Legatee Mary Brand provided a copy of the speech she gave at the Altona RSL Club. It outlines her life and the events that led her to becoming a Legatee to serve others. Also a short history of Melbourne Legacy.An example of the life experiences of a legatee encouraged them to join LegacyA4 document x 5 pages of a history of Legatee Mary Brand and Legacy from a talk in 2023.western branch, mary brand

This bike belonged to Wally Paten who worked in the Orbost Butter Factory in the 1940's. Wally's father, Thomas Paten came to Orbost in 1893 and began growing fancy seeds in 1907 for H. James. He built the first levee bank in Orbost (ref. Mary Gilbert). The Comet bike was distributed by the Myer Emporium. "Comet:" was their house brand. They also sold the "Peter Pan". It was named "The Comet" probably because it was a fast bike. At the time it was an expensive bike . Ted Waterford made headlines riding Melbourne to Adelaide one way then return on a Comet in 1932.Bicycles have been a part of Australian life for more than 140 years. The bicycle soon began competing with the horse as a convenient and economical way for people to get around. This bicycle is an example of an early style which was used by an Orbost local.A man's road bicycle. It has 26inch wheels, back pedal brakes and has a wire basket attached to the curved handle bars. There is a leather seat in poor condition. The back wheel has a mudguard painted white. The bike is ungeared. This is probably the original frame with newer wheels. The pedals are metal.Tyres - made in Korea down tube -COMETcomet-bicycle bicycle paten-wally transport

Originally built by John Hill, a shoemaker at Kangaroo Ground around 1878. In the late 1970s when our Society was the Shire of Eltham Historical Society, an offer was made to the Society regarding use of an old cottage at Christmas Hills. The cottage sat beside Watsons Creek just outside the then Shire of Eltham but following municipal restructuring it now lies within the Shire of Nillumbik. For various reasons the offer ultimately lapsed. At that time some research on the cottage was carried out for the Society by Keith Chappel as part of a larger research project that he was doing. Keith’s notes were taken from Lands Department records and showed that the property was the subject of a permissive occupancy of Crown land comprising the creek reserve. In 1903 a Miner’s Right of one acre in area was granted to Edwin Samuel Birch. In 1907 Birch applied to purchase this land but was unable to because it was part of the creek reserve. The documents show that the cottage existed at that time. Upon Birch’s death in 1932, his daughter, Honor Mary Birch was granted a permit to occupy the residence. Honor Mary Birch, known as Nora, was born 1900, the daughter of Edwin Samuel Birch and Honor (nee Young). In 1939 she married George Henry Williams (aka Henry). Honor died 8 July 1976. Her siblings were Margaret Martin (dec), Bert Birch and Brigidene Brinkkotter. In her will she gave and bequeathed “all the improvements on the land held by me at Christmas Hills under Permissive Occupancy from the Department of Land and Survey consisting of the house property thereon and all the contents of the said house to my nephew Brian Joseph Martin of Christmas Hills aforesaid farmer”. The will described the property as a four room, five square house, about 100 years old with enclosed verandah, including kitchen, combined lounge dining room, bedroom and store room; built of ‘bush slabs’ with a corrugated iron roof. A dairy had been erected in 1935. After her death, the property was acquired by the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works in 1978. The property is listed on the Victorian Heritage Database HO200-Hill, later Birch farm complex, 945 Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Watsons Creek and described as: The house has a steep but simply gabled roof form clad with corrugated iron, vertical adzed hardwood slab front wall construction, split palings to the gable ends; rubble freestone chimney at one end (with added gsi flue), pole-framed Graeme Butler & Associates, 2006: 101 Shire of Nillurnbik Planning Scheme Amendment C13 Heritage Assessments verandah (rebuilt?); six-pane double-hung sash windows; T&G bead-edge boarded ledged & braced door; and paling clad rooms added at verandah ends. A slab-clad large fireplace is at the north corner of the house, with a gsi upper cladding added and an internal lining of rubble stone. The rear facade is different construction, being drop-slab, and sits beneath a rear skillion addition to the main gabled form: this may be more recent construction. The house appears to have been once set up for public display and may have been recreated in part for that purpose. Outbuildings are reached by a track along the east side of the house, including what may have been a creamery (typical standard inter-war design clad with corrugated iron and lined with 1938 Lysaght Queens Head Australia galvanised sheet iron) and a paling clad gabled out-house. Timber outbuildings of differing eras are to the north-west of the house, with pole framing and paling infill construction and Redcliffe brand corrugated iron. Post and rail (front) and split paling (rear) fence remnants line the front boundary. Pepper trees part of house yard landscape49 born digital images (includes one panoramic stitch and nine frames from drone video)birch cottage, christmas hills, early settlers, edwin samuel birch, honor mary birch, john hill, watsons creek

