This sturdy, deep hat box has been carefully constructed to give the contents utmost protection in the roughest of travel conditions. At the same time, attention to detail and quality of materials makes the box an attractive, desirable and useful piece of luggage. The supports inside the hat box show that the hat’s brim dipped at the front and back in the popular 1920s Homburg or Derby style. The hat box was likely to have been purchased, complete with its fashionable hat and personalised with the initials ‘G.M.’. The five shipping labels on the hat box tell that the owner traveller overseas with it on more than one occasion. The owner had first travelled with the shipping line Peninsular & Orient Steam Navigation Company, and may have been one the first Australian passengers in 1932, as the remnant of label on the base reads Sydney. The owner later voyaged under the company’s new name of P & O. and travelled from at least one of the voyages from Melbourne to London The square label, with “P & O” and red printed “M” in centre of circle, refers to alphabetical organisation of baggage by surname, connecting the owner ‘G.M.’ to the owner’s voyage with P & O. The P & O shipping line’s early beginnings started with the partnership of London ship broker Brodie McGhie Willcox and Scottish sailor Arthur Anderson in 1822. The partnership was joined by Irish shipowner Captain Richard Bourne in 1835 and they began operation as the Peninsular & Orient Steam Navigation Company with a service between London- Spain - Portugal. In 1932 the company expanded to include Australia with its passenger services departing from Sydney; in 1840 the company was incorporated. After various take-overs of other shipping lines and businesses, it operated under the name P & O. JOHN BRUSH The hat box was made by Australian saddle designer and maker, John Brush, Sons & Co. Brush began his saddlery trade in Roma, Queensland, His designing process included consulting with the men who rode and worked the horses. He was described in the Sydney Morning Herald of December 15, 1897, as a leading Sydney saddler, well known and reliable, with every kind of English and Australian saddle on view. John Brush established his business in 1840, operating from 371 George Street Sydney. A catalogue from that era jointly advertises John Brush (371 George Sty Sydney) and Butlers & Brush (432-4 Queen Street Sydney), both under the name of Edward Butler & Co. Pty. Ltd. The catalogue included saddlery, harness equipment, riding wear and travel goods, and strongly promoted the Wienkek made saddles, which he distributed Australia wide. John Brush, So & co. advertised its ‘new’ address in 1887, as 403 George Street Sydney. In 1898 Brush made a side-saddle for a customer, a design popular with gentlewomen of the era. The business was still operating over 100 years later, producing a catalogue in the 1950s.This early 20th century hat box is significant for being one of a kind in our Collection. Its fitted design shows the shape of the hat, dating it from the 1920s men’s fashions. The hat box is significant for being a high quality hat box made in Sydney, Australia by prominent and successful early colonial saddler and leather goods business, John Brush, Son & Co. The labels on the outside of the hat box are also significant, representing the prosperous lifestyle of an Australian traveller who purchased quality goods and cared for them. The traveller was able to depart from firstly the Port of Sydney and later the Port of Melbourne. Hatbox, oval shape, brown leather, strong, sturdy construction, six pieces, and metal lock on base. Wide lid, then tapers to a narrower base that has a red leather trim. Brown velvet fabric lining inside and covers some accessories. Other internal accessories are trimmed with plain red paper and blue and white striped paper. The lid has two attached leather tabs and a leather handle and underneath it has a drawstring liner and oval, gold-lettered maker’s label. The internal oval box has a leather retention strap and brim support. Separate moulded brim support is included. A detached leather strap with catch is inside the base. Inscriptions are stamped on the lid, printed on the maker’s label, attached as printed paper labels to the lid, sides, and under the base. Maker is John Brush, Son & Co. of Sydney. The owner’s initials “G.M” are embossed on the lid.Stamped on lid “G. M.” Label, oval, inside lid “JOHN BRUSH, SON & CO. / MANUFACTURERS & IMPORTERS / of / SADDLERY AND HARNESS / 403, GEORGE ST. / SYDNEY” Label, paper: “BAGGAGE, MELBOURNE TO LONDON’, part of word ‘CABIN’ and “P & O” Label, square, white background, black print, circular emblem: ‘PE - - - - - & ORIEN-’, ‘STEAM NAVIATION COMPY.’ BAGGAGE’ and a red printed “M” in centre of circle. Label, rectangular, white background, black print; narrow line border, text in rows and an ‘X’ overprinted, from corner to corner of the border: “BAGGAGE / P. & O. S. N. Co. / MELBOURNE / To / LONDON” Label, paper, rectangular, white background, black print, an “X” across the label: “CABIN / P & O / “ Label, paper, on base, “– aid” [Paid], “SYDNEY” flagstaff hil, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, hat box, leather hat box, vintage hat box, top hat, homburg hat, derby hat, travel ware, luggage, leather goods, travel goods, clothing accessory, men’s clothing, john brush, son & co, saddler, sydney firm, peninsular & orient steam navigation company, p & o, g.m., melbourne to london, sydney port, melbourne port, hat case

