The Wodonga Historical Society Haeusler Collection provides invaluable insight into life in late nineteenth and early twentieth century north east Victoria. The collection comprises manuscripts, personal artefacts used by the Haeusler family on their farm in Wodonga, and a set of glass negatives which offer a unique visual snapshot of the domestic and social lives of the Haeusler family and local Wodonga community. The Haeusler family migrated from Prussia (Germany) to South Australia in the 1840s and 1850s, before purchasing 100 acres of Crown Land made available under the Victorian Lands Act 1862 (also known as ‘Duffy’s Land Act’) in 1866 in what is now Wodonga West. The Haeusler family were one of several German families to migrate from South Australia to Wodonga in the 1860s. This tobacco pipe is one of the many objects in the Haeusler Collection that provides insight into life in early to mid-twentieth century Wodonga, and Australia more broadly. Smoking in the first half of the twentieth century was incredibly common in Australia and other western countries. In 1945, more than three out of every four men and one in every four women were regular smokers. While rates of smoking decreased over the next two decades due to observations and research regarding the links between smoking and illness, an increase in tobacco use was documented after the advent of television as people were bombarded with advertisements for cigarettes. This item has well documented provenance and a known owner. It forms part of a significant and representative historical collection which reflects the local history of Wodonga. It contributes to our understanding of domestic and family life in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history, social history, and women’s history. A tobacco pipe with brass coloured fitting and black stem.tobacco, smoking, pipe, tobacco pipe, haeusler, haeusler collection, wodonga

vi. Mid 19th century.

Mid green silk embroidered with a variety of coloured silk threads and some metal thread.embroidery, garments, china, mid 19th century, figures, fish, turtle, sea

Classic Ayrshire bonnet which has a lace frill and rosette which were added at a later date when more decorative bonnets were in style.embroidery, ayrshire work, bonnets, mid 19th century, scotland

Traditionally worked using white thread onto a fine white muslin, Ayrshire embroidery is recognisable by stylised floral motifs with areas of filled in cutwork. Developed from Dresden embroidery (a form of pulled work) and tambour embroidery, it uses a range of stitches, including satin stitch, chain stitch, eyelets and buttonhole edging as well as a range of lace filling stitches. The technique became popular in the early nineteenth century, when the previous fashion of elaborate gowns with hooped skirts was replaced by looser, simpler white cotton muslin garments. Although the elegant simplicity was favoured, women also desired some decoration. However, looms of the time could not create complex designs, so women turned to hand stitching.Using cotton muslin woven in Ayrshire, local women and girls would complete the intricate whitework to help supplement their family income. Mainly produced at home, Ayrshire whitework garments would be initially completed by one person. However, as the technique became more popular and the industry developed, to ensure high quality work, a piece would be passed around so that each embroiderer could focus on completing the stitches they specialised in.It is believed that the designs and motifs used in Ayrshire whitework were inspired by lace filling stitches found within an inset in a French Christening robe that was bought to Scotland by Lady Mary Montgomery, who then lent it to Mrs Jamieson of Ayr. She copied the stitches used within the robe and taught them to her outworkers, and she also produced plain muslin that was stamped with a water-soluble blue ink design that made embroidering the designs neater and more efficient. Ayrshire work became popular quite quickly, and it was incorporated into collars, cuffs and caps as well as children’s clothes and bonnets. Pieces were exported across Europe and the British Empire. As the decades progressed, technology advanced, resulting in looms that could incorporate decoration into the weave of the cloth, reducing the need for hand embroidered Ayrshire whitework.A triple frill of Buckingham lace, followed by two bands of fine embroidery - eyelets and satin stitch, and tucking, with small circle at crown.embroidery, whitework, bonnets, mid 19th century, scotland, garments

Lawn, made in the classical style with a small circle of embroidery on the back of bonnet. The main area has a band with tucks and fine floral embroidery.embroidery, ayrshire work, bonnets, mid 19th century, scotland

Folk embroidery from Saurashtra Provence of Gujarati and said by donor to be over 100 years old. Depicts elephant headed god, Ganesha. Vivid colours of reds, yellow, green and blue with some mirror inserts.embroidery, surface stitchery, shisha work, mid 19th century, india

This dress is based on the traditional English smock which uses squares as a basis for the construction.Natural coloured linen with self coloured embroidery, feather, twisted chain, cretan and buttonhole stitches used. Front and back are smocked with decoration on cuffs, collar and sleeves.embroidery, smocking, garments - childrens, mid 19th century, england