Colour Parish Plan of Corindhap, County of Grenville, and a report on the Parish.corindhap, dereel, warrambine, kuracaruc, commeralghip, rokewood, kuruc-a-ruc, w. elder, william elder, john thornly, robert cullen, davis aitcheson, robert gidney, john elder, w. barnard, anton trende, thomas hill, george hobson, h. reynolds, john collins, ironstone quarry, john jacka, patrick shanahan, murdoch mclennon, kaolinitic clay, kaolin, james holt, mary a. palmer, isaac everett, james mooney, michael cahill, fred benjamin, george hopkins, david houghton, john quarrell, j. camm, james macdonald, john thornley, break of day gully, john wilson, thomas middleton, alexander mcpherson, joseph coldwell, h. brand, pereverance co, puddling mils, mary a. stanbrook, c.w. stanbrook, eliza byrnes, james byrnes, j. maw, wallace douglas, john moffatt

Part of Graham Collection, donated by the Family of Misses Mary and Edith Maude Graham, of 4 Blair Street, Portland.Glass centre for lamp. Long cylindrical tube, larger at base than at top.Front: 6 / Sun Brand / Best Crystal / Fireproof / Made in Czecho-slovakia (etched logo, base).

Mary Lynch was the daughter of Matthew and Mary (nee Loorham) Lynch. She became Mrs Ivell. she was a noted horse-woman having ridden the Nixon Bros hack, "Gold Dust" at the Melbourne Show coming first in the 10 stone hack and first in the Eagley Hunting Contest. (info. Mary Gilbert)A pink card exercise book cover, "Victoria" brand. The front is ornate with a profile of Queen Victoria at the top, an Australian coat-of-arms with "Advance Australia beneath it, the owner's name handwritten in black ink, all inside a frame of flowers and ferns. On the back are arithmetical and multiplication tables.handwritten on front - Mary Lynchexercise-book lynch-mary

These cotton reels were owned and used by Helena Warren of Newmerella. 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).Helena Warren was a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker,Four wooden cotton reels. 2495.1 is an empty reel with paper labels at both ends. " Best Linen lace thread Barbours No 50 200 yards Wm Barbour & Sons Ltd Lisburn Ireland" 2495.2 is a wooden reel with thick linen thread. On one end " H11 underlined" 2495.3 is a narrow wooden reel with white thread and grey wound over it. It has paper labels at both ends. " J. & P. Coats 500 yards No 50 457 metres - Chain Brand Mercerised Cotton MR WHITE" 2495.4 is a wooden reel with synthetic thread - one paper label. "J. & P. Coats 6 Cord 200 yards 40 183 metres"needlework cotton-reels warren-helena

Leather bound with decorative embossing with some in gold on covers and spine.non-fictionThe Batchelor family Bible. The Batchelor Family were early residents of Taggerty.bible, batchelor family, taggerty

Photograph - black and white. Photograph the same as 1453.2, dancers advertising 'Monkey Brand Soap'. Firms paid for costumes. All female are in the same order. The female third from the left is Mary Bourke's sister Kathleen (Dixon). The girls holding their small suitcase, the men wearing their monkey looking masks whilst holding up the frying pans.Info. Photo from Peter Ellis.entertainment, dance, monkey brand soap., mary bourke. kathleen (dixon). monkey brand soap.

