This item reflects the artistic and creative skills of women in the first half of the 20th century. The Ah Chow family was prominent in early Orbost.A hand-made spray of flowers made of different shells with a coral stem. They are in yellow cellophane with a bow at the front .ornament handcraft shell ah-chow

A hand made wooden chip carved bottle holder ( a style of carving in which knives or chisels are used to remove small chips of the material from a flat surface in a single piece). It is an intricate design and has a tall handle with two wide holes on each side.bottle-holder domestic table-setting handcraft carving

Made and donated by Marjorie McKeown (nee Ford). This item is an example of a home-made item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the ffirst half of the 20th century when women's focus was the home and its decoration was important. Two black curtains made of heavy material. One is a straight curtain with a pocket hem and the other is smaller, with a curved lower hem and a deep black fringe. Both curtains have been decorated with large appliqued flowers and birds.home-decoration womens-handcrafts

Brought to Orbost from the New Hebrides in about 1900.A long-handled hand woven palm fan in natural colours. The fan is oval shaped. The handle is narrow.fan handcraft dress-ornament ethnographic

Brought to Orbost in 1900.A diamond shaped palm fan hand-woven in natural colours. It has a narrow handle and is closely woven.fan handcraft ethnographic new hebrides dress-ornament

Brought to Orbost from the New Hebrides in about 1900.A round hand-woven palm fan. It has made with dyed fibres.fan handcraft new hebrides ethnographic dress-ornament

Rectangular natural coloured flax bag. Body of bag made of flax string woven into a loop pattern with chain stitch in white cotton thread, edged with flax string fringe. It has a small woven carrying strap. The edges have been left loose to obtain a frill.bag maori flax handcraft ethnographic

From the estate of Elsie Cook, daughter of early Brodribb settler John Cook. Elsie Cooke lived all her life in Gippsland,. She was born at Brodribb in 1895 and died in 1970, Elsie Cooke lived at Bruthen for a short time and, in 1937, moved to live with her aunt, Miss Jean Munro. Miss Cooke was Librarian at the Mechanics Institute for many years. Kindness and consideration for other were Miss Cooke’s attributes and she endeared herself to all who knew her. She was a loyal member of the Presbyterian Church and a stalwart of the Ladies’ Guild, an energetic worker for the Municipal Auxiliary and a member of the Red Cross. (ref. Mary Gilbert) These items are an example hand-made wooden items of the late 19th centuryTwo small hand-turned wooden egg cups decorated with rings around centre.egg-cups carving handcrafts domestic food

Metal rope making machine, "The New Era Rope Machine". It has three claws through which roping material is threaded. The internal wheels have cogs around the perimeter and it is bolted together in two pieces.rope-making-machine handcraft

A hand-woven rectangular shaped cotton cloth with symmetrical designs. It is white, red, yellow, blue and green and there is a white fringe at each end.handcraft cloth weaving

This is an example of a hand crafted item made to personalise and add aesthetic value to a home.A pressed dried native flower arrangement in a large oval frame of wood. It has a glass front. It is handmade.handcraft pressed-flowers picture

Wagon wheels were required equipment in Australia early days. They were used for transporting goods, commodities, agricultural materials, supplies, and sometimes people. Horse-drawn wagons are an important part of Orbost’s agricultural history.Two large solid elm bullock dray wheel hubs. They have a hole through the centre for spokes and have cut out sections at the sides. They are possibly hand-made. 456.1 is lighter coloured.wheel-hubs transport-bullock handcraft carving

Wagon wheels were required equipment in Australia early days. They were used for transporting goods, commodities, agricultural materials, supplies, and sometimes people. Horse-drawn wagons are an important part of Orbost’s agricultural history.A hand carved wagon spoke made of treated ironbark.wagon-spoke transport handcraft carving

This basket was hand-made by Mrs Tiny Solomon, an Aboriginal woman, in Orbost.This item is an example of an Indigenous style hand woven item of the very early 20th century. A shallow hand-woven grass basket. It has a flat bottom and a handle across the top.basket aboriginal weaving handcraft

