Peter McGennan (1839-1920) arrived in Warrnambool in the 1870s and established a cooperage in Kepler Street and a boating business on the Hopkins River. He rebuilt the boating establishment after a fire in 1876. In 1896 McGennan established a Box and Case Factory in Davis Street (Merrivale Drive), importing timber from New Zealand, using chartered vessels and his own ships which included the ‘Speculant’. The box factory was a successful venture employing over 30 men until it was destroyed by fire in 1923. Peter McGennan was involved in the establishment of the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory at Allansford and the Warrnambool Woollen Mill. He was a Director of the latter company until his death. Members of the McGennan family were also important business people in Warrnambool, being involved in the hotel business and civic affairs for many years. The tin box may have been used to house family papers or business documents during Peter McGennan’s life and it was used to house his estate papers after his death. Many of these documents are in the collection of the Warrnambool &District Historical Society.This box is of some importance as it belonged to a prominent Warrnambool businessman and his family. It has social significance as an example of the type of storage items used early in the 20th century to hold documents etc.This is a rectangular tin box with the black paint on the outside peeling and yellow paint inside. There is a metal lock which has no key. There is a small handle on the top added to the tin surface. The name ‘P.J.McGennan’ is painted on the front side in yellow paint.‘P.J.McGennan’ A typed label on faded yellow adhesive tape ‘Estate P.J.McGennan’ peter mcgennan, p j mcgennan, peter mcgennan metal box, mcgennan box factory, mcgennan warrnambool

This money box is believed to be an antique Prattware piece modelled on a n English Methodist Chapel. It was a gift to a young girl, Sarah Ann Esam born in 1850 in Lincoln, England. Her parents John and Ann Esam emigrated to Australia in 1865 with six children one of whom was Sarah. John Esam became well known in Warrnambool as an engineer and windmill maker. His best known windmill is the one he made for "Lyndoch". Sarah Ann Esam died in Henna Street, Warrnambool in April 1915 on Easter Monday. This money box is of considerable significance because of its age, its artistic attractiveness and its connection to the Esam family who were prominent in Warrnambool in the 19th century. This glazed piece of pottery is a child's money box modelled on an English Methodist Chapel. It has a blue tiled roof with yellow edges, a slot for coins at the back.and two chimneys at each end of the building. The primary colour of the cottage is white It has two storeys, the upper one has six lead light windows framed with yellow and the ground storey has two brown doors with lead light fan windows. There is a pink colored figure standing in one corner of the base. The base is green representing grass. The edges of the base feature blue crosses interspersed with yellow dots. The black inscription on the front is artistically written. One chimney is damaged.as are the four base corners. S. ANN. ESAM. Born August 8th LINCOLN 1850esam, money box, prattware

Prescription box from H London Pharmacy with pale yellow label A photocopy of the prescription relating to this box is stored with it.h london, warrnambool chemist, prescription box, london chemist warrnambool

These visiting cards have been commercially produced for those who have suffered a bereavement and wish to leave a visiting card when calling on friends, business acquaintances etc. They would have been used in the 19th century and up to about the 1930s. These cards have no known provenance but are of interest because they are a good example of bereavement customs a hundred years ago and earlier. These are two packs of visiting cards, white with black borders. They are made of lightweight card and enclosed in an open cardboard envelope and these are further contained in another cardboard envelope. Originally the envelopes contained 50 cards each but there are now 49 in one box and 41 in the other. The boxes are white with black and white printing and ornamental decorations. On front and back of box – ’50 Extra Superfine Queens Thin Ivory Black Bordered Visiting Cards’ bereavement customs, visiting cards