Photograph - black and white. Photograph of Dancers advertising 'Monkey Brand Soap'. Firms paid for costumes. The female third from left is Mary Bourke's sister Kathleen (Dixon). Information from Jim Evans via Peter Ellis. Photo from Peter Ellis. The girls are holding little suitcases, the men holding masks and four frying pans on the floor in front of them.entertainment, dance, monkey brand soap., mary bourke collection. kathleen (dixon). monkey brand soap.

These baby shoes show evidence of once having an additional embellishment on the toe, such as a bow, flower or pom pom. The label written into the bottom of the shoe indicates that it was made by Everbest. Everbest is a shoe company that was established in 1979 in Singapore and primarily sells in South East Asia. Their brand is centred around timeless elegance and quality, which this pair of baby shoes is in keeping with. The Mary Jane shoe was popularised in the early 20th century as a shoe for children regardless of gender. They began to be known as Mary Jane's because of the character of Mary Jane in the Mary Jane and Buster Brown comics, a series of advertisements by the Brown Shoe Company in the USA. They remain a classic style for women and children.These shoes are a record of a small part of the social history of Chiltern, as well as show the continuing popularity of this style of shoe through time. They are also a record that a product of a Singaporean company that primary sells in other countries in South East Asia was able to travel all the way to regional Victoria and be present in the collection of the Chiltern Athenaeum.Pair of pink leather mary jane style baby shoes with gold metallic label on inner soleInner Sole: Lesley Everbest / Baby Shoe / Size 0baby shoe, leather shoe, everbest, leather, shoe, baby clothes, leatherworking, singapore, chiltern, chiltern athenaeum, chiltern athenaeum museum, chiltern athenaeum collection

William Henry Slater emigrated from England and began growing medicinal herbs near Koonung Creek, Blackburn North in 1862. He also distilled eucalyptus oil for use at Melbourne Hospital and it was exported overseas under the 'O'Possum' brand. He later replanted his land with orchards but land taxes and rates forced the sale of the property. In 1979 the Nunawading Council purchased 7 acres of the land, now called , Slater ReserveColour photograph of the Slater family tombstone at Box Hill Cemetery. William Henry Slater died 23 May 1894 - 66 years of age Mary Ann Slater died 12 August 1912 - 83 years of ageslater, william henry, mary ann, herb farms, slater reserve

The Breeden family came to Surrey Hills in 1905, first to Guildford Road, then Middlesex Road where Horrie Breeden lived as a boy. He sometimes used to help with milking at the adjoining Kenneally's dairy in Highfield Road. Sometimes he and his brother drove the cows from there to Schneider's property near Florence Road on the way to Surrey Hills Primary School. The cows would graze here until the boys took them back after school. At other times he would deliver milk from the Croydon Road dairy (Isherwood's or Bovill's) to St Joseph's Boys Home before school. Horrie became an apprentice in woodwork / carpentry at Vine's timber yard before serving in World War 1. Horrie's father died in 1919 and in the same year he bought 3 cows and established his own dairy on his mother's property on the corner of Goodwood Street and Boisdale Road. In the 1920s Horrie built the first house in Goodwood Street. He went on to build others in the street including his own at No 7 Goodwood Street. He did all the joinery and internal fittings for this. [REF: Oral testimony: Horrie Breeden to Jocelyn Hall in 1979.] In the 1990s the owner of 7 Goodwood Street discovered a branding iron under the house; this is presumed to relate to Horrie Breeden's dairy. It was donated to SHNC's collection. Horrace Bruce Breeden (7 July 1898-24 January 1988) was son of Charles Henry Breeden and Lavinia Maria Darby, both born Warwickshire; buried in Box Hill Cemetery. He was one of a large family. He married Olive Mary Romey.Black and white photo taken from the east end of Goodwood Street, Surrey Hills in 1930, looking towards Elgar and Riversdale Roads. It shows an area which is rural in appearance. It is not built upon. The foreground is grassy and there is a post-and-wire fence to the right. There is a bank of eucalyptus trees behind which is hilly grassland.goodwood street, dairies, horace breeden, horrie breeden

