This item of underclothing, called a "combination" is one of several linen and clothing items that were made and belonged to Mrs. Eliza Towns and donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village. Eliza was born Eliza Gould in 1857 in South Melbourne (Emerald Hill) and in 1879 married Charles Towns. In the early 1880's they moved to Nhill in western Victoria and remained there for the rest of their married life. Charles was a jeweller and later became an accountant and for many years was involved with the Shire Council, the local show committee (A & P Society), the Hospital Committee and the Board of the local newspaper (the Nhill Free Press). They had three children and lived a life that would be regarded as comfortably "middle class". Eliza probably had a treadle sewing machine and would have made many of her own clothes as well as clothes for her children - adding her own handmade embroidered or crocheted decorative trim. Combination undergarments combined the chemise and drawers into one garment. The combination is divided, or bifurcated, from the waist to the crutch for easier urinating. This one-piece type of underwear was worn by females from the 1860s and into the early 1900s. The 19th Century garments had front button closures like this one, and those made in the 1900s more often had back closures. Combination underwear was popular because the all-in-one design had far fewer gathers and bulk, making the other clothing look much smoother. Their primary use was to protect clothing from perspiration and because they were made with cotton or linen, were easy to wash. Although they were worn under the corset, next to the skin (and therefore not meant to be seen), they were often decorated with lace and embroidery. Although these combinations are made with a plain cotton fabric, Eliza Towns has incorporated pin tucks, hand embroidery and crocheted lace to embellish her garment. The collection of women’s late-19th-century undergarments is an example of clothing that women would include in their wardrobes. The garments add to the study of the evolution of women's fashions and practicality for the early Australian settlers. The careful needlework in these handmade garments and hand-worked lace trims reflect the maker’s dedication to making even serviceable garments beautiful to look at and wear.Women’s white cotton and lace all-In-one combination undergarment. The handmade underwear is a combined chemise and bloomers. It has three buttons in the front and a handmade drawstring cord around the square neckline. It is trimmed with crocheted lace (with a floral design) on the neckline, sleeves and pants. It had pintucks and feather stitching on the bodice and the left and right sides are divided from the waist to the crutch. The back of the garment is plain with a gathered section at the lower back.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, great ocean road, victorian era, combination undergarment, all-in-one underwear, combination, ‘combinations’, one-piece underwear, one-piece undergarment, chemise and bloomers, combination chemise and bloomers, divided, bifurcated, split, chemise and drawers, women’s underwear, ladies’ underwear, undergarment, women’s clothing, women’s fashion, lingerie, 19th-century undergarment, handmade clothing, handmade lace, crocheted lace, towns family, nhill, eliza towns

Made by a soldier while convalescing after being wounded in WW1.This personal item gives an insight into the human element of World War 1. A very elaborate, handmade photo frame made of small pieces of wood put together with pegs.handcraft ww11 photo-frame

Inspected by Joanna Freslov, archaeologist 2.6.2008 - possibly Melanesian origin.A long, thick, handmade wooden club with carved rings at one end and club ball at other,club weapon hunting

This book was hand made in Bendigo and presented to the Army Survey Regiment Sergeants Mess by WO2 Graham Squire (Later WO1 RSM RASvy). The book is to record events when the Sgts Mess Bell was rung, signaling that money was put over the bar for those present. Events such as promotions, departures, birthdays, birth of children and grandchildren were celebrated in this way and hence recorded in this book. The Bell itself was presented by WO1 Alex "Darby" Munro and that is the reason for the naming of the book "Darby's Clangers, Times and Chimes". the first entry in the book is 30 Nov 1978 and the last entry is 29 Nov1996 to celebrate the departure of the last serving members of the unit.Large handmade book with many unused pages, book is housed in a vinyl covered cardboard box.Page 1 Top - " Please leave first entry space vacant for WO2 G Squire (Fishing Warden), Thank you, Max Neil WO2 for PMC" Page 1 Bottom - "The one that got away!" Last entry "Three cheers for Litho!" signed by LTCOL Duncan Burns Commanding Officer Army Survey Regiment 29 Nov 1996.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army survey regiment, army svy regt, asr

This item is hand-made shows the skill and craftmanship of women in the early settler families.Very fine, delicate white point lace supper cloth with very ornate design. Handmade.cloth manchester table-linen handcrafts lacemaking

Belonged to Mary Gilbert who was a passionate local historian. She was awarded a British Empire medal in recognition of her work for education and the community. . Mary Isabelle Gilbert was born in 1905 in Orbost, Australia. She was born to John Gilbert and Annie Cameron Gilbert, and had seven sisters and one brother. Four siblings died at a young age. .She was a teacher historian loved and respected by her family and the wider community.This item has aesthetic significance. It was owned by Mary Gilbert, a prominent Orbost personality, the first curator of the Orbost Museum. Handmade, tall carved wooden vase painted red. Bush scene painted black with pokerwork.vase ornament-wood gilbert-mary

This item is an example of a hand crafted item showing the needlework skills of women in the early 20th century.Two small square handmade doilies. Tattered centres and crochet edging of bells. On white linen.doily handcrafts needlework linen embroidery

