The Fashion & Design collection of the Kew Historical Society includes examples of women’s, men’s, children’s and infants’ clothing from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Items in the collection were largely produced for, or purchased by women in Melbourne, and includes examples of outerwear, protective wear, nightwear, underwear and costume accessories.Late Victorian black silk damask outfit comprising a flared skirt and a short bodice. The high necked bodice reflects changing fashions at the turn of the 20th Century in that the silk fabric on the bosom is lightly gathered. The sleeves are pleated at the elbow. The skirt is lined with a black cotton lining. The neckline of the bodice includes a narrow band of pale cream lace. The outfit was owned by one of the donor's maternal ancestors.women's clothing, australian fashion - 1890s, mourning wear, micky ashton

Elizabeth Morrison, was born in 1874 and died in 1963, aged 89 years. She was the schoolteacher at Warrigal until she married the donor's grandfather and moved to Melbourne to take up residence with him. Her husband Edward was a porter on the train from Melbourne to Adelaide. Together they had three children: two boys and a girl. The donor's father was the youngest who was born in 1911.  The eldest son, Kenneth Morrison, was a Monsignor in the Catholic Church, and an Air Force Chaplain during the Second World War, while the daughter was a spinster who owned a few haberdashery and children’s clothing stores. The donor's father had a newsagency in Bridge Road, Richmond. He and his wife lived in Carson Street, Kew for about 50 years and had four children, two of whom were to become lawyers, another a surgeon and the final child social worker/family therapist. The donor's father lived until he was 100 years of age.The Fashion & Design collection of the Kew Historical Society includes examples of women’s, men’s, children’s and infants’ clothing from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Items in the collection were largely produced for, or purchased by women in Melbourne, and includes examples of outerwear, protective wear, nightwear, underwear and costume accessories.The costume, which may have been used as a mourning dress is comprised of a matching heavy black silk skirt and top. The styling of the short bodice is accentuated by pleating and by the use of spirals of Parisian jet (black glass beads) on the bodice and cuffs. Chiffon lace is attached to the cuffs and is of the period. The dress is made of silk damask with a woven design of joined lines and circles. The rigidity of the fitted bodice is achieved by the use of baleen and by a heavy striped cotton fabric. The wide skirt, in contrast, has a stiffened brown cotton lining. There is a small insertion on the inside of the bodice that may have been used for a watch. The dress is in excellent condition. elizabeth morrison, australian fashion - 1890s, women's clothing

