2/27pavilion, blossom tree, garden view

Possibly from J.L. Provan's photograph collection. Note by T.H. Kneen 8 April 1992, "View is from Botany room entry, east of main entry to Pavilion."Black and white photograph. View from corner of the Pavilion towards the Summer House. Tree in blossom in the foreground.j.l. provan, botany room, pavilion, garden view, summer house, shelter shed, blossom tree

French Louis Merci is shown as J.L. Merci on the settlement map, having selected Lot 26 in the Village Settlement in 1901.It was a 5 acre Lot bordering Barbers Road and the Dray Track (now Link Road). Louis shared his hut for some time with Peter the Swede. When Louis became ill with cancer and could no longer work he sold his property to George Barber in return for a weekly payment.Black and white photograph of hut in row of blossoming trees.french louis, louis merci, j l merci, peter the swede, george barber, link road, barbers road, hut, dray track

pruning, fruit trees, burnley, public day, administration building, agnotes, blossom tree, pruning demonstrations, orchard, field station

Black and white photograph of the Principal's Residence. Blossom trees and poppies in flower in the front garden."E/Sept '47." E M Gibson 538 11/8principal's residence, e. m. gibson collection, poppies, bloosom trees, front garden

Large white linen tea cosy cover. Blue machine embroidered blossom tree with peacock. Scalloped edge in blue hemstitched hem.domestic items, ornaments / decorative, food storage & preservation

Black and white photograph. Ornamental Cherry in Blossom. The wall of the Pavilion is visible in the background. Another copy B98.994 (iv)shrubbery, pavilion, cherry tree, blossom

Painting of Yarran Dheren by Barbara Rogalski, a member of Whitehorse Historical Society. Painting is one of a set of 4.Oil Painting of bush setting with water course and yellow wattle in flower and pink blossom tree in centre. Mounted in beige cotton fabric with inner beige plastic frame. Outer frame of brown wood with gold trim. Painted at Yarran Dheren, Mitcham.Signed by Barbara Rogalskipainting, yarran dheren reserve

Framed oil painting - Schwerkolt Cottage & surrounding trees in blossom. Title "Springtime"B. Rogalski '94barbara rogalski, schwerkolt cottage, springtime

These photographs appear to have been used for lantern slidesHandmade photograph album made from cardboard tied together with cord. Large black and white photographs pasted in. "Lantern Slide," or "Slide," handwritten beside each photograph. Also see B10.0021. (1)6 female students working in the flower garden with a member of staff. (2) View of the Lily Ponds with the Principal's Residence in the background. (3) The Croquet lawn. (4) Side of the Principal's Residence looking towards the Pavilion in the background. (5) Path to the Principal's Residence with the roof of it in the background. (6) Blossom tree. Also see Bfemale students, flower gardens, staff, lily ponds, principal's residence, croquet lawn, pavilion, blossom trees, lantern slides, students working outside

Coloured photograph of the fruit trees in blossom. These were part of the original orchard on the Schwerkolt Land.orchard, schwerkolt land

Marghab Linens Ltd. was a company specialising in table linens founded on Madeira in 1933 by British Cypriot Emile Marghab and his South Dakotan wife Vera (née Way); and disestablished in 1980.The company was also known as Emile Marghab Inc. Since 1850, when Madeiran natives were introduced to hand embroidery as a means of industry, the islands had been renowned for their needlework. The Marghabs took advantage of this reputation, producing textiles that were skilfully hand-embroidered on the highest quality Irish linen and a form of organdie called Margandie, made in Switzerland, and harder wearing than usual organdie. The linens were designed by Vera, and hand-embroidered as a home industry by the women on Madeira, who Vera insisted received payment per stitch - which for a single place mat could amount to seventy thousand stitches.Pale grey linen hand towel with white embroidery, cutwork and applique. The design is of a tree with blossoms.madeira work, surface stitchery, hand towel

2 identified as, Joy Leitch (M.J. Leitch? 1939) and Eleanor Parsons (1939).The Sun News - Pictorial, 1939. Photograph of 6 girls gathered around a tree in blossom, some pruning or gathering blossom.Handwritten on it, "1938-1939 Class, 1939."female students, eleanor parsons, students working outside, june de chaneet, joy leach, m j leitch