This box was produced by the Henderson business to hold half a pound of chocolates for sale to the Australian public. The box is a souvenir one, with the image of George V of England on the lid. This suggests that the box was produced perhaps to celebrate the coronation of George V in 1910. He reigned until his death in 1936.This box is of interest as a souvenir item sold in Australia and dating back to the early years of the 20th century. It will be useful for display.This is a white rectangular cardboard box with the base extended on all sides about half a centimetre out from the base. The box has a white cardboard cover which has a top with a navy blue background, a Union Jack, the six stars of the Southern Cross (making the Australian flag) with an image of King George V of England. The lettering on the top of the box is in gold print. The cover completely encloses the box. Inside the box are the remnants of a white lace-pattern paper used to line the box. There is a trace of silverfish damage on the side of the box and the edges of the box are a little crumpled. “Henderson’s ‘Australia’ Box, Chocolates ½ lb. Nett.”henderson chocolates

This box contained packets of Reckitts Blue and was probably displayed in a shop with the lid up showing the brand name and the items. Blue or laundry blue was a household product used up to about 1960 to improve the appearance of textiles during the washing process. It added a trace of blue dye which made white fabrics appear whiter and it was widely used. Reckitts was a firm established by Isaac Reckitt in Hull, England, in 1840. By 1888 it was a public company and in 1938 it merged with J.& J. Colman, a food manufacturer. Later it sold the Colman side of the business and today it trades as the Reckitt Benckiser Group. The firm established an Australian branch in the late 19th century.This box has been used to store the Charles Brittlebank birds’ eggs collection but it is of interest in its own right as a box that held Reckitts Blue packets. Most Australian households in the 19th and 20th centuries (up to about 1960) would have used blue bags or packets in the laundering process so they are part of our social history. Today a bleach is used as a replacement for a blue bag.This is a wooden box with a hinged lid (the hinges are hooks and eyes). The box once contained one gross of Reckitt’s Blue. The printing on the box is coloured but some of it is now faded. Inside the lid, pasted on, is the name of the manufacturer. The side of the box also has the name of the manufacturer pasted on but the printing has been discoloured at the edge by the application of maroon-coloured paint. On side of box: ‘Reckitt’s Round Blue, contains one gross of circular blocks’ Inside the lid: ‘Reckitt’s Round Blue’ social history, history of warrnambool, reckitt’ blue

The contents of this display case are known as Princess Mary’s Christmas Fund 1914. In October 1914 Princess Mary, the 17 year-old daughter of King George V and Queen Mary, launched an appeal to raise funds to produce a Christmas present for every person serving in the British and Allied Forces in World War One. The Christmas box was a silver one for officers and a brass one for other ranks. The box usually contained a packet of cigarettes and tobacco, a Christmas card and a photograph of Princess Mary but some boxes contained confectionery, notebooks, pencils etc. By Christmas 1914 200,000 boxes had been distributed but it took until 1920 to dispose of the 2,500,000 boxes that were produced. Many of the boxes given to Australian servicemen have survived but few contain any or all of the contents. It is not known to whom this box was sent. This box and its contents are of great interest as an important memento of Australian participation in World War One. This is a rectangular brass tin and its contents – two yellow cardboard boxes which originally held cigarettes and tobacco, a Christmas card and a photograph of Princess Mary. The five items are displayed within a rectangular wooden box with a removable glass top. The brass tin is embossed with an image in the centre of Princess Mary surrounded by a laurel wreath. The embossing includes the letter ‘M’ (twice) and the names of some of the allies of Britain in World War One. Christmas Card: ‘With Best Wishes for a Happy Christmas and a Victorious New Year from The Princess Mary and Friends at Home’ Cigarettes and Tobacco Boxes: ‘Her Royal Highness The Princess Mary’s Christmas Fund 1914’. warrnambool and world war one, princess mary’s christmas fund 1914

Paper patterns have been used by dressmakers and home sewers throughout the 20th century and are still used today. The Butterick Company was established in 1863 and was the first to mass-produce sewing patterns. The company was acquired by the CcCall Pattern Company in 2001. Jessen Dress Materials shop was at 116 Lava Street in the 1970s and 80s and Bargain Box Fabrics took over the shop in the 1990sThis pattern envelope is of minor interest as coming from a local Warrnambool shop. It may be useful for display This is a paper envelope containing the instructions and cut-out material for making a woman's dress (day and evening) The envelope contains four loose items. Butterick 6939 Dress Material. No Exchange, Average Moins facilewarrnambool, butterick patterns, jessen dress materials

