In the late 19th and early-20th centuries household heaters burned wood and coal for heating. In winter the warm air from the fireplace would flow into the room through a round flue in the face of the chimney. In the warmer months the unnecessary heater and flue was removed and the chimney cleaned. Homemakers then covered the circular flue hole with a decorative and usually inexpensive wall hanging to prevent draughts and dust. The practice was especially popular in France and Germany where a lot of the artwork originated. The covers were no longer needed after households changed over to more modern designs of heaters. The flue covers were known as Wall Art or Flue Cover Art. They were usually round and illustrated with a lithograph or chromograph print. The picture was then mounted on card, covered with glass, and framed with a brass or tin rim. The border was commonly gilt with a black stripe around the centre. There were numerous illustrations, many with a European appearance, and were easily bought through local merchants for a small price.This pretty flue cover is significant for representing a common domestic wall decoration from the late Victorian to the Edwardian eras, when solid fuel heaters were used in low to high income homes. The picture is similar to many other flue cover images, apart from the holly clutched in the girl’s hand, which gives the cover a Christmas theme. This flue cover is the only one in our collection and appears to have a unique design; the hand painted floral decoration on the glass and the two crimson rings around the edges of the frame’s white border haven’t been seen on other flue covers. Flue cover, metal and glass. Print of a young girl with blue eyes and curly blonde hair, a hooded blue cape, a silver clasp with blue stones, and a sprig of holly in her hand. The round metal frame forms a deep, white-painted, crimson-edged border for the illustration. The hand-painted blue flowers on the glass front form add to the border and give a 3-dimensional effect. The picture is between the cardboard backing and the glass front, with the metal frame holding them together. There is a metal chain attached for hanging the cover.warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, picture, handpainted, portrait, girl in blue cape, metal frame, round picture, illustration, print, holly, christmas, child in blue cape, silver and blue clasp, holly sprig, late 19th century, early 20th century, 1890s-1930s, victorain, edwardian, flue cover, flue cover art, wall art, chimney flue cover, chimney hole cover, stove pipe cover, fireplace flue cover, antique, victorian, glass frame, chromograph, lithograph, tin, brass, lithograph print, chromo print, christmas girl, blue cape, blonde girl

The child photographed was Frances Ruby Thompson (1900 - 1967) daughter of Albert Paul Thompson (b. 1865;d.1944) and Elizabeth Anna (nee) Fleming (b.1874;m.1899;d1954)Thompson Collection documenting family histories of nursery peoples of the DandenongsSepia photograph on cream board of blonde infant girl in dress and bonnet. Makers Marks: Eden Photo Studios Paris Panel superior finish Melbourne and Sydney. Inscription on back: 'Fransis Thompson Uncle Alls first (Francis)thompson collection, fleming