The striking fabric of this wall hanging was recovered from the sinking Schomberg. It was originally one of the many curtains adorning the captain’s cabin and ladies’ saloons that attracted first-class passengers to this luxury vessel, built for comfort and speed. The clipper ship was on its maiden voyage, full of passengers emigrating to Australia in 1855. Its commander was Captain James Nicol Forbes, who had been selected by James Baine & Co for his navigation skills, experience, and reputation for breaking sailing records. However, on December 26th, 1855, the vessel became stranded and sank west of Cape Otway, not quite reaching its destination of Melbourne. A reporter explored the Schomberg before its journey; the following detailed description is an excerpt of his article published in a newspaper after the disastrous voyage was announced. “ … descending by a flight of stairs, covered with carpet of a very rich pattern, we came to the saloon passengers’ cabin. This is a noble place, and all that refined taste would suggest has been done to make each berth a miniature palace. The bedding is of the very best material, and the fittings are replete with every convenience. The carpets are of various coloured velvet pile, and the curtains are of satin damask, lined with white satin … The fronts of the berths are highly decorated, and festoons of flowers are painted on the panels … No two berths are furnished with the same-coloured material … the visitor is, therefore, much pleased with the variety which he has to inspect….” (Trove: Shipping Gazette and Sydney General Trade, 31 Dec 1955, p. 283) The curtain material, ‘folded into a single piece and parcelled for protection’, has been passed down through generations of Captain Forbes’ relatives, starting with his half-sister Isabella Jeffrey Nicol. The curtain has remained with the family, although some transition details are incomplete. About a century later, Isabella and Blakiston Robinson’s great-grandson and his wife had the fabric professionally mounted as a wall hanging to showcase the beauty of the woven brocade. Eventually, the custodianship of the curtain was transferred to the donor, who is also a great-grandson of Isabella and Blakiston. He and his wife hung the curtain on the wall of a high-ceilinged room in their home, away from direct light, making it visible for all to appreciate its beauty and significance. In 2024, they donated the curtain for inclusion among the collection of artefacts that help tell the story of the Schomberg and those who sailed on its first and last voyage. The donor’s aunt was highly involved in the family’s history. She had collected and recorded information that dates back to pre-1341. A footnote included in a handwritten letter from a family relative, the late Arthur William Rudd, OBE, MA, LLB, dated April 20, 1959, states, “The curtains you mentioned came from the Schomberg. AWR.” CAPTAIN JAMES NICOL FORBES (1821-1874) and the donor’s family: - Captain Forbes was born in Aberdeen. In his late teens, he moved to Liverpool, a hub for international trade and an emigration port. By the age of 25, he was master of the Prince of Waterloo and later, the Wakefield. He then commanded the Cleopatra for the James Baines Co., which, two years later, transferred him to command the Maria, providing fast and lucrative passage to the gold fields in Ballarat, Australia. James Baines Co. and shipbuilder Thomas Mackay formed the Black Ball Line of clipper ships in 1852. Forbes was appointed master of the largest ship in the fleet, the marvellous Marco Polo. He broke the record time for the passage to Australia, taking only 68 days at sea, and the return journey in only 76 days, a total of 5 months and 21 days. On his second voyage to Melbourne in the Marco Polo the following year, he took 75 days, and 95 days on the return trip. His accomplishment made him famous. James Baines reported that the Marco Polo was the only ship, sail or steam, to do the round trip within 6 months, and it had done it twice. Captain Forbes then took command of the American-built clipper Lightning, one of four built for the Black Ball line. His 19-year-old half-sister, Isabella Jaffray Nicol, was also onboard when he sailed for Melbourne in 1854. During the 77-day voyage, Isabella met Blakiston Robinson, and not long after the ship arrived in Melbourne on July 31, the couple married, with James Nicol Forbes as a witness, on August 16. When Forbes returned to Liverpool, he took a record-breaking 63 days, which has never been bettered. James Baines Co. ordered a new luxury emigrant ship from Alexander Hall of Aberdeen; the Schomberg was the largest sailing ship ever built in Britain. On October 6, 1855, the vessel departed Liverpool commanded by Captain Forbes, with 430 passengers on board, 54 of whom were First Class. It had almost completed its voyage to Melbourne when, on the night of December 26, it ran aground west of Cape Otway. Captain Doran, master of the steamer Queen, responded to the distress signal while on its way to Portland and, with the agreement of his passengers, rescued as many as possible from the Schomberg and returned to Melbourne with them. Captain Helpman, master of the steamer Champion, rescued most of the remaining Schomberg passengers on December 27. On Friday, 28th, Captain James Lawrence was on his way to Adelaide in the steamer Burra Burra, and called past the Schomberg. He reported that the remaining crew were all doing their duties, but the Schomberg was deteriorating on a sand spit and had about 16 feet of water in its hold. That same day, the schooner Jane Elizabeth collected 220 packages of passengers’ luggage to deliver to Melbourne on the 29th. Two steamers also arrived on the 29th with 20 men to collect passengers’ luggage and valuable ship’s cargo items. They were accompanied by water police, customs agents, company representatives and a Lloyds agent. The decision was made to abandon ship on the 30th due to rough and unsafe conditions. The officials and Captain Forbes voyaged to Melbourne, while the seamen remained behind awaiting rescue. Evacuation by sea became too risky, so on January 2, 1856, while the first Mate and Steward remained at the wreck site, the rest of the crew began the 70-mile march to Warrnambool, led by the band. They arrived on January 5th and left for Melbourne on the steamer Champion on January 10th. Parts of the Schomberg wreck ended up in New Zealand. The curtain is important for its connection to the Schomberg, which was unique for being designed and built in Aberdeen, and commanded by an Aberdonian who was the most celebrated clipper captain of the age. The ship was the largest sailing ship ever built in Britain, and reported as the largest vessel that sailed to Australia. The curtain is an example of the rich decorative furnishings available in 1855. The preservation and respect the donor and his family have shown towards the curtain over many decades reflect its important role in telling the family’s history; the journey, the romantic attachment, the family connection to the sea, and travel in gold rush times. The curtain is significant for its connection to James Nocol Forbes, a famous sailing ship commander who broke several sailing records, one of which has never been bettered. This wall hanging, also known as the Schomberg Curtain, was created from a curtain recovered from the stranded luxury ship Schomberg in December 1855. The woven satin damask fabric in blue and cream has been meticulously joined to blend the intricate pattern. The reverse features a soft cream lining. The hems at the top and bottom of the fabric hold wooden rods. The side edges feature decorative braid that has been hand-stitched in place. On the reverse, the bottom hem includes the same braid, which remains unseen from the front, and the centre of the top hem has a hand-worked, unused buttonhole. Each of the hems varies in depth. The curtain was tastefully mounted later to highlight the beauty of the original saloon curtain. A decorative twisted cord of cream silk threads, accented with gold highlights and decorative tassels, was coiled and attached to the ends of the top rod. The elegant display was completed with an ornate gold hook, chosen to complement the wall hanging.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, shipwreck artefact, memorabilia, curtain, saloon curtain, schomberg, wall hanging, decorative object, domestic item, warrnambool, flagstaff hill, maritime museum, maritime village, maritime history, shipwreck, stranding, schomberg curtain, schomberg wall hanging, luxury ship, 1855, damask, silk damask, blue and cream, captain’s cabin, ladies’ saloon, clipper ship, migrant, emigrant, liverpool to australia, captain james nicol forbes, james forbes, captain forbes, bully forbes, james baines & co, james baines, cape otway, aberdeen, prince of waterloo, wakefield, cleopatra, maria, thomas mackay, black ball line, marco polo, sailing record, lightning, isabella jaffray nocol, blakiston robinson, alexander hall, steamer queen, captain helpman, james lawrence, steamer burra burra, steamer jane elizabeth, water police, customs agents, lloyds agent, ship’s band, walk to warrnambool, march to warrnambool, steamer champion, agnes nicol robinson

