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

Machetes similar to this example were issued as part of the USAAF emergency survival kits for B-2 and B-4 crew. This item was brought back from Korea by Flight Lieutenant Ian A. Lyons. Part of the Flight Lieutenant Ian A. (Joe) Lyons MBE Collection. See catalogue No 5374P for his service record..1) Machete with short slightly curved single-edged folding blade. Black riveted bakelite handle fitted with a thumb operated lock which secures the blade when opened. .2) Black metal detachable blade guard..1) Stamped on blade but partially obscured by corrosion: 'Ca?augus U.S.A.'machete, weapons, edged weapons, us army air force

The item was purchased from Robinson & Moffatt department store at Post Office Place Melbourne between 1884 when the store opened. Between 1911 and 1934 Robinson & Moffatt appeared to have sold out along with other businesses to became part of the Myer Emporium. Robinson & Moffatt were an early upmarket department store for the wealthy with a branch in Perth that was opened in 1899. During their time in business Robinson & Moffatt appear to have imported goods from England and Europe. The hatbox appears to be a British pattern made for a beaver type top hat around late 19th or early 20th century. A personal item made for Robinson and Moffatt department store, imported from England and sold to a wealthy colonial gentleman sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. The item was purchased from one of the earliest department stores in Melbourne, that later was incorporated into what has become an iconic Australian department store operating out of one of Melbourne's iconic building locations,the Myer emporium.Gents leather oval hat Box, with concave lid reinforcing strap and leather handle. Has metal locking device and key hole. Handle held to top with 2 studs. Velvet inside lid. Catch inside box."Made for Robertson & Moffatt Melbourne"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, hat box, gentleman's hat, gent's hat box, hatbox

Carbide Bicycle lamp with locking screw reflector glass and burner. Has red and blue side light. Reflector glass missing. Inscribed "H Miller and Co Ltd, British Made, Birmingham" Switch and carbide filler on top.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Chest metal with hinged lid and 2 metal handles each end, painted red inside green outside Has broken brass lock on front. Has 6 studs on top. 580mmL x 380mmW x 350mmHflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Snatch Block, 1 sheave wood block with hook and locking mechanism. New metal screw fitted at centre of block. Remnants of green, red and orange paint on wood. Imprints of letters and numbers along hook and at its base.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

A manually powered torch, made from die cast metal. The torch is powered by means of a lever action handle which is operated by squeezing with a spring return. It has a magnify in lens and the handle can be locked down when not in use.Japanses markings and Arabic Numerals. Possibly patent numbers 178061/188192/203357

Diggers & Mining. The gold licence. The Government Camp. Mt Alexander Escort, 1852. In dry weather, the gold (locked in iron boxes) was escorted to Melbourne in open carts. Markings: 22 994.LIF. 4. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields

Colour photograph. Ground floor looking east formerly the administration offices into what was to be the cafe and in 2015 is the Breacan office. Ladder leaning against brick wall. Blue locked trunk left of frame, Taken during restoration inspection. historic buildings, building construction, cultural structures and establishments