This baby's white cotton Christening gown is an example of the dressmaking skills of the women of the early settlers families in Moorabbin Shire in the early 20th C Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire c1900 and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families Baby's long sleeved white cotton christening gown with 2cm bands of pintucks on yoke and long ties. Bone button fastens at napeclothing, needlework, haberdashery, crochet, doilies, brighton, moorabbin, pioneers, dressmaking, market gardeners, early settlers, craftwork, bentleigh, lacework, moorabbin shire, milne meryl, dairy farms, fruit orchards

Baby's cream silk short sleeved top with V neck and hand sewn scalloped neckline, cuffs and hem is an example of the dressmaking skills of the women of the early settlers families in Moorabbin Shire in the early 20th C Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shirec1900 and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families Baby's cream silk short sleeved top with V neck and hand sewn scalloped neckline, cuffs and hemclothing,needlework, haberdashery, crochet, doilies, brighton, moorabbin, pioneers, dressmaking, market gardeners, early settlers, craftwork , bentleigh, lacework, moorabbin shire, dairy farms, fruit orchards

Child's white cotton pants with side buttons and lace edging at leg were made by women of the early settler families in Moorabbin Shire c1900 and show their dressmaking and needlework skills Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire c1900 and this item shows the dressmaking skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families Child's cotton pants with lace edging on legs and 2 side bone buttonsclothing, brighton, moorabbin, pioneers, dressmaking, market gardeners, early settlers, craftwork, lacework, moorabbin shire, bentleigh, mckinnon, dairy farms, fruit orchards

This lady’s hand-sewn silk sleeveless nightgown is an example of the dressmaking and lacework skills of the women of the early settlers families in Moorabbin Shire in the early 20th C Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families Clothing, lady's hand sewn full length cream silk sleeveless nightgown with lacework insert clothing, crochet, brighton, moorabbin, pioneers, dressmaking, market gardeners, early settlers, craftwork, bentleigh, lacework, moorabbin shire, fruit orchard, mrs l risstrom, dairy farms

This lady’s cream fine cotton combination 'teddy' is an example of the dressmaking , lacework and needlework skills of the women of the early settlers families in Moorabbin Shire in the early 20th C Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire c1900 and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families Lady's hand sewn fine cream cotton , 'teddy', a combination petticoat with a crotch that fastens with 2 mother of pearl buttons Shoulder straps and neckline are edged with crochet and the yoke has coloured needlework. Hand sewn gathering at hip line of side seams clothing, haberdashery, crochet, doilies, brighton, moorabbin, pioneers, dressmaking, market gardeners, early settlers, craftwork, bentleigh, lacework, moorabbin shire, hunt ailsa, dairy farms, fruit orchards

This lady’s fine cream cotton camisole is an example of the dressmaking and lacework skills of the women of the early settlers families in Moorabbin Shire in the early 20th C Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families Lady's hand sewn cream silk camisole with lacework yoke, neckline and cuffs of short sleeves, and a drawstring waist clothing, haberdashery, crochet, doilies, brighton, moorabbin, pioneers, dressmaking, market gardeners, early settlers, craftwork, bentleigh, lacework, moorabbin shire, hunt ailsa, dairy farms, fruit orchardscancel

This lady’s fine cotton night cap is an example of the dressmaking skills of the women of the early settlers families in Moorabbin Shire in the early 20th C Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire c1900 and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families Lady's cream voile night mop cap with 4 lacework panels and edging clothing, crochet, mop caps, brighton, moorabbin, pioneers, dressmaking, market gardeners, early settlers, craftwork, bentleigh, lacework, moorabbin shire, hunt ailsa, dairy farms, fruit orchards

This lady’s cotton mop cap was worn to protect the hair when cleaning, washing clothes and other household chores and is an example of the dressmaking skills of the women of the early settlers families in Moorabbin Shire in the early 20th C Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire c1900 and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families Clothing, lady's white cotton mop cap clothing, crochet, mop caps, brighton, moorabbin, pioneers, dressmaking, market gardeners, early settlers, craftwork, bentleigh, lacework, moorabbin shire, dairy farms, fruit orchards