Turner Collection.Part of a collection of clothing donated by Monica Smith (nee Turner). Monica was related to the Hartnell family who were early residents of Kilmore and business owners.Brown silk damask, full length skirt, long sleeves, wide collar/hood. Fragile silk, some lateral tears and shattering, staining.kilmore, turner, smith

Turner Collection. Wedding dress of Margaret Jane Morrissey who married James Cahill 31 May 1868 at St. Patricks Church, Kilmore KHS holds original Marriage Certificate. Both early Kilmore families.Brown silk damask dress with cotton lining. Front button fastening. Jacquard striped, bustle back. Tearing at armhole, breakage at hem, frayed binding, frayed black braid trim detached in places, staining on collar, accretion on back, pest webbing. Very fragile.wedding, morrissey, cahill

In 1880 Melbourne hosted its first major international exhibition the "Melbourne International Exhibition". In 1888 Melbourne hosted its second major international exhibition the "Melbourne International Centennial Exhibition".Two-piece evening dress comprising separate bodice and skirt made of gold-coloured silk damask woven with large curvilinear design in cream. Cream tulle trim around neck embellished with beads and artificial pearls. Similar trim down centre front and around lower edge of bodice. Short puffed sleeves Neckline trimed with wide gold satin riboon and bows. Bodice is boned and fastens centre back with hooks and eyes. Gored skirt pleated into waist. .1 - bodice . 2 - skirtLabel, woven blue on cream, centre back bodice: QUOD FACIMUS VALDE FACIMUS, George & George Ltd / Federal Emporium / Melbourne, International Exhibition Melbourne, Costumes and Mantlesgeorge and george, evening dress, georges of collins street, 1888

Part of the Reverend Chaplain Major Thomas B Williams No 556101 Collection.Set of four religious stoles in four different colours (purple, white, green and red), representing four Christian liturgical seasons. Each is constructed in a similar manner. The fabric for each is silk damask with thistle patterning and a plain fabric lining. Each has two embroidered crests consisting of a grey Maltese cross ringed by a gold and green floral wreath and topped with a queen's crown. the mid point of each has a gold embroidered Maltese cross. .1) Purple damask with yellow lining. .2) White damask with a white lining. .3)Green damask with a yellow lining. .4) Red damask with a yellow lining..1), .3) and .4) - Inside middle - Supplier's name on a white tag with yellow lettering: 'Church Stores, Sydney, Brisbane'.army chaplains, personal equipment, major thomas b williams

Non ministrari sed ministrare translates to "not to be served but to serve"Navy blue unlined damask curtain with 37 brass curtain rings on light blue silk binding. The curtain has a appliqued Presbyterian symbol of a cross, burning bush and text in damask, silk and metal cord."non ministrari sed ministrare"

Worn by donor at son's wedding.|Jacquard, a complex and intricate weaving process on a power loom invented bt Joseph Jacquard in 1801. It refers to fabrics or textiles woven by this process of punch cards, using damask, twill, silk or plain weave,wool. The design being woven into the material.1960 Apple green dress and matching coat. There is a silver thread through the weave of the material (Jacquard Design - see History). Dress also trimmed with silver braid. Stand up collar. Back zip and self covered buttons.|Matching coat has round neck - two sets of three self covered buttons and loops.costume, female

