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.
Match box
Can you reuse this media without permission? Yes
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
This media item is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). You may share (i.e. copy, distribute, transmit) and rework (i.e. alter, transform, build upon) this item provided that you attribute the content source and copyright holder, and identify any alterations; do not use the content for commercial purposes; and distribute the reworked content under the same or similar license.
Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)
Have a question? Contact Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital
Match box
Can you reuse this media without permission? Yes
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
This media item is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). You may share (i.e. copy, distribute, transmit) and rework (i.e. alter, transform, build upon) this item provided that you attribute the content source and copyright holder, and identify any alterations; do not use the content for commercial purposes; and distribute the reworked content under the same or similar license.
Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)
Have a question? Contact Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital
Match box
Can you reuse this media without permission? Yes
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
This media item is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). You may share (i.e. copy, distribute, transmit) and rework (i.e. alter, transform, build upon) this item provided that you attribute the content source and copyright holder, and identify any alterations; do not use the content for commercial purposes; and distribute the reworked content under the same or similar license.
Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)
Have a question? Contact Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital
Rectangular box and sliding lid with long narrow sides for striking matches. "Save Matches They're Scarce"
Label reads: DEFENCE CANTEENS / SPECIAL / SAFETY MATCHES / MADE BY / BRYANT & MAY / AVERAGE CONTENTS 60.
Discharge notice from WWI
Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force Certificate of Discharge, double sided card with notes regarding Private David Lee 46th Battalion A.I.F.
Service No 4527 Private David Lee 46th Battalion; Town of Digby; State of Victoria; Attested at Casterton; 21st July 1915 at age 18. Termination of enlistment after 1473 days. Service abroad 1229. Signed by Capt E W Wright in Melbourne 1st August 1919. Private Lee aged 22 years.
wwi, discharge, a.i.f., casterton, digby, 46th battalion
Red cloth hard cover photo album with Art Nouveau design on cover and green paper pages, containing black and white photographs from the World War One era of soldiers abroad and family. Some formal studio photography. Subject matter includes: Middle East, France, Egypt, Horses, Zoo visit, well digging, horse in a hammock, hotels and souvenir cards, North Africa, camels, camps, tents, donkeys, ships, portraits, sports teams, Ypres in Belgium, Folkestone UK, Camp at Burrumbeet 1913 and another dated photograph reads 30th May 1916. Photographs are stuck down onto pages.
Cover reads: SCRAP ALBUM
wwi, world war one, soldiers, aif, anzac, portraits, photo albums, grand continental cairo, jb ballardie, william harrigan, ypres, cairo, 54th bn, t.s.s. borda, la rue au beurre, leas bandstand & parade folkestone
These items were made as part of an occupational therapy group at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital post WWII.
Two matching stuffed toy bears in cream coloured lambswool, with button eyes, handsewn. One smalller than the other.
mervyn hutchins collection, rats of tobruk, heidelberg repatriation hospital, occupational therapy
This items identify Mervyn Hutchins war experience. Mervyn served in the 2/23rd Battalion, was sent to Tobruk and was a patient at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital.
Ring "TOBRUK", tie pin and button with pin fastener
mervyn hutchins collection, rats of tobruk, 2/23rd battalion, tobruk ring
These medallions, which belonged to Mervyn Thomas, were given in celebration of the 1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Coronation authorities in the United Kingdom decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to each of the Commonwealth countries and Crown dependencies and other possessions of the Crown. The award of the medals was then at the discretion of the government of each territory, which was left free to decide who was to be awarded a medal and why.
This medallion is specific to the town of Castlemaine in Victoria which is noted on the Service Record of Mervyn Thomas.
Two matching circular medallions with wire at top.
Front: THE TOWN OF CASTLEMAINE / VIS NON TERRA SEO DEU EST Back: Effigy of Queen Elizabeth with crown facing right. Border reads: CORONATION OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II / 2ND JUNE 1953
mervyn hutchins collection, queen elizabeth ii, coronation, 1953, castlemaine
HUTCHINS, Mervyn Arthur Thomas VX27912 Born in Mornington, Victoria, October 1906, Mervyn joined the Australian Armed Forces in Caulfield in June 1940. Mervyn was posted with the 2/23rd Battalion and was sent to Tobruk. He died at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in the 1970's.
