Thomas Crouch Watts was born on March 7th. 1865, to Joseph and Susan Watts. Before the real estate business commenced, Thomas and his brother were in partnership as booksellers and stationers in a shop at View Point. Thomas lived in a fine house in Rowan Street, which was called 'Ottawa' Thomas started his real estate business in the early 1900s in a shop in View Street. His daughter Edna was the book keeper and typist, Stewart Watson was the salesman and Stanley Phipps (Edith Lunn's father) was the property manager and valuer. When Thomas Watts died in 1914, his daughter took over the running of the business. She married Stewart Watson in 1918. Eventually the name of the business was changed to Bishop and Earl. From a letter from Edith Lunn re T.C. Watts & Son. 'The firm of T.C. Watts & Son later became Bishop and Earl. When the firm of Bishop and Earl ceased to operate after the death of Edith Lunn's father, S.P. Bishop, Miss. June Parry, Secretary of the BHS was a member of staff. June rescued all the photos of properties listed for sale from the office and placed them into the custody of the BHS.' Black and white photograph mounted on rectangular grey board. Weatherboard double fronted house, verandah with brick piers and timber supports, Two chimneys visible, small gable LH side front. C1920 . Woven wire fence. Single gate next to double gate. Written on back of image ' Marrows Langston St £700.Frank A Jeffree, Bendigoplace, building, residential, see also; previous reg. no mp11 (2000-16-01):and previous reg. no. mp13 (200-14-01)

black and white photograph, view across mining area showing at least 9 poppet heads. At least 11 chimneys and many buildings associated with the mines. Centre to left, flume, wood stacks, mullock heaps. In image ' Duchess Tribute' on weatherboard building at centre. On back '12' Devonshire gorup' in ball point pen. MNG 1.buildings, commercial, devonshire group of mines

Black and white photograph: 'Maher Home', McIvor Road. 317 (printed numbers on back, possibly from developing). Old cottage style home with gable roof and one chimney on left. Set in an untidy garden, behind a broken-down picket fence. Physical condition: unmounted. Inscriptions/Markings: Maher Home, McIvor Road.buildings, residential, victorian

Black and white photograph copy of original. Mining site of The Great Hustler, Gold Mine at Sandhurst. Dam on RH side front, mine buildings (various) trestle way in background. Three people beside dam in foreground. Brick chimney back LH side. Inscriptions: 'The Great Hustler, Gold Mine at Sandhurst. Shaft 1250 ft'.place, mining site, great extended hustler quartz mine

Road from Belgrave to Monbulk. A woman stands on the road holding a stick. There is a creeper growing on the verge. Tall treeferns surround a house on the right side, below the road. The house has a verandah extending all the way around. There is smoke coming from a chimney which may be on the visible house or from one behind. c.1920.

Upper Main Street east of Patrick street, looking East c 1867 with Big Hill Mining in Background. J McGee's Shamrock Hotel. Jennings Western Turf Hotel. R Lorimer & Co. Photo c 1867 McGees Shamrock Hotel centre. R. Williams Dining Rooms, Jennings's Western Turf Hotel. Situated in upper Main Street (Opposite Monaghan's Estate Office) Mr. George Jennings was proprietor until the late 1860's when he went to live at "Mayo Park" Lubek. The Hotel had Various owners until it was delicensed in 1909 and became a boarding house. It was demolished in 1921. R. Lorimer & Co general Store near corner of Patrick Street.Streetscape of South Side of Main Street East of Patrick Street. Two wagons in street. Showing J. McGees Shamrock Hotel, R Williams Dining Rooms, Jennings's Western Turf Hotel and R. Lorimer & Co. Mine Engine Chimney is on left of photo. Big Hill in Background with Waterloo Reef Company Whim at centre.stawell streetscape

