Feminine Flourishes

In 1908, when Mabella Kirwan (1857-1920) accepted this illuminated address, it was very much a man’s world. Mabella’s friends had invited her to a gathering at the Bathurst Golf House to show their respect and gratitude to their friend and piano teacher who was moving away to Wellington to live near her brother. But while […]

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Love of the Soil

In 1886, John Stewart of the farm Mananga, Broughton Creek, acquired two Herbariums. These two bound books contained pressed leaves, flowers and ferns of the Berry District, artistically arranged on each page with botanical names written below. He then dipped his pen in an inkwell and inscribed his name inside the front covers, together with […]

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A Lifelong Possession

In 1818 William Stewart of Blair Atholl, Scotland picked up his pen, dipped it into an inkwell, and inscribed his name inside the lid of this case of drafting instruments. He was 18 years old. Was it a special gift for graduating or coming of age, or maybe issued to him as a student of […]

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