Paper patterns have been used by dressmakers and home sewers throughout the 20th century and are still used today.The Kwik Sew company has been making patterns since 1967 and is now part of the McCall Pattern Company, a multi-national company based in U.S.A. Bargain Box Fabrics, situated at 116 Lava Street, Warrnambool, sold patterns and materials in the 1980s and early 1990sThis pattern item is of minor interest as coming from a local Warrnambool shop. It may be useful for display. This is a paper envelope containing the instructions and cut-out material for making a child’s pants and top outfit. The envelope contains six loose items.‘Pattern 2074, Kwik Sew’ Stamp- ‘Bargain Box Fabrics , 11 6 Lava Street, Warrnambool, 3280, Phone, (055) 614055’ bargain box fabrics, kwik sew patterns

This is an empty box but the cover tells us that it was a box used for dentist materials from William Davidson, the Warrnambool dentist. Davidson (1870-1945) came to Warrnambool in 1892 and set up his dental business in the Tozer Buildings in Kepler Street. By 1915 Davidson had one of the most extensive dental practices in the Western District. He served in World War One and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and was mentioned in despatches. In Warrnambool Davidson was a keen sportsman, being active in the cricket and bowls clubs. He retired in the early 1940s. This box is of some significance as it came from the dental practice of William Davidson, a prominent dentist in Warrnambool for nearly 50 years. It also shows the type of box used by dentists in the early 20th centuryThis is a cardboard box reinforced at the edges with metal clips. It is light brown in colour and is printed on the top of the box with the details of William Davidson the Warrnambool dentist.‘W.J. S. Davidson, Surgeon Dentist, Kepler Street, Warrnambool, Telephone 304’william davidson dentist, warrnambool dentists

This box contained Seidlitz Powders. These powders were used for indigestion and constipation with the name coming from the village of Sedlec or Sedlitz which was the source of a bitter mineral water once used for indigestion. The 19th century product was produced by many chemical factories with nothing to do with the original Sedlitz town. The powders were a mixture of tartaric acid, sodium bicarbonate and potassium sodium tartrate. This box contained powders distributed by the chemist firm of Sambell and Son. John Sambell came to Warrnambool in 1886 and three generations of the Sambell family conducted chemist shops in four different locations in Fairy Street. Sambell and Son were operating at 151 Fairy Street in the late 1910s and in the 1920s. This is an item of interest as it not only shows us the type of box used by chemists t0 package their medicines in the 1920s but also reminds us of the days when Seidlitz Powers were commonly used for indigestion and constipation. It also has a strong link to the Sambell family, chemists in Warrnambool for over 40 years. This is an empty cream-coloured cardboard box with a lid with blue edgings and printed material in blue type and a British crest and an ornamental pattern around the edges of the lid. The sides of the box are torn and the box is discoloured and dirty. Superior Genuine, Seidlitz Powders, prepared by Sambell & Son, Dispensing Chemists, Fairy Street Warrnambool, ‘Phone 90, Directions – Dissolve the contents of one of the BLUE papers in half a pint of cold water, add the contents of one of the WHITE papers, and drink during a state of effervescence’sambell and son, chemists, seidlitz powders, warrnambool