This lady’s white, cotton camisole is an example of the dressmaking and craftwork skills of the women of the early settlers families in Moorabbin Shire in the early 20th Century. The garment is hand sewn.and ribbons were inserted at yoke and waist Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families Lady's hand sewn white lacework camisole with shoulder straps and ribbon inserts at yoke and waist clothing, crochet, brighton, moorabbin, pioneers, dressmaking, market gardeners, early settlers, craftwork, lacework, moorabbin shire, bentleigh, mckinnon, hunt ailsa, dairy farms, fruit orchards

This lady’s white cotton nightdress with needlework and lacework is an example of the dressmaking and craftwork skills of the women of the early settlers families in Moorabbin Shire in the early 20th C Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families Clothing, lady's fine cotton hand sewn full length sleeveless nightdress, with needlework and pintucks and lace trim on neck and armholes and a large lace border at hemclothing, crochet, brighton, moorabbin, pioneers, dressmaking, market gardeners, early settlers, craftwork, lacework, moorabbin shire, bentleigh, mckinnon, hunt ailsa, dairy farms, fruit orchards

This lady’s sachet for keeping handkerchiefs is hand sewn,and hand painted and is an example of the dressmaking and craftwork skills of the women of the early settlers families in Moorabbin Shire in the early 20th C Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families c1900 Personal Effects, handkerchief sachet silk hand painted clothing, crochet, brighton, moorabbin, pioneers, dressmaking, market gardeners, early settlers, craftwork, lacework, moorabbin shire, bentleigh, mckinnon, hunt ailsa, dairy farms, fruit orchards

In 1910, Portland Knitting Company began in downtown Portland, Oregon, with a few hand-knitting machines above a tiny retail store. Little did founders Carl Jantzen, Roy and John Zehntbauer know that they would achieve both fame and controversy as swimwear pioneers. Producing a wool suit for a rowing team they began offering "bathing suits" in their catalog. Knit on sweater cuff machines, the suits became popular with swimmers. The demand increased for those "Jantzens" and the company name was changed in 1918 to Jantzen Knitting Mills. The suits were made of 100% pure virgin wool. Matching stockings and stocking cap completed the costume of the day. Early advertisements guaranteed the famous rib-stitch "gives that wonderful fit". c1930 Jantzen catalogs featured upcoming movie stars, including Loretta Young, Joan Blondell, Ginger Rogers, and Dick Powell. National magazines such as Esquire, the Saturday Evening Post, Life, and Colliers published advertisements illustrated by George Petty. 2010 Jantzen has achieved new levels of success this decade through social media, attracting thousands of fans around the world who share their own memories about their favorite Jantzen suits throughout the decades Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire c1900 and after World War 1 soldiers were assisted to purchase land near the railway line. By 1930 the population had grown with new families who had other occupations - office workers in Melbourne, tradesmen, teachers, etc - and they raised their families in Bentleigh, McKinnon, Ormond, Moorabbin and Cheltenham.Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire c1900 and after World War 1 soldiers were assisted to purchase land near the railway line. By 1930 the population had grown with new families who had other occupations - office workers in Melbourne, tradesmen, teachers, etc - and they raised their families in Bentleigh, McKinnon, Ormond, Moorabbin and Cheltenham. Clothing, men's swim costume wool, 'Jantzen' c1930 clothing, brighton, moorabbin, pioneers, market gardeners, early settlers, moorabbin shire, bentleigh, mckinnon, dairy farms, fruit orchards, swimwear

A horse collar is a part of a horse harness that is used to distribute the load around a horse's neck and shoulders when pulling a wagon or plough. The collar often supports and pads a pair of curved metal or wooden pieces, called hames, to which the traces of the harness are attached. The collar allows the horse to use its full strength when pulling, essentially enabling the animal to push forward with its hindquarters into the collar. It is a padded appliance that conforms well to the shape of the horse's body and is constructed so that at all points of contact with the body of the horse it avoids the air passage.The early settlers in Moorabbin Shire depended on the draught horse to pull the equipment need to plough the fields, grade the roads, pull their wagons of produce and small carts for transport as they developed the land after the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841Horse Collar, 20thC mediumearly settlers, pioneers, draught horse, ploughs, farm equipment, saddles, leatherwork, blacksmiths, cheltenham, sandringham, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, parish of moorabbin, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, horse drawn wagons, plateway, vegetables, poultry farms, dairy farms,

