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

The silk card were created by French women during the First World War. The women would create these in there homes as a way to earn an income during the tuff times. The silk mesh was embroidered by the women and was later sent to factories to be placed on the cards. According to the Australian war memorial website there were 10 million of the cards made between 1914-1919. This card in particular was sent from John (Jack) McIntyre to his mother for her birthday. J. McIntyre served in the first world war, first arrived in Egypt in 1915, then to the Western front in France in July 1916. He was servery injured during his time in France and was sent to the Hospital in England. After the war finished Jack travelled back to Australia and lived in Lara with his brother and sister.This card is significant as it is a reflection on the communication between families during the First World War. It also is a symbol of the way women in France made their money during the tuff timesA birthday card with silk on the front of the card. It has pink flowers stitched into the silk and says 'happy birthday'On the front it has 'Happy Birthday" "Remembrance" On the first page in the inside "Remembrance" "To mother" "From Jack" "France 1918" On the second page in the inside: "Wishes are nothing; t'is the heart That in the few lines dwells And says to those from us apart More that the greeting tells" birthday card, mother, son, mcintyre, world war 1, ww1, happy birthday, handmade, silk, embroidered

Macleod High School Prefect's badge and pocket from Rosemary Isaacs (nee Davies). Embroidered pockets were sewn onto school uniform as a sign of student seniority and responsibilityA personal memento of responsibility at school.Green woolen pocket with stitched school crest and motto. Badge with school crest and motto, enamel on metal."Prefect" on each item.macleod high school, rosemary isaacs, rosemary davies, prefects badge

This banner was produced by the Gay Solidarity Group (GSG) for use in the first Mardi Gras, one of the events held as part of the Day of International Gay Solidarity, held on 24 June 1978. The banner was displayed on the side of the truck that was used in the Mardi Gras. It was subsequently used in numerous protests and demonstrations by GSG into the late 1980s.White text on green canvas backing, ends folded and stitched with red cotton, reinforced by black tape.

The evolution of the stiff shirt collar occurred in the 1830s when the detachable collar was "invented." At this time, the detachable collars were simply normal shirt collars like you’d see today, but sold separately from the shirt itself and needed to be kept in a container to keep them clean and accessible. The detachable collars were a way to avoid the weekly laundry. Because collars and cuffs were both the most visible parts of shirts and the parts most likely to get dirty, separating them allowed people to do the shirt equivalent of only washing your armpits after you go to the gym. That meant that the main body of the shirt could remain soft while the collar and cuffs that were visible could be starched and shaped. The popularity of detachable collars and starched collars, in general, began to fade in the 1920s and 30s. As shirt styles began to change. The advent of central heating, lighter weight fabrics, and a more relaxed social attitude to fashion all contributed to making men’s clothes more comfortable and less formal.An item that was used to store detachable men’s shirt collars from the early 20th century at a time when men's fashion was more formal and how a person dressed especially for formal occasions dictated a person's social standing. The subject item comes from a time that gives a snapshot into the past at the social norms of the time.Collar box, leather, cylindrical, includes strap, buckle, stitching and cardboard lining and man's white collarCollar inside box marked "CF652 Rexbilt Size 16 1/2 x 1 3/4" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, collar box, men's collar box, men's collar, leather collar box

Linen shoe bag with pink edging. Has a dog stitched on bag and the word shoes. Circa 1920. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Adjustable metal operating table with black padded vinyl cushioning white sheet with red cross stitchedDenyer "Major" Model Head End Control 234 Melbourne Australiadenyer operating table

Remembering the White Building, 2017 Clare McCracken As Cambodia rapidly urbanises, it is the urban poor that are forcibly removed from their homes to make way for shiny new apartment towers they cannot afford. In 2014 during a residency at the White Building, a medium-density slum in central Phnom Penh, Clare stitched pocket-sized cross-stitches of the ornate bricks of the building over the top of cross-stitch patterns of Angkor Wat. She gifted these tiny works to the residents she met - something they could take with them as a reminder of their community when it was demolished. In 2017, as the Cambodian government demolished the building, Clare created another series of the works: in memory of a community that had now been destroyed.Wangaratta Art Gallery CollectionA textile artwork that is made up of 4 cross stitch squares with each square a different colour and design.clare mccracken, cross stitch, textile

Green wool felt pennant with stitched side seam and white cotton tape tie sewn in seam.Front: JEPARIT / VIC. / SIR ROBERT MENZIES PARK Back: Lake Hindmarsh / JEPARIT / VIC.jeparit, victoria

