Believed to be an engagement present to Mary Burke and Michael Taffe of Donald c. 1940.This vase of Australian pottery c. 1940 is believed to have been a gift to Michael Taffe and Mary Burke on their engagement. It is of a type popular in Australia in the 1930s and 1940s but any label has been long lost.vase, pottery, australian pottery, ceramics, mary taffe

These handmade beaded food covers were designed to protect sauces or gravy from flies or other pests while containers were on the table. These two examples were made by Mary Burke/Taffe in the 1930s the beads providing a decorative weight to keep the cover from allowing space for pests to enter containers.pests, beads, covers, food, sauce, gravy, mary taffe.

Purchased for the household by Mary Taffe in the 1950s.An example of the use of crafted objects for household use before the introduction of lightweight mass produced plastics.Oval shaped cane Laundry/washing basket with two handles c. 1950. These baskets were produced from the 19th century until the 1950s when other materials e.g. plastic replaced them. This style of washing basket was commonly used by families until the introduction of cheap plastic baskets.nil

The 'Pearlite' Housewives pocket Book: Small Memo Book brown cover, cream paper inside that has perforations in the paper for removing page. Has two large staples at the top to secure the pad. In black print on the front *The 'Pearlite' Housewives Pocket Book * Shopping List Memo Book. With Compliments of Pearlite Manufacturing Co. Pty Ltd. 171 Stawell Street Burnley - Victoria. Box 625Written on back cover, 'A. J. Burke 120 Hampshire Road, Sunshine.' pencilled onto first page, 'Ballarat to Mildura May 29th 1950.' This in Mary Taffe's hand.pearlite, shopping list, burke, sunshine, memo book

Photo taken by Mary Burke (Taffe) c. 1930s.poor quality photo but well preserved.Inscribed on verso "Jack Cussens - Sydney Rd Coburg

This cranberry glass sugar bowl was a wedding gift to Eleanor and Archibald Burke of Dooboobetic upon their marriage in 1902. It passed to their daughter Mary (Taffe) and has remained at Hymettus, the Taffe family home at Ballarat since she moved there with her husband in 1945.cranberry glass, glass, condiments

Maintained in this Irish-Australian generational Catholic family home this box-framed statue has been used for family/domestic devotions over several generations. Often used as inspiration in the practice of praying the rosary.A domestic devotional item used as a focus for the recitation of the rosary.devotion, statue, burke, taffe, mary, catholic

Pokerwork was a popular home craft in the 1930s. This small domestic piece using plywood is typical of objects made at home or school in that period.One of two matching circular pieces of ply, Incised, painted and lacquered with holes top and bottom for ties with image of Kookaburra and leaves. Incised to lower centre of cover 'd'oyleys'.painted and lacquered with image of Kookaburra and leaves and Incised to lower centre of cover 'd'oyleys'.mary burke, donald, taffe, ballarat, pokerwork, craft, kookaburra

Polocrosse was a popular equestrian sport played at Prince of Wales Park Ballarat in the 1950s. This is a small family snapshot of William (Bill) Burke, brother of Mrs Mary Taffe of "Hymettus" Ballarat, with three of his polocrosse ponies taken at his home on Burrumbeet Rd Ballarat.Small snapshot On reverse "Bill Burke"

The elaborate fancy cotton braid known as Cornelli work on this jacket is a technique of embroidery or applique of cotton thread and braid that became popular in the nineteenth century. It was used on French doll's clothing where elaborate the Cornelli wear was stitched on for decoration. The examples used in this family also included that on men's railway uniforms and bandsmen's uniforms. This jacket belonged to Eleanor Burke (nee McKew) Mrs Mary Taffe's mother and came to Hymettus at Ballarat when she arrived here to live from Donald with husband Michael in 1945.This jacket displays elaborate fancy cotton stitching and braid known as Cornelli work, a technique of embroidery or applique of cotton thread and braid that became popular in the nineteenth century. This lady's jacket is a good example of a style popular at the end of the nineteenth, early twentieth century.