Matches and match boxes were common and essential household items in the 19th century and early to mid 20th century. Today matches are used only irregularly. This match box holder was an advertising tool for Roy Pearson who had a motor service station at 100 Kepler Street, Warrnambool in the 1930s. The business was called the Super Service Station and Pearson was the agent for Triumph and Citroen cars. He sold petrol and used cars and did car repairs. In 1937 the business was run by Chorlton and GrahamThis item is of considerable interest showing the type of advertising used in Warrnambool in 1935. Apart from its utilitarian use of holding a match box, it is an advertising tool containing a 1935 calendar and it also uses humour as its main appeal. The holder features a face which shows a happy man when held one way (“This man calls at Pearson’s Service Station for satisfaction’) and a grumpy man when it is turned around (‘This man wishes he did call’). This is a metal match box holder, painted blue with yellow printing and an image of a man’s face. It has a 1935 calendar. It is much rusted on the inside and a little blotched on the outside. ‘Roy H. Pearson, Super Service Station, Ye Auto Fille Here, Phone 511, 100 Kepler Street, Warrnambool. This man calls at Pearson’s Service Station for satisfaction, This man wishes he did call’ pearson service station, warrnambool, match box holder

This is a jewellery box from the Warrnambool business of Stafford, the jeweller. The Staffords shop was at 120 Liebig Street and operated in the 1960s, 70s, 80s, 90s and early 2000s. The site is still a jewellery shop. This box is of minor interest as an example of a small jewellery box from the mid 20th century.This is a small cardboard box covered with salmon-pink paper on the outside. It is empty but once contained an item of jewellery. The pink paper is slightly buffed. ‘Staffords Warrnambool’staffords, jewellers, warrnambool, jeweller box

No specific information is available on these items. Cuff links were used in place of buttons on the sleeves of men's dress shirts which were made with button holes on both edges of the cuff. They were typically used for more formal occasions and many sported decorative stones or facades. Although we have no known information on these items, cufflinks generally have social significance and also some aesthetic appeal. They have long been a fashion item for men , with first usage recorded around the 16th century. These are five metal cufflinks, all gold in colour. Three are matching with a small mother-of pearl stud and two are matching with a black shiny round stud. There is also a small metal clip which may not belong to the other items. The items are in a plastic jewellery box (probably not originally housing these items). The box has a hinged lid and a ridged top with the embossed image of a rose and it is lined with black felt and white silk. The black felt has four holes for attaching an item of jewellery. Bottom of box: ‘Casecraft, Cat. No 104, Made in Australia’cuff links, warrnambool

This box is a decorative item made to be used in the household. It could have held cigars or jewellery items. This box has been an attractive item but it has no known local provenance. It will be useful for display. This is a rectangular-shaped wooden box which has been reinforced with metal inserts. It has metal hinges and a locking mechanism with a keyhole lined with metal. There is no key. The box is completely covered, except for the base, with inlaid material consisting of small black pieces and triangular-shaped white pieces, possibly bone. The inlaid material forms a decorative pattern around the box. Portions of the decoration are missing and some other parts broken away. history of warrnambool, household items, cigar box

These boxes were commonly used to hold and carry cutlery between storage and the table. We have no information on Mr Godfrey. They are also sometimes referred to as knife boxes. A common item in many households in the 20th century.Wooden rectangular box with sloping sides and partition with hole in centre in the middle. Unpainted timber which is joined with nails on the corners and baseFrom J J Godfrey on bottom of box in blue texta.knife box, cutlery box, j godfrey

This is a lockable metal money box. It would have been useful place to store money and small items. being metal ,it would offer some protection from moisture and pests This money box has no known local provenance but it is an interesting item and is useful for display. This is a black rectangular tin box with a hinged lid with a tin handle attached with metal clips. There is a lock but no key. The lid has a gold and yellow border pattern and gold edging on the rim of the lid but these decorations are mostly eroded away. There is a maker’s mark on the base of the tin but it is indecipherable. ‘English Made’ social history, history of warrnambool, vintage money box

This butter ram appears to have been made locally and was probably hand-made at a local factory. It was used to ram or mould butter into 56 pound butter boxes for bulk supply or for later cutting up into smaller quantities. Warrnambool was, and is still today, the centre of an important dairying industry with several large milk, cheese and butter factories in the area. The Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory at Allansford is the oldest operating factory of this type in Victoria and was established in 1888. The production of butter in the area was greatly accelerated by the invention of refrigeration in the early 1880s, enabling butter to be transported overseas. Warrnambool had two butter box factories which both closed in the 1920s. Up to the mid 1950s the production of butter was largely a hand process.This butter ram is of considerable interest as an example of the early tools used in the local butter industry.This is a heavy solid wooden block in a rectangular shape with the top shaped in the form of a pyramidal base. The edges of the base are worn from constant pounding. A long round wooden handle or rod is inserted into the top of the block. dairying industry in western victoria

