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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 1 - 50) 475 items
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Booklet - J. Fowler, 'Fowler's Method of Bottling Fruits & Vegetables', Specialty Press, 1 ...
Alternative Name(s): recipe book Booklet 'Fowler's Method of Bottling Fruits & Vegetables' published by the Specialty Press, Ltd., Melbourne, for J. Fowler in 1946.
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Catalogue - Fowler's Vacola, Bottling Outfits & Accessories, 1941-42
Catalogue of Vacola bottling outfits and accessories. Made for Fowlers Vacola Manufacturing Co. Ltd., 253-257 Burwood Road, Hawthorn, 1941 - 1942.
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Ration Tickets - Petrol, 2 Gallons, circa 1941
Sheet of four Victorian Motor Spirit Ration Tickets, divided by perforations. Each ticket is for 2 gallons.These particular tickets may date to 1941, when the 2 gallons tickets were pri ...
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Magazine - Boltons Catalogue, 1936
Magazine titled "Boltons Catalogue, 1936". Issued by Robert Bolton & Son, The Sweet Pea Specialists, Birdbrook. This item forms part of the Nowell Collection. This extensive collection ...
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Catalogue - Buckley & Nunn, Summer Fashions, 1958-1959
Buckley & Nunn 1958-59 clothing pattern catalogue. The donor's aunt worked at the Prestige Lingerie, Donald Street, Brunswick, she also made clothes at home for family and friends, usin ...
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Leaflet - Bendigo, 'Northern Capital of Victoria', circa 1928
Leaflet advertising Bendigo as a Tourist Destination, printed by Bolton Bros. Pty. Ltd., Bendigo in the late 1920s.
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Leaflet - Victorian Railways Commissioners, 'Melbourne Garden City of a Garden State', Jul ...
Tourist leaflet 'Melbourne Garden City of a Garden State' issued by the Victorian Railways Commissioners, and printed by the Victorian Railways Printers, July 1933.
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Leaflet - Victorian Railways, 'Melbourne Motor Cruises', 1933
Tourist leaflet 'Melbourne Motor Cruises' issued by Victorian Railways in December 1933 in conjunction with The City Motor Service Pty. Ltd. and The Victorian Government Tourist Board.
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Recipe Booklet - Planning Meat Ration Meals, circa 1942
Alternative Name(s): Cookery Book, Cook Book Printed booklet containing recipes and menus using meat during World War II when certain cuts of meats could only be acquired by producing ...
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Ration Card - Clothing, Issued to Constance Maclaurin, Commonwealth of Australia, Jun 1944
Clothing ration card used during World War II. It was issued to Constance Maclaurin in June 1944. Constance Duffell was born in England in 1910. She migrated to Australia with her par ...
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Ration Card - Clothing, Issued to Jocelyn Maclaurin, Commonwealth of Australia, Jun 1944
Clothing ration card used during the Second World War. It was issued to Jocelyn Maclaurin in June 1944. Jocelyn is the daughter of English immigrants Archie and Connie. Archie was born ...
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Ration Card - Clothing, Issued to Roger Maclaurin, Commonwealth of Australia, Jun 1944
Clothing ration card used during the Second World War. It was issued to Roger Maclaurin in June 1944. Roger is the son of English immigrants Archie and Connie. Archie was born in 1904 ...
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Receipt - Issued to A Maclaurin, by DM Embelton, M.D, Jun 1939
Receipt, issued to A G Maclaurin, by D.M. Embelton, M.D., for 6 pounds 6 shillings. Dated June 1939 for circumcision attendance of Roger Maclaurin, on 19 May 1939. Archie was born in 1 ...
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Receipt - Issued to A Maclaurin, by A. Cartwright, Watchmaker & Jeweller, 25 Nov 1931
Receipt, issued to A Maclaurin, by A. Cartwright, Watchmaker & Jeweller, for 10 pounds. Dated 25 November 1931 this is undoubtedly for the engagement ring purchased by Archie for Connie ...
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Receipt - Issued to A Maclaurin, by Myer Emporium, 10 Jul 1931
Receipt, issued to A Maclaurin, by the Myer Emporium, for 7 pounds 13 shillings. Dated 10 July 1931 this was probably a gift from Archie to Connie, coming four months before the purchas ...
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Receipt - Issued to A Maclaurin, by TN Bunbury, Home Furnisher, 25 Nov 1933
Receipt, issued to A Maclaurin, by TN Bunbury, Home Furnisher, for 2 pounds and 7 shillings. Dated 25 November 1933 this was probably a 'setting up house' purchase by Archie, coming a f ...