Mervyn Thomas was a patient at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital
Four medals with ribbons. Star (.1), Star (.2), Silver (.3), Silver (.4) awarded to Mervyn Hutchins
56.1 Front Crown Emblem. GRJ / VI / The 1939 - 1945 STAR 5.1 Back VX27912 M.A.T. HUTCHINS 56.2 Front Crown Emblem. GRJ / VI / The AFRICA STAR Back VX27912 M.A.T. HUTCHINS 56.3 Bare head effigy King George VI facing left. GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX F:D:IND:IMP. Back shows the Royal Crown resting on an oak sapling, flanked by a lion and a lioness above waves. At the top left is the year "1939" and at the top right the year "1945". The exergue has the words "THE DEFENCE MEDAL" in two lines. 56.4 Front crowned effigy of King George VI, facing left and signed "PM" below neck. Around the perimeter is the legend "GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX ET INDIAE IMP:" Back The reverse shows a lion standing wanton on the body of a double-headed dragon. Top right are the years "1939" and "1945" in two lines. "ECRP" near the rim at the nine o'clock position
mervyn hutchins collection, rats of tobruk, heidelberg repatriation hospital, caulfield, 2/23rd battalion, vx27912, 1939-1945 star, star of africa, defence medal, war medal, wwii
HUTCHINS, Mervyn Arthur Thomas VX27912 Born in Mornington, Victoria, October 1906, Mervyn joined the Australian Armed Forces in Caulfield in June 1940. Mervyn was posted with the 2/23rd Battalion and was sent to Tobruk. He died at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in the 1970's.
This photograph depicts a typical soldier portrait of WWII. Mervyn was a patient and died at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital.
Replica sepia toned portrait photograph of WWII soldier Mervyn Hutchins.
mervyn hutchins collection, rats of tobruk, heidelberg repatriation hospital, caulfield, 2/23rd battalion, vx27912
The Rats of Tobruk were soldiers of the Australian-led Allied garrison that held the Libyan port of Tobruk against the Afrika Corps, during the Siege of Tobruk in World War II. The siege started on 11 April 1941 and was relieved on 10 December. The port continued to be held by the Allies until its surrender on 21 June 1942. HUTCHINS, Mervyn Arthur Thomas VX27912 Born in Mornington, Victoria, October 1906, Mervyn joined the Australian Armed Forces in Caulfield in June 1940. Mervyn was posted with the 2/23rd Battalion and was sent to Tobruk. He died at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in the 1970's
Mervyn Hutchins owned this jacket. He was both a RAT of Toburk and a patient at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital.
Navy blue woolen jacket pocket with embroidery
Large letter T with red crown. Overlay of the RATS of Tobruk logo with Victoria embroidered across the bottom
rats of tobruk, wwii, world war two, second world war, uniforms, mervyn hutchins collection
From an era when smoking was more acceptable and it was common place to 'roll your own'.
Round tin with fitted lid. Log cabin brand. Originally gold with red ribbon text and a farmhouse image on the front. Details on how to open on rear.
Log Cabin Flaked Gold Leaf Tobacco Back: ‘To open twist coin’ Vacuum Sealed
tobacco tin, vintage tin, log cabin tobacco
Round tin with fitted lid. Dr Pat brand
DE-LUXE / Dr. Pat / READY RUBBED / CIGARETTE TOBACCO / 50g Net / WILLIAM BUTLER TOBACCO COMPANY / D10114 MADE IN AUSTRALIA
tobacco, wwii, smoking, dr pat, william butler
Paper matches in single fold card with strip for striking across the back. Branded Australian Red Cross.
'A GIFT FROM THE AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY / CLOSE FLAP / STRIKE ON BACK
Yellow, square cigarette tin with hinged lid. "State Express" brand
tobacco, smoking, wwii
Representative of cigarette packing of the era.
Rectangle-shaped card box with top and bottom flap openings. Blue print, labelled "Capstan" Navy Cut Cigarettes.
W D & H O Wills (Australia) Ltd Sydney 10 "Capstan" Medium Plain
virginia cigarettes, w.d. & h.o. wills, sydney
Rectangular red cigarette box with gold and black text and gold State Express Cigarettes logo. Top and bottom folding-flap opening.
