Three Men working in the Maldon Shoe Factory Circa 1959-1959 L-R: Brian Shott, Les White, Ollie Tattmaldon shoe factory

Image of 3 Ladies working in the Maldon Shoe Factory 1958-1959. L-R: Val Lang (White), Heather Thomas (Bolitho), Wilma Evans maldon shoe factory

Photocopy of a black and white photograph of a group of young women and one man, in a shoe factoryCaption on separate paper: "Valencia Shoe Factory"valencia shoes, shoe factory, factories

Names identified on photo: Thelma Anderson, Alice Anderson, Gladys Baker, Ida Borshman, Maude Commensoli, Wilma Commensoli, Thelma Crampton, Marge Deas, Isabel Firth, Mavis Francis, Phyllis Humphries, Margaret Humphries, Maureen Johnston, Mrs Kay, Gwen Kerr, Mavis Lee, Norma McLeod, Lois Miller, Marge Morley, Ollie Nicholson, Betty Nott, Rose Parrot, Chris Pettit, Josie, Smith, Patty Smith, Joyce WarrenBlack and white photograph of workers, mostly women, of the Valencia Shoe Factory, Rutherglen. Also included is a tissue overlay identifying all but two individuals in the photograph. Two additional names are illegible.At top of photo: "Valencia Shoe Factory" valencia shoes, shoe factory, factory workers, thelma anderson, alice anderson, gladys baker, ida borshman, maud commensoli, wilma commensoli, thelma crampton, marge deas, isabel firth, mavis francis, phyllis humphries, margaret humphries, maureen johnston, mrs kay, gwen kerr, mavis lee, norma mcleod, lois miller, marge morley, ollie nicholson, betty nott, rose parrot, chris pettit, josie smith, patty smith, joyce warren

Taken in 1994, this photograph depicts the reunion of four women, all of whom were former workers at the Beechworth Shoe Factory. Pictured from left to right are: Nettie Maher, Beryl Pope, Alice Adams and Leila Doig. Nola (Nettie) Maher, who donated this photograph to the museum in 2001, was born in Beechworth on the twenty-first of December 1935. She is one of the many - primarily women - workers employed by the Beechworth Shoe Factory (also known as Pitman's Shoe Factory). Once located on Ford Street, the factory was established by Mr T. Nagle Pitman as a branch of the company Elgins Shoes, and was in operation from the first of July 1947 to the twenty-eighth of August 1961. In an interview given in 2000, Nettie recalls the close trust and friendships that were built amongst the factory workers. A sense of this bond is reflected in this reunion photograph, taken several decades later. This photograph is historically significant as it provides insight into the experiences of women factory workers in Beechworth during the twentieth century. Colour rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paperReverse: 13 / 6981 /beechworth shoe factory, pitman shoe factory, t. nagle pitman, reunion, female friendships, nola maher, nettie maher, beryl pope, alice adams, leila doig, beechworth shoe factory reunion 1994, elgin shoes, women factory workers, beechworth factories

Elgin Shoes Pty., Ltd., established a branch shoe factory in Beechworth in 1946. Managing director, Mr T Nagle Pitman, selected Beechworth as a suitable location for the factory due to the availability of labour in the town, particularly girls under sixteen years of age. At its peak, the shoe factory employed thirty six women and girls, which also included post-war migrants. After the Second World War, Australia admitted increasing numbers of immigrants in order to fulfil labour requirements for a rapidly inflating demand of consumer goods. These migrants were largely from European Countries in line with the ‘White Australia Policy’. In 1954 Beechworth had 170 migrants from the UK, 102 from Hungary, and 63 from Germany. The factory closed in 1961 as increased centralisation of both populations and industry in the larger nearby towns of Wangaratta and Wodonga lead to the closure of many factories in small towns in the 1960s and 1970s. This photograph is historically significant as it shows the working conditions in a factory primarily staffed by women at some point between the late 1940s and early 1960s. Sepia rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paperReverse: 14 / AFGA / 6982 / pitman shoe factory, elgin shoe company, industry, shoe factory, shoemaking, working women, post-war migration, factory, white australia policy, mid-twentieth century women's working conditions, twentieth-century working conditions, pitman, elgin, shoe, sewing machine, leather, pittman

Nola (Nettie) Maher was born in Beechworth on 31st December, 1935. Her father returned from World War One and purchased a miner’s cottage in 1919 where Nettie lived in for the majority of her life. Nettie worked for ten years at the Pittman’s Shoe Factory, once located on Ford Street, which was in operation from 1 July 1947 to 28 August 1961. She fondly recalls the camaraderie amongst the staff and certain managers, and details the factory processes, union activities and the work she continued to do once she was married and had children. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke. Nola Nettie Maher’s account of her personal and working life in Beechworth and the local area during the 20th century is historically and socially significant to the cultural heritage of the region. She details important details about life and working in the region post World War Two, including insights into women’s working roles, as well as the social aspects of town life. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book ‘Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.’ While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town’s residents during the 20th century, many of which would have been lost had they not been preserved. This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Nola Maher /beechworth, nola maher, nettie maher, listen to what they say, jennifer williams, oral history, hospital, private hospital, birth, miner’s cottage, kerosine, eucalyptus, rabbit, laundry, dressmaking, dressing certificate, dry cleaners, hotel, shoe, leather, shoe factory, uppers, pittman, ford street, charlie king, union, wages, new years eve, dance, memorial hall, married women, flexible hours, ice cream, milk bar

