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.
Mass produced unbranded domestic items used before 1950's.
Three vintage different sized cream coloured stoneware mixing bowls with a pouring lip for cooking. They have a thick raised scalloped relief pattern around the body. There are two large and one medium sized.
From the 1860's - 1930's various companies called their enamelware products by their own unique names, e.g. graniteware and agateware. The enamel coating put an end to metallic tasting food and prevented rust from contaminating food. It did scratch and chip easily.
A large white enamel water jug or pitcher with a dark blue handle and dark blue trim around the rim. It has a looped scroll handle attached at the bottom by one nail and two at the top. It may have been used in the bedroom for washing oneself or in the kitchen.
enamel, metal, water pitcher, jugs
Used for decoration in the home.
A small rectangular badly damaged oil painting of a clipper ship sailing in calm waters with seabirds in the background. It has a decorative leaf patterned cream painted wooden frame with rusted wire at the back for hanging. It is backed by a wooden board secured by four small nails and a layer of paper.
oil paintings, paintings, artworks, objects
The Salt Box was used to store salt for cooking purposes.
An early 20th century German white wall mount enamel tin wall Salt Box with a dark blue lined trim around the edges and shaped top at the back. It has a wooden lift up lid, a hole for mounting it on a wall as well as 'Salt' inscribed on the front in elaborate black lettering.
'Salt' is printed on the front in elaborate lettering
food containers, salt boxes, cooking equipment
This fine grade gunpowder was used in pistols on farming properties.
A vintage rusted black gunpowder tin with a screw top funnel lid. It has a diamond shaped indent on the front and centre back with black and white paper label branding of the manufacturer and supplier. The branding is on the top of the flask as well.
'The Diamond Grain Gunpowder Made Only By Curtis's & Harvey Hounslow and London'. is printed on the diamond shaped paper label at the front. 'No. 2' is printed at the sides of this label. At the top of the tin is white text on a black background 'McMicking & Co. Melbourne Sole Agents for Victoria.' On the centre back of the tin is a printed paper illustration of dead rabbits and a rifle in the woods framed in a circle, surrounded by an etched diamond shape and 'Curtis's Harvey No.2'.
containers, gunpowder, tins, firearm accessories, pistols, firearms, breechloading pistols
This pot is part of a three piece condiment set which has a Guernsey coat of arms insignia badge attached. See entry 3531 for Salt and Pepper Shakers in this set. It was used in the 1900's and was originally owned by Edward Lloyd Mauger.
A small vintage chrome plated mustard pot with a basket weave outer container and a cobalt blue glass insert to hold the mustard. There is no lid or spoon. On one side is attached a blue, red and gold with three lions Guernsey coat of Arms badge.
'Guernsey' is stamped on the badge. 'Cromplate' is stamped on the production label underneath the chrome outer container.
tableware, food containers, condiment sets, mustard pots
They are part of a vintage three piece condiment set which has a Guernsey coat of arms insignia badge attached to the mustard pot not pictured here. See entry 3531. The salt and pepper shakers and mustard pot were used in the 1900's. It was originally owned by Edward Lloyd Mauger.
A pair of vintage small chrome plated salt and pepper shakers with a basket weave outer container and a cobalt blue glass insert to hold either the salt or pepper. They have domed screw top lids and a hole in each silver base. They are part of a three piece condiment set - see entry 3531 for the mustard pot.
'Cromplate' on the base of the mustard pot.
tableware, salt and pepper shakers, food containers, condiment sets
A comprehensive catalogue book: Chandeliers and Billy Tea 1880 - 1940. The front cover has brown tonings and shows a full page photograph of many kitchen and household objects from the past. The title is written in different elaborate lettering inside a square shape towards the top of the cover. The author's name, Peter Cuffley, is printed in white lettering at the bottom. Inside is a Contents page with Catalogue references, a Selected Bibliography, Acknowledgements and an Introduction. There are hundreds of black and white drawings and photographs of household items and general life of the times.
non-fiction
A comprehensive historical catalogue of the life and times between 1880 and 1940 in Australia of household items, the people, favourite pastimes, life outdoors, travel and adventure, packaging, down on the farm, tools of trade and much more.
social history, australian history, family history, history
A large yellow paperback book titled: The Shire of Lilydale and its Military heritage - Volume Three - The Second World War: The war in Europe & the Middle East. It has English and Australian crossed flags underneath the title at the top, with a black and white photograph of a soldier embracing his mother. Inside are black and white photographs of significant people, advertisements, militia facts and stories as well as a bibliography and index at the back. Pp. 339.
