The Skylark 4, the final in the Slingsby Skylark series, dates from 1961. The design heralded a trend towards the use of plastics in the construction of gliders. Slingsby incorporated GRP (glass reinforced plastic) panels to achieve a streamlined fuselage nose and cockpit area while retaining the more traditional wood techniques for the rest of the aircraft. Another notable feature was the smooth wing surface that was obtained using a Gaboon ply skin across the ribs. Best glide performance of 1:33 was found to be comparable with the early full GRP glider designs. The Museum’s example (VH-GTB – C/N 1382) was built in 1963 and originally owned by Chuck Bentson of the UK. It was brought to Australia in 1967 by Jeremy Picket-Heaps and flown at various places including Benalla, Cooma and Gundaroo. In 1970 the glider was transferred to the New England Soaring Club. Many flights were made from Armidale and Bellata in Northern New South Wales. On one occasion, the glider was kept aloft for 8 hours 45 minutes and on another the pilot took it around a 500 kilometre triangle in nearly 8 hours. In 1980 it was sold to Ralph (“Feathers”) Crompton and was flown extensively in South Australia until 1988. The final owner before the glider was given to the Museum in 2004 was Ross Dutton of Melbourne. The last recorded flight occurred in 1992. The glider at that point had logged over 2000 hours flying time from about 2000 launches. The airframe is currently being restored to flying condition. Technically this aircraft represents the state of the art at the stage that sailplane design was changing from traditional wood construction to composites (GRP) The Slingsby Skylark 4 is high wing single seat sailplane of mainly wooden construction with plywood and fabric covering. However, the cockpit and forward part of the fuselage consists of glass reinforced plastic which was innovative at the time that the type was designed. The cockpit provides for a semi reclining position for the pilot protected with a full Perspex canopy. The wings are made up of a centre section with constant chord and tapered wing tips. The aircraft has a conventional arrangement for the tail stabiliser / control surfaces. The sailplane bears construction number 1382 and is registered in Australia as VH-GTBaustralian gliding, glider, sailplane, skylark, slingsby, bentson, picket-heaps, crompton, new england soaring club, dutton

Bendigo Advertiser "The way we were" from Monday, February 21, 2005. Easter: many entrants in the annual Easter parade in Bendigo rely on the generosity of businesses to enter their floats. In the late 1940s, general carrier and wood merchant, Eric Finch, donated his services to the Bendigo Benevolent Home. The float is photographed travelling around the fountain at View Point.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

1. Piano key from the wreck of the "Scammell". 2. Shavings of hull timber from the "Scammell" and few pieces of plywood contained in glass jar. 3. Shavings of hull timber from the "Scammell" plus small block of wood in large glass jar.1. "Key from piano of wrecked 'Scammell' / Point Danger Torquay 1891". 2. "From the wreck of the Joseph H. Scammell / May 8 1891 Torquay". Written in pen on both sides of key.joseph h. scammell, piano key

These small heavy flat irons were used to iron clothes prior to electric irons being invented. They were heated on a wood fire stove top and used quickly before they lost heat to iron items of clothing and other small items. These irons were very heavy so that they retained the heat when heated by a wood fire stove top prior to electricity being connected to houses. Flat irons were used in the 1800's and in the early 1900's.Heavy black small flat iron with handle on top. Iron tapers from flat wide base to rounded point. It has a round logo on front under the handle.Unreadable round possibly manufacturers logo.social history, irons, ironing, domestic items, 1800's

Kurth's kiln used creek water in a series of waterpipes to cool the charcoal below the flash point for extraction during the charing processA cylinder of wood fitted on a 1" waterpipe, secured by an elbow and a 1" locknut. A 10cl long piece of pipe is fitted on the other side of the elbow. The assembly could be part of the kiln water-cooling system

The bale hooks were used on the Dennys Lascelles building's show floor by the donor's father Maurice Dalton. Maurice was the foreman of the show floor of the Dennys Lacscelles building until his retirement after 34 years with the company and also worked as a wool classer in rural Victoria and New South Wales.Wood handle with curved rusted metal hock ending in a sharp point. One Hook is plain but longer. One hook is shorter and has inscription M.DALTON. on each side of handle. Third hook is much shorter, has dual hooks and a shaped handle.Handle of bale hook. Mirrored. Wording: M.Dalton.