This item is from a collection donated by descendants of John Francis Turner of Wodonga. Mr. Turner was born on 6 June 1885. He completed all of his schooling at Scotts Boarding School in Albury, New South Wales. On leaving school, he was employed at Dalgety’s, Albury as an auctioneer. In 1924 John was promoted to Manager of the Wodonga Branch of Dalgety’s. On 15/03/1900 he married Beatrice Neal (born 7/12/1887 and died 7/2/1953) from Collingwood, Victoria. They had 4 daughters – Francis (Nancy), Heather, Jessie and Mary. In 1920, the family moved From Albury to Wodonga, purchasing their family home “Locherbie” at 169 High Street, Wodonga. "Locherbie" still stands in Wodonga in 2022. The collection contains items used by the Turner family during their life in Wodonga. The designation "Nippon porcelain" refers to porcelain made in Japan for export to the west, and stamped with the word Nippon on their bases. This practice began in 1891 in response to the U.S. McKinley Tariff Act, which forbade the import of items that weren't "plainly marked, stamped, branded, or labelled in legible English words." Unfortunately, many reproduction or fake pieces were also produced. In 1921 "Nippon" was no longer accepted by U.S. Customs Agents as the correct name of origin so from then on, imported Japanese porcelain was supposed to be marked "Japan". This information helps us to establish provenance of this item as after 1921.This item comes from a collection used by a prominent citizen of Wodonga. It is also an excellent example of Japanese porcelain of the early 20th century.A small teacup and saucer with a design of a couple in a garden. The design is repeated on the saucer. There is a circular pattern in red and gold around top of the cup and the rim of the saucer. Gilt decorations are included on the handle and around the inside of the cup.Under the saucer: Maker's mark inside a triangular shape and below a crown: "FINE CHINA/ Royal Nippon/ MADE IN JAPAN"domestic items, chinaware

This item is from a collection donated by descendants of John Francis Turner of Wodonga. Mr. Turner was born on 6 June 1885. He completed all of his schooling at Scotts Boarding School in Albury, New South Wales. On leaving school, he was employed at Dalgety’s, Albury as an auctioneer. In 1924 John was promoted to Manager of the Wodonga Branch of Dalgety’s. On 15/03/1900 he married Beatrice Neal (born 7/12/1887 and died 7/2/1953) from Collingwood, Victoria. They had 4 daughters – Francis (Nancy), Heather, Jessie and Mary. In 1920, the family moved From Albury to Wodonga, purchasing their family home “Locherbie” at 169 High Street, Wodonga. "Locherbie" still stands in Wodonga in 2022. The collection contains items used by the Turner family during their life in Wodonga. The designation "Nippon porcelain" refers to porcelain made in Japan for export to the west, and stamped with the word Nippon on their bases. This practice began in 1891 in response to the U.S. McKinley Tariff Act, which forbade the import of items that weren't "plainly marked, stamped, branded, or labelled in legible English words." Unfortunately, many reproduction or fake pieces were also produced. In 1921 "Nippon" was no longer accepted by U.S. Customs Agents as the correct name of origin so from then on, imported Japanese porcelain was supposed to be marked "Japan". This information helps us to establish provenance of this item.This item comes from a collection used by a prominent citizen of Wodonga. It is also an excellent example of Japanese porcelain of the early 20th century.A hand painted coffee cup and saucer with gold trim and floral design. The image includes tones of green shading and pink flowers.The cup and saucer have a gold trim. There are also embossed flowers on the saucer.Under saucer- Backmark - An hourglass surrounded by an upside down laurel wreath. Above the laurel wreath; "Hand Painted" Beneath the laurel wreath "NIPPON"domestic items, japanese porcelain

