This hat belonged to a Warrnambool undertaking firm, Beattie and Phillips. This firm was established by Christopher Beattie and Henry Phillips in 1865 and was originally situated in Koroit Street. Beattie’s son, James, took over the business in 1916 and moved to new premises at 82 Fairy Street about 1928. In 1945 the business management was transferred to James Leahy and the firm continued until 2000. The top hat was used by both James Beattie and James Leahy and would have been one of several used by the employees in this undertaking business. The suppliers of the hat were Cramond and Dickson (note that the name ‘Cramond’ is misspelt on the hat itself). John Glass Cramond and James Dickson established their clothing and drapery and ironmongery business in Warrnambool in 1855 and it continued to operate in Liebig Street until 1974. This is a highly significant item for three reasons: 1. It belonged to, and was used by, two directors of the undertaking firm of Beattie and Phillips, a most prominent business in Warrnambool for 135 years 2. It was supplied by the firm of Cramond and Dickson, a dominant retail shop in Warrnambool for 119 years 3. It is an important example of a social custom of the past – the wearing of formal wear, including a top hat, by funeral employees (even to the extent of taking the hat by rail for funerals etc outside of Warrnambool) This is a black top hat with paper and silk inserts in the inside crown and a brown leather lining stitched on to the inside of the brim. There is black corded ribbon around the brim and around the outside of the hat. The brim is made of felt with the crown showing a shiny pile. There is a small round metal insert on the top of the crown. A piece of a newspaper dated 1st January 1931 is stitched into the inside of the brimInside the hat on the bottom of the crown – ‘Extra Quality’; ‘Crammond (sic) & Dickson Warrnambool’ with a stamp logo on the silk – a British logo with a lion and a unicorn with the words – ‘Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense’ and ‘Dieu et Mon Droit’ In biro on inside crown are the letters ‘J.L.’ undertaker's hat, beattie and phillips, christopher beattie, henry phillips, warrnambool history

Henry Evans can be seen wearing the top hat. The building on Main Road was originally the London Chartered Bank built in circa 1875. The original facade is believed to be behind new brickwork.henry evans, undertakers, main road, london chartered bank, ballarat, vehicles, funeral, building, h. evans & son

Mary Ann Dawe migrated to Victoria with her parents William and Sarah Ann Dawe in 1857, and married Robert Simeon Nelson at Linton in 1864. At that time R. S. Nelson was a carpenter/cabinet maker with a sideline in coffin-making, whose buisiness in Sussex St was slowly evolving into that of an undertaker. Robert Simeon and Mary Ann Nelson had six children, four of whom lived to adulthood. Mary Ann died from complications of childbirth in 1887.Black and white copy of an original portrait showing an older woman wearing a black high ruffle necked dress with a brooch at her throat and a black feathered hat.mrs robert simeon nelson (nee mary ann dawe) 1846-1887