Collection
Objects
EXPLORE THE WMA OBJECTS COLLECTION
The Women’s Museum of Australia collection holds over 2500 objects including domestic technology, photographs, manuscripts, clothing, jewellery and books.
Digitising the collection and making it available online is an evolving resource that will, over time, represent many more of the Museum’s collection highlights.
You can also explore our Library, which holds books and audiovisual materials by clicking HERE.
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White Ceramic Jug
White ceramic jug, measures 18.8 cm in height, 11.2 cm in diameter, and approximately 15 cm in width including the handle. The top rim is scalloped. Looking at it with the spout on the left and the… Read more…
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Hair Bun
Hair bun/sequined hair net. Measures 12 cm width by 7.5 cm length. The spangles are interspersed and are purple, orange, silver, green, and red in colour. Bun is brown with the netting and bangles… Read more…
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Gay Blade Razor Blade Bank
Gay Blade razor blade bank. Is in the shape of a man with a black mustache. He is wearing a black bowler hat. His body is in the shape of a red and white barber pole design with a slot, and has… Read more…
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Chip Heater
Chip heater. Measures 59 cm high by 35.5 cm in diameter with the spout being 13 cm in length. On top is “Simpson’s Pirie Chip Heater”. The sides appear to be aluminum with the top a heavier metal. Read more…
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Clothes Brush
Clothes brush, curved in almost half circle. Handle is wooden, painted black, with much of it worn off. Bristles are golden and are secured to wood with metal wire in a zig zag pattern. The end… Read more…
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Clothes Brush
Clothes brush. Handle is wooden, medium brown, with some of the “varnish” worn off. Bristles are black. Measures 30 cm in length and 7 cm at the widest. Good condition, bristles hardly worn.… Read more…
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Crocheted Pie Frill
Crocheted pie frill. Off-white with five, horizontal row at the bottom and many vertical columns leading off. The top is a zig zag design with two holes near the top of every column. Measures 23… Read more…
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Hat Box
Hat box that belonged to Molly Clark. Beige weave in appearance with two sets of four vertical lines on the top and bottom. The shape is flat across the bottom (17 cm) and then curves into a… Read more…
Maker: PERMACASE Travelling goods
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Photograph of Margaret WOODFORDE née LENNON
Black and white photo of Margaret Woodforde née Lennon. Wife of John William Woodforde. Measures 10.6 cm width by 15 cm length.
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Photograph of Mary Theresa WOODFORDE
Black and white photo of Mary Theresa Woodforde. Measures 10 cm wide by 14.4 cm length. On the back is the annotation, “Mary Theresa Woodforde Eldest daughter of John & Margaret Woodforde:… Read more…
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Manual of Devotion
Manual of Devotion, 186 pages. Measures 5.2 cm wide, 9 cm length, 1 cm height. Black leather (leather-like) cover with title in gold font. Etched into the leather, front and back covers, is a… Read more…
Maker: Charles Eason
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Short, Black Leather Gloves
Short, black leather gloves with 3 seams stitched for decoration on outside and a clip at the wrist. There is a slit 6cm long on either side of a male and female half of a clip.
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Long Black Gloves with Three Pearls
Long,black gloves with 3 black buttons that look like round pearls. On outside 3 seams stitched as decoration.
Maker: MYJOY
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Long White Gloves with Buttons
Long white gloves with two plastic shiny buttons inside which have 2 buttonholes opposite with a long slit in between (91÷2 cm) Maker’s tag in left glove 3 seams stitched as decoration on outer side… Read more…
Maker: SATALON
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Long White Gloves with Pearl Buttons
Long white gloves with 3 pearl buttons (i missing on 1 glove) Buttonholes opposite buttons with a long slit in between. Size 7and half, nylon.
Maker: Nylon Simplex
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Short White Embroidered Gloves
Short white embroidered gloves Size 7. Kayser, cotton, made in Italy . embroidery on outside of each glove stems with shamrocks on ends of each stem.