This is a box for packaging Kraft Cheese in Victoria. A Melbourne man, Fred Walker, negotiated with the American company the Kraft processing of cheese and established the Kraft Walker Cheese Company in 1934 and leased the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory premises in Allansford in 1935. Until 1993 this factory produced Cheddar Cheese, Swiss Cheese, Cracker Barrel and Tasty Cheddar Cheese and other varieties and won many Australian awards. A microbiological laboratory was established and from 1939 Ls O’Callaghan, a noted Warrnambool historian, worked in this laboratory, establishing the basis of the dairy industry guidelines for effective and scientific processing of milk. He worked there for 45 years. The Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory is still today a major industry in the Warrnambool area. This box is of key importance as an item that held Kraft Walker Cheese Company cheese. This company and its factory in Allansford was a key business in the dairying industry in the Warrnambool area for nearly 60 years. The box may have been used locally in the Allansford factory. This is a wooden oblong box with no lid. It has been nailed together with 12 nail heads visible and three nails protruding from the top edges. It has been used to package five pounds of Kraft Cheese. There is handwritten material in pencil on three sides (some crossed out) and the Kraft Cheese information with the ‘K’ logo is stamped on the bottom. ‘The World Renowned Kraft Cheese (K), Patented July 26 1916, 5 lbs net, Kraft Walker Cheese Co. Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, Australia’kraft walker cheese company (allansford), fred walker, warrnambool cheese and butter factory, warrnambool, history

Through the address on the box, this dress has a local connection. Miss Mavis Hedrick operated a dress salon at 162 Liebig St Warrnambool in the 1940's. Her parents lived at various houses in Warrnambool, including Skene, Spence and Princess Sts. She married John William Freeman in 1942 and left Warrnambool some time after that date. From wedding reports of the day it doesn't seem that this is Miss Hedrick's wedding dress. It seems more likely that it was purchased from her frock salon in Liebig St Warrnambool.While the owner and original wearer of this dress has eluded us, the dress has a strong link to Warrnambool through the original box with its identifying labels. The dress is very much in the style of the era of Miss Hedrick's dress shop..This cream silk wedding dress and slip was donated in original cardboard box with the address written in large letters on the front. The dress is cream silk with gold metallic trim in two lines across the bodice.There are silk covered buttons on the front and back of the bodice and it has a high rounded V neckline.It has long lily point sleeves .There is a side opening with hook and eye fastening.The skirt is cut on the cross and a small train flows from the back of the dress. A simple A line slip accompanies the dress. It has ribbon shoulder straps and the top is edged in a fine narrow lace. The large box is rectangular and grey in colour. The addressee's name is written in large lettering in black (possibly crayon) . A label is pasted to the top right hand corner. A Victorian Railways stamp is loose with the item.On the Box : Miss Hedrick Frock Salon Warrnambool On Label in top RH corner: Mollard & Williams 238 Flinders Lane Melbourne. Stamp: Victorian Railways Parcel stamp 8d Melbournewarrnambool, 1940's wedding dress, mavis hedrick, mollard and williams, 238 flinders lane melbourne, miss hedricks frock salon

