The early settlers of Victoria depended on horse drawn vehicles to farm, make roads and railways, deliver produce and transport people. Horse harnesses were an important requisite for all drivers and could be found wherever there were working horses. Horse Harnesses have played an essential role in different cultures throughout history. Simple, utilitarian horse harnesses made of leather straps and iron rings were being used in early China before AD 500 as well as ancient Greece and Rome allowing horses to pull chariots and ploughs. The Greeks and Romans were the first to use a "horse collar" which distributed the weight of the harness evenly across the horse's chest rather than relying on a "throat harness" that could damage a horse's throat or choke them. During the medieval period, European horse harnesses became more elaborate and decorative. Variations of different horse harnesses were also found in Native American and Middle Eastern cultures. Horse Harnesses usually have four basic components which include - 1. Communication - the bridle, bit and reins allows the driver to communicate instructions and commands to the horse, guiding its movement and direction. 2. Draft - the collar, hame straps, hames, traces and chains enables the horse to draw and pull the load efficiently by distributing the weight and transferring the pulling force to the vehicle. 3. Stopping - the breeching band, pole straps and breast strap helps to control or stabilise the horse and vehicle when moving downhill or stopping. 4. Support - the back pad, backband, belly band and back saddle keep the harness in the correct position and proper alignment. This dray harness is a plain, basic harness and reflects its working class origins. It was used by Mr. Oswald (Jack) Bourke with his horse and dray to firstly deliver drygoods from Sunbury to Melbourne in the 1930's and later (through the 1940's and 1950's up to 1961) when he worked on the garbage round for the Springvale City Council. This horse harness is a significant example of the equipment that was needed wherever horses were being used - particularly in the early years of Victoria's settlement by white settlers. Harnesses such as this example were used with drays, farming equipment, delivery carts and personal transportation.A leather and metal horse harness used with a horse and dray circa 1930's to the early 1960's. It is made up of a number of components. 1. A leather bridle with metal buckles and rings, blinkers and a metal single jointed, snaffle bit that has the initials M B stamped onto the leather. 2. A leather bridle with metal buckles and rings and a metal "straight bar" Eggbut snaffle bit. It has an elongated X design (with 4 dots) stamped onto the leather strap holders near each buckle. 3. A blue and white vinyl halter with one leather patched strap. The nose band and a chin strap are covered with woollen padding. 4. A pair of leather shaft protectors. They have lacing holes along each edge and a repeating design of small shapes (flowers, wings, crosses and arrowheads) which run along the front of each protector. 5. A leather strap with a stainless steel chain and catch and a maker's mark for "Glenn's Leather Goods, Pearcedale Victoria" stamped onto the end. 6. A wide leather strap covered with a webbing sleeve. It has two large metal rings and each end and one ring has a rope attached. 7. A leather strap comprised of three separate sections (two shorter and one longer) joined with two metal rings. The longer section has notches along its length and the shorter section at the other end has a buckle. It also had a maker's mark stamped on it but the mark is very worn and the writing is difficult to read. 8. An adjustable leather horse collar with two buckles and straps at the top opening and two "B's" stamped into the leather. The top of the collar is made from treated leather pieces stitched together and the underneath of the collar is untreated leather. It has a padded indentation running all the way around the collar for the hames to sit in. 9. Two pairs of long leather traces - each having a buckle and notched section at one end and each one is made with three lengths of leather spliced together. 10. A leather strap (with one spliced join) belonging to a horse harness with two shorter straps (each ending with a metal clip) attached to a steel D ring at one end. 11. Three assorted short leather straps - the top one has clips at each end and a buckle (for adjusting the length) in the centre, the middle strap has notches and a buckle and the bottom strap is white with notches and a buckle.Bridle with blinkers - "M B" Bridle - design showing an elongated X with a dot in each section stamped onto strap holder Shaft Protectors - stamped design of flowers, wings, crosses and arrowheads Strap with chain - "Glenn's leather goods / Pearcedale / Victoria" Leather Strap (with two metal rings) - Maker's stamp - "name indecipherable / SADDLER / ...OURNE" Collar - "B / B" Leather strap - flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, great ocean road, sunbury, springvale, dray, delivery dray, harness, horse harness, horse drawn vehicles, working horse, oswald (jack) bourke, bridle, horse collar, hames, shaft protectors

The photograph shows Ted Child with his working horse Spark cutting grass at his homestead on Childs Road. The photograph was taken by his daughter Ivy Child. Ivy May Child (1910 – 1989) was the daughter of Arthur Edward (Ted) Child (1878 – 1964) and Ethel May Madden (1888 – 1970). Ted Child was the son of Matthew Francis Child (1839 – 1933) and Martha Jeeves (1857 – 1926). He was the grandson of one of the early pioneers Francis Child. Ivy grew up on the family property on Childs Road and took many photographs. Most of these are glued into her photo album. The album covered the years from c1927 – 1932. Ivy married Henry William Burgess (1906 – 1968) in 1944. The photographs remain in their original state in the album with individual copies made. Black and white photograph showing a man with a working horse cutting grass. They are working along a fenceline with a house visible alongside.Written below photograph in album - Spark againted child, child, horse, ivy child, homestead