The original postcards in this series (2013.002 to 2013.018) were generously loaned to Williamstown Botanic Gardens by a private collector for copying. The logo in the middle of the words ‘POST CARD’ indicates the card was printed by M. Schulz in Prague. Schulz was a long-established company from Prague and printed postcards for customers from worldwide. Schulz printed in photo-chromolithography. The Curator’s lodge, designed by the Town Surveyor, HV Champion, was constructed in 1907 following the re-organisation of the north-east corner with the demolition of the old curator's cottage and erection of new gates. The postcards are evidence of the interest the gardens held as a subject for postcard publishers. The text and images provide a snapshot into fashions, social interests and concerns of the time. The professionally produced images provide a pictorial history of Gardens including changing planting styles, various structures and features of the Gardens eg the aviary, cannons, the fountain, the second Curator’s Lodge and gates. The images offer an opportunity to compare garden vistas with the present day. The card also demonstrates how postcards were used as a method of contact in contrast to the contemporary use as souvenirs. A colour image of a house (the Curators lodge) behind a fence with two children sitting on it. There are two large Cordylines, one in the forefront of the image standing in lawn and surrounded by pink flowers, and one closer to the house. The house is brown timber with two brick chimneys and has a green corrugated iron roof with gables over the windows at the front and side.Front: ‘The Lodge, / Williamstown Gardens’. Reverse: Centre top ‘POST CARD’ with a logo [MS] in the middle of the words; left side vertical ‘O. Rippon Series’; left side ‘This space may be used for communication.’; right side ‘For Address only.’; left side bottom ‘Printed in Germany’. There is a one penny red Tasmanian stamp on the top right hand corner. The card is addressed to ‘Miss E G Holford / 60 Upton St, / Launceston, / Tasmania.’ Top left corner in pencil ‘$10’ (believed to be inserted by the vendor.postcard, gardens, post-card, williamstown-botanic-gardens, hobsons-bay-city-council, curator’s lodge, children, cordyline

The original postcards in this series (2013.002 to 2013.018) were generously loaned to Williamstown Botanic Gardens by a private collector for copying. The Curator’s lodge, designed by the Town Surveyor, HV Champion, was constructed in 1907 following the re-organisation of the north-east corner with the demolition of the old curator's cottage and erection of new gates. Both the lodge and lake (1904) were built during the curatorship of Mr Thake. The logo in the middle of the words ‘POST CARD’ indicates the card was printed by M. Schulz in Prague. Schulz was a long-established company from Prague and printed postcards for customers from worldwide. Schulz printed in photo-chromolithography. The postcards are evidence of the interest the gardens held as a subject for postcard publishers. The text and images provide a snapshot into fashions, social interests and concerns of the time. The professionally produced images provide a pictorial history of Gardens including changing planting styles, various structures and features of the Gardens eg the aviary, cannons, the fountain, the second Curator’s Lodge and gates. The images offer an opportunity to compare garden vistas with the present day.A colour image of the ornamental lake and part of the Curator’s Lodge. The lodge has a green roof, tall brick chimney, is brown timber with brick where the fireplace would be. The small island with a succulent is in the centre of the image. The image looks across the top of the lake where the rock edging can be seen. Reflections of the plantings and lodge can be seen.Front: ‘Williamstown Gardens’. Reverse: Reverse: Centre top ‘POST CARD’ with a logo [MS] in the middle of the words; left side vertical ‘O. Rippon Series’; left side ‘This space may be used for communication.’; right side ‘For Address only.’; left side bottom ‘Printed in Germany’. In pencil top right corner ‘1907 / $7’ (believed to be inserted by the vendor.postcard, gardens, post-card, williamstown-botanic-gardens, hobsons-bay-city-council, curator’s lodge, ornamental lake, succulents, 1907

Built for a client by Albert Harbert in the 1920s. Albert built many local homes. This is a fine example of its style with double gables and return verandah. A black and white photograph of a weatherboard Californian Bungalow style house with a tiled roof. It has an L-shaped verandah with solid pillars decorated with stucco which is also on the chimney. The weatherboards are decoratively notched and the upper sections of the grouped windows have diamond panes. Framed by a woven wire fence along the street frontage. An immature garden.californian bungalow, house styles, westminster street, whitehorse road, mr albert harbert, 1920-1929