Kathryn Knitwear, founded by Robert Blake, manufactured high quality children’s knitwear in Melbourne from the 1940s – 1980s. Robert Blake began manufacturing children’s knitwear in his bedroom in Strathmore using a hand powered machine in the late 1940s. The operation moved to Ascot Vale and Essendon, before eventually establishing a factory in Moonee Ponds in the early 1950s. The business continued to expand, necessitating a move to a new factory in Broadmeadows. By 1962, the Broadmeadows factory was producing an average of 20,000 garments per month, which increased to 24,000 by 1964. Robert Blake’s Son, Brendan recalls that “The Kathryn brand was famous around Australia, anywhere children needed to keep warm and dress smartly. It also won a number of wool fashion awards”, including the 1969 Wool Awards, which was held by the Australian Wool Bureau and published in Women’s Weekly. The Kathryn range was designed for durability, comfort and care, without sacrificing style. They used patterning techniques that increase stretchiness, comfort and fit, as well as integrating decorative elements into the fabric to prevent them from being bulky, uncomfortable or tight. Making longevity of style a priority, Brendan Blake remembers that “there was one particular garment that was in the range for at least thirty years”. He also recalls “In the past, when women have found out that I was associated with Kathryn Knitwear, they would often relate to me the story of a garment they had purchased or received as a gift and, when their child had grown out of it, they would hand it on to another child. Several ladies have told me of purchasing garments for their daughters’ glory box, or saving a particular garment after their daughter had grown out of it. Brendan Blake: “At the peak of their operation they employed approximately two hundred people, mainly women and girls. A family would often seek to send their daughter to work in this company because they knew they would be looked after and safe. One lady wrote to me telling me that working at the Moonee Ponds Factory prior to getting married was the happiest time of her life.” In 1963, workers at the Kathryn factory earned £13 per week, which was 8 shillings and 8 pence higher than the minimum weekly wage for female workers in the textile manufacturing industry (£12 11s 4d). By 1970, the Kathryn Knitwear brand expanded from children’s knitwear into womenswear under the brand name ‘Lady Kathryn’, and for boys and men under ‘Robert Blake’. Continuing to diversify their distribution, they also began exporting ‘Kathryn’ garments to New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and Japan. ‘Kathryn Knitwear’ was well-known for their early adoption of modern materials and techniques that had broad appeal to their customer base. This is shown in their early use of the acrylic fibre ‘Orlon’ in the 50s and 60s and ‘Superwash’ wool in the 1970s. Many of Kathryn Knitwear’s styles, particularly those that were long running staples of the brand, were available in both wool and Orlon to suit the consumer’s preference. Far from the humble origins of one man in his bedroom with a hand-cranked machine; at its closure in 1980, the Broadmeadows factory of ‘Kathryn’ housed more than 100 machines, including 53 sewing machines and 45 knitting machines. Robert Blake was “a passionate advocate for wool and Australian Made” throughout his whole life. A strong thread that ties through the lifespan of Robert Blake and Kathryn Knitwear is a balance between adopting new innovations without sacrificing the core values of durability, comfort, care and style that had made the brand so well known. Their legacy forms an integral part of both Australian social and manufacturing history.Black and white photograph printed on photographic paper depicting a young blonde girl wearing white tights, shiny black mary janes with broguing and a short black long-sleeved dress. The dress has three horizontal rows of white lace trim and a velvet ribbon that ties in a bow across the front panel. She has one arm behind her back and is resting her other arm and leaning against an ornate dining chair with velvet upholstery. From a promotional shoot for Kathryn Knitwearbusiness, business history, manufacturing, knitting machine, fashion textile production, business archives, manufacturing documents, textile industry - history wool marketing, wool marketing fashion textile industry, children's knitwear, children's clothing, knitwear marketing

This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 1000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.Canvas painting of a girl with blonde hard watching a candle which has just been sniffed out. Signed verso. "Girl with Candle" [signature] Acrylic on canvasart, artwork, rowsell, candle, mel rowsell, available

A reproduction of 1950's calendar art entitled 'READY TO SERVE', depicting a blonde pin-up girl in white shorts posing with racquet and leaning on a tennis net. Materials: Paper, Ink, Cardboard, Glass, Woodtennis

Textiles. Calico bag - ''Harpers Flaked Oatmeal'' Star brand, Trademark Registered ''My Brekfus'' 7 lbs Net. Robert Harper and Company Limited Australia. Head and shoulders drawing of a blonde haired girl surrounded by wheat.On the other side of the bag is a blue and white picture of a box of ''Silver Star Starch''. Robert Harper and Co Ltd. Slogan written on box, '' The best in the world. Won't sick to the Iron''. Robert Harper and Company (1842-1919), businessman and politician, was born in Scotland. He migrated to Melbourne with his family in August 1856. He worked for J.F.McKenzie & Co., roasting and grinding millers. In 1865 he established Robert Harper & Co., trading in tea, coffee and spices from the East Indies and later in oatmeal and flour.textiles, domestic, robert harper and co calico bag