shoulders when pulling a wagon or plough. The collar often supports and pads a pair of curved metal or wooden pieces, called hames, to which the traces of the harness are attached. The collar allows the horse to use its full strength when pulling, essentially enabling the animal to push forward with its hindquarters into the collar. It is a padded appliance that conforms well to the shape of the horse's body and is constructed so that at all points of contact with the body of the horse it avoids the air passage.The early settlers in Moorabbin Shire depended on the draught horse to pull the equipment need to plough the fields, grade the roads, pull their wagons of produce and small carts for transport as they developed the land after the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841 Horse Collar small 20thCearly settlers, pioneers, draught horse, ploughs, farm equipment, saddles, leatherwork, blacksmiths, cheltenham, sandringham, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, parish of moorabbin, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, horse drawn wagons, plateway, vegetables, poultry farms, dairy farms,

A horse collar is a part of a horse harness that is used to distribute the load around a horse's neck and shoulders when pulling a wagon or plough. The collar often supports and pads a pair of curved metal or wooden pieces, called hames, to which the traces of the harness are attached. The collar allows the horse to use its full strength when pulling, essentially enabling the animal to push forward with its hindquarters into the collar. It is a padded appliance that conforms well to the shape of the horse's body and is constructed so that at all points of contact with the body of the horse it avoids the air passage.The early settlers in Moorabbin Shire depended on the draught horse to pull the equipment need to plough the fields, grade the roads, pull their wagons of produce and small carts for transport as they developed the land after the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841Horse Collar large 20thCearly settlers, pioneers, draught horse, ploughs, farm equipment, saddles, leatherwork, blacksmiths, cheltenham, sandringham, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, parish of moorabbin, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, horse drawn wagons, plateway, vegetables, poultry farms, dairy farms,

20th C and probably earlier families could make this simple 'knitting machine' by using a piece of round, hollow wood and knocking 4 nails into one end of the cylinder leaving a protrusion of 2cm. An empty cotton reel was commonly used with left over knitting wool. Children were taught to wind the wool around the nails in loops, figure of 8 and other patterns so that a chain was made which gradually protruded through the base of the cylinder as a knitted chain. The chains could be made to any length and then sewn together to make a usable object eg face washer.Gladys Reed was a member of the Ormond Choral Society c 1950. who performed plays and musicals the City of Moorabbin and she was skilled in hand knitting, crochet and dressmakingGladys Reed was a member of the Ormond Choral Society c 1950. who performed plays and musicals in the City of Moorabbin and this Doll was made and used by her family.c1950A small piece of painted, carved wood with central hollow and 4 nails on top used for making/ knitting a woollen chain.Painted doll featuresknitting, clothing, haberdashery, crochet, doilies, brighton, moorabbin, pioneers, dressmaking, market gardeners, early settlers, craftwork , bentleigh, lacework, moorabbin shire, reed gladys, dairy farms, fruit orchards

Many Box family members attended and were married in this Parish Church in Sussex, This is the Parish Church of the Box Family in Withyham, Sussex, England Colour postcard of the Box family Parish Church in Withyham, Sussex Judges Postcards Ltd. Hastings England c 1990city of moorabbin, brighton, dendy henry, box william, box elizabeth, rietman august, rietman frieda, box cottage museum ormond, box alonzo, glen eira city council, city of moorabbin historical society, ormond, bentleigh, cheltenham, box george, box mary, box william, box elizabeth, box alonzo, box mary louisa, dendy henry, were j b, dendy's special survey 1841, brighton, moorabbin, bentleigh, mckinnon, ormond, market gardeners, dairy farms, early settlers, pioneers, jasper road, gurr jabez, gurr eliza, pay henry, pay anna, ward willam, box henry, ward elizabeth emma, box john, sheldrake martha, rushall eleanor, box caroline