Maker: KAYSER
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Bottle Opener Fowler's Vacola
Flat piece of metal tapered to a point. Other end is inserted into a yellow handle of plastic/bakelite? similar to a knife handle.
Maker: Fowler's Vacola
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Letter to Mary Theresa WOODFORDE
Letter to Mary Theresa “Polly” WOODFORDE at Sliding Rock [Flinders Ranges, South Australia]. Measures 12.6 cm width by 20.2 cm length. Had been folded into thirds, which have become three pieces of… Read more…
Maker: John William WOODFORDE
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Pattern Book ''Those beautiful days in Feathersoft'' Patons book 391
The book contains some advertisements and patterns for knitting dresses, cardigans, jumpers and pixie hoods for babies. It has twenty pages and the cover is colourful with a picture of babies in it. Read more…
Maker: COATS PATONS [AUSTRALIA] LTD.
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Pearson’s Pumice Soap
Trapezoid-shaped, measures:bottom: 10.4 cm in width,top: 9.5 cm in width,height: 8.5 cm,length: 7 cm at bottom and 6 cm at topThe background colour is orange with black text. Weight is 375 g. Read more…
Maker: The Pearson’s Soap Company
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Caldwell’s Blu Nob
A cylinder wrapped in unbleached muslin. It is tied with string at the top. Red label and white text. “CALDWELL Blu-Nob” on the front and “FINEST LAUNDRY BLUE” on the back. Along the side is… Read more…
Maker: Caldwell’s Pty Ltd
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Silver-coloured Bracelet
Silver-coloured link bracelet. No marking indicating that it is sterling silver. Composed of 13 links. Eight and a half (8.5) cm in diameter.
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Old-fashioned Dolly Peg
Old-fashioned dolly peg, otherwise called a clothes peg (UK English) and a clothespin (US English). One piece, made of wood and measures 10 cm in length and 1.5 cm in width.
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Tin for Figsen Laxative
A tin, formerly containing an unknown quantity of laxatives. It measures 6.8 cm in width by 5 cm in length by 1.5 cm in height. Hinged lid. The background is orange with black lettering, except… Read more…
Maker: Nyal Company
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Butter Churn
Butter churn, cherry.
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''Cleckheaton Nursery Book 1''
This book contains patterns for knitting and crocheting baby’s jumpers, cardigans, pants, bonnets and bootees. It also contains baby’s crocheted shawl as well as baby’s pram coat. The book is in… Read more…
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Pattern book ''Paton's Classic Collection in 5 and 8 ply for children No.51''
This book contains patterns for knitting children’s jumpers and cardigans. It also shows the measurements according to children’s age, and the materials used, the accessories like the knitting… Read more…
Maker: COATS PATONS PTY, LIMITED
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Pattern book ''The Australian Women's Weekly Great Winter Knits''
The book contains some advertisements and patterns for knitting for all the family. It contains patterns for great winter knits like a Cable knit designer jumper, man’s colour block sweater and a… Read more…
Maker: The Australian Women's Weekly
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Clay Medallion
Clay disc with hole punched at top and leather thong threaded through to enable it to be worn around the neck. One side stamped with old logo — wagon wheel and map of Australia with dot to mark Alice… Read more…
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Postcard - One of Qantas' First Offices
Postcard, printed in Australia. The message/address side, located in the bottom, left, states: One of Qantas’ FIRST OFFICES – at Duck Street, Longreach, Queensland Dividing the message and the… Read more…
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Hat Pin
Hat pin. Measures 12.2 cm total length. Pin/shank measures 10.1 cm. Fixed to the top is an onion-coloured ball measuring ca 1.9 cm diameter.
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Hat Pin
Hat pin. Measures 11.8 cm total length. Pin/shank measures 7 cm. Fixed to the top is a black, tear drop-shape wrapped with a braid of gold-coloured metal.