The Warty-faced honeyeater Formerly more widely distributed in south-eastern mainland Australia from Rockhampton, Queensland to Adelaide, South Australia, the Regent Honeyeater is now confined to Victoria and New South Wales, and is strongly associated with the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range. The Regent Honeyeater is found in eucalypt forests and woodlands, particularly in blossoming trees and mistletoe. It is also seen in orchards and urban gardens. This species is critically endangered. They are native to Southeastern Australia. Specimen is mounted accurately. Colour around the eyes is red whereas they are yellow normally. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century. This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.The striking Regent Honeyeater (Warty-faced honeyeater) has a black head, neck and upper breast, a lemon yellow back and breast scaled black, with the underparts grading into a white rump, black wings with conspicuous yellow patches, and a black tail edged yellow. In males, the dark eye is surrounded by yellowish warty bare skin. Females are smaller, with a bare yellowish patch under the eye only, and have less black on the throat. Young birds resemble females, but are browner and have a paler bill. The colouring of this particular specimen helps identify it as male.Swing-tag: 56a. / Warty-Faced Honeyeater / See Catalogue, page 18taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, australian bird, honey-eater, warty-faced honey-eater, regent honeyeater, critically endangered, yellow

Newspaper cutting from "News-Pictorial", August 7, 1935. The photo shows two female students admiring blossom on plum trees at Burnley, with the caption: "Flowering plum blossom in Burnley Horticultural Gardens tell the time of the year, irrespective of the cold climate. The students..." the sun news-pictorial, burnley horticultural college, students, female students, burnley horticultural gardens, orchard, plum blossom

Contributor: T.H. KneenBox of 30 slides. Dates printed on slides. May 1966: (1) Rose Garden (now Herbaceous Border). (2) View from outside PRI towards Administration Building showing roses. (3) View of young trees? (4) View from Administration Building towards PSL. Dec 1966: (5) Yarra Boulevard with Burnley Campus on left. (6) View of greenhouses from Yarra Boulevard. Sept 1967: (7) Demonstration of root system of ? (8) Demonstration of root system of a strawberry plant. (9, 10) The Kneen children sitting in a felled tree. (11- 13) One of the Kneen girls by the Luffmann Ponds. (14,15) Principal's Residence with blossom tree. (16) Back of the Administration Building. (17) View of trees at Burnley? (18) Back of the Administration Building. (19-24) Inside Nursery. (25) Unveiling of plaque presented by the Burnley Horticultural Past Students Association for the 1991 Centenary of the College. Eric Littlejohn, ? Tom Kneen. (26) Float advertising Dookie Agricultural College.rose garden, administration building, trees, yarra boulevard, greenhouses, root system, strawberry plant, kneen family, children, luffmann ponds, principal's residence, nursery, burnley horticultural past students association, eric littlejohn, t.h. kneen, dookie agricultural college, garden views, plaque

Photograph made by A.P. Winzenried as a possible illustration for, "Green Grows Our Garden." Caption reads, "A Touch of Spring. " Note by T.H. Kneen 18 March 1992," Query: Student identified as Hilda Dance has dark hair - we always knew Hilda as being fair haired!"Colour photograph. Copy of a newspaper article made by A.P. Winzenried. Caption reads, "A Touch of Spring. " Students working near a dry stone wall in the Orchard shown in a 1926 Site Plan. Fruit trees in blossom behind the wall. Handwritten underneath, "J.Teed, H. Dance, E. Pearce, M. Fisher, B. Levick. "The Argus." 18-8-35." On reverse, "Dry stone wall at Burnley.""j.teed, h. dance, e. pearce, m. fisher, b. levick, green grows our garden, a. p. winzenried, orchard, dry stone wall, students working outside, blossom, tools, wooden wheelbarrow

Photograph made by A.P. Winzenried as a possible illustration for, "Green Grows Our Garden."3 copies colour photograph. Copy of a newspaper article made by A.P. Winzenried. Caption reads, "Flowering almond trees at the Burnley Horticultural College are in full bloom." Original b/w, copies hand coloured. 4 female students beside and in an almond tree in blossom in the Ornamental Garden.Handwritten, ' "The Argus". 18-8-35. W. Thompson, E. Pearce, M. Younger, H. Dance (in tree.)'a.p. winzenried, green grows our garden, almond trees, w. thompson, e. pearce, m. younger, h. dance, student group, newspaper cutting

13 black and white photographs with the same numbering system on reverse. (1) 3 copies fruit tree in blossom, probably almond. Person standing amongst tall grass. (2) 2 copies. Plant label in photograph reads,"Prostanthera sieberi." On reverse of one, "New purple flowers." (3) Plant taken out of its pot. (4) 2 copies. Conifer. (5) Conifers. (6-8) ?fruit trees, blossoms, flowers, garden views, conifers, plants, almond, prostanthera sieberi

