Used in the timber industry for trimming sleepers or shaping timber.This item is associated with the timber and sleeper-cutting industry in the Orbost Region. Timber sleepers were superceded by concrete sleepers in c. 1970s.An iron axe with a long cutting edge. The neck of the wooden handle is chipped.broad-axe sleeper-cutting timber-industry

Used in the timber and sleeper-cutting industry. Used to square sleepers. This axe was possibly used by the donor John McMahon.Used in the timber and sleeper-cutting industry in the Orbost region.Timber sleepers were superceded by concrete sleepers in c. 1970s. broad-axe sleeper-cutting timber-industry An iron axe head with a very long cutting blade and a long wooden handle. broad-axe sleeper-cutting timber-industry

Used in the timber industry for making split palings. The palings are shaped by hand with the bottom edge put onto the timber and a mallet hit onto the top of the blade. This pre-dates sawn palings. Associated with the timber and household building industry in the Orbost region.A rectangular flat iron blade attached to a wooden handle. The cutting edge of the knife is along the bottom (rather than the end as with an axe). The wooden handle appears to be made from a small tree branch.paling-knife splitting-timber

Possibly used by a local butcher in the Orbost region. Stock was slaughtered and prepared by Orbost butchers.A large and heavy iron butcher's cleaver with a thin handle and with a hook on the end of the handle. The blade has a square shape.Williams-Smithfield 192 55575meat-cleaver butchering-tool

Used to split shingles or palings from planks of wood. Used in the timber industry and building industries.A paling or shingle knife, also called a froe. The blade is iron, with the sharper edge on the bottom. It has a short wooden handle .paling-knife shingle-knife froe

This stencil was used to mark bags of dried bean seed, in this case Brown Beauty bean seeds, produced by farmers in the Orbost district and clean and bagged by Fisher Bros., seed bean merchants of Orbost. This stencil is significant because it was specially made for the seed bean industry which was a major industry in the Orbost district for the first half of the 20th century. A galvanised iron sheet from which words have been cut out to form a stencil. BROWN BEAUTY BEANS 1948 CROP PRODUCE OF AUSTRALIA SOUND, CLEAN, FRESH ORBOST, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA PACKED FOR LAMBERT OVERSEAS PTY LTDseed-beans bag-stencil farming

Used in the Orbost district prior to electricity being connected (early 1960s). Used for ironing clothes.This is an example of a domestic appliance commonly used before electricity connection was widespread.A metal iron enamelled in blue colour, with a silver coloured fuel reservoir shaped like a bowl. This most likely stored Shellite which was the fuel to heat the iron. The handle is also blue and made of wood. iron shellite-iron clothes-iron

Purchased at Herberts Store in Orbost in 1910 possibly by the donor, Mr S Peterson.This is an example of an early cast iron cooking utensil commonly used over an open fire.A cast iron round flat pan with an iron handle. The pan has raised spikes all over it and a small gutter around the edge with a pouring spout.cooking drovers-pan open-fire-cooking

Was a Slab Hut display item.Iron poker/ash scraper. Circular loop at top for hanging. End is flattened and curved.poker ash-scraper iron-work

Used for splitting wooden palings used in the construction of paling fences. Dates prior to palings being mass-produced by mechanical saws in timber mills.A rectangular iron blade attached to a wooden handle. The bottom of the blade is the sharp edge. tool hand-tool paling-knife split-timber

All metal crimping tongs. Has three curvy tongs on one prong and two on the other. It has a scissor like handle. Front- The Princess - Pat. 1927crimping-iron hairdressing personal-effects

These items are examples of hand-made nails / spikes used in earlier times.Four hand-made large rusty iron pegs. They are tapered to points and have flat heads.spikes trades blacksmithing

This is a peephole from a solitary confinement cell cell at Port Arthur. There were 12 cells, measuring 3m x 1.5m, used for solitary confinement. Convicts there would sleep on a narrow wooden shelf, the only furnishing in the cell, and were watched through a peephole in the cell door.A rectangular iron peephole from a prison door. it has a bolted metal flap that can be pushed aside to allow an outside person a view of the inside of the cell.peephole port- arthur convict