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Hat Pin
Hat pin. Measures 10.8 cm total length. Pin/shank measures 9 cm. Fixed to the top is a round, mahogany-coloured ball with a gold sepal holding it.
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Postcard - AVRO 504K, 1921
Postcard, printed in Australia. The message/address side, located in the bottom, left, states: AVRO 504K, 1921. Pilot and 2 passengers. 65 m.p.h. Intrepid passengers flew in this, Qantas’ first… Read more…
Maker: Qantas
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Doll - Edith BOHNING
Female doll made of composition, known as “compo”, a sort of tough papier mâché, the doll has a cloth body and imitates the German porcelain variety. Measures 40 cm in length by 16 cm width. She has… Read more…
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Breast Pump
A manual breast pump with original box. On the box, written in blue ink, is “$2.59”. One-piece consisting of round, red pump and clear glass (?) suction receptacle. Measures approximately 13.5 cm… Read more…
Maker: Continental
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Book - "Songs"
Book: Songs: Selected for Use by Home League Meetings. The cover has a drawing of a home sitting on an open book. Red, fabric cover, with two staples holding it together. Measures 10.6 cm wide… Read more…
Maker: “Wholly set up and printed in Australia by Citadel Press”
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Book - "Red Shield Huts"
Book — Red Shield Huts. Measures 9.5 cm wide by 13.1 cm length. Red, fabric cover, with two staples holding it together. The cover has, in black, an outline of Australia with The Salvation Army… Read more…
Maker: The Salvation Army Press
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Pattern book ''Green Label Cottons'' Standard of the World.
The book contains patterns and instructions for making Yokes, such as a Night-gown yoke and a Dainty Yoke, night-gown yoke with a rose pattern, combination yoke with diamond pattern and fillet yoke… Read more…
Maker: Richardson Silk Company
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Pattern book ' Bestway Book no. 60 Lingerie Crochet Book''
The book contains crochet patterns for lingerie items like Chemise and Knicker Trimmings and Lingerie Edging with Crochet Trimmings. There’s also a pattern for a Crochet-Trimmed Nightgowns, a… Read more…
Maker: The Fleetway House
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Dress Pattern, 9149
Woman’s Dress Pattern
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Set of Three Doilies
Three (3) doilies, of beige linen, featuring a red bottlebrush flower with green leaves, brown stems, and buds. Lace around the border of each. Hand embroidered.
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Glass
Glass mug with clear, glass handle; gold rim. When the handle is on the right, 20th Anniversary is printed in black on the front. When the handle is on the left, there is a map of Australia… Read more…
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Glass
Printed in white on one side only is “COOBER PEDY pick & axe WORLD’S OPAL CAPITAL AUSTRALIA.” Weighted on bottom. Measures 11.5 mm high, 6 mm diameter. Excellent condition.
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Glass
Measures 6 mm diameter at top; 4.5 mm at bottom; 11.7 mm high. Gold, top rim. Some gold tarnished or flecked off. Very good to excellent (if gold is tarnished) condition. Smaller at bottom to… Read more…
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Bag of Potch and Colour
Fayes inventory called it bag of potch and colour. Many small pieces of potch in a sealed GLAD bag with POTCH AND COLOUR hand-written in black marker to the right of the logo.
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Bag of Potch, no Colour
In Fayes inventory, she describes it as Bag of Potch non precious opal no colour). Many medium pieces of potch in a sealed GLAD bag with POTCH hand-written in black marker to the right of the logo. Read more…
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Bottle of Full Colour Uncut Opal
Faye describes it as Small bottle of full colour Uncut opal. The glass bottle appears to have been a spice bottle because it has a plastic insert with 6 holes. Taped to it is a yellow Post-It note… Read more…
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Bottle of Black Opal
Faye describes it in her inventory as small bottle of Black opal specimens. The glass bottle appears to have been a spice bottle because it has a plastic insert with 6 holes. Taped to it is a… Read more…
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Bottle of Black Opal Chips
This is a glass bottle with WHITE OPAL CHIPS hand- written in black ink on a yellow Post-It note and taped to the bottle. The bottle appears to have been a spice bottle because it has a plastic… Read more…
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Opal Stone
Triplet. Oval shape. The black back looks as though it had been glued to something, as a display piece. Measures 20 mm length, 10 mm width.
