We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land. We celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respect to Elders — past, present and future.
Please be aware that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Some material may contain terms that reflect authors’ views, or those of the period in which the item was written or recorded but may not be considered appropriate today. These views are not necessarily the views of Victorian Collections.
Users of this site should be aware that in many areas of Australia, reproduction of the names and photographs of deceased people is restricted during a period of mourning. The length of this time varies and is determined by the community.
Reuse of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander material on this site may require cultural clearances. Users are advised to contact the source organisation to discuss appropriate reuse.
Plug tobacco was used for chewing and also used in pipes. It was cut into slices and hand rubbed and then packed into the bowl of the pipe.
Local history
Layers of tobacco leaf pressed into block
This book came into our collection via a donation to the Book Barn, which operates as a second-hand book shop. The donor is unknown.
This book was published in 1887, a time of consolidation of wealth after the initial gold rushes in Ballarat in the 1850s. Its full title is 'History of Ballarat from the First Pastoral Settlement to the Present Time.' By William Bramwell Withers, Journalist. Second Edition with Plans, Ilustrations and Original Documents. It is an invaluable history of the origins of Ballarat and its mining history, with a chapter devoted to the Eureka Stockade.
Book bound in green cloth on hard cover.
On cover: Title incised in black on gold: HISTORY/OF/BALLARAT In gold: REVISED EDITION In black:By/W.B.Withers/PUBLISHED/BY/F.W.NIVEN &Co/Ballarat. Front cover embossed with gold pictures, one of a spray of wattle, one of a spray of eucalyptus leaves, a picture of a miner standing at a winch, and two panoramas of Ballarat, one in its early days as a gold-mining camp, and one as a built-up city. On spine: In green on gold: HISTORY/OF/BALLARAT : BY W.B.WITHERS 1887 Picture of two miners in a lift cage descending a mine shaft. On back cover: In black, picture of an aborigine looking into the sun, which is either rising or setting. On inside front cover: label pasted in. Inscription in gold: PRESENTED TO/THE/MEMBERS/OF THE/Empire Commerce Congress/BY/BALLARAT'S PIONEER DIGGER,/MR.JAMES ODDIE,1851. Front brown flyleaf partially torn off.
ballarat gold rush, w.b.withers, eureka stockade, mining history, early maps of ballarat, mr james oddie, empire commerce congress
This signature table cloth was anonymously donated to the Bacchus Marsh Blacksmith Cottage and Forge group in 2013. On the cloth are the hand embroidered names of men who served in WW1 as well as the names of family members, place names and dates of significance. In one corner of the cloth is the outline of a tennis ball, in which 6 names are listed. Research has shown that these names probably belonged to the Rose Park Methodist Tennis Club in Adelaide. Many of the other names listed seem to relate to servicemen and their families who came from South Australia. Also on this cloth are 3 beautifully embroidered butterflies, the profile of a man, a crest containing the letters B and H and the following place names and dates :- Sydney 21.10.12, Melbourne Jan 13, Goolwa, Genolan Caves NSW, Katoomba, Luna Park St Kilda and Granite Island. The name of the steamship SS Warilda also appears on this cloth. this ship belonged to the Adelaide Steamship Company. It was used to transport soldiers to WW1 and was then converted into a hospital ship, ferrying the wounded from France to England. It was hit and sank on the 3rd of August 1918.
World War 1 signature table cloth. A square, white, linen table cloth with hand embroidered signatures of people and names of places, dates and objects relating to WW1.The embroidery is all done in white thread.There are also 3 embroidered butterflies, a crest and a man's profile.
Possibly used for food/liquid measuring
Domestic item
Oval shaped spoon with handle
Five makers' marks
domestic, spoon, measuring, food preparation
Domestsic item - medicinal
Small tin with inscription on hinged lid
QUININE 5 GR.
tin, medicine, domestic item, quinine
Used for toasting food items over fire.
An example of home made ingenuity.
Handmade from No. 8 fencing wire. Looped handle twisted together, then separating into 3 7.5 cm long prongs.