This container of 11 boxes of safety matches would have been a common item in a household during the first half of the 20th century and would have been used for the safe lighting of lamps, candles, room heating (fires), bath heaters, cigarettes, pipes etc. Safety matches came into use in the first half of the 19th century and the safety aspects have been improved after that time. Safety matches are still used today - for instance, when camping or in times of power failure. These matches are of interest as an example of household items in common use in the past. These are eleven boxes of safety matches (one box missing) wrapped in a buff-coloured paper cover with a label in red, blue and white colours with printing and an image of a dark-haired woman set against a white flame. Each box contains about 60 matches with a label similar to the one on the outside packaging. The matches are wooden with pink tips. The boxes have a rough surface on the side acting as a striking mechanism. The back of each box has a message containing some thoughts from thinkers and philosophers from the past.Ever-Brite Safety Matchesvintage lighting, safety matches, everbrite matches

This box contains maintenance equipment for a Remington typewriter. The Remington company was founded in U.S.A. and it produced the world’s first typewriter for commercial use in 1873. In 1886 the Remington family business was sold but the name was retained and typewriters with the Remington Rand brand name were sold from 1927 on. Typewriters have now been replaced by computers. This box of equipment belonged to Dr Horace Holmes who would have used a typewriter in his medical practice in Warrnambool in the first half of the 20th century and perhaps would also have used a typewriter in the activities of the many community groups with which he was associated. Horace Iles Holmes (1877-1959) was born and educated in Tasmania and he completed a medical degree at the University of Melbourne. He commenced a practice in Warrnambool in 1906 and was the honorary Medical Officer at the Warrnambool Hospital and Warrnambool’s Health Officer. His practice was at ‘Ierne’ at the corner of Spence and Kepler Streets. He was an early member of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons and was prominent in community affairs (foundation President of Warrnambool Rotary Club, a member of the Warrnambool Masonic Lodge for over 50 years, a Warrnambool Hospital Committee member, a long-term Trustee of the Warrnambool Methodist Church and President of the Lyndoch Hostel for the Aged Committee. Dr Holmes also had agricultural interests and enjoyed fishing, bowls and golf. This box of typewriter equipment is of interest as an item in the collection of Horace Iles Holmes, a doctor who was prominently associated with the professional and community life of Warrnambool for over 50 years. This is a rectangular-shaped black cardboard box with a detachable lid. The box contains eight items used for typewriter maintenance. They are a glass bottle containing typewriter oil, a round metal oil dispenser, a small metal hook, a small metal spanner, a metal wire brush, and three bristle brushes, one with a bone handle and one with a wooden handle enclosed in cellophane. The box is somewhat stained inside. On a brush: ‘Made in U.S.A. bristle’ On the glass bottle: ‘Specially refined typewriter oil, Chartres Pty Ltd 375 Collins St. Melbourne Australian Built Remington Typewriters Phone 9100 (8 lines)’ typewriters, remington, dr horace holmes, warrnambool, history of warrnambool, office equipment

This box contains typewriter equipment for a Remington typewriter. The Remington company was founded in U.S.A. and it produced the first typewriter for commercial use in 1873. In 1886 the Remington family business was sold but the name was retained and typewriters with the Remington Rand brand name were sold from 1927 on. Typewriters have now been replaced by computers. This box of equipment belonged to Dr Horace Holmes who would have used a typewriter in his medical practice in Warrnambool in the first half of the 20th century and perhaps would also have used a typewriter in the activities of the many community groups with which he was associated. Horace Iles Holmes (1877-1959) was born and educated in Tasmania and completed a medical degree at the University of Melbourne. He commenced a practice at Warrnambool in 1906 and was the honorary Medical Officer at the Warrnambool Hospital and Warrnambool’s Health Officer. His practice was at ‘Ierne’, at the corner of Spence and Kepler Streets. He was an early member of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons and was prominent in community affairs (foundation President of the Warrnambool Rotary Club, a member of the Warrnambool Masonic Lodge for over 50 years, a Warrnambool Hospital Committee member, a long-term Trustee of the Warrnambool Methodist Church and President of the Lyndoch Hostel for the Aged Committee. Dr Holmes also had agricultural interests and enjoyed fishing, bowls and golf. This box of typewriter equipment is of interest as an item in the collection of Horace Iles Holmes, a doctor who was prominently associated with the professional and community life of Warrnambool for over 50 years. This is a rectangular-shaped black cardboard box with the name ‘Remington’ on it. It is heavily stained inside. The box contains nine objects, most identified as relevant to typewriter maintenance and cleaning:- a paint brush with a wooden handle and bristles – perhaps used for dusting the typewriter keys, two glass bottles which once contained typewriter oil but which are now empty, a red and black typewriter ribbon in a metal container, another metal container with a plunge mechanism for ejecting oil, a metal stick with a sharp end, possibly for cleaning the typewriter keys and three other unidentified small metal objects.Remingtonremington, typewriters, office equipment, dr horace holmes, warrnambool, warrnambool history, typewriter accessories

