls. A family would often seek to send their daughter to work in this company because they knew they would be looked after and safe. One lady wrote to me telling me that working at the Moonee Ponds Factory prior to getting married was the happiest time of her life.” In 1963, workers at the Kathryn factory earned £13 per week, which was 8 shillings and 8 pence higher than the minimum weekly wage for female workers in the textile manufacturing industry (£12 11s 4d). By 1970, the Kathryn Knitwear brand expanded from children’s knitwear into womenswear under the brand name ‘Lady Kathryn’, and for boys and men under ‘Robert Blake’. Continuing to diversify their distribution, they also began exporting ‘Kathryn’ garments to New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and Japan. ‘Kathryn Knitwear’ was well-known for their early adoption of modern materials and techniques that had broad appeal to their customer base. This is shown in their early use of the acrylic fibre ‘Orlon’ in the 50s and 60s and ‘Superwash’ wool in the 1970s. Many of Kathryn Knitwear’s styles, particularly those that were long running staples of the brand, were available in both wool and Orlon to suit the consumer’s preference. Orlon was developed by DuPont in the 1940s and became the first commercially successful acrylic fibre in the 1950s and 1960s. The development of Orlon coincided with an increase in availability of washing machines in everyday Australian homes. The great appeal of Orlon was that while wool garments still had to be hand-washed, Orlon’s shrink-resistant nature made it machine washable and dryable. This was a very appealing prospect, especially for the seemingly unending task of cleaning active children’s clothing. Machine washable wool would not be available until the development of the ‘Superwash’ treatment by the Australian Wool Board and CSIRO in 1970. Far from the humble origins of one man in his bedroom with a hand-cranked machine; at its closure in 1980, the Broadmeadows factory of ‘Kathryn’ housed more than 100 machines, including 53 sewing machines and 45 knitting machines. Robert Blake was “a passionate advocate for wool and Australian Made” throughout his whole life. A strong thread that ties through the lifespan of Robert Blake and Kathryn Knitwear is a balance between adopting new innovations without sacrificing the core values of durability, comfort, care and style that had made the brand so well known. Their legacy forms an integral part of both Australian social and manufacturing history.Long sleeved cream baby romper suit with patterned stitch on bottom half and diamond emblem on chest. Closes with two pearlescent plastic buttons at centre back and with three pearlescent plastic buttons at crotch.Kathryn Reg’d / 100% orlon / 20 [handwritten]children's clothing, children's knitwear, clothing, knitwear, romper, jumpsuit, baby clothing, baby clothes, manufacturing, fashion textile production, machine knitting -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Document - Report, State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SECV), "Description of the Provincial Tramways when taken over"
Document - full title - Provincial Tramways - "Description of the Provincial Tramways when taken over by the State Electricity Commission" looks at the condition of the Ballarat and Bendigo systems at the time compared to that of Geelong. The handwritten note records the impact of the closure of the gold mines in the two cities. Records that Bendigo received more investment in track and tramcars than did Ballarat. Includes notes on the condition of the track, issues with tramcars and insulation of the tramcars at the time, and the purchase of second-hand tramcars from Melbourne.Yields information about the operation of the Provincial tramways before the takeover by the SECV.Two foolscap sheets, carbon copyHas an ink addition in the top left hand corner.secv, ballarat, bendigo, geelong, mesco, esco, tramways, tramcars, operations -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Card - Card / Photo - Melbourne Photography Company, n.d
Burgundy card with black and white photo attached to front. Young man in formal attire standing next to stone wall, hand on urn. 'Melbourne Photography Company BRIDGE STREET BALLARAT' printed in gold, beneath photBack: Piece of masking tape, top edge of card, with GRANDFATHER VIVIAN' hand printed, blue biro -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Buttons, Australian Military Buttons, Early 20th Century
The Australian Military Forces buttons were worn by Australian troops in World Wars One and Two. The Australian Commonwealth buttons date from the Edwardian era (1901-1910)These buttons are examples of the buttons used by the Australian Army. The attachment to a card is also an interesting example of the way members of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society mounted and displayed collection items in the 1960's and 1970's.Seven brass circular military buttons pressed into a rectangular piece of cardboard with pasted on lined paper on the back of the cardboard. Three of the buttons feature a raised map of Australia, a crown and text. Five buttons feature a raised intertwined E R,V11, a crown and text Protruding through the paper at the back is a section of a ring. The cardboard side has hand drawn blue lines, an oval stamp with text and hand written text. Three buttons have AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES. Five buttons have AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH FORCES Military medallion buttons ( hand written) Stamp is oval shaped with faded text of which only HISTORICAL DISTRICT and SOCIETY can be deciphered Three blue hand drawn lines to position the buttons. army, australian military forces, buttons, world war two, world war one -
Melbourne Legacy
Document, The Work of 1945, 1946?
