For the First Peoples of south-eastern Australia, making possum skin cloaks has long been a culturally important practice. But during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, possums and other native animals were also heavily hunted by white colonists who coveted their warm and fashionable furs. This rug, made from fifteen possum pelts, was used in a Brighton home during cold winter months in the 1920s.Possum skin rug made from 15 rectangular cut pelts mounted onto a brown wool felt with cut scalloped edges. possum skin, rug, fur, 1920s

White cotton cutwork child's dress, hand stitched. Back opening with drawstring neck and waist.children's clothing, embroidery, cutwork, 19th century, lace

Made by the cousin of Brighton local Olga Black. The cousin gave her the doll in 1937, when Olga was around seven years old. Olga Maria Black was born in Melbourne in 1930, the daughter of Ithacan migrants Constantine and Toula Mavrokefalos. Constantine first emigrated to Australia in 1902, returning to Greece circa 1912-13 to serve his home country in the Balkan Wars. Toula's family had left Ithaca for Romania when she was only six months old, but she happened to be visiting the island at the very time that Constantine arrived, fresh from the war. Within three weeks they were married, and when Constantine returned to Melbourne in 1914 his new bride came with him. Constantine had trained as an accountant, but his qualifications were not recognised in Australia. Changing his surname to the Anglicised "Black", he started off working in his older brother Dionysios's cafés before going into business on his own. In 1917 he opened the Paris Residential Café at 54-56 Swanston Street, which offered both dining and accommodation. The business saw some years of success, but did not survive the Great Depression. Constantine died in 1944. Olga's mother Toula learned to sew as a child, while growing up in the Romanian village of Brila. She developed her skills making lace and embroidering items for her trousseau. Some of the linen she embroidered had been woven from flax on Ithaca by her own grandmother, Efstathia. During the Depression, when money was scarce, Toula embroidered at home, doing work for a factory in Flinders Lane. Using a cotton reel, a threepence and a sixpence she created and embroidered designs on hundreds of blouses. Olga spent her preschool days sitting at the table where her mother worked. Toula would involve Olga by allowing her to help choose the colour combinations. Toula lived with Olga in Brighton until her death in 1976. Olga inherited her mother's sewing skills. She re-invented some of Toula’s trousseau nightdresses and skilfully altered other clothing, making dresses which she wore around Brighton for many years.Handmade painted wooden bead doll representing a sailor. Cream coloured body and limbs and pink head. The body is made from one long oval bead and the limbs from small round beads.doll, child's toy, childhood, sailor, olga black

This skirt belonged to Olga Black, a long-time Brighton resident. The linen used for the skirt were woven by Olga's great-grandmother Efstathia in the late-nineteenth century with flax grown on the island of Ithaca. In the 1950s, Olga made the fabric into a skirt, embellishing it with hand embroidery. Olga Maria Black was born in Melbourne in 1930, the daughter of Ithacan migrants Constantine and Toula Mavrokefalos. Constantine first emigrated to Australia in 1902, returning to Greece circa 1912-13 to serve his home country in the Balkan Wars. Toula's family had left Ithaca for Romania when she was only six months old, but she happened to be visiting the island at the very time that Constantine arrived, fresh from the war. Within three weeks they were married, and when Constantine returned to Melbourne in 1914 his new bride came with him. Constantine had trained as an accountant, but his qualifications were not recognised in Australia. Changing his surname to the Anglicised "Black", he started off working in his older brother Dionysios's cafés before going into business on his own. In 1917 he opened the Paris Residential Café at 54-56 Swanston Street, which offered both dining and accommodation. The business saw some years of success, but did not survive the Great Depression. Constantine died in 1944. Olga's mother Toula learned to sew as a child, while growing up in the Romanian village of Brila. She developed her skills making lace and embroidering items for her trousseau. Some of the linen she embroidered had been woven from flax on Ithaca by her own grandmother, Efstathia. During the Depression, when money was scarce, Toula embroidered at home, doing work for a factory in Flinders Lane. Using a cotton reel, a threepence and a sixpence she created and embroidered designs on hundreds of blouses. Olga spent her preschool days sitting at the table where her mother worked. Toula would involve Olga by allowing her to help choose the colour combinations. Toula lived with Olga in Brighton until her death in 1976. Olga inherited her mother's sewing skills. She re-invented some of Toula’s trousseau nightdresses and skilfully altered other clothing, making dresses which she wore around Brighton for many years.Ankle-length full cream linen skirt with multi-coloured cross stitch embroidery featuring mountains, birds and trees. Fullness is pleated into wide waist band. Left side opening. The fabric widths have been whipped together by hand probably at the time the cloth was woven in the late-nineteenth century. The skirt is machine stitched.skirt, linen, hand woven, embroidery, ithaca, migration, greek diaspora, olga black

