This sturdy, deep hat box has been carefully constructed to give the contents utmost protection in the roughest of travel conditions. At the same time, attention to detail and quality of materials makes the box an attractive, desirable and useful piece of luggage. The supports inside the hat box show that the hat’s brim dipped at the front and back in the popular 1920s Homburg or Derby style. The hat box was likely to have been purchased, complete with its fashionable hat and personalised with the initials ‘G.M.’. The five shipping labels on the hat box tell that the owner traveller overseas with it on more than one occasion. The owner had first travelled with the shipping line Peninsular & Orient Steam Navigation Company, and may have been one the first Australian passengers in 1932, as the remnant of label on the base reads Sydney. The owner later voyaged under the company’s new name of P & O. and travelled from at least one of the voyages from Melbourne to London The square label, with “P & O” and red printed “M” in centre of circle, refers to alphabetical organisation of baggage by surname, connecting the owner ‘G.M.’ to the owner’s voyage with P & O. The P & O shipping line’s early beginnings started with the partnership of London ship broker Brodie McGhie Willcox and Scottish sailor Arthur Anderson in 1822. The partnership was joined by Irish shipowner Captain Richard Bourne in 1835 and they began operation as the Peninsular & Orient Steam Navigation Company with a service between London- Spain - Portugal. In 1932 the company expanded to include Australia with its passenger services departing from Sydney; in 1840 the company was incorporated. After various take-overs of other shipping lines and businesses, it operated under the name P & O. JOHN BRUSH The hat box was made by Australian saddle designer and maker, John Brush, Sons & Co. Brush began his saddlery trade in Roma, Queensland, His designing process included consulting with the men who rode and worked the horses. He was described in the Sydney Morning Herald of December 15, 1897, as a leading Sydney saddler, well known and reliable, with every kind of English and Australian saddle on view. John Brush established his business in 1840, operating from 371 George Street Sydney. A catalogue from that era jointly advertises John Brush (371 George Sty Sydney) and Butlers & Brush (432-4 Queen Street Sydney), both under the name of Edward Butler & Co. Pty. Ltd. The catalogue included saddlery, harness equipment, riding wear and travel goods, and strongly promoted the Wienkek made saddles, which he distributed Australia wide. John Brush, So & co. advertised its ‘new’ address in 1887, as 403 George Street Sydney. In 1898 Brush made a side-saddle for a customer, a design popular with gentlewomen of the era. The business was still operating over 100 years later, producing a catalogue in the 1950s.This early 20th century hat box is significant for being one of a kind in our Collection. Its fitted design shows the shape of the hat, dating it from the 1920s men’s fashions. The hat box is significant for being a high quality hat box made in Sydney, Australia by prominent and successful early colonial saddler and leather goods business, John Brush, Son & Co. The labels on the outside of the hat box are also significant, representing the prosperous lifestyle of an Australian traveller who purchased quality goods and cared for them. The traveller was able to depart from firstly the Port of Sydney and later the Port of Melbourne. Hatbox, oval shape, brown leather, strong, sturdy construction, six pieces, and metal lock on base. Wide lid, then tapers to a narrower base that has a red leather trim. Brown velvet fabric lining inside and covers some accessories. Other internal accessories are trimmed with plain red paper and blue and white striped paper. The lid has two attached leather tabs and a leather handle and underneath it has a drawstring liner and oval, gold-lettered maker’s label. The internal oval box has a leather retention strap and brim support. Separate moulded brim support is included. A detached leather strap with catch is inside the base. Inscriptions are stamped on the lid, printed on the maker’s label, attached as printed paper labels to the lid, sides, and under the base. Maker is John Brush, Son & Co. of Sydney. The owner’s initials “G.M” are embossed on the lid.Stamped on lid “G. M.” Label, oval, inside lid “JOHN BRUSH, SON & CO. / MANUFACTURERS & IMPORTERS / of / SADDLERY AND HARNESS / 403, GEORGE ST. / SYDNEY” Label, paper: “BAGGAGE, MELBOURNE TO LONDON’, part of word ‘CABIN’ and “P & O” Label, square, white background, black print, circular emblem: ‘PE - - - - - & ORIEN-’, ‘STEAM NAVIATION COMPY.’ BAGGAGE’ and a red printed “M” in centre of circle. Label, rectangular, white background, black print; narrow line border, text in rows and an ‘X’ overprinted, from corner to corner of the border: “BAGGAGE / P. & O. S. N. Co. / MELBOURNE / To / LONDON” Label, paper, rectangular, white background, black print, an “X” across the label: “CABIN / P & O / “ Label, paper, on base, “– aid” [Paid], “SYDNEY” flagstaff hil, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, hat box, leather hat box, vintage hat box, top hat, homburg hat, derby hat, travel ware, luggage, leather goods, travel goods, clothing accessory, men’s clothing, john brush, son & co, saddler, sydney firm, peninsular & orient steam navigation company, p & o, g.m., melbourne to london, sydney port, melbourne port, hat case

