There are many 19th century items of furniture, linen and crockery donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village by Vera and Aurelin Giles. The items are associated with the Giles Family and are known as the “Giles Collection”. These items mostly came from the simple home of Vera’s parents-in-law, Henry Giles and his wife Mary Jane (nee Freckleton), whose photos are in the parlour. They married in 1880. Henry Giles was born at Tower Hill in 1858. He was a labourer on the construction of the Breakwater before leaving in 1895 to build bridges in N.S.W. for about seven years. Mary Jane was born in 1860 at Cooramook. She attended Mailor’s Flat State School where she was also a student teacher before, as family legend has it, she became a governess at “Injemiara” where her grandfather, Francis Freckleton, once owned land. Henry and Mary’s family of six, some of whom were born at Mailor’s Flat and later children at Wangoom, lived with their parents at Wangoom and Purnim west, where Henry died in 1933 and Mary Jane in 1940. The Giles family collection has social significance at a local level, because it illustrates the level of material support the Warrnambool community gave to Flagstaff Hill when the Museum was established.Nightgown, white cotton with Broderie Anglaise yoke. Nonewarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, nightie, giles collection, henry giles, tower hill, cooramook, warrnambool breakwater, mailor’s flat, wangoom, 19th century household goods, sleep wear, nightgown, nightdress, night dress, nightwear, sleepwear, clothing, fashion, 19th century, handmade clothing

This boudoir cap was worn by women wearing a negligee in the 19th century in their boudoir in the morning. In the early 20th century women wore these boudoir caps while sleeping to protect their hair styles. The name "Ogier"' inside the cap indicates that it has a connection to the Ogier family in Warrnambool.This is an interesting example of a woman's head-wear in the past.This lady's boudoir cap has white, discoloured, net with floral woven edging and leaves and dots in the body of the net. It is circular in construction drawn on thread to the centre of the head and decorated with a tassel folded over. There are two layers of lace, the bottom one is attached to a black, velvet covered wire and has bunched flowers with violet ribbon as decoration. The top layer also has the bunched flowers. The cap is lined with cream silk. The lace hangs down at the back. The brim is stiffened inside as is the crown. On the item inside is a small piece of red ribbon with a name written. OGIERvintage women's clothing, boudoir caps

This beautiful cap has been passed down through the McKeown family. It was donated by Marjorie McKeown (nee Ford). Womens art / handcrafts.A boudoir cap made from cream silk, sections are crochet silk thread with an insertion of silk brocade. Small pieces of bone have been inserted into the sides of the cap giving a stiffening effect over the ears of the wearer. boudoir-cap sleep-apparel female-costume

This item is part of the Di Reidie collection. Diane Reidie was a much loved volunteer and President of Brighton Historical Society from 1999 until 2016. Originally from New Zealand, Di and her family lived in Male Street, Brighton for many years. A vibrant and energetic person with a zest for life and a gift for bringing people together, Di was a friend to many in the Bayside community and active in local community organisations. Her tireless work as President of BHS saw her named Bayside Citizen of the Year in 2008. As a seller and collector of vintage clothing, she was passionate about fashion history; one of her many enduring contributions to BHS was her extensive work in preserving, developing and promoting the Society's costume collection. In 2018-19, Di donated more than one hundred items from her personal vintage clothing collection to the Society. The collection, which includes clothing, hats, handbags and shoes from local and international designers, is representative of Di's wide-ranging interests, colourful personality, creativity, humour and love of fashion and travel. Di purchased this two piece ensemble from the influential fashion boutique "The House of Merivale and Mr John" to wear to a performance of "The Sleeping Beauty" by London Festival Ballet, featuring Rudolph Nureyev at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda in May 1975.A two piece ensemble consisting of long evening dress (.1) and matching jacket (.2), cropped jacket of black acetate. The jacket features a tie front and long buttoned sleeve. The full length dress is slim fitting with centre back zip, shoestring straps and shaped bust with ruched centre front."Mandamatilda", "Dry Clean Only, SSWdi reidie, 1970s, house of merivale, manda matilda