Rabbits were brought to Australia on the First Fleet as a source of food. However the plague of rabbits appears to have originated with the release of 24 wild rabbits by Thomas Austin for hunting purposes in October 1859, on his property, Barwon Park, near Winchelsea, Victoria. This a typical Rabbit trap used by residents of Moorabbin Shire c1930Austral Box Steel Rabbit trap 20thCAUSTRAL

The Water supply in Moorabbin Shire was from streams - Elster Creek - and wells so that all people , -settlers, market gardeners, and travellers - needed to take a container with them when they were away from the household.. The Canvas water bag was convenient, easy to make and could be hung on a tree branch or carried on the horse, wagon, plough or later on the bumper bar of a car or truck. The canvas water bag allowed any wind or airflow to cool down the water, even on very hot days, 21G could be 21Gills = 5pints= 2Quarts = 1/2 Gallon approx. and suitable for a day working in the field = 4 Litres similar to a mineral water bottle today.The water bag like this was the source of drinking water for market gardeners in Moorabbin Shire either when working in the fields or .travelling to the markets with their wagons loaded with produce.A canvas water bag, with an iron handle and plastic or bakelite drinking spout.H.L. HARDWARE / ...KFITH 21G, water bags, elster creek, horse drawn wagons, early settlers, market gardeners, cooking utensils, castiron cooking pots, blacksmiths, moorabbin shire, bentleigh, mckinnon, highett, cheltenham, melbourne,

A hay rake is an agricultural rake used to collect cut hay or straw into windrows for later collection (e.g. by a baler or a loader wagon). It is also designed to fluff up the hay and turn it over so that it may dry. The next day it is spread again, so that the hay dries more quickly. Early settlers established productive market gardens, poultry,. pig and dairy farms , orchards and vineyards on the land in the 'Henry Dendy Special Survey Brighton 1841' - now Ormond, Bentleigh, East Bentleigh, Brighton, This hay rake is typical of the type used by early settlers in Moorabbin Shire c1900Large wooden Hay rake , hand made c1900farm equipment, hay rakes, hammers, early settlers, market gardeners, blacksmiths, tools, building equipment, moorabbin shire, bentleigh, mckinnon, highett, cheltenham,ormond

A separator is a centrifugal device that separates milk into cream and skimmed milk. Separation was commonly performed on farms in the past where farmers milked a few cows, usually by hand, and separated by letting milk sit in a container until the cream floated to the top when it could be skimmed off by hand. Some of the skimmed milk was consumed while the rest was used to feed calves and pigs. Enough cream was saved to make butter, and the excess was sold. Manual rotation of the separator handle turns a mechanism which causes the separator bowl to spin at thousands of revolutions per minute. When spun, the heavier milk is pulled outward against the walls of the separator and the cream, which is lighter, collects in the middle. The cream and milk then flow out of separate spouts. Montgomery Ward was founded by Aaron Montgomery Ward in 1872.as a mail-order business in Chicago, Illinois USA. Rural customers were attracted by the wide selection of items that were unavailable to them locally and were also inspired by the innovative company policy of "satisfaction guaranteed or your money back".This milk separator is typical of the type used by early settlers in Moorabbin Shire where every family owned a 'house cow' to supply their dairy needs. Households also kept a few chickens for eggs and developed a vegetable garden with additional fruit trees. A 'primrose' manual milk separator 'Montgomery Ward', Chicago USA c1900'primrose ' / SATTLEY / MONTGOMERY WARD/ CHICAGOearly settlers, dairy farmers, milk products, dairies, market gardeners, blacksmiths, tools, moorabbin shire, bentleigh, mckinnon, highett, cheltenham, moorabbin

This Cot was used by the family of William 1834-1902 and Elizabeth Box 1835- 1912 who in 1868 purchased 2 Lots of 10acres of the land that was part of the 'Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841' They established a market garden and raised 12 children while living in Box Cottage. William and Elizabeth Box established a flower garden on 2 lots of the 'Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841' and raised their family living in Box Cottage . A wrought iron cot with spaced vertical bars and with clamps on one side to secure when lowering and raising. The steel mesh base can be removed and wheels are attached to the base of the 4 postswilliam box, box cottage, moorabbin