This article was handmade by Amelia Frances Selwyn probably in England after she married Lance Mallett in London. Amelia was the mother of Brenda Murray, dedicated community worker and local government councillor. Brenda was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to the community. Amelia Mallett was an early Croajingalong resident and she and Lance are buried in the Orbost Cemetery.This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in thefirst half of the 20th century.A handmade black lacy bolero. It has beadwork along the edges and fastens with an ornate black clasp.bolero costume-women handcraft clothing

Helena Francis Warren (nee McKeown) was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She was a fine amateur photographer who supplied the photos for the Back-To-Orbost celebration book in 1937 and also designed the Back-To-Orbost badge. She was known for her soft toy making. (by Ivy Rodwell in from Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District by Mary Gilbert)This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the early 20th century.A hand-crafted toy fluffy dog. It is cream coloured with brown patches.It is made from sheep skin and has a pink silk protruding tongue, ears lined with brown silk and felt foot pads. It has one glass eye.handcraft toy needlework warren-helena

Helena Francis Warren (nee McKeown) was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She was a fine amateur photographer who supplied the photos for the Back-To-Orbost celebration book in 1937 and also designed the Back-To-Orbost badge. She was known for her soft toy making. (by Ivy Rodwell in from Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District by Mary Gilbert)This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the families of the early settlers.A hand-made papier mache basket in a floral pattern - roses, pansies and frangipanni. It is coloured red, purple, cream and green. It has a glossy finish. It is octagonal shaped and has a handle.papier-mache handcrafts warren-helena

This model was inspired by the Morgan barn on the Marlo Road, Orbost. It was built by Chris Hodge for the launch of the book, "Barns of the Snowy River" ( Reg. No.2138)The slatted barns are unique to the Orbost district.A wooden model of a three-storeyed slatted barn. The scale is approximately 30:1.The roof is corrugated cardboard painted silver. The waater tank is a tin can covered with corrugated cardboard. The down pipes are made from drinking straws. It stands on ply board.model handcraft woodwork barn

This is a handmade item made as a tourist souvenir.A small souvenir weapon made of woven coloured grass. The edges have shark's teeth tied in. The grass is coloured pink and blue. It is very light and has a loop for hanging.souvenir shark's-tooth handcraft-woven

In the early 20th century, smocking appears in women’s magazines and sewing manuals on garments, domestic textiles and children’s wear. The 1930s and 1940s were the heyday of patterns and innovative stitch development. Embroidery has always had a great appeal to women, as it needs few tools. Historically the skills were taught within the family or in primary schools. Articles to make or embroider had been available in kits since the 1850s. Fancy work, the opposite of plain sewing, enjoyed great popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries. Companies which manufactured threads often produced instruction guides and patterns. This instruction book has been well-used. A small 30pp book with no cover. It contains instructions for embroidery stitches, including smocking.book-embroidery smocking handcraft needlework

This wooden box was possibly a plain brown box which has been hand decorated with shells and pieces of glass. It might have been stored on a mantelpiece or dressing table and was used to store "bits and pieces". The Australian Natives' Association (ANA), a mutual society was founded in Melbourne, Australia in April 1871 as the Victorian Natives' Association. In 1872 it voted to extend membership to men born in the other Australian colonies and changed its name at the same time. The Association played a leading role in the movement for Australian federation in the last 20 years of the 19th century. In 1900 it had a membership of 17,000, mainly in Victoria. The ANA provided sickness, medical and funeral cover. Membership in the ANA was restricted to men born in Australia.The ANA consisted mainly of energetic middle-class men aged under 50. In 1880 the ANA committed itself to the federation of the Australian colonies, and provided much of the organisational and financial support for the Federation Leagues which led the campaign, particularly in Victoria. (ref Wikipedia)This item is an example of a small hand decorated container used to store domestic items. It might have been stored on a mantelpiece or dressing table.A wooden box with a hinged lid. The outside lid is decorated with shells and glass. There is a keyhole at the front. Inside the box is padded and lined with cream/gold decorated paper. It contains photographs, cards a 1906 calendar, postcards, postage stamps and a membership card for A.N.A. - Orbost Branch No.267container handcraft a.n.a.

