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Domestic & Community Life Collection
Image: Recipe Book - The New Sunshine Cookery Book
Source: Museum Victoria
The Domestic and Communtiy Life collection takes in a large sweep of the material culture of everyday life. It comprises several thousand objects, several thousand images, hundreds of documents, and a small number of sound recordings and intangible representations related to the lives and identities that Victorians have created for themselves at home and in their wider communities since European settlement.
The collection is underpinned by five interrelated themes: the home, domestic life, domestic ideology, community life and identity, with a focus on significant periods of domestic life dating from European settlement in Victoria to the present.
It is most significant in relation to domestic life in early to mid-20th-century Victoria, in particular regarding the technologies and tools used in food preparation, cooking, storage and preservation, cleaning and laundry.
Significant items
- A cot used by Richmond Henty in 1837.
- A Wolter and Echberg washing machine, designed and manufactured in Melbourne around the 1880s.
- An extensive collection of early to mid 20th century domestic appliances, including vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, washing machines and stoves.
- 32 architectural models of domestic buildings in Melbourne, 1839-1989.
- Images documenting domestic and community life, particularly the Biggest Family Album collections.
- The Graeme Fullarton Collection which records the experience of building a new home in East Keilor in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
- The Aldred Photograph Collection.
- The State Electricity Photograph Collection.
- The Laurie Richards Photograph Collection.
Items per page: 10 50 (showing 251 - 300) 529 items
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Postcard - Botany Bay, N.S.W., To J. B. Scott from Marion Flinn, Melbourne, 12 Dec 1906
Postcard featuring colour image of Botany Bay in N.S.W. and includes a handwritten message. It is one of sixty seven postcards dated from the 5 January 1904 to 16 April 1907, all addre ...
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Postcard - Australian Aborigine, "A Chief", To Nettie Scott from Janet Flinn, Melbourne, 9 ...
Postcard featuring colour image of an Aboriginal "chief" with ornaments and includes a handwritten message. It is one of sixty seven postcards dated from the 5 January 1904 to 16 April ...
Images: 2 -
Postcard - Bourke Street, Melbourne, To Anna Scott from Dorothy Flinn, circa 1904-1907
Postcard featuring colour image of street scene with view towards Parliament building on Bourke Street in Melbourne. The postcard also includes image of a tram and a handwritten message ...
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Postcard - Glenelg, near Adelaide, To Anna Scott from Marion Flinn, circa 1904 - 1907
Postcard featuring colour image of pier at Glenelg near Adelaide and includes a handwritten message. It is one of sixty seven postcards dated from the 5 January 1904 to 16 April 1907, ...
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Postcard - Government Hill from Duketown, Old Calabar, To J. B. Scott from Bob, Old Calab ...
Postcard featuring black and white image of different style houses at Government Hill from Duketown in Old Calabar and includes a handwritten message. It is one of sixty seven postcard ...
Images: 2 -
Postcard - Division Head-quarters at Bonny, Southern Nigeria, To J. B. Scott, 20 Nov 1905
Postcard featuring black and white image of Division Head-quarters building at Bonny in South Nigeria. It is one of sixty seven postcards dated from the 5 January 1904 to 16 April 1907 ...
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Postcard - Singapore, To Jas B. Scott from Willie, circa 1904 - 1907
Postcard featuring black and white image of Singapore Harbour and includes a handwritten message. It is one of sixty seven postcards dated from the 5 January 1904 to 16 April 1907, all ...
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Postcard - Bombay, The B., B. and C. I. Railway Offices, To Jas B. Scott from W. Frew, cir ...
Postcard featuring black and white image of Railway Offices Building in Bombay, India and includes a handwritten message. It is one of sixty seven postcards dated from the 5 January 19 ...
