Without refrigeration, storage of meat was difficult. Flies were a problem, and it was important to keep meat cool and out of the way of pests. One way of doing this was to use a meat safe: a kind of cupboard designed to store meat and keep it fresh enough to eat. Meat safes are ventilated. They were sometimes made with sides of wire mesh or perforated metal, so that air could circulate around the meat while keeping flies and other animals out.The Coolgardie safe was invented in the late 1890s by Arthur Patrick McCormick, who used the same principle as explorers and travelers in the Outback used to cool their canvas water bags Originally they were handmade using materials to hand. In the early 20th century, Coolgardie Safes were manufactured commercially across Australia, and found their way into homes in both rural and urban areas. These safes incorporated shelving and a door, had metal or wooden frames and Hessian bodies. The feet of the safe were usually placed in a tray of water to keep ants away. (refs ABC-Home; Museum Victoria)The Coolgardie safe was an Australian invention used especially in country areas from the 1890s until the mid 20th century. It began to be replaced by ice chests from the turn of the twentieth century in cities and country towns which had ice works. This item is an example of a domestic appliance commonly used before electricity was widely available for domestic use.A cube-shaped metal Coolgardie safe painted blue. It has a triangular hook on the top for hanging or lifting. There are small feet at bottom . The sides are perforated in a Above the door; Inside a rhomboid shape "WILLOW"food-storage coolgardie-safe domestic

Part of the Uebergang CollectionHand carved wooden yoke shaped to sit around a persons neck and shoulders. The turned hand grips have lengths of binder twine tied on with metal hooks attached to the ends.[019] uebergang, allansford, yoke, twine, hooks metal

There were at least three 1880s vessels named Lady Loch, all built in Victoria; a river launch (ca 1884-ca 1916, originally named Lady of the Lake), a steamer ferry (1884-1920s) and a government lighthouse tender steamer HMV Lady Loch (1886-1962.) The spring balance scale was part of the equipment on the HMV Lady Loch. The scale was made by the renowned company Salter Weighing Machines in the United Kingdom. It was made to Silvester's patent design. Salter Weighing Machines, Britain, began making spring scales in the 1820s. In 1908 Salter opened up an Australian branch named Salter Scales Pty. Ltd. The scale, marked HMV SS Lady Loch, would be suspended by its top ring, a basket or other container is hung from the hook, and the items inside the basket then pull downwards on the hook, which stretches the springs inside the works. The pulling action moves a rack and gears a calculated distance and the gears turn the pointer on the dial to indicate the weight of the goods. This scale measures up to 200 pounds capacity. The HMV SS Lady Loch was an iron steamship built in Footscray, Melbourne, by Campbell, Sloss and McCain in 1886 for the colonial Victorian government’s Department of Trade and Customs. It was armed with a 6-inch gun and two 1-inch Nordenfelt guns. The Sydney Morning Herald of 27th January 1888 describes the vessel in detail. It even comments on the interior of the Saloon “The wood work … is on a very elaborate scale and is exceedingly neat …”. The HMV Lady Loch performed Customs duties, and serviced the lighthouses along the coast. The scale could have measured goods for the Customs Tax, or for measuring out supplies for the lighthouse keepers. The vessel was named after Lady Elizabeth Loch, wife of Sir Henry Loch, Governor of Victoria from 1884 to 1889. In 1932 Lady Loch was converted to a hulk and used in Brisbane, and finally scuttled in 1962 at Moreton Bay, Queensland.The scale has importance due to its connection to the 1886 HMV Lady Loch, a vessel of great significance to Melbourne’s shipbuilding industry. It was the largest auxiliary vessel in the Victorian Colonial Government’s fleet and the first prominent vessel launched by Melbourne’s shipbuilding industry. The scale is also important for its connection with the colonial navy's Custom's work, as the scale was available to weigh goods that could attract taxes and deal out goods for distribution to lighthouse keepers. The HMV Lady Loch was also important part of Victoria's maritime history for its communication and support of the lighthouse keeper's along the coast of Victoria.Scale; Salter's spring balance mechanical hanging scale, brass and iron. Equally spaced marks around the circular dial have values from 0 to 200 in increments of 10, each increment is also divided into 10. An iron ring is attached to a fitted loop on the top of the scale, and an iron hook is attached to the fitted loop onthe bottom of the scale. A moving pointer attached to the centre of the dial has a calibration screw joined to its base. Four screws fix the brass face to the works at the back. There are stamped and embossed inscriptions. Made by Salter in Britain, to Silvester's Patent design. The scale was once equipment carried abourd the steamship HMV SS Lady Loch. Stamped: "SALTER'S / SPRING BALANCE" "SILVESTOR'S / PATENT" Embossed in script: "HMV SS / Lady Loch"warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, scale, salter, spring balance, silvester's patent, lady loch, steamship, hmv, colonial navy, victoria, lady elizabeth loch, custom's vessel, lighthouse tender, 1886, government vessel, victorian government, measuring instrument, weight, weighing instrument, mechanical scale, hanging scale