Originating from Scotland pre-1950, this wool winder is ornately decorated featuring a male figure at its peak and a cherub at its base. Wool Winders are practical objects typically with minimal decoration; however, Wool Winders with ornate design features do exist. Scrimshaw (whale ivory) was a popular choice of material in the 18th and 19th century. It is smooth, preventing yarn from getting caught when unwinding, as well as having artistic beauty. Wool winders require a heavy base, as to not topple over when in use. It is popular to decorate these bases on more elaborate winders, such as shown in this example. The bows featured to tie the wood segments together is another feature of more elaborate models of wool winders, also highlighted in this example. This winder began life in the possession of Annie Crawford. The Crawford name has a strong connection with the town of Paisley, Scotland, and its Woollen Mills. The Crawford name can be seen working at the Woollen Mills in the 1851 Scotland Census, with Robert and his brother’s James and John working as Wool dyers. Their father Alexander also worked as a Loom Weaver. The winder immigrated with Annie when she, her husband and 3 children travelled to Australia, ready to start a new life. Most of their possessions were left behind in Scotland. This winder accompanied the family on their journey; so it stands to reason that the winder was special to them. Annie Crawford passed the winder onto her eldest daughter Joan Crawford. Joan did not have any children and so she passed the winder onto the eldest female grandchild, Fiona Crawford. Fiona Crawford continued the connection of the Crawford name with textiles, with an exhibition titled "When you go looking for me, I am not there". Utilising medieval embroidery tradition of ‘Punto Assisi, the exhibition was a reflection on the lack of women recorded in history, particularly their contribution to the domestic arts. Her work investigates both the absence of women while also honouring the unknown female makers of this now highly desired art. The Wool Winder was donated to the National Wool Museum in 2021 by Dianne Crawford, the sister of Fiona Crawford. Umbrella swift style wool winder made of metal, wood, and ribbon. Decorated at its highest point with a sculpted man standing on one leg, holding what is perhaps a rolled newspaper as though he may be bidding at an auction. Or perhaps he is holding a hank of wool. The man stands upon a three-tier platform of decreasing size and design which leads to the central metal shaft. At the base, the winder is decorated with an engraved cherub. Both figures have a small hole in one of their hands, indicating that they originally held something. Unfortunately, it is not known what this is. From the central metal shaft, this winder has 2 rows of 6 arms radiating out. These arms cross in the middle to form an X. These arms are also connected horizontally with additional arms which cross. This all forms an intricate web design, tied together with ribbon. The size of the web these arms create is adjustable, to accommodate yarns of different length. Beneath the second row of arms is a locking screw which holds this row at the desired height and width. This entire top section, beginning at the central metal shaft, can be unscrewed from its base for easier storage. The base begins in a wooden circular shape growing into a smaller ornately designed raise on which the cherub sits. From the head of the cherub the central metal shaft begins.paisley, scotland, wool winder, immigration

Made by internees at camp 3, using wood sourced from under the barracks ie : stumps. Used for wood workingAwl and wooden handle with metal ferrule at end, thin metal shaft , slightly bent coming to a sharp point. Spare handle in a light wood with a brass ferrule.kazenwadel, blacksmith, wood, tools camp 3, chisels, mallets

A tilt-top Sphairistike lawn tennis racquet, with solid concave throat, leather crown protector, and white leather handle grip wrapped along almost the whole length of the shaft. Impressed inscription along throat and shaft on obverse: FRENCH & CO./46 CHURTON ST./LONDON/SPHAIRISTIKE. This historical racquet was literally one of the first lawn tennis racquets - sold as part of a lawn tennis set - to be produced by French & Co., upon the order of Major Wingfield, in anticipation of the patenting and publication of his game rules. Once the patent was granted, Wingfield had his rules published in two days, and had copies slipped into the already constructed French & Co. tennis sets, and from that point, the lawn tennis craze began. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Glue, Metal, Gut, Leather, Inktennis