Humberstone's Royal Hotel was a substantial 2-storey building on the corner of Canterbury and Broughton Road. The hotel was built in 1887 to replace an older hotel (Delany's Hotel) built further east in 1856. It was de-licensed in 1921 after a "Local Option Poll" and became Tower House Day & Boarding School under Miss Marion Beetson from 1922 until 1932. It was demolished in 1932. There were 25 students in the 1920's, mostly boarders from outside Surrey Hills and all primary school students. The school room was detached from the main building and there was 6 acres of playing area. The old bar was the business office, the girls' dormitory the old dining room. Marion Beetson was the teacher, Mary Beetson managed the household. Their father was an Indian Army officer. The younger children wore a school blazer with the T.H.C. badge on the pocket. Miss Susan Kelsall visited to give piano lessons and Prof. Kelsall taught French. Miss Marion Beetson died in Castlemaine on 8 February 1952. Information courtesy of Mrs Louise Bell, Castlemaine, ex-student. See SHP0867a and SHP0867b, photos of Louisa in T.H.C. uniform. Photograph of line sketch of Humberstone's Royal Hotel, Surrey Hills. In the foreground is a horse and cart with 5 men standing in front of the hotel. Main entrance is on the corner of the intersection with large windows. There are 8 on one side and 3 on the other with 4 arches on both upper and ground floors. Turret style edging hides the rooftop with two chimneys visible. Pencilled on back "Spare - have in/ our photo files"delany's hotel, miss marion beetson, humberstone's royalhotel, surrey hills, canterbury road, broughton road, hotels, accommodation, royal hotel, tower house day and boarding school, 1880-1890, mary beetson

Used in the early 20th CenturyAn early 20th Century glass and rusted tin "hurricane" lamp with three wire curved horizontal bands protecting the clear chimney glass. This is a portable lantern with an oil tank at the bottom that forms the base of the lamp. The tank is filled through a metal tube with a screw top lid and it also houses a wick and knob that increases or decreases the length of the wick.lantens, kerosene lamps, lighting equipment, lamps

BHS CollectionBlack and white photograph mounted on rectangular grey board. House, hipped CGI roof, two chimneys, brick whitebands and decorative tops, hipped C.G.I. verandah w/fluted wooden posts w/capitals and cast iron lace above. Wooden verandah floor. 4 lines of ''block patterned'' w/boards [these boards are white].place, building, residential, stamped on back ''t.c. watts and son'' stamped on back in circle ''royal historical society of victoria, bendigo branch''

BHS CollectionsBlack and white photograph mounted on rectangular grey board. House, brick and render, corrugated iron roof, large portico at front, wooden slat fence, lattice fernery LHS, 2 chimneys, adult male in front garden. House elevated, on hill. Barkly Place, Bendigo. Written on back of photoboard ' A. Cattram, Barkly Place, £1650'Frank A. Jeffree. Photo. Bendigobuilding, residential, barkly place bendigo, t.c. watts and son

BHS CollectionBlack and white photograph mounted on rectangular brown board. House, cement plaster over lathes, verandah with concrete form pillars. Scalloped picket fence, 3 chimneys. On back of photo: ' Cnr. Bannister and Norfolk St., £700 .' Sold' 2012 photo of house attached to record showing current address as 9 Bannister Street, Bendigo.Frank A. Jeffree, Bendigobendigo, business, t.c. watts & son, 9 bannister street bendigo

BHS CollectionBlack and white photograph mounted on rectangular grey board. House, Victorian style pointed brick double fronted large window on left with arched centre, sash windows, 2 narrow window ones either side, decorative tile work columns, galvanised iron roof with chimney. Marlo Wills Street written on back.Frank A. Jeffree Photo Bendigoplace, building, residential, stamped on back in rectangle ''t.c. watts and son/auctioneer/estate agents/253 mitchell street/bendigo'' stamped on back in circle ''royal historical society of victoria, bendigo branch''