UnknownLadies samples coverlet. Machine stitched. Backed with a patchwork of mattress damask offcuts in a simple slat design.quilting history, patchwork history, running stitch group, running stitch collection, quilting - history, patchwork - history

Beige linen tea cloth with brown drawn thread centre and brown stitched box thread hem.domestic items, sewing, handcrafts, embroidery

Laburnum Primary School inherited the banner when Vicky St Blackburn East School closed and was amalgamated into Laburnum Primary School. Laburnum Primary School donated to WHSMaroon cloth banner with white felt letters ,machine stitched on. 'Blackburn East S.S Vicky StBlackburn East S S Vicky Stschool, pennant

Round white cotton doyley decorated with cut out embroidery. Scalloped edging in button hole stitch.handcrafts, needlework, manchester, table linen

Square white cotton doyley with centre flower embroidery in white. Scalloped edging in button hole stitch.handcrafts, needlework, manchester, table linen

Worked in Needlework Class - 1943 At high schoolPink sampler - cotton Loose cream insert - other Blanket stich edge Various embroidery stitchesEmbroideredpink needlework sampler, needlework, heather mcnamara & isobel mcnamara

An official AMF publication issued to all Australian servicemen and women just prior to their deployment to South Vietnam during the war in that country. Contains information about the culture of the country, aspects of the armed forces of USA, Republic of South Vietnam and the Viet Cong and North Vietnam Army. Details of weapons likely to be encountered. Green soft covered book titled 'Pocketbook South Vietnam', saddled stitched and stapled, 74 pages.vietnam war, weapons, language, customs

Nobby Smith's bag used when out riding his horse fixing fences. Made by Arthur Smales. Nobby Smith worked for almost 30 years at the SCM as a Stable Manager. "Come here! Gee off" Joe & Lyn Chambers December 1991Leather bag / satchel with flap and buckle, long shoulder strap. Side panel stiched with white stitching.

An example of a souvenir issued to commemorate Legacy's 90th anniversary. It says: "90th Anniversary of Legacy 1923-2013" It is not known how widely the souvenir handkerchief was distributed or if it was sold as part of Legacy Week. It was part of a collection of Legacy items from Valma Hutchinson (nee Wigg), who was a former junior legatee. Valma was accepted into Junior Legacy club in 1940.A record of an item produced by Legacy to celebrate the 90th Anniversary and owned by a former Junior Legatee.A white handkerchief with the Legacy torch and text 'Legacy 90th Anniversary 1923-2013' stitched in blue thread.Legacy 90th Anniversary 1923-201390th anniversary, junior legatee, reunion

One patch, cream with black stitching of 6 RAR Emblem in green, red, grey, gold and brownpatch, insignia, 6 rar

Cloth shoulder patch to indicate that the conductor of the tram was qualified as a "Conductor Trainer". Similar design to item 6543Demonstrates the method of indicating a conductor was qualified to train other conductors.Cloth badge or patch - made on black cloth backing with the words "Conductor Trainer" stitched in red cotton. tramways, conductors, badges, mmtb, clothing, uniforms, training

Cloth shoulder patch to indicate that the conductor of the tram was being trained as a conductor. To be confirmed that it was actually used.Demonstrates the method of indicating the conductor was being trained.Cloth badge or patch - made on brown cloth backing with the words "Trainee Conductor" stitched in yellow cotton. tramways, conductors, badges, mmtb, clothing, uniforms, training

Leather collar box. Circular. Stitching around box and lid. Metal buckle. Leather carry handleWhite Label - Donated by Murray Lovell 1994mens wear, formal wear, history house

This apron was made by Janie Winter in 1969, Form 1 Needlework class - Teacher Mrs Church. Binding trim is hand sewn as is the embroidered name. The apron was used the following year in Form 2 during Cookery classes. A matching scarf (85.2) was also made in that year.Gold linen apron with red binding and pocket and rick rack trim. Embroidered with 'Janie' on top left hand front. williamstown high school, 1969, needlework, mrs church, janie winter, apron

Four photocopied A4 Sheets, stapled in top left hand corner, titled "Footscray College of TAFE / Civil Engineering Department /' Essendon - Footscray Tramway History", prepared for Bill Kingsley by Ron Scholten, mid 1980's giving dates about the development of public transport in the area. Would have been used on a tour that Bill organised and driven by Carolyn at the time.In ink in the top right hand corner "To Carolyn from Bill"trams, tramways, footscray, essendon, melbourne, history