non-fiction
This collection of Lilydale's military heritage covers The Second World War: The war in Europe and the Middle East. It has sections on - Between the wars: The Spanish Civil War (1936 - 1939, Local Militia Forces (1918 - 1939), The Coming of the War. It details The Homefront, Patriotic Welfare, Our Service Personnel, V.E. Day, and Locals in Australian Military History.
second world war, lilydale history, lilydale military history, military heritage
A hardcover book with the title: Ringwood Place of Many Eagles, A Bicentennial History. The front cover has a photograph by Hugh McCall of the clock tower in Ringwood. The front and back endpapers depict the main street of Ringwood looking east and west. The contents of the book shows in-depth detailed history along with black and white photographs.There are four appendixes at the back as well as a Select Bibliography and Index. Pp 282.
non-fiction
From the back cover - 'The history of the City of Ringwood was published in 1974, but this book has not been available for a decade. This edition is a completely revised, extended, fully referenced and illustrated history for 1988.'
history of ringwood, victorian history, local history
An antique green hardcover Edwin Landseer and Animal Painting in England book - Vere Foster Series with the title printed in gold lettering at the top right hand corner with a large head of a stag with black and brown lines in the bottom left hand corner.There is a thin black line surrounding the edge of front cover. The spine and back cover are plain green. There is gilt on the edges of the pages. Inside are guidelines for drawing and painting animals as suggested by Landseer and other well known English artists of the time with several reproductions of coloured plates as well as black and white engravings. Stephen T. Dadd gives practical hints. At the back are lists of Vere Foster's water-colour books and Blackie Publications.Pp 84.
non-fiction
A useful book for artists wishing to learn the techniques of drawing and painting animals by Edwin Landseer and other notable English artists in the early 1890's. The reproduced coloured plates and engravings support the text and advice.
painting, art, art books, artists, artworks, etchings
Four small Patons knitting booklets, c.1940's or 1950's. 1. The front cover of three of the booklets show babies lying down or sitting, wearing hand knitted clothes. Inside are various patterns for clothing. Two covers are pink coloured and have the price 1/6d. and one is black and white coloured with the price of 1/-.No. R6 has p.67, R.11 has p.51, No.317 has p.23. 'Better Knitting with Patons - Use your Leisure Knit for Pleasure' is printed in black print on the grey cover of the fourth book. No price.It has general knitting instructions, diagrams, photographs, tables and some patterns, along with information about various Patons wool. p.51.
non-fiction
Four small knitting pattern books for home knitters, c.1940's or 50's.
knitting, knitting patterns, knitting equipment
Two small Supplements to the 'Australian Home Journal' knitting pattern booklets, c.1940's. 1. The front cover of 'Knitting for You and Yours' depicts a young girl sitting on a chair wearing a knitted dress. 2. 'Woollies for Toddlers' shows two young children winding wool into balls. Inside are various patterns for clothing for children and a mother.
non-fiction
Two free knitting pattern booklets for home knitters, c.1940's or 50's. These booklets were a supplement to the Home Journal magazines of the time.
knitting, knitting patterns, knitting equipment
Two small Supplements to the 'Australian Home Journal' knitting pattern booklets, c.1940's. 1. The front cover of 'Knitting for You and Yours' depicts a young girl sitting on a chair wearing a knitted dress. 2. 'Woollies for Toddlers' shows two young children winding wool into balls. Inside are various patterns for clothing for children and a mother.
non-fiction
Two free knitting pattern booklets for home knitters, c.1940's or 50's. These booklets were a supplement to the Home Journal magazines of the time.
knitting, knitting patterns, knitting equipment
families served food on platters such as this.
A medium sized cream coloured octagonal vintage porcelain serving platter with a scalloped edge and flounced embossing.
'Wilkinson's Royal semi-porcelain England' printed inside a crest with a crown.
serving platters, kitchen equipment, dinnerware, tableware
This gravy boat is part of a dinner set used in the 1900's.
A white ceramic gravy boat (no saucer) with two red stripes on the rim and two red lines around the body. It has a rectangular handle with two simple red decorative flowers.
dinner sets, dinnerware, tableware, gravy boats
These platters were used for serving food to the family.
Two oval vintage and one rectangular white ceramic serving platters with three red stripes around the rim.
serving dishes, platters, large platters
A mass produced unbranded domestic item used before 1950's.