John Robinson (1897-1947) married Mary Maloney (1893-1978) in 1927. John was a bank teller and when he died in Ballarat he was described as a bank manager.Black and white photographs (2) mounted on rectangular brown board. House, weatherboard and cement sheet, brick flower box under front window. 2 chimneys, tiled roof,canopy over door at side, striped sun blind with scallops over window. On back of photo: 'Mr. Robinson, 44 Honeysuckle Street, £1100 sewered'Frank A. Jeffree, Bendigoplace, building, residential, stamped on back in rectangle ''t.c. watts and son/auctioneer/estate agents/253 mitchell street/bendigo'' stamped on back in circle ''royal historical society of victoria, bendigo branch''

In July 2013 Smeaton resident Ron Cosgrave offered to attempt to find Laura Villa. He wrote on 12/07/2013 "I have attached three photographs of Laura Villa as it is today. I am 100 % that it is the house in question. The changes are the veranda and numerous alterations and attachments. The key identifiers are the original roof line, the chimney, the trees and the background of the photo is the other side of Birch’s Creek with similar trees and the hill is Green Hill. It is located at the end of Elizabeth Street on the south side of the creek and at the Recreation Reserve." Three colour photographs of a weatherboard house. It is the former Smeaton home of Frank Wright.frank wright, music, smeaton, laura villa

Black and white photograph of W2 399 eastbound in Victoria Parade with the destination of Deepdene. The tram was fitted with route number boxes in 4/1930. The Victoria Parade line was opened to electric trams on 15/9/1929, dating the photo c1930. The photos shows established hedgerows that were planted along the tram track. The tram is at the Lansdowne St stop which has a tram stop shelter. Note the ornate scroll work on the centre poles. Iin the far distance can be seen the chimney of the Victoria Brewery,Yields information about the then new Victoria Parade tramway and tram 399.Black and white print with photographers stamp on the rear.Sutcliffe Photographers stamp.tramways, tramcars, w2 class, victoria parade, deepdene, centre poles, shelters, tram 399, mmtb

The 1924 building of the Glenormiston Butter and Cheese Factory Company Limited is one of the more intact butter factories in the state. This building, together with the 1936 addition, stand free on the site and make up the total complex. Architecturally interesting, Glenormiston gains visual importance from the bi-chromatic banded chimney, one of the best diary industrial chimneys in the state, and the elegant design and detailing of the complex which indicated the added importance placed on the industry in the western district over and above mere commercial concerns. The factory is noted for its aesthetic impact gained by being situated outside the township in a clear rural situation at the foot of Mount Noorat. The Glenormiston/Trufood connection is technologically significant for its innovative role in establishing the dried skim milk powder industry, once a site of high tourist importance. Historically the well known Black family, Western District pioneers and large land holders, played an important role in establishing both Glenormiston and Trufood and the family connections operated to maintain the unusual trading links between the two.(http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/69388/download-report, accessed 31 January 2017) In 2015 the building was neglected and in a ruinous condition. A number of colour digital images of the Glenormiston Butter & Cheese Factory Company.glenormiston butter & cheese factory company, glenormiston, factory, dairy

The newspaper clipping caption is incorrect. The Club Hotel featured in the article was located on the north side of Mount Dandenong Road. It was destroyed by fire in 1890 prior to re-opening later on the south side where it operated until sale and demolition in 2020 to make way for a retirement village. (See PDF attached - "SS0067 Vic Collections 3754b - Club Hotel Fire 1890").Early View of Club Hotel, Ringwood East. Weatherboard with iron roof. Single chimney on one end. Picket fence on RHS. Two horse-drawn vehicles standing out front including three adults and two children. Source/date of newspaper unknown. Later newspaper item also attached reporting hotel being destroyed by fire in 1890.Caption: There was 'antimony in them thar hills' at Ringwood when this picture was taken in the 1890s. At that time the Club Hotel in Mt Dandenong Road, East Ringwood was owned by a George Wiggin. There were antimony mines operating nearby. The present-day Club Hotel is on this site.