Hughes Fruit Shop and Milk Bar, Main Road, Eltham, c.1949 promoting Peters Ice Cream Immediately to the right of the shop is a bootmaker factory that employed 15 people. It was situated on the corner of Pryor Street and is the site of the present-day Westpac Bank. Pryor Street is an unmade road. To the left of the shop are four vacant blocks stretching to Luck Street where Mr and Mrs Britton had a house. On the other side of Pryor Street is the original Blue Gum Cafe and Milk Bar advertising Swallow's Ice Cream. At the time it was operated by Pop Warner. [We believe the fruit shop was built 1946-1948 based upon evidence of another photo (EDHS_02182) looking northeast from Staffs store circa October 1945 and an aerial photo of December 1945 which only shows the bootmaker factory.] Behind the shop is a tall Bluegum tree. This was the tree that the Bluegum Cafe was originally named after. Miss Barber's 'Blue Gum' Soda Fountain opened October 1922 and was the first shop on the eastern side of Main Road following Luther Haley's Bakery and General Store on the other side adjacent to the railway station in 1902. The Bluegum was felled in the early 1960s when Burge's Blue Gum Cafe and milkbar was sold and demolished in September 1960 to make way for a new store, Mr. J. Millet's Foodland. OLD LANDMARK GOES Perhaps the most famous landmark in Eltham's' business section disappeared last Wednesday when the towering blue gum in Pryor Street at the rear of Main Road shops was felled. The tree, stated to be more than 80 feet high, was the one for which the adjoining café was named, when that business was Eltham’s only provision store, long before the turn of the century. Mr. J. Millett, who now owns the property on which the tree stood, deeply regretted its removal, but was mindful of the need for expansion in the business area. The "Old Blue Gum" was removed by Mr. A. Wilson, expert tree feller, from Heidelberg. Its proportions might be assessed by these facts – it took a gang of experienced men two days to completely fell and clear the tree, and, falling sections being brought down by cable tipped electricity wires on the opposite side of Pryor Street. Images from the private collection of Mrs Noel Williams (nee Hughes) Noel’s parents, George Elgar Hughes and Jean Alice Hughes had a combined milk bar and fruit shop in Main Road, Eltham. Noel worked in the shop after leaving Eltham High School aged 15 (1950), until she married George Williams in 1956, whose grandparents, Violet and Will Williams, owned the Bellevue estate in Livingston Road, Eltham. Her father, then sold the property. George and Noel raised 3 children on their farm in Kangaroo Ground and Noel, who turned 90 years old in July 2025, is a life member of the Andrew Ross Museum.hughes fruit shop and milk bar, main road eltham, george elgar hughes, jean alice hughes, 1949, blue gum (eucalyptus globulus), blue gum milk bar (eltham), eltham shopping centre, eltham shops, fruit shop, green grocer, milk bar, peter's ice cream, pryor street, shoe factory., swallow's ice cream, bedford truck, pop warner, bootmaker's shop, newsagency, noel williams collection, shoe factory, telephone box

The Orford family, a pioneer family remained continuously living and working in Eltham for 170 years from 1854 to 2024. James and Sarah Orford arrived in Sydney in 1839 aboard the ship “Orestes”; they had several children there before settling in Eltham in 1854. Three children, James Mathias, Sarah Amelia and Thomas Henry initially remained in the Eltham area. James eventually moved to Brunswick. Sarah married Arthur Butler Young and finally lived in Bunyip. Thomas who was six years old when the family arrived in 1854 remained in Eltham, married Helen Logan who died, leaving a large family. They lived in a slab hut by the Yarra at Laughing Waters and Thomas managed the Panton Park Estate, a selection owned by Magistrate Thomas Panton. Thomas’s son, Ernest Orford was born 1892 at Pitt Street, Eltham and also lived his entire life in Eltham working as a labourer, orchardist and later as a gardener and grounds keeper for Sir William Irvine, a former Chief Justice and Premier of Victoria. Ernest married Kate Thomas; their two sons Ron and Doug stayed in the area. Another of Thomas' sons, Arthur, also lived in Eltham. Four Orford generations attended Eltham schools. Doug Orford was born on the kitchen table (reference, son Ted Orford) of the family home at the corner of Reynolds Road and Mount Pleasant Road. Doug married Gwen and they established a family however Gwen died at a young age from cancer. Doug eventually remarried another Gwen and they lived for several decades in Napoleon Street, Eltham. Doug was actively involved in EDHS over many years, including serving as a committee member and vice president. Contributions by Doug and Gwen (Treasurer/Membership Secretary), his wife, assisted EDHS to continue to develop as a not-for-profit group intent on promoting and preserving our local history. Both Doug and Gwen were made Life Members of EDHS. They also acted as EDHS delegates to the Eastern Region of Historical Societies. His significant work with assisting to establish our valued Local History Centre helped develop our home base and