A real tennis racquet, with tilt-top head, and solid convex throat, manufactured by Brouaye, and presented as a trophy. Manufacturer's name is across crown on obverse.The throat piece is wrapped in a blue coloured piece of parchment, and is gold embossed with decoarative floral designs. Amongst these designs on the obverse, is the date '1860'. The handle is wrapped in padded pink velvet, and is framed by a braided silver collar around the shaft, and a braided silver butt cap. Engraved inscription across the silver collar: JUNIOR PRIZE RACQUET/WON BY/B.M. DAVIES ESQ./1860. Davies was an undergraduate student at Oxford from 1860-62, and won this, the Junior Prize in 1860, and later, the Senior Prize in 1862. A point of interest, the 1862 racquet trophy was once owned by Australian tennis champion, Lew Hoad. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Glue, Metal, Gut, Ink, Hide, Velvettennis

An late 18th century court tennis racquet, made from two pieces of interlocked wood, secured with two screws. One is the handle/throat, the other is the shoulders/head. The latter unfortunately had, at some point in the past, split at the crown, and whipping was applied to reinforce it. The gut stringing is three-way. The throat and lower shoulders have been hand painted, with both linear and floral designs. Across the thoat on the obverse is the monogram which reads 'BWB'. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Metal, Gut, Paint, Stringtennis

In the early 1920s Australia was gifted six J class submarines from the Royal Navy. These were the latest and largest submarines built by the RN for service in World War I. They were competent but were in service with the Royal Navy for only a short time before the end of the war. Once in Australia they were placed into service but there was little appetite for submarines or in fact any other military endeavour in the early ‘twenties’. The world was exhausted from a long and dirty war followed by a devastating Influenza Epidemic. The J class boats were soon retired and sunk as breakwaters or scuttled in the ship graveyard area off the mouth of Port Phillip Bay.Popular diving sites in Ships Graveyard outside the rip between Point Lonsdale and Barwon HeadsCircular brass plaque inscribed with J5 North Sea 1917 1918 made from a piece of navigational equipment used on the submarine J5 mounted on woodSubmarine J5 North Sea 1917 - 1918j class submarines, j5, ships graveyard, port phillip

The goldfields resulted in the almost complete denuding of trees for access to the gold bearing land, for firewood and for the tanning industry. The need for wood further increased with the advent of deep quartz mining that required timbers for shoring up the shafts and tunnels. At some point in time it became necessary for timber to be carted long distances to fulfil the need. Between 1878 and 1884, the government set up 5 nurseries to try and rectify the shortage of native softwoods and encouraged the growth of State plantations and the thinning of trees to encourage growth of those remaining. 1907 - Creswick School of Forestry and Forest Management was started 1919 Establishment of the Forests Commission and the planting of many pine plantations 1924 Establishment of the first fire spotting towers Forest management tasks became a main project for "Susso" recipients during the Great Depression and again for internees during WWII.An 8 page document by David Bannear about the various industries of the Bendigo Goldfields and their effects on terraforming the local environment david bannear, central goldfields

A wooden racquet, featuring a decal of a stylized wreathed crown, on both sides of throat. Inscription, from head to stem, on both sides: SLAZENGER/MATCH POINT/GENUINE "STRATA-BILT" CONSTRUCTION. Inscription along left side of stem: A SLAZENGER RACKET HAS WON/NINE OF THE LAST FOURTEEN/U.S. MENS SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIPS. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Metal, Glue, Lacquer, Leather, Ink, Ribbon, Plastic, Painttennis

A Davis Hi-Point tennis racquet, with string whipping around shoulders, and leather handle grip with patterned perforations. Davis logo and model name features across base of head and throat. TAD "Kings of the Court" trademark features on lower shaft on reverse. Davis coat-of-arms "Duce virtute comite fortuna" trademark features on lower shaft on obverse. TAD trademark features on rubber butt cap. Letters 'EHS' on obverse, and 'GPE' on reverse, have been burnt into the shaft. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, String, Leather, Adhesive tape, Rubbertennis

A Davis Hi-Point tennis racquet, with ribbon whipping around shoulders, and leather handle grip with patterned perforations. Davis logo and model name features across base of head and throat. TAD "Kings of the Court" trademark features on lower shaft on reverse. Davis coat-of-arms "Duce virtute comite fortuna" trademark features on lower shaft on obverse. TAD trademark features on rubber butt cap. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Ribbon, Leather, Adhesive tape, Rubbertennis