A two page account of the end of World War 2 and mentions of Legatees who had roles in the current of the Japanese. In "Bouganville the surrender was made to Legatee SG Savige." Also "Legatee J.D.Rogers (Brigadier) represented Australia at the Japanese surrender at Singapore to Lord Louis Mountbatten and led the group of six officers who met and escorted the Japanese delegates. . " Was in a folder of documents about the history of Legacy. Appears to have been mostly compiled by Legatee Cyril Smith as he has many hand written notes on miscellaneous pieces of paper (some are envelopes addressed to him). The notes were typed up into a summary of the History of Legacy. Also documents relating to the first time Legacy approached the public for donations in September 1956, including newspaper articles that were reprinted, a schedule of information that was approved to be released to the press, and a list of potential donors that was circulated to Legatees in the hope they could contact the ones they knew personally or professionally. The documents from this folder have been added in seperate records (see 01262 to 01281). The folder was part of an attempt to capture history of Legacy, generally from the 1950s.The documents provide an insight into the working of Legacy, especially in the 1950s. Legatee Cyril Smith and others were detailing their experiences and knowledge for the future.Two typed quarto pages discussing the end of the war in 1945 and mentioning Legatees.Hand written A and B on top right hand corner and some edits in blue ink.history, world war two, stan savige -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Tool - Wood Saw, H. Disston & Sins, Late 19th century
This saw could have been used in industry or in a home situation. It was made by the H. Disston & Sons of U.S.A. This company was established in 1850 by Henry Disston and by the 20th century it was the largest maker of hand saws in the world. The hand saws used today differ little from this early model. This saw is retained as a good example of a hand tool that is over 100 years old. This hand saw has a triangular-shaped metal blade with a serrated edge on the straight side of the blade The handle is wooden with five metal screws. There is a metal plaque containing the name and emblem of the manufacturer. The saw is a little rusty and stained.‘H. Disston & Sons Philada’ ‘T.E.G.’ household tools, history of warrnambool, wood saw -
Orbost & District Historical Society
harpoons, Early 1800's
These whale harpoons belonged to Arthur Ashby. The longer one was his personal hand-forged harpoon. Arthur Ashby was a harpoonist written about in the book, "Killers of Eden". They were handed down to his son, Norman Ashby who gave them to the donor's father for safe-keeping as he did not have a permanent residence. Two harpoons. .1 is a hand held iron harpoon. It is very long with an open neck at one end and a large blade at the other. .2 is smaller and was used in harpoon guns. It is made of brass with a pointed end.whaling harpoons ashby-arthur maritime-technology -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Photograph - Photograph - P.H.T Aresco Trak Chief Rail Loco, Right Hand Rear Wheels, 1971
Port of Portland Authority archivesFront: (no inscriptions) Back: P.H.T Aresco Trak Chief Rail Loco/ Right hand rear wheels/ fitted 27/10/70 1316 hrs/ removed 10/1/71 1760 hrs/ Hours worked 444 (typed on sheet of paper and affixed to upper centre, yellowing)port of portland archives -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Photograph - Photograph - P.H.T Aresco Trak Chief Rail Loco, Left Hand Rear Wheels, 1971
Port of Portland Authority archivesFront: (no inscriptions) Back: P.H.T Aresco Trak Chief Rail Loco/ Left hand rear wheels/ fitted 27/10/70 1316 hrs/ removed 10/1/71 1760 hrs/ Hours worked 444 (typed on sheet of paper and affixed to upper left, yellowing)port of portland archives -
Orbost & District Historical Society
running shoes, c. 1922
