The invention of the Coolgardie Safe is credited to Arthur Patrick McCormick, a contractor in Coolgardie, and later the Mayor of Narrogin. Coolgardie is in the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia. Gold was first discovered there in 1892; the townsite became a municipality in 1894, and by 1898 its population of 15,000 made it the third largest town in Western Australia after Perth and Fremantle. In the last decade of the 19th century, Coolgardie was the capital of the West Australian goldfields. Being 180 kilometres from the nearest civilisation, food supplies were initially scarce and expensive. As fresh food was a valuable commodity there was incentive to preserve it, and keep it out of reach of scavengers such as birds, dingos, dogs, ants, and flies. It was in an effort to do this, in the extreme heat of the Australian Interior, that McCormick came up with his design for the Coolgardie Safe. McCormick noticed that a wet bag placed over a bottle cooled its contents. He further noted that if this bottle was placed in a breeze, the bag would dry out more quickly, but the bottle would get colder. What McCormick had discovered was the principle of evaporation: ‘to change any liquid into a gaseous state requires energy. This energy is taken in the form of heat from its surroundings.’ Employing this principle, McCormick made a box for his provisions which he covered with a wet hessian bag. He then placed a tray on top, into which he poured water twice daily. He hung strips of flannel from the tray so that water would drip down onto the hessian bag, keeping it damp. As the water evaporated, the heat dissipated, keeping the food stored inside cool and fresh. The success of McCormick’s invention would not have worked without a steady supply of water. Fresh water was scarce in the eastern goldfields at this time but the demand for water from a steadily growing population encouraged innovation. The solution was to condense salt water. Heating salt water in tanks produced steam that was condensed in tall cylinders, cooled and then collected in catchment trays. By 1898 there were six companies supplying condensed water to the goldfields, the largest company producing 100,000 gallons of water a day. In the early 20th century, Coolgardie Safes were also manufactured commercially. 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. (MAV website) The early settlers of Moorabbin Shire depended on this type of Food Safe to protect their food from flies and vermin as they established market gardens in the fertile area around the notorious Elster Creek A metal framed, 4 sided structure standing on 4 legs with 2 hinged doors on one side, a metal tray at base of food safe and a metal cover over top. Ridges on which to rest trays carrying food are inside safe. The Safe is enclosed by fly-wire mesh.'...IN.....GEELONG' A manufacturer's oval metal plate is embossed on one side of Safe but it is illegible.elster creek, moorabbin, brighton, dendy's special survey 1841, market gardens, infant mortality, disease, cemeteries, fruit, vegetables, pioneers, coolgardie safe, mccormick arthur patrick, dendy henry, vaccination, jones martha, jones ethel may

Programme used at Gymkhana on 10.3.1956 at Bradvale football ground, proceeds from Gymkhana going to the hall building fund.A4 grey paper folded in three. Printed on all sides, programme for Bradvale Gymkhana 1956.Text: " BRADVALE / GYMKHANA / ON / BRADVALE FOOTBALL OVAL / Saturday, 10th March / 1956.programmes, events, gymkhanas

Manufactured by Holden and Frost for the illumination on buggies during the period of ca1900Manufactured and sold by Holden and FrostBlack painted steel carriage lamp. Oval front lens, red dimple lens on rear ,clear glass sides rectangular in shape, oval dome chimneyPatent no 270buggies, lamp, civilian

Wedding of Kenneth Douglas Ingram to Margaret Rose Teagle, 22 June 1935margaret rose ingram (nee teagle), wedding, margaret rose fielding (nee teagle), kenneth douglas ingram, margaret rose teagle, pam thoonen (nee ingram) collection

The spoon is an example of a utensils used in the kitchen in Victorian times and still used today.Spoon, wooden, blonde with oval spoon and rod handleflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, spoon, wooden spoon, kitchen utensil, baking equipment

