The Ballarat Hibernian Society was a friendly society formed at Ballarat in 1868. In 1871 the group amalgamated with a similar group in Melbourne to form the HACBS. Due to legislative changes the insurance interests of the society were absorbed into those of the IOOF in the late twentieth century . These collars were worn at official functions and meetings of the society. They vary in elaboration from heavily embroidered to very simple silk collars and many are embroidered with motifs such as kangaroos, emus, shamrocks and Irish harps.Large velvet ceremonial collar with gold metal braid trim and PP for Past President embroidered in gold metal thread.hibernian, hacbs, textile, ceremonial collar, friendly society.