Early settlers in Moorabbin Shire used large cast iron pots, pans and kettles, that were suspended over the open fire in the kitchen, for cooking meals. They had to be frugal and self-sufficient and so repaired the equipment to prolong its useful lifetime. Blacksmiths also made and repaired household equipment. James McEwan & Co 1852 - 1993 once dominated the the hardware retailing scene in Victoria. Established in 1852 to service the booming gold rush in Victoria the company went on to become one of the longest established retailers in Australia. Over it’s 140 year history the company went through many booms and busts. The McEwans name finally left the Australian retail scene with little fanfare when the last store was re-badged Bunnings in 1993Early settlers were frugal and self sufficient so they repaired their kitchen equipment when possible . McEwans Pty Ltd. was an established hardware company in Melbourne 1852-1993. Bunnings Pty Ltd is currently a successful hardware retailer for trade and public customers.Two metal discs with screw and nut for mending holes in cast iron pots, pans and kettles c1930 packing strip; THE edmay POTMENDER / Price tag ; McEWANS 77 - 11early settlers, market gardeners, cooking utensils, kitchenware, castiron cooking pots, blacksmiths, slow cooking, moorabbin shire, bentleigh, mckinnon, highett, cheltenham,mcewan james pty ltd, melbourne, bunnings pty ltd,

Diggers & Mining. Diggers and miners. All of the important diggings of the gold era passed through certain distinct stages. First there was a rich find by prospectors. Photo show prospectors checking their panning. ''Prospectors''. Markings: 17 994:LIF I. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields

Diggers & Mining. Diggers and Miners. . . . . To the water-driven wheel, which drove grinding pans. These grinders further crushed the tailings and the remaining gold was extracted. Markings: 43 994.5 WAL. Used as a teaching aid. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields

'Goldpanning' Statue, Howard Place, Bendigo. C1983slide, bendigo, statue, 'gold panning' statue, bendigo

Gold Scale. Brass, Portable. The pan of a brass portable gold scale with three small suspension chains. Aprrox. 90Mm in diameter.

A plaster replica of the 377 ozs gold nugget that was discovered in March 1861 in Robinson Crusoe valley at a depth of 5 feet by Mr John Knott and his son. It was the largest nugget found on the field. Value in 2016 $595,463. An article by the Bendigo Advertiser on Saturday 16 March 1861 describes the discovery "One of the largest pieces of gold that have been turned out of the ground on Bendigo, was yesterday brought to light in a small gully called Dead Bullock Gully, on the Kangaroo Flat side of Robinson Crusoe. The fortunate discoverers of the treasure are in this instance, as is generally the case, "fossickers," and where the nugget was found is in some old ground that has no doubt been turned over times innumerable within a few feet of the spot where the prize was lying hid. The exact weight of the nugget is 377 oz 6¾ dwts of as pure gold as ever came out of the ground. The finders are Mr John Knott and his son; the latter,a lad, being the party who actually found it, which he did under rather peculiar circumstances. He was down below in the old hole, putting a drive into an old pillar that had been left, when he drove his pick into the mass of gold, and partially discovered it. Under the excitement of the moment he cried out loudly, and his father, who was on top, immediately jumped down the hole, under the impression that his son had met with an accident, but fortunately found that he only required assistance in extracting the welcome stranger. The following is a description of the nugget. Length, twelve inches; width, six; while in some places it is of about two inches in thickness, in others it is only about half an inch. It has that peculiarity of form which from the days of the early finders of nuggets has enabled one to discover a resemblance to something either common or uncommon. We have had nuggets resembling frying pans, legs of mutton, dampers, and other articles in use in the rosy days of the diggings. In the present instance several parties who have seen the nugget assert that both in shape and size it is very much like an Australian Platypus, one of the ends of the nugget being exactly in formation like the snout of the animal. It will be exhibited today in the gold office of Mr Bannerman, and will, no doubt,attract the gaze of a crowd. Mr Knott states that at breakfast, before going to work in the morning, the boy mentioned to his mother that he had dreamt on the previous night that he would find a large nugget. May the similar dreams of every alluvial miner come as true as this realization of a prize worth between fourteen and fifteen hundred pounds in value."It has a sticker on it that says 'The Platypus 112'mining, models, plaster model of victorian gold nugget, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/87375584

Chinese gold scales. Wooden scale holder (a) two part wooden device secured at end of handle with a metal pin to allow swivelling of both pieces. At end of handle, two pieces 'violin' shaped to hold scale and weights. This enabled placement of scales within holder. Bottom piece has indent for scale pan, weight and long handle. Chinese scale (b) thin cream handle marked with inch graduations, without numbers. Separately suspended from handle with thick cotton is a small semi-circular lead weight and a round brass scale pan.gold mining, mining equipment, chinese gold scales

A fancy red button with a metal carving of Peter Pan on it blowing a horn, the carving seems to be bent slightly to the right. This was discovered by QC Binks whilst he was out metal detecting for gold.bendigo, gold mining, qc binks, peter pan, button.

