The early settlers of Victoria depended on horse drawn vehicles to farm, make roads and railways, deliver produce and transport people. Horse harnesses were an important requisite for all drivers and could be found wherever there were working horses. Horse Harnesses have played an essential role in different cultures throughout history. Simple, utilitarian horse harnesses made of leather straps and iron rings were being used in early China before AD 500 as well as ancient Greece and Rome allowing horses to pull chariots and ploughs. The Greeks and Romans were the first to use a "horse collar" which distributed the weight of the harness evenly across the horse's chest rather than relying on a "throat harness" that could damage a horse's throat or choke them. During the medieval period, European horse harnesses became more elaborate and decorative. Variations of different horse harnesses were also found in Native American and Middle Eastern cultures. Horse Harnesses usually have four basic components which include - 1. Communication - the bridle, bit and reins allows the driver to communicate instructions and commands to the horse, guiding its movement and direction. 2. Draft - the collar, hame straps, hames, traces and chains enables the horse to draw and pull the load efficiently by distributing the weight and transferring the pulling force to the vehicle. 3. Stopping - the breeching band, pole straps and breast strap helps to control or stabilise the horse and vehicle when moving downhill or stopping. 4. Support - the back pad, backband, belly band and back saddle keep the harness in the correct position and proper alignment. This dray harness is a plain, basic harness and reflects its working class origins. It was used by Mr. Oswald (Jack) Bourke with his horse and dray to firstly deliver drygoods from Sunbury to Melbourne in the 1930's and later (through the 1940's and 1950's up to 1961) when he worked on the garbage round for the Springvale City Council. This horse harness is a significant example of the equipment that was needed wherever horses were being used - particularly in the early years of Victoria's settlement by white settlers. Harnesses such as this example were used with drays, farming equipment, delivery carts and personal transportation.A leather and metal horse harness used with a horse and dray circa 1930's to the early 1960's. It is made up of a number of components. 1. A leather bridle with metal buckles and rings, blinkers and a metal single jointed, snaffle bit that has the initials M B stamped onto the leather. 2. A leather bridle with metal buckles and rings and a metal "straight bar" Eggbut snaffle bit. It has an elongated X design (with 4 dots) stamped onto the leather strap holders near each buckle. 3. A blue and white vinyl halter with one leather patched strap. The nose band and a chin strap are covered with woollen padding. 4. A pair of leather shaft protectors. They have lacing holes along each edge and a repeating design of small shapes (flowers, wings, crosses and arrowheads) which run along the front of each protector. 5. A leather strap with a stainless steel chain and catch and a maker's mark for "Glenn's Leather Goods, Pearcedale Victoria" stamped onto the end. 6. A wide leather strap covered with a webbing sleeve. It has two large metal rings and each end and one ring has a rope attached. 7. A leather strap comprised of three separate sections (two shorter and one longer) joined with two metal rings. The longer section has notches along its length and the shorter section at the other end has a buckle. It also had a maker's mark stamped on it but the mark is very worn and the writing is difficult to read. 8. An adjustable leather horse collar with two buckles and straps at the top opening and two "B's" stamped into the leather. The top of the collar is made from treated leather pieces stitched together and the underneath of the collar is untreated leather. It has a padded indentation running all the way around the collar for the hames to sit in. 9. Two pairs of long leather traces - each having a buckle and notched section at one end and each one is made with three lengths of leather spliced together. 10. A leather strap (with one spliced join) belonging to a horse harness with two shorter straps (each ending with a metal clip) attached to a steel D ring at one end. 11. Three assorted short leather straps - the top one has clips at each end and a buckle (for adjusting the length) in the centre, the middle strap has notches and a buckle and the bottom strap is white with notches and a buckle.Bridle with blinkers - "M B" Bridle - design showing an elongated X with a dot in each section stamped onto strap holder Shaft Protectors - stamped design of flowers, wings, crosses and arrowheads Strap with chain - "Glenn's leather goods / Pearcedale / Victoria" Leather Strap (with two metal rings) - Maker's stamp - "name indecipherable / SADDLER / ...OURNE" Collar - "B / B" Leather strap - flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, great ocean road, sunbury, springvale, dray, delivery dray, harness, horse harness, horse drawn vehicles, working horse, oswald (jack) bourke, bridle, horse collar, hames, shaft protectors