Iron leg shackles were worn by convicts to both punish inmates and prevent escape. Combined with physically exhausting labour, they helped control prisoners. The shackles weighed a considerable amount (there were differing sizes) which made it difficult to walk easily, resulting in a shuffling gait.A pair of very heavy leg irons. They are made of iron with holes at each side so they can be bolted around the legs. There is a long iron chain connecting the two D-shaped pieces.leg-irons shackles convicts

These whale harpoons belonged to Arthur Ashby. The longer one was his personal hand-forged harpoon. Arthur Ashby was a harpoonist written about in the book, "Killers of Eden". They were handed down to his son, Norman Ashby who gave them to the donor's father for safe-keeping as he did not have a permanent residence. Two harpoons. .1 is a hand held iron harpoon. It is very long with an open neck at one end and a large blade at the other. .2 is smaller and was used in harpoon guns. It is made of brass with a pointed end.whaling harpoons ashby-arthur maritime-technology

Following the use of flat irons the base of the iron was made into a container to put glowing coals inside it and keep it hot a bit longer. This was called a charcoal iron. It had a hinged lid and air holes to allow the charcoal to keep smouldering. They are sometimes called ironing boxes, or charcoal box irons, and may come with their own stand.This item is an example of a domestic appliance in common usage before the advent of electricity.This is a charcoal iron which was heated by burning charcoal inside it. It is made of iron and has wooden handles, one on top for lifting it and one on the catch at the front that keeps the iron closed. Both of these handles were needed to load the iron with charcoal easily. As wood does not conduct heat well, these handles made the task of filling the iron much easier. The holes around the base of the iron are for letting the fumes out.Top- "M.G."iron-charcoal domestic

These large, heavy irons were used by tailors to press trousers. It would be heated on the range or stove to achieve a high temperature. This item is an example of a commercial appliance in common usage before the advent of electricity.A goose iron. These large, heavy irons were used by tailors to press trousers. It would be heated on the range or stove to achieve a high temperature. It has a twisted handle. It has a stand with it.iron goose-iron tailor

Charcoal irons followed the use of flat irons when the base was made into a box in which to put charcoal which would keep the iron hotter for a longer time.This item is an example of a domestic appliance in common usage before the advent of electricity.Large black ornate charcoal iron with a chimney on the top. It has an ornate metal hand protector. It has a hollow base into which charcoal is placed. The small hole at the back has a sliding cover that was used to regulate the temperature of the iron. ir0n-charcoal domestic

Charcoal irons followed flat irons when the base was made into a hinged box into which charcoal could be placed, This would keep the iron hotter for a longer time.This item is an example of a domestic appliance in common usage before the advent of electricity.A large charcoal iron with chimney. It has a carved wooden handle.charcoal-iron domestic

A dolly pot is used to crush specimens and samples before panning. It works like a large mortar and pestle. A small cast iron dolly pot.dolly-pot gold-mining metal-trades

A fuel iron with a small cream-porcelained body and black handle . The back is a bulb-shaped container for holding the fuel. This is a kerosene operated Tilley Model DN 250n iron. It has a regulating generator which enables the user to control the heat. iron domestic fuel-iron

This item is an example of a food processing appliance used in the late 19th century long before electricity came to Orbost.A cast iron raisin stoner. It has a clamp for attachment to a bench and has a wooden handle on a turning arm.On arm-PAT.APP. Aug 20.95 Oct 5-97 On one side- WET THE RAISINS On other side-ENTERPRISE M.F.C. PHILADELPHIA. P.A. U.S.A. On chute- No. 38raisin-stoner food-preparation

This domestic kitchen appliance is typical of the period when food processing was done at home. It would have been before the time of mass food processing factoriesA cast iron raisin stoner with a clamp. It has a wooden handle on a turning arm.On arm-PAT.APP. Aug 20.95 Oct 5-97 On one side- WET THE RAISINS On other side-ENTERPRISE M.F.C. PHILADELPHIA. P.A. U.S.A. On chute- No. 38raisin-stoner food-preparation

This horseshoe comes from England. It is unusual because it cannot be heated and shaped.Horses played a vital role in the agricultural history of Orbost. This item is connected to that role.A small cast iron horse shoe which is very corroded.horseshoe transport horses

