This early-to-mid 20th century bar, or cake, of Australian-made soap is carefully wrapped in card and finished with an attractive outer wrapper that promotes its gentle, moisturising qualities. The wrapper also records its origin: J. W. Lineker, pharmaceutical chemist, of Lava Street, Warrnambool. Although the manufacturer is unclear, the soap may have been made by the chemist herself. It was one of several items removed from the steam ferry Rowitta before the vessel was demolished in 2015, after around 40 years as a popular exhibit at Flagstaff Hill. The soap was likely part of a display inside the Rowitta. The wrapper identifies Jean Winder Lineker as a pharmaceutical chemist and lists her credentials, including Master of Pharmacy. In her earlier studies, she had passed the Pharmacy Board’s Intermediate Examination in 1924. By 1940, when she was granted probate from her late father’s will, Jean had relocated from Ballarat to 127 Fairy Street, Warrnambool, just around the corner from her Lava Street pharmacy. Jean was born at Dunkeld in 1900 to Adolphus Winter Lineker (ca. 1863–1934) and Jane Sophia Lineker, born Collins, who had married in 1899. The Lineker family had long associations with tailoring in western Victoria. An article in the Warrnambool Standard in October 1897 reported that A. W. Lineker, late of Melbourne, planned to open a tailoring establishment in Liebig Street, Warrnambool. By 1909, the family was in Portland, where they established the West End Tailoring Establishment in Julia Street. A comment in the local newspaper commends his window display; “Mr Lineker's windows attracted much attention throughout the evening, and most complimentary references were made to his neat dressing.” In 1912, they moved to Geelong and opened another tailor shop, before later moves to Ballarat, Brighton and Koroit. Adolphus died at Koroit in 1934, while Jane later returned to Dunkeld, where she died in 1940. Jane and Jean had been named joint executors of Adolphus’ will, but Jane died before probate was granted later that year. Other members of the Lineker family also operated tailoring businesses across the Western District in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Everyday toiletries such as this offer a small but revealing insight into local retailing, personal care and pharmacy practice in regional Victoria during the mid-20th century. It is connected to pharmaceutical chemist Jean Winter Lineker, who lived in Warrnambool and ran her business there. Jean came from the well-known Lineker family: her father and other relatives operated several tailoring businesses across the western district of Victoria during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Bar of soap: Superfatted Skin Soap within a rectangular, light coloured paper packet with navy-blue printed inscriptions on the front. The unsealed packet exposes a grey card lining and grey-fawn coloured soap. A decorative border encloses a female cameo portrait and details of the soap’s distributer. The soap originated from J. W. Lineker, pharmaceutical chemist, Lava St, Warrnambool. “SUPERFATTED / SKIN SOAP / J. W. LINEKER / FN. C., M.P.S.. / Pharmaceutical Chemist / Lava St, WARRNAMBOOL, / ‘Phone 424.” Logo within a circle: Portrait of a young lady showing the left side of her face.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, warrnambool, superfatted skin soap, j. w. lineker, pharmaceutical chemist, lava st, fn. c, m.p.s., phone 424, australian made, soap, the rowitta, jean winder lineker, master of pharmacy, pharmacy board, intermediate examination, ballarat, 127 fairy street, adolphus winter lineker, jane sophia lineker, western victoria, tailor, portland, geelong, brighton, koroit, chemist, pharmacy

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford HP4 black and white negative transparency, c.1971george coop collection, lake goldsmith steam rally, steam rally, beaufort (vic.), fn 1400, automobile, car

The Bendigo School of Mines was opened in 1873 following the first report of the Technological Commission in 1869 which recommended the establishment of schools of design and science to meet the scientific and technical needs of the mining industry on the local gold fields. Initially mining, chemistry, geology, metallurgy and art were taught while a separate school of design was established in c. 1870 but incorporated into the School of Mines around 1883 when it was renamed as the School of Mines and Industry. In 1904 The Mechanics Institute was liquidated and its assets and buildings acquired by the School of Mines. Around 1907 a Junior Technical School commenced to operate at the School of Mines and Industry but ceased operating in 1961 with that function being transferred to the White Hills and Kangaroo Flat Technical Schools. The Bendigo School of Mines and Industry became known as the Bendigo Technical College from the 1st July 1959. It operated under that name until February 1967 when it became the Bendigo Institute of Technology (B.I.T.). Construction work commenced in c.1965 which saw the Institute progressively re-locate to new buildings at Flora Hill. (Fn: https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VA3091) Richard Hartley Smith Abbott was the step son of Joseph Henry Abbott and continued on in the family tradition of entering into business. He was elected a representative in the Mandurang riding in the Shire of Strathfieldsaye in 1887, served as Mayor of the City of Bendigo from 1917 - 1918 and was Secretary of the Bendigo Art Gallery for over 20 years. His father Joseph Abbot had been a member of the School of Mines Administrative Council and RH Abbott served as President of the School of Mines for two years and was a highly regarded business man within the local community. The School of Mines and Industries would have written to him asking him to intervene to ensure that their reputation remained intact.Handwritten letter by the registrar from the School of Mines to R H S Abbott on lightly lined writing paper.city of greater bendigo education, city of greater bendigo mining, mayor rhs abbott, shire of strathfieldsaye, bendigo art gallery