Clothing. Girl's white long sleeved waisted linen jacket. Front opening jacket with 4 cm band from shoulder to waist forming V shaped neckline. Bodice of jacket has 8 cm vertical lace inserts next to the edge of the bands, continuing over the shoulders and down the back of the bodice to the waist. A 16 cm lace insert runs at right angles to the bodice inserts along the top of the kimono cut long sleeves. The sleeves have an 8.5 cm turned back fabric cuff. From the waistline is an ungathered skirt widening slightly at the hem. The front opening is fastened at the waist with one metal hook and cotton loop.Stitched in red cotton inside back of neck 2/4.costume, children's, girl's white waisted linen jacket

Clothing. Four Collars a. Stand-up lace collar with a shallow scallop at the lower neck edge-6 cm -7 cm deep. Three ''stand-up'' flower motifs and other flat floral motifs form the lace. Five boned and wired casings keep the collar erect. At the centre lower edge fine, cotton fabric is gathered tightly and forms a 10 cm long, fan shaped drop or jabot which in turn has a shield shaped crochet drop 12.5 cm deep with corded and cut-work elements. The stand-up collar is lined with fine cotton net, and fastens at the back with three metal hooks, but no loops are evident. b. Very fine creamy silk (?) stand-up collar. 4.5 cm deep, with a 32 cm deep jabot front. The same lace as the collar, edges the Vshaped front jabot. In the centre of this jabot is a stylized maltese cross, which also features at the front of the collar. No fastenings are visible at the neckline. c.This item is of the same design as 14.b, but is slightly larger.Cream cotton or silk, the collar is 6 cms deep at the centre front, and features a Maltese Cross shape at the centre front of the collar, and the jabot front. Ten floral motifs are spaced around the collar, and the same lace outlines the edges of the jabot front. No fastenings are evident. d. Collar. 8.5 cm deep at the centre back, shaped to 6.5 cm deep at the centre front. Jabot 2 cm wide at top, 10.5 cm wide at lower edge, then shaped to a point at the very lower edge. Floral elements and eyelets form the design. Centre back has six eyelets at each edge-perhaps laced to fasten. Two 5.5 cm long x .3 cm wide bones are encased on the front of collar, to support it in the front.costume, female, lace collar and jabot front

Clothing. High round neckline, full length, centre front opening - rounded at the lower edge, and trimmed with two velvet covered buttons, under which is a small metal hook and eye to fasten at the waistline. Sleeves are full length, and trimmed with two fabric covered 2.5 cm buttons at the top edge of a 9.5 cm opening - this may have been a turn-back cuff, or a peaked edge. Left turn back is badly worn. The jacket is fully lined with a similar colour, nylon fabric. This is a home sewn garment.costume, female, ladies pink crushed jacket

Object. Soft white kid leather rectangle - 29 cm x 25 cms, outlined with a 1 cm wide red ribbon frame, a 2.5 cm blue frame, and a further 1 cm red frame. A metal lodge symbol, 6.5 cm x 3.5 cm is stitched onto the lower corners. A Vshaped is hanging panel overlaps the leather panel. and is stitched into the waistband, and hangs freely. The Vshape is edged by a 2.5 cm wide pale blue grosgrain ribbon, and the ribbon is, in turn, edged with a fine red border. This hanging panel is made from white kid leather, and has a Tshaped metal panel stitched at the centre front, and at the two lower corners. A 3 cm wide cotton tape has a silver coloured metal loop at one end, and a silver coloured Sshaped hook on the end of a 58 cm long, adjustable waistband, to fasten the apron around the waist of the wearer.organisation, masonic lodge, kid leather apron

1975 World Swimming Championship Games.Flared leg trousers of light green fabric with fine self stripe. Legs have 6 cm turned up cuffs. Fastened at front with 20 cm metal zipper, metal hook and eye and tab with button. Eight belt keepers.Two front pockets and two back pockets of white synthetic fabric. Back pocket on RHS fastened with now X 1.3 cm light brown plastic button.Label on back pocket lining, ''Exclusively Fashioned by DALE'', ''Pinfeather GALEY Loro USA'' 75% Dacron 25% cotton. Printed Washing Instructions ''36/30''. ''Monaghan'' written in pen inside waist band.costume, male, light green trousers

This Commode Chair has been skillfully adapted by a bush carpenter from a kitchen chair - possibly for an invalid at a time when toilets were usually outside and often difficult to reach. The hinged seat is held up by a wire hook (No.8 fencing wire), and the seat can be lifted to remove the commode pot. The cream paint is of the type universally used for kitchen furniture before a more diverse range of paint colours became available.A wooden commode chair converted from a kitchen chair with four round legs and a hinged seat. Underneath is a hole to hold chamber pot or covered commode. The backrest consists of three turned spindles between squared timber that supports a carved rail across top. It is painted with cream paint that is rather worn.chairs, adaptation