A wooden, open throat racquet. Inscription, starting across base of head of obverse, and down the stem, reads: SEVENTY/NARRAGANSETT MACHINE CO./.../"LIVE-WOOD"/.../PAWTUCKET, R.I. Inscription across base of head on reverse: NARRAGANSETT. Company shield device and monogram feature below on stem. Company logo 'NMCO STANDARD' is stamped in black onto brown cloth and leather butt cap. Materials: Wood, Glue, Lacquer, Ink, Leather, String, Gut, Clothtennis

An oval racquet with white cloth tape reinforcing, and a leather handle grip. Inscription across crown on obverse: SLAZENGERS'. Inscription across throat on obverse: DOHERTY/SLAZENGERS/PATENT/STRINGING. Inscription along right side of handle: SLAZENGERS LTD. Inscription along left side: LAURENCE POUNTNEY HILL/LONDON. E.C. Instructions for care impressed upon butt cover. Materials: Wood, Gut, Metal, Glue, Lacquer, Ink, Cloth tape, Leathertennis

A wooden racquet with red whipping over glazed parchment reinforcments along underside of shoulders, and a deep-grooved handle grip. Inscription across crown on obverse: SLAZENGERS'. Decal model trademark comprising of black, red, and yellow garter with monogram 'I.Z.' on throat on obverse. Inscription along right side of handle: PATENTED/[OC]T. 12. 1915/SLAZENGERS' NEW YORK. Materials: Wood, Gut, Metal, Glue, Lacquer, Ink, Leather, String, Parchmenttennis

An Ellsworth Vines Match Play tennis racquet. Wilson logo, with winged tennis ball emblem features on the throat. Decal head and neck image of Vines features on stem. Butt cover features 'IT'S A WILSON' logo. Racquet features plain leather handle grip. Engraved on right side of handle is: ORREN W. HYMAN DELTA SIGMA. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Plastic, Ink, Leather, Metal, Glue, Lacquer, Paint, String, Adhesive tapetennis

A Wilson Famous Player Series, Mary K. Brown International Model tennis racquet. Throat features a decal head profile illustration of Browne, in front of a faux-Olympic rings device. Wilson logo in front of winged tennis ball emblem features on the shaft. Brown leather handle grip with four-leaf clover perforations also feature. Materials: Wood, Nylon, String, Leather, Adhesive tape, Paint, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metaltennis

A Wilson, Alice Marble Invincible tennis racquet. Base of head features Wilson logo. Throat features decal of Wilson 'W' trademark, with interweaved ribbon device. Shaft features decal illustration of Marble in action pose, receiving the ball. Leather handle grip features four-leaf clover perforations. Butt cover features logo: IT'S A/WILSON. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Leather, Adhesive tape, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, String, Painttennis

A Wilson, Mary Hardwick Valiant tennis racquet. Base of head features Wilson logo. Throat features decal head and neck illustration of Hardwick. Lower shaft and plastic butt cap features red 'W' trademark. Shaft features two stylised starburst devices between model name 'VALIANT' printed in cursive script. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Leather, Adhesive tape, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, String, Paint, Ribbon, Plastictennis

A Chemold Rod Laver tennis racquet, white ribbon whipping around shoulders and a leather handle grip with quatrefoil perforations. Model name features across base of head. Australian national coat-of-arms features on throat. Lower shaft features decal of 'Town and Country' trademark, through which the racquet was sold. Materials: Wood, Nylon, String, Ribbon, Paint, Ink, Adhesive tape, Leather, Rubber, Plastic, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Bambootennis

A Chemold Rod Laver Tournament tennis racquet, with ribbon whipping around shoulders, and mottled black leather grip. Model name features across base of head, flanked by Classical Greek motifs. A coat-of-arms with lion and deer features on throat. Lower shaft and plastic butt cover feature blue, red, and white Chemold trademark. Materials: Wood, Nylon, String, Ribbon, Paint, Ink, Plastic, Leather, Rubber, Glue, Lacquer, Metaltennis