6 colour slides labelled Aug 63: 22. "Veg Plots" 24. "Vege Plots 1963 Russel B.H.C.". 27. "1963 Vege Plots Weighing in Colin Harris" (1965). 32. Jack Russel (Staff) Max Jeffery (1965) Gwen Pump (1964) Students Dip II 1962". Jun 78 "Balling Street Trees". 14 Mar-Aug 79 unidentified. 1.Almond tree in blossomvegetable plots, burnley horticultural college, colin harris, jack russel, staff, max jeffery, gwen pump, students mar-aug 79 unidentified., arboriculture

Box of coloured slides, all from different collections. (1) "Students Margaret Oliver," on reverse,"Equipment 2190 Cultivator" (2) "Green manure crops. Field peas lupins." 1975 (3) "B.H.C." on reverse, "Seed beds." (4) "29/4/64 Crops Section." (5) "Seed Testing Lab (1966)." (6) "Julie Provan Peach stock Block." Sep (7) View of back of lawn." Aug 1980 (8) View of Ponds." ((0 Constructing Native Garden. (10) Crack Willow in winter. Jul 1978 (11) Crack Willow in summer. Jul 1988 (12) Administration Building. 1985 (13) Blossom. (14) Blossom on fruit trees. Sep (15) Children Planting. Aug 1985. Also others.students, margaret oliver, cultivator, lupins, crops section, seed testing lab, julie provan, lawn, ponds, native garden, blossom, fruit trees, children, planting, green manure, garden views, administration building, crack willow, peach blossom, orchard, sunken garden, rose garden, flowers, acacia maidenii, vegetables

Contributor: T.H. KneenBox of 47 slides, some labelled. (1) "Marjorie Hall 1st Year Student June '56 No. 1872." Working with fruit tree stock. (2) "Orchard June 1956 No. 1710." 2 men and a tractor.(3) "Camp 1957." Wilson's Promontory. (4) View of Drive No. 1677." C. 1958 (5) "GenView No. 1771." (6) "Burnley Gardens Entrance 4.4.58 N0. 1672." (7) "Wilson's Promontory Lilly Pilly Gully Nov 1960." (8) Dec '62." (9) "Dec '62." Kneen child. (10) Luffmann Ponds "Aut. 1962." (11) Grevillea Sep 1963. (12) Sep 1963.Reflection of Crack Willow in Luffmann Ponds. (13) Sep 1963. Orchard blossom. (14) View of Administration Building at sunset Aug 1964. (15) Rose 'Heat Wave.' May 1965. (16) Kneen child sitting under a tree May 1966. (17) 'Department of Agriculture Burnley Gardens' sign May 1966. (18) Administration Building May 1966. (19) Plant Science Block May 1966. ((20) Wintersweet August 1966.(Actually appears to be Witch Hazel Hamamelis mollis.) (21) Student on tractor in the Orchard October 1966. (22) Garden view, view of Principal's Residence through blossom trees October 1966. (23) Students walking through the Gardens October 1966. (24) "Leaf Cuttings Rex begonia 2 October 1966. (25) Emily Gibson beds October 1966. (26) Principal's Residence in a garden view October 1966. (27) Garden view looking towards the Principal's Residence and the Shady Garden October 1966. (28) Drive looking towards the Administration Building from the Plant Research Institute. (29) Kneen child (not Burnley?) (30) Unveiling of Burnley Horticultural College plaque commemorating 75 years, 1891-1966 - Eric Littlejohn, ?, T.H. Kneen. Includes key to Pavilion 1969. (31) "Rose Pruning Demo - Canteen." July 1969. (32, 33) "Rose Pruning Demo 1969." July 1969. (34) "Plant Science Block & College." July 1969. (35) Plant Science Block 6/69." July 1969. (36) "Burnley Gardens 6/69." looking towards Dairy and Yarra Boulevard (37) "Pond No. 1717." (38) "Pond 1748." Kneen children playing by the Luffmann Ponds, Oak tree behind.. (39) Ginkgo leaves June 1967. (42) ? (43) Erithyna caffra in flower (removed 2016) December 1966. ((44) Administration Building and Nursery from PRI." (45) Pelargoniums. (46) Azalea mollis (47) Pelargonium foreground, geranium background.marjorie hall, students, fruit trees, orchard, tractor, wilson's promontory, burnley gardens, entrance, drive, garden view, luffmann ponds, grevillea, rose, kneen family, sign, wintersweet, plant science block, administration building, students working outside, principals residence, plaque, rose pruning demonstrations, ginkgo, pelargoniums, erythryna