Originally labelled "Beauville Estate, Established 1936, Still Thriving 65 years on, 10th March 2001", the Beauville Estate Album contains colour photographs of houses in the Estate. They were taken around the time of the Beauville Estate’s 65th Heritage Celebration held on 10/03/2001 and donated to the Caulfield Historical Society shortly afterwards. Photographer unknown.City of Glen Eira’s Heritage Management Plan Vol 2 p79 (this is p84 of the pdf version) – HO12 Beauville Estate and environs, Murrumbeena: The Beauville Historic Area is important at the State level as the first large housing estate undertaken by the AV Jennings Construction Co, later Jennings Group Limited, Victoria’s largest home builder. It is important also as a very early estate development incorporating a range of features other than houses and including made roads, shops and recreation facilities. In this respect it was the forerunner of the comprehensively planned housing estate of the post war era. The estate is distinguished by its aesthetic values, as is the earlier and comparable Hillcrest Estate, which are formed by a combination of restrained diversity in house styles, with the exception of no. 30 in the emerging International style, and by a landscaped garden environment. Colour photograph of white rendered house with unpainted brown brick features. Other features include a porch with "Milford" written above the arched entrance, a decorative brick rectangular panel, striped awnings, sash windows, chimneys, tiled roof and low unpainted brown brick fence in the foreground with "31" on the letterbox on top of the brick pillar beside the driveway.murrumbeena, houses, beauville avenue, architectural styles, 1930's, inter war style, a.v. jennings, av jennings, jennings, brick houses, beauville estate, porches, arches, sir albert victor jennings, a v jennings construction co, beauville estate heritage area, glen eira city council, architectural features, jennings group limited, land subdivision, gardens, beauville historic area, rendered houses, brick features, milford, house names, brick fences, letterboxes, striped awnings, sash windows

Originally labelled "Beauville Estate, Established 1936, Still Thriving 65 years on, 10th March 2001", the Beauville Estate Album contains colour photographs of houses in the Estate. They were taken around the time of the Beauville Estate’s 65th Heritage Celebration held on 10/03/2001 and donated to the Caulfield Historical Society shortly afterwards. Photographer unknown. City of Glen Eira’s Heritage Management Plan Vol 2 p79 (this is p84 of the pdf version) – HO12 Beauville Estate and environs, Murrumbeena: The Beauville Historic Area is important at the State level as the first large housing estate undertaken by the AV Jennings Construction Co, later Jennings Group Limited, Victoria’s largest home builder. It is important also as a very early estate development incorporating a range of features other than houses and including made roads, shops and recreation facilities. In this respect it was the forerunner of the comprehensively planned housing estate of the post war era. The estate is distinguished by its aesthetic values, as is the earlier and comparable Hillcrest Estate, which are formed by a combination of restrained diversity in house styles, with the exception of no. 30 in the emerging International style, and by a landscaped garden environment. Colour photograph of an unpainted variegated brown brick house. Other features include an open porch with 2 brick pillars and white trellis on one wall, tiled roof, white sash windows, feature brick wide and tall chimney and low unpainted brick fence and brick garage with white door. A public footpath and nature strip are in the foreground.42murrumbeena, houses, architectural styles, 1930's, inter war style, a.v. jennings, av jennings, jennings, brick houses, beauville estate, porches, lindsay avenue, sir albert victor jennings, a v jennings construction co, beauville estate heritage area, glen eira city council, architectural features, jennings group limited, land subdivision, gardens, beauville historic area, brick features, chimneys, sash windows, garages (private), brick fences