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Opal Stone
White, oval shape. Solid crystal opal stone measuring 18 mm length, 13 mm width.
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Opal Stone
Round. Solid white crystal opal stone measuring 12 mm diameter.
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Opal Stone
Tear-drop/triangle. 15 mm at base, 19 mm length. Solid crystal opal stone measuring
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Triplet Opal Stone
Oval, solid crystal opal stone measuring 36 mm length, 22 mm width. Has a chip.
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T-shirt
Faye’s description is “1 white T‑shirt (well worn) Ayres [sic] Rock Pioneers reunion 1984.” Logo: three red humps = Ayers rock with cabin (two windows, one door) in front and two clumps of green… Read more…
Maker: Ryder
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Opal Cave Wind Cheater
“Blue Opal Cave Crew Blue wind cheater as worn by all Staff.” FAYE NAYLERS OPAL CAVE CREW with OPAL CAVE COUNTRY under image of an opal. Crew neck, light blue, long sleeve sweatshirt. ‚The inside… Read more…
Maker: Exacto Knitwear Pty Ltd
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CD - Gentle Giants of the Deep
CD Gentle Giants of the Deep, music lyrics & vocals Faye Nayler. Sound recording by Airplay Recording Studio 1996 AR00001. Four tracks: 1. Gentle Giants of the Deep 2. Australian Blue Skys… Read more…
Maker: Airplay Recording Studio
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DVD - "Icon Towns"
DVD, presented by Readers Digest. Australian Icon Towns, Volume Three. Five audio files: Coober Pedy, Launceston, Ballarat, Tenterfield, Tanunda. Copyright 2007. Running time 55 minutes approx. Read more…
Maker: Reader's Digest
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Book Warm in My Heart
Paperback book Warm in My Heart: Ballads and Stories of the Coober Pedy Opal Field. Measures 14.6 cm wide by 20.7 cm length. One hundred thirty-two pages not including the cover.
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Justice of Peace Instruction Book and Badge
Faye’s Justice of the Peace badge and her book of instructions to Justices of the Peace. Faye has pinned the badge to the book. (a) The pin is on the bottom right corner of the book. It measures 2… Read more…
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Letter to Drivers
Printed on two sheets of A4 paper and taped (backside only) together making it A3 in size is a letter, signed and dated 1 April 1982, from Faye to drivers and Touring Companies when she was preparing… Read more…
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Letter from Parliament House
Printed on A5 paper is a letter, dated 25 January 1980, from Graham Gunn, Member for Eyre & Chairman of Committees, to Faye informing her of her appointment as a justice of the peace.
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Letter from Opal Cave
Printed on A4 paper is a letter, dated 17 July 2006, from Caroline/Opal Cave to Faye wishing her well and thanking her for coming back to the field for a visit in 2006.
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Blue Book of South Australia
The copyright and article about Faye from page 88 of the Blue Book of South Australia, printed on A4 paper.