A vintage medium sized cream coloured stoneware mixing bowl with a pouring lip for cooking. It has thick raised scalloped relief pattern around the body.
ceramic bowl, kitchenware, cooking, mixing bowl
Burleigh Ware have been making their products since 1851 at Middleport Pottery in Stoke-on-Trent, England.
A blue and white Willow Pattern scalloped edged butter plate with the traditional oriental landscape scene on the front with a highly decorative blue and white floral raised edge and fine gold line trim around the outer edge.
'Burleigh Ware, willow, made in England, 1'. This is stamped on the base of the plate on a blue leaf pattern.
side plates, serving plate, butter plates
A pale green thin 'Journal of the Family History Section: La Socie'te' Guernesiaise' in booklet format. The front cover has the title printed in black lettering at the top with an oval shape depicting a man and woman sitting for a portrait inside it. The volume and date of publication is also printed. The round emblem of La Socie'te' Guernesiaise 1882 is printed on the front top right corner. 24p.
non-fiction
The family history section of this association lists - 1. The Objects of the Section are to - 1.1. Promote, foster and encourage research into family history and 1.2. Collate, preserve and catalogue resource material and make it available to members and 1.3. Liaise with such persons or bodies as may be conducive to these objects. The Mont De Lancey features in this edition
documents, journals, family history, sebire family, mont de lancey house, mont de lancey museum
A faded and stained tall narrow pale green 1933 Handiform Housekeepers Diary & Cash recorder for home records. The cover has the title printed in black and orange lettering inside a large black shape with publisher details below. There is a Contents page, listing the various useful items to refer to, such as - weekly diary and cash records which may be filled in by the user, yearly calendars for 1933 and 1934, postal information practical medical advice, handy hints, pages for notes and kitchen reminders for shopping.
non-fiction
A useful Housekeepers diary which as it says on the front cover - 'Safer than a Good Memory - A Diary'. Women would have used this to keep records of expenditure on a daily basis. The are three columns: Receipts, Date and Expenditure. It was given with Compliments from F.E. Watts Blackburn Dairy 20 Albert Street, Blackburn Phone WX 2504.
diaries, documents, administrative records, household item, financial records
A small vintage dark blue paperback The New P.W.M.U. Cookery Book complied and published by the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union of Victoria in 1948. Price 2/-. The front cover has the title and publishing details as listed printed in faded white lettering. The spine has the title and price printed in white lettering. There is a Table of Weights and Measures at the front, an Index of recipes and general information about The Presbyterian Church in Victoria. There are black and white advertisements hroughout. 188p. Included are newspaper recipes cut from old newspapers.
non-fiction
A vintage P.W.M.U.1948, 6th edition cookery book arranged by Miss A. M. Campbell and issued by the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union of Victoria of which all profits are devoted to its works. It was obtainable from the Scottish Tea House, 156 Collins Street Melbourne, C.1, Vic. There is a Help for Beginners section at the front with general hints and some simple recipes.
cookbooks, cookery books, domestic objects, p.w.m.u., reference books
A faded khaki green softcover reader or textbook with black lettering on the front cover at the top for the title The Modern World Geographies, Europe, Africa and South America Grade VII or Form F. A black and white illustration of a steamship and four other pictures are printed on the damaged front cover. Throughout are black and white charts, maps, diagrams, photographs and illustrations. In red ink writing inside on the front endpaper is Lance Sebire. Dog eared pages with a damaged worn cover and stains. Lance Sebire is written again on the back cover.226p.
non-fiction
The Modern World Geographies: Europe, Africa and South America Grade VII or Form F is part of a series of six little books of geographical information for children between the ages of eight and fourteen written by very experienced teachers and educationalists. They are readers rather than textbooks with the object of stimulating interest and to leave to the teacher the filling in of the course by appropriate lessons.
children's books, readers, geography, textbooks
Since 1932 Nutbrown has been producing crafted kitchen products which were a staple in British homes. Nutbrown continues to be in production today.
A vintage manual metal and plastic Chipper and French Fry Cutter with two blue turned wooden handles each side which are attached to folding crossed metal supports joined to a square frame. The frame has 36 small squares with sharp blades on the edges to cut the potatoes A yellow coloured plastic support with raised squares under the cutter holds the potato in place. This is screwed to the metal base. There are pieces of cardboard from the original packaging explaining the use.
Underneath the yellow support is stamped: ' A Nutbrown Product Patented Made in England Registered design'.
domestic objects, kitchen appliances, kitchen tools, vegetable cutters
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.