supported the continued growth of our society. Doug’s local knowledge, suggestions and family connections were highly valued, Until recent times, he continued to regularly attend our Collections Team workshops providing his insights and historical information about photographs and society records. Doug died peacefully July 8, 2024, and represents the last link in the Orford Eltham chain which spanned 170 years. His funeral was held Thursday, July 18, 2024, at Le Pine Funerals, 848 Main Road, Eltham. Contents: Typed notes, no date: Memories of Ernest Orford [taped 1979] about his school days. Handwritten notes, no date: History of Ernie Orford. Typed notes, no date: History of Thomas Henry Orford and family. Photocopy: Shire of Eltham General Rate Receipts. Received from D Orford 7 June 1923 and Received from E F Orford, 4 August 1924. Letter, no date: Nillumbik Shire to Russell Yeoman, Gwen Orford to receive Volunteer Recognition Award. Newsletter article: "The Orford Family, Eltham", Shire of Eltham Historical Society, No.80 September 1991. History of Orford family. Handwritten notes: 21 March 2011, genealogy of George Orford. On reverse Melways map makred with Orford and other land ownerships. Newspaper advertisement, 21 March 2011: "264 Reynolds Road, South Eltham", property for sale [land in ownership of Orford family]. Letter: St Margaret's Anglican Church Eltham to Doug Orford, 17 November 2011, Extracts from church records relative to Orford family. Newspaper article: "Timely facelift at war memorials', Diamond Valley Leader, 30 April 2024, Nillumbik war memorial will have some work and a bronze plaque will be installed at the Eltham Avenue of Honour, Wingrove Park; photograph of Doug Orford. Newsletter item: "Welcome home medal", Eltham District Historical Society newsletter no.216 May 2014, World War I two 'Welcome Home Medals' in ownership of local men, being Harry Gilham and Doug Orford. Order of Service, Le Pine Funerals (Eltham), In Loving Memory of Douglas Frederick Orford 22nd August 1929 - 8th July 2024. Doug Orford Reminiscences (2002) in conjunction with Jock Read and Peter Bassett Smith; 4 pages - 3 typed, 1 handwritten possibly transcribed from an audio tape recording (location unknown). New word file and associated pdf created [\Dropbox\EDHS DATA\DOCUMENTS\COLLECTION CATALOGUE DOCUMENTS AND PDFs\2-2 Family Folders\EDHS_06110-2 Doug Orford reminiscences 2002.docx - 1 April 2025] Doug Orford Eulogy by daughter Kathryn Whiteside 2024 and associated PDF [D:\Dropbox\EDHS DATA\DOCUMENTS\COLLECTION CATALOGUE DOCUMENTS AND PDFs\EDHS_06110 Doug Orford Obituary 2024.docx] Gwen Orford (nee Best) Eulogy 2025 and associated PDF [D:\Dropbox\EDHS DATA\DOCUMENTS\COLLECTION CATALOGUE DOCUMENTS AND PDFs\EDHS_06110 Gwen Orford (nee Best) Eulogy 2025.PDF]Newspaper clippings, A4 photocopies, etcdoug orford, harry gilham, welcome home medal, eltham avenue of honour, nillumbik war memorial, wingrove park, henry dendy, alfred armstrong, james orford, 264 reynolds road south eltham, george orford, george joseph orford, maryanne george joseph, thomas henry orford, ernest orford, e f orford, eltham cemetery, helen orford, joseph panton, panton park, gordon lyon, banyule estate heidelberg, james matthias orford, wurundjeri, constable peter lawlor, george hill, franklin street eltham, ronald orford, eltham primary school, john brown, robert gamble school inspector, sarah orford, mary ann orford, james mathias orford, sarah amelia orford, james peet, arthur butler young, watsons creek victoria, kangaroo ground victoria, helen logan, william orford, jane orford, arthur orford, frederick orford, florrie orford, victor orford, chem orford, sunnymede eltham, panton hill estate, sir william irvine, gordon lyons, kate thomas, north eltham gospel church, harold clapp, eltham cricket club, research primary school, dalton street school eltham, keith banks, betty banks, benjamine boyd, laughing waters road eltham, freddie gilsinen, douglas frederick orford, eltham district historical society, funeral service, le pine funeral home, life member, order of service, 1934 flood, 1939 bushfires, alcock & pierce, ansell, associated schools sports, blacksmith shop, boakes, bridge street, bryce family, bullock track, butcher, catholic church, cliff lester, cliffy green, daisy smith, dave lyon, diamond creek, diana bassett smith, dick tooth, dr. frank may, eltham higher elementary school, ernie andrew, fire station, flower stall, fodder business, fruit shop, furniture store, gahan family, garni burges, greensborough, harold norman, harry hawker, hat factory, hawker & owen, hay and com store, henry hawker, henry street, j .harry butherway, jack burgoyne, jack ryan, jock read, john lyon, junk yard, kevin gahan, kilpatricks, len parsons, lyon family, machine factory, mc leans, memorial, metery road, miss reynolds, monteith 's bus, mr. gadd, mrs. bird, mrs. morrison, napoleon street, peter bassett smith, peter's gahan, plenty river, plumridge, produce store, public hall, rechabite hall, reynolds road, roger bird, rutter family, ryan family, shoe factory., staffs produce store, studley cairn gahan, sweeneys lane, swimming pool, taylor street, tennis court, warren family, wooden bridge, yarra brae road