Mr Francis Guumes1884-1950, was born in the Cheltenham district and later bought land in Heatherton Rd, Heatherton, where he and his two sons developed a market garden. Mr Guumes , a self taught leather worker, made every piece of this harness. He entered this outfit in the Royal Melbourne Show c1947 and was awarded 1st Prize in his section. ( H. Stanley 2005)Early settlers in Moorabbin Shire had to be resourceful and self sufficient as they developed market gardens and farms. The community learned to make, repair and invent tools and equipment that was needed on their properties. Black & White photograph, enlarged, showing Mr Francis Guumes, with the rig and leather work that he entered and won 1st prize in the Royal Melbourne Show c 1947guumes francis, royal melbourne show 1947, leatherwork, saddles, harness, draught horses, horse drawn carts, smith j l; smith mary ann, stanley helen, smith vic, , chaff cutter, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, mckinnon, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards

The Peterson family were early settlers in Moorabbin Shire and established a market garden in East Boundary Road East Bentleigh. Vic Peterson - waistcoat, with Dick Marriott seated - ( brother in -law ), 2 unknown men and 7year old Geoff Peterson - Poliomyelitis as a baby- sitting in front with his walking sticks. The crop is cabbages that would be harvested and sent to the Melbourne markets.The early settlers like the Petersons and Marriotts, in the Parish of Moorabbin County of Bourke after Henry Dendy's Special Survey Brighton 1841, established market gardens, fruit & flower gardens, poultry & dairy farms, vineyards as well as shop businesses, blacksmiths, chemists, nursing homes and schools & Churches.Black & White photograph of Vic Peterson and 3 men & boy on his market garden in East Boundary Road East Bentleigh c1925 re-digitised 2005back ; handwritten information unsignedwagons, vulcan trucks, draught horses,, peterson vic, marriott dick, cabbage crops, vegetable crops, poliomyelitis epidemics 20thc , elster creek, plateways moorabbin shire, smith j l; smith mary ann, stanley helen, smith vic, smith harry redvers, chaff cutter, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, mckinnon, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards

The Peterson family were early settlers in Moorabbin Shire and established a market garden in East Boundary Road East Bentleigh. Vic Peterson and family loaded the crop - cabbages - onto the horse drawn wagon and set off to the Melbourne market using the Plateways that ran along Centre Road and Nepean Highway. The early settlers like the Petersons , in the Parish of Moorabbin County of Bourke after Henry Dendy's Special Survey Brighton 1841, established market gardens, fruit & flower gardens, poultry & dairy farms, vineyards as well as shop businesses, blacksmiths, chemists, nursing homes and schools & Churches.Black & White photograph showing Vic Peterson beside the horse drawn wagon loaded with 35dozen ( 12x 35) cabbages setting off to market c 1900 Original re-digitised by H Stanley 2005Back Hand written informationwagons, vulcan trucks, draught horses,, peterson vic, marriott dick, cabbage crops, vegetable crops, poliomyelitis epidemics 20thc , elster creek, plateways moorabbin shire, smith j l; smith mary ann, stanley helen, smith vic, smith harry redvers, chaff cutter, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, mckinnon, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards

The kerosene lamp is a type of lighting device that uses kerosene as a fuel. Kerosene lamps have a wick or mantle as light source, protected by a glass chimney or globe; lamps may be used on a table, or hand-held lanterns may used for portable lighting. There are three types of kerosene lamp: traditional flat wick, central draught (tubular round wick), and mantle lamp. The side screws adjust the length of the wick and hence the strength of the flame / light produced. Prior to the introduction of gas and electricity these lamps provided light in households after sunset.Prior to the introduction of gas and electricity these lamps provided light after sunset for the early settlers, as they established their farms and businesses, in Moorabbin Shire.A Victorian kerosene banquet lamp, with a gilded metal quad footed base, cranberry glass oil reservoir with geometric patterns, original etched, yellow, glass globe shade and clear glass chimney. There are 2 side screws for adjusting the flame.early settlers. pioneers, follett w, moorabbin, bentleigh, brighton, ormond, market gardeners, kerosene, paraffin, lights, lamps, candles