Photograph showing working horse and tipping dray near Mt. Defianceg.o.r.; .horse-tipping-dray; mt. defiance;

Horses were coupled together to form a team to pull farm machinery to work on farms. Later, petrol and kerosene equipment was used and then diesel. The Kiewa Valley consisted of farming families before the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme was constructed in the late 1940's at the upper end of the valley. Three large black & white photos of a horse team pulling farm equipment. 1. Mouldboard plough 2. header 3. thresher or chaff cutter. 1.& 2. are working on the farm 3. is pulling the machinery to a nearby farm. No labelsfarm equipment. horse teams. farming. crops.

Triangular cream coloured knitted woollen shawl with open stitch cross design and 2 open stitch diagonal lines at edges.churchill island, working horse festival, sheep to shawl challenge, shearing, spinning, knitting, wool

Churchill Island Heritage Farm has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This photograph shows Sophie - a Clydesdale brought to Churchill Island in 1997 - hitched to a mill.Photograph of a horse in a wooden pen operating some machinery with a group of onlookerscatalogue number written on reverse in pencil photograph, churchill island, clydesdale, working horse, sophie

Churchill Island Heritage Farm has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series showcases photographs taken in the 1930s and 1940s and shows people who lived and worked on the Island during the Jenkins period. This photograph is of Ginger pulling a cart with Sister Margaret Campbell and Alice Jenkins riding along. Sister Campbell was Ted Jenkins' carer, and managed the daily running of the Island, eventually inheriting it after his death. Alice was the mother of Harry Jenkins - the owner of the Island.Black and white photograph with a white border of a stationary horse hitched to a cart with two women sitting in it. The group are centred in the frame and a dam is visible in the background on the left hand side. Digitised from a high resolution copy (original Polaroid is in poor and fragile condition)nilchurchill island, photograph, arthur evans, harry jenkins, alice jenkins, margaret campbell, working horse

Churchill Island Heritage Farm has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series showcases photographs taken in the 1930s and 1940s and shows people who lived and worked on the Island during the Jenkins period.Black and white photograph with a white border of a horse hitched to a cart loaded with hay. The horse is pulled up alongside a fence with large trunks as posts, and a man is visible in the background as is the hay barn. Digitised from a high resolution copy (original Polaroid is in poor and fragile condition)nilchurchill island, photograph, arthur evans, working horse, hay

This leather horse blinker is an example of the equipment used on working horses in the clonial era and is similar to modern day horse leatherwork.Harness blinker or winker; head harness for a draught horse.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, draught horse, clydesdale, horse harness, winker, blinker, working horse

Horses were a vital part of the agricultural industry in Orbost before the mechanisation of farm machinery. This item is associated with that time.A leather spider harness with chains. It has a wooden pole for display purposes. It was used for a large working horse.equestrian agriculture farming harness

Churchill Island has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series shows the extensive work and volunteering conducted on site by workers after it was turned into a heritage siteColour photograph of a horse hitched to a cart with the hay being unloaded. Potentially taken in 2001 at a Working Horses ExpoCatalogue number on reverse in pencil. churchill island, photograph

Churchill Island has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series shows the extensive work and volunteering conducted on site by workers after it was turned into a heritage siteCloseup colour photograph of two horses standing behind a wooden fence. Potentially taken in 2001 at a Working Horses ExpoCatalogue number on reverse in pencil. churchill island, photograph

Churchill Island has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series shows the extensive work and volunteering conducted on site by workers after it was turned into a heritage siteColour photograph of four Clydesdale horses flanked by two men in matching outfits. Potentially taken in 2001 at a Working Horses ExpoCatalogue number on reverse in pencil. churchill island, photograph

Churchill Island has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series shows the extensive work and volunteering conducted on site by workers after it was turned into a heritage site. Lolly (a deaf horse) and Sophie were two Clydesdales who came to live on Churchill Island in 1997. Colour photograph of two Clydesdales standing facing the camera behind a wooden fence. Potentially taken in 2001 at a Working Horses ExpoCatalogue number on reverse in pencil. churchill island, photograph, clydesdale, horses

Photograph made by A.P. Winzenried as a possible illustration for, "Green Grows Our Garden." There was a severe flood in December 1934.2 copies colour print.. Copy of a newspaper article made by A.P. Winzenried. Caption reads, "Burnley Girls Take Ploughing Lessons. Winter tasks at the Burnley Horticultural School. Students trying their hands at the plough. New top soil had to be laid after the floods." 4 female students working with a horse drawn plough in the Orchard.Handwritten underneath, "R.Weber, E. Pearce, M. Younger, W. Wittakers. "The Sun" 12-6-35."a.p. winzenried, green grows our garden, ploughing lesson, female students, r.weber, e. pearce, m. younger, w. wittakers, orchard, 1934 flood, horse, working outside