Linton School Cantata Group trained by Miss Barry for school concert. This is one of several copies of the photograph of Miss Barry's cantata group in the LDHS collection. This copy was in Mrs Stella Surman's collection. Pupils and teachers identified in inscription on reverse of this copy of the photograph: Myrtle Thompson, Mamie Ferguson, Myrtle Bolte, Ruby Barton, Olive Ball, Maisie Wise, Sybil Marks, Annie McMillan, Miss Rankin, Clarice White, Stella Brand, Stella Ralf, Annie Brophy, Alice Willoughby, Miss Barry, Lil Gorman, Pearl Nelson, - Burnside, Vera Cornish, Pauline O'Beirne, Doris Downing, Rita Murrell, Mary Nelson, Millie Todd, Ann Brophy, Elvira Martinez, Jean Cox, Lena Allan, Alex Thompson, Jean Gascoigne, Stella Todd, Lucy Johnstone, Eva Simper, Bernice Ball, Myrtle Hands, Elsie Egan, Possum Dawe.Original black and white photograph of Linton State School Cantata Group, children in costume. Photo mounted on grey board.On back: "S E Surman". Also names of children.linton state school, school concert, miss barry's cantata group, surman collection

Linton State School cantata group, trained by Miss Barry for a school concert. This is one of several copies of the photograph of the cantata group in the LDHS collection. This one may have belonged to Alwyn Roberts, and it is understood that he provided the list of names to go with it. (This is the most complete set of names that we have for this photo.) Back row, L-R: Jessie Thompson, Maimie Ferguson, Myrtle Bolte, Ruby Barton, Olive Ball, Maisie Wise, Sybil Mark, Annie McMillan, -?- Long. Boys in doorway: Horace Ball & Eric Nicholls. Centre row: Charlie Watson, Doris Downing, Miss Rankin, Clarice White, Alice Commons, Stella Brand, Kathleen Brophy, Jane Willoughby, Miss Barry, Pauline O'Beirne, Lily Gorman, Pearl Nelson, Emily Cotterill, Vera Cornish, Miss Dora(?) Barry, Kathleen(?) O'Beirne. Front row: Rita Murrell, Mary Nelson, Milly Todd, Annie Brophy, Elvira Martineux, Jean Cox, Lena Allan, Alec Thompson, Jean Gascoigne, Stella Todd, Lucy Johnstone, Eva Simper, Bernie Ball, Myrtle Hands, Stella Hands, Elsie Egan, Bert Dawe.Black and white copy of original photograph, which shows children in costume, and three teachers, posed in rows for a photograph outside the Linton State School building.Names of the children and teachers are typed on a piece of A4 paper with the photograph.linton state school no. 880, cantata group, school concerts, jessie thompson, maimie ferguson, myrtle bolte, ruby barton, olive ball, maisie wise, sybil mark, annie mcmillan, -?- long, horace ball, eric nicholls, charlie watson, doris downing, mary rankin [teacher], clarice white, alice commons, stella brand, kathleen brophy, jane willoughby, miss barry, pauline o'beirne, lily gorman, pearl nelson, emily cotterill, vera cornish, dora barry, kathleen(?) o'beirne, rita murrell, mary nelson, milly todd, annie brophy, elvira martineux, jean cox, lena allan, alec thompson, jean gascoigne, stella todd, lucy johnstone, eva simper, bernie ball, myrtle hands, stella hands, elsie egan, bert dawe