The pioneer farmers and market gardeners in Moorabbin Shire had to be self sufficient and made their own tools and clothing and grew their own food. Some had been farmers in England and brought with them tools that would help them establish homes in the new countryAn example of the typical tools used by pioneers in Moorabbin Shire as they built homes and established farms. c1880 This spokeshave, is a wooden hand - plane that has a very short flat metal sole, used for smoothing curved surfaces.moorabbin, brighton, cheltenham, market gardeners, pioneers, farmers, tools, planes wood

A scythe is an agricultural hand tool for mowing grass or reaping crops. It was largely replaced by horse-drawn and then tractor machinery. A scythe consists of a wooden shaft and a long, curved blade is mounted at the lower end, perpendicular. Scythes always have the blade projecting from the left side when in use. Mowing is done by holding the handle , with the arms straight, the blade parallel to the ground and very close to it, and the body twisted to the right. The body is then twisted steadily to the left, moving the scythe blade along its length in a long arc from right to left, ending in front of the mower, thus depositing the cut grass to the left. Mowing proceeds with a steady rhythm, stopping at frequent intervals to sharpen the blade. The correct technique has a slicing action on the grass, cutting a narrow strip with each stroke Mowing grass is easier when it is damp, and so hay-making traditionally began at dawn and often stopped early, the heat of the day being spent raking and carting the hay cut on previous daysEarly settlers and market gardeners used these scythes as they established their farms in Moorabbin Shire c1880A large metal scythe with a wooden handle x 2early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, moorabbin, bentleigh, brighton, cheltenham, tools, blacksmiths

A gimlet is a hand tool for drilling small holes, mainly in wood, without splitting. A gimlet is always a small tool made of a piece of steel of a semi-cylindrical form, hollow on one side, having a cross handle at one end and a worm or screw at the other. A similar tool of larger size is called an auger. Early settlers in Moorabbin Shire had to be self reliant as they established their farms and built their homes using tools like this gimlet. 2 x small hand tool with a screw point, grooved shank, and cross handle for boring holes early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, moorabbin, bentleigh, brighton, cheltenham, tools, blacksmiths

A marking gauge, also known as a scratch gauge, is used in woodworking and metal working to mark out lines for cutting or other operations. The purpose of the gauge is to scribe a line parallel to a reference edge or surface. It is used in joinery and sheet metal operations.The gauge consists of a beam, a headstock, and a scribing or marking implement, typically a pin, knife, pen or wheel. The headstock slides along the beam, and is locked in place by various means: a locking screw, cam lever, or a wedge. The marking implement is fixed to one end of the beam.Early settlers in Moorabbin Shire had to be self reliant and made their own clothes and tools as they established homes and farms for their familiesc1900 A hand made wooden marker gaugeearly settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, moorabbin, bentleigh, brighton, cheltenham, tools

Richard Carter Ltd is still making edge tools in Honley, near Huddersfield. Established in 1740 by Jeremiah Carter in High Burton: the 1834 Piggots directory list three edge tool CARTER - makers at Kirk Burton: Henry Carter, John Carter and Robert Carter. By 1870 the company was known by its current name. The Stanley Rule and Level Company was founded in 1857 by Henry Stanley in New Britain, Connecticut. In 1920, this company merged with the separate but related Stanley Works, founded by Henry Stanley's cousin Frederick Trent Stanley, and continued operating as its hand tools division.. 2010 merger of The Stanley Works with Black & Decker Subsequent reports by visitors to Vic. Collections are noted Geoff Thomas 2019, Mitchell 2019 , Bob Burgess 2022 The early settlers were resourceful and self sufficient so they made and repaired their tools as required.Early settlers were self sufficient and resourceful making and mending their tools, farm and household equipment.c1900 A 'Carter' hand wood plane, made of metal with an adjustable screw for blade thickness.early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, moorabbin, bentleigh, brighton, cheltenham, tools