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 Peterson family were early settlers in Moorabbin Shire and established a market garden in East Boundary Road East Bentleigh. Horse drawn wagons traveled along Plateways to take their crops to the Melbourne Markets . With the advent of the motorcar the market gardeners gradually purchased trucks to transport their crops. Roads were being surfaced but ruts and flooding caused upsets and bogging of these trucks. The journey was quicker but unlike the Horses, these trucks could not drive themselves back to the farm.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 a Vulcan truck driven by Vic Peterson, loaded with Cauliflowers from his market garden in East boundary Road East Bentleigh c 1929.Back Handwritten information unsgnedwagons, vulcan trucks, draught horses,, peterson vic, marriott dick, cauliflower crops, vegetable crops, poliomyelitis epidemics 20thc , elster creek, plateways moorabbin shire, 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

Early fireplaces were very wide and deep, which allowed for multiple pots to be cooking simultaneously, but also caused a lot of heat loss As the hub of the house, a burning hearth provided heat, housed the fire for cooking and baking, and served as the nucleus of family gatherings. As the Victorian age progressed, fireplaces became more ornate, with overmantels and columns.This elaborately carved wood overmantel was used in the family home of Mrs Brailly in Moorabbin Shire c1900This ornately carved wood overmantel cupboard is an example of the furnishings early settlers used to make their houses attractivec1900An elaborately carved wood overmantel c1900mantel piece, overmantel cupboards, mrs brailly, box cottage ormond, box william, box elizabeth, early settlers, market gardeners, cooking utensils, kitchenware, castiron cooking pots, blacksmiths, slow cooking, moorabbin shire, bentleigh, mckinnon, highett, cheltenham,

An adjustable or shifting spanner or adjustable wrench is an open-end wrench with a movable jaw, allowing it to be used with different sizes of fastener head (nut, bolt, etc.) rather than just one fastener size, as with a conventional fixed spanner. Early settlers were self reliant and repaired their own equipment for kitchen,dairy, farm, horses, carts using various tools . This steel shifting spanner is typical of the type used by early settlers in Moorabbin Shire c1930A large heavy steel curved neck shifting spanner with adjustable screwFLAG BRAND / MADE IN GERMANYtools, spanners, shifting spanners, wrenches, early settlers, market gardeners, blacksmiths, tools, building equipment, hammers, moorabbin shire, bentleigh, mckinnon, highett, cheltenham,mcewan james pty ltd, melbourne, bunnings pty ltd,

4x steel Automobile Spanners ' Vana Dium' used by a resident of the City of Moorabbin c1950 Vanadium is a hard, silver-grey metallic element. It is a ductile transition metal with a natural resistance to corrosion and stability against alkalis, acids and salt water. Vanadium is found in over 60 different minerals including vanadinite, carnotite, roscoelite and patronite.This Vana Dium Spanner set is typical of the type used by car mechanics in the City of Moorabbin c1950Set of 4 graduated automobile steel spanners made by Vana Dium Ltd USA c 1950 Front Forged VANA DIUM Steel 3/4 Pat.Pend. Back AUTO-KIT No.100 Made in USAspanners, automobiles, car mechanics, vana dium ltd usa, vanadium, uranium, early settlers, market gardeners, blacksmiths, tools, building equipment, hammers, moorabbin shire, bentleigh, mckinnon, highett, cheltenham,mcewan james pty ltd, melbourne, bunnings pty ltd,

. Early settlers were self reliant and repaired their own equipment for kitchen,dairy, farm, horses, carts using various tools . With the advent of motorized vehicles in 20thC residents of the City of Moorabbin became accustomed to maintaining their own cars and trucksThese large graduated spanners are typical of the type used by residents and mechanics in the City of Moorabbin c19504 x Large graduated automobile Spanners c1950 a, b Snail Brand; c Husky England; d The Superwrenchspanners, motor cars , motor trucks, mechanics, automobiles, early settlers, market gardeners, blacksmiths, tools, building equipment, hammers, moorabbin shire, bentleigh, mckinnon, highett, cheltenham,mcewan james pty ltd, melbourne, bunnings pty ltd,

John Oxley was a shoe and butchers’ knife manufacturer, who was listed in Whitecroft UK in 1822 . By 1825, he was based in Hollis Croft. John apparently died in about 1837. He had two sons – George (1808-1879) and James (1811-1881) who took over the business. George moved to Indianna, USA and in 1868 James continued to manufacture 'Cooks’ and palette knives and steels" Oxley’s trade mark was a butcher’s knife crossed with a sharpening steel (and the letters ‘JO’). The firm stayed in the family until 1960. Early settlers were self reliant and repaired their own equipment for kitchen,dairy, farm, horses, carts using various tools . This strong steel knife is typical of the type used by early settlers in Moorabbin Shire c1900Heavy duty curved steel knife with a wide blade encased in 2 thick leather straps secured with steel rivets Blade ; James Oxley with Trade Mark - a butcher’s knife crossed with a sharpening steel (and the letters ‘JO’). scratched into leather handle ; J EVANSknives, sheffield steel, oxley james ltd. , leatherworkers, saddles, horses, bootmakers, shoes, boots, builders, carpenters, early settlers, market gardeners, blacksmiths, tools, building equipment, hammers, moorabbin shire, bentleigh, mckinnon, highett, cheltenham,mcewan james pty ltd, melbourne, bunnings pty ltd,

