This item was used by women to enhance their figure (body) and hold their stockings in place. Although still sometimes used they were mainly used prior to the making of pantyhose approximately 1960.Pink floral embriodered cotton material corset with stays, elastised inserts, metal hook and eye closure, two lace-up sections with elastic straps and metal buckles, four suspendersTag "Gross/Support"clothing and dress, george evans collection

This item was used by women to enhance their figure (body) and hold their stockings in place. Although still sometimes used they were mainly used prior to the making of pantyhose approximately 1960.White elasticised and satin material corset with stays, metal hook and eye and four suspenders."Jenyns/Patent..."clothing and dress, george evans collection

Strampp lived and worked at Clifton Pugh's artist colony Dunmoochin from 1980 to 1985. 'Into the Night' is Strampps' "own marriage painting". The wedding dress and horse, "a symbol of virility and passion" represents Strampp and the background landscape was inspired by her stay in Somerset, England. The cliff edge on the left symbolises "an audacious step into the future." The painting "is of a bride, passionate yet absent, about to embark upon a new journey in life, and of the voyage ahead. It is about acknowledging the past, and having the courage to move forward. To take risks". Strampp was largely influenced by both the new German Neo-Expressionists of the time and by English artist John Walker, which is evident in this painting. Her work took on popular stylistic trends and themes of the time, which included a painterly aesthetic and an energetic application of the medium, which transferred to an emotional and or personal connection to subject matter that was communicated symbolically. Strampp is an artist of national significance. This work encompasses themes and a style of painting (Neo - Expressionism) that was prevalent during the time of its making in the eighties. This work represents a transition from Strampp's highly regarded early paintings of heroic horses in the mid to late 1980’s to her highly regarded paintings of contemporary wedding and/or armour-like bodices dresses of the 1990s. Both the 'horse' and 'dress' were often set in empty backgrounds or dreamy/foreboding landscapes. Painted in oil on linen (x2) in a 'Neo-Expressionist' style, 'Into the Night' depicts a ghostly white horse to the right of the painting looking away from a ghostly white wedding dress to the left of the painting. The dress has sprouted white wings and is adorned with bows on the bottom edge of the dress and roses on the sleeves. The dress seems full bodied although there is no figure. The dress and horse are placed in the foreground on a stage like platform with a white curtain framing the picture to the right, and a black ladder and brown cliff edge framing the picture to the left. The background depicts a foreboding and dark cloudy sky and seascape with a firery red landscape burning on the horizon. Signed low right (1988.7b VA) with brush in purple (light) 'Adriane Strampp 87'. into the night, neo expressionism, wedding dress, horse, symbolism, painting, seascape, dramatic, emotional, poetic, strampp

Growing up in Sandringham, Joy Bosomworth learned to sew at the knee of her mother Elsie Myra Keefer, a seamstress. By the time she was an adult, she was making most of her own clothes. She made this shot velvet evening dress, along with a matching stole and bag, in 1961 to wear to a ball at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where she worked as a radiographer. An evening outfit consisting of a matching dress, stole, bag and gloves. Sleeveless one-shoulder evening dress of blue velvet shot with metallic red. The dress is gathered at the proper left front waist and is lined with red synthetic fabric. Fastens with a zip and hook at the side. Stole of blue velvet shot with metallic red, lined with red synthetic fabric. Handbag made from blue velvet shot with metallic red. The bag has a gold metal frame and clasp, with a shot gold metal chain attached. The interior is red synthetic fabric, with a single side pocket. Elbow-length red nylon evening globes.joy myra bosomworth, joy myra keefer, evening dress, ball gown, 1960s

Crocheted example by Joyce Hucker. Hucker began working with unspun wool and making dyes from the natural sources from her garden and the farm trees around her. From knitting and crocheting articles, she progressed to felting and a 'wrapping' technique, always using unspun wool. She was a successful exhibitor at many craft shows and was always willing to pass on her experience and knowledge to others, often travelling widely to help groups requiring a demonstration.Crocheted example by Joyce Hucker.crochet, hucker, mrs joyce

In 1973 when Brian Schultz was working as a dye chemist at Yarra Falls (a Textile Factory making fabrics for school uniforms, suits etc.) in Abbotsford, he was invited by his friend to be his best man. He chose the colour green, dyed the fabric himself, and took the fabric to a tailor in Smith Street, Collingwood to have the suits made up for the December wedding. The green shirt which Brian wore with the green suit at the wedding in 1973 came in handy when he wore it 37 years later at his son's 30th birthday Halloween dress up party, when he dressed up as The Hulk. He cut up the sleeves of the shirt and painted himself green. For the December wedding, the groom wore a white suit, lemon shirt and emerald green velvet bow tie.Green two piece suit with shirt and bow tie. 1. Single breasted jacket with two pearl buttons centre and smaller buttons on sleeves. White stitching around collar edge and down the front on pockets. 2. Trousers with wide belt carrier, zip fly, cuffs wide with 6cm turnback. 3. Shirt is a polyester fine knit, pale green with dark green buttons and collar stitched with dark green edge-stitching. 4. Dark green velvet and ready-tied bow tie..MENS SLACKS BY TRAVELLERS APPAREL - For the man who goes placescostume, male

This knitted and crocheted three piece dress was made by Jean Gorsuch in 1960. The wool was purchased from the Treasure House, a wool, toys and childrens clothes shop in Station Street, Mitcham. This was a very fashionable at that time as knitted and crocheted garments were making a comeback. This was also one of the first lurex thread wool.Knitted and crochet three piece costume of a jumper, jacket and skirt. Colour Old Gold.costume, female

B&W photo shows siblings Percy and Cissie (Minnie Agnes) Johns on the verandah of their home, Glen Park Farm, Selby. Percy looks in his early teens, making the photo around 1910 or later. He is wearing a long-sleeved pale shirt, long dark trousers tucked into knee-high boots, and possibly a dark hat. Cissie is wearing a pale, knee-length dress, dark stockings, and a pale, wide-brimmed hat. She is aged about 10. A medium sized dark dog sits at Percy's feet. The house is an L-shaped weatherboard with two gables at right-angles and a verandah with a bullnosed roof, ornate support posts, and a striped end piece from the roof. Wooden steps lead down from side. There is a large brick chimney where the two wings meet, and a metal water tank to the side. There are large trees, both in leaf and dead, plus some flowers near the verandah.