This scarf belonged to Olga Black, a longtime Brighton resident. Olga Maria Black was born in Melbourne in 1930, the daughter of Ithacan migrants Constantine and Toula Mavrokefalos. Constantine first emigrated to Australia in 1902, returning to Greece circa 1912-13 to serve his home country in the Balkan Wars. Toula's family had left Ithaca for Romania when she was only six months old, but she happened to be visiting the island at the very time that Constantine arrived, fresh from the war. Within three weeks they were married, and when Constantine returned to Melbourne in 1914 his new bride came with him. Constantine had trained as an accountant, but his qualifications were not recognised in Australia. Changing his surname to the Anglicised "Black", he started off working in his older brother Dionysios's cafés before going into business on his own. In 1917 he opened the Paris Residential Café at 54-56 Swanston Street, which offered both dining and accommodation. The business saw some years of success, but did not survive the Great Depression. Constantine died in 1944. Olga's mother Toula learned to sew as a child, while growing up in the Romanian village of Brila. She developed her skills making lace and embroidering items for her trousseau. Some of the linen she embroidered had been woven from flax on Ithaca by her own grandmother, Efstathia. During the Depression, when money was scarce, Toula embroidered at home, doing work for a factory in Flinders Lane. Using a cotton reel, a threepence and a sixpence she created and embroidered designs on hundreds of blouses. Olga spent her preschool days sitting at the table where her mother worked. Toula would involve Olga by allowing her to help choose the colour combinations. Toula lived with Olga in Brighton until her death in 1976. Olga inherited her mother's sewing skills. She re-invented some of Toula’s trousseau nightdresses and skilfully altered other clothing, making dresses which she wore around Brighton for many years.Victory scarf with the flags of France, the United Kingdom, USA and the USSR. 'Victory' printed in yellow in the centre surrounded by names of countries and regions.scarf, world war ii, second world war, 1945, olga black

Donated by Brighton resident and journalist Janifer Price.Cream coloured Miss Young Liberal sash printed in metallic gold and with gold-coloured fringing at either end.Printed, metallic gold on white acetate: Miss / YOUNG LIBERAL / 1966miss young liberal, sash, liberal party of australia, young liberal movement, beauty pageant

Long sleeveless beaded evening dress with V-front and back neckline. Black tulle base embellished with black, grey and purple beads and sequins with a design of a purple sunburst radiating from the right proper hip and mirrored on the back. Bodice sides split to waist and skirt sides split to hip. 1920s fashion, evening dress, beading, flapper dress

This dress and bag belonged to Mrs Edith "Dot" Paroissien (nee Jackson, born 1916), who lived in Brighton with her husband David William Paroissien. The dress was purchased from Croyde, a Melbourne designer who had a small boutique shop in Collins Street near the Block Arcade, and the bag was bought for her in London by David. Dot recalled wearing the dress in the 1950s, in particular to a ball at the Royal Exhibition Buildings for Wesley College. She wore it with suede shoes with a medium heel with straps across the instep and long white kid gloves, and accessorised with a baguette choker and drop earrings.Black silk satin sleeveless full-length evening dress. The attached bodice floats over the top of the under-dress. Asymmetrical opening on bodice which features five large flat self-covered buttons. The black suede bag has chrome fittings and buttery cream coloured satin interior. .1 dress - Label, woven black on white acetate centre back: CROYDE / MELBOURNE .2 - bag - Label, printed, black on cream acetate, interior pocket: Susan / HANDBAGS / LONDON; Label, printed, copper on black metal, interior pocket: MADE IN ITALY / FOR SUSANevening dress, croyde, melbourne fashion, melbourne designers, handbag, royal exhibition building, 1950s, edith violetta paroissien, edith violetta jackson