Hilary Bennet Mason (born 25/12/1911 in North Melbourne; died 16/3/2008) married Olive Marjory Muridge (B 20/7/1915; D 26/9/2001) on 30 September 1940. They has one daughter, born in 1947. Hilary had a number of occupations in his lifetime. His daughter referred to him as a tram conductor. The family lived at 7 Charles Street, Surrey Hills from c1960, having purchased it from William Stanton (Stan) Philp, a baker, and his wife Eileen. The title originally extended over 2 plots. The Philps sub-divided the land and built a new house for themselves at No 9. No 7 Charles Street had a well under the kitchen window; the house was extended in 1971/72; it was sold after Hilary Mason died in 2011. [REF: Personal communication from the donor; Alan Holt property register and online research.] The handwritten timeline refers to the area having been "called Irish Town as Catholic's were in the majority." Most of the writing is that of Hilary Mason, although some blanks have been filled in by another (unknown) hand. There is also an entry by John Whitford, who moved into a new home on the corner of Charles and Arthur Streets in 1982. The last entry is dated June 1996, when Hilary Mason would have been c 85 years old. Comment in relation to this catalogue entry: "One of the occupation that Mr Mason had was a Radio shop in Bridge Road, Richmond, called Mason's Radio. I worked for Mason's Radio in January 1963 to December 1964. Mr. Mason was a true gentleman, very kind and treated me like a son. Regards M.Zammit." (Maurice Zammit email; 9 March 2025)This is a unique piece of social history reflecting the closeness of this small suburban street.A standard lined exercise book, brand is HEADLINE, which contains a mixture of handwritten entries and pasted in and loose ephemeral items. These include house advertising flyers, newspaper clippings of a general nature and death notices, tickets, etc. The handwritten notes mostly pertain to a timeline of residents and their comings and goings to and from Charles Street in Surrey Hills, but also include some reflections on social history. Memories of other residents of the street are recorded. There are also some personal diary notes.Front cover: "begun october 1987 / History of / Charles street / Surrey Hills / History of Charles st. 1989 / 1996 / 1995 / 1993 1991 1990 / History 1987" in biro and marking pen in blue, red, brown and green. Back cover: "History / of / Surrey / Hills [1987 /1990 /1993 / 1995 / 1996] / History of / Charles street / Surrey Hills 1991" handwritten in black, blue, green, red and pink biro and marking pen.charles street, edna holzer, jack wright, john whitford, diana whitford, amanda whitford, melissa whitford, june kavanagh, aub sherlock, hilary bennet mason, olive marjory mason, noni hallier, elvis greenwood, bob peacock, ken warren, chris holford, enid holford, keith ellis, gina ellis, nita jacobsen, christine craig, peter craig, gary austin, deb austin, ian pearson, chris jacobsen, jack titansaw, peter burton, william (bill) philp, george cook, lee burton, mary pearson, bill sloan, carmel sloan, fielding's foundary, antonio panzera, annunziata panzera, nancy panzera, dr eric allan, merelyn maher, charles lyons, doug sloan, coral meehan, peter haase, steve creati

Red paperback book with colour drawings on cover and white and blue text on cover and spinenon-fiction'War memorabilia with a difference. The spirit of pariotism and self sacrifice which gave birth to an organisation such as the V.A.D. and allowed it to function, initially as a vouluntary unit in the early years of the war and later, through integration, as the Australian Army Medical Women's Service, is recorded for all time in this beautifully presented book. Accounts of service throughout Australia, in the Middle East and the S.W. Pacific, exhibit the particular brand of good humour and comradeship which was so much a part of service life. These personal experiences have been skilfully combined by Mary Critch (who herself saw service in Australia and the Islands) with photographs and official documents to create an absorbing story of both historical and human interest. The foreword is by Miss May Douglas, M.B.E.' From back cover 'Contents: Who Were the V.A.D.'s? Suitable Capable Women of the A.M.F. V.A.D Service Overseas 1941-1943 The Australian Continent Finding Our Bearings 1941-1942 The Australian Connection Reorganisation of the Service of the V.A.D. Training the A.A.M.W.S As Nurses The South West Pacific 1943-1946 Service With Occupational Forces and Demobilisation'australian army voluntary aid detachments, australian army medical women's service, mary critch, history of vad, history of aamws, australia

Portrait of Mollie Riches (1896-1979), co-founder of the Rheumatism and Arthritis Association of Victoria (RAAV). This photo appears on page 1 (cover page) of the Vol 14, September 1979 issue of RAAV's quarterly newsletter, News Review, to commemorate the death of Mary "Mollie" Riches' on the 29th of August of that year. It accompanies a brief obituary by Dr Leslie Koadlow (1920-2006), co-founder of the RAAV. A more detailed obituary was published in the following issue of the newsletter. B&W portrait of a woman wearing a dress in a bold geometric-patterned fabric.[On photo, in blue ink] Courtesy of Lincoln Institute 10/5/78 [On a MOVE-branded sticky note, in blue ink] RAAV News Vol. 14 1978 Mollie Richesmollie riches, founders, co-founders, rheumatism and arthritis association of victoria, raav, royal talbot rehabilitation hospital, action house, action centre, news review, lincoln institute, lincoln institute of health sciences, update, 1978

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