This is a match box holder that has been produced as a souvenir of Warrnambool. It was possibly made to commemorate the gazetting of Warrnambool as a city in 1918. The holder features the Warrnambool crest which was designed in the early 1850s by the first teacher of the Warrnambool National School, John MacDonald. He also suggested the motto, ‘By These We Flourish’. The crest has been modified over the ensuing years.This is an important souvenir of Warrnambool as it is a high quality one and features the crest of the City of Warrnambool as used early in the 20th century. This is a gold-coloured piece of metal with the ends folded or sheeted over to form a rectangle with a flat base and an open top to hold a packet of matches. The front of the holder has attached a metal image of the crest of the City of Warrnambool. The image is in gold, white and dark blue. The holder is a little bent and stained. ‘City of Warrnambool By These we Flourish’city of warrnambool, souvenir household items

The Box Brownie camera was developed by Frank Brownell in the late 19th century. It was marketed by Eastman Kodak of U.S.A. and was a camera with a simple lens. It provided snapshots at a low cost and was the most widely-used camera by families in the first half of the 20th century. This item was the No. 2 model which was sold from 1901 to 1935. This item was given to Olive O’Donnell when she was ten years old. The donor was Miss Florence Lake of ‘Lyndoch’ in Warrnambool. She was noted for giving presents, usually at Christmas time, to the children of her employees and other children in the Warrnambool area. Olive O’Donnell’s father worked for Miss Lake for 45 years. The property of ‘Lyndoch’ near the mouth of the Hopkins River in Warrnambool was established by a Melbourne businessman, George Rolfe, late in the 19th century and Miss Lake was one of the two stepdaughters of George Rolfe who inherited the property. Miss Florence Lake built a house at Lyndoch which today forms part of the aged care facility established when the property was sold. This camera is of interest for two reasons: 1. It is an example of the Box Brownie camera which was a very popular camera owned by many Australians in the first half of the 20th century. 2. It is an example of the type of present given to children by the Warrnambool philanthropist, Florence Lake. She resided at ‘Lyndoch’ and was well-known in the Warrnambool community in the 20th century. This is a rectangular-shaped black metal box. A metal clip acts as an opening and closing device for inserting a film. A yellow and black film is enclosed at one end of the box. A handle is on the top of the box and is attached by metal clips. There are several viewing panels on the box and a metal mechanism for winding the film. The box is scuffed and stained. ‘Brownie’ ‘No 2 Brownie Model F Patented in U.S.A. Patents Pending.’ photography, household items, lyndoch, warrnambool, florence lake, warrnambool, olive o’donnell, warrnambool