Margaret Bennett was a student at Ballarat Teachers' College in 1949. She attended the Ballarat School of Mines as a full-time day student for three years, gaining her Diploma of Art in 1972. She was Drum Major of the Ballarat Ladies' Pipe Band from c1954-1955. She was also the set and costume designer for Junior Light Opera Company. A handmade Mackenzie Tartan Scarf, with a red, white, green and dark blue pattern and fringed endsCity of Ballaarat Pipe Band, Life Member on the front Inscribed on the back is Drum Major Margaret Bennettmargaret bennett, ballarat ladies' pipe band, alumni, highland pipe band, margaret reynolds, tartan, scarf, mackenzie tartan

This wood traveling trunk was used by the LePage family when emigrating from Guernsey , Channel Isles, to Melbourne on SS Caliope 1852. Nicholas LePage , a tailor, and wife Elizabeth arrived in Melbourne in 1852 with their son Frank Thomas and daughter Elizabeth. Joshua Holloway released land in his 'Two Acre Village' in Cheltenham 1851. Nicholas bought a LOT for 10pounds and began a market garden that was managed by successive generations. The LePage family became involved with the Methodist Church , local friendly societies, sporting clubs and civic councils that endured. 'The LePages became one of the best known Moorabbin market gardening families, with a tradition of service to communal and civic affairs that is unmatched' John Cribbin, ' Moorabbin ,Pictorial History 1862-1994.' (City of Kingston)A handmade wood trunk with brass lock and hinges and Guernsey ( Channel Isles) Newspaper lining 1851Top of lid; White Stencil BETSEY LEPAGE / PASSENGER TO MELBOURNE Lining of box; Guernsey Newspaper 1851 henry dendy's special survey 1842, moorabbin shire, moorabbin roads board, dendy henry, were jb, holloway josiah, brighton, bentleigh, cheltenham, pioneers, market gardeners, early settlers, methodist church, two acre village cheltenham, charman stephen, bent thomas, daphne cottage, sons of temperance friendly society, mayors moorabbin council, lepage nicholas, lepage frank thomas, lepage everest, lepage frank wilbur, cheltenham co-operative society, cheltenham cream and butter factory

Purchased to celebrate 150 years since the publication of Charles Darwin's 'Origin of Species' , displayed in exhibition and at the Charles Darwin celebratory dinner 2009. Sent by post from UK.Made of cardboard with lightweight stand at back. Brown and white colouring for photo. Stand at back handmade.starcut outs limited SC104

Given to former guard officer Lieutenant William O'Neill, an office at POW Camp 13, by a German POW.Wooden stool with unusual curved structure and leather seat, handmade at camp 13 by German POW.wooden stool, camp 13, furniture

Made by P.O.W at Camp 13 Murchison who was a crew member of the Ramses. Suitcase made for owners possessions.Handmade wooden suitcase with metal handle and clips. Canvas strap attached to inside of case and lid.ramses, camp 13

Made in Camp 3 for internees making Easter biscuits.Tin biscuit cutter handmade in shape of a rabbit with flat ears - life size (for Easter bunny).camp 3 cooking utensils, rabbit biscuit cutters, biscuit cutters, easter biscuits

Small handmade branding iron on metal spike. The letters KM are riveted onto a flat plate.KMbranding iron, metal work, camp 3, tatura, internee, karl wied

A handmade tool with a wooden handle attached to a rectangular metal block. Probably used for boot makeingtools, bootmaker, punch tool

Handmade black lace and fabric flower bonnet. The flowers are edged in white. The lining is in black net.visiting, outing, dressed up

Part of 11 pieces modeled on the 1893 almanac published by the Port Fairy Gazette. Used as display in the first Port Fairy Historical Society building on an extended mantel piece, 20 Bank Street Port Fairy.Small handmade model of a Robert Ireland's timber yard and shop front from the 1892 almanac. R .Ireland, Timber Yards,model, building, mewkill, ireland

The Wodonga Historical Society Haeusler Collection provides invaluable insight into life in late nineteenth and early twentieth century north east Victoria. The collection comprises manuscripts, personal artefacts used by the Haeusler family on their farm in Wodonga, and a set of glass negatives which offer a unique visual snapshot of the domestic and social lives of the Haeusler family and local Wodonga community. The Haeusler family migrated from Prussia (Germany) to South Australia in the 1840s and 1850s, before purchasing 100 acres of Crown Land made available under the Victorian Lands Act 1862 (also known as ‘Duffy’s Land Act’) in 1866 in what is now Wodonga West. The Haeusler family were one of several German families to migrate from South Australia to Wodonga in the 1860s. This homemade photographic printing frame was built by Louis Haeusler (b.1878) and demonstrates his engineering capabilities. Rather than purchase the required materials for his home dark room processing, Louis would make any tools he needed from found materials around the Haeusler family home. Louis’ photographic equipment is among the many objects in the Haeusler Collection that represent home and social life in early twentieth century Wodonga. The item is handmade and unique, with well documented provenance. It forms part of a significant and representative historical collection which reflects the local history of Wodonga. It contributes to our understanding of domestic and family life in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history and social history. A handmade photographic printing frame, constructed from timber, paper, nails, glass and sticky tape. photography, photos, photographic, photographs, family photos, family photography, darkroom photography, dark room photography, printing, printing frame, wodonga, haeusler, haeusler collection