With the discovery of gold in the state of Victoria in the 1850s, Melbourne became the centre of jewellery manufacture. Whilst some jewellers focussed on the design of jewellery using Australian flora and fauna, usually a kangaroo and/or emu, many continued to copy existing British designs. Goldfield brooches, comprising crossed picks and shovels, or little buckets and  other tools, also with gold nuggets, were produced in the Victorian goldfields in the 1850s, then later in NSW and Western Australia. Such brooches also spread to South Africa in the 1890s and to the American Klondike gold rush in the late 1890s.

Other gold jewellery took the form of brooches and bracelets set with leaves, vines  and tendrils, or with scrolled and ribboned borders. Ornate pieces had tassels.  Australian gems such as opals, pearls and sapphires were showcases, together with an enormous numbers of other  gems found in Australia, such as malachite, agate, quartz, and chrysophase.

Patriotic jewellery became popular after the Federation of Australia in 1901, depicting the Australian continent, kangaroos, emus, kookaburras, flags, boomerangs or gumleaves, and again during and after the WWI. It was often inexpensive.

Examples of Australian antique jewellery:

Antique 15ct seed pearl starburst pendant/brooch – by Duggin, Shappere & Co.

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Antique 15ct seed pearl starburst brooch/pendant (on Ruby Lane)

Duggin, Shappere & Co was founded in Melbourne in 1896 and closed in 1932. They used seed pearls a lot in their original designs. Their mark was an ‘Anchor’.

1870s Brooch – by Lamborn and Wagner

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Antique Australian gold brooch (at Camberwell shop)

Lamborn and Wagner was founded in Melbourne in 1858 and closed in 1885. They were one of the earliest manufacturing jewellers in Australia. They produced gold jewellery with a botanical theme, with ornate borders of grapes and vine lines, sometimes incorporating kangaroos and emus. Their mark was the ‘L&W’ mark, sometimes accompanied by two ‘Crowns’ or by two ‘Five-pointed stars’.

Antique Jade Ring, 18ct – by T Gaunt

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Antique Australian Jade Ring (on Navette at Ruby Lane)

T Gaunt and Co was founded by Thomas Gaunt in 1852. In 1892, it was acquired by F W Heath and continued as jewellers until 1979. Its marks were ‘Gaunt’ or ‘T Gaunt’.

Antique gold locket– Willis and Sons

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Antique gold locket, 9ct (on Navette on Ruby Lane)

R & T Willis started a jewellery partnership in 1858 in Melbourne. The family remained involved in the business for many decades. In 1904, it was incorporated as Willis and Sons Pty Ltd and was a major jewellery manufacturer for the next two decades. It then traded primarily as a wholesale jeweller. Their mark was a ‘Unicorn head’.