The beginning of standardised weights and measures began In Victoria when the Melbourne Observatory received sets of standard weights and measures, which had been tested in Britain against the then British Imperial standards. These included the primary standard yard and pound for the Colony of Victoria. Other standards of weights and measure held by shires and the administrative body's within the colony could then be compared to these primary standards. A Weights and Measures Act was passed in Victoria in 1862, establishing local inspectors throughout the colony. By the 1870s each local council and shire in Victoria held a set of standards that were used to test scales, weights and dry measures used by wholesalers, factories and shops. Every ten years the councils’ standards would themselves need to be rechecked against the Victorian Standards. The checking was done by the Victorian Customs Department in the 19th century, but with the transfer of responsibility for customs to the Federal Government in 1901, weights and measures function was retained by the Victorian Government and was shifted to the Melbourne Observatory. In 1904, a new building was erected at the south end of the Great Melbourne Telescope House, where the standard weights and measures and testing equipment was installed. This room had a large whirling apparatus for testing air meters and became known as the Whirling Room. When the Melbourne Observatory closed in 1944, the Weights and Measures Branch was formed to continue and this branch remained at the Observatory site unit until 1995.An example of a brass measuring jug made specifically to maintain government standard liquid measurements that were sold to the public. The probability is that this artefact was made sometime between George V reign (1910-1936) and gives us today a snapshot of how imperial weights and measures were checked by Government departments prior to decimalisation and how a standard for the various types of measurement was developed in Australian based on the Imperial British measurement system. The container has social significance as an item used in Victoria as a legal standard measure to ensure that goods sold in Victoria were correct. Jug brass haystack form with a deep lip and pouring spout, small neck and broad base. It displays a curved pistol handle. Inscription at base of handle top of jug stamped 61 GVR SM. These marks signify that the measure complied with the Victorian Government capacity liquid standard measurement. Item made during the reign of George V (1910-1936 (GVR).Other marks indicate model number (61) & SM possible could be either small measure, the maker, or Standards Melbourne.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Alex Anderson was a plumber and gasfitter who operated from 178 Fairy Street, Warrnambool, in the early part of the 20th century. They made and repaired water tanks, barrels milk and cream cans, chimneys and cattle troughs.A common item which was manufactured locally.Round copper kettle with lid and handle with folded metal edges. Handle reinforced with copper at top. Spout has a join at top. A. Anderson Maker Warrnambool. warrnambool, alex. anderson, 178 fairy street warrnambool, alex. anderson plumber warrnambool, fairy street, plumber

Former Officers' Mess propertySilver (EP A1) water jug with removable filler cap. A screw cap on spout is secured by a chain. Vertically set handle.Under base and under cap: "Crusader E.P.A.1" Engraved: "Presented by Lt Col J Boyce CO Jan 87 - Jan 89"mess silver, water jug, boyce, mess silver, water jug, boyce

White china teapot with lid and rubber drip free spout end, decorated with blue banding and flowers of red, yellow and blue.Made in Japandomestic equipment, food consumption, teapot

Else Oertel and her daughter Else-Lore were interned in Camp 3A from 1940. Her husband was not interned as he was on a business trip to Germany when war broke out. The coffee pot was made by internees in the Camp.Small metal coffee post with spout, handle and lid made as part of a child's tea set. Embossed with the letter "E" on the front. "E"else lore hukins, else oertel, camp 3, camp 3 children's toys, toys, internees, teaset

Was found in an above ground rubbish pile at Days Mill and Farm.Teapot made with with brown flecked enamel over metal. The pot has a squat bulbous shape with a large handle and spout. No lid.