From 1st Sunshine Scout Hall Martin Street Sunshine|The leather came from the Coburg / Preston Shoe factoryWooden trophy board with a leather hide attached by pegsBert Edmondson Memorial Hide Annual Athletics Sports won by 1st Sunshine 1954 presented by Kimscouts, scouting, athletics, edmondson

historic, industryPhotograph of Austin's Shoeing Forge and Coach factory, Learmonth St. taken by John William Henry Austin, photographer of Durham Lead. on rear; "John Purcell Austin, Blacksmith, Buninyong, 1899. Took over from Caffrey. By 1906 Bourke had the forge. See p.34 Closed down 1938. JWH Austin Photographer, Durham Lead"john william henry austin, photographer, durham lead, austin shoeing forge, austin carriage factory

See below for an article by Jim Evans of the Bendigo Historical Society: From the Bendigo Miner Number 9 - 1 March 2007 Cock-eyed Curnow - James Henry Curnow Cornishman and famous Bendigonian By Jim Evans Five-time Mayor of Bendigo, James Henry Curnow of Eumana , was for fifty years associated with almost every progressive movement in the life of the city. He was born in Ludgvan, Cornwall, in 1861, the son of Sampson Curnow, tin-miner and later mine-manager. His parents brought him to Bendigo when he was two years old and settled at Long Gully. He was educated at the state school and St Andrew s College. In 1883, he married Jane Corbel in the Congregational Church. Curnow joined the Post-Master-General s Department in 1881. Taking leave in 1887, he acted as secretary of the Australian Natives Association (ANA) exhibition at Geelong. He became a clerk with Connelly and Tatchell's, Bendigo solicitors, leaving in 1894 to establish an accountancy and real estate business. Considered shrewd and hard-working, Curnow prospered; he later added an auctioneering section and formed the company J.H. Curnow & Son (now Curnow & Dyett). The ANA provided the grounding for Curnow s public life. He joined the Sandhurst branch in 1881 and was secretary in 1883-1891. He helped form new branches in northern Victoria. With (Sir) John Quick, he set up the first Federation League in the colony in 1893. Curnow was secretary of the League in that year and again in 1898-99. He was elected to the Bendigo City Council in 1901 and, apart from 1906-09 remained a very energetic councillor. He was Mayor in 1902-03, 1903-04, 1912-13, 1919-20 and 1927-28. It was during his second term as Mayor in 1904, that he had William Beebe design a home - Eumana in Flora Hill. (Local historian Betty Jackman informs me that Curnow s house at 75 Wills Street where he lived before moving to Flora Hill, was also called Eumana ). He took a leading role in the installation of sewerage and was later Chairman of the city s Sewerage authority when that body was being subjected to a great deal of criticism. He was an executive member of The Municipal Association of Victoria and president in 1919. Curnow was very interested in politics, but his four attempts to enter parliament failed. He was Justice of the Peace for the states of New South Wales and Victoria, deputy coroner for the city of Bendigo, a guardian of minors and registrar of marriages. Curnow was managing director of the Bendigo Pottery, director of the Bendigo Gas Co. and the Bendigo and Eaglehawk Star Building Society and chairman of directors of the Bendigo Boot and Shoe factory. He was a life member of both the Bendigo Base Hospital and the Benevolent Asylum (Anne Caudle Centre). Curnow s family affairs were marred by tragedy. His father was killed in a mining accident in 1881; his first wife and three of their five children died in the measles epidemic of 1893. His second wife Mary Jordan died in 1909 after spilling carbolic acid on her hip, leaving three young children. He married Amy McLean in 1911and they had one daughter. When the Prince Edward visited Bendigo in 1920, Curnow made a speech, telling his audience: I will now merely ask you to drink his health as the Prince of Wales and also as the Duke of Cornwall. In this district there are a tremendous number of Cornishmen and I need not tell His Royal Highness that it was the Cousin Jacks who made Bendigo, who found the gold and developed the mines. They have added more to the riches of the Commonwealth than any other class of people. When he visits the mines today, he will find that ninety per cent of the miners are Cornishmen and descendants of Cornishmen. His remarks were greeted by loud applause. J.H. Curnow was known locally as Cock-eyed because of an eye defect. He died on Anzac Day 1932 at his then home, The Knoll in Wattle Street. He was 71. He was cremated at the new Fawkner Cemetery and his ashes were buried in the Bendigo Cemetery. His grave is close to that of another famous Cornishman and Bendigonian, Sir John Quick, who died in the same year. The Curnow memorial drinking fountain in Rosalind Park was unveiled in 1938 by Mayor Taylor. The distinguished Bendigo born sculptress Ola Cohn designed the memorial and made the bust and other plaques of terracotta. The plaques were damaged in the 1950s and a restoration program was undertaken, with bronze plaques replacing the original terracotta ones.10934.33a: A small, aged sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details: Bought of J.H. Curnow & Son Wholesale Merchants. The address: Mitchell & Queen Sts. Bendigo and branches. Phones: Bendigo 103. The receipt is handwritten in grey lead pencil. Dated 21 March 1938. Below the header is neat, ruled lines for listing items with prices listed in British Pounds, totaling 52 pounds 1 shillings. Receipt number 1881. There is also a Victorian 3 pence stamp duty stamp printed in green ink. 10934.33b: A small, aged sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details: Bought of J.H. Curnow & Son Wholesale Merchants. The address: Mitchell & Queen Sts. Bendigo and branches. Phones: Bendigo 103. The receipt is handwritten in grey lead pencil. Dated 25 May 1938. Below the header is neat, ruled lines for listing items. Receipt number 14291. The Receipt is crossed out in blye pencil. The top left corner is folded and slightly torn. 10934.33c: A small, aged sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details: Bought of J.H. Curnow & Son Wholesale Merchants. The address: Mitchell & Queen Sts. Bendigo and branches. Phones: Bendigo 103. The receipt is handwritten in grey lead pencil. Dated 27 June 1938. Below the header is neat, ruled lines for listing items with prices listed in British Pounds, totaling 2 pounds. Receipt number 1466. The receipt is crossed out in blue pencil and indicates and credit. 10934.33d: A small, aged sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details: Bought of J.H. Curnow & Son Wholesale Merchants. The address: Mitchell & Queen Sts. Bendigo and branches. Phones: Bendigo 103. The receipt is handwritten in grey lead pencil. Dated 7 March 1938. Below the header is neat, ruled lines for listing items with prices listed in British Pounds, totaling 34 pounds 14 shillings. Receipt number 1627. There is also a Victorian 3 pence stamp duty stamp printed in green ink.ac morton, jh curnow & son

Advertised Stawell Businesses W. Whiteside, Taylor Clothiers Main Stree.t Mitchell Brothers Auctioneers, Stock & Station Agents, Stawell. The Stawell Times & Wimmera Advertiser, R.W. Baxter Manager. J. H. Stabb, Coach Builder. Isaac Cook, Saddler. Main Street Stawell. Gustav Mahnke. Fancy Bread and Biscuit Baker. McMullin Bros, Produce Merchants and Family Grocer. L.C. Phillips, Taylor & Clothier, Main Street Stawell. Victoria House, George Sprague, Family Draper Main Street. Josiah Cook Butchers, Main Street. The Town Hall Hotel, Wm Short, Main Street. R. H. Wadsworth. Practical Watchmaker & Jeweler. Main Street Stawell. John Allingham, Importer General Draper and Outfitter. Boot & Shoe Warehouse. W. Laxton. Boot and Shoe Manufacturer. Stawell Boot Factory, Main Street Stawell. Anthony Bone, Saddler, Main Street Stawell. Stawell Brewery. G. Bryant & Co. H. Edhouse Manager, Stawell West. The Stawell Coffee Palace, Main Street. T. Aldred Proprieter. S. Isaacson, Draper & Clothier . Main Street Stawell. The Wimmera Flour Mill Co. Ltd. W. Frayne, Manager. George Kay & Co. (Late Wayman & Kay) Iron & Brass Founders, Engineers , Etc Stawell. Large Paper Wall map coloured with cloth backing. Maps of Shire & Borough of Stawell & Advertising The Unique Combine's New map of the Shire of Stawell Compiled by H. E. Ward late Government Draftsmann businesses