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Receipt - Issued to A Maclaurin, by TN Bunbury, Home Furnisher, 17 Nov 1933
Receipt, issued to A Maclaurin, by TN Bunbury, Home Furnisher, for 26 pounds. Dated 17 November 1933 this was probably a 'setting up house' purchase by Archie, coming a few weeks before ...
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Receipt - Issued to A Maclaurin, by TN Bunbury, Home Furnisher, 31 Jan 1934
Receipt, issued to A Maclaurin, by TN Bunbury, Home Furnisher, for 29 pounds and 15 shillings. Dated 31 January 1934 this was probably a 'setting up house' purchase by Archie, coming a ...
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Receipt - Issued to Miss Duffell, by W&L Gordon, Hardware Merchants & Crockery Importers, ...
Receipt, issued to Miss Duffell, by W&L Gordon, Hardware Merchants & Crockery Importers, for 3 pounds, 18 shillings and 9 pence. Dated 28 December 1933 this was probably a 'setting up h ...
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Certificate - Letterpress Machine Examination, First Class Pass, Issued to AG Maclaurin, ...
Certificate issued to AG Maclaurin by the Stationers' Company and Printing Industry Technical Board in 1925. Certifying that he was awarded a First Class pass for his 'Letterpress Mach ...
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Taxation Assessment Notice - Issued to C Duffell, by State of Victoria, 12 Apr 1934
State Income Tax and Unemployment Relief Tax for C Duffell for the year 1933-1934. Based on Income for the year ending 30 June 1933. Constance Duffell was born in England in 1910. Sh ...
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Taxation Assessment Notice - Issued to AG Maclaurin, by State of Victoria, 15 Jun 1934
State Income Tax and Unemployment Relief Tax for AG Maclaurin for the year 1933-1934. Based on Income for the year ending 30 June 1933. Archibald Gordon Maclaurin was born in 1904 in ...
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Taxation Return Form - AG Maclaurin, 30 Jun 1930
Form B. Personal Return for Federal and State Income Tax for Victoria, completed by AG Maclaurin. It was for return of income of the 12 months ending 30 June 1930. Archibald Gordon Mac ...
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Taxation Return Form - AG Maclaurin, 30 Jun 1931
Form B. Personal Return for Federal and State Income Tax for Victoria, completed by AG Maclaurin. It was for return of income of the 12 months ending 30 June 1931. Archibald Gordon Mac ...
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Taxation Return Form - AG Maclaurin, 30 Jun 1934
Form B. Personal Return for Federal and State Income Tax for Victoria, completed by AG Maclaurin. It was for return of income of the 12 months ending 30 June 1934. Archibald Gordon Mac ...
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Report - Day Student's Quarterly Report, London School of Printing & Kindred Trades, 28 Ma ...
Day Student's Quarterly Report from the London School of Printing & Kindred Trades, dated 28 March 1923. It reports that AG Maclaurin, employed by Messrs T De La Rue Ltd received good g ...
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Report - Examination Results, London School of Printing & Kindred Trades, 25 Jul 1925
Examination Results Report from the London School of Printing & Kindred Trades, dated 25 July 1925. It reports that AG Maclaurin, obtained a first class certificate in Cylinder and the ...
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Book - 'Rules of the Printing Machine Managers' Trade Society', London, 1925
Book 'Rules of the Printing Machine Managers' Trade Society' printed by the Co-operative Printing Society Ltd in 1925. It was used by Archibald Gordon Maclaurin upon first entering the ...
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Souvenir Programme - Thomas De La Rue & Co, Annual Dinner, 22 Jan 1927
Souvenir Programme from the dinner commemorating the termination of apprenticeship of A G Maclaurin held by Thomas De La Rue at Manchester Hotel, Aldersgate, on 22 January 1927 Archie ...
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Sports Certificate - Animal Race, Awarded to Miss Duffell, SS Narkunda, 1927
Sports Certificate awarded for First prize in the 'Animal Race' to Miss Duffell on the SS Narkunda during her migration journey to Australia in 1927. Constance Duffell was born in Engl ...
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Sports Certificate - Cigarette Race, Awarded to Miss Duffell, SS Narkunda, 1927
Sports Certificate awarded for First prize in the 'Cigarette Race' to Miss Duffell on the SS Narkunda during her migration journey to Australia in 1927. Constance Duffell was born in E ...
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Sports Certificate - Driving Race, Awarded to Miss Duffell, SS Narkunda, 1927
Sports Certificate awarded for First prize in the 'Driving Race' to Miss Duffell on the SS Narkunda during her migration journey to Australia in 1927. Constance Duffell was born in Eng ...