This hat box could have been used for either a man’s or a woman’s hat in the days when it was the custom for both men and women to wear a hat when outside the house or on social occasions. It would have been used in the home or for travel, especially when on board a ship. Hat boxes today may still be used but are usually made of cardboard or other less durable material.This box was acquired over 40 years ago from a local person. It is retained for display purposes.This is a round metal box with a circular base and a lid affixed with a metal hinge. The lid is wider at the front of the tin allowing for extra height for the stored item. The lid had a metal clip handle and there is a front metal clip for closing the box. The tin has been painted black but is much rusted, particularly on the top section. vintage headgear, history of warrnambool

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 dress as a vintage item and wore it during the years 2010-18, before donating it to BHS. The Mooney sisters, Nell and Ida, were situated beside the Regent Theatre in Collins Street, Melbourne and were well respected milliners and dressmakers.Short sleeved peach silk dress (.1) featuring beige lace appliqué on neckline, along with original rectangular brown cardboard box (.2).Label: "MF 2900 / Misses Mooney / of Collins Street" Printed on lid of box: "Misses Mooney / 189 Collins Street, Melbourne"di reidie, vintage clothing, misses mooney, melbourne designers

The domestic sewing box would have been used in the home.A brown varnished rectangular wooden lidded Sewing Box with a lift out top section which has 16 varying sized compartments for storing sewing accessories. There is a has a hollow area underneath the tray. The lid is attached with brass hinges and it has a brass lock and small key. There are several sewing items included - cotton reels and thread, assorted darning thread for hosiery, wool and nylon threads, a box of black pins, assorted sewing needles, thimbles, small decorative sewing scissors, black rolled tape, mixed buttons, hooks and eyes, nickel plated fittings for hats, vintage stocking hooks, a stick of white chalk, two (one green and one ivory) antique cotton thread winders and a medium sized vintage safety pin.a Variety of brands of items include - 'Rite Tone', 'Della Darn' 'C No Darn', 'Clark's Filosheen' hosiery thread, 'Barbour's Linen Wax Thread', 'The Flora MacDonald Best Steel Bodkins' 'National Hat Guard' nickel plated steel and brass fittings, 'Chadwick's Wool and Nylon' reinforcing mending thread, 'The Myrene Snap Studio' size 1 rustless press studs, 'The Pagoda Brand' rolled tape 5 yds, 'Cross Fox Brand' Best quality Steel Stems (long plastic headed pins), 'Toledo' brass thimble and a black box of 'F. Tayler & Co's Solid Headed Mixed Pins'. The brass lock has 'SECURE PATENT' stamped in to it on the inside of the edge of the front of the box. there is also a small VR with a tiny rounded pattern opposite the Patent sign. sewing equipment, sewing box, sewing, embroidery scissors, functional object