Photos of the Melbourne Junior Legacy Annual Demonstration at the Melbourne Town Hall in September 1963. They include a scene of a canoe with junior legatees dressed as Native Americans. There are ballerinas dancing, and children marching and making formations. Also gymnastics demonstrations. Throughout the year Melbourne Legacy provided classes for Junior Legatees such as dancing, gymnastics and eurythmics, the Demonstration was an annual event to showcase their skills. Melbourne Legacy conducted Annual Demonstrations / Parades from 1928 through to the late 1970's, usually held at Melbourne Town Hall or Olympic Pool Stadium. The beautiful costumes were made by members of the Junior Legacy Mothers' Club and the Melbourne Legacy Wives' Association. A record of a Junior Legacy Demonstration.Black and white photo x 33 of the Annual Demonstration in 1963.junior legatee, annual demonstration, costumes, ballerinas

Yields information in movie film format of Ballarat trams in 1960, how the system operated and was used by people., Yields information in movie film format of Ballarat trams in 1960, how the system operated and was used by people.Movie film - 8mm, approx. 30mins, with leader strip on a plastic reel, within a black and white plastic box, titled "Ballarat No. 1. 1960". Has been transferred to DVD - see Reg item 4100 as Segment No. 2. Made by Ben Parle. Also transferred to DVD by Rod Cook Oct. 2015, via Roger Greenwood for use in his DVD, "The City of Ballarat Trams, Gardens & Gold" of 2016. See Reg Item 6883. Synopsis: based on time. 0:00 View of typed introduction, noting that this is a pictorial record of Ballarat. 0:10 Title “The Tramways of Ballarat 1960, Part 1” 0:16 13, showing “View Point” at Stones Corner, Bridge St, east end, with trolley pole being turned, while another single trucker heads out towards Mt Pleasant. 0:25 13 leaving Stones Corner, short approach and then longer trailing shot of the tram going towards the City in Bridge St. 0:44 View out of front of tram in Bridge St heading towards the City, with cars in the photo, then passing through city Loop, no trams in the loop and running up to Lydiard St Nth and crossing the road. 1:22 Running up Sturt St from Armstrong St, passes over Dawson St X-over and up to the next intersection, Lyons St. 1:54 Title “The View Point Line” 1:59 19 inbound, in Ripon St, from crossing Mair St, towards camera and then passing away and turning into Sturt St. 2:49 View of a “Warning Oncoming Trams” sign 2:52 19 in Ripon St, going to View Point, crossing Webster St towards camera, then going away through the disconnected Victoria Ave loop, pass the “Warning Oncoming Trams” sign. Note very windy scene with people running across roads. 3:17 19 in Wendouree Parade, in bound, though showing destination View Point, going away from the camera, past the View Point Hotel. 3:39 19 coming towards camera near Excerpt or Devon St and then going away towards the terminus. 4:04 19 at the terminus, stationary, with a single trucker 3?, passing from Macarthur St into Wendouree Parade, behind 19. 4:20 33 coming towards camera in Wendouree Parade from St Aidans Drive, stopping to pick up passenger at Forest St and then going away towards the City, photographed from near the depot, on a wet and windy day. 4:54 35 in Wendouree Parade, coming towards the Camera from St Aidans Drive and then going away with the Gardens Loop area in the background. Tram stops at stop to let a passenger off. 5:28 21 leaving Gardens Loop for the City via the Depot, green light in signal can be seen. 5:43 28?, closely followed by 26 turn from Drummond St South into Sturt St. 6:18 Scene opens with shot of “Sebastopol” destination on a bogie tram. 6:21 Title “The Sebastopol Line” 6:24 21 turning from Sturt St into Drummond St Sth with destination of Bell St and then going away from the camera. 6:55 38 in Drummond St Sth, coming towards the camera and then passing the camera with Sturt St just in the view. 7:10 21, showing Gregory St, in Drummond St Sth, approaching and then going away, entering the Urquhart St Loop, 7:39 34 in Drummond St Sth (location check required (Latrobe?)), approaches camera, picks up passengers and the goes away. 8:09 39 at ? Street, turns from Drummond St Sth into Skipton St, after picking up and setting down passengers, bound for Sebastopol 8:55 35 inbound in Skipton St passes through the Bell Street Loop, and then goes away from the camera. 9:33 42 outbound in Skipton St, approaches the camera, passes and then crosses over the half the road into Albert St. 10:00 39 inbound in Albert St – location? 10:31 34 outbound for Sebastopol, approaches camera and just starts to pass by. 10:36 34 in Grey St crossing loop, crosses 42 inbound. 10:59 39 outbound in Albert St, with shopping centre in bound, approaches camera, passes and then crosses over Albert St. Mid morning scene. 11:39 39 inbound, Albert St south, approaches camera and then passes and the crosses over Albert St. 12:16 41 outbound in Albert St passes the camera, and pulls into the terminus with the conductor getting out on the back bumper to pull the pole down as the tram stops and a passenger walks into the Royal Hotel. 12:39 Title “The Lydiard Street North Line” 12:44 Filmed from the Hotel balcony, 21 inbound in Lydiard St Nth passes over Mair St, stops while 33 passes in the other direction. 13:18 With the red light showing on the Seymour St loop signal, 33 inbound for Sebastopol stops and picks up many passengers, passes the camera and runs past the VRI building in the background and through the loop. Possibly filmed on a Sunday given the ladies dresses and quieter streets. 14:01 30 outbound, passes the camera and stops at Macarthur St. Filmed alongside the brick wall of the cutting. 14:28 30 inbound arrives, passes through the Gregory St loop and then proceeds past the camera, making a stop to pick up passengers. 15:14 28 in Lydiard St Nth – location?, approaches and goes away from the camera, north of Gregory St. 15:34 28 ditto location? 15:53 21 arrives at the terminus with passengers getting on and off. 16:11 View of the a vertical positioned “End of Section” sign on a pole at the terminus and then lifting the camera to see the timetable board and the stop sign. 16:33 31 in Bridge St passing Morseheads and then turning into Sturt St, stops at the Grenville St stop, while another single trucker comes down to the stop from the City. 16:58 31 outbound in Bridge St, with destination of Victoria St. 17:14 Title “The Victoria Street Line” 17:18 31 outbound to Victoria St from Stones Corner. Starts with an overhead shot, shows clock at the Caltex service station,. 17:37 31 inbound approaching Bakery Hill and then descending to the junction after it passes camera. 18:09 25 climbing outbound in Victoria St, passing the camera, to then pass through the King St loop. 18:47 25 inbound in Victoria St, passing the camera, then pass through the King St loop, with St Alypius Church in the background. 19:36 14 approaching the rail bridge in Victoria St and stopping at the 2nd last stop to left of passengers. 20:01 14 leaving the terminus and approaching the camera and the a short sequence going away, to the next stop to pick up quite a few passengers. 20:14 “Trams Stop Here” sign, metal wrap around on a steel pole. 20:16 Title “The Mount Pleasant Line” 20:21 11 inbound in Main St, with a passenger leaping off the tramcar and another getting off just before the junction. 20:45 11 passes the junction and then proceeds away from the camera in Bridge St. 21:04 30 outbound in Main St, then turns into Barkly St, a bus (Eclipse Motors) passes in Main St just before the sequence ends. 21:31 30 inbound near Steinfield St. (exact location?) 21:49 25 approaches the camera, then proceeds away and passes through the Grant St. loop. 22:29 25 inbound, windy day, between Grant and Cobden, (exact location?), with a horse drawn bread van in the view and the breadman walking behind the tram as it passes. 23:02 11 outbound in Barkly St, (exact location?) 23:37 11 inbound in Barkly St (exact location?) 23:44 Mt Pleasant terminus signage 23:50 30 approaches the terminus and then stops with the conductor alighting turning the pole, passengers getting on and off and the driver appearing at the other end. 24:32 Title “The Gardens Via Sturt St. West Line” 24:35 21 outbound in Sturt St near Raglan St, approaches and passes the Camera. 25:09 12, showing City Oval, approaches and passes the camera, outbound near Windermere St. 25:33 13 showing View Point, goes away from the camera – location? 25:44 12 comes from St. West, inbound passes the camera and then stop as the next stop next Talbot St? 26:21 Short sequence of a “Warning Oncoming Trams” sign 26:28 42 inbound in Sturt St West, just before Ripon St, view coming towards camera and then going away to cross Ripon St. 27:10 34 passes through the Parker St loop 27:25 35 or 39 inbound past the college in Sturt St West 28:04 41 outbound at the Russell St curve, passes away from the camera. 28:11 35? inbound passes away from the camera through the Victoria Park or Morrison St loop, swinging out into the roadway. 28:29 View of timetable sign at Hamilton Ave. 28:37 35 turning from Sturt St West into Hamilton Ave, can see the conductor changing over the barrier rails. 29:11 42 inbound, crosses another bogie tram (35?) at Carlton St loop then passes the camera and goes past the Olympic rings monument. 29:42 12 approaches the Carlton St gates. 30:07 12 outbound, crosses a bogie tram in the loop with both trams then leaving the loop. 30:20 Title “End of Part One” Written labels giving title information on outside of box.trams, tramways, ballarat, sebastopol, lydiard st north, victoria st, mt pleasant, sturt st west

Fashion by Oggi, as the sign above the door proclaimed, was located at the Paris End of Collins Street, on the south side, virtually opposite Lilian Weightman’s Le Louvre boutique. Janet Brock, who at the time was working in the Central Business District of Melbourne, had stopped to admire a mauve version of the dress that was displayed in the window, and, on making inquiries from the proprietress, ordered a made-to-measure cream-coloured copy. Her marriage occurred shortly after the death of her father, and took place on 18 December 1971 at the Kew Presbyterian Church in Cotham Road, where the Rev. Peter Mackie was the celebrant. The Fashion & Design collection of the Kew Historical Society includes examples of women’s, men’s, children’s and infants’ clothing from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Items in the collection were largely produced for, or purchased by women in Melbourne, and includes examples of outerwear, protective wear, nightwear, underwear and costume accessories.Wedding dress, purchased by Janet Elizabeth Brock in December 1971 from Oggi of Collins Street. The wedding dress, reaching just below the knee, is lined in silk with a double outer layer of organza. The striking decoration of the monochromatic cream dress is achieved through the use of wide ruffled organza frills at the neck, on the sleeves and at the flared hem of the dress. The dress has a discrete v-neckline with small, self-covered buttons at centre front. At the back, the dress is closed with a nylon zip. In addition to the elaborate stiffened frills, the dress features a wide fabric belt with a double bow, worn at the front. oggi - 103-105 collins street - melbourne (vic), women's clothing, wedding dresses, janet (brock) walker, australian fashion - 1970s

Norma Tullo began her dressmaking business in 1956. At the age of 20, she rented a small shop in the Metropole Arcade, initiating a career that included manufacturing, designing and retailing. In 1965, she became the first Australian to be selected by Butterick Company Inclusive to join their pattern making company. The stylish Tullo ‘look’ in the first half of the 1960s was young, colourful, feminine and most importantly had a strong American appeal. The patterns were distributed worldwide except to Russia and Germany. In the second half of the 1960s, she developed a new design range, influenced by the American 'hippie' style, featuring floor length dresses with long narrow sleeves, high round collars, and ruffles on the hems and at the cuffs. Patterns and colours became brighter to match prevailing tastes. Patricia Desmarchelier, the donor, purchased this and two other items of evening wear by Norma Tullo in a Brisbane CBD boutique fashion store during 1967/8 for her personal use. At the time, she was an undergraduate student who saved earnestly to buy the outfits to wear to college formals and balls that were popular during those years.Aesthetically significant and rare example of a couture range by Norma Tullo.Long red cotton evening dress with overall white polka-dots, designed by Norma Tullo. The floor length dress has a high rounded collar, long sleeves with ruffles at the cuffs and on the hem. The light-weight cotton outer layer is supported by a thick cotton underlayer. Atypically, the dress has a label stating it is an example of 'Tullo Couture'. Dimensions: Shoulder width 40cm Bust: 92cm Waist: 72cmLabel: TULLO COUTUREaustralian fashion, fashion designers, norma tullo, fashion -- 1960s, hippie style, evening wear, evening dresses, dresses, melbourne fashion houses, tullo couture

Norma Tullo began her dressmaking business in 1956. At the age of 20, she rented a small shop in the Metropole Arcade, initiating a career that included manufacturing, designing and retailing. In 1965, she became the first Australian to be selected by Butterick Company Inclusive to join their pattern making company. The stylish Tullo ‘look’ in the first half of the 1960s was young, colourful, feminine and most importantly had a strong American appeal. The patterns were distributed worldwide except to Russia and Germany. In the second half of the 1960s, she developed a new design range, influenced by the American 'hippie' style, featuring floor length dresses with long narrow sleeves, high round collars, and ruffles on the hems and at the cuffs. Patterns and colours became brighter to match prevailing tastes. Patricia Desmarchelier, the donor, purchased this and two other items of evening wear by Norma Tullo in a Brisbane CBD boutique fashion store during 1967/8 for her personal use. At the time, she was an undergraduate student who saved earnestly to buy the outfits to wear to college formals and balls that were popular during those years.Aesthetically significant dress by Norma Tullo.Long blue cotton evening dress designed by Norma Tullo. The floor length dress has a high rounded collar, long sleeves with buttoned cuffs. The light-weight cotton outer layer is supported by a thicker cotton underlayer. Dimensions: Shoulder width 37.5cm Bust: 90cm Waist: 66cm Hips: 96cmLabel: TULLOaustralian fashion, fashion designers, norma tullo, fashion -- 1960s, hippie style, evening wear, evening dresses, dresses, melbourne fashion houses

Norma Tullo began her dressmaking business in 1956. At the age of 20, she rented a small shop in the Metropole Arcade, initiating a career that included manufacturing, designing and retailing. In 1965, she became the first Australian to be selected by Butterick Company Inclusive to join their pattern making company. The stylish Tullo ‘look’ in the first half of the 1960s was young, colourful, feminine and most importantly had a strong American appeal. The patterns were distributed worldwide except to Russia and Germany. In the second half of the 1960s, she developed a new design range, influenced by the American 'hippie' style, featuring floor length dresses with long narrow sleeves, high round collars, and ruffles on the hems and at the cuffs. Patterns and colours became brighter to match prevailing tastes. Patricia Desmarchelier, the donor, purchased this and two other items of evening wear by Norma Tullo in a Brisbane CBD boutique fashion store during 1967/8 for her personal use. At the time, she was an undergraduate student who saved earnestly to buy the outfits to wear to college formals and balls that were popular during those years.Aesthetically significant dress by Norma Tullo.Long blue evening coat designed by Norma Tullo. The floor length coat has a wing collar, long sleeves and silver buttons at the front. The coat was worn over a long blue evening dress by the same designer and could be worn buttoned or unbuttoned. Dimensions: Shoulder width 38cm Bust: 96cm Waist: 87cm Hips: 116cmLabel: TULLOaustralian fashion, fashion designers, norma tullo, fashion -- 1960s, hippie style, evening wear, evening dresses, dresses, melbourne fashion houses

An article in the Melbourne Age (2 March 1978, p. 25) recorded the retirement of Clare Ralph of Goullet of Melbourne (active 1953-78). "One of Australia's most talented milliners, Clare Ralph, of Goullet, is selling her business because she wants to spend more time in her garden. "I have been in the business for 25 years and last week I turned 60 and so I thought now is the time," Mrs. Ralph said at her Richmond shop yesterday. ... Mrs. Ralph is selling cheaply $10,000 for the label, which also covers sportswear, and tenancy and lease of the premises which have a showroom and workroom. ... Mrs. Ralph is as unpretentious as the relaxed Goullet styling which brought the new concept of millinery to Australia non-hatty hats with none of the "Melbourne Mum" quality so rife at the time. She said she started off making hats rather than dressmaking because she couldn't afford to buy the three yards of material necessary for a dress. "I wanted to get out of the house and so I did millinery night classes at Caulfield Tech." Her first efforts were sun-hats of natural straw which Mrs. Ralph trimmed extravagantly … "gold fishnet and braiding and sparkly jewels all over the crown. "They were ridiculous but a lot of fun," she said. She carted them by train to the city and nervously showed them to a store buyer. After the meeting, she couldn't face taking the samples home again on the train and left them. Before she could collect them, to everyone's amazement particularly Clare Ralph's, they had been sold. "The next thing was people were asking me what I was going to do for winter. I hadn't thought I was in the industry. I just thought I had sold a couple of sun hats and that was marvellous because I needed the money," she said. If the new buyer is interested, Clare Ralph will continue designing hats on a consultancy basis for them, which would be great for all the fans she has collected since those crazy sun-hat days.The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. Most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women. There are however a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Wide brimmed woman’s hat designed by Clare Ralph of Goullet of Melbourne, constructed of white stiffened fabric with a white fabric cord surrounding the crown of the hat.Label: Designed by Goullet of Melbournegoullet of melbourne, clare ralph -- milliner, women's clothing -- hats, headwear

An article in the Melbourne Age (2 March 1978, p. 25) recorded the retirement of Clare Ralph of Goullet of Melbourne (active 1953-78). "One of Australia's most talented milliners, Clare Ralph, of Goullet, is selling her business because she wants to spend more time in her garden. "I have been in the business for 25 years and last week I turned 60 and so I thought now is the time," Mrs. Ralph said at her Richmond shop yesterday. ... Mrs. Ralph is selling cheaply $10,000 for the label, which also covers sportswear, and tenancy and lease of the premises which have a showroom and workroom. ... Mrs. Ralph is as unpretentious as the relaxed Goullet styling which brought the new concept of millinery to Australia non-hatty hats with none of the "Melbourne Mum" quality so rife at the time. She said she started off making hats rather than dressmaking because she couldn't afford to buy the three yards of material necessary for a dress. "I wanted to get out of the house and so I did millinery night classes at Caulfield Tech." Her first efforts were sun-hats of natural straw which Mrs. Ralph trimmed extravagantly … "gold fishnet and braiding and sparkly jewels all over the crown. "They were ridiculous but a lot of fun," she said. She carted them by train to the city and nervously showed them to a store buyer. After the meeting, she couldn't face taking the samples home again on the train and left them. Before she could collect them, to everyone's amazement particularly Clare Ralph's, they had been sold. "The next thing was people were asking me what I was going to do for winter. I hadn't thought I was in the industry. I just thought I had sold a couple of sun hats and that was marvellous because I needed the money," she said. If the new buyer is interested, Clare Ralph will continue designing hats on a consultancy basis for them, which would be great for all the fans she has collected since those crazy sun-hat days.The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Finely woven straw woman’s hat designed by Clare Ralph for her millinery label Goullet [Melbourne]. The hat features a cream ribbon around the base of the crown. Label: Goulletclare ralph -- goullet -- melbourne (vic.), milliners -- clare ralph, headwear, women's clothing -- hats

Norma Tullo began her dressmaking business in 1956. At the age of 20, she rented a small shop in the Metropole Arcade, initiating a career that included manufacturing, designing and retailing. In 1965, she became the first Australian to be selected by Butterick Company Inclusive to join their pattern making company. The stylish Tullo ‘look’ in the first half of the 1960s was young, colourful, feminine and most importantly had a strong American appeal. The patterns were distributed worldwide except to Russia and Germany. At this time, she had a collection of 300 garments. In the second half of the 1960s, she developed a new design range, influenced by the American 'hippie' style, featuring floor length dresses with long narrow sleeves, high round collars, and ruffles on the hems and at the cuffs. Patterns and colours became brighter to match prevailing tastes. This blouse is one of a number of items donated to the Fashion Collection by Dione McIntyre.The McIntyre Collection of clothing and clothing accessories forms one of the largest single donations to our Fashion & Design collection. It includes clothing and clothing accessories worn by four women in the Cohen and McIntyre families across three generations. The items worn by Melbourne architect, and Kew resident, Dione McIntyre date from the 1960s and 1970s, and include evening wear, day wear, hats and shoes. As Dione McIntyre often accompanied her husband, fellow architect Peter McIntyre, to formal events, there are a number of pieces of evening wear among the items. The McIntyre Collection also includes items worn by women of an earlier generation: by Lilian Cohen, Dione McIntyre's mother, and by her mother-in-law, the wife of the architect Robert McIntyre. At the other end of the chronological spectrum are a number of outfits belonging to, worn and donated by Annie McIntyre. These include outfits created by notable late 20th century Australian and/or international fashion designers. The McIntyre Collection is significant historically and artistically as it includes examples of design that demonstrate changing tastes in fashion over an 80-year period. The collection is also significant in that it includes the work of a large number of Melbourne designers from the 1960s to the 1990s. Pale aqua coloured long sleeved silk blouse with an attached scarf of the same fabric and colour at the neckLabel: TULLO (removed)norma tullo, women's clothing, australian fashion - 1960s, blouses

Norma Tullo began her dressmaking business in 1956. At the age of 20, she rented a small shop in the Metropole Arcade, initiating a career that included manufacturing, designing and retailing. In 1965, she became the first Australian to be selected by Butterick Company Inclusive to join their pattern making company. The stylish Tullo ‘look’ in the first half of the 1960s was young, colourful, feminine and most importantly had a strong American appeal. The patterns were distributed worldwide except to Russia and Germany. At this time, she had a collection of 300 garments. In the second half of the 1960s, she developed a new design range, influenced by the American 'hippie' style, featuring floor length dresses with long narrow sleeves, high round collars, and ruffles on the hems and at the cuffs. Patterns and colours became brighter to match prevailing tastes.The dress was owned, worn and donated to the collection by Dione McIntyre.The McIntyre Collection of clothing and clothing accessories forms one of the largest single donations to our Fashion & Design collection. It includes clothing and clothing accessories worn by four women in the Cohen and McIntyre families across three generations. The items worn by Melbourne architect, and Kew resident, Dione McIntyre date from the 1960s and 1970s, and include evening wear, day wear, hats and shoes. As Dione McIntyre often accompanied her husband, fellow architect Peter McIntyre, to formal events, there are a number of pieces of evening wear among the items. The McIntyre Collection also includes items worn by women of an earlier generation: by Lilian Cohen, Dione McIntyre's mother, and by her mother-in-law, the wife of the architect Robert McIntyre. At the other end of the chronological spectrum are a number of outfits belonging to, worn and donated by Annie McIntyre. These include outfits created by notable late 20th century Australian and/or international fashion designers. The McIntyre Collection is significant historically and artistically as it includes examples of design that demonstrate changing tastes in fashion over an 80-year period. The collection is also significant in that it includes the work of a large number of Melbourne designers from the 1960s to the 1990s. Long sleeved black cotton dress the fabric of which includes a pattern of small beige and cream polka dots. The ends of the sleeves and the base of the dress include ruffled trims of the same fabric. Label: TULLOnorma tullo, australian fashion - 1960s, women's clothing, day wear, mcintyre collection

Norma Tullo began her dressmaking business in 1956. At the age of 20, she rented a small shop in the Metropole Arcade, initiating a career that included manufacturing, designing and retailing. In 1965, she became the first Australian to be selected by Butterick Company Inclusive to join their pattern making company. The stylish Tullo ‘look’ in the first half of the 1960s was young, colourful, feminine and most importantly had a strong American appeal. The patterns were distributed worldwide except to Russia and Germany. At this time, she had a collection of 300 garments. This dress is one of a number of items donated to the Fashion Collection by Dione McIntyre.The McIntyre Collection of clothing and clothing accessories forms one of the largest single donations to our Fashion & Design collection. It includes clothing and clothing accessories worn by four women in the Cohen and McIntyre families across three generations. The items worn by Melbourne architect, and Kew resident, Dione McIntyre date from the 1960s and 1970s, and include evening wear, day wear, hats and shoes. As Dione McIntyre often accompanied her husband, fellow architect Peter McIntyre, to formal events, there are a number of pieces of evening wear among the items. The McIntyre Collection also includes items worn by women of an earlier generation: by Lilian Cohen, Dione McIntyre's mother, and by her mother-in-law, the wife of the architect Robert McIntyre. At the other end of the chronological spectrum are a number of outfits belonging to, worn and donated by Annie McIntyre. These include outfits created by notable late 20th century Australian and/or international fashion designers. The McIntyre Collection is significant historically and artistically as it includes examples of design that demonstrate changing tastes in fashion over an 80-year period. The collection is also significant in that it includes the work of a large number of Melbourne designers from the 1960s to the 1990s. Long sleeved, pale pink cotton mini dress designed by Norma Tullo with ruffled trims on the bodice and the hem of the skirtLabel: TULLOnorma tullo, australian fashion - 1960s, mcintyre collection, mini-dresses, day dresses

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

These domestic kitchen bags were donated to the National Wool Museum by Lila Gore. Lila donated Children’s Clothing (RGE 8324) to the museum in 2022 and at her time of donating, inquired as to whether the museum would also be interested in these bags she had been collecting. Lila said there was no reason as to why she was saving the bags, other than she liked the art works and thought they were too good to end up in landfill. She had thought perhaps she would make something out of the bags, or perhaps give the bags to a friend to make something. When Lila was donating the Children’s Clothing to the museum, she thought that the National Wool Museum would be the perfect home for the bags. Domestic kitchen bags such as these date from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. They were used at home, usually by women, containing household items which would not spoil, such as flour, sugar, animal feed, seeds, and other commodities. In modern times a trip to the supermarket is a daily chore, in the past however, these trips happened far less often, with big sacks such as these a large reason why. In the rural US and Canada, Feed sack dresses and Flour sack dresses, were an iconic part of rural life from the 1920s through the Great Depression, World War II, and post-World War II years. Australia also reused these sacks, typically for making wagga style blankets, but re-use for clothing was not unusual.Calico bag with yellow and blue graphic text on front.Front: COOK-WELL \ SELF- \ RAISING \ FLOUR \ PREPARED WITH \ PHOSHATE AERATOR \ HENRY BERRY & Co (A/S??Ltd) \ 568 580 COLLINS STREET \ MELBOURNE \ NET 7 LBSwagga, flour, oats, bag, calico, lila, gore, depression, war, kitchen

These domestic kitchen bags were donated to the National Wool Museum by Lila Gore. Lila donated Children’s Clothing (RGE 8324) to the museum in 2022 and at her time of donating, inquired as to whether the museum would also be interested in these bags she had been collecting. Lila said there was no reason as to why she was saving the bags, other than she liked the art works and thought they were too good to end up in landfill. She had thought perhaps she would make something out of the bags, or perhaps give the bags to a friend to make something. When Lila was donating the Children’s Clothing to the museum, she thought that the National Wool Museum would be the perfect home for the bags. Domestic kitchen bags such as these date from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. They were used at home, usually by women, containing household items which would not spoil, such as flour, sugar, animal feed, seeds, and other commodities. In modern times a trip to the supermarket is a daily chore, in the past however, these trips happened far less often, with big sacks such as these a large reason why. In the rural US and Canada, Feed sack dresses and Flour sack dresses, were an iconic part of rural life from the 1920s through the Great Depression, World War II, and post-World War II years. Australia also reused these sacks, typically for making wagga style blankets, but re-use for clothing was not unusual.Calico oat bag with graphic image on front showing three bears holding porridge bowls with yellow background and red, white and black text. Back of bag shows red and white graphic image of a woman wearing a dress and heeled shoes holding a coffee cup, with red and white text.Front: THREE BEARS \ PORRIDGE \ FLAKED \ OATMEAL \ SOMEBODYS BEEN TASTIN' MY PORRIDGE \ AN' THEY'VE EATEN IT ALL UP \ Jas. F. McKenzie & Co. Pty. Ltd. \ AUSTRALIA \ 7 LBS. NET. Back: MCKENZIES \ EXCELSIOR \ COFFEE \ ESSENCEwagga, flour, oats, bag, calico, lila, gore, depression, war, kitchen

These domestic kitchen bags were donated to the National Wool Museum by Lila Gore. Lila donated Children’s Clothing (RGE 8324) to the museum in 2022 and at her time of donating, inquired as to whether the museum would also be interested in these bags she had been collecting. Lila said there was no reason as to why she was saving the bags, other than she liked the art works and thought they were too good to end up in landfill. She had thought perhaps she would make something out of the bags, or perhaps give the bags to a friend to make something. When Lila was donating the Children’s Clothing to the museum, she thought that the National Wool Museum would be the perfect home for the bags. Domestic kitchen bags such as these date from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. They were used at home, usually by women, containing household items which would not spoil, such as flour, sugar, animal feed, seeds, and other commodities. In modern times a trip to the supermarket is a daily chore, in the past however, these trips happened far less often, with big sacks such as these a large reason why. In the rural US and Canada, Feed sack dresses and Flour sack dresses, were an iconic part of rural life from the 1920s through the Great Depression, World War II, and post-World War II years. Australia also reused these sacks, typically for making wagga style blankets, but re-use for clothing was not unusual.Calico oat bag with graphic image on front showing three bears holding porridge bowls with yellow background and white and black text.Front: THREE BEARS \ PORRIDGE \ ROLLED \ OATS \ SOMEBODYS BEEN TASTIN' MY PORRIDGE / AN' THEY'VE EATEN IT ALL UPwagga, flour, oats, bag, calico, lila, gore, depression, war, kitchen

These domestic kitchen bags were donated to the National Wool Museum by Lila Gore. Lila donated Children’s Clothing (RGE 8324) to the museum in 2022 and at her time of donating, inquired as to whether the museum would also be interested in these bags she had been collecting. Lila said there was no reason as to why she was saving the bags, other than she liked the art works and thought they were too good to end up in landfill. She had thought perhaps she would make something out of the bags, or perhaps give the bags to a friend to make something. When Lila was donating the Children’s Clothing to the museum, she thought that the National Wool Museum would be the perfect home for the bags. Domestic kitchen bags such as these date from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. They were used at home, usually by women, containing household items which would not spoil, such as flour, sugar, animal feed, seeds, and other commodities. In modern times a trip to the supermarket is a daily chore, in the past however, these trips happened far less often, with big sacks such as these a large reason why. In the rural US and Canada, Feed sack dresses and Flour sack dresses, were an iconic part of rural life from the 1920s through the Great Depression, World War II, and post-World War II years. Australia also reused these sacks, typically for making wagga style blankets, but re-use for clothing was not unusual.Calico oat bag with colour image and black text. Image shows a full length brown horse with bridle.Front: PARSONS FARM ANIMAL SERIES No.3 \ SUFFOLK \ The Suffolk, often known as the Suffolk Punch, originated in the County of Suffolk, England \ and is noted for its hardiness. From 15 to 16 hands in height. The Suffolk in general is smaller than \ the Clydesdale. The head is rather coarse, with the neck short. The body long deep and wide with \ a round full appearance. The croup is straight and legs short and free from leather. The invariable \ colour is chestnut, varying from light to dark.wagga, flour, oats, bag, calico, lila, gore, depression, war, kitchen

These domestic kitchen bags were donated to the National Wool Museum by Lila Gore. Lila donated Children’s Clothing (RGE 8324) to the museum in 2022 and at her time of donating, inquired as to whether the museum would also be interested in these bags she had been collecting. Lila said there was no reason as to why she was saving the bags, other than she liked the art works and thought they were too good to end up in landfill. She had thought perhaps she would make something out of the bags, or perhaps give the bags to a friend to make something. When Lila was donating the Children’s Clothing to the museum, she thought that the National Wool Museum would be the perfect home for the bags. Domestic kitchen bags such as these date from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. They were used at home, usually by women, containing household items which would not spoil, such as flour, sugar, animal feed, seeds, and other commodities. In modern times a trip to the supermarket is a daily chore, in the past however, these trips happened far less often, with big sacks such as these a large reason why. In the rural US and Canada, Feed sack dresses and Flour sack dresses, were an iconic part of rural life from the 1920s through the Great Depression, World War II, and post-World War II years. Australia also reused these sacks, typically for making wagga style blankets, but re-use for clothing was not unusual.Calico oat bag with graphic blue and yellow image and text on front. Image shows head and shoulders of person resting on forearms surrounded by flora. Back of bag shows blue and white image of a cube with text and star graphics.Front: HARPER'S \ STAR \ AVENA \ BRAND \ ROLLED OATS \ ??INCORPOR?? ??STORIA?? \ ????? \ AUSTRALIA Back: THE \ SILVER STAR \ RICE \ STARCH \ ROBERT HARPERS AND CO LIMITED \ AUSTRALIA \ THE \ BEST \ IN \ THE \ WORLD \ WONT \ STICK \ TO THE \ IRON \wagga, flour, oats, bag, calico, lila, gore, depression, war, kitchen

These domestic kitchen bags were donated to the National Wool Museum by Lila Gore. Lila donated Children’s Clothing (RGE 8324) to the museum in 2022 and at her time of donating, inquired as to whether the museum would also be interested in these bags she had been collecting. Lila said there was no reason as to why she was saving the bags, other than she liked the art works and thought they were too good to end up in landfill. She had thought perhaps she would make something out of the bags, or perhaps give the bags to a friend to make something. When Lila was donating the Children’s Clothing to the museum, she thought that the National Wool Museum would be the perfect home for the bags. Domestic kitchen bags such as these date from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. They were used at home, usually by women, containing household items which would not spoil, such as flour, sugar, animal feed, seeds, and other commodities. In modern times a trip to the supermarket is a daily chore, in the past however, these trips happened far less often, with big sacks such as these a large reason why. In the rural US and Canada, Feed sack dresses and Flour sack dresses, were an iconic part of rural life from the 1920s through the Great Depression, World War II, and post-World War II years. Australia also reused these sacks, typically for making wagga style blankets, but re-use for clothing was not unusual.Calico flour bag with red, blue, white and yellow graphic image and text. Image shows head and shoulders of a woman wearing a bakers hat. Reverse side shows same image with slightly different text.Front: O*SO*LITE \ SELF-RAISING \ FLOUR \ 25lb \ NET \ THE \ FINEST \ FLOUR \ O-SO-LITE \ PRODUCTS PTY. LTD. \ LENNON STREET, SOUTH KENSINGTON \ VICTORIA 13 0261 \ SELF RAISING \ SELF RAISING \ SELF RAISING Back: O*SO*LITE \ SELF-RAISING \ FLOUR \ PREPARED WITH PROSPHATE AERATOR \ 25lb \ NET \ THE \ FINEST \ FLOUR \ O-SO-LITE \ PRODUCTS PTY. LTD. \ LENNON STREET, SOUTH KENSINGTON \ VICTORIA 13 0261wagga, flour, oats, bag, calico, lila, gore, depression, war, kitchen

Canwen Zhao was awarded the $10,000 We The Makers Acquisitive Prize for '35 Life' in 2023. Artist Statement: "35life" is a sustainable fashion project that transforms second-hand clothing materials into urban street outdoor-style products. Highlighting prominent Chinese classic red and green colours not only conveys eastern aesthetics but also adds a sense of unity to the clothing collection. The high-saturation and high-brightness full-colour palette keeps the clothing consistently "fresh," allowing any trendy colours to seamlessly integrate into the project's designs, thus extending the lifespan of the garments. Additionally, all clothing items can quickly transform into a stylish bag for convenient daily carrying and home storage. These bags are made from leftover fabric generated during the production process and serve as original packaging for sale. This approach not only reduces excessive packaging but also enhances the chances of resale in the second-hand market. The project draws inspiration from the traditional Chinese cultural concept of "huo feng ding," meaning "exchange the old for the new." it's also influenced by the designer's personal experience with health issues, making the designs suitable for individuals who can't be exposed to sunlight for extended periods, adapting to the changing urban lifestyle. 35life aims to provide visually pleasing and comfortable dressing experiences for urban dwellers who are busy with work and experience high levels of stress. Unlike traditional design patterns, this project adopts a unique design approach. It selects 3-5 pieces of raw materials based on their colours, and then disassembles them through structural lines. While retaining most of their functionality, these materials are rearranged and assembled on a flat surface before being shaped on a dress form. Subsequently, various ways of creating storage bags are derived from the initial clothing prototypes. After refining the designs, the final products are developed, and similar materials are used to create samples. Therefore, under this design methodology, even for the same garment, it is impossible to produce two identical pieces of clothing. Each garment is truly one-of-a-kind, which enhances its rarity and contributes to the longevity of the fashion pieces. The project includes various types of clothing, each with unique storage methods. This yellow look, named "elegant beach sunscreen monarch," draws its fashion inspiration from traditional Han Chinese attire and its storage concept from the Chinese cultural concept of "jiu jiu gui yi." the design employs flat pattern cutting, utilizing materials from the second-hand market such as beach towels, children's waterproof clothing, and women's dresses. Similar colours and patterns are reassembled through cutting and combining. For the sleeves, quick-drying, sun-protective sport fabric forms the base, overlaid with discarded silk fabric dyed with turmeric and plant dyes. This not only ensures functionality but also adds a sense of elegance. The length can be adjusted using drawstrings. Artist Bio: Zhao Canwen is a multidisciplinary fashion designer with a strong passion for integrating art, history, culture, and sustainable design. With over 15 years of experience in painting, she draws inspiration from ancient Chinese philosophy and aesthetics, which gives her a unique sense of beauty. After 8 years of fashion and art training, she possesses a keen insight into current trends and tends to combine art with commercial needs. Zhao's design style is diverse, characterized by a multidimensional approach, a focus on colour application, and storytelling through details.Outfit consisting of six pieces: - Orange plastic eye wear with green paint - Pair of red and green metal clip on earrings - Red beaded phone case with attached beads on string - Pair of red and green painted running shoes - Yellow and green hooded garment with red piping and zips - Brown bag with green beaded handlessustainable, fashion, we the makers, art, culture, design, chinese philosophy, prize

"A perpetual spring in the adjacent creek provided a steady supply of fresh water to the site on which the homestead is built. Although we can not be certain of the identity of the builder, the first stage of ‘The Willows’ homestead appears to have been constructed in the mid 1850s. The house is situated on Crown Allotment No.1 (No Section), Parish of Kororoit, an allotment of 5 acres 3 roods 4 perches. Although it had surveyed the land, the Crown did not offer it for sale until 22nd November 1861, at which time it was purchased by Charles March Williams. (Although the property is directly opposite and immediately adjacent to the Township of Melton, and was sold as ‘Suburban Allotment 33’, it was situated within the Shire of Braybrook rather than the Shire of Melton until 1917.) Considerable improvements had taken place on the land prior to the Crown sale. When CM Williams purchased the allotment in November 1861 he paid £23.5.0 for the land itself, and valued the improvements at £400. Even allowing for some exaggeration by Williams, this is an extremely high valuation for improvements, and must have included a house. Some local research has claimed that in 1858 Williams had taken over the interest of a Mr Parkinson in the property, and that Parkinson built the house upon taking possession of the land c.1855. It was definitely built by 1861, when a map shows a square building on the site marked as ‘House’. The property is important in the district for its association with the establishment of the pound. The district pound had been established in 1854, when George Scarborough of Mount Cottrell (Mt Cottrell Road, south of Greigs Road) was appointed pound-keeper. Scarborough resigned in 1857. The pound was moved to Melton following agitation from local farmers and Charles March Williams appointed pound-keeper on 26th April 1858. Williams, the son of a doctor, had been born in London. Reminiscences of local residents of the time, as recorded in the Express newspaper, note Williams’ success in breeding horses on the property. Sales of up to 60 guineas were noted. Whether this was from Williams’s own stock or from unclaimed pound stock is not made clear. Williams appeared before a government inquiry in 1860 and advocated registration of all stock brands in the State. Williams died in 1862 leaving a widow, Catherine, and five living children aged 15 years to five months. At the time of his death Williams had entered negotiations with one Matthew Devenish and had a mortgage of £100 on allotments 1 and 2, Parish of Kororoit. Catherine Williams was appointed pound-keeper on 2 September 1863, with her eldest son Charles as her assistant. Her tenure was short for on 22nd March 1864 George Minns senior paid Matthew Devenish £135 for allotments 1 and 2 Parish of Kororoit (considerably less than Williams had claimed the property was worth in 1861) and on the same day paid William Tullidge £45 for the adjoining allotments 3 and 4. In April 1867, James Ebden Minns, the newly married son of George senior became the owner of The Willows property having entered into a mortgage arrangement with his father to the extent of £200. At the time George Minns was residing in Kaarimba having left Melton in 1867 for a short trip to England and upon his return having taken up a selection in the Kaarimba district with his son Frederick who had a hotel licence there. James paid out the mortgage on 2-1-1873. James Minns was appointed pound-keeper in 1872; in 1885 the pound was moved elsewhere and Minns purchased the old pound site and added it to his farm. The Willows residence underwent a major change about this time. A two room extension, similar in style but with a lower elevation was added to the original rear of the house with a chimney matching the distinctive originals. Window arrangements did not match the original but became a feature of the façade when the new addition became the front of the building. Six buttresses were attached to the east and west walls of the old building, two to the south wall and the whole rendered with mortar to give the appearance of dressed stonework around the windows. Galvanized iron was placed over the shingles and a verandah added on three sides. By 1876 The Willows was the homestead for a thriving mixed farm of 340 acres of which 156 was rented from a H. Ruck. In October of that year the Australasian travelling reporter visited and reported on the property. In common with the nearly every other property in the district the farm had ‘recently’ (generally within the last two years) abandoned cultivation of crops, and turned over completely to cattle pasture. Butter making was the principal occupation of the farm, which had about 50 head of cattle, a large proportion of which were milking cows. The reporter also noted that a ‘large number of pigs are kept upon this farm and are found to be very profitable stock’. Their manure was used in an orchard and garden in which ‘large quantities of lucerne and prairie grass are grown for the use of stock when ordinary feed is scarce’. Two bores attached to deep brick lined wells supplied water for the house in addition to the farm. A commodious timber barn and necessary sheds had also been constructed. Access to the property was improved following the construction of the bluestone ford across the creek c.1887, when the recreation ground came into use. Prior to this date it may have been that the crossing referred to as ‘Mr Minns bridge’ was used. This appears to have been a flimsy structure and has but two references in Council reports in the Melton Express in the 1880’s. It is believed that in the late 1890’s a timber building was added near the rear of the building to house a kitchen, ablutions and laundry rooms and rooms for seasonal workers. This was attached to the house by means of a trellised walkway using the original front entry to the house (long since the back door). A photograph of this building appears in a local history of Melton. This was demolished in recent decades during the period when the house was tenanted (after the Minns family had left). James Minns son, George, took over the property following his marriage to Alice Walsh in 1903. James and Caroline moved into a house on the former JH Games property at the eastern end of Henry Street. George held the position of Shire Secretary for Melton for 40 years. He was a most prominent member of the community being Secretary to, among others, the Melton Coursing Club, the Shooting Club and the Cemetery Trust. He also rode with the hunting parties who sported across the Plains and were entertained at Mount Kororoit. George and Alice had one son, Norman who followed his father into local government and became Secretary of the Shire of Werribee completing a record term in this position. George retired to Werribee in 1951, where he died in 1965. The National Trust records note that James Ebden Minns and his sons were ‘leading men of the district, Justices of the Peace, and Shire Councillors’. It claims that Sir Thomas Bent was a frequent visitor. The Willows passed into the hands of George’s grandson, Bruce Minns and the property was let for a number of years. In the 1960s it became vacant and was subject to vandalism. Major structural problems arose with the part demolition of the roof, the loss of windows and doors and holes dug into and under the floorboards. The outbuildings were particularly targeted. Following widespread public support, the Shire of Melton purchased the house, with 3.75 acres of land, in 1972. In 1975 the Shire of Melton and the Melton and District Historical Society were successful in nominating the building for National Trust classification, and then the Australian Heritage Commission’s Register of the National Estate. The AHC particularly noted its ‘townscape importance’. It was envisaged that the farmhouse would form ‘a picturesque centrepiece to Melton’s planned … historical park, along with Dunvegan bluestone cottage … and similar structures as they become available.’ In a time of great Melton’s ‘satellite city’ development the Council spelt out its broader vision in its submission to the AHC: ‘Melton is destined to become, by the end of the present century, a city of between 75,000 and 100,000 people. Significant relics of the past, such as ‘The Willows’, regrettably will be rare in that situation. It is essential that sufficient tangible links with Melton’s pioneering days remain to promote in the new community a sense of history and continuity’. Under the direction of ‘The Willows’ Restoration Committee and consultant architect John Hitch, all outbuildings, with the exception of the garage and toilet, were demolished and the dwelling house restored. Finances were provided by the Shire of Melton and the National Estate Grants Program, and considerable amount of voluntary labour was provided by the local community. The orchard was removed, and remaining wooden buildings were relocated to provide an open vista for visitors to the Park. The property was furnished with donations from district families keen to preserve this example of pioneer life in the area. The Willows became the headquarters of the Melton and District Historical Society". Invitation to the family reunion at the Willowslocal identities, pioneer families

A special luncheon was held for World War I widows as a lead up to "Legacy Week". Legatees dressed up as moustached waiters to add a bit of humour to the day. Legatees include L/- Lucky Luscombe and L/- George Woodward as waiters and L/- Salty Saltmarsh making a speech. Due to its success it was held for a number of years. The note with these photos says it was 1996. And the widow featured in Answer article in October 1996 is in these photos wearing the knitted beret. The WWI group would meet on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 11 at Legacy House for many years until their numbers dwindled. The article in the Answer in October 1996 shows the event is a great photo of widow Beatrice Gay.A record of the type of activities Legacy provided as a social outlet for the widows.Colour photo x 5 of a World War I widows' luncheon in 1996 and an article from the Answer in October 1996.widows, function, answer