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Certificate - Issued to Lydia Leymann, by Melbourne Institute for the Advancement of Plain ...
Certificate issued by the Melbourne Institute for the Advancement of Plain Needlework to Lydia Leymann on 12 November 1912. It was presented for the completion of an 'excellent' examina ...
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Certificate - Issued to Lydia Leymann, by Melbourne Institute for the Advancement of Plain ...
Certificate issued by the Melbourne Institute for the Advancement of Plain Needlework to Lydia Leymann on 14 November 1911. It was presented for the completion of an 'excellent' examina ...
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Book - Violet G. Plimmer, Food Values in Wartime, 1941
Book titled 'Food Values in Wartime' by Violet G. Plimmer, published by Longmans Green & Co., 1941. The book contains information about buying food and cooking under rationing during th ...
Images: 1 -
Catalogue - Horticulture, Unwins, 1938
Horticulture catalogue, published by Unwins, 1938. Unwins was established by William Unwin in 1903, when he sold his first sweet pea seeds. In 1914 William's son Charles, joined his fat ...
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Catalogue - Unwins, 1936
Catalogue titled 'Unwins 1936'. Published by WJ Unwin Ltd, it contains information and prices for sweet peas, flower seeds, vegetable seeds, gladioli and bulbs for spring planting. Unwi ...
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Catalogue - Unwins, 1937
Catalogue titled 'Unwins of Histon 1937'. Published by WJ Unwin Ltd, it contains information and prices for sweet peas, flower seeds, vegetable seeds, gladioli and bulbs for spring plan ...
Images: 1 -
Catalogue - Unwins, 1931
Catalogue titled 'Unwins 1931'. Published by WJ Unwin Ltd, it contains information and prices for sweet peas, flower seeds, vegetable seeds, gladioli and dahlias. Unwins was established ...
Images: 1 -
Recipe Book - Sunbeam Mixmaster Cooking Guide, Sunbeam Corporation, circa 1951
Alternative Name(s): Cookery Book Recipe book 'Sunbeam Mixmaster Cooking Guide', published by Sunbeam Corporation, circa 1951. This book was issued with the Sunbeam Mixmaster mixing ma ...
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Recipe Book - 'Royal Recipes', 1956
Alternative Name(s): Cookery Book, Recipe Booklet Booklet 'Royal Recipes' issued as a supplement to 'Everywoman' magazine in July 1956.
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Recipe Book - 'More Cookies', Table Talk, 1933
Recipe book 'More Cookies', published by Table Talk, in May 1933. This book is number 13 in the series "Homecrafts". It features recipes for biscuits, cakes, pastry, icing and fillings, ...
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Recipe Book - 'Winter Dishes', Home Beautiful, 1933
Recipe book 'Winter Dishes', published by Home Beautiful magazine 1 August 1933. This book is number 17 in the series "Homecrafts". It features recipes for biscuits, cakes, pastry, icin ...
Images: 1 -
Recipe Book - 'Perfect Partners', circa 1950
Cookery book 'Perfect Partners', printed by Simpson Halligan and Co. Pty. Ltd, circa 1950. The booklet was issued by Golden Circle Products and the Carnation Milk Company.The recipes in ...
Images: 1 -
Booklet - Planned Holidays by Rail and Road, Victorian Railways, 1941
Victorian Railways booklet promoting Victorian regional holiday packages, it was published in February 1941. Victorian Railways played an important role in State tourism in the late 19t ...
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Leaflet - Winter in Victoria, Victorian Railways, 1939
Victorian Railways booklet promoting Victorian winter holiday packages, published in April 1939. Victorian Railways played an important role in State tourism in the late 19th and early ...
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Leaflet - Mt. Buffalo National Park, Victorian Railways, 1939
Victorian Railways booklet promoting Mt Buffalo ski resort, published in April 1939. Victorian Railways played an important role in State tourism in the late 19th and early 20th centuri ...
Images: 1 -
Booklet - Isle of Wight Hotel, Cowes, Phillip Island, Victorian Government Tourist Bureau, ...
Booklet advertising the Isle of Wight Hotel at Cowes, Phillip Island. It was published by the Victorian Government Tourist Bureau, circa 1929.
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Leaflet - Queenscliff & Point Lonsdale, Victorian Railways, 1938
Victorian Railways booklet promoting Victorian regional holiday packages to Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale. It was published in November 1938. During the late 19th and early 20th centur ...
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Recipe Booklet - Digger Cookery Book, 1939-1945
Alternative Name(s): Cookery Book, Cook Book Printed booklet containing recipes for dishes such as soups, puddings and biscuits. Publications such as this were sold by soldiers who wer ...
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