Originally labelled "Beauville Estate, Established 1936, Still Thriving 65 years on, 10th March 2001", the Beauville Estate Album contains colour photographs of houses in the Estate. They were taken around the time of the Beauville Estate’s 65th Heritage Celebration held on 10/03/2001 and donated to the Caulfield Historical Society shortly afterwards. Photographer unknown. City of Glen Eira’s Heritage Management Plan Vol 2 p79 (this is p84 of the pdf version) – HO12 Beauville Estate and environs, Murrumbeena: The Beauville Historic Area is important at the State level as the first large housing estate undertaken by the AV Jennings Construction Co, later Jennings Group Limited, Victoria’s largest home builder. It is important also as a very early estate development incorporating a range of features other than houses and including made roads, shops and recreation facilities. In this respect it was the forerunner of the comprehensively planned housing estate of the post war era. The estate is distinguished by its aesthetic values, as is the earlier and comparable Hillcrest Estate, which are formed by a combination of restrained diversity in house styles, with the exception of no. 30 in the emerging International style, and by a landscaped garden environment. Colour photograph of an unpainted variegated brown brick house. Other features include an open porch with brick pillar and white trellis on one wall, tiled roof, white sash windows, feature brick wide and tall chimney and low unpainted brick fence with "42" on the wooden letterbox atop the brick pillar alongside a black metal gate in the foreground.42murrumbeena, houses, architectural styles, 1930's, inter war style, a.v. jennings, av jennings, jennings, brick houses, beauville estate, porches, lindsay avenue, sir albert victor jennings, a v jennings construction co, beauville estate heritage area, glen eira city council, architectural features, jennings group limited, land subdivision, gardens, beauville historic area, brick features, chimneys, sash windows, brick fences, cast iron work

Originally labelled "Beauville Estate, Established 1936, Still Thriving 65 years on, 10th March 2001", the Beauville Estate Album contains colour photographs of houses in the Estate. They were taken around the time of the Beauville Estate’s 65th Heritage Celebration held on 10/03/2001 and donated to the Caulfield Historical Society shortly afterwards. Photographer unknown. City of Glen Eira’s Heritage Management Plan Vol 2 p79 (this is p84 of the pdf version) – HO12 Beauville Estate and environs, Murrumbeena: The Beauville Historic Area is important at the State level as the first large housing estate undertaken by the AV Jennings Construction Co, later Jennings Group Limited, Victoria’s largest home builder. It is important also as a very early estate development incorporating a range of features other than houses and including made roads, shops and recreation facilities. In this respect it was the forerunner of the comprehensively planned housing estate of the post war era. The estate is distinguished by its aesthetic values, as is the earlier and comparable Hillcrest Estate, which are formed by a combination of restrained diversity in house styles, with the exception of no. 30 in the emerging International style, and by a landscaped garden environment. Colour photograph of a light tan rendered brick house with a small curved additional roof jutting over the front door. Other features include tiled roof, white framed windows, door and guttering, feature chimney and a low unpainted variegated brown brick fence in the foreground with bushes and lawn behind the fence. Tall trees behind the house.murrumbeena, houses, architectural styles, 1930's, inter war style, a.v. jennings, av jennings, jennings, brick houses, beauville estate, dalny road, sir albert victor jennings, a v jennings construction co, beauville estate heritage area, glen eira city council, architectural features, jennings group limited, land subdivision, gardens, beauville historic area, rendered houses, chimneys, brick fences