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New S.E.S. Vehicle
The front page from OPAL CHIPS, June 1980. There is a table of contents, called INSIDE STORES. It also contains three articles, and in the lower, right corner is a photo titles New S.E.S. Vehicle.… Read more…
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Coober Pedy - The Tourist Centre
Article COOBER PEDY THE TOURIST CENTRE: They’re coming in droves to To [sic] see the underground dwellers. Three columns of the article are printed on A4 paper; the fourth column has been taped to… Read more…
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We've Linked up with St Andrews
Article Coober Pedy golf clubs gem of a deal: We’ve linked up with St Andrews. Two pages of A4 paper, copied one side, taped together, making a sheet A3 size. Published in the Sunday Herald Sun,… Read more…
Maker: Sunday Herald Sun
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National Geographic
Photocopied on A3 size paper is the October 1976 issue of National Geographic (Vol. 150, No. 4). In addition, are pages 565 – 566, the end of what should be the article Opal Capital of Australia’s… Read more…
Maker: National Geographic, Vol. 150, No. 4
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Coober Pedy Regional Times
Article FAYE NAYLER RETURNS TO COOBER PEDY A NEW ROUND OF HISTORY EMERGES, page 1 (no author). On page 3 is the article FAYE NAYLER AND TINY PECO COMBINE FOR 2007 OPAL FESTIVAL WEEKEND MUSICAL… Read more…
Maker: Coober Pedy Regional Times
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Opal Crew Really Down Under
Article Opal Crew Really Down Under photocopied on A3 paper. No dates of other markings.
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Faye Nayler's Tourist Mecca
Article FAYE NAYLERS TOURIST MECCA printed on A4 paper. Two photos are included: Faye Nayler outside the Opal Cave and Three tourist coaches at Faye Naylers [sic] Opal Cave.
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Map Kingoonya to Marla
An A3-size black and white photocopied map of Kingoonya to Marla Near the middle, in a frame, is Wilkins Tourist Maps. No dates of other markings.
Maker: Wilkins Tourist Maps
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Press Release
From the Birubi Recording Studio, 56 Mangan Street, Tongala Vic., a four-page press release. Two pages of A4 paper, copied both sides, taped together to pages 2 and 3, making a sheet A3 size. PRESS… Read more…
Maker: Birubi Recording Studio
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Profile Faye Nayler
Article PROFILE FAYE NAYLER, June 1994 on A3 paper. Originally was two A4 pages but has been photocopied as an A3. The text is all in capital letters.
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Faye Nayler Business Card and ALDECC Pin
Not included in Faye’s inventory are two (2) business cards. They contain the same information but Card one has been laminated. Card two has the ALDECC 20th anniversary pin pinned to it. The pin… Read more…
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Small Bottle Black Opal Chips
It is not included in Faye’s inventory. A glass bottle which appears to have been a spice bottle because it has a plastic insert with 6 holes. Taped to it is a yellow Post-It note with BLACK OPAL… Read more…
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Photograph of Esther Bohning Boiling the Billy, Tennant Creek, 1933
Black and white albumen silver photograph of Esther BOHNING boiling the billy.Stamped on reverse in blue ink: 9322 Inscriptions on reverse: In black fountain pen ink, cursive: “The first and only… Read more…
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Photograph of Esther and John Bohning
Photograph of Esther and John BOHNING.
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Photograph of Edith and William McDonald
Photograph of Edith BOHNING and William McDONALD.
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Photograph 1/0A Nancie in Camp, ca 1940
NANCIE IN CAMP c1940. Black & white and measures 254 mm wide by 202 mm length. On back written in black ink is 1/0A WALKER.
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Photograph 1/1A Nancie with Lizzie, ca 1940
1/1A NANCIE WITH LIZZIE c1940 Black & white and measures 253 mm high by 201 mm wide On back written in black ink is 1/1A ANDREW
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Photograph 1/2A Bedourie, 1943, Colleen Clancy, J. Clancy, P. Finch ?, Nancie, J. Smith, Mr. Gaffney, Eric Sammon
1/2A BEDOURIE 1943 Colleen Clancy, J. Clancy, P. Finch ?, Nancie, J. Smith, Mr Gaffney, Eric Sammon Black & white and measures 254 mm wide by 202 mm high On back written in black ink is 1/2A… Read more…
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Photograph 1/3A Albert Blinman and Daughter with Mailman from Marree to Birdsville (Tom Kruse)
1/3A ALBERT BLINMAN & DAUGHTER WITH MAILMAN FROM MAREE TO BIRDSVILLE (TOM KRUSE) Black & white and measures 254 mm wide by 202 mm high On back written in black ink is 1/3A WALKER The… Read more…
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Photograph 1/4A Dinner at Birdsville Track
1/4A DINNER AT BIRDSVILLE TRACK Black & white and measures 254 mm wide by 202 mm length. On back written in black ink is 1/4A WALKER The photo is of a truck with goods on the back. In front of… Read more…
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Photograph 1/5A Marree Station
MAREE STATION Black & white and measures 254 mm wide by 202 mm length. On back written in black ink is 1/5A WALKER.
