Mrs Elma Camm (nee Freeman) was the wife of Herbert Desmond Camm. Des and Elma lived in Orbost from 1971-1980/1. Des died on 9/11/1980 and is buried in Orbost Cemetery. Elma moved away and is presently (2013) in care at Lakes Entrance. Elma's hobby was collecting shells and crafting them into interesting forms. Much of her work is in the Shell Museum in Lakes Entrance. The figurine in Orbost Museum was donated by Elma.This item is an example of the handcraft skills of women in the early to mid 20th century.A small figurine made completely of different shaped shells and set onto a wooden block as its base. The block was originally a Wee William cigar box. The figure is playing a stringed instrument, possibly a guitar, held in front of him/her. The hat is a small shell.shell-art figurine recycled-materials

Oliver Gilpin (1874-1942), chain store proprietor, was born on 8 July 1874 at Seven Creeks near Euroa, Victoria, fourth child and second son of William Gilpin, farmer, and his wife Dinah, née Barton, both from Tyrone, Ireland. He was educated at local state schools and became a draper's assistant at Euroa. A testimonial as 'an energetic, pushing salesman, a careful stock-keeper … honest and industrious' gained him city experience with Ball & Welch Ltd, drapers, in their Carlton store. He used an inheritance to open a drapery store at Korumburra, south Gippsland, in 1895, moving to Rutherglen in the upper Murray valley in 1899. Frustrated by irregular stock deliveries, he moved to Fitzroy, Melbourne, in 1902, seeking a warehouse and the benefits of combined supplies for effective development of country trading. By 1905 he was producing many stock items at Northcote and had established retail outlets at Bendigo and Warracknabeal. Branches at Echuca, Numurkah and Yarrawonga followed in 1906, with ten more in 1907. He moved his city establishment to East Malvern in 1911, and had opened forty shops by 1920 and seventy-four by 1928. All were managed by women, on a strictly cash basis. Drapery remained the main line, supplemented by ironmongery, crockery, school requisites and toys. Gilpin saw the Depression years as a challenge. Between 1928 and 1931 he established eighteen new branches, including two in Tasmania, at Devonport and Ulverstone. The chain included South Australian branches at Mount Gambier, Millicent and Renmark, twenty-five stores in southern and western New South Wales, and ten in suburban Melbourne. Gilpin's Chain Store News was issued monthly. In 1944 Foy & Gibson acquired a controlling interest in Gilpin's business and in 1951 the chain was bought by G. J. Coles & Co. Ltd for £1,250,000. Three wooden blocks used to display hats. 9042.1 Slightly head shaped on top 9042.2 Light timber, flat on top, a wedge at back. 9042.3 Dark timber, flat on top.hat blocks, millinery, haberdashery, gilpin, korumburra

Hilda hill Collection. Black & White Photos Total 10. Backyard Heathcote Sweep the Kelpie August 15 1918 (dog standing on top of wooden ladder), Sections of white picket fence leaning against wooden paling dividing fence, Roof of house in next block showing. Jack in the snow at Mt Buffalo 1923. Hal in the snow at Mt Buffalo July 1923. Man and wife with their 2 sons. The wife is wearing a sun hat and white dress, the man is wearing a hat and white shirt, each of the boys wear white shirts and dark trousers, one of the boys has a stick leaning against his leg, at the Pines January 1919. Four girls seated on the ground, three of them are wearing white dresses and the fourth is wearing a black dress over a white shirt, the Pines January 1919. One girl and three boys sitting on the sand, the girl is swearing a white shirt and dark dress, two of the boys are wearing white shirts, the other wears a darker shirt, all the boys, are wearing braces to keep up dark trousers, Brighton 1918. Lady standing near shrub along side of house, this lady is wearing what appears to be a net top and long white skirt, background shows a porch attached to the house with two steps, Royston Brighton 1918. Elderly lady dressed in black and seated on an outdoor chair in a rear yard, background shows dividing paling fence and a small part of the house next door, Royston Brighton. Maisie, in black, and Dora, in white, in a sitting position, St Aidens Garden Fete 1922.background appears to be bushland. One Tree Hill Bendigo July 1923 St. Aidans Orphanage Gardens Bendigo Fete 1922.Hidla Hill Family Lifeaustralia, history, hill family life