This box contains a label from the Warrnambool business of W. Swinton & Sons and this tells us that the box dates from the early 20th century (pre 1912). The documents in the box are Swinton financial balance sheets from 1928 to 1970 (W. Swinton & Sons/Swintons Pty Ltd). William and Ann Swinton migrated to Australia in 1854 and for a decade William Swinton worked as a builder and carpenter in the Warrnambool area, erecting many buildings, including the Wangoom Presbyterian Church. In 1865 he opened a store in Timor Street Warrnambool, selling groceries, glassware, china and hardware. By 1888 the business was known as William Swinton and Sons. Branch stores were opened in Cudgee, Nullawarre, Wangoom, West Warrnambool and South Warrnambool. After William Swinton died his son Robert became the first managing director of Swintons Pty Ltd. In 1934 the business split, with George Swinton and Sons selling clothing, furnishings and glassware and Swintons Pty Ltd selling seeds, produce and hardware. Today the Swinton family still operates a furniture and bedding store in Timor Street. Both these items come from the Warrnambool business of W. Swinton & Son/Swintons Pty Ltd and both the box with its early 20th century label and the financial statements are of importance. The balance sheets will be useful to researchers. The current Swinton business in Timor Street is the oldest family business in Warrnambool and, with the name Swinton associated with Timor Street businesses for 152 years, it is amongst the oldest family businesses in Australia. .1 This is a black cardboard box with a lid, with one side of the lid party detached. Some parts of the box are torn, especially the corners of the lid. The inside of the box is somewhat stained. The inside of the lid has a label pasted on and the top of the lid has a W. Swinton & Sons label pasted on. The Swintons label is partly torn away. .2 The paper material inside the box is mostly foolscap-size and consists of business financial balance statements. Some of these have coloured paper covers. ‘W Swinton & Sons Universal Produce Buyers and Exporters Timor Street Warrnambool’ swinton family, warrnambool, history of warrnambool

This tin of gramophone needles was produced to be used in conjunction with a Decca Gramophone. The Decca company was founded in 1914 by Barnett Samuel and Sons and their gramophone as patented as the world’s first portable gramophone. The company became known as the Decca Gramophone Company in 1928. Portable gramophones became very popular, especially with the soldiers in World War One. Today the gramophone is largely a collector’s item and has been replaced by more sophisticated sound systems. These needles and their box are of interest as an example of a recreation product in the past. Gramophones were found extensively in homes up to the 1950s. This is a small rectangular-shaped tin with rounded edges. It has a hinged lid painted green on the top. The top has printed material in green, black and white lettering. Inside the tin is black paper lining and inside the lining are about 50 gramophone steel needles. This is not a full tin. The needles are in good condition but the tin is a little rusty‘Decca Soft Gramophone Needles Finest Sheffield Steel Use Once Only’ gramophones, history of warrnambool

These sulphur fumigator cubes were used in the past to fumigate areas in such places as hospitals, plant nurseries, farms and homes. The cube was placed in a tin containing soil and the top wick was set alight and the cube would burn overnight and kill off insects, mites and germs. One cube was sufficient for a room six feet square. This is a square cardboard box with no lid. The box is brown with orange, red and black printing. The box contains three cubes of sulphur fumigators. There should be four but one cube is missing. The cubes are square-shaped with beige-coloured sides and yellow tops. The tops have raised sections which serve as wicks. ‘Light This’ ‘Johnson’s Sulphur Fumigator prepared by Johnson & Johnson, Manufacturing Chemists’ household items, history of warrnambool

This item is a boxed set of teaspoons from the Rodd Silverware Company. G. & E. Rodd Pty Ltd was founded in Melbourne in 1919 and by the 1930s it was the leading manufacturing jewellery business in Australia. In 1948 the business was taken over by Max Rodd, the son of one of the founders and by that time it was known mostly for its household silverware. Rodd products were very popular wedding presents in the mid 20th century. This item has no known local significance but is retained as an excellent example of the Rodd Silverware that was found in so many households in Australia in the early to mid 20th century. It will be useful for display.This is a black leather-bound box with a gilt rim around the edge of the lid. The lid is attached to the box by two metal clips. One of these is broken. The box has a gilt metal clasp for closing the box. The box is lined inside with purple satin material and contains five electro plated nickel silver teaspoons. There should be six in the set but one spoon is missing. The spoons are held in grooves cut into a purple block across the middle of the inside of the box (perhaps made of wood). The box is somewhat stained and the leather is scuffed in places. The teaspoons are in excellent condition.Back of spoons: ‘Rodd E.P.N.S. A1’ rodd silverware, household items