Emerald Museum & Nobelius Heritage Park
Booklet - The Argus Recipe Book, Stella Allan, Recipes by Vesta of the Argus, Circa 1939
This is a recipe book, with sections for recipes for "Soups", "Meat Dishes", "Breakfast, Luncheon and Supper Dishes", "Egg Dishes and Pastry Recipes", "Sweets Course", and "For Afternoon Tea". The pages alternate between a page on the left containing recipes, and a page on the right instructing readers to paste recipes cut out from the Argus there.
"Vesta," also known as Stella Allan, began her journalistic career as an active feminist and socialist in New Zealand who, after qualifying to practice law, overcame gendered exclusion from the all-male press gallery to work a prestigious position as a parliamentary correspondent. After moving to Melbourne in 1903, she was swiftly employed by the Argus newspaper and became the lead writer for the women's sections in 1908, continuing to work in the role until she retired in 1939. During this time she extensively covered domestic and community welfare topics, alongside advice columns replying to a vast quantity of letters; her writing contributed to creating a space in newspaper journalism to address the interests of women at the time.
During her time at the Argus she moved away from the radical activism of her youth, becoming an establishment figure over the course of her long career. She was a prominent figure in Melbourne life as President of the Victorian Women’s Writers’ Club, the Lyceum Club, and a foundation member of the Australian Journalists’ Association. Even after her retirement from the Argus, her journalism continued to have an influence; during the Second World War, Stella reported from England on the wartime experiences of women and children.
This recipe book was one of several written by "Vesta" - most likely, this is the 1939 edition - and aimed to provide a collection of nutritious recipes to aid women in choosing meals to cook for their households. The introduction to the book stresses the importance of nutrition, referring to a League of Nations survey that revealed that "in spite of our abundant and varied food supply, nutritional and dental diseases are much too prevalent in Australia." It calls on the women of Australia to fulfil the "great responsibility," of choosing and cooking nutritious meals.
The cardstock front cover of this 32-page booklet features text denoting the title and author in red, and an illustration in blue of a woman wearing a chef's hat holding a pie in front of her, with steam rising from it. The rear features publication information and an advertisement. The booklet is bound with a single staple through the spine, and constructed from eight individual pieces of paper each with two pages of text printed on each side.non-fictionThis is a recipe book, with sections for recipes for "Soups", "Meat Dishes", "Breakfast, Luncheon and Supper Dishes", "Egg Dishes and Pastry Recipes", "Sweets Course", and "For Afternoon Tea". The pages alternate between a page on the left containing recipes, and a page on the right instructing readers to paste recipes cut out from the Argus there.
"Vesta," also known as Stella Allan, began her journalistic career as an active feminist and socialist in New Zealand who, after qualifying to practice law, overcame gendered exclusion from the all-male press gallery to work a prestigious position as a parliamentary correspondent. After moving to Melbourne in 1903, she was swiftly employed by the Argus newspaper and became the lead writer for the women's sections in 1908, continuing to work in the role until she retired in 1939. During this time she extensively covered domestic and community welfare topics, alongside advice columns replying to a vast quantity of letters; her writing contributed to creating a space in newspaper journalism to address the interests of women at the time.
During her time at the Argus she moved away from the radical activism of her youth, becoming an establishment figure over the course of her long career. She was a prominent figure in Melbourne life as President of the Victorian Women’s Writers’ Club, the Lyceum Club, and a foundation member of the Australian Journalists’ Association. Even after her retirement from the Argus, her journalism continued to have an influence; during the Second World War, Stella reported from England on the wartime experiences of women and children.
This recipe book was one of several written by "Vesta" - most likely, this is the 1939 edition - and aimed to provide a collection of nutritious recipes to aid women in choosing meals to cook for their households. The introduction to the book stresses the importance of nutrition, referring to a League of Nations survey that revealed that "in spite of our abundant and varied food supply, nutritional and dental diseases are much too prevalent in Australia." It calls on the women of Australia to fulfil the "great responsibility," of choosing and cooking nutritious meals.books, domestic life, 1930s, cooking, the argus
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Emerald Museum & Nobelius Heritage Park