333 Cork tipped. Absolutely unique in their quality.
ardath, tobacco, imperial tobacco, british american tobacco
Rectangular printed cardboard box with top and bottom flap openings, contains 9 original cigarettes. "Turf" brand.
Label front reads: "TURF" / VIRGINA CIGARETTES
smoking, wwii, world war two, cigarettes
Rectangular box and sliding lid with long narrow sides for striking matches. "Save Matches They're Scarce"
Label reads: DEFENCE CANTEENS / SPECIAL / SAFETY MATCHES / MADE BY / BRYANT & MAY / AVERAGE CONTENTS 60.
bryant and may, safety matches, match box
Handed out to patients and visitors to commemorate the visit of her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip to Victoria in 1954 and in particular the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital. This brought much excitement to the patients at Heidelberg.
Recognises a significant Royal visit to Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital. Acknowleges the role of the Hospital in the treatment of War Veterans to receive such a visit and World War II had ceased in 1945, only nine years earlier.
Blue cardboard folder of 4 sides, with a single fold containing 1 photo and inscription. Photo is of Queen Elizabeth sitting down and Prince Phillip standing to the left of her in front of a fireplace, with commemorative acknowledgement of the visit.
Page 1 shows the Commonwealth Emblem with the words "Royal Visit 1954" inscribed under it. Page 2 has the inscription " Memento of the Visit of Her Majesty and his Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh to Victoria 24th February, 1954 to 9th March, 1954 presented by the Repatriation Commission" over a crown and the letters EIIR
british royalty, 1954, 1954 royal visit, royal visit australia, memento, australian coat of arms
Official War Photographs series published by Magpie Cigarettes.
magpie cigarettes, official war photograph, war memorial funds, ypres, bangalore, menin road, armentieres, howitzer, kandahar, 4th division, camel corps, bois de crepy, villers brettoneux, albert cathedral, hellfire corner, flanders, messines, pozieres
Printed booklet with card cover, plastic binding
Repatriation Department October 1965
work study report, ward workload, repatriation department
Produced as an aid to recruitment and nurse training.
Promotional printed booklet with black and white photo of a nurse and hospital on cover.
nursing, training, education
Promotional information of the era to support recruitment.
Promotional carboard covered book with printed pages and staple binding, with colour and black and white photographs approx.12p.
On back cover are words relating to publishing by the Australian Government Publishing Service Canberra 1974. Photographs by the Australin Information Service.
Issued to Doug Blackney when he was the Queen's car orderly for the Royal Visit in 1954.
Rectangle pre-printed card with hand written name of person issued to. Royal Visit to New South Wales 1954, Official Pass.
Handwritten on diagonal, top right corner: QUEEN'S CAR ORDERLY
royal visits, drivers, new south wales
Shoulder Uniform Flashes issued to Doug Blackney, RSL Representative Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, who was a Queen's Car Attendant for the Visits in 1954.
Two embroidered cloth patches (.1) & (.2)
Handwritten on back of .2: From DOUGLAS BLACKNEY / (MAJ RETD.)
royal visits
Book produced to detail Race Day for Royal Visit at Flemington Racecourse, February 1954
Limited number of copies available
Printed booklet with two staple fastening, approx. 40p.
Victorian Racing Club Royal Visit Flemington February 27 1954
race day, royal visit, flemington, 1954
Metal scoop commonly used in industrial kitchens. U-shaped with handle.
On handle base: TAIWAN
industrial kitchen, metal, moulding
Metal scoop used in industrial kitchen. U shaped utensil with metal handle.
Pressed into Handle: M
industrial kitchen, metal work, moulding
Reproduction sepia toned photograph of four uniformed women preparing food in a kitchen. Mounted on foam core board.
food preparation, nursing, nutrition
Metal drinking vessel, a cup with a spout, used to help patients imbibe liquid whilst reclined in bed.
Paramount Stainless Ware K.G. Luke Melb Sep 40
Souvenir, silver coloured teaspoon with round medallion top with blue edge and white centre, with gold Southern Cross and text for the War Widows and War Mothers Association.
cutlery, silverware, commemorative
Awarded to Dorothy Maye Buchanan
Cover reads: Commonwealth of Australia / Repatriation Department / Nursing Aide Certificate
certification, repatriation general hospital heidelberg, dorothy buchanan
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.