The 1884-1885 Directory was the first year of publication for the Middleton and Manning's Gippsland Directory. It was first published by Ale Middleton and Francis Beresford Manning. Beginning with advertisements from local businesses of the time, this is followed by a short gazetteer of places around the region, as well as general information on the districts of Gippsland. The main part of the Directory consisting of about 100 pages, is the Alphabetical Directory. Listed alphabetically by surname under each region, this lists heads of household (mostly male but there are a few females mentioned), together with their occupation and address.The list includes farmers, labourers, coach painters, dairywoman, teacher, saddler, brickmaker, merchant, laundress, hotel keeper, minister of religion, dressmaker, grocer, grazier, gasfitter, seedsman, coachbuilder, engineer, auctioneer, upholsterer, fowler, journalist, surveyor, musician, traveller, watchmaker, solicitor, restaurant keeper, blacksmith and miner. It is not just "business owners" mentioned in this directory it is everyone. (ref Gen E Books)This is a useful reference tool.A 135 pp soft covered book with an orange/brown cover. On the front cover in black print is a range of advertisements or local businesses. It contains a short gazetteer of places in the region as well as general information on the districts of Gippsland. The main part of the directory is an alphabetical list of the household , with occupations and addresses. This is a reprint of the original.directory-gippsland book-middleton-manning-1884-5

This is a souvenir of a ‘Back To’ celebration in Warrnambool in 1934. There had been a large-scale ‘Back To’ in Warrnambool in 1930, perhaps prompted by the growing interest in the history of the town ( this was evidenced in many country towns in Victoria at the time) and the need to gather together the remaining older local people as those regarded as pioneers of the district were fast dying out. In 1934 the State of Victoria was celebrating the centenary of the first permanent white settlement at Portland and many other places besides Melbourne took this opportunity to have a reunion of past and present citizens. Also Warrnambool had at the time two men very interested in the history of the settlement – Henri Worland and Patrick O’Grady and the first Warrnambool Historical Society was established the following year with Worland and O’Grady prominent in its establishment and Martin Carter on the first committee as well. Martin Carter, whose name appears on this envelope was the organizer of the 1934 reunion. The Carter family had long been established in Warrnambool as saddlers and Martin Carter was a Warrnambool Councillor from 1917 to 1925 and Mayor during three of those years. No information is available on the ‘Miss Adams ‘ in the address but ‘ R. F. Kennedy & Co.’ refers to the well-known pharmacy business in Timor Street Warrnambool.This envelope is of interest as a souvenir of a ‘Back To’ in Warrnambool in 1934. This is a small envelope with most of the back flap missing. The inside of the envelope has a blue lining. The envelope has a franked green Australian stamp and a Warrnambool Post Office stamp. A handwritten address is on the right side of the envelope. On the left side is a printed poster/advertisement in blue, black and grey colouring. The advertisement features an illustration of a woman speaking into a telephone with a coastal scene background. ‘Warrnambool Calling 1934 Come Home For a Week Jan 13 to Jan 21 Particulars M.L.Carter Warrnambool’ ‘Miss A. G. Adams C/O Messrs R.F.Kennedy & Coy Timor Street Warrnambool back to warrnambool 1934, history of warrnambool

The saddler and harness business of E.D. Evans and Co. in Liebig Street was prominent in Warrnambool from the 1870s to the early decades of the 20th century. Edward Evans came to Warrnambool in the 1850s, was a Warrnambool Councillor from 1875 to 1878 and from 1884 to 1888 and was prominent in racing circles in the town,These labels are of interest as E.D. Evans was a well known saddle and harness maker in Warrnambool's history..1 Light brown cardboard label, primarily rectangular with mitred corners at one end, a hole with a red reinforce sticker surrounding it. The label has black printed text and several parallel lines. Also there is a pencilled code. .2 Identical to .1 but smaller.1 FROM E. D. EVANS & CO. SADDLE & HARNESS MAKERS, WARRNAMBBO, PORT FAIRY, AND TERANG. C 1900 ( In pencil) .2 Identical to .1 edward evans, saddler, warrnambool councillor, warrnambool racing

Photograph of a section of Pall Mall, Eastwards from the corner of Bull Street. Some of the businesses visible are : Freemasons (hotel?), outfitters, Monster sale of Drapery, C. Huxtable, Saddlers, In The foreground there are numerous tree guards as well as several large Red Gumsplace, streetscape, pall mall, pall mall, freemasons, c, huxtable, bianchi

This envelope and its unknown contents were sent in 1937 to Fred Miller of Boughton Farm at Cassady's Bridge. west of Warrnambool. The envelope advertises an Annual Gala Week in Warrnambool from December 26th 1937 to January 2nd 1938. This was an event organized by the Warrnambool Progress Association as a tourist promotion exercise. The Secretary of the Association at the time was Martin Carter, a well-known Warrnambool saddler and local band conductor. The envelope also advertised the forthcoming Warrnambool Centenary Celebrations in 1939-1940 but these were not held because of the outbreak of World War Two. The Centenary celebrations were eventually held in 1947, a more appropriate year as Warrnambool was founded in 1847. This envelope is of interest as a memento of the 1930s in WarrnamboolThis is a bone-coloured envelope with images on the front of three people on the left and in the centre, red printing, black typing and postal franking. The back has a postal stamp.Mr. F. Miller Cassidy's (sic) Warrnambool P.O. Warrnambool Centenary Celebrations 1939-40 For Your Next Holiday Warrnambool the Garden City by the Sea Annual Gala Week --Dec.26,1937 to Jan.2 Under auspices of Warrnambool Progress Association Particulars from M.L.Carter, Sec.gala week warrnambool 1937, m.l.carter warrnambool, warrnambool progress association, warrnambool centenary celebrations, fred miller boughton cassady's bridge