.1) Made by William TIBBETT No 978 1st AIF while convalescing in hospital in England, also on hospital ship on way to Australia and at out the Army depot in Caulfield 1918. .2) Same inscription as above). Refer 488P for his service history also 573..1) Embroidered Rising Sun badge, mounted & framed. White plain cloth background, King's Crown (multi coloured) & Rising Sun (red/pink) stitched over stitched scroll (glass frame & gold coloured 4 sided frame). .2) Australian Coat of Arms with kangaroo, emu stitched in brown thread, 6 State emblems represented, wattle flowering branches in background on being background cloth, glass in wooden frame.1) “Australian Commonwealth Military Forces”handcrafts- embroidery, military history, rising sun-coat of arms

This dress was worn by Brighton's first female mayor, Councillor Di Lopez, to a Mayoral Ball held at Brighton Technical School in 1977. Diane Margaret Lewis completed a law degree at the University of Melbourne, later marrying one of her classmates, criminal lawyer Ramon (Ray) Lopez. When she decided to run for the Brighton City Council in 1975, she was seen as an outside chance. Undeterred, she rallied a small group of friends and supporters and set out on an extensive door-knocking campaign that won voters to her side and successfully unseated former mayor Keith Devenport. She went on to serve two terms on council from 1975 to 1981. Di initiated many local projects, including the creation of a bike path along Nepean Highway and the first Brighton Festival, while balancing family life and a demanding ‘day job’ as personal assistant to Victorian Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation Brian Dixon. She was a member of the Women’s Electoral Lobby and a champion for women’s representation, encouraging both Sally Allmand and Kate Harman to run for council (both were successfully elected). She advocated forcefully for an open, transparent local government in which ratepayers had the chance to participate and be heard. In 1976 Di became the first woman to hold the title of Mayor of Brighton, and she made it clear from the outset that she was going to do it her way. For the annual mayoral ball in 1977, ordinarily a staid traditional function, she chose a discotheque theme based on the Rod Stewart album Night on the Town, with a broad dress code of ‘black tie or jeans’: ‘You’ve got to get with the times,’ she said. ‘We want people to wear whatever they feel comfortable in.’ Di herself chose to attend in this knee-length chamois dress embellished with strings, ribbons, beads and feathers. It was both a fashion statement, exemplifying her colourful, flamboyant and forthright style, and a political one: a declaration of her intention to lead a progressive council, embracing the new and refusing to be hemmed in by dated traditions. In 2020 she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her service to local government and to the community of Brighton.This dress has local historical significance for its association with Brighton's first female mayor, Councillor Di Lopez, who wore it to a Mayoral Ball in 1976. The dress exemplifies her flamboyant reputation, modern outlook and willingness to break norms. At the time, the dress was a radical choice for a Mayoral Ball, where women typically wore formal evening gowns. With her choice of dress, Cr Lopez was making a public statement, breaking away from dated traditions and announcing her intention to bring the Mayor's office into the 1970s. In this way, the dress also points to the wider social and political changes taking place both in Brighton and across Australia during the mid-1970s.Three quarter length chamois dress circa 1974. Machine stitched with a v-neck and full length sleeves and an uneven raw hem, the dress is decorated with narrow thongs of chamois embellished with red beads and blue feathers. The open-fronted bodice is laced with red ribbon and the skirt is decorated with a large blue wool cross stitch and a combination of blue wool and purple ribbon cross stitch. Made in the style of an Indian 'Wild West Dress'.di lopez, chamois, brighton, brighton council, brighton technical school, mayoral ball, 1970s, feminism

Gift of the Moderator, Rev Jason Kioa.Round decorative glazed ceramic wall plate depicting a hand painted snow scene. Metal plaque adhered to plate.Metal plaque: "In appreciation of the Uniting Church on the occasion of the shared Ramadan Iftar Dinner 9 October 2007 Australian Intercultural Society". On back "Hand Made Kutahya - Turkey. Bilal Altinkaynack".australian intercultural society, kioa, jason, rev.

These hand-made nails were used in what was Temple's Store built in 1889. It later became Herbert's - now demolished and is the present site of the Foodworks Supermarket.Temple's store was on the corner of Ruskin Street and Nicholson Street. George Temple (1832-1918) established the store in about 1888. He packed stores to the Bendoc area gold fields.Two lots of hand-made nails. .1 is a set of five small nails tied together with string. .2 is a set of three longer nails which are very rusty.nails metal-working temples-store