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Photograph 1/6A Maisie Arbon's Grave
1/6A MAISIE ARBONS GRAVE Two copies of the same photo. One (original) is in color and measures 89 mm wide by 88 mm length. On the back, written in blue ink, is Maisie Arbons grave died 1936 buried at… Read more…
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Photograph 1/8A Maisie Semmons Andrew, aged 16
1/8A MAISIE SEMMONS ANDREW aged 16. Two copies of the same photo. One (original ?) measures 93 mm wide by 146 mm length. On back is written in blue ink, MAISIE SEMMONS ANDREW 16 YEARS. In the… Read more…
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Photograph 1/10A Gladys Ware/Baker (nee Andrews), aged 76, 1984
1/10A GLADYS WARE/BAKER (née ANDREWS) aged 76 (1984). Black & white and measures 177 mm wide by 126 mm length. On back written in black ink is 1/10A ANDREW.
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Photograph 1/11 A Gladys Arbon, aged 19, 1945
Two copies of the same photo. Black & white One (original ?) measures 119 mm wide by 163 mm length. Corners slightly bent. Some stains (1) left margin, (2) bottom left corner (3) bottom middle.… Read more…
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Photograph 1/13A Gladys Ware/Baker (nee Andrew) with Daughters Raelene and Zona, ca 1957
1/13A 1/13A GLADYS WARE/BAKER (N ANDREW) [Andrew in photo 1/13A but Andrews in photo 1/12A] with daughters Raelene (L) & Zora ® 1957. Black and white. Measures 248 mm wide by 202 mm length. Read more…
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Photograph 1/14A The Gregory Children Uanita, Beryl, Rhoda, Eric, Illma
A THE GREGORY CHILDREN 1/14A Uanita (10) Beryl (8) Rhoda (6) Eric (5) Illma (2). Black & white and measures 254 mm length by 202 mm wide. On back written in black ink is 1/14A GREGORY.
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Photograph 1/15A Metha Gregory
1/15A METHA GREGORY. Copy of a black & white photo and measures 254 mm length by 202 mm wide. The original had a crease from side to side approximately 22 mm from the top. On back written in… Read more…
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Photograph 1/16A Illma Baldock (nee Gregory), 18 years old
1/16A Illma Baldock (née Gregory), 18 years old. Black & white and measures 254 mm length by 202 mm wide. On back written in black ink is 1/16A GREGORY.
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Photograph 1/17A Metha Gregory and Her Five Children
1/17A Metha Gregory and Her Five Children. Eric (2) Cedric Errol (10) Uanita Mary (7) Beryl Elder (5) Rhoda Viola (3).
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Photograph 1/18A Uanita Mary Simounds (nee Gregory)
8A UANITA MARY SIMOUNDS (née GREGORY). Black & white and measures 254 mm length by 202 mm wide. On back written in black ink is 1/18A GREGORY.
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Photograph 1/20A Rhoda Viola Clough (nee Gregory)
1/20A 0A RHODA VIOLA CLOUGH (N GREGORY). 1/20A Black & white and measures 254 mm length by 202 mm wide. On back written in black ink is 1/20A GREGORY.
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Photograph 1/28A Bedourie: Royal Hotel, ca 1939, Geo. M. Gaffney, Proprietor
1/28A BEDOURIE: ROYAL HOTEL. c1939 Geo. M. Gaffney Proprietor Black & white and measures 253 mm wide by 202 mm length. On back written in black ink is 1/28A ANDREW.