This evening outfit was made and worn by Bertha Frances Dudfield (nee Bruere, 1892-1982). Bertha was born in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1892, one of twelve surviving children. Her family migrated to Australia, living first in St Kilda before building the house 'Avon' at 42 Bay Street, Brighton, where Bertha lived with her husband Ambrose Reginald Dudfield until 1975.Evening outfit comprising magenta feathered cape, full-length black velvet dress and a spray of silk flowers. Hem of dress lined with magenta and yellow silk. .1 - cape .2 - dress .3 - floral sprayevening dress, feather cape, bertha dudfield, brighton, 1930s

This waistcoat belonged to Olga Black, a long-time Brighton resident. Part of a Greek national costume, it was designed by Olga in the 1950s, with the silver cornelli work completed by a Collins Street workshop. Olga Maria Black was born in Melbourne in 1930, the daughter of Ithacan migrants Constantine and Toula Mavrokefalos. Constantine first emigrated to Australia in 1902, returning to Greece circa 1912-13 to serve his home country in the Balkan Wars. Toula's family had left Ithaca for Romania when she was only six months old, but she happened to be visiting the island at the very time that Constantine arrived, fresh from the war. Within three weeks they were married, and when Constantine returned to Melbourne in 1914 his new bride came with him. Constantine had trained as an accountant, but his qualifications were not recognised in Australia. Changing his surname to the Anglicised "Black", he started off working in his older brother Dionysios's cafés before going into business on his own. In 1917 he opened the Paris Residential Café at 54-56 Swanston Street, which offered both dining and accommodation. The business saw some years of success, but did not survive the Great Depression. Constantine died in 1944. Olga's mother Toula learned to sew as a child, while growing up in the Romanian village of Brila. She developed her skills making lace and embroidering items for her trousseau. Some of the linen she embroidered had been woven from flax on Ithaca by her own grandmother, Efstathia. During the Depression, when money was scarce, Toula embroidered at home, doing work for a factory in Flinders Lane. Using a cotton reel, a threepence and a sixpence she created and embroidered designs on hundreds of blouses. Olga spent her preschool days sitting at the table where her mother worked. Toula would involve Olga by allowing her to help choose the colour combinations. Toula lived with Olga in Brighton until her death in 1976. Olga inherited her mother's sewing skills. She re-invented some of Toula’s trousseau nightdresses and skilfully altered other clothing, making dresses which she wore around Brighton for many years.Black velvet waistcoat, decorated with silver cornelli work. Pale blue cotton lining. Fastens with hooks and eyes.greece, ithaca, migration, olga black

