Disability Entry

This happened a month or so ago now.

We were a little perplexed about how to put in disability entry without going through all sorts of planning scheme applications (as we have a Heritage Overlay on the site). Then the Shire Heritage Advisor came for a visit - and suggested this method. The ramp is not attached, so no permit is needed. It is reasonably unobtrusive, and is already weathering away to blend in with the building.

And we love it! Apart from making it easier for wheelchairs, walkers, and the frail visitors - it makes it really easy to wheel things in and out from the shed!

When we get time, we might start to think about just a little bit of planting around the front. We can get away with it while the men are distracted building fences.

Look out - here come the Agapanthuses!

Mending and Making Do II

Speaking of Mending and Making Do, this item was overlooked in the collection for many years. We thought it was very degraded (with silver paper under silverfish damage), but somehow we couldn't throw it out. It was "quaint".

A few months ago they had a spot on Tramp Art on the ABC "Collectors" show. There was a very similar one - silverpaper under silverfish damage, similar frame. Apparently this is a very 1930s thing.

Glad we didn't throw it out. We have it on display at the moment in our Classroom display.

Anthony Hahn's Engines

The Society is delighted that Anthony Hahn has chosen to allow us temporary custody of some of the engines he has been restoring. We currently have two on display in the shed - this is the 1937 Cooper, that spent its life powering a shearing plant.

And THIS is the condition it was in when Anthony first acquired it:

You can read Anthony's full description HERE. And you can see the engine itself (plus one other), any Tuesday from 10am to 3pm, or on the fourth Sunday of the month from 2pm to 4pm.

Welcome to the Maffra blog

Maffra Sugar Beet Museum (and the Historical Society) has a new blog. You can find it HERE.

Ross Smith's Garage Stuff

Society member Ross Smith has an impeccable Garage Pedigree - descended from a large early Warrnambool Garage (formerly a carriage maker), so it is no surprise he collects "Garage Stuff".

Ross has brought some of these items in to display for a few months - augmented by our very thin collection of the same sorts of things.

We have also been digging out material from our archives on our own legendary Garagie, Peter Thompson.

Agnes Hickman's wedding dress II

We have had an enquiry about for more details of Agnes' dress - and for a pattern! The best we can do is above - the dress is in a very light crepe.

The wedding is of Agnes Welfare (Victoria) and Clarence Hickman (Tasmania) 11/09/1920 L. to R. George Welfare, Addie Nichols, bridegroom and bride, Alfred Welfare, Victoria Welfare. Took place at St Stephens Anglican church Richmond Vic.

You can see a bigger version HERE.

Agnes Hickman's wedding dress

At the Museum, we do try to change over our textiles as often as possible - at the moment we are putting them out, one costume at a time, for a month. We have just put Agnes Hickman, nee Welfare's wedding dress out.

Agnes Welfare married Clarence Aubrey Hickman, at St Stephen's Church of England, Richmond, 11 September 1920. They were the parents of Peg Rule, who Stratford has only recently lost after a many, many years in our community. We miss her very much.

Unfortunately we do not have the train to go with the dress, or the beautiful head dress, but it is still fascinating to see the dress, light and simple, that was worn on the day.

Researching the Pews

The Museum has five pews in the Collection - inherited from the former Methodist Church of 1873 that we occupy, and thought to possibly be the "good" pews ordered for the preceding Bark Church about 1865.

The photograph above is not a good one - just a quick snap in the shed so we have something on record. We need to get them out and do better.

Because, as we were looking at them the other day, this is what we spotted on two of them:

These little plaques are about the size of a 50 cent piece, in pressed tin or brass.

All the pews appear identical - next job is to crawl all over them and find if there are holes where there would have been plaques on the other three.

Jenny Coates, who is working on our Significance Assessment, is off on the hunt. So far she has researched the partnership, and believes they would have to be made between 1 March 1865 and 7 March 1884, which fits the time frame. The firm of Oldfield and Lindley had HUGE premises in Carlton before the partnership dissolved.

Has anyone else out there any pieces in their collection by Oldfield & Lindley?