Contributor: T.H. KneenCardboard box of 108 35mm glass slides in metal frames made by "Gnome." Box labelled "Burnley Gardens Slides." Also 16 unused slides (1) Swan Street entrance c. (2) Orchid? b/w. (3) Nursery b/w. (4) Pasture area with man working b/w. (5) Draught horse working in the Orchard b/w. (6) Crop of corn in the Orchard c. (7) Magnolia c. (Magnolia x soulangeana). (8) Display of orange flowers c. (9) Lemon tree in the Orchard c. (10) Sign advertising 'Fruit Tree Pruning Demonstarion Sat. 2nd July (1949) c. (11) Jersey cow c. (12) Rock Point c. (13) Dahlias in the Orchard c. (14) Foundation Stone '28th August, 1946' c. (15) Felled Cypress tree 1951 b/w. (16) School truck in front of glasshouses and cacti b/w. (17)Administration Building completed but surrounded by rubble C.1949 c. (18) Plant Research Institute c. (19) Inside a glasshouse. c. (20) Administration Building c. (21) Group of female students dressed up for a function c. (22) Solenostemon (Syn. Coleus) in a glasshouse. (23, 24)Stock Matthiola incana. (25) Blossom in the Orchard c. (26) Orchard c. (27) Picking fruit in the Orchard c. (28) 2 female students holdong large bunches of poppies c. (29) Flowers growing in the Orchard c. (30) House - not Burnley c. (31) Students on an excursion c. (32) Staff member with Gladioli c. (33) Garden view - not Burnley? c. (34) Administration Building c. (35) Roses c. (36) Flowers in the Orchard c. (37) Draught horse working in the Orchard c. (38) Staff member amongst flowers in the Orchard c. (39) Garden view c. ((40) Blossom in the Orchard c. (41) Orchard c. (42) Flowers inside glasshouse c. (43) Mesembryanthemums in pots possibly in the nursery c. (44) Tree b/w. (45) Garden bed c. (46) Sign, 'Agrostology Branch, pasture Plant Research Field,' c. (47) Path to Principal's Residence c. (48) Irrigation in the Orchard b/w. (49) Cactus flowers b/w. (50) Garden view with T.H. Kneen children playing c. (51) (52) Cinerarias (now Pericallis x hybrida) in pots c. (53) Temporary building where the Grey Garden is now b/w. (54) Garden view b/w. (55) Unknown building b/w. (56) Person pruning in the Orchard c. (57) Students working in the Orchard c. (58) Swan Street with recently completed rock wall constructed by the Public Works Department b/w. (59) Lagoon paddock b/w. (60,62) Pavilion and new Administration Building before the Pavilion was removed b/w. (61) As (60) but viewed from a different direction c. (63) Plant c. (64) View through a window on the stairs in the Administration Building c. (65) Plant c. (66) Garden view of trees c. (67) Garden View b/w. (68) Blossom tree c. (69 )Garden view along path to Principal's Residence c. (70) Lagoon Paddock c. (71) Lagoon Paddock with cows b/w. (72) Inside a glasshouse b/w. (73) Entrance sign- Department of Agriculture Burnley Gardens, School of Horticulture & Primary Agriculture, Plant Research laboratory, Agrostology Branch, Fruit Preserving Branch c. (74) Plant Research Laboratory b/w. (75) Students on an excursion c. (76) Glasshouses b/w. (77) Garden view b/w. (78) Kniphophia c. (79) Hibiscus c. (80) Garden view c. (81) Dairy, Silo and dog b/w. (82) Irrigation in then Orchard b/w. (83) Garden view with magnolia c. (84) Flower plots in the Orchard c. (85) Pruning demonstration b/w. (86) Administration Building under construction c. (87) Rock Point c. (88) Mrs Kneen and Magnolia c. (89) Glasshouses c. (90) Sequoia sempervirens b/w. (91) Inside Administration Building c. (92) Luffmann Ponds b/w. (93) Sequoia sempervirend, Mrs Kneen and child c. (94) Garden bed in front of Sequoian sempervirens c. (95) Principals Residence b/w. (96) Poultry pens b/w. 1947 (97) Principals Residence b/w. (98) Student picking fruit from netted tree b/w. (99) Rock Point and Long Border c. (100) Administration Building under construction c. (101) Greenhouse b/w. (102) Rock Point c. (103) Flowers in the Orchard c. (104) Waterlilies in the Pond c. (105) Blossom tree c. (106) Hilda Kirkhope Rockery c. (107) Long Border c. (108) Plant Research Institute with flower border along drive c.burnley gardens, flower, nursery, pasture, draught horse, orchard, crops, magnolia, chicken coops, egg laying competition, glass slide