Cypriot White Painted Ware from Middle/Late Cypriot Bronze AgeThe beaked spout and long neck have painted stripes joined by loop handle to globular body with painted striped panels and lines. cypriot

This water bottle was carried by stretcher bearers in the Light Horse Field Ambulance. The cup/cap was used to give a drink to a wounded soldier who could not hold a water bottle to his lips. A light horse field ambulance was an Australian World War I military unit whose purpose was to provide medical transport and aid to the wounded and sick soldiers of an Australian Light Horse brigade. Typically a Lieutenant Colonel commanded each ambulance. All officers of the ambulance were medical doctors or surgeons. Dental units were often attached to the ambulance as well. A Field Ambulance consisted of two sections, the Mobile and the Immobile. The Mobile Section travel with its brigade into combat, where it would establish a Dressing Station. It use stretchers or carts to retrieve the wounded and transport them to the Dressing Station. The Immobile Section established and operated a Receiving Station, which received the wounded the Dressing Station sent on. The ambulance's surgeons would operate on the wounded at the Receiving Station. From the Receiving Station, the sick and wounded would go first to the Casualty Clearing Station and ultimately to a Base Hospital. Representative of a water bottle which differed from the regular water bottle and was used for a specific purpose.Water bottle, felt coated, with small metal cup over spout, all held in leather carrier. Strapped to a wooden stand.military, water, medical, light horse, ambulance, stretcher bearer

Webb Bros cordial FactoryLarge glass soda syphon with engraved label on side and silver coloured metal spout and glass straw inside handle is missingWEBB BROS TRADE _engraved crown in centre MARK PORT FAIRY-webb bros, webb & sons, bottle, cordial, factory, belfast, port fairy, soda syphon

Presented to Mrs. T. Sebire (*nee Nell Gaudion) May 1928 for service as church organist, on the occasion of her marriage to Thomas (7th child of Henry and Martha). Used at Wandin, in the 1920-1950's.A metal teapot with plated silver coated finish and a scalloped design on the spout. The handle is simply decorated. A dedication is engraved on both sides.Engraved on side "From congregation of Wandin Methodist Church in token of faithful service rendered as organist "presented to Mrs. T. Sebire May 7th 1923". Stamped "Made in England for G.W. Catanagh, Melbourne M33604.teapots, containers, tea accessories, commemorative teapots, commemorative objects

This is a soda syphon for holding soda water used by the aerated waters business of Reeves of Warrnambool (possibly bottled in the 1970s or 80s). It is a Fletcher bottle. John Davis established a cordial business in Warrnambool in 1859 and this business was taken over by John Fletcher. Ralph Reeves purchased the Fletcher business from the estate of the late John Fletcher in 1931 and continued to use the Fletcher bottles. The business of Reeves soft drinks continued in Koroit Street until the 1980s.This soda syphon is of considerable importance as it links two prominent soft drinks makers in Warrnambool – Fletcher and Reeves. It will be useful for display as it tells of a time when this sort of soda syphon was in use.This bottle is a soda syphon with an oblong-shaped glass base and a metal spout. It has a solid glass base and a pink-coloured tube inside the bottle. It has a chip on the base and the spout is a little corroded. The name and logo (scrolls and patterns) of J. Fletcher of Warrnambool is etched into the glass. There is also a red and cream paper label of Reeves.Paper label: ‘Reeves soda water’ Glass etching: ‘J. Fletcher, Warrnambool, F. Trade Mark’ john fletcher, reeves family

Flagons are vessels with a handle and spout used to hold alcoholic beverages, usually wine. In colonial times it would have been set on a table to share with friends or family.A brown and beige ceramic Port wine flagon or jug, with a handle and cork stopper.'Draytons Bellevue Vineyards Family Port. Wine product of Australia. Produced and bottled on the estate by Drayton & Sons Pty. Ltd. Pokolbin 2320. 1 Litre'jugs, pouring vessels, flagons, containers, stoneware

A painted ceramic teapot. The body is white with a blue border and it has a blue spout and handle. On the flat surfaces are pictures of hens in a garden with flowers.teapot pottery ceramics beverages

Document. Invoice to Mr. J. Guiney from Meurer Bros, Mundy St., Bendigo for Spouting and downpipe for £1.0.6. Invoice dated 1.10.1927.document, memo, invoice.

