A mitre is the traditional, ceremonial head-dress of bishops. This early 20th century example is of a low cut style in its original case. It is decorated in a baroque style with arabesques and paste and is believed to have belonged to Ballarat's second bishop James Moore.bishop moore, ballarat, mitre, gold embroidery, stones, paste.

Rev Daniel Foley was Bishop of Ballarat 1916 - 1941 and was very interested in Japan and these books among others in the archive reflect his interest in that country and its people in the early 20th century. The illustrations are in the Japanese manner and are collotype images on French fold crepe paper.Signed on title page of each, "D. Foley".japan, bishop foley, ballarat japanese tourist books, crepe paper, collotype.

The Second Vatican Council or Vatican II, also termed the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican addressed relations between the Catholic Church and the modern world. The council, through the Holy See, was formally opened under the pontificate of Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and was closed under Pope Paul VI on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on 8 December 1965. The Bishop of Ballarat participated in the Council and this silver medal is one of his mementoes of the historic council. Many changes within the Catholic church were instituted as well as in relations between the Catholic church and other religions.

The Altar at Colac decorated for Holy Thursday 1934. Prior to the 1955 reforms of Pope Pius XII the Mass of the Lord's Supper and the Easter Vigil were celebrated in the morning of Thursday and Saturday respectively, and Holy Week and Lent were seen as ending only on the approach of Easter Sunday. The Altar is highly decorated and the ceremony focused upon as following the Mass of Holy Thursday Mass is not celebrated on Good Friday and the communion distributed at the Celebration of the Lord's Passion on Good Friday is consecrated on Holy Thursday.Caligraphy to board "St Mary's Colac Holy Thursday 1934".holy thursday, st mary's colac, easter, 1934.

The Ballarat Catholic Young Men's Society was established on 01 August 1892. The society provided sporting and debating for young men and later prime ministers Curtin and Scullin were members of the organisation, and it is where they learnt to debate. This image of the 1937 local football premiers is evidence of the sporting prowess of the members. The organisation ceased in the Ballarat Diocese in the 1940s.