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Postcard - To Nettie Scott, Hotel de Ville, Bruxelles, Belgium, circa 1904-1907
Postcard featuring black and white image of Town Hall in Bruxelles, Belgium. It is one of sixty seven postcards dated from the 5 January 1904 to 16 April 1907, all addressed to James B ...
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Postcard - Vierwaldstaettersee, Dampfer 'Unterwalden' mit Urirotstock, To Nettie Scott, ci ...
Postcard featuring colour image of steam ship "Unterwalden" on the Vierwaldstaetter lake and with Mount Urirostock in the background. It is one of sixty seven postcards dated from the ...
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Postcard - Le Boulevard Maritime, Dieppe, France, circa 1904-1907
Postcard featuring sepia image of sea side promenade in Dieppe. It is one of sixty seven postcards dated from the 5 January 1904 to 16 April 1907, all addressed to James Baird Scott an ...
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Postcard - Sackville St, Dublin, To Nettie Scott, circa 1904 - 1907
Postcard featuring colour image of view on Sackville Street with trams and statue in Dublin, Ireland. It is one of sixty seven postcards dated from the 5 January 1904 to 16 April 1907, ...
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Postcard - To Anna Scott, Grand Place, Maison des Corporations, Bruxelles, Belgium, circa ...
Postcard featuring black and white image of trades building in Bruxelles, Belgium. It is one of sixty seven postcards dated from the 5 January 1904 to 16 April 1907, all addressed to J ...
Images: 2 -
Postcard - Basler Missionsstation Buea, Gruss aus Kamerun, To J. B. Scott, S. S. Glenda, 1 ...
Postcard featuring colour image of Basel mission in Buea, Cameroon and includes a handwritten message. It is one of sixty seven postcards dated from the 5 January 1904 to 16 April 1907 ...
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Postcard - Palace of Transportation, To J. B. Scott From Polly, circa 1904 - 1907
Postcard featuring colour image of Palace of Transportation and includes a handwritten message. It is one of sixty seven postcards dated from the 5 January 1904 to 16 April 1907, all a ...
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Postcard - Rigi-Kulm, Zuerich, To Anna Scott, Luzern, 16 Jul 1906
Postcard featuring black and white image of peak Rigi-Kulm with hotel building, Switzerland. It is one of sixty seven postcards dated from the 5 January 1904 to 16 April 1907, all addr ...
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Postcard - A village in Bombay Presideney, To Anna Scott From Willie, circa 1904 - 1907
Postcard featuring black and white image of villagers at village well in Bombay, India and includes a handwritten message. It is one of sixty seven postcards dated from the 5 January 1 ...
Images: 2 -
Postcard - A River Scene in the Perie Bush King William's Town. Greetings from South Afric ...
Postcard featuring black and white image of a river scene in the perie bush in King William's Town, South Africa. It is one of sixty seven postcards dated from the 5 January 1904 to 1 ...
Images: 2 -
Wedding Invitation - Eric [Iraklis] Mangos & Faye [Fani] Nitsou, Melbourne, 1968
Invitation, in Greek and English, to the wedding of Eric and Faye Mangos in Melbourne on 2 June 1968. Fani Nitsou was born in 1945 in a village near Florina, Greece. In 1964 at the age ...
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Letter of Introduction - Miss Grace Sabatino, Miss Juventus Charity Quest, Juventus Soccer ...
Letter of introduction printed on Juventus Soccer Club masthead. The unsigned letter from the President introduces Miss Grace Sabatino from West Brunswick as a Miss Juventus Quest entr ...
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Letter & Envelope - Miss Juventus Charity Queen, Juventus Soccer Club, 1969
Letter printed on Juventus Soccer Club masthead addressed to 'The Winner Miss Juventus Charity Queen - 1969' and envelope addressed to 'Miss Charity Queen 1969'. The letter offers the ...
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Business Card - L Finburg, South Africa, World War I, 1914-1918
Business card for ostrich feather retail supplier L. Finburg in Cape Town, South Africa, with L. E. Clarke 38th Battery handwritten on back. The card was apparently acquired by World W ...