Used for collection animal fat in order to make candles.Very heavy large rusty round pan with a handle and blunt metal spikes. Around the edge is a narrow lip with a small pouring spout.social history, candles, farms, equipment, george evans collection

2 litre enamel-coated tea pot grey speckled with blue. Low-set spout with curved handle. Lid with squared handle.No visible markingsdomestic items, food & drink consumption, tea pot, enamel, drink, kitchen

Hand-made by Mr. Percy Sebire in MelbourneSmall brass, hand-made oil can with a long spout and handle. Removable lid to pour oil in and a spring pump to release oil.oil cans

Item was probably used as a storage container for Kerosene or oil possibly fuel or some other liquid, the spout indicates it was used to fill other objects such as machines or farm implements etc.It appears the item is quite old and could date from around the turn of the 20th century around 1900 -1920Round container galvanised with conical top and metal handle. Has cloth & wood stopper in top. Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Hand operated water pumps were used to supply water prior to the widespread use of windmill pumps, electric pumps and city water systems. Usually an old pump was made from cast iron, wood or tin. Pumps were very important to people up through the 19th century as farm houses seldom had indoor plumbing with running water. These pumps were also used for outdoor irrigation or laundry purposes.Hand operated water pumps were important before indoor plumbing was adequate. An iron water pump - hand-operated by a lever to the side. A plunger moves up and down (missing). It has a spout and has been painted brown.pump-water irrigation rural

Oil can-small metal with handle, short spout & pumping action. 24mmL x 7mmH x 7.5mm. W Braime LS6' marked onflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

China teapot minus lid decorated with crown & sceptre on sides Prince of Wales feathers on spout and gilded fleur de lis & Maltese cross.WM1domestic equipment, food preparation, kitchen

8470.1 - Cylinder topped by a cone, curved metal strip handle, it has a spout with a metal stopper at the very top and has a brass brand label.- Braime

8469.1 - Tall truncated cone with a small flat hinged disc lid, bent wire handle and long tapering spout with cotton wick present.

8468.1 - Small tallow lamp, truncated cone with bent wire handle, simple flat disc hinged lid and long near cylindrical spout.

Pennant kerosene tin with large tapering top and screw on pouring spout. Cylindrical part of can painted red with yellow Pennant flag on pole.PENNANT KEROSENE / FOR LIGHTING, COOKING & HEATING Black band: HOUSEHOLD KEROSENE A SHELL PRODUCT (Shell logo) / THE SHELL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LTD.household kerosene, pennant, the shell company of australia

Large white ceramic feeding cup with spout and one handle. Designed for pulped food or liquids fed to invalids who are unable to consume solids.domestic items, crockery, domestic items, food & drink consumption

White jug shaped with basin at top with hole in middle. Large spout into body of bowl. Handle at rear. Cream with gold trim around top.Made in Englandpersonal effects-toilet requisites, shaving, domestic items, ablutions

Found in an above ground rubbish pile at Days Mill & Farm.Tall cylinder with a handle and a spout on either side and a hinged lid at the top made of blue/grey coloured enamel with white flecks. Extensive rust.

Smokers are used to calm bees. This is done by putting some kind of fuel into the chamber (pine needles, hessian, anything that smokes a lot when it burns), lighting it, then puffing the bellows to bring forth the smoke. The smoke has a calming influence over the bees, and helps stop them from stinging. The guard around the outside is to prevent burns via contact with the hot chamber.Circular canister, metal, with spout attached. Connected by metal struts is bellows. Bellows have wooden front and back, joined by leather that is attached by metal.smoker, antique, beekeeping, beechworth honey

This is a vintage coffee pot. From the 1860's - 1930's various companies called their enamelware products by their own unique names, e.g. graniteware and agateware. The enamel coating put an end to metallic tasting food and prevented rust from contaminating food. It did scratch and chip easily.A tall cream enamel coffee pot with a goose neck spout, handle, green trim around the top and a hinged lid attached with a metal clip.There is Chinese blue script printed onto the base 'Reservoir. Made in China' There is an outline of Chinese electrical towers on the inside .....shaped. '301P - 16 13cm'coffee, coffee pots, kitchenware