This bolero is part of a Greek national costume from the Peloponnese. Long-time Brighton resident Olga Black wore it to the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games to represent her Greek heritage. She remembers the stands at the MCG being full of migrants wearing their traditional national costumes. Olga Maria Black was born in Melbourne in 1930, the daughter of Ithacan migrants Constantine and Toula Mavrokefalos. Constantine first emigrated to Australia in 1902, returning to Greece circa 1912-13 to serve his home country in the Balkan Wars. Toula's family had left Ithaca for Romania when she was only six months old, but she happened to be visiting the island at the very time that Constantine arrived, fresh from the war. Within three weeks they were married, and when Constantine returned to Melbourne in 1914 his new bride came with him. Constantine had trained as an accountant, but his qualifications were not recognised in Australia. Changing his surname to the Anglicised "Black", he started off working in his older brother Dionysios's cafés before going into business on his own. In 1917 he opened the Paris Residential Café at 54-56 Swanston Street, which offered both dining and accommodation. The business saw some years of success, but did not survive the Great Depression. Constantine died in 1944. Olga's mother Toula learned to sew as a child, while growing up in the Romanian village of Brila. She developed her skills making lace and embroidering items for her trousseau. Some of the linen she embroidered had been woven from flax on Ithaca by her own grandmother, Efstathia. During the Depression, when money was scarce, Toula embroidered at home, doing work for a factory in Flinders Lane. Using a cotton reel, a threepence and a sixpence she created and embroidered designs on hundreds of blouses. Olga spent her preschool days sitting at the table where her mother worked. Toula would involve Olga by allowing her to help choose the colour combinations. Toula lived with Olga in Brighton until her death in 1976. Olga inherited her mother's sewing skills. She re-invented some of Toula’s trousseau nightdresses and skilfully altered other clothing, making dresses which she wore around Brighton for many years.Red velvet bolero decrated with gold stitching and braid. Lined with red satin. Stand collar which fastens with two metal hooks and eyes. bolero, jacket, greece, ithaca, migration, olympic games, 1956 olympic games, olga black

This dress was donated to BHS in 1973 by local teacher Miss Jean Mole (1910-1984). Information provided on donation suggests that it was worn by Jean's mother, Lottie Richmond Bryan (1873-1959), on her marriage to Ernest Mole (1863-1929) in Daylesford on 27 May 1908. However, the style of the dress indicates an earlier date, circa 1878. It is possible that the dress was in fact worn by Jean's grandmother, Jane Crowe McNeil (1850-1933), who married James Bryan (1838-1886) in Daylesford on 9 February 1870.Beige taffeta silk dress with fine black woven stripe. Olive coloured bias satin trim and vandyked horizontal panels down front of the dress. The dress has a train.wedding dress, silk, 1870s, jean gertrude mole, lottie richmond bryan, jane crowe mcneil

Cream coloured raw silk dress. Lower part of skirt hand-embroidered with floral design. Black and white striped silk collar and placket at front opening with 17 black decorative buttons. Two rows of thick cording insetred into casings around waist area which control the gathering in the skirt.silk, embroidery, 1910s

Worn by Edna Emily Seehusen (1916-2005) when she married William Alexander McQuilten (1911-2010) in September 1947 at Brighton Congregational Church, Black Street, Brighton.Ivory satin dress with train overlaid with machine made lace. High, gathered neckline, leg-of-mutton sleeves, In-built padded hip rolls. Front of dress is decorated with wax flowers. Label, woven pink on cream silk, centre back neck: A / Dorothy Draper / Original / EXCLUSIVE TO / BALL & WELCH LTD. / MELBOURNEwedding dress, lace, ball and welch, edna emily seehusen, william alexander mcquilten, brighton congregational church, brighton

Worn by Elizabeth Goodwin of Liverpool, England, who married Horace Book at St Andrew's Church, Brighton in 1921. The fabric was purchased by her father, a ship's captain, when he was in China. The bride had her dress made in Liverpool and made to a Butterick's pattern. Elizabeth was very active in public life and a well-known member of the Book family. Wedding dress made from cream silk purchased in China. The bodice is made of fine silk embroidered tulle with a vest of cream silk that floats over the top. The skirt has been permanently pleated, has has floating side panels of tulle and features a large butterfly-shaped bow at the back.wedding dress, silk, 1920s, elizabeth goodwin, horace book, st andrew's church brighton, brighton

Black full-length crepe evening dress (.1) with bronze-coloured sequins on bodice; asymmetric neckline and draping. Matching black reticule (.2) with sequins.evening dress, sequins, 1940s