Found at Allen's Flat on the Buckland Goldfield, site of Allen and Farleys Store which was traded during the 1850s through to the 1860s. Site of reported violence during the Buckland Riot in 1857.Artifact from an area that reportedly had a population of 5,000 during the goldrush of 1850s but now virtually a deserted and overgrown valley. oval, blue and white willow ware design, crockerymakers stamp on back, crown above sash with letters, J ? ? ?, behive underneath, partly surrounded by a laurel ? wreath. Numeral 3 adjacent to the makers stampkitchen ware, flat, crockery, willow ware, buckland, allens

Ecru coloured doily for dressing table. Oval shaped flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, doily, doiley, doyly, doyley, haberdashery, manchester, crotched

Wooden & Cork lid Logo within a Oval ShapeMarchant 5 This Bottle is not complete without the stopper Barrett Bro's Trade BB Mark North FITZ ROY

Hilda Elizabeth Foster (1890-1982) was commissioned as a Deaconess in 1914 giving a lifetime of service to the church particularly in the social care aspect of the Gospel. She was also a double certified nurse. Deaconess Hilda Foster began her work as a Deaconess in South Melbourne and then served for 13 years with the Presbyterian Sisterhood in North Fitzroy caring for unmarried mothers and their babies. In 1933 she was appointed Matron of the Presbyterian Girls' Home in Elsternwick where she worked for 15 years. She retired in 1948 when it was noted "In complete dedication matron has given herself to this care of souls". Deaconess Foster was awarded the British Empire Medal for her work in the Queen's birthday honours in 1981. Deaconess Foster was one of the first qualified Mother Christmasses in Australia. [Minutes of the Sixth Synod, Oct 1982]Dark stained wood backed oval hand mirror.presbyterian deaconess, deaconess hilda elizabeth foster

Oval Presbyterian communion token with text on both sides."F.N.Y. C.C.M." "I.COR. II.28"presbyterian church

Large oval white Serving Platter embossed patternstawell

JOHN RALPH WHO WAS THE CONDUCTOR OF THE CLUNES METHODIST CHOIR, CIRCA 1880BLACK CARDBOARD WITH AN OVAL SHAPED PHOTGRAPH OF JOHN RALPHJOHN RALPH, CONDUCTOR OF METHODIST CHOIRlocal history, photography, photographs, churches - wesley

UNIDENTIFIED PHOTOGRAPH DONATED BY W. GAYFORD, 20 WOLSLEY STREET, MONT ALBERTSMALL OVAL PHOTOGRAPH ON RECTANGULAR BACKING OF YOUNG GIRLlocal history, photography, photograph, unidentified photograph

DANCERS? ARRIVING AT FOOTY OVAL VICTORIA PARK. CLUNES.local history, photography, photographs, events and celebrations

Small oval shaped yellow tin, with Easter pictures.Easter bunny on lid, Easter eggs around side, 180g milk chocolate Easter eggs. Imported and Marketed by: Confectionery Link Pty Ltd. Product of Australia. Tin made in China.

Huttley - MartinB/W. Oval Portrait Young Boy in suit.Wm B Latimer 145 Smith Street Fitzroy On Reverse: ? Specialite Instantaneous Portraiture of young children. Enlargements Miniatures (on diagonal reading Upwards) Wm B Latimer Photo Art Studio 145 Smith Street Victoria.martin, huttley

Oval white linen doily with tatted lace edgingwhite cotton doily, tatted lace edging, slovenian association melbourne

Oval white porcelain plate with dark blue edge.domestic items, crockery

Oval, black, metal, heavy, Red ring pullNo 36 M MK1 R.B.O 8-41 F.L.Hmills bomb, bomb, grenade, hand grenade, world war two, second world war, ww2

Oval shaped hand mirror, ivroy coloured Xylonite.personal effects, hairdressing, mirror

Item of functional jewelleryGilded metal and oval pink pearl hat pin.hat pins, costume jewellery, fashion accessories

Oval Painting by Judith Meyer of Stawell Town Scene stawell, artwork

Drawing room Chair Oval Back. Tapestry Upholstering.stawell

Oval Shaped Mobile Auto Tray on three wheels stawell