Possibly brought from Scotland by donor's grandmother Ellen Richardson who had a school at Taradale, Victoria. Later married Ferdinand Rosan and settled at Torrumburry.Decorative edging for a shelf. Blue tent stitch background with design in black, grey, white and silver beads in a floral design.beading, canvas work, furnishings, mid 19th century, scotland

Made of lawn with a border of flowers in satin stitch and buttonhole stitch. Fine embroidery in classical style.embroidery, handkerchief, mid 19th century, scotland, ayrshire work

Purchased by Guild 17/7/1960White muslin with white cotton embroidery design of convolvulus. Very decorative edge of buttonhole stitch, satin stitch flower heads, tiny eyelets.embroidery, handkerchief, whitework, mid 19th century

Purchased by Guild 17/7/1960Fine linen with woven border. Embroidered decoration of small rosebuds in satin stitch and tiny satin stitch spots. Fine scalloped edge.Initials H.G.embroidery, handkerchief, whitework, mid 19th century

Made by grandmother of Mrs G. Hales and Miss M. Waite on her way to Australia in 1950.All white Durham quilt.embroidery, quilting, mid 19th century, england, durham

Victorian beadwork. A large spray of flowers in black, white, grey, blue and green beads. Background is also beaded in deep rose pink.embroidery, beadwork, panel, mid 19th century, england

Fine white cotton with floral sprays in a border design. Edge finished in buttonhole scallops. Embroidered in white.Emily (inked)embroidery, ayrshire, scotland, mid 19th century

Fine white cotton with sprays of flowers in the corners. Continuous band of open work, and an edge of scalloped buttonhole with satin stitch dots.embroidery, ayrshire, scotland, mid 19th century

Satin jean, diagonal spray of flowers and leaves in the classical mountmellick style. Traditional heavy fringed edge.C.W.embroidery, mountmellick, ireland, mid 19th century

Black grosgrain with a border of roses around edge. Thread is twisted silk in shades of red/pinks and yellows.embroidery, aprons, silk embroidery, mid 19th century, england

Thought to have been embroidered by the grandmother of the donor.Three canvas work samples on different weights of evenweave linen canvas, different patterns sewn onto a cotton fabric backing.canvas work, samplers, mid 19th century, australia

Worked upper for slippers in red wool background in half cross on Penelope canvas. Green, yellows and brown leaf pattern and beaded flowers. embroidery, canvas work, beadwork, mid 19th century

Made for donor's mother.Half circle white linen with 15cm band on broderie anglais.embroidery, garment, broderie anglais, mid 19th century

Part of a collection of historic wallpapers collected by Phyllis Murphy, most of whose wallpapers were donated to the collection of Historic Houses Sydney. This wallpaper sample, annotated and encased in mylar was used by Phyllis for educational purposes, and donated by her son to Villa Alba Museum's collection in 2025.Mid 19th century architectural frieze imitating plaster cornice. The monochrome design features recurring acanthus leaf scrolls and floral elements. P.A 13 (f)heritage interiors, wallpapers, 19th century design, architectural friezes

Elizabeth Nan Warner was a retired schoolteacher who travelled with her husband Max to Europe and China. Joined lace Making Group 1970, 1980's.Mid 19th century mixed lace collar with "V" centre panel. Handmade. Cream with grey lining at neck. Metal supports. Press studs. Muslin lined. elizabeth nan warner, lace collector/maker

Part of a collection of historic wallpapers collected by Phyllis Murphy, most of whose wallpapers were donated to the collection of Historic Houses Sydney. This wallpaper sample, annotated and encased in mylar was used by Phyllis for educational purposes, and donated by her son to Villa Alba Museum's collection in 2025.Mid 19th century border featuring an architectural floral pattern in shades of green and cream, similar to designs produced by historic Victorian manufacturers like Jeffrey & Co. P.B21 (f)heritage interiors, wallpapers, 19th century design, architectural friezes

Part of a collection of historic wallpapers collected by Phyllis Murphy, most of whose wallpapers were donated to the collection of Historic Houses Sydney. This wallpaper sample, annotated and encased in mylar was used by Phyllis for educational purposes, and donated by her son to Villa Alba Museum's collection in 2025.Mid 19th century high quality wallpaper frieze. Block printed. The design features intricate floral motifs, foliage, and geometric patterns characteristic of Victorian-era decoration.P.F 24 (f)dado borders, heritage interiors, wallpapers, 19th century design