This suit was tailor-made for Latvian dancer, choreographer and dance teacher Vija Vetra, who lived at the Old Hall, 93-95 Bay Street, Brighton and ran a dance academy at 97 Bay Street during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Born in Riga, Latvia in 1923, at the age of sixteen Vija ran away from home in order to study classical, character and modern dance at the Vienna Academy of Music and Performing Arts. She spent several years performing on European stages. When Latvia was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1944, more than 100,000 Latvians fled, seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. Vija's sister, mother and aunt were among them, managing to join her in Vienna. The following year, all four had to flee again when the Soviets moved into Austria. Escaping to Bavaria, they spent three years in displaced person camps before emigrating to Sydney as refugees in 1948. Vija found success as a dancer in Sydney. She toured Australia and New Zealand with the Bodenwieser Ballet, formed a Latvian folk dancing group and established a dancing school. By the mid-1950s she had gained recognition as a recitalist in her own right. She developed a passion for Indian classical dance. In the late 1950s she moved to Victoria. She opened a dance school in Bay Street, Brighton, while continuing to perform on stage in productions such as the musical 'Kismet' and the ballet 'Corroboree'. In 1959 she starred in the four-part live ABC television program 'Music and Dance'. She left Australia in 1964 for a tour of the United States and Canada, ultimately settling in New York City. Interviewed in the 'ABC Weekly' in 1957, Vetra described her taste in clothing as minimalist, saying she preferred to own as few clothes as possible to save the trouble of deciding what to wear: "And no bows or extravagances, but always a simple line."Two-piece women's suit made of maroon corded silk; comprising fitted jacket (.1) and straight skirt (.2). Jacket fastens with one large black faceted glass button. Jacket lined with pink satin; skirt unlined. vija vetra, migration, brighton, refugee, dancer, 1940s

Dior-inspired suit jacket. Unlined. Six cloth buttons with bound button holes. Inside hip pads. Label, woven brown on cream acetate, centre back neck: "Ponce De Leon". Handwritten on label in black pen: "43 LANDELS".jacket, 1940s, rosalind landells

Louris Holly Larsen-Disney married Percy James White at Melbourne Grammar Chapel on 17 June 1948. In later years the dress was given to an opportunity shop and purchased by Mrs Landells of the Brighton Historical Society. Louris subsequently visited the Society and recognised her dress, and was able to provide BHS with information on it. Also in the Society's collection is a 1950s pink strapless silk chiffon dress worn by Louris, and a wedding photo of Louris taken at her mother and stepfather's home at 53 South Road, Brighton. The couple moved into a house just a few doors down, at 49 South Road.Wedding dress made from silver metallic thread crepe. Fastens down front with small self-covered buttons and loops. Long fitted sleeves fastened with 10 covered buttons and loops. Full bias cut skirt with train.wedding dress, 1940s fashion, louris holly white, percy james white, brighton

Wedding dress worn by May Dunne who was married on 11 April 1942 at the Newtown Methodist Church in Aberdeen Street, Geelong. The lace was purchased with wartime coupons. The couple lived in Brighton and May was a member of the Brighton Historical Society when she donated the dress.Wedding dress of white lace. V-neckline, long fitted sleeves and train. Large bow at back.wedding dress, wwii, lace, wartime bride, 1940s

Brighton local Margaret Cooke (nee Parish) had this dress made for the Miss Summer Festival competition fundraiser. The idea for the dress came from a photograph in the Womens' Weekly. A professional dressmaker cut and made the dress. It has an 18" waist. There is a black and white photocopy on file of the dress being worn at the time.Floral cotton dress with matching belt and shoes. Sleeveless polished cotton cream dress with large red, pink and brown rose print. Heavily ruched front. The skirt has an in-built crinoline structure made with thick Vielene lining and corded hoops. Separate belt with bow at centre front. Shoes made to match by 'Suzette' in their original box. .1- dress .2 - belt .3 a-b - pair of shoes .4 a-b - shoe box and lidShoes - Label, printed in gold on white leather in sock: Suzette / Styled in / NEW YORK-PARIS-ST. LOUISprinted fabric, miss summer festival, 1950s, margaret cooke

Black silk satin cape with corded design. Black fur trim on collar, centrefront openings and hem. Lined with quilted black silk. Watch pocket on left proper interior. Wool interlining.cape, 1890s

Sheer black silk chiffon dress with black beaded front detail and pin tucked front skirt. Long pointed beaded collar. Long sleeves with nine rows of horizontal pin tucking on lower edge.