Churchill Island has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series shows the extensive work and volunteering conducted on site by workers after it was turned into a heritage siteColour photograph of a Victorian Working Draught Horse Association official standing in front of a team of Clydesdale horses hitched to a piece of machinery. Two men are gathered to the left side. Probably taken at the Churchill Island Easter Festival 30/03/2013Catalogue number on reverse in pencil. Written on reverse in pen "Victoria Working Draught Horse Association official & members with a team & old roller. C.I.Easter Festival 30/3/2013"churchill island, photograph

Churchill Island has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series shows the extensive work and volunteering conducted on site by workers after it was turned into a heritage siteColour photograph of two teams of harnessed horses ploughing a field using historic equipment. Potentially taken in 2001 at a Working Horses ExpoCatalogue number on reverse in pencil. churchill island, photograph

Churchill Island has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series shows the extensive work and volunteering conducted on site by workers after it was turned into a heritage siteColour photograph of a group of people disembarking from a cart being driven by two horses. Potentially taken in 2001 at a Working Horses ExpoCatalogue number on reverse in pencil. churchill island, photograph

Churchill Island has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series shows the extensive work and volunteering conducted on site by workers after it was turned into a heritage siteColour photograph of a large haystack with a cart loaded with hay on the right, and a man holding a Clydesdale on the left. Potentially taken in 2001 at a Working Horses ExpoCatalogue number on reverse in pencil. churchill island, photograph

Churchill Island has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series shows the extensive work and volunteering conducted on site by workers after it was turned into a heritage siteColour photograph of a large haystack with a cart loaded with hay on the right with a Clydesdale, and another seen in the background. Potentially taken in 2001 at a Working Horses ExpoCatalogue number on reverse in pencil. churchill island, photograph

Churchill Island has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series shows the extensive work and volunteering conducted on site by workers after it was turned into a heritage siteColour photograph of a large haystack with a cart having the hay unloaded on the right with a Clydesdale, and another seen in the background. Potentially taken in 2001 at a Working Horses ExpoCatalogue number on reverse in pencil. churchill island, photograph

Churchill Island has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series shows the extensive work and volunteering conducted on site by workers after it was turned into a heritage siteBlurry and unfocused colour photograph of a grazing white horse and a man demonstrating use of a whip in the Churchill Island Precinct. Potentially taken in 2001 at a Working Horses ExpoCatalogue number on reverse in pencil. churchill island, photograph

Churchill Island has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series shows the extensive work and volunteering conducted on site by workers after it was turned into a heritage site. Lolly and Sophie were two Clydesdales who came to live on Churchill Island in 1997. This photo shows Lolly and Sophie hitched to a wagon being driven by Scott Campbell.Colour photograph of a covered cart being drawn by two Clydesdales being driven by a man in front of Rogers Cottage Potentially taken in 2001 at a Working Horses ExpoCatalogue number on reverse in pencil. churchill island, photograph, clydesdale, scott campbell, lolly, sophie

Churchill Island has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series shows the extensive work and volunteering conducted on site by workers after it was turned into a heritage siteColour photograph of a covered cart being drawn by two Clydesdales being driven by a man in front of Rogers Cottage Potentially taken in 2001 at a Working Horses ExpoCatalogue number on reverse in pencil. churchill island, photograph

Churchill Island has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series shows the extensive work and volunteering conducted on site by workers after it was turned into a heritage siteColour photograph of a group of people sitting in a long cart being driven by two horses passing by Amess House Potentially taken in 2001 at a Working Horses ExpoCatalogue number on reverse in pencil. churchill island, photograph

Churchill Island has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series shows the extensive work and volunteering conducted on site by workers after it was turned into a heritage siteColour photograph of a working horse ("Baz") being rested while a family pats him. Probably taken at the Churchill Island Easter Festival 30/03/2013Catalogue number on reverse in pencil. Written on reverse in pen: ""Baz" resting & being petted by visitors. C.I. Easter Festival 30/3/2013" churchill island, photograph

Horses played a vital role in the agricultural and transport history of Orbost. This item is connected to that role.A heavy brown leather saddle used for a working horse to pull a dray. Probably used 1890's -1950's. It has 4 silver metal studs in the corners.saddle equestrian transport dray

Churchill Island has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series shows the extensive work and volunteering conducted on site by workers after it was turned into a heritage siteColour photograph of a group of six oxen yoked together in pairs walking towards the camera. A man with a bullwhip walks to their left. Potentially taken in 2001 at a Working Horses ExpoCatalogue number on reverse in pencil. churchill island, photograph