Part of a collection of historic wallpapers collected by Phyllis Murphy, most of whose wallpapers were donated to the collection of Historic Houses Sydney. This wallpaper sample, annotated and encased in mylar was used by Phyllis for educational purposes, and donated by her son to Villa Alba Museum's collection in 2025.Mid 19th century simulated cornice design with handwork and block printing. This specific part of the repeat design features a large, detailed pink rose in bloom with green and purple toned foliage against a textured gold background.P.B16(f)heritage interiors, wallpapers, 19th century design, architectural friezes

Part of a collection of historic wallpapers collected by Phyllis Murphy, most of whose wallpapers were donated to the collection of Historic Houses Sydney. This wallpaper sample, annotated and encased in mylar was used by Phyllis for educational purposes, and donated by her son to Villa Alba Museum's collection in 2025.Mid 19th century block printed, hand coloured border. Each colour in the pattern required a separate block. After the primary block printing, finer details were added by hand. The design is in the Rococo Revival Style.P-BIO (n-f)heritage interiors, wallpapers, 19th century design, architectural friezes

Part of a collection of historic wallpapers collected by Phyllis Murphy, most of whose wallpapers were donated to the collection of Historic Houses Sydney. This wallpaper sample, annotated and encased in mylar was used by Phyllis for educational purposes, and donated by her son to Villa Alba Museum's collection in 2025.Mid 19th century architectural frieze to imitate decorative moulding with hand-applied blue background. It features a geometric bead moulding pattern in white and blue tones. The frieze would typically placed at the top of a wall just below the cornice. P.A1 (f)heritage interiors, wallpapers, 19th century design, architectural friezes

This historic bronze nail dates back to 1840s when the ship Grange was built. Nails such as this one were used for boat building, as deck fasteners and many other uses. This nail was made at a time when the shanks of nails were usually machine cut but the heads were hand formed by blacksmiths. The nail was recovered from the shipwreck of the Grange in around 1968, 110 years after the Grange was wrecked (see below for further details on the Grange). It is part of the John Chance Collection. THE GRANGE, 1840-1858- The wooden barque ’Grange’ was a three-masted ship built in Scotland in 1840 for international and coastal trade. On March 22, 1858, the Grange set sail from Melbourne under Captain A. Alexander, carrying a cargo of ballast. The barque had left the Heads of Phillip Bay and was heading west along the Victorian coast towards Cape Otway. The ship struck Little Haley’s Reef at Apollo Bay due to a navigational error and was stuck on the rocks. The crew left the ship carrying whatever they could onto the beach. Eventually, the remains of the hull, sails and fittings were salvaged before the wreck of the Grange broke up about a month later. About 110 years later, in 1968, the wreck of the Grange was found by divers from the Underwater Explorers Club of Victoria. They were amazed to find a unique, six to nine pound carronade (type of small cannon) and a cannonball on the site. There have been no other similar carronades recorded. In that same year the anchor of the Grange was recovered by diver John Chance and Mal Brown. The nail is significant historically as an example of hardware used when building wooden ships in the early to mid-19th century. The nail is historically significant as an example of the work and trade of blacksmith. The nail also has significant as it was recovered by John Chance, a diver from the wreck of the Grange in the 1968. Items that come from several wrecks along Victoria's coast have since been donated to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village’s museum collection by his family, illustrating this item’s level of historical value. The nail is historically significant for its association with the 1840s wooden barque, the Grange. The Grange is an historical example of a Scottish built vessel used for international and coastal trader of both cargo and passengers in the mid-19th century. The Grange is an example of an early ship, designed with a wooden hull. It is significant as a ship still available to divers along the south coast of Victoria, for research and education purposes. The Grange is an example of a mid-19th century vessel that carried a weapon of defence onboard.Nail, bronze, oval head, four-sided shank, tip flattened to a rounded wedge shape. The surface is pitted and rough. There is orange and blue concretion on the shank. The nail is bent. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, west coast trader, apollo bay, mid-19th century shipwreck, the grange, scottish barque, little henty reef, captain a alexander, underwater explorers club of victoria, 1840s carronade, vhr 5297, coastal trader, wooden shipwreck, john chance, fastener, nail, square nail, machine cut mail, blacksmith, historic nail, bronze nail, carronade, mal brown