A Davis Hi-Point tennis racquet, with ribbon whipping around shoulders, and leather handle grip with patterned perforations. Davis logo and model name features across base of head and throat. TAD "Kings of the Court" trademark features on lower shaft on obverse. Davis coat-of-arms "Duce virtute comite fortuna" trademark features on lower shaft on reverse. TAD trademark features on rubber butt cap. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Ribbon, Leather, Adhesive tape, Rubbertennis

An unstrung Davis Hi-Point tennis racquet, with ribbon whipping around shoulders, and leather handle grip with patterned perforations. Davis logo and model name features across base of head and throat. TAD "Kings of the Court" trademark features on lower shaft on obverse. Davis coat-of-arms "Duce virtute comite fortuna" trademark features on lower shaft on reverse. TAD trademark features on rubber butt cap. Materials: Wood, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Ribbon, Leather, Adhesive tape, Rubbertennis

A Davis Hi Point, fibreglass composite tennis racquet, with an open throat and large head. Racquet features plain leather handle grip. Model name features across base of head. Davis logo features along shaft. TAD trademark features on rubber butt cap. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Leather, Adhesive tape, Rubber, Fibreglass, Painttennis

A Wright & Ditson 'All American' model wooden racquet with open throat and octagonal grooved handle. String whipping around shoulders, throat pieces and around base of throat. Leather end wrap. On obverse, model name appears as a decal atop throat on base of head. On both obverse and reverse the trademark, patent information and country of manufacture are printed on shaft. On reverse, Manufacturer name is printed as decal on base of head, above throat. Indistinct letters carved into handle,and into shaft. Instructions on side of throat state: BAL/FROM/THIS/POINT. On one side of shaft:WRIGHT & DITSON/MAKERS/MADE IN U.S.A. and further down:STRUNG BY. Materials: Wood, Gut, Metal, Lacquer, Glue, Ink, Leather, Stringtennis

A Wright & Ditson 'All American' model wooden racquet with open throat and octagonal handle. String whipping around shoulders, throat pieces and around base of throat. Leather end wrap and butt cap. On obverse, model name appears as a decal atop throat on base of head. On both obverse and reverse the trademark, patent information and country of manufacture are printed on shaft. On reverse, Manufacturer name is printed as decal on base of head, above throat. Instructions on side of throat state: BAL/FROM/THIS/POINT. On one side of shaft:'WRIGHT & DITSON/MAKERS/MADE IN U.S.A./LICENSED UNDER/PAT.NO.1664466' and further down:'STRUNG BY'. On other side of shaft:PATENTED/TOP FLITE CONSTRUCTION. Materials: Wood, Gut, Metal, Lacquer, Glue, Ink, Leather, Stringtennis

A Wright & Ditson 'All American' model wooden racquet with open throat and octagonal grooved handle. String whipping and plastic reinforcements around shoulders and base of throat. Leather end wrap and butt cap. On obverse, model name appears as a decal atop throat on base of head. On reverse, manufacturer name is printed as decal on base of head, above throat. Instructions on side of throat state: BAL/FROM/THIS/POINT. On one side of shaft:'WRIGHT & DITSON/MAKERS/MADE IN U.S.A./LICENSED UNDER/PAT.NO.1664466' and further down:'STRUNG BY'. On other side of shaft:PATENTED/TOP FLITE CONSTRUCTION. Materials: Wood, Gut, Metal, Lacquer, Glue, Ink, Leather, String, Plastictennis

A Wilson, Mary Hardwick Match Point tennis racquet. Base of head features Wilson logo. Throat features decal head and neck illustration of Hardwick. Lower shaft and plastic butt cap features 'W' trademark. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Leather, Adhesive tape, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Paint, Plastic, Plastictennis

A Wilson Famous Player Series, Maureen Connolly Match Point tennis racquet. Base of head features Wilson logo. Throat features gold fleur-de-lis device. Shaft features decal head and shoulders image of Connolly. Cloth butt cover features blue 'W' trademark. Leather handle grip features quatrefoil perforations. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Leather, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Paint, Ribbon, Adhesive tape, Clothtennis

A Wilson, Tony Trabert Match Point tennis racquet. Base of head features Wilson logo. Throat features decal head and shoulders photo image of an older Trabert. Shaft features model name. Leather handle grip features quatrefoil perforations. Lower shaft and butt cap feature 'W' trademark. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Leather, Glue, Metal, Lacquer, Paint, Adhesive tape, Plastic, Plastictennis