Paper card with a picture of a house with a thatched roof. There is a stone wall and two trees that are beginning to blossom. There are four children two boys and two girls. One girl has no footwear. One boy is holding a goat. There are two goats a large pig and chicken in the picture. The words" An Irish Cabin" appears on the lower left side and a Orange ribbon has been attatched to the lower right side."Dear Bess I suppose you think I an never going to answer your pursuit but I thought I would do so while here in Belfast cause I know you have a lot of time for the Micks. How would you like a little home like this one no cows to milk only goats no horses to drive only donkies & it looks as though the girls have no boots to clean by this card but there is some first class sig hias this one has taken a purge he must be an Ulsty show. Love from Donald

Black & white photo of Billie Thompson in WW1 - AIF Uniform sitting on wooden crossed chair. Black & white photo of Mabel Hopkinson standing, dressed in long white wedding dress with long sleeves, dark hair with large white hat, necklace, holding bunch of flowers, white shoes. Glass in middle of photo with painting of little red robin bird, sitting on a tree branch of white flowers-blossom, with green leaves. Frame has green leaf branches with silver buds. Markings/Inscriptions: Picture frames & gold enamel enlargement & presentation frames a speciality. Picture Gallery. The Hall. Smith street. Collingwood. Near Stanley street. ( DU. RIEU & Co. TYP ) Deframed 2022.Made by L.H.Evans manufacturer of the celebrated lion brand.person, group, wedding portrait

The Crimson Rosella is native to Australia and located in Queensland and South Australia. Australia has a diverse range of rosellas, but the crimson rosella is easily recognised by the red body and blue cheeks. These birds are friendly to humans and consume seeds, insects and some blossoms. They nest in high trees, preferably eucalyptus. Typically, a crimson rosella should have far brighter colours than the specimen collected. This specimen has also been documented as having a light blue or black beak. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.This Crimson Rosella has a red feathered chest and cape across the head and blue cheeks besides the bill. The tail and wing feathers are mostly black with blue around the edges. The head is angled slightly to the specimen's left. This specimen stands upon a wooden platform and has an identification tag tied around its leg.78a. / Rennauts Parakeet / See Catalogue, page 22 /taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, bird, california, australian native bird, crimson rosella, rosella, reynell eveleigh johns, platycercus elegans

Wooden bellows belonging to Ola Cohn. It has a tree design on the handle and on the centre part several metal stud holding the leather to the wooden frame. It has a metal ending. Also in the box, photocopied typed sheet of the resume of Ola Cohn (Carola) M.B.E., A.R.C.A. 'Blossom'. It includes illustrations. Date unknown. (see also 3300.88).domestic equipment, heating, bellows

