Temporary Displays
Boxes of the Borough
From the Museum collection we have created the winter display 'Boxes of the Borough' which will run from mid May to September. Our most celebrated box is the Medical Chest of Dr David Williams. He used it at the Eureka Uprising in 1854 in Ballarat and brought it down to Queenscliff on his appointment as a Health Officer.
We have well packed boxes housing scientific instruments, music-making machines and one containing a Leitz microscope of 1903. There are manufacturers boxes denoting their contents but now empty, tea boxes, salt boxes, cigar boxes, hat boxes, match boxes, soap boxes, and a document box belonging to Queenscliff Mayor Charles Kennedy from 1866. Some boxes are crude, others are beautifully crafted, inlaid, dovetailed, lacquered and hand-painted.
A wooden box bought from Colombo by Mis Win Moden in 1936 is decorated with porcupine quills. A highly decorated Japanese jewellery box made about 1920 and donated by Mrs Eileen Jenner still has a price ticket-4/6d.
We have well packed boxes housing scientific instruments, music-making machines and one containing a Leitz microscope of 1903. There are manufacturers boxes denoting their contents but now empty, tea boxes, salt boxes, cigar boxes, hat boxes, match boxes, soap boxes, and a document box belonging to Queenscliff Mayor Charles Kennedy from 1866. Some boxes are crude, others are beautifully crafted, inlaid, dovetailed, lacquered and hand-painted.
A wooden box bought from Colombo by Mis Win Moden in 1936 is decorated with porcupine quills. A highly decorated Japanese jewellery box made about 1920 and donated by Mrs Eileen Jenner still has a price ticket-4/6d.
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Geelong to Queenscliff Scooter Race
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On display is the 1986 winning scooter ridden by Brendan Monohan.
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Display Cases
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Recently new and changed display cases include:
Black cabinet contains the medicine chest and the story of our first Borough Mayor, Dr. Williams in 1863. For a number of years he was the personal doctor to Tsar Nicholas I, Emperor of all the Russias.
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Early Pioneers: includes items associated with Charles Simpson, James Ballieu & Henrietta Dugdale. |
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Pottery and Glassware spanning 100 years from 1830 - 1930. |
A Portrait of Nan, Nancy Allbutt, by Sir William Dargie
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At the Queenscliffe Historical Museum’s 50th Anniversary Dinner in June this year, Leanne Allbutt, on behalf of her family, donated a portrait to the museum of her mother Nancy, affectionately known to all as ‘Nan’. The portrait of Nancy May Golightly was painted in June 1949 by Sir William Dargie CBE when he demonstrated portrait painting in oils at the Geelong Art Gallery . Nancy married Gil Allbutt, a local boat builder, in 1953 and was well known for her community work. She was awarded Citizen of the Year in 2014 for her service to many local organizations including the Red Cross, the Lighthouse Theatre, the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum, the Swan Bay Boat Club, and the Anglican Church. The portrait is a wonderful addition to the Museum’s collection.
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Lead Toys
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A new display of farm toys dating back to the 1940s, donated by Pepita Grant of Point Lonsdale.
The toys were made by William Britain in North London, England, by hollow casting a molten mixture of lead, tin and antimony. William Britain invented the process of hollow casting in 1893 and revolutionized the production of toy soldiers. After WWII the company diversified into diecast vehicles such as the ones shown in this display. |