Handmade running spikes worn by Pen Gilbert, winner of the open event at the Exhibition Oval c. 1922. She was not allowed to wear them in the final event because it was unknown for women to wear spikes.Associated with an Orbost identity and well-known local family.A pair of leather running shoes with spikes on the soles, with leather lacing and white stitching through metal eyelets.running-shoes running-spikes athletics sport women-sport -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Peter Pidgeon, Birch Cottage, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Christmas Hills, 27 September 2018, 2018
Originally built by John Hill, a shoemaker at Kangaroo Ground around 1878. In the late 1970s when our Society was the Shire of Eltham Historical Society, an offer was made to the Society regarding use of an old cottage at Christmas Hills. The cottage sat beside Watsons Creek just outside the then Shire of Eltham but following municipal restructuring it now lies within the Shire of Nillumbik. For various reasons the offer ultimately lapsed. At that time some research on the cottage was carried out for the Society by Keith Chappel as part of a larger research project that he was doing. Keith’s notes were taken from Lands Department records and showed that the property was the subject of a permissive occupancy of Crown land comprising the creek reserve. In 1903 a Miner’s Right of one acre in area was granted to Edwin Samuel Birch. In 1907 Birch applied to purchase this land but was unable to because it was part of the creek reserve. The documents show that the cottage existed at that time. Upon Birch’s death in 1932, his daughter, Honor Mary Birch was granted a permit to occupy the residence. Honor Mary Birch, known as Nora, was born 1900, the daughter of Edwin Samuel Birch and Honor (nee Young). In 1939 she married George Henry Williams (aka Henry). Honor died 8 July 1976. Her siblings were Margaret Martin (dec), Bert Birch and Brigidene Brinkkotter. In her will she gave and bequeathed “all the improvements on the land held by me at Christmas Hills under Permissive Occupancy from the Department of Land and Survey consisting of the house property thereon and all the contents of the said house to my nephew Brian Joseph Martin of Christmas Hills aforesaid farmer”. The will described the property as a four room, five square house, about 100 years old with enclosed verandah, including kitchen, combined lounge dining room, bedroom and store room; built of ‘bush slabs’ with a corrugated iron roof. A dairy had been erected in 1935. After her death, the property was acquired by the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works in 1978. The property is listed on the Victorian Heritage Database HO200-Hill, later Birch farm complex, 945 Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Watsons Creek and described as: The house has a steep but simply gabled roof form clad with corrugated iron, vertical adzed hardwood slab front wall construction, split palings to the gable ends; rubble freestone chimney at one end (with added gsi flue), pole-framed Graeme Butler & Associates, 2006: 101 Shire of Nillurnbik Planning Scheme Amendment C13 Heritage Assessments verandah (rebuilt?); six-pane double-hung sash windows; T&G bead-edge boarded ledged & braced door; and paling clad rooms added at verandah ends. A slab-clad large fireplace is at the north corner of the house, with a gsi upper cladding added and an internal lining of rubble stone. The rear facade is different construction, being drop-slab, and sits beneath a rear skillion addition to the main gabled form: this may be more recent construction. The house appears to have been once set up for public display and may have been recreated in part for that purpose. Outbuildings are reached by a track along the east side of the house, including what may have been a creamery (typical standard inter-war design clad with corrugated iron and lined with 1938 Lysaght Queens Head Australia galvanised sheet iron) and a paling clad gabled out-house. Timber outbuildings of differing eras are to the north-west of the house, with pole framing and paling infill construction and Redcliffe brand corrugated iron. Post and rail (front) and split paling (rear) fence remnants line the front boundary. Pepper trees part of house yard landscape49 born digital images (includes one panoramic stitch and nine frames from drone video)birch cottage, christmas hills, early settlers, edwin samuel birch, honor mary birch, john hill, watsons creek