A bit is a type of horse tack used in equestrian activities, usually made of metal or a synthetic material, and is placed in the mouth of a horse to assist a rider in communicating with the animal. It rests in the mouth where there are no teeth.Horses played a vital role in the agricultural history of Orbost. This item is connected to that role.An iron horse bit. It has a small piece of leather at one end - possibly from the bridle. It has a piece of wire attached as a hook for hanging.equestrian horse-bit transport

These were used on a horse-drawn wagons, carriages, stagecoaches, and carts. A wheelwright would use this tool to make or repair the wheels. All sizes of buggy spanners, or wagon wrenches, were needed as wagon wheels were of many different sizes. Horse-drawn wagons are an important part of Australia’s agricultural history. Light buggies were popular with farmers for trips into town before the common use of motorised vehicles.A collection of thirteen iron wheel spanners on an iron hook. One spanner has a wooden handle and is an adjustable spanner.tool wagon-wrench-spanner transport

This item shows the creativity and resourcefulness of rural families in the early 20th century.Seven iron horse shoes welded together to make an ornament.horse-shoes ornament

This item shows the creativity and resourcefulness of rural families in the early 20th century.Three iron horseshoes welded together for use as an ornament or hanging hooks.horseshoes iron ornament

Hand operated water pumps were used to supply water prior to the widespread use of windmill pumps, electric pumps and city water systems. Usually an old pump was made from cast iron, wood or tin. Pumps were very important to people up through the 19th century as farm houses seldom had indoor plumbing with running water. These pumps were also used for outdoor irrigation or laundry purposes.Hand operated water pumps were important before indoor plumbing was adequate. An iron water pump - hand-operated by a lever to the side. A plunger moves up and down (missing). It has a spout and has been painted brown.pump-water irrigation rural

Possibly used for sieving bean seeds or corn seeds. Could have been a sand sieve.A round wooden framed sieve. It has a double frame with 1/4 " wire mesh held in through two frames. It has a galvanised iron inset.sieve agriculture tool

A cast iron wheel. The rim is ridged with fine teeth. In the centre is a fixed axle - bent and snapped off. It has six circular holes.wheel cast-iron machinery

Built by the Buffalo Forge Company in New York, USA. It is of a typical hand operated design used in workshops. This item was probably used in an engineering shop locally.A cast iron workshop drill. It has two spanner holes.On wheel at top - BUFFALO FORGE Co. and on frame BUFFALO N.Y.drill press workshop hand-operated

This stamp and seal were collected by Kevin Ingram who cleaned up the Orbost Butter factory in 1981. It is possibly from the original factory in the 1890's.This seal was probably used on official letters.The Orbost Butter and Produce Co. Ltd was registered on June 1st 1893 and was an important source of income to the Orbost district.Cast iron stamp and seal. Stamp (.1) has a wooden handle which works by a lever action. It has a rectangular base plate and is painted black.The main stem is decorated in gold paint. The separate seal (.2) seems to have been attached to the stamp.On seal in centre : ORBOST Around edge of seal : Orbost Butter Factory plus some unreadable print orbost-butter-factory agriculture farming seal embosser stamp

This spike came from the old Brodribb River bridge which is about 9.6 kilometres from Orbost. The Brodribb River joins the Snowy River north of Marlo. In 1906, a bridge replaced the punt over the Brodribb River, improving communication with Orbost. It was eventually replaced by a reinforced concrete bridge built by the Road Construction Authority in 1989 where the Princes Highway passes over the Brodribb RiverThis item belongs to a significant local structure which has been replaced.A very rusty iron bridge spike from the old Brodribb Bridge.brodribb-river bridge-spike

These spikes are from the old Snowy River bridge (the second) constructed in 1922 alongside the previous suspension bridge. Its building was a combined effort of the Victorian Railways and the Country Roads Board at a cost of 35,000 pounds. It was replaced in 1976 by the present bridge after several major floods.These items are from a significant piece of infrastructure built in Orbost in the early 20th century. This bridge no longer exists.Twenty-four iron spikes of four different lengths. They are probably hand-made and have round shafts and heads. They are very rusty.snowy-river-bridge bridge-spikes bridge orbost

No accurate historical information, but possibly used in the Orbost district for some ceremonial or decorative purpose.An iron horseshoe which has been painted over with gold paint.horseshoe-gold

This pulley was found by Geoff Stevenson, on a beach near Cape Conran (east of Orbost). It probably came from a sailing ship which was wrecked there. Pulleys are simple devices for increasing mechanical advantage in a wire, chain or rope system. A pulley consists of a wheel with a specialized rim that rotates on an axle and carries some type of cable or chain. Ships used a variety of blocks (pulleys) for various tasks, such as stowing cargo or handling the sails. A large wooden pulley encased in iron. It was probably used on a sailing ship. pulley cape-conran sailing-ship maritime

This is possibly part of an old gold stamping machine from the Club Terrace/Combienbar/Bendoc area. It could have been used in the gold mining industry between 1890-1920. (Information from Lachlan Macalister - 11/11/2013.)A heavy solid iron octagonal shaped weight. One side is concave.iron-weight gold-mining-processing

Used in the Orbost district prior to electicity being connected. Was heated on the top of a wood-fired stove. This is an example of a common domestic appliance used before electricity was widely connected to households.A small triangular shaped cast iron clothes iron on a metal stand. The stand has small legs and holes in its base. The iron has a Salter brand.A symbol on the top of the iron in the shape of a bow.iron clothes-iron household-item