Photographer notations on slide: At the Leather Exhib. at T. Hall Melb 1933 Age Published: Age (Melbourne, Vic.: 1854- ), 1933 THE EXHIBITS. (1933, September 20). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 16. Retrieved January 25, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205109730 Published title: THE EXHIBITS. A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE. Curios, Novelties, Working Displays Published Caption: ONE OF THE NOVELTIES – AN OUTSIZE IN SHOES Research by Project Volunteer, Louise McKenzie: Our photo is dated 20 September 1933, and shows a happy, chubby-faced young girl sitting in a very over-sized girl’s shoe. It is labelled – “Shoe, An Out Size, loaned by Messrs Blackman & Rose”. (1) It is an effective way to capture the attention of the readership and alert them to the Melbourne Leather Show 1933. This show was designed to be a drawcard of extraordinary proportion, and there is no doubt that this leather exhibition was a really big deal for Melbourne. It completely took over the Melbourne Town Hall, and was open from 10.30 am until 10.30 pm. It seemed to contain something for everyone – the military, the man about town, the home handyman, the housewife, the child, the sporting types, the domestic workers, the outdoor enthusiasts, the horseracing fans, car enthusiasts, those wishing to show off the latest fashion – both men and women - and those just intrigued by a lot of fascinating and wide ranging exhibits. One of the most comprehensive descriptions of the Exhibition accompanies the photograph, and is worth quoting in full: “PROMINENT among exhibits which first attract attention in the foyer of the Town Hall is a comprehensive display of leather articles used by the defence forces. A conspicuous legend states that leather plays an important part in national defence, being used for saddlery, tool containers, holdalls, range-finding, surveying and signalling equipment, explosives factories, harness accoutrement, bandsmen's equipment and clothing. Three models of horses and several figures of soldiers wearing leather equipment illustrate the lesson, and a great range of leather goods used in military training and work variegate the display. Nearby are Texas cowboy, buckjumping and breaking-in saddles; whips, a walking stick, made of leather and numerous other curios. The general exhibition occupies the whole floor space of the main Town Hall, and is subdivided by partitions running most of the length of the hall. A bewildering variety, of leather goods presses for close and leisured inspection. Here and there operatives in charge of working machinery give practical demonstrations of factory processes in the production of footwear. Polishing materials are well represented. One attractive exhibit includes two bush huts constructed of leather, with wattle bark for roofing. Opossums, rosellas and a kookaburra add touches of bush realism. Adjacent exhibits include bags, fishing boots, leggings, leather covers in all colours. Factory Processes. One exhibitor has installed an automatic cinema apparatus and screen, which projects various factory processes in making a shoe, the operator being shown at work. Elsewhere an interesting exhibit depicts the five stages in the manufacture of sole leather, and the tanning materials employed. "Very handsome effects are achieved in the interior appointments of motor cars, which are attended by figures of smart chauffeurs in leather coats. Motor-trimming leather is said to be more durable and hygienic than fabric materials, and cheaper. The neat finish of the material, its excellent appearance, certainly make a very favourable impression. It takes the hides of three beasts to cover the cushions, squabs and door panels of a full-sized sedan, while to finish the entire interior, including quarter-panels and head linings would take four or even five. Special Exhibits. Amongst the special sections the display arranged by the handicrafts and home industries- committee of the Country Women's Association of Victoria is a notable one. In all there are about 130 entries which are in four classifications, viz., hand-tooled or embossed leathers, suede, hand-made gloves and undecorated leather. The glove section attracted the most numerous entries, a number being the work of members and craft subscribers of the Country Women's Association. In the leathercraft competition, organised by the Country Women's Association, the judges yesterday awarded the first prize for bookbinding (the only prize given in this division) to Miss M. Alston, of South Yarra. There is also a creditable display of exhibits submitted by boys of the orthopaedic section of the Children's Hospital at Frankston. Amongst the novelties on view in other portions of the exhibition were the following: — Leather coats worn by Sir C. Kingsford Smith on his Atlantic flight. Model Wellington boot, Phar Lap's saddle. Melbourne Cup winner's saddle. Longest whip in world, 108 feet long. (33 metres) [See our photo, to left of Girl in Shoe] Diminutive shoes. Pair of shoes 65 years old. Pair of men's working boots 75 years old. Larwood's, Tate’s and Pataudi’s cricket boots. [Three internationally revered cricketers of the day] (2) Picture frame made of leather bought 63 years ago. [See our photo, to right of Girl in Shoe] Leather frame, powder bowl, &c. Saddle used by world's champion buckjumper in U.S.A. Mexican cowboy outfit. Miniature saddle and bridle. A fireman's helmet made of sole leather. (3) Sample of the leather hat worn by porters at the Billingsgate Fish Market, London. (4) From South Australia there have been obtained sets of harness for donkeys, goats and camels, the equipment being displayed to good advantage on stuffed representations of the animals mentioned. Close to the platform is a glass case containing snow shoes and coats which have been used in Antarctic exploration work. Trade Display. Amongst the trade exhibits may be seen in operation a slipper turn shoe sewing machine, with heeling and channelling facilities, and the various stages in the production of ladies' sandals are shown. There is a wide contrast between sole leather of varying degrees of thickness on view in one stall and the choice samples of ladies' footwear in another — footwear, by the way, which could almost be used as ornaments, so dainty in colour and production are they. Again, there are displays of upholstering leathers of such soft texture that they could he readily mistaken for some of the finest cloth. Those who may be particularly interested in the production of chamois leather may gain an insight into the materials and chemicals used in the "working up” of this variety of leather. Supplies of glace kid (5) are tastefully arranged, and there may also be seen bags of all shapes and sizes, including satchels, suit cases and "sporting" cases, and bags for tennis players and golfers. Further variety is given to the exhibition by the display of antique hides, brightly coloured, with punching balls, boxing gloves and batsman's pads. There are crocodile skins and snake skins so cleverly "Worked up" that one could be almost pardoned for betraying an affection for such unpopular creatures.” “ Another wonderful article on this Exhibition, published the same day in one of the opposition daily newspapers, The Argus, is in the weekly article “Women to Women”, entitled “A Great Victorian Industry: Many Uses for Leather”. This weekly column was penned by Vesta, and she writes, with much purpose: “Yesterday afternoon I paid a hurried visit to the Leather Exhibition now being held in the Melbourne Town Hall and I was disappointed to find that the early visitors to the main exhibition were almost all men. Women, I think, should make a point of seeing every exhibition of our great industries, for women are the buyers of household requisites and goods for their own use and their tastes, and opinion influence also, to a large extent, the purchases of men. So, the welfare of industries is more or less in their hands and it becomes a duty for them to inform themselves fully of the extent and the quality of the manufacturing that is done here. The value of the output of the Australian boot and shoe factories alone was in 1930-31, the latest year for which the figures are given, Stg 3,750,000. Fully two thirds of that amount must have been spent by women on boots and shoes for themselves and their children. In a host of other directions, in the purchase of handbags, travelling bags, belts and straps, cushions, furniture coverings, purses, notebooks, spectacle cases, their annual expenditure must be very high. Their interest, therefore, in this industry is practical, and their support of it should be governed by knowledge of comparable values and qualities of the goods they buy. From the point of view of women, however, the exhibition itself is rather disappointing. There is an amazing collection of good stuff on show, but most of it is not displayed in a fashion that attracts attention. I was surprised, for example, at the range and quality of the leathers displayed, the suppleness of the finer qualities, and the varied range of colours and designs. But they are shown in such a fashion that if one set out deliberately to look for them it would be quite easy to miss most of them.” …It was surprising, too, that no one seemed to have taken advantage of the present fashion of wearing coloured gloves, or the cult of glove making, which the Country Women’s Association has fostered so successfully. Outside the collection of chamois leathers I saw no skins which were suitable to glove making. (6) However, it is perhaps a little unfair to be highly critical of the exhibition, inasmuch as it is the first of its kind. The material is there, undoubtedly, for a splendid show of every phase of this enterprising industry, and I am confident that experience will prove to those concerned that it will be worth while next time to devote a great deal of