None
domestic, wire, cutlery, fork, utensil, food preparation, toasting
Local History
Ornamental mantle (shelf) clock with carved dark wood surround. Roman numerals on clock face. Face and pendulum covered with glass door. Two winders in front face.
"Man. Ansonia Co. New york - United States of America" on face
clock, ansonia, new york, pendulum, mantle, shelf
Used to prise open crown seals on bottles
Local history
Triangular shape handle with small rectangle opener on end. Made entirely from Britannia metal with inscriptions on handle.
FOSTER'S LAGER, VICTORIA BITTER, cARLTON INVALID STOUT.
Domestic item used decorating birthday cakes.
Local history
24 pink candles in small brown imitation leather covered box. Makers label on top
Price's Patent Candle Company Limited, London, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow. Birthday Candles
Handmade domestic item used when sewing.
Rund red velevet, handmade, possibly filled with sawdust, used to hold pins.
Home made domestic item made for or by H. Arnup.
Local history
Tin pannikin/cup cylindrical shape with two folding wire handles
"H. Arnup " (local person) handpainted in red paint
This spoon is beleived to have been used to administer weekly dose of castor oil or other medcines.
Local history,
Electroplated long handled oval spoon.
E.P. * N.S.
One of the jobs of the housewife was to keep her stove-top looking clean and new, and a rich black colour. This was a source of pride amongst house-proud women, and also ensured a more efficient distribution of heat on their stove-tops for cooking. It was however one of the dirtiest jobs in the kitchen, requiring a lot of elbow-grease as well as a good polish paste.
Local. The use of the magpie emblem denotes the emergence of a new nationalism, a pride in being Australian, as distinct from being "British", although Australians continued to see themselves as part of the greater British Empire and subjects of the King.
Gold tin with push-in lid, with picture of magpie in black and white on branch.
On front of tin: "Magpie" in white letters on a red background. "Stove Polish" in white letters on a blue background. 4 oz. Net. when packed. Made in Australia. On bottom of tin: "Grate & Stove Polishing Paste. Made in Australia." Side inscriptions give instructions for use.
Lifter was used to lift hot plates from top of stove to allow housewife to see state of fire or to add small wood chips if necessary.
Local.
Cast alloy angled-hooked lifter for hot plates on stove-top. Pitted and rusty, but solid.
Used domestically in food preparation.
Local.
A small round strainer with original fine holes. Larger holes have been punched in possibly with a nail. Handle is of wood, the rest of metal. Appears to have had a small lug attached to top rim at some time. In fair condition.
Early domestic utensil.
Local.
Heavy metal tin opener. Cast iron, hand held, blade attached separately.
Part of the domestic medicine chest.
Local
Intact tin of pile ointment within cardboard box. Gold colour tin with blue paint and yellow decoration and white lettering/ cream paint with blue lettering. Box is similar, with directions for use. All in good condition. Unused.
Cartwright's Pile Ointment. Directions for use. Price:1/9d.
Castor oil formed an essential part of the family's medicine chest. It was used principally as a laxative. It was routinely given to children to keep their bowels open.
Local.
Moulded glass bottle with cork, filled with castor oil. In good condition. Intact.
A.G.M stamped on bottom of bottle. Paper label reads 'Castor Oil. Felton Grimwade & Co Pty Ltd. Castor net wt. 8 oz. This packet is charged and will be refunded in full if returned with this label.
castor oil home remedies constipation purgative laxative friday night routine
W.D. & H.O. Wills remain one of the world's largest tobacco companies. This tin dates from the time smoking was an acceptable pastime, and many men preferred to "roll their own", using their preferred tobacco, rather than buy (the more expensive) ready-made cigarettes.
Local.
Round tin with lid. In poor condition. Rusted.
Stamped on front: W.D.& H.O. Wills. Australia Ltd Sydney. Two four-pointed stars, one superimposed on the other. Trade Mark at top and bottom of stars. Stamped on back: Capstan Navy Cut Tobacco. Fine.