Made by Mary Burke (later Taffe) in the 1930s and remains in the family home to the present time (2025).cushion, needlework, craft

Wedding present to Mary Burke and Michael Taffe at Donald in 1940.donald, gift, stainless steel, domestic cutlery

The Kodak No2A folding autographic Brownie was introduced by the Eastman Kodak Co in 1915 and several variants were produced between 1915 and 1925. There is a door in the back,and a stylus for writing on the back of the film for labelling the negatives. A Christmas present from her parents to Mary Burke (Taffe) in 1928. Basic bellows or folding camera unusual for its time because the lens is behind the shutter. There is a screw thread in front of the shutter for additional 'portrait' lenses. Base of the box has 691162 inscribed in pencil (possibly a stock number) followed by £3/9/6 and Xmas Eve 1928 in blue ink indicating its price and date of presentation. This is followed in pencil by a later signature M.Taffe.camera, mary burke, donald, ballarat,

This ashtray belonging to Mary and Michael Taffe has been in the crystal cabinet in the front parlour/lounge at Hymettus since they took up residence in 1945.Nilkookaburra, ceramics, porcelain, australian, ashtray

This 1930s art-deco amber frosted water jug and glasses set was a wedding present to Michael Taffe and Mary Burke of Donald in 1940 and is typical of such drink sets of the post depression era.Glass water jug and glass set of six glasses all with frosting and gilded circular decorations on flared bases.Nilglass

A rare example of domestic leatherwork made by Mary Burke as a young schoolgirl for holding a devotional hole picture of the infant Jesus. A Catholic domestic object for private devotional purposes. Mary later married Michael Taffe Assistant Stationmaster Donald and they moved to the family home, Hymettus at Ballarat.Early twentieth century small domestic leatherwork picture frame made for a Catholic devotional object in the home.holy picture, domestic craft, leatherwork, taffe, burke, dooboobetic, donald, ballarat

Produced as a family memorial card at Julia's death in 1927 and retained in the family ever since in her beloved home 'Hymettus'.Julia Taffe was born Julia Berkery at Bungaree in 1868 of pioneering Irish couple Patrick and Mary Berkery who arrived and settled in the district in1853. Proud of her pioneering family and close to her uncle, Daniel Brophy, Shire President of Bungaree, MLA and Mayor of Ballarat she requested the family home remain as such. Hymettus has been kept in accordance to her wishes.ballarat, bungaree, pioneer

A certificate issued in 1924. Loreto or Mary's Mount, now Loreto College was the first Loreto school in Australia, established in 1875 by Mother Mary Gonzaga Barry and companions at the invitation of Ballarat's Bishop O'Connor to meet the growing educational needs of girls. The Taffe family and their relatives supported the school and several members of the wider family entered the order over the years. One of the last family members, Sr Ellison Taffe IBVM died in 2025.catholic, ballarat, loreto, education, catholic education, taffe family

Silk ceremonial collar of Mr A. Burke St Arnaud who was a member of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society (HACBS).Mr A. Burke died at Ballarat in 1951 while staying with his daughter, Mrs Mary Taffe of Hymettus. Several of the Burke family items including this ceremonial collar remain at the cottage. Hymettus cottage is a rare example of a Catholic family property dating from the nineteenth century with much of its original and early fabric, furnishings and devotional items of the family's Catholic faith still in situ.hibernian, australasian, hacbs, st arnaud, victoria, burke, ceremonial, collar.

Pair of embroidered doyleys for cake or sandwich trays made by Mary Burke of Dooboobetic in the 1920s. After her marriage to Michael Taffe in 1940 Mary moved to Ballarat and many of her embroideries remain in the house. They range from duchess sets to doyleys such as these. simple embroidery was taught to young girls in schools up until post-World War II.One rectangular and one elliptical cotton doyley with simple floral embroidery.Nildooboobetic, st arnaud, ballarat, doyley, sandwich tray

The Children of Mary is a Catholic organization for young people between the ages of 7 and 18. The confraternity was founded in France in the 1830s and was largely a spiritual lay confraternity for young women, this certificate of membership was issued to Irene Taffe at Loreto Convent Ballarat in 1925. irene taffe, ballarat, catholic, children of mary, ibvm, loreto convent

Wastell & Cutter were Ophthalmic Opticians at Ballarat, Victoria from the 1930s until the 1970s. A domestic item identifying Wastell & Cutter opticians at Ballarat who provided eye care and glasses to Mrs Mary Taffe of Hymettus from the 1940s until the 1990s. The metal proprietors plaque is an unusual embellishment.Small metal plaque on cover with Optometrist's name Wastell & Cutter embossed against medieval townscape image.optometrist, ballarat, glasses case, taffe