Address given by Mrs Lavender on the presentation of the Kyneton Colours on 28 February 1861 “Gentlemen of the Kyneton District Mounted Rifles, I feel proud of the honour done me in being deputed by the ladies of Kyneton to present the colours to your honourable Corps. There has always been a peculiar honour and responsibility connected with the colours of a Regiment. They have been unfurled on a battlefield as rallying points for many a splendid troop of gallant soldiers and courageous hearts. They have been spread to the breeze on the storming of many a city and battles hardly fought and dearly won. To retain their position and maintain their integrity, many a brave soldier has freely offered his life in their defence and, when in the hour of adversity they have been lowered, overpowered by the foe, many a brave heart has bit the dust. We might say that the history of our country is written on the banners of our “Fatherland”. The names emblazoned there speak, it is true of many a battlefield, of many a desperate struggle and of many a glorious victory won by British bravery. Gentlemen, your colours are not decorated by names such as Waterloo, Alma, Inkerman, Delhir Cawnpore, and many others I might mention. They are blank and may the God of Peace grant that in this land of adoption, it may be long before necessity of duty calls upon you to maintain the integrity of your colours and win their names. But if in the providence of God, either from internal commotion or external aggression, you should be called into action, may these colours, the token of your Corps, be upheld with the bravery of British Soldiers, their honour maintained with your lives, and may they never be lowered to a foe. Gentlemen, your motto directs: Onward, onward; may it be so Onward at the shout of victory” This item is significant as The Kyneton Colour is the 2nd oldest Regimental Colour knownin Australia, and the oldest Australian Cavalry Colour. It is unique, in that it is hand made from an original design, there is no other colour of this type known to exist. The Kyneton District Mounted Rifles is the oldest ancestor unit of the 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment and therefore is historicaly significant to the Regiment in particular and to Australian Military History in general.Regimental Colour of the Kyneton Distric Mounted Rifles. A double sided blue silk damask standard bounded on three sides by 30mm coiled metal fringing. It is heavily embroidered through a silk and cotton layer and these sections are are put back to back forming a sandwich of four layers. Several kinds of metal threads and sequins have been used for the embroidery as well as coloured silk floss, employing satin and stem stitch. The front shows a central insert in white silk divided into four and with a steam engine, bull, plough, and wheat sheaf in the segments. This crest is flanked on the left by a kangaroo and the right by an Emu. Above the crest is a horizontal baton, and above that a smiling sun sitting on a bed of clouds. The initials KD are in the upper hoist area and MD in the upper fly region.Below the crest is a red ribbon with the Latin words VESTICIA NULLA RETRORSUM in metal thread. Below this applique is a green satin stitch shape. The reverse has a red cross with stars surrounded by a green and gold laurel wreath. This is surmounted by a Queen's crown in embroidered metal thread over a base of red silk velvet. The bottom third of the flag is decorated with the words KYNETON DISTRIC MOUNTED RIFLES in embroidered metal thread.See description.standard, colours, kyneton district mounted rifles, kyneton

When the newly married William and Anna Maria Greenlaw acquired the property in 1862, an existing house known as Studley Villa stood on the land. John Hodgson probably built the latter soon after he bought three portions of land here in 1853. The Greenlaws changed the name of the residence to Villa Alba in about 1870 and in 1882-84 rebuilt the house to create the present mansion. After William Greenlaw’s death in 1895, John Ballinger rented the house until 1914. The lease then passed to Samuel and Esther Fripp, who went on to purchase the property in 1918 after Anna Maria Greenlaw’s death in 1918.This rare textile is associated with the most significant period of Villa Alba's history and is an example of the colonial aspirations of its citizens in the boom years of the 1880s before the crash that engulfed the owner.Small white damask tablecloth or napkin embroidered with the crest of William Greenlaw, the owner of Villa Alba in Walmer Street, Kew. The embroidery of the crest and borders of garlands are completed in multicoloured silk thread.Greenlaw crest - griffin holding thistle in beak over initials WGvilla alba, william greenlaw, tablecloths

The curtains are significant for their comparative rarity of survival, and at the same time, are highly representative of opulent colonial taste in interior decor in the boom period. The curtain panels are of high quality materials and in unusually good condition, indicating they were used in a window with relatively little sunlight shining on them. They can be imagined in a grand room with one or more matching dressed windows.7 curtain panels, all the same size, possibly to fit a 3-light bay window; or alternately, to fit 3 windows in the same room (or something else altogether, if this is not the original total number of panels). Fabric: silk-wool mix, sky blue ground with narrow vertical gold stripes. The fabric is a damask weave with a watered (moiré) finish; the large, woven motif depicts an urn filled with stylised flowers, leaves and curlicues; the spacing of the motifs is more 19thC than older styles using much the same motif. Each curtain drop is decorated with an applied band of narrow, colour-matched gimp braid around the sides and lower end. The bottom hems are weighted with what feels like lead shot. The curtains are lined with sturdy brown cotton. They are gathered at the top edge on drawstring tape; and hand-sewn with small metal hanging rings. Faded vertical bands of sun exposure are visible on most of the curtains, and one panel has a mended tear on a lower side. Otherwise they are in excellent, sound condition.interior decoration-19th century, curtains-19th century, colonial taste-victoria, gold boom melbourne