Before widespread medical services were available, most families kept a medicine cupboard of home remedies, or medications made by the local chemist. Camphorated oil was commonly used as an inhalant, or as a chest rub for those suffering from colds or flu. It is a forerunner of the modern Vicks VapoRub.
Local. it is of interest that this bottle was manufactured in NSW.
Glass bottle (full) containing camphorated oil. Cork is in place in neck of bottle. Tied-on leather label white with red lettering.
Camphorated Oil. V D Johnston, Chemist. 8 Bayswater Road, Darlinghurst. 260 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst.
Used to store cocoa domestically. Cocoa was imported from Holland.
Local.
Oblong commercial cocoa tin in green and purple with black and white Dutch scenes. In fair condition with light pitting.
Double You Brand Dutch Cocoa. Wholesale & Agency Co Propy Limtd. Made in Holland 1/2 lb. net.
Ethnograpical material-transportation
Three metal handles; moulded with slots for straps to make a bag or suitcase secure and easy to hold.
handle, metal, transport, moulded, luggage
Manchester used at the time
Double bed bedspread, ecru coloured crocheted, scalloped edges, small medallions. Made of cotton
cotton, bedspread, crotcheted, manchester
This tin dates from the era when smoking was an acceptable pastime, especially among men. It dates from the time before the prevalence of tailor-made cigarettes, when men would carry tins of their favourite flake tobacco and a supply of tobacco papers to "roll their own". This was less common prcatice among women, who, if they smoked, were more likely to smoke ready-made cigarettes.
Local.
Oblong tin 8cm x 5.5 cm x 2.5 cm. Hinged lid, gold edge. Rusty, poor condition.
"Temple Bar" in white letters set in blue background across length of lid. "Sweet slice tobacco" in fancy cartouche below. Rust stained temple in blue on white background surrounded by red and gold semi-circles. Additional information: "Cool and sweet smoking with a Delicate Flavour. Manufactured by the British-Australasian Tobacco Co Pty Ltd Melbourne Australia."
A sash of green taffeta with black cotton lining. It has gold fringing at each end; gold frogging and button. There is gold inscription on the sash.
H A C B S Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society Faith Hope & Charity Ballarat
Probably made by Katherine Whitlow (nee Booth) who was an aunt of the donor. Made between the two world wars.
Handicraft of the times
Linen embroidery withe Australian coat of Arms. Kangaroo, shgield, emu, cross, crown, sheaves, star, eagle, swan, lion, AUSTRALIA. Stem stitch
AUSTRALIA
embroidery, sampler
Alex Bryans worked as a night cartman for Mr Smith in Preston. Then A. Bryans worked as a business partner for Mr Smith in Werribee, as a night cartman. A Bryans married Mr Smiths daughter. He is the uncle of Brian Mayne, donor.
Local history
Blue cover, blue printing, hard cover. Owners name and address inside front and back cover. Figures (numbers and sums) inside front and back cover.
A.Bryans, eager Street, Werribee. Back cover, Alexander Bryans. stamp-"Victoria Stamp Duty 2d."
book, reckoner
Used circa 1900 as a storage for ink.
A straight sided, brown pottery bottle with a pouring lip. It has no lid/cork. It has a rough, slightly concave base, a short neck with sloping 'shoulders'
Bourne Denby
A tin lantern for a candle consisting of two glass panels; one sliding panel; a hook on one side; a swing handle; two protection wire 'bars' over glass window panels; domed air vent(chimney) on the top.
History of local community-Balliang
Reference
Black-board book cover. Gold lettering of title. Nothing on spine. Small amount of description and history. Mostly photos and index Accompanied by a commemorative DVD. (stored cassettebox 3)
BALLIANG-100 Years of Settlement
book, balliang
Donation from Mrs Noel Bond whose husband grew up in Bacchus Marsh and his father was shire engineer.
Local history Civic
2 identical metal badges with uneven round shapes. Lettering on blue background and relief picture of horse, cow, sheep, plough, sheaf in copper.
Back to Bacchus Marsh October 1930
cast, badges, civic memento
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