attention of the method of display.” With further research, it transpires that “Vera” is in fact NZ born Stella May Allen (nee Henderson) (1871-1962), a journalist, the first woman in NZ to begin a law course, in 1890-91). She later worked at a law firm while she completed her degree. Study of the law had always been open to women in NZ, but its practice was still barred to them. Her case “…led to amending legislation in 1896 allowing women to practise as barristers or solicitors. However, on gaining her LL.B. in November 1897 she did not apply for admission to the Bar. Instead, she became the Wellington-based correspondent and leader-writer for the Lyttelton Times. Her appointment, the first for a woman, was not welcomed by the all-male Press Gallery, and special permission had to be obtained from a subcommittee of the House before her presence was accepted. In 1900 she married Edwin Allen, a senior leader-writer for the Wellington Evening Post, and they moved to Australia in 1903 when Edwin Allen took up the post of foreign affairs leader-writer and parliamentary man for the Melbourne Argus. As Patricia Keep notes in her excellent entry of Stella Allan in the Australian Dictionary of Biography: “In 1907 The Argus commissioned her to write a series of articles on the first Australian Women's Work Exhibition held in October. They aroused much interest and next year The Argus invited her to join its full-time staff and begin a weekly section on the particular interests of women. She adopted the nom de plume 'Vesta' and called the column 'Women to Women'. Her work was unique in an Australian daily paper at that time. Her pages extended to cover every aspect of women's affairs, children's interests and community welfare, and 'Vesta' became a household word for authoritative information and advice on such matters. An excellent needlewoman and first-rate cook herself, she thoroughly tutored her staff in the work and needs of women in both country and city, as well as providing the usual training for cadet journalists. She conducted interviews and also visited the country to see at first hand the results of bushfires, mouse plagues, droughts and floods. In 1910 she was one of three women foundation members of the Australian Journalists' Association. “…she found time to become deeply involved in community affairs. She was an original committee-member of the Victorian Association of Crèches and of the Free Kindergarten Union of Victoria, and had much to do with the early days of the Victorian Bush Nursing Association, the Baby Health Centres Association and the Queen Victoria Hospital. She was a member of the National Council of Women, first in New Zealand and then in Melbourne, and of the Country Women's Association from its inception. … in 1924 she was appointed substitute delegate for Australia to the fifth assembly of the League of Nations at Geneva and was a delegate to the second Pan Pacific Women's Conference in Hawaii in 1930. A meeting held in the Melbourne Town Hall in 1938 by representatives of all the main Victorian women's organizations paid special tribute to her work and influence. She retired next year to England where she continued to write for the Argus, contributing articles on the experiences of women and children in wartime.” It is little wonder that “Vesta” was unafraid to take to task both the women of Victoria, and those who created the exhibition! One item which appears to have gone unnoticed, or at least unreported, is a framed article in the background of the photo of the chubby girl in the shoe. The display frame is labelled “Leather from the Human Skin, Tanned and Dressed by French artists.” The exhibition was certainly a cabinet of curiosities! A charming article in The Argus is a nice note on which to end. It gives a quick history and overview of the Australian leather industry and its unprecedented, and possibly unexpected, development and success, and states with pride: “Though Victoria is the largest leather producer in the Commonwealth all tanners in the Commonwealth can look back with pride on the long march of progress.” Footnotes: (1) “Blackman and Rose”. Messrs Blackman and Rose were shoe manufacturers, from 1927 located at 200 Noone Street, Clifton Hill. The Melbourne Circle describes their building as a “fine-looking building in the Federation ‘blood and bandage’ style.” It was built around 1912 for Puttifoot and Bloom, boot manufacturers, and today the building is apartments. (2) These cricketers were household names in the day: Tate: Maurice Tate, “English cricketer of the 1920s and 1930s, and leader of England’s Test bowling attack for a long time during this period. The founder of modern seam bowling. “ Larwood: Harold Larwood, “English right-arm fast bowler and the main exponent of the bowling style known as “bodyline”. Used to considerable effect in the 1932-33 Test series in Australia. Pataudi: Iftikhar A K Pataudi, “an Indian prince who in the 1930s played Test cricket for England, and in the 1940s played Test cricket for India (as Captain) – the only test cricketer to have played for both India and England. (3) “sole” leather “… is the thickest and most resistant material existing in the tanning industry … made from vegetable tanned leathers, usually bovine butts, processed in a special way to make them the hardest type of leather in existence.” (4) The hats worn by porters at Billingsgate Fish Market were also known as a “Bobbin” and look quite squat and rather unsophisticated. They were made of wood and tarred leather, with a “flat, hardened top designed to support large rectangular boxes of fish. The upturned brim protected the porter’s head against fish juice draining from the boxes of fish which would be carried on top of the hat. Some hats featured a small drain hole at the rear to allow this collected juice to drain down the back of the carrier. The hats were made using the ‘cuir bouilli’ technique. The leather was immersed in water which was heated until the leather began to shrink. It was then removed and put on a wooden former. The leather was stitched together to make the hat while still wet, and then held in place until dry.” (See article and photo on the London Museum website) (5) Glace kid – described on the Boston Museum of Fine Arts’ Cameo database as “A smooth glossy leather originally prepared from goat or sheepskin. Early glace kid had a shiny surface that was originally prepared by tawing the skin in a mixture of alum, table salt, flour, and egg yolk. Today, glace kid is prepared from many types of vegetable or chrome tanned leathers. The smooth polished surface is obtained mechanically by shaving, glazing, ironing, and/or rolling the dry leather.” (6) In the 1930s, Melbourne’s glovemaking industry was characterised by local manufacturing, with key producers like Simpson’s Gloves Pty Ltd in Richmond and the Stagg Glove Company in Clifton Hill leading the market. These factories produced high-quality leather gloves, handbags, and specialty gear, often employing a clear gendered division of labour and training young, local women. Museum Victoria holds the Simpson’s Gloves Collection, comprising over 1200 items, and the University of Melbourne Archives holds the company’s business records. References: THE EXHIBITS. (1933, September 20). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 16. Retrieved January 25, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205109730 EXPORT LEATHER. (1929, September 17). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 17. Retrieved January 19, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4037647 LEATHER EXHIBITION (1933, September 18). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 10. Retrieved January 19, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11693362 (1933, September 23). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 21. Retrieved January 19, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page522766 WOMEN TO WOMEN (1933, September 20). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 13. Retrieved January 19, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11694034 Australian Dictionary of Biography, Stella May Allan (1871–1962) https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/allan-stella-may-4998 WOMEN TO WOMEN (1930, January 22). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 13. Retrieved January 19, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4063888 Museums Victoria, Simpson’s Gloves, 486-496 Victoria Street, North Richmond, VIC, Australia https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/articles/2702 The Argus. (1927, October 31). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 20. Retrieved February 7, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3888451 Melbourne Circle: stories from the suburbs: “Boots and all in Clifton Hill” https://melbournecircle.net/2015/11/20/bootmakers-of-clifton-hill/ Wikipedia, Maurice Tate, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Tate Wikipedia, Harold Larwood, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Larwood Wikipedia, Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iftikhar_Ali_Khan_Pataudi Buy Leather Online Italy, Sole leather: https://buyleatheronline.com/en/blog/outsole-and-insole-leather-n7 London Museum, Porters hats, https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/collections/v/object-731122/hat-porters-hat/ Cameo Database, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Glace Kid, https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Glac%C3%A9_kid VICTORIAN LEATHER HAS WON RENOWN (1937, September 22). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 31 (March of Progress Supplement). Retrieved February 7, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1108704 Photographer notations on slide: "At the Leather Exhib. at T. Hall Melb 1933 Age B5".displays, melbourne town hall, leather, children, shoes, 1930-1939, industry, hats, gloves