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Receipt - Registered Mail, Middle East, World War I, 1915-1917
Receipt for registered mail with text printed in Arabic, English and French. Sent from World War I soldier Langley Edward Clarke to his father Mr F E Clarke in Tasmania. It appears to h ...
Images: 1 -
Book - L. ST. Clare Grondona, 'The Kangaroo Keeps on Talking', 1924
First edition of a book by L. ST. Clare Grondona titled 'The Kangaroo Keeps on Talking or The All British Continent. A Description of Australian Life and Industries', published by the V ...
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Docking Register - Port of Melbourne, 21 Jan 1930 - 19 Dec 1955
Docking Register or Book for the Port of Melbourne, dates on the back cover of the book are: opened 21 January 1930, closed 19 December 1955. Each page lists a ship, her owner and an of ...
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Leaflet - Share House Advertisement, Black Cat Cafe, Fitzroy, 7 Jan 2001
Handwritten advertisement seeking a female, aged 26 or over, to share a house in Fitzroy North, Victoria. Advertisement was pinned on the public noticeboard at the Black Cat Cafe in Bru ...
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Leaflet - Carnival Bocskai Hungarian Centre, Black Cat Cafe, Fitzroy, 26 Nov 2000
Pink leaflet advertising a carnival at the Bocskai Hungarian Centre on 26 November 2000. Leaflet was once pinned on the public noticeboard at the Black Cat Cafe in Brunswick Street, Fit ...
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Leaflet - Writers Wanted, Black Cat Cafe, Fitzroy, pre 2001
Leaflet that was once pinned on the public noticeboard at the Black Cat Cafe in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. The cafe closed in February, 2001. This item is an example of the diversity of ...
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Leaflet - For Sale Toyota Hiace Van, Black Cat Cafe, Fitzroy, 2000-2001
Leaflet advertising a van for sale that was once pinned on the public noticeboard at the Black Cat Cafe in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. The cafe closed in February, 2001. This item is an ...
Images: 1 -
Cheque - 12 Pounds 2 Shillings 4 Pence, John Batman, Derwent Bank, Australia, 7 Aug 1838
Cheque for 12 pound 2 shillings and 4 pence issued by John Batman, Derwent Bank, and made payable to [name illeg.] or the Bearer, 7 August 1838. Signed by John Batman. Written on printe ...
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Poster - Freedom and Full Rights for all Refugees, Refugee Action Collective, Aug 2005
Poster titled Freedom and Full Rights for all Refugees' issued by the Refugee Action Collective for the Tampa anniversary rally held on Friday 26 August 2005. The Refugee Action Collect ...
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Poster - Freedom and Full Rights for all Refugees, Refugee Action Collective, Aug 2005
Poster titled Freedom and Full Rights for all Refugees' issued by the Refugee Action Collective for the Tampa anniversary rally held on Friday 26 August 2005. The Refugee Action Collect ...
Images: 1 -
Poster - Justice for Refugees Pre-Election Rally, Refugee Action Collective, 2004
Poster advertising a Justice for Refugees Pre-Election Rally. It was issued by the Refugee Action Collective in 2004 to promote a rally held at the State Library on 1 October 2004 in th ...
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Poster - Justice for Refugees Pre-Election Rally, Refugee Action Collective, 2004
Poster advertising a Justice for Refugees Pre-Election Rally. It was issued by the Refugee Action Collective in 2004 to promote a rally held at the State Library on 1 October 2004 in th ...
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Poster - World Refugee Day, Refugee Action Collective, Jun 2003
Poster advertising a rally to being held by the Refugee Action Collective for World Refugee Day on 22 June 2003. The Refugee Action Collective grew out of a national grassroots protest ...
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Poster - World Refugee Day, Refugee Action Collective, Jun 2003
Poster advertising a rally to being held by the Refugee Action Collective for World Refugee Day on 22 June 2003. The Refugee Action Collective grew out of a national grassroots protest ...