Inscribed inside sculpture cavity "Douglas Richardson"sculpture, bronze, plaster, bendigo, gold mining, gold panning, central goldfields

(verso) c; C Douglass Richardsonsculpture, carving, plaster, bronze, goldfields, panning, gold digging, mining, bendigo, fossicker, fossicking, miner, regional victoria

Carpet sweeper with wooden casing enclosing brush rollers. Four metal wheels with rubber covers and attached wooden handle. Metal handle with rubber bumpers with 'Ewbank Patent No. 183576 1920s logo on top of lion on wooden base with crossed flags behind crown and sign British Manufacture. Front and back have 'Ewbank Magnum' on case. Bumper is cord with rubber at corners with 'Ewbank 1925 Patent No. 34357 written on it. Balal roller between wheels is painted gold with 'Ewbank Patent Ball Bearing - 23610 1902 18397 1904. Metal lever for dropping pans has Press Slide etched on. Instructions underneath on paper labelsAs abovedomestic items, cleaning

This photograph is of the viewing room inside the Gold Battery building, with story boards on the wall. One of a series of photographs of the Rutherglen Gold Battery. Its purpose was to crush quartz from nearby quartz reefs and extract gold from within. The battery was erected in 1908 and consists of a five-head battery, Wilfrey table, Bergin pan, portable steam engine and shed. The battery was restored in 2011/12 and can be viewed daily between 9.00am and 5.00pm. See website for details.Colour photograph of the interior of a building showing three story boards mounted on a corrugated iron wall.gold battery, gold processing

This photograph is of the viewing room inside the building, this side with windows overlooking the machinery and a video screen with a switchboard to run the video. One of a series of photographs of the Rutherglen Gold Battery. Its purpose was to crush quartz from nearby quartz reefs and extract gold from within. The battery was erected in 1908 and consists of a five-head battery, Wilfrey table, Bergin pan, portable steam engine and shed. The battery was restored in 2011/12 and can be viewed daily between 9.00am and 5.00pm. See website for details.Colour photograph of the interior of a building showing two large windows and a video screen on a corrugated iron wall.gold battery, gold processing

This photograph is of Battery Box, showing the mouth where quartz is fed in. The five stamper rods can also be seen. This is one of a series of photographs of the Rutherglen Gold Battery. The battery's purpose was to crush quartz from nearby quartz reefs and extract gold from within. The battery was erected in 1908 and consists of a five-head battery, Wilfrey table, Bergin pan, portable steam engine and shed. The battery was restored in 2011/12 and can be viewed daily between 9.00am and 5.00pm. See website for details. Colour photograph of a large piece of machinery inside a buildinggold battery, gold processing

This photograph is of the Burdun Pan where small quantities of quartz material can be crushed. The Pan revolves and the large manganese iron ball does the crushing. This is one of a series of photographs of the Rutherglen Gold Battery. The battery's purpose was to crush quartz from nearby quartz reefs and extract gold from within. The battery was erected in 1908 and consists of a five-head battery, Wilfrey table, Bergin pan, portable steam engine and shed. The battery was restored in 2011/12 and can be viewed daily between 9.00am and 5.00pm. See website for details. Colour photograph of a metal pan, mounted on a geared shaft, with a metal ball.gold battery, gold processing

This photograph is a view from the lower side of the stamper, showing amalgam table, box and stampers. This is one of a series of photographs of the Rutherglen Gold Battery. The battery's purpose was to crush quartz from nearby quartz reefs and extract gold from within. The battery was erected in 1908 and consists of a five-head battery, Wilfrey table, Bergin pan, portable steam engine and shed. The battery was restored in 2011/12 and can be viewed daily between 9.00am and 5.00pm. See website for details. Colour photograph of a large piece of machinery inside a buildinggold battery, gold processing