Mr Sidney (Sydney) Wainwright's father was established in the boot and shoe manufacturing business from 1877 in partnership with Shaddock and then Faulkner in Liebig Street, Warrnambool. By the late 1800s S.J. Wainwright and Son had 50 employees in the Timor Street factory which was one of the most extensive boot making businesses in the Western District.These labels are of some significance as Wainwright and Faulkner operated a important boot making business at the beginning of the 20th century in Timor Street, Warrnambool..1 White and blue rectangular label with text and decorations attached to a pink card. .2 Identical to .1 excepting the label is buff and the text is brown. .3 Buff rectangular label with black text and decorative border attached to a buff card. .4 Buff rectangular label with dark blue text and lines attached to white paper. .1 FROM WAINWRIGHT AND FAULKNER, LIEBIG STREET, WARRNAMBOOL. BOOT AND SHOE WAREHOUSE MODERN PRINT WARRNAMBOOL .2 Identical to .1 .3 Ladies' Footwear. S.J.W &S. "EXCELSIOR" SIZE .4 FROM S. J. WAINWRIGHT & SON " EXCELSIOR" FACTORY. TIMOR STREET, WARRNAMBOOL . Boots and Shoes.wainwright, faulkner, boot and shoe manufacture

This booklet contains the Program for the Back to Warrnambool Celebrations for 1930. It contains a brief history of the town and photos of current council Office bearers and local scenic spots. There is also a map of the town and a large number of advertisements for local businesses. Back to Warrnambool celebrations were an important event on the social calendar and were run over a number of years in the town. This program is one glimpse into the city and its people in 1930. Some of the events held over the week included processions, sports Carnivals, concerts, card playing, Church services and local tours. Many of the advertisements are for businesses of long standing and importance to the prosperity of the town. Twenty page Booklet with light card, grey, mottled cover. Text in brown and blue. Picture of Warrnambool main beach in centre. Price 2/- in bottom right corner. Back cover has full page advertisement for Bruce and McClure. Text and illustrations are brown. M Armstrong is written in blue biro on top right corner. Song “Back to Warrnambool,” written and composed by Reg A.A. Stoneham,” is printed below picture on front cover. Published by A.A. Stoneham, 241 Carlisle St, Balaclava.younger pty ltd, warrnambool, back to warrnambool, 1930, souvenir program, warrnambool cordials, morse pty, swinton, warrnambool cheese and butter factory, batros shoes, tattersalls hotel, bruce and mcclure, warrnambool woollen mill, reg a. a. stoneham