A hand plane is a tool for shaping wood Hand planes are generally the combination of a cutting edge, such as a sharpened metal plate, attached to a firm body, that when moved over a wood surface, take up relatively uniform shavings, by nature of the body riding on the 'high spots' in the wood, and also by providing a relatively constant angle to the cutting edge, render the planed surface very smooth. A cutter which extends below the bottom surface, or sole, of the plane slices off shavings of wood. A large, flat sole on a plane guides the cutter to remove only the highest parts of an imperfect surface, until, after several passes, the surface is flat and smooth.The family of Mr Lamb were early settlers in Moorabbin Shire and had to be self reliant and made their own clothes and tools as they established homes and farms for their families.c1880 A hand made wood planeearly settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, moorabbin, bentleigh, brighton, cheltenham, tools

Traditionally, a bow saw is a woodworking tool used for straight or curved cuts. A bow saw is a type of frame saw. Its thin blade is held in tension by a frame. In English and American vocabulary it denotes a toothed blade suspended between two long narrow handles called "cheeks" that are supported and separated by a thin stretcher in the centre of the handles, making a wide H shape (the cheeks form the uprights of the H, the stretcher the crossbar of the H). The blade is kept in tension with a turnbuckle or a twisted cord that runs parallel to the blade between the two cheeks but on the opposite side of the stretcher. If a cord is used, the cord is twisted with a toggle attached to one loop of the cord, adding tension. The toggle hits the stretcher, which keeps the cord from untwisting. A finer version of the saw uses a narrow blade (1/4" or less) with handles that allow the user to hold the saw and turn the blade. In this context it is also known as a turning saw[2] which is larger than a coping saw.Early settlers in Moorabbin Shire had to be self reliant and made their own clothes, tools and equipment as they established their market gardens and farms. A wooden Bow saw with tensioning string, toggle and bladetools, woodwork, metalwork, carpentry, pioneers, market gardeners, early settlers, moorabbin, cheltenham, bentleigh, ormond

Circa late 1800s early 1900s a horse-drawn plough, potato digger, is one example of the implements that were widely used by early market gardeners in the Shire of Moorabbin. The flat plate, seen to the right of the photo, dug down into the ground below the potatoes and "scooped" them up. Behind the plate, two driving chains on cogs, (these chains are missing from our exhibit), then "rocked' the dug potatoes to loosen the soil from the "spuds". The potatoes were then harvested by hand. Very large tracts of land in the Shire of Moorabbin were planted with potatoes. Harvesting commenced in October, into November and on into December. Potatoes were a necessary food staple. The market gardeners were always in a rush to be first to get their potatoes to market, and hence the best price. Some market gardeners were so keen to be the first to market, (and get the most money), that they dug their potatoes "green" (or new). The only downside of this practice was that these early potatoes had to be handled with extreme care as their skins were very loose, and came off easily - so decreasing their profits.As well as taking their produce to the Melbourne and St Kilda markets, they also sent produce off to Sydney markets. It is interesting to note that a group of Chinese market gardeners were the first to access the Sydney market. .Following the 'Dendy's Special Survey' 1841 and the Crown Land Sale of 1852, land allotments were sold to pioneer settlers who established market gardens in the area of Moorabbin Shire. During the 1850s gold-rush population boom the number of market gardeners increased significantly spreading throughout the Moorabbin Shire. Potatoes were considered a staple foodstuff, so crops were regularly sown throughout the whole Moorabbin area. Circa late 1800s early 1900s. A horse-drawn plough potato digger is an example of the machines used by early market gardeners in Moorabbin Shiremelbourne, sydney, markets, vegetables, potato, dendy henry, st kilda, market gardeners, gold rush, moorabin, chinese gardeners, ploughs

This heavy, detachable lace collar is an example of the dressmaking and needle work skills of the women of the families of the pioneer settlers and market gardeners of the Moorabbin Shire c 1880 The Maggs family settled in the Brighton district in the late 1800,s. After the Dendy's Special Survey of the Brighton area in 1841 land allotments were rented or sold to pioneers who established market gardens, dairy farms, fruit gardens and vineyards. The pioneer settlers and market gardeners of Moorabbin Shire had to be self reliant and made their own clothing and utensils. This is one of many items that exhibit the skill and craftsmanship of the women in these familiesThis heavy, lace collar is detachable and consists of hand crochet work.clothing, crochetwork, pioneers, early settlers, dendy henry, maggs geoff, brighton, bentleigh, moorabbin, market gardeners, craft working, dressmakers