Blue cotton circular skirt with white cord design of men and women dancing around the hem. Fastens with a metal sip in left proper side seam.Label, printed red on cream cotton, centre back: Milton Harding / MELBOURNE / GUARANTEED TAILORED / & HAND FINISHED (image of skirt)skirt, 1950s, milton harding

Silver, blue and green knitted lurex evening outfit comprising maxi dress (.1) and short blue lurex jacket (.2) with short sleeves. Sleeveless high-necked dress with bold seaweed design. Fastens centre back with long metal zip. Jacket and dress fully lined with dark blue lining.Label, woven black on white acetate centre back jacket: Tricó / ROMAevening outfit, 1970s, lurex

Printed cotton maxi dress with long sleeves. Print of red, navy, white and green spots. Shirtmaker front which fastens with three covered buttons. Label, woven maroon on cream acetate, centre back: Imported / from Italy / BY GEORGES / OF COLLINS STREETgeorges, georges of collins street, 1970s

This dress belonged to Christina Barclay 'Ina' Strahan (nee Guinn, 1889-1974), the mother of donor Sheila Alston (1911-2008). Ina married medical practitioner Dr Septimus Strahan in 1909 and the family lived in a stately home in Moonee Ponds from 1912 until Septimus' untimely death at 56 in 1933. Ina later moved to Sandringham, where her daughter Sheila also settled after her marriage to Peter Alston.Black chiffon and lace dress with long sleeves, scooped neckline. Lozenge shaped lace pattern; machine top-stiched chiffon panels.Label, woven, blue on cream cotton, centre back: MADE IN FRANCElace, christina barclay strahan, 1920s

Established by local designer Ralph Samuel, Hartnell of Melbourne was one of the leading high-end Flinders Lane fashion houses of the 1950s and 1960s. This dress still has its original store tag attached, which tells us that it cost 39 pounds, 19 shillings and sixpence - a large amount of money to spend on a dress in 1952. Adjusted for inflation, this price tag equates to approximately $1,480 in today's money.Mauve tucked and folded cocktail dress with twin shoulder straps, ruched bodice and gathered skirt. Rose detail on each hip. Tulle underskirt. Swing tag still attached to back zip.Label, white with blue text: "Exclusively yours, / Hartnell / REGD / MELBOURNE" Swing tag: "THIS GARMENT is made from finest material and designed for the fashion conscious woman / NO. 3633/332 / SIZE SSW / PRICE 39"19"6 / Hartnell of Melbourne Pty. Ltd. / Almond Pink"hartnell of melbourne, 1950s, ralph samuel, melbourne designers, flinders lane

Knitted by the donor's grandmother, Elsie Hone. Knitted using bicycle spokes as knitting needles. Elsie Hone (nee Stone) was born in 1890 and died in 1987. She had six children and she apparently knitted this vest for her second son (fifth child), Albert George Hone (b.1914) for his 18th birthday. Albert and his wife Grace had four daughters between 1942 and 1951. The donor's mother, Ina Harriet Nilsson, was born in 1925 (fourth daughter, sixth child of Elsie) and as she had a son, the donor's uncle George (Albert?) passed it on to her. Both the donor's elder brothers wore and out-grew the vest and eventually it was passed on to the donor, Ray Nilsson. The vest was worn for many years while the donor worked at VACC Insurance Co Ltd in St Kilda Road, Melbourne and in the North Sydney, Canberra and Dandenong offices and it was a talking point as he recalled the story. (Information provided by the donor)Fair Isle patterned hand-knitted vest in beige, brown, yellow, green and red.vest, hand-knit, fairisle, elsie hone, great depression, albert george hone, ray nilsson