This appears to be unused as it is starched.This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the early 20th century when women's focus was the home and its decoration was important. Embroidery and crochet work was an affordable way to personalise and add aesthetic value, and examples of embroidered and crocheted pieces could be found in most Australian homesA hand embroidered cushion cover. It is cream coloured with blue edging. In the centre is an orange diamond shape with an oval in the centre. There is a vase with flowers branching out. They are yellow and pink. The cover closes with 3 press studs.handcraft embroidery cushion-cover

The outrigger gives greater stability and seaworthiness to the canoe. Outrigger canoes were originally developed by the peoples of the islands of Southeast Asia for sea travel, and were used to transport these peoples eastward through to Polynesia and New Zealand more than 2000 Years ago. Today they are still in use. This item possibly came to Orbost with Reverend Alexander Morton . Morton was the minister at the Presbyterian church about 1890. He had spent time in new Hebrides and went on to New Zealand.This item is an example of a handcrafted artefact from the New Hebrides.Detailed model of an outrigger canoe from the Polynesian islands. It isa handmade wooden (possibly breadfruit wood) model of an outrigger canoe - one outrigger attached to the main hull. Bound with string. It has two wooden paddles.handcraft morton-alexander model-outrigger-canoe

The scarf became a real fashion accessory by the early 19th century for both men and women. By the middle of the 20th century, scarves became one of the most versatile clothing accessories for both men and women. Men often wore them as an evening accessory.This item reflects the type of clothing worn by men as evening accessories in the late 19th to early 20th century. It also has aesthetic appeal as a handcrafted item.A hand knitted man's silk scarf. It is knitted in moss stitch and is fringed at both ends.silk handcraft men's-accessory scarf

A pillow sham is a decorative pillow case. This is a handmade pillow sham especially crafted for a household in early Orbost.This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the early to mid 20th century. Embroidery was an affordable way to personalise and add aesthetic value to domestic linen and examples of embroidered and crocheted pieces could be found in most Australian homes,A rectangular lace pillow sham. the centre rectangle is white and made of pulled thread lace. The edging is pale pink and blue lace,handcraft pillow-sham needlework

This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the early to mid 20th century. Embroidery was an affordable way to personalise and add aesthetic value to domestic linen and examples of embroidered and crocheted pieces could be found in most Australian homes,A white / cream coloured linen tablecloth, edged with crochet. It has scalloped edges and is embroidered with orange stylised water lilies which have green leaves.needlework table-linen handcrafts

This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the early to mid 20th century. Embroidery was an affordable way to personalise and add aesthetic value to domestic linen and examples of embroidered and crocheted pieces could be found in most Australian homes, A hand made rectangular shaped white table cloth made of fine linen. it has lace insertions which are flower shaped. The flower stems and leaves are embroidered.table-linen handcraft needlework

This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the early to mid 20th century. Embroidery was an affordable way to personalise and add aesthetic value to domestic linen and examples of embroidered and crocheted pieces could be found in most Australian homes, A cream linen circular doily with scalloped edges. It is hand embroidered with a kookaburra and wattle design. It has some lace edging. doily needlework handcraft table-linen

Susan Mary Tinkler was one of thirteen children born to Christina Simpson (born Scroggie in 1859) and Henry Robert Simpson (born 1852). His occupation was Blacksmith & Wheelright in the Balranald & Moulamein districts. This bedspread was knitted by Susan Mary Tinkler of Balranald in 1908 and was used by her family throughout the years. This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the families of early settlers.Abedspread, hand-knitted in pink cotton. It has a intricate design and is edged with a fringe.hand-knitted bedspread linen handcraft

This was the wedding dress worn by Mrs Jessie McKinnon (nee Campbell). It has been made for riding side-saddle. Only highly-skilled tailors could produce the complex skirt required for riding side-saddle. It had to curve neatly over the rider’s knees.This dress reflects the fashion of the early 20th century as well as the needlecraft skills of the women at that time.A hand-made, long-sleeved wedding dress of beige satin. It is tapered at the waist and covered buttons from the collar to the waist. There are bows on the wrist. There is fringing at the waist and it is ankle length. There is a huge pocket on the left hand side. There are box pleats at ankle length and a frill of chiffon at the bottom.costume-female handcrafts-dressmaking dress-wedding