These shoes were worn by Mary Glass Cramond when she married James Dickson Jnr. in 1888 in the Presbyterian church in South Yarra Melbourne. Mary Cramond was the daughter of John Glass Cramond and his wife Frances. Her Scottish born father formed a partnership with James Dickson, also a Scotsman and founded the Cramond and Dickson store on the corner of Timor and Liebig streets Warrnambool which opened on 21st August 1865. The store closed in 1974. . James Dickson's parents were James and Susan. James Dickson was an original director of the Warrnambool Woollen Mill, an original guarantor and director of the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory. He also served on the committee of the Warrnambool Base Hospital for nearly fifty years and was a town councillor. The Store of Cramond and Dickson was one of the most important businesses ever to have been in Warrnambool. The marriage of the daughter and son of each of the founders was an important social and romantic event.A pair of cream satin covered lady's shoes with medium height heels. The toes are gently pointed and decorated with a bow and intricate glass,clear beading.The soles are leather. Both shoes are damaged as the satin is torn and shredded.6D small twelve pointed starshoes, cramond and dickson, warrnambool, cramond

Summer dress uniform worn with black shoes and long socks. Items in collection re T. Pattison, refer Cat No 5342.4..1) Shirt and lanyard, polyester light khaki colour with purple cord lanyard, WO2 insignia on upper sleeves, on each shoulder epaulettte “RASVY” badges .2) Shorts polyester light khaki colour .3) Belt, webbing light khaki colour with black buckles.uniforms-army, polyesters, summer dress

Items issued to Capt T McCAW VX93 enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 27.10.1939, he was discharged on 19.2.1947 with the rank of Capt in 2/2nd Field Regt. He is also listed with a Regt No 350309 so assumably he enlisted again going by the uniform on Cat No 1488.2. Service ribbons are, 39 - 45 Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Defence medal, British war medal, Australian Service medal, Efficiency decoration.Service dress, post WWII. .1) Trousers, khaki, waist buckles and buttons intact. .2) Shirt, light khaki, long sleeved, cotton, buttons intact, made by “Rexbilt” .3) Tie, light khaki colour .4) Jacket, Dress, Service, khaki, gold coloured metal buttons, 2 x shoulder patches “Royal Australian Artillery”, 2 x sets of “Captains rank badges, 3 to each shoulder, 2 x collar epaulette badges, 6 x service ribbons WW2 and Efficiency ribbon, 2 x “R” badges (Retired Officer) .5) Cap, peak, leather strap, RAA hat badge, khaki. .6) & .7) Socks, pair, khaki. .8) & .9) Shoes, pair black .10) Belt, khaki with brass buckle.Inside coat and pants sewn in. “M TX”. Inside hat, “Commonwealth Clothing Factories Melbourne” “S56 71/8uniforms-army, military equipment

Worn by Robert Lawson Promoted to Petty Officer Engineering (MTP) 1979This uniform was worn by Bob Lawson. Bob is a member of Lara RSL, and this uniform is representative of his service in the Royal Australian Navy.Polished black men's dress shoes with black laces.lara, rsl, military, war, australia, navy

Copy of a newspaper page titled Cornishman's day at Sparrowhawk. Also a smaller article titled Long Gully was in the Boom. There is a photo of Knipe's Castle and a sketch of a wrestler throwing another wrestler in the air. Mentioned in the articles are the pyrite burners chimneys, local indenties, wrestlers, the mines, the gullies, hills, housess shops and businesses, and Fire Brigade practice sports on Christmas morning. Item 11010.140b is an enlargement of Knipe's Castle scanned at a dpi of 1200.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - cornishman's day at sparrowhawk, st mathew's church of england, old hercules mine, st just point, old spadger, bendigo city, eaglehawk borough, marong shire, liddell's, cook and spargo's, deeble's, edward's, iron-jawed dick, dooley dick, tom the scientist, jack the local blondin, jumbo the whistling butcher boy, larry adler, dick davey's pub, billy williams, billy couch, billy martin, billy nicholas, the midway, victorian consuls, the gold mines (ironbark company), old hercules, kent (carlisle), paddy's bull of a whistle, cornish united, kock's poineer, old alabama (hustlers and redan), happy valley, moonta, speck gully, st just point, derwent gully, pinchgut, american gully, victoria hill, rae's hill, danger hill, windmill hill, redan hill, comet hill, comet mine, halley's comet, pengelly's (now truscott's), stamp's (later lewis and dunstan's), hattam's (later semmen's), bamford's drapery, cooperative store, weller's butcher shop, ebbott's coach factory (later payne's), philpot's shoeing forge, dennis's mining smithy, stoppelbein's tinsmith shop, wallace's bakery (later malcolm's), connell's bakery, fire brigade, knipe's castle

Document, Advertising brochure, J.H.Abbott & Co., Re, manufacturing all classes of Boots & Shoes at much lower prices at their premises and factory, at Pall Mall, Market Square, Bendigo.Bolton Bros, Printers, Bookbinders, &c., Williamson Street,Bendigo.document, j.h.abbott & co.

Advertising Sheet (photocopy). - J H Abbott Co, date not signified. Includes photos of ornate iron-laced frontage and verandah of shop. List of ladies shoes on left of photo and gents shoes on right with prices. Reference to Pall Mall premises and Factory.business, retail, j.h. abbott & co, pall mall, market square, j.h.abbott & co.

Photo: black and white photo showing machinery inside factory, processing material over a series of rollers. Female operator standing on Rh side of photo, dressed in plaid skirt, white top and long line cardigan, wearing flat shoes.no knownorganization, business, hanro, hanro, bendigo, manufacturing, machinery

Photograph taken inside the factory, on the left side of the picture are 3 very large barrels. In front of the barrels is a large bottle rack holding numerous bottles, all of the bottles are full. There is a worker holding one of the bottles, he is wearing a hat and overalls. On the right hand side of the Photo is a journalist, he is wearing a dark suit , shoes and a tie with a white handkerchief showing at his top coat pocket, he is holding a notepad and pencil. On the back is written ML45/7 and stamped in purple is the mark of the Australian News and Information Bureau requesting that the photo be acknowledged.Australian News and Information Bureau.organization, business, workers, cohn brothers .