Australian history and society

Food safe (bush pantry)
Food safe (bush pantry),
wood/ metal, unknown maker, [Queensland], Australia, c1925

The collection field of Australian history and society collects and documents the material culture of everyday life in Australia post 1788, with an emphasis on New South Wales. There is a particular emphasis on work, domestic life, leisure, migration and popular culture.

Seven principal collection development fields have been identified within Australian history and society:

• Social history of Sydney and New South Wales
• Indigenous history and culture
• Migration and settlement
• Leisure and performing arts
• Industrial life
• Domestic life
• Retailing

 

Selected objects from the collection

'Aborigines/VR' police uniform button, 1842-1856
Aquatint, Panorama of Port Jackson… Major J Taylor, 1824
Architectural fittings, Queen Victoria Building, NSW, 1935
Board game, Gold fields of Australia, 1853-1856
Board game, Race to the gold diggings of Australia, 1850-1869
Book, Australia and its goldfields…, E Hargraves, 1855
Book, English and Australian cookery, E Abbott, 1864
Book, Gold-mining…, J A Phillips, 1852
Book, Picture of Sydney..., J Maclehose, 1839
Booklet, Australian Aborigines…, Tyrrells Museum, Sydney, 1929
Boomerang, T Foster, La Perouse, NSW, 1928
Candlesticks, used by Sir G Reid, 1890-1915
Certificates awarded to D Goddard, Sydney Int Exhibition, 1879
Collection of costumes and props, used by A Kellerman, 1876-1975
Convict caps, leather, 1820-1855
Convict cap, wool, 1820-1855
Convict jacket, 1855-1880
Costume, opera, worn by Dame N Melba, c1910
Costume, opera, worn by Dame N Melba, c1910
Decorative panel, L Henry, Sydney, 1888-1891
Doll, dressed by M Goddard for Sydney Int Exhibition, 1879
Doll with clothes, first doll acquired by Museum, 1880-1888
Doll with clothes, used by M Parkes, 1890-1900
Doll’s clothes, used by M Parkes, 1890-1900
Dress, child's, worn by A Fowler, 1820-1843
Envelope posted at the Garden Palace post office, 1879
Envelope, proof of GPO Sydney embossed die, 1838
Evening dress, worn by G Moncrieff, 1961
Food safe (bush pantry), 1925
Fotoplayer, c1918
Glass plate negatives, L Henry, Australia, c1888-1891
Gold washing cradle, NSW, 1851
Guitar, Gibson, used by A Young of AC/DC, 1992
Guitar, Maton, used by the Easybeats (H Vanda), 1964-1966
Hat or water container, hand-made, box tree wood, c1840
Illustration, Sydney, L Henry, 1889-1891
Inkstand set, used by Sir G Reid, 1808-1901
Letter from W C Wentworth, 1805
Mail from NSW to UK, 1816-1817
Painting, La baie du mirroir…, L Henry, Australia, 1879
Panorama of Sydney Harbour, L A Meredith, 1840
Photographs, glass plate negatives, C Kerry, Australia, 1875-1917
Pub painting, Tooth's KB Lager, T Woodman, 1952-1953
Pub painting, Tooth's Sheaf Stout, T Woodman, 1952-1953
Quilt, A Brown, NSW, 1857-1900
Quilt, Friendship, M Gibson, Australia, 1892
Sampler, Carcoar Court House, M A Gorringe, 1851
Sampler, I Buist, Australia, 1839
Sampler, Ode to content, A Sims, Tasmania, 1826
Sewing machine, exhibited at Melbourne Int Exhibition, 1880
Sewing machine, Singer, USA, 1860-61
Shoes, worn by J O'Keefe', 1957-1959
Shop window, made by Wunderlich, used at Hordern’s, 1914-1927
Suit, red, worn by J O'Keefe', Australia, 1956-58
Suit, rock performance costume, worn by C Joye, 1958-1961
Suit, yellow, worn by J O'Keefe, Australia, 1957-59
Top hat, worn by Roy Rene, 1947-1950
Vegemite jar, Australia, 1923
Wall vase, L Henry, Sydney, 1880-1891
Water bottle, carved coconut, L Henry, 1878-1879