Livestock bells were once used extensively throughout the Australian countryside. The first ones were imported from England and America, but gradually local blacksmiths started turning out their own bells. These bells were used on a leader in a bullock team or on other stock so they could be easily locatedAn iron bullock bell with handle and a large clapper inside.bullock-bell rural-industry livestock

Yokes like this one were key components used to control bullock teams. These teams were very important in Australia during the 19th century, hauling heavy loaded wagons of goods to remote settlements and rural produce to cities and ports over rough unmade roads. The bullocks were yoked together in pairs. Chains joined the yoked pairs. A heavy wooden bullock yoke with only one metal collar. One is missing. The fittings are iron. There is a small leather patch tacked on to one end. The yoke is made from a length of wood of roughly rectangular cross-section. It has been shaped to form curved depressions that allow it to rest across the necks of two bullocks and yoke them together. bullock-yokes transport

Used in agriculture in the Orbost district, to cut hay or silage, most likely on the Mundy farm. The original Mundy family moved to a land "selection" at Betebolong in the early 1880's from Buchan. A large flat iron blade with an iron handle attached. The blade is sharper on the bottom side and shows some evidence of perhaps having been serrated.agricultural-implement hay-silage-knife

Likely used by the Jensen family who were early settlers in the Martin's Creek area, 35 miles north of Orbost, along the Bonang - Orbost Road in c. 1890. Peter Jensen came from Denmark. A flat iron blade, sharpened on the bottom and attached to a wooden handle. The blade has a pointed end.BRADES CO.shingle-making roofing-shingles house-construction

Carrol Preston has used newspaper references from 1877 through to 1917, to document the history of the Orbost - Bairnsdael railway line.. It starts with the lobbying and jockeying, and moves through to the opening in 1916. The title is a reference to plans to further extend the railway beyond Orbost - but "The Iron Horse stopped at Orbost Railway Station". Most articles are from the Snowy River Mail and Bairnsdale Advertiser. All newspaper articles are dated and sourced. About 1912 work began at Newmerella on clearing the track for the railway line from Bairnsdale to Orbost. A canvas town sprang up on the higher land adjacent to the river flats. Local farmers supplied meat, milk and fresh produce to the camp, as well as gaining employment carting and labouring. The line opened in 1916, the Orbost railway station being built on the Newmerella side of the river.This item is associated with the history of the Orbost-Bairnsdale railway line and therefore reflects the role that the rail line played in the social and economic history of Orbost. On April 10 1916, the first scheduled train service left Orbost for Bairnsdale. The Bairnsdale-Orbost railway was opened to serve the agricultural and timber industries. This book has been compiled by a local historian. A spiral bound book titled, "The Iron Horse Stopped at Orbost Railway Station". The cover is blue / green with the title in black and red print. Underneath is a railway track leading to the bottom of the page. The book is 110 pages, A4 size and contains maps and photos. in black print on cover - "The Iron Horse Stopped at Orbost Railway Station ; The newspaper story of the eventual construction of the ORBOST RAILWAY LINE (in red print); Compiled and produced by CARROL PRESTON (in white print)railway-transport orbost-bairnsdale-railway east-gippsland-railway

Flat irons were also called sad irons or smoothing irons. Metal handles had to be gripped in a pad or thick rag. Some irons had cool wooden handles and in 1870 a detachable handle was patented in the US. The detachable insulated handle was designed to be always cool for ironing. The handle was detachable, so that several irons could be on the stove at one time and the handle swapped between several bodies. This handle appears to belong to a Mrs Potts' sad iron - Reg. No. 1885. This item is an example of an invention that was universally adopted because it meant that users could keep several irons on the stove at one time and the handle swapped when needed. The original Mrs Potts irons had handles made of wood (walnut) and this enabled the user to us the iron without sustaining burns. The item reminds us of the difficult circumstances experienced in their daily routines by the early families in Orbost A wooden handle which has been painted green. The base is made of cast aluminium and is attached to the handle by two screws ( not original). In the base is a hinged piece for attaching to the iron, held to the base plate by a spring and operated by a wooden knob for quick release. A hook holds the handle to the iron.On the base is an indecipherable number.handle sad-iron flat-iron mrs-potts domestic laundry