Frances Burke: Designer of Modern Textiles Australia’s most influential and celebrated textile designer of the mid-20th century, Frances Burke (1904-1994), employed Australian native flora, garden flowers, marine subjects, Indigenous culture and increasingly, abstract motifs in her stunning modern fabrics. A confident, determined designer and businesswoman; Burke made the shift from fine art to design in 1937. While she began by designing dress fabrics for Melbourne’s fashionable Georges Department store, printing them on linen using lino blocks, she was an early adopter of the screen-printing process and during the war years began printing on cotton. Burke’s furnishing fabrics took their place in influential modern buildings Australia-wide through collaborations with leading architects and interior designers. They included Robin Boyd’s 1949 House of Tomorrow, Roy Grounds’ Quamby flats, Guilford Bell’s Royal Hayman Island Resort for Ansett Airlines, and Yuncken, Freeman Brothers, Griffiths and Simpson’s Canberra Civic Centre Theatre. In the post-war period, Burke made regular trips to the United States and Europe, on her return advising homeowners and manufacturers on the latest trends in products, colours and home design in lectures and interviews. At New Design her fabric showroom and interior design consultancy Burke introduced furniture by emerging designers Clement Meadmore and Grant Featherston in the early 1950s and presented local and imported homewares, mostly from the United States. She was enthusiastic about the convenient and comfortable lifestyle experienced by ordinary American women. Her fabrics and advice were regularly featured in Australian Home Beautiful, Australian House and Garden and the newspapers of the day. Some of Burke’s designs had remarkable longevity. Tiger Stripe (1938) for example, continued to be produced in a wide range of colours until 1970 and Crete (1946) remained a popular choice for interiors into the 1960s. Drawing from a rich variety of sources including Indigenous culture in Goanna (c.1954) and Pacific Island tapa cloth designs in Bird and Tree (1940), Burke also looked to Japan in designs such as Plum Blossom (1948) and Zen (1965). She loved exploring the potential of native flora, seen in designs including Waratah (1955) and Flannel Flower (1955), while garden flowers were the source for many other designs including Belladonna (1940), Periwinkle (n.d.) and Rose (1947). Burke’s clever interplay of a single striking printed colour with lively gestural lines revealing the white base fabric, gave her designs a vibrancy that characterised the optimistic post-war era. This can be seen in Burke’s fabrics for Hayman Island including Angel Fish and Seapiece (both 1949) which expressed the freshness and excitement of the luxurious new tropical resort and led to further commissions. Burke’s three decades in business (1937-1970) were an unparalleled success in the story of Australian design. Her fabrics have been collected by the NGA, the Powerhouse Museum, NGV, RMIT Design Archives and Sydney Living Museums in addition to Ararat Gallery TAMA. Written by Nanette Carter and Robyn Oswald-Jacobs.

Frances Burke: Designer of Modern Textiles Australia’s most influential and celebrated textile designer of the mid-20th century, Frances Burke (1904-1994), employed Australian native flora, garden flowers, marine subjects, Indigenous culture and increasingly, abstract motifs in her stunning modern fabrics. A confident, determined designer and businesswoman; Burke made the shift from fine art to design in 1937. While she began by designing dress fabrics for Melbourne’s fashionable Georges Department store, printing them on linen using lino blocks, she was an early adopter of the screen-printing process and during the war years began printing on cotton. Burke’s furnishing fabrics took their place in influential modern buildings Australia-wide through collaborations with leading architects and interior designers. They included Robin Boyd’s 1949 House of Tomorrow, Roy Grounds’ Quamby flats, Guilford Bell’s Royal Hayman Island Resort for Ansett Airlines, and Yuncken, Freeman Brothers, Griffiths and Simpson’s Canberra Civic Centre Theatre. In the post-war period, Burke made regular trips to the United States and Europe, on her return advising homeowners and manufacturers on the latest trends in products, colours and home design in lectures and interviews. At New Design her fabric showroom and interior design consultancy Burke introduced furniture by emerging designers Clement Meadmore and Grant Featherston in the early 1950s and presented local and imported homewares, mostly from the United States. She was enthusiastic about the convenient and comfortable lifestyle experienced by ordinary American women. Her fabrics and advice were regularly featured in Australian Home Beautiful, Australian House and Garden and the newspapers of the day. Some of Burke’s designs had remarkable longevity. Tiger Stripe (1938) for example, continued to be produced in a wide range of colours until 1970 and Crete (1946) remained a popular choice for interiors into the 1960s. Drawing from a rich variety of sources including Indigenous culture in Goanna (c.1954) and Pacific Island tapa cloth designs in Bird and Tree (1940), Burke also looked to Japan in designs such as Plum Blossom (1948) and Zen (1965). She loved exploring the potential of native flora, seen in designs including Waratah (1955) and Flannel Flower (1955), while garden flowers were the source for many other designs including Belladonna (1940), Periwinkle (n.d.) and Rose (1947). Burke’s clever interplay of a single striking printed colour with lively gestural lines revealing the white base fabric, gave her designs a vibrancy that characterised the optimistic post-war era. This can be seen in Burke’s fabrics for Hayman Island including Angel Fish and Seapiece (both 1949) which expressed the freshness and excitement of the luxurious new tropical resort and led to further commissions. Burke’s three decades in business (1937-1970) were an unparalleled success in the story of Australian design. Her fabrics have been collected by the NGA, the Powerhouse Museum, NGV, RMIT Design Archives and Sydney Living Museums in addition to Ararat Gallery TAMA. Written by Nanette Carter and Robyn Oswald-Jacobs.