The donor was given this doll about 50 years ago by her grandfather (in the late 1960s). He used to be a handyman at a high rise building in St Kilda, Melbourne. He had been doing some work for one of the old ladies and she gave him the doll to give to his granddaughter, who collected dolls. The doll has spent a few years at the Nagambie museum until it closed down and returned to the donor The origins or age of the doll are unknown. Originally it was thought to be a Fashion Doll dating from around the 1880s but the painted face together with the bisque legs and gold painted shoes are similar to those found on Boudoir Dolls (also known as Bed Dolls, Sofa Dolls, Flapper Dolls and French Dolls) of the early 20th century. Fashion dolls were sent from fashion houses to advertise the latest styles, fabrics, trims, hairstyles and accessories. Dressmakers would show these dolls to their customers. Ladies would then place their order and the dressmakers would make the dress to their size. The dressmakers would learn the construction techniques from examining the dolls. Boudoir Dolls dolls usually had no maker's marks and were primarily used as bedroom decorations for ladies rather than as children's toys. This doll appears to date at about the early part of the 20th century, but the petticoats are much older - possibly from a child's christening gown. At the time that the donor received the doll, it had a coloured lace over-gown that was badly torn so her mother removed it to replace with more lace but this never eventuated. The pink silk dress also appears to have been remodelled into a 19th century style with gathered sleeves and a gathered skirt. This fashion or boudoir doll is significant for being a rare example of a doll made in the late 19th or early 20th centuries. The doll is wearing clothing representing the fashion for young girls in that era. The doll is also significant as an item possibly used by fashion houses and dressmakers to advertise the latest fashions in clothing, trims, accessories and hairstyles. A doll such as this may have been found in a Victorian dressmaker's premises for use as a pattern and technique template and for a display to customers. It may also have been used as a decorative item in a lady's bedroom.Female boudoir doll with silk face and body, and porcelain lower arms and legs. She has plaited blonde silk hair. Her painted face has brown eyes and her shoes are painted gold. The doll is dressed in a long pink puffed-sleeve dress with a gathered waist and a ruffle at the hem. A pink ribbon around her waist is tied at the back. There are small silver balls hand-stitched around the neckline. She has a white, hand-embroidered lace petticoat and bloomers.warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, doll, boudoir doll, female doll, dressmaker's doll, display doll, late 1800s doll, fashion doll, antique doll, 19th century doll, children's fashion, girl's fashion, late 1800s children's fashion, early 20th century doll, composite doll, french doll

This photo was a loving memento of a young man, possibly kept by his girl friend or even his mother. Perhaps he was leaving home to go to work or even to war. The locks of blonde hair tied with apricot coloured ribbons probably belonged to a young lady or a child.This is of social significance. It is pre digital cameras, pre colour photos. Keeping locks of hair was, popular, especially in Victorian times. Wooden, possibly pine, cigar box with hinged lid. Inside lid is a photo, [male], in a red velvet frame. Base of box contains hair locks tied with apricot coloured ribbon x 3, covered with plastic.Top of box has tape covering the cigar label. memento, photo, personal, love token, cigar box, hair clippings, hair locks

Photograph - black and white - Portrait of 2 children. Young girl standing , wearing a pleated dress with belt, ringlets, side part and a ribbon in hair. Young boy is sitting on a concrete looking pillar, same looking belt, big wide lacy collar, blonde hair.Eden Studios - Melbourne.person, group, children, portrait of 2 children.

An older man sits on the floor, his back resting against the wall where nearby a mural of koalas and a gum tree have been painted. On his right leg he holds a young possibly Aboriginal girl who smiles as she plays with a teddy bear and watches as he holds up other items. A blonde curly haired boy stands as he watches the man, whilst an older child sits as he plays with a rattle. There are 5 photos in this sequence, which takes place at an unknown location.5 B/W photographs of an older man who holds a young girl in his lapassociation for the blind, elanora home (brighton)