Decapitating hook, Ramsbotham's with plain edge and with turned mahonyhandle. Stamped "Evans & Co Londonobstetric delivery, destructive instrument

Belonged to Kathleen Marjorie Dunn (nee McKenzie)Formal day dress in black crepe. It has a round neck and short set-in sleeves. The front opens from neck to waist and has four self-covered shank buttons. The bodice is slightly gathered at two points front and back. The skirt is gathered centre front with seven rows of shirring. The bodice features six arabesques in black and white beads. The skirt has two false pockets with similar beading. A small vent at the left waist closes with a hook and eye. The dress is machine sewn with a hand sewn turn-up on the hem.Nonecostume, george evans collection

Belonged to and used by Patrick O'Kane 1872 - 1947 in the Burramine/Boosey districtHeavy all iron well bucket. Riveted together in two halves (top and bottom). Made from metal sheets riveted together, also strengthened with iron straps. It has a large, round iron rod turned into a hook which is attached across the top.nonebucket

Used to communicate with the local telephone exchange and for connection to other subscribers. The introduction of automatic exchanges saw the their demise. This phone was used in the family home of the donor at Caboolture (aboriginal for carpet snake) during the 1940s and 1950s.A magneto telephone for communication with a manual telephone exchange. The handle on the right hand side, which was turned to rotate the magneto to call the exchange - ask operator for a number and then to be connected. Telephone enclosed in a specially designed box for mounting on the wall. There was a bell on top which rang when the magneto ringer at the exchange was turned. Fitted with a carbon microphone mounted on the front of the box for the transmission of the spoken word and an electro- magnet. A receiver which hangs on the left hand side on a hook. The hook acts as the on and off switch to answer the call and to switch on the battery to provide power for the receiver and energize the transmitter. There is an angled ledge for writing any messages. There is no battery. The circuit for the phone is on the inside of the door to the interior of the phone. pHone is type CDA116 - PMG Registered - Ericsson.communication, telephonic

Oval shaped high domed metal meat cover with turned wooden knob & a hanging hook, handle secured with a brass screw with wing nut.domestic equipment, food storage & preservation, meat cover, k199

Commercial /shop equipment, turned wooden handle and wire hook,docket holder, shop

Red wooden turned handle with steel hooked shape blade. Blade is hook shaped with serrations on hooked area.No visible markingsdomestic items, food preparation, butter balls, curling tool, butter, kitchen, food, dairy.

A souvenir from one of the last trams to Port Melbourne. Both the South Melbourne and Port Melbourne cable lines closed on this date. The South Melbourne line was converted to electric traction; the Port Melbourne line was replaced by a bus service. See item 7595 for another bell cord from the same event.Has a close association with the closure of the Port Melbourne cable tram line.Bell cord - for a grip car bell - consisting of a wooden turned handle fitted with a screw at the bottom, a length of sash cord and a cast iron end to which the rope has been glued or fastened into and a hook that went on the underside of the bell itself. On the wooden handle is a label - "Cable tram cord taken from the last tram to run in Port Melbourne"trams, tramways, cable trams, grip tram, gripmen, bell, port melbourne, last tram, closure

The Villa Alba Museum is cultural institution committed to the collection, study and display of 19th century interior decorative finishes, and the components of 19th and 20th century interior decoration. These include artefacts (wallpapers, textiles, carpet samples), furnishings, printed materials (catalogues, books, periodicals), and pictures (photographs).Part of a group of curtain furnishings which includes a curtain with original fittings, fringe and braid unpicked from other curtains, and these six curtain tie backs. The six curtain tie backs are identical, though one pair is shorter. The tie backs comprise a length of soft, loose (floss) silk cord, made of two thick strands twisted together (cable cord). An elaborate tassel is attached to the middle of each cord, to weight the tie back in an elegant loop, with the loose ends attached to hooks or pins on the window frame. Each tassel is formed of a turned wooden mould, covered with floss silk thread, and further decorated with knotted netting, applied braid, and glass beads. The end of the mould has a large flattened shape, from which hangs a ring of long, bullion metal fringe. This may be silver-gilt: untarnished parts are still true gold colour, while the majority of the fringing is tarnished black. These curtain decorations are truly luxurious; the original suite of curtains would have been very expensive, an eloquent item of conspicuous consumption of luxury goods.Attached handwritten note : "VA Th 7/6/2012 Ric Freeman (Nat Trust member) & Julie Freeman / re soft furnishings, tassels, trimmings, braid set / Jessie, Terry (and Chris St) to view, collect"decorative arts & design, interior decoration - history, curtain accessories, tassels