A MacGregor Lloyd Budge Tournament tennis racquet, with string whipping around shoulders, and leather handle grip with arrowhead patterned perforations. MacGregor logo features across base of head and lower shaft. Model name, with 'T' motif within a shield device, features on throat and across shaft. Macgregor logo with 'M' trademark feature on plastic butt cap. Materials: Wood, Leather, Nylon, String, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Adhesive tape, Painttennis

A Garcia Pro - 240, Harold Solomon Autograph tennis racquet, with plastic ribbon whipping around shoulders and shaft. Model name features across base of head and throat. Company logo features along shaft. 'Garcia USA' logo with tennis racquet in shield device features at lower shaft. Garcia 'G' trademark features on plastic butt cap. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Leather, Plastic, Ink, Adhesive tape, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Painttennis

A Seamless Bobby Riggs Signature tennis racquet, with ribbon whipping around shoulders and bevelled shaft, and, leathwer handle grip with quatrefoil perforations. Seamless logo features across base of head. Model name features across the throat. Inscription: FOR CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY features along the shaft. Seamless trademark symbol features on plastic butt cap. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Leather, Plastic, Ink, Adhesive tape, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Paint, Ribbontennis

A Revelation Mercury tennis racquet, with an open throat/split shaft, ribbon whipping around shoulders, and a leather handle grip with X-formation perforations. Model name features across base of head. Revelation logo features along lower shaft, accompanied by trademark comprising of geometric shapes. 'F' trademark features on plastic butt cap. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Leather, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Ribbon, Paint, Adhesive tape, Plastictennis

A blue & white Yamaha 'YCR128' composite tennis racquet, featuring: single shaft; nylon net strings; red/black leather handle grip; black plastic shaft casing; and, black plastic butt cap. Handle covered with original clear plastic packaging wrap. Logo inlaid in silver on butt cap. Word: 'COMPOSITE' printed across throat. Model name printed on edge of shaft. Materials: Fibreglass, Plastic, Nylon, Adhesive tape, Leathertennis

A red & white Yamaha 'YFG-30' fibreglass tennis racquet, featuring: single shaft with open throat; white plastic bridge; nylon net strings; black perforated leather handle grip; black plastic shaft casing; and, black plastic butt cap. Logo inlaid in silver on butt cap. Manufacturer name printed on bridge. Model name printed on both edges of shaft. Materials: Fibreglass, Plastic, Nylon, Adhesive tape, Leathertennis

A brown & yellow Yamaha 'YFG-50' graphite tennis racquet, featuring: single shaft with open throat; yellow plastic bridge; nylon net strings; brown perforated leather handle grip; black plastic shaft casing; and black plastic butt cap. Manufacturer name & logo printed on bridge. Logo inlaid in silver in butt cap. Model name printed on both edges of shaft. Materials: Fibreglass, Plastic, Nylon, Adhesive tape, Leathertennis

A Tremont Research Centre 'MAG-1' T201 model tennis racquet, with open throat; handle wrapped in leather, and a plastic butt cap with adhesive label. On base of head states: 'STRUCTURAL FOAM...MAG-1...GRAPHITE COMPOSITE'. On lower shaft states; 'T201' and a 'T' logo. Sticker on butt cap states: 'MAG-1'. Along edge of shaft are manufacturer details. Materials: Adhesive tape, Vinyl, Plastic, Ink, Leather, Adhesive label, Graphitetennis

Two-part object. (1) A Kniessl 'Red Star Twin' tennis racquet with open throat, plastic butt cap and handle wrapped with leather. Manufacturer's name on base of head and model name on lower shaft. Manufacturer's red star logo features on butt cap. (2) Full length padded racquet cover with zip and printed with red star logo and manufacturer name. Materials: Adhesive tape, Leather, Ink, Vinyl, Plastic, Boron, Metaltennis

A Spalding 'W. T. Tilden' Top-Flite model tennis racquet, featuring whipping around shoulders and shaft, an open throat, fine-grooved handle and leather end wrap. Model name features across base of head, on obverse. Manufacturer name features across base of head on reverse. Image of endorser appears on shaft on obverse, and decal signature appears on shaft on reverse. Materials: Wood, Metal, Lacquer, Glue, Leather, Vinyl, Ink, Stringtennis

A Spalding, "Pancho Gonzales" Model tennis racquet, featuring whipping around shoulders, leather handle grip with perforations, and a white plastic butt cap. Manufacturer's name across base of head; model name across throat. Blue and green parallel stripes along shaft. Wreathed 'S' trademark features on lower shaft and butt cap. Materials: Wood, Metal, Lacquer, Glue, Ink, Nylon, Paint, Plastic, String, Adhesive tape, Leather, Plastictennis

A Wilson Famous Player Series, Jack Kramer Top Notch tennis racquet. Base of head features Wilson logo. Throat features decal design of a crowned eagle. Shaft features decal of head and neck photo image of Kramer. Leather handle grip features multiple perforations. Autographs by Kramer along reverse of shaft. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Leather, Adhesive tape, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, String, Ribbon, Paint, Plastictennis

A Wilson Famous Player Series, Maureen Connolly Match Point tennis racquet. Base of head features Wilson logo. Throat features gold fleur-de-lis device. Shaft features decal head and shoulders image of Connolly. Cloth butt cover features blue 'W' trademark. Leather handle grip features quatrefoil perforations. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Leather, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Paint, Ribbon, Adhesive tape, Clothtennis

A Wilson, Maureen Connolly Cup tennis racquet. Base of head features Wilson logo. Throat features decal head and shoulders image of Connolly. Shaft features decal image of a rendered cup trophy. Base of shaft and plastic butt cap feature 'W' trademark. Leather handle grip features triangle-patterned perforations. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Leather, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Paint, Ribbon, Adhesive tape, Plastic, Stringtennis

A Wilson, Tony Trabert Finalist tennis racquet. Base of head features Wilson logo. Throat features model name above a eagle emblem. Shaft features a decal head and shoulders photo image of a young Trabert. Cloth butt cover features red 'W' trademark. Wilson handle grip features clustered perforations. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Leather, Ribbon, Glue, Metal, Lacquer, Paint, Adhesive tape, Plastic, Cloth, Stringtennis

A Wilson "Butch" Buchholz Signature tennis racquet. Base of head features Wilson logo. Throat features model name, with a wreathed 'S'. Lower shaft and butt cap feature 'W' trademark. Leather handle grip features triangular perforations. Inscription along left side of shaft: MADE EXCLUSIVELY FOR SEARS ROEBUCK & CO./BY WILSON SPORTING GOODS. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Leather, Glue, Metal, Lacquer, Paint, Adhesive tape, Ribbon, Plastictennis

A Regent Junior Pro tennis racquet. Regent logo features across base of head, flanked by two wheat stalks. Model name, and decal illustration of male youth playing tennis, feature on the throat. Photo decal of head of Alex Olmedo, encircled by a wreath, features at base of shaft. Decal of endorsement features along the sides of shaft. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Ribbon, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Ink, Paint, Leather, Adhesive tape, Cloth, Stringtennis

A Regent, Don Budge Contender, Tournament Model tennis racquet. Regent logo features across the base of the head and on white butt cover. Model name features on the throat and shaft. Decal head image of Budge features on lower shaft. Endorsement and model details feature on the sides of the shaft. Leather handle grip features hexagonal perforations. Materials: Wood, Nylon, String, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Paint, Leather, Ribbon, Ink, Adhesive tape, Clothtennis

A Regent, Don Budge Contender, Tournament Model tennis racquet. Regent logo features across the base of the head and on white butt cover. Model name features on the throat and shaft. Decal head image of Budge features on lower shaft. Endorsement and model details feature on the sides of the shaft. Leather handle grip features hexagonal perforations. Materials: Wood, Nylon, String, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Paint, Leather, Ribbon, Ink, Adhesive tape, Clothtennis

Unstrung wooden racquet with black plastic shoulder and shaft supports, gold and black string whipping, and a fine grooved handle. Inscription along throat and across shaft on obverse: VISCOUNT/DUNBAR-GIBSON/VIBERT SPORT/SHOP/PASADENA, CALIF. manufacturers details within gold diamond device on reverse: DG/DUNBAR/DUNBAR GIBSON INC./NEW YORK/U.S.A. Materials: Wood, String, Plastic, Ink, Leather, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Clothtennis