vic We encourage members of the public to contact our Collections and Cultural Projects team if they have an item they believe may be of interest. Donations process Please do not leave items for donation at our properties without speaking to a member of the Collections and Cultural Projects team first. To assess whether an item fitsmore
nsw Believed to have been donated to the National Trust in the 1970s, the pieces of yellow silk damask were discovered in a storage bag at Old Government House. The fragments were oddly shaped, with some sewn into a belt and child-sized bodice. The luxuriousness of the fabric suggested it wasmore
nsw This painting was one of 36 artworks included in the National Trust’s 2021 artwork appeal, which aimed to restore the condition of historic artworks in the collection. When restorers removed the varnish on Still Life they spotted two hidden signatures hidden on a knife’s blade in the painting. After expertmore
nsw This online data base for the Saumarez Homestead collection allows all visitors to explore the collection thoroughly. The Keyword Search button allows you to perform a general search across multiple fields for any catalog records online. Alternatively, the Advanced Search button can help you be more specific with your search. You can searchmore
nsw Ellis Rowan was a small, strong-willed yet fascinating woman, an enigmatic character who forged her way through life, captivating others while pursuing her ultimate goal – the finding and painting of wildflowers, birds, insects and butterflies of many countries, often for the first time. (Australian Dictionary of Biography) The Ellismore
vic The Hepburn family graves are a private family cemetery, that were once part of a historical pastoral holding called Smeaton Hill Run. The graves are situated close to the original homestead – Smeaton House – which was built by Scottish emigre Captain John Stuart Hepburn. Hepburn died in 1860 and hismore
vic Labassa is a showcase of the prosperity of its past owners, Gold Rush entrepreneurs, who spent their wealth on superior craftsmanship. In 1887, Canadian born Alexander Robertson, of Cobb and Co fame, purchased the original mansion. He appointed the German born architect J.B.A. Koch to extend and refurbish his homemore
vic “I just remember old Mrs Bell, with a little bonnet always on her head, like a mop-cap thing with a frill around and her glasses with round rims. She was always in the big sitting room… and you’d go through and she’d talk to you…” Miss Daisy Tanes The mounted emumore
vic In 1904 George Andrews signed on as a seaman on the barque Polly Woodside. From Christchurch, New Zealand, Andrews first journey aboard the Polly Woodside was to Britain. His diary begins whilst the ship is sailing on the Pacific Ocean. It is Tuesday 24 January 1904, and the Pollymore
vic The National Trust Heritage Register is the most comprehensive single heritage register in Victoria, covering all types of cultural and natural heritage, including buildings, trees, landscapes, gardens, public art and pipe organs. Each classified place has an archival file that contains historical material, media articles, photos and sometimes plans. Thesemore
vic Robert Hoddle is remembered for his work as a surveyor. Melbourne’s grid layout is attributed to him, although there is some question about whether his plan was built upon an earlier scheme by the man he replaced Robert Russell. Appointed head surveyor by the governor of Port Phillip Sir Richard Bourke inmore
vic Made from human hair, this wreath of artificial flowers was donated by Marie Isobel Buesst, who with her husband Tristan were well-known collectors of Australiana. The box containing the flowers holds a clue to who the original artisan was. Handwritten in pencil on the back of the box are themore
vic ‘Black Opera Cloak, Muff and Collar, 2 Baby’s (sic) Dresses, Lace Nightcap, Caramel Silk Dress …’ With this generous donation, from Matron E.M. Sage in 1961, the National Trust began acquiring moveable cultural heritage. The collection now contains over 35 000 objects, many of which are displayed at the Trust’smore
vic This Deed for £900 is dated 23 July 1880 and was drawn up by the Crown Solicitor’s Office …for the benefit of the children of Sergeant Kennedy and Constable Lonigan murdered by the Kelly Gang for investment by the Kelly Gang for investment by trustees to be appointed by the Governmentmore
vic Although published in 1850, it is unknown whether Georgiana McCrae was still living at Arthur’s Seat when she acquired this book. Despite the family’s contentment at Arthur’s Seat, the shadow of dispossession was ever present. The land’s mountainous terrain made cattle grazing difficult. It was better suited to sheep grazing,more
vic Labassa is an exuberantly ornamented boom-style mansion in the Melbourne suburb of Caulfield. Built for the wealthy and privileged in the nineteenth century, its twentieth century history tells a different story. After Labassa was sold in the late 1900s, the mansion was converted into a tenement house and for themore
vic Elizabeth Austin, of Barwon Park, wore this costume to a fancy dress ball at the Exhibition Buildings given in honour of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, Monday 23rd December 1867.more