A sledge hammer is generally wielded with both hands and is used for driving wedges and posts and for other heavy work. It can be used to remove concrete slabs, to drive heavy steel bolts into concrete, to hammer large stakes as well as for demolition.This item was a common tool used by farmers or blacksmiths.A large flat hammer with a wooden handle.Underneath hammer - 10hammer sledge-hammer tool

This beautiful costume was the 'going-away' dress worn by Mrs John Russell at her wedding in c.1884. It has been passed down through the Russell family and was donated by her grand-daughter Mrs David Nixon. John Russell was an early Orbost blacksmith in Orbost, and director of the Orbost Butter Factory for 50 years. He came to Orbost in c. 1890 at the invitation of another early settler, James Nixon, became a blacksmith, and later a farmer and landholder. Many of his descendants still live in the Orbost area. This full length female costume is made of moroon satin with gold velvet inserts. It has a small train at the back, scalloped folds with lace edging down the front of the skirt, and two rows of 14 buttons each down the bodice.going-away-dress 1890s-dress

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

Used domestically, though any extra butter would have been sold to neighbours. Many families kept a cow or two for milk etc. Cream needed to be at least 2 days old - the thicker the better. The handle was turned until the cream turned to butter,the whey was poured off and the butter washed in cold water until the water ran clear. Generally salt and bicarbonate of soda were added. Two pats were used to form butter into 1lb lots.This was used by Mrs (1890-1980) Carl Wehner who was the son of the blacksmith Herman Wehner. Wehner's Blacksmith's was founded at Orbost in 1889.Wooden "Cherry" butter churn with wood and metal turning handle. It has a detachable wooden lid.Front - E. Cherry - improve maker patent, Gisborne stencilled 0 Bottom - stencilled 0 On top of lid handle - 49260butter-churn domestic-items food-preparation wehner-hermann

The City of Moorabbin Historical Society was formed c 1960 by a group of Moorabbin area residents who were concerned that the history of the area should be preserved. A good response to a call for items related to the historical area of Moorabbin Shire brought donations of a wide variety of artefacts which are now preserved by the current members of CMHS at Box Cottage Museum . Helen Stanley, Secretary of CMHS, began producing a Newsletter for members in April 2007 to provide current information and well researched items of historical interestHelen Stanley has produced a bi-monthly Newsletter, 2007 - 2013, for the members of the City of Moorabbin Historical Society that contains well researched interesting historical items, notification of upcoming events, current advice from Royal Australian Historical Society , Museums Australia Victoria and activities of Local Historical Societies. The Newsletter is an important record of the activities of the CMHS. 5 x A4 paper printed on 1 side Issue 26 of the bi-monthly, City of Moorabbin Historical Society Newsletter produced by Society member and Secretary, Mrs Helen Stanley in April 2012. Notice for meeting April 29th , expected visit by Box family descendants 29th, reminder that subscriptions are due, and proposed Open Days June 16th and 17th to celebrate Moorabbin Roads Board 150th Anniversary. The Anvil was delivered from Heathcote on April 17th and it will enhance the Barn display. Helen recalls the story of Private Robert Mitchell, one of the 17 ‘Bentleigh Boys’ who died during World War 1, with 6 photocopied photographs CITY of MOORABBIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY / APRIL 2012 NEWSLETTERcity of moorabbin historical society, stanley helen, melbourne, moorabbin, brighton, cheltenham, ormond, bentleigh, market gardeners, pioneers, early settlers, the moorabbin roads board 1862, city of glen eira, city of kingston, moorabbin shire, parish of moorabbin, brighton east, south brighton, bent tommy, mair william, anvil, blacksmith, mitchell robert, mitchell charles, mitchell catherine, bicycle penny-farthing, bicycle races, smith frank, grocer, centre road bentleigh, foucaucourt france, somme france, world war 1 1914-1918, anzac,

Early settlers in Moorabbin Shire used these hay cutters to provide food for their Draught Horses , the family cow and clear pasture. The blade was very sharp and using a swinging action efficiently cut the long grass.Hay cutters were an essential tool for the early settlers, market gardener and dairy farmers in Moorabbin Shire c 1880A long curved steel blade with a long wooden handlepioneers, early settlers, market gardeners, dairy farmers, moorabbin, brighton, dendy henry, tools, hay cutters, blacksmith,