Originally labelled "Beauville Estate, Established 1936, Still Thriving 65 years on, 10th March 2001", the Beauville Estate Album contains colour photographs of houses in the Estate. They were taken around the time of the Beauville Estate’s 65th Heritage Celebration held on 10/03/2001 and donated to the Caulfield Historical Society shortly afterwards. Photographer unknown. City of Glen Eira’s Heritage Management Plan Vol 2 p79 (this is p84 of the pdf version) – HO12 Beauville Estate and environs, Murrumbeena: The Beauville Historic Area is important at the State level as the first large housing estate undertaken by the AV Jennings Construction Co, later Jennings Group Limited, Victoria’s largest home builder. It is important also as a very early estate development incorporating a range of features other than houses and including made roads, shops and recreation facilities. In this respect it was the forerunner of the comprehensively planned housing estate of the post war era. The estate is distinguished by its aesthetic values, as is the earlier and comparable Hillcrest Estate, which are formed by a combination of restrained diversity in house styles, with the exception of no. 30 in the emerging International style, and by a landscaped garden environment. Colour photograph of a white rendered brick house with decorative unpainted variegated brown brick features including a panel and column. Other features include tiled roof, porch, 2 tall rendered chimneys, concrete driveway, variegated brown brick garage with white door and a low unpainted matching brick fence in the foreground with established bushes and lawn behind.13murrumbeena, houses, architectural styles, 1930's, inter war style, a.v. jennings, av jennings, jennings, brick houses, beauville estate, dalny road, sir albert victor jennings, a v jennings construction co, beauville estate heritage area, glen eira city council, architectural features, jennings group limited, land subdivision, gardens, beauville historic area, rendered houses, brick features, porches, chimneys, garages (private), brick fences

Six handwritten foolscap pages of the Ballarat School of Mines Annual Report by President Henry Richards Caselli. The following attendances were recorded in 1875:- First Term - 70 Second Term - 69 Third Term - 75 Fourth Term 54 200 pounds was expended on the erecton of a large chimney stack and poison (arsenic) chambers , and in building the foundations of the furnace. henry richards caselli, ballarat school of mines, ballarat school of mines annual report

Sad-irons or "solid" irons were made by blacksmiths and used to smooth out material by pressing the hot iron over it. A piece of sheet -iron was placed over the kitchen fire and the irons placed on it could be heated whilst remaining clean of ash.. The women used 2 irons - one heating while the other was used. Thick cloth or gloves protected their hands from the hot irons. The handle was removed from the cool iron and re- attached to remove the hot iron from the fire. The cool iron was replaced on the fire or stove to heat again. These irons were cleaned with steel wool to prevent them marking the material. If the iron was too hot the material would scorch. Most homes set aside one day for ironing and some large households had an ironing room with a special stove designed to heat irons. However, most women had to work with a heavy, hot iron close to the fireplace even in summer. Thomas Fletcher (1840-1903). By 1880s he had a gas appliance manufactory in Thynne Street, Warrington. By 1895 the company had become Fletcher Russell and Co Gas Engineers, his firm having merged with Alexander and William Russell of Pendleton Iron Works. Circa 1950, the firm merged into Radiation Ltd which was later acquired by 'TI New World'; 1902: Fletcher, Russell & Co. Ltd., Palatine Works, Warrington In 1880 gas -fuelled irons were connected by rubber tubing to the gas light-fittings of the house or to gas canisters. However , not many houses had access to a gas supply until much later and this iron was popular in 1920’sThese sad irons remind us of the difficult circumstances experienced in their daily routines by the pioneers and early settlers of Moorabbin Shire The family of Miss M Curtis were early settlers in Moorabbin Shire.A gas-fuelled flat iron, made in USA , It would have been attached to a gas hose fitting that was also used at night for light in the house. There is a small chimney to allow for air and to try to control the amount of heat in the iron. A 'shield' is under the leather covered handle to protect the user's hand from the heat, however it is made of copper metal - a heat conductor.FLETCHER RUSSELL CO. / LIM/ PATENT/ WARRINGTON on right side of handle 'Registered' on left side of handle ' Fletcher Russell Co L / Warrington, Manchester / & London.sad iron, kitchen equipment, fletcher russell co. ltd., england, warrington, manchester, pioneers, early settlers, market gardeners, sewing, craftwork, clothing, moorabbin, brighton, bentleigh, fireplaces, stoves, domestic gas supply, gas-light, gas cannisters