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Poster - Stop the War on Refugees, Victorian Alliance for Refugees, Jun 2003
Poster advertising a rally to being held by in Melbourne for World Refugee Day on 22 June 2003. The rally is endorsed by various groups including the Victorian Alliance for Refugees, th ...
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Poster - Stop the War on Refugees, Victorian Alliance for Refugees, Jun 2003
Poster advertising a rally to being held by in Melbourne for World Refugee Day on 22 June 2003. The rally is endorsed by various groups including the Victorian Alliance for Refugees, th ...
Images: 2 -
Menu - RMS Ormonde, Orient Line, Children's Tea Party, 11 Jan 1949
Menu for the Orient Line Ship RMS Ormonde on 11 January 1949. The menu is titled Children's Tea Party. It was used by the Wingad family, Charles and Florance and their daughters Brenda ...
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Book - Common Prayer Hymns, Oxford University Press, circa 1900
Book of Common Prayer Hymns brought from England to Australia by Susannah Nicholls in 1923. This Bible was published by Oxford University Press. William and Susannah Nicholls, their tw ...
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Student Work - 'Firestorm', Black Saturday Bushfires, Healesville Primary School, 2009
Rachel was a Grade 5 student at Healesville Primary School during the Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009. Her artwork 'Firestorm' was created at that time. A year later, Rachel r ...
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Student Work - 'CFA Helps Wildlife', Black Saturday Bushfires, Healesville Primary School, ...
Jake was a Grade 6 student at Healesville Primary School during the Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009. His artwork 'CFA Helps Wildlife' was created at that time. A year later, J ...
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Student Work - 'Bushfire Disaster', Black Saturday Bushfires, Healesville Primary School, ...
Dylan was a Grade 5 student at Healesville Primary School during the Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009. His artwork 'Bushfire Disaster', now part of the Victorian Bushfires Coll ...
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Student Work - 'Bushfires', Black Saturday Bushfires, Healesville Primary School, 2009
Jarod was a Grade 4 student at Healesville Primary School during the Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009. His artwork 'Bushfires', now part of the Victorian Bushfires Collection, ...
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Student Work - 'Animal Rescue', Black Saturday Bushfires, Healesville Primary School, 2009
Allyson was a Grade 6 student from Healesville Primary School during the Black Saturday bushfires in February, 2009. Her artwork 'Animal Rescue' was produced during that time. A year l ...
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Student Work - 'Catastrophe', Black Saturday Bushfires, Healesville Primary School, 2009
Emily was a Grade 6 student from Healesville Primary School during the Black Saturday bushfires in February, 2009. Her artwork 'Catastrophe' was produced during that time. A year later ...
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Student Work - 'CFA is the Best', Black Saturday Bushfires, Healesville Primary School, 20 ...
Rory was a Grade 3 student from Healesville Primary School during the Black Saturday bushfires in February, 2009. His artwork 'CFA is the Best' was produced during that time. A year la ...
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Student Work - 'The Biggest Fire', Black Saturday Bushfires, Healesville Primary School, 2 ...
Emily was a Grade 3 student from Healesville Primary School during the Black Saturday bushfires in February, 2009. Her artwork 'The Biggest Fire' was produced during that time. A year ...
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Student Work - 'Bushfire Helpers', Black Saturday Bushfires, Healesville Primary School, 2 ...
Kyle was a Grade 5 student from Healesville Primary School during the Black Saturday bushfires in February, 2009. His artwork 'Bushfire Helpers' was produced during that time. Kyle lat ...
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Student Work - 'Go CFA', Black Saturday Bushfires, Healesville Primary School, 2009
Robert was a Grade 1 student at Healesville Primary School during the Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009. His artwork 'Go CFA' was created at that time. A year later, Robert refl ...
Images: 1