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 coping saw is a type of hand saw used to cut intricate external shapes and interior cutouts in woodworking or carpentry. It is widely used to cut mouldings to create coped rather than miter joints. It is occasionally used to create fretwork though it is not able to match a fretsaw in intricacy of cut, particularly in thin materials. Coping saw blades are always thicker and much coarser cutting than typical fretsaw blades. A coping saw consists of a thin, hardened steel blade, stretched between the ends of a square, c-shaped, springy-iron frame to which a handle is attached. The blade is easily removed from the frame so that the blade can be passed through a drilled hole in the middle of a piece of wood. The frame is then re-attached to the blade and the cut starts from the middle of the piece. Long cuts perpendicular to the edge of the material are possible but the shallow depth of the frame rather limits how far from the edge one may cut. The much deeper frame of the fretsaw is more useful for cutting well away from the edge but conversely cannot manage the thicker materials commonly cut by the coping saws. The coping saw blade is installed with the teeth pointing towards the handle. Unlike a hacksaw, which has the teeth pointed away from the handle, the coping saw cuts on the pull stroke. The coping saw blade is removable by partially unscrewing the handle. The blade is prevented from rotating by means of the short, steady bar provided where the blade is attached. Loosening the handle also allows the blade to be rotated relative to the frame as desired. Carefully aligning the finger steady bars at the top and bottom of the blade ensures that the thin blade is straight and not twisted along its length. Re-tightening the handle tensions the blade and locks it at the desired angle relative to the frame. The short steady bar nearest the handle is held securely between finger and thumb while the handle is tightened to ensure the blade remains at the desired angle. Unlike the fretsaw the coping saw blade has holding pins which lock securely into the angled slots of the rotatable blade holders. Gentle curves are achieved by slowly turning the whole frame by means of the handle while continuing to cut steadily. A coping saw with wooden handle but no bladetools, saws, steel , clamps, metalwork, woodwork, carpentry, early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham, fretsaw, coping saw, bowsaw, blacksmiths,

Perak or State of Perak one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in Peninsular Malaysia. It borders Kedah and the Thai Yala Province to the north; Penang to the northwest; Kelantan and Pahang to the east; Selangor to the south, and the Straits of Malacca to the west. The state's administrative capital of Ipoh was known historically for tin-mining activities until the price of the metal dropped, severely affecting the state's economy. A vice is a tool with 2 jaws between which an object is gripped, usually by tightening a screw, so as to leave the hands free for working upon it. The vice is usually firmly attached to a bench . A steel vice THE PERAK TIN MINING COMPANYtools, vice, steel , clamps, metalwork, woodwork, carpentry, early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham, blacksmiths, perak tin mining co.

Archimedes drills, incorporate a bobbin sliding up and down a spiral shaft to bore a hole. Spiral-bit augers were precursors to modern drills, whose bits cleared the hole of chips as the user drilled. Some of the most beautiful Archimedean drills appear in English tool auctions replete with brass, rosewood and even ivory. A steel hand drill with fine bit and sliding bobbin'HOBBIES' on top of handletools, metalwork, woodwork, carpentry, early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham, blacksmiths, bobbins, augers, hand drills, marples william

A hammer is a tool with a heavy head and a handle, often made of shock absorbent wood or fibreglass, that is used to strike an object. The most common use for hammers are to drive nails, fit parts, forge metal and break apart objects. Hammers vary in size, shape and structure, depending on their uses. Hammers are basic tools in many trades. A hammer is composed of a head, most often made of steel and handle also called a helve or haft. Most hammers are hand tools. A traditional hand-held hammer consists of a separate head and handle, fastened together by means of a special wedge made for the purpose, or by glue, or by both . This 2 piece design is often used to combine a dense metallic striking head with a non-metallic mechanical shock absorbing handle - to reduce user fatigue from repeated strikes. If wood is used for the handle, it is often ash or hickory, which are tough and long lasting materials that can dissipate shock waves from the hammer head. This upholsterer’s hammer has one end of the steel head rounded for knocking nails into wood furniture. The other end is divided to form a 2 pronged claw for withdrawing nails. . An upholsterer's hammer with a steel head and wooden handle, The steel head has one rounded end and a clawed endpioneers, early settlers, market gardeners, moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham, brighton, tools, craftsman, carpenters, cabinet makers, blacksmiths, builders, woodwork