Used by women and girls to wave or crimp their hair, for styling their hair, hairdressing. The irons are heated and then applied to the hair and wound to form curls. Pre-dates electrically heated curlers.One set of curling tongs made of iron/steel, rusted. The tongs are two shaped metal pieces which clamp together over a tress of hair. One set of crimping tongs. These have two wavy iron shaped metal pieces which clamp over a tress of hair to produce crimpy waves.hair-crimpers-curlers hairdressing heated-curlers

The Potosi was built in Scotland in 1873 by John Elder and Co.It was a cargo/passenger iron screw steamer and sailed from 1880-1887 under the Orient Line Australia service. Samuel James Lynn was born in 1865 in Coleraine, Northern Ireland. Sam left his home in Coleraine in 1883 at the age of 17. (More information in O.D.H.S. newsletter No. 91 September, 2012 by Margaret Hollands) Samuel Lynn was a well-known Orbost pioneer. Ho owned much property throughout the district , bred Clydesdale horses and fattened about 600 cattle. He was in great demand as a judge of both cattle and horses at agricultural shows in Victoria and interstate. He was a shire councillor for 30 years and president several times. He took a great interest in the sporting clubs of the town and played cricket until late in life. He was goal umpire for the local football team for many years, judged for the Orbost Racing Club and was the first president of the Orbost Bowls Club. He was also a member of the first municipal band. A paper passenger's contract ticket for Samuel Lynn on the Steam Ship Potosi from Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool, United Kingdom to Melbourne, Australia. It is white with black print and hand-written details.front - signed "Samuel Lynn"lynn-samuel potosi-steamship

Iron fountain used on open fires etc. Donated by Mrs Norah Osborne, wife of Bruce , principal of High School. Early homes often had an open fire containing a fountain, buckets and kettles that hung from a hook in the fireplace. These containers supplied hot water for cooking, washing and cups of tea. Fountain was placed on hob until needed and then hung over fire.This kettle is an example of a common domestic item used in early Orbost before electricity was widespread.Large black iron fountain with swing handle and hook for using over a fire. Large brass tap and handle. Lid - Clark & Co * 4 Galls. Bottom - Clark & Co - 4 Gallons FINEST QUALITY T & C CLARK & COcooking domestic kettle fountain-iron ironware

Kettle sat on open fire or hob - probably used on wood stove before 1940's.This item is an example of a commonly used domestic item used in the early 20th century.Black iron kettle with long handle and spout. Bottom - underneath -No 3, Kenrick 6 PINTSkettle ironware domestic kitchen

Iron was heated on top of stove. Often the person ironing had two irons - one to iron with and the other heating on stove ready to use when the other cooled down. They were heavy to use and were generally cleaned with bees' wax and a cloth before use. Wooden handles were patented in 1865.This item is an example of a domestic appliance in common usage before the advent of electricity.Small rusty flat iron.domestic iron flat-iron

Ossie Green was a retired primary school principal living in Marlo. He wrote many historical books including Marlo The Township; The Plains The Cape. Mrs Green was a McKeown from Marlo. McKeowns had large land holdings around Marlo for farming.This item is an example of a commonly used item in the late 19th -early 20th century. It reflects a time when accounts were made of paper and retained as records by households. Black cast iron billfile. Ornate design with large spike.bill-file ornaments-metal green-ossie mckeown

This iron would have been used locally. Wehner's Blacksmith's was founded at Orbost in 1889. Oswald Wehner began working in 1910 with his father. In 1947 Ossie's son, Tom started blacksmithing, working alongside his father. Wehner's closed in 1991. (ref. In Times Gone By - Deborah Hall)This is an example of an implement used locally in the livestock industry in the last century. "Wehner's Blacksmiths was an important part in the business life of Orbost and was probably the most recent business to close with a link to our past." (Deborah Hall)Branding iron with either M or W as the brand. Circular, hanging.branding-iron rural-industry livestock

Brought to Orbost by Wehner, Herman in 1889. Herman Wehner (1862-1937) was a blacksmith and married Agnes Scouller. He had foundation shares in Orbost Butter Factory.This item is associated with the Wehner family who were early Orbost residents.Large black iron kettle with long handle and long pouring spout.Bottom -underneath C. Clark & Co Ltd England, No. 6658, ? Quarts, No 4, First Qualitykettle cooking ironware clark wehner-herman domestic

These cast iron scales were made for domestic use as they are quite basic and not accurate enough for commercial use.This item is an example of a common domestic kitchen appliance no longer in use.Large black kitchen scales with large dish that sits in metal claw.Underneath weights plates - 1lb 14ozscales instruments-weighing domestic kitchen

Flat round iron weights ranging from 4oz 8oz 1lb 2lbweights instruments-weighing commerce shop-equipment

All black iron boot scraper. Has ornate surround and ornate scraper.boot-scraper ironware domestic-items-cleaning

This container could be filled with hot water and put on the floor of a train so that passengers could warm their feet by placing their feet near the container. A blanket could be put over the warmer to contain the heat. This foot warmer was used on trains. A galvanised iron container with a screwable stopper at the top and metal handles on both ends. foot-warmer metal-foot-warmer

Called a silage or hay knife, this implement is used to cut through compacted silage or hay and was in common use on farms in the Orbost area. An implement used in the farming industry which was, and is still, very significant to the Orbost region.A flat iron blade with large serrations on one side, two handles both with round wooden hand-holders. farming-implement hay-knife silage-knife

This knife would have been a common implement used in the Orbost farming community. It dates from the pre-mechanised era when silage and hay had to be cut by hand to be fed out to stock.Associated with the farming industry of the Orbost district.A flat iron blade with large serrations on one side, two iron handles which would originally have been covered with wood.farming-implement hay-knife silage-knife