This photograph is a view of the flywheel that drives the stampers. This is one of a series of photographs of the Rutherglen Gold Battery. The battery's purpose was to crush quartz from nearby quartz reefs and extract gold from within. The battery was erected in 1908 and consists of a five-head battery, Wilfrey table, Bergin pan, portable steam engine and shed. The battery was restored in 2011/12 and can be viewed daily between 9.00am and 5.00pm. See website for details. Colour photograph of a large piece of machinery inside a buildinggold battery, gold processing

This photograph shows the pre-heater on the left and the furnace on the right. After clean up of stamper table, amalgam is placed in a retort, then placed in the furnace where mercury is condensed and runs down the small pipe into an enamel bucket and can be reused. This is one of a series of photographs of the Rutherglen Gold Battery. The battery's purpose was to crush quartz from nearby quartz reefs and extract gold from within. The battery was erected in 1908 and consists of a five-head battery, Wilfrey table, Bergin pan, portable steam engine and shed. The battery was restored in 2011/12 and can be viewed daily between 9.00am and 5.00pm. See website for details.Colour photograph of the interior of a room with corrugated iron walls, with a fireplace on the left and a furnace on the right.gold battery, gold processing

This photograph shows the workers' amenities at the Gold Battery. The building has a bedroom and kitchen. In front is a Baler Bucket and a cage. This particular cage was for raising and lowering the skips which brought the material to the surface. This is one of a series of photographs of the Rutherglen Gold Battery. The battery's purpose was to crush quartz from nearby quartz reefs and extract gold from within. The battery was erected in 1908 and consists of a five-head battery, Wilfrey table, Bergin pan, portable steam engine and shed. The battery was restored in 2011/12 and can be viewed daily between 9.00am and 5.00pm. See website for details.Colour photograph of a corrugated iron cottage, with several pieces of machinery around it.gold battery, gold processing

This photograph is of machinery in the yard of the Gold Battery. The Baler Bucket is at the rear, the cage in the centre and the skip at the front. This is one of a series of photographs of the Rutherglen Gold Battery. The battery's purpose was to crush quartz from nearby quartz reefs and extract gold from within. The battery was erected in 1908 and consists of a five-head battery, Wilfrey table, Bergin pan, portable steam engine and shed. The battery was restored in 2011/12 and can be viewed daily between 9.00am and 5.00pm. See website for details.Colour photograph of a pieces of machinery in the yard of the Gold Batterygold battery, gold processing

This photograph is of the side of the main building of the Gold Battery with workshop at rear (now demolished). Beside building is a hand windlass, along with some old pulleys and various parts. This is one of a series of photographs of the Rutherglen Gold Battery. The battery's purpose was to crush quartz from nearby quartz reefs and extract gold from within. The battery was erected in 1908 and consists of a five-head battery, Wilfrey table, Bergin pan, portable steam engine and shed. The battery was restored in 2011/12 and can be viewed daily between 9.00am and 5.00pm. See website for details.Colour photograph of the side of a corrugated iron building with a smaller building at the left, and a number of pieces of machinery next to the buildinggold battery, gold processing

This photograph is of the back end of the side of the main building of the Gold Battery with workshop at rear (now demolished). Beside building is a hand windlass, along with some old pulleys and various parts. This is one of a series of photographs of the Rutherglen Gold Battery. The battery's purpose was to crush quartz from nearby quartz reefs and extract gold from within. The battery was erected in 1908 and consists of a five-head battery, Wilfrey table, Bergin pan, portable steam engine and shed. The battery was restored in 2011/12 and can be viewed daily between 9.00am and 5.00pm. See website for details.Colour photograph of the side of a corrugated iron building with a smaller building at the left, and a number of pieces of machinery next to the buildinggold battery, gold processing

This photograph is of the side of the Gold Battery building, and is one of a series of photographs of the Rutherglen Gold Battery. Its purpose was to crush quartz from nearby quartz reefs and extract gold from within. The battery was erected in 1908 and consists of a five-head battery, Wilfrey table, Bergin pan, portable steam engine and shed. The battery was restored in 2011/12 and can be viewed daily between 9.00am and 5.00pm. See website for details.Colour photograph of the side of a corrugated iron buildinggold battery, gold processing

Diggers & Mining. Diggers and miners. Quartz gold mine, Clunes, c. 1861- - - and in the quartz reefs. Slide shows that mining is done on a much grander scale than a pan by the river of shallow mines. It could now be a large industry for its times. Markings: 29 994:LIF I. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields