Written on back of photographs: V0122: "Ringwood Timber & Trading being demolished". and V0121: "Ringwood Timber being wrecked 1984"

Annie Jessup, an artist, was the youngest daughter of the well-known Australian self-taught artist, Alfred William Eustace. Like her father, Annie created some of her oil landscape paintings on gum leaves. Her older brother Sidney presented one of her paintings to the Chiltern Athenaeum together with his own timber collection.Annie Jessup, and artist, was the daughter of the well-known Australian self-taught artist Alfred William Eustace.Photograph of an oil painting on gum leaf by Annie Jessup, under glass on blue paper in a reddish plastic timber-look frame.Artist's signature on bottom right hand corner of photograph: Annie Jessup/ Myrniong Sticker on back: MADE IN/ CHINA/ FABRIQUE'AU/ CHINEannie jessup, gum leaf painting, landscape

The three men in this photograph, one of a set of six), are all from the Donchi family who have been involved in sleeper - cutting since the 1890s. From left to right they are Brian, Ken and Alan Donchi. The photograph was taken for an article in the Victorian Railways Magazine in 1975, a pamphlet produced for Victorian Railways. It contains photographs and an article about Orbost as "Timber Country" and a detailed article titled, " Cutting Sleepers is a Family Business" which tells about the Donchi family.This photograph is associated with the timber and sleeper-cutting industry in the Orbost Region. Timber sleepers were superceded by concrete sleepers in c. 1970s. Orbost has historically been based on the timber industry, but that industry has declined considerably over the last 20 years..The number of locals involved in the timber industry has declined and many of the mills have closed. This item reflects a time when that industry was a significant contributor to the economy of the district.A black / white photograph of three members of the Donchi family working at sleeper - cuttingin a timber coupe in Orbost.on back - Pr 8764timber-industry-orbost sleeper - cutting donchi-family-orbost

These flooring nails and lock came from a railway cottage at 2 Ethel Lane, Wodonga. One is a diamond-headed timber nail and the others are simple round headed nails. They were designed so the head of the flooring nail when driven into the Baltic pine flooring was covered over by the timber so was not visible. The cottage was built about 1890. It featured many items labelled with the emblem of Victorian Railways. The house was demolished in November 2006. This lock is significant because it came from an early railway home in Wodonga.Flooring nails - one diamond headed timber nail and four other nails from railways cottage at 2 Ethel Lane, Wodonga. Door lock and striker plate from a railway cottage at Ethel Lane.On Lock - Trademark disc Around edge - REGISTERED TRADEMARK PATENT EXPIRED In centre: Royal Warrant Symbol of Rampant Lion and Unicorn above words NO. 60 JAS CARPENTER PATENTEE On striker plate: VRrailway houses wodonga, jas carpenter locksmith

The local logging industry had its beginning back in 1882. The first batch of timber was cut in a sawmill at Orbost on the Brodribb River.Orbost has historically been based on the timber industry, but that industry has declined considerably over the last 20 years. The number of locals involved in the timber industry has declined and many of the mills have closed. This item reflects a time when that industry was a significant contributor to the economy of the district.A very large framed black / white photograph of a large group of timber workers in a bush setting. Above and below the photograph are their names. The names can be clearly read. The photograph is on a white buff card under glass in a black frame.Names are type - written above and below the photograph.timber-industry

This medium sized metal, horse-drawn, road-working scoop, with timber shafts is an example of those used in Moorabbin Shire in the late 1800s, and up until the 1940s for road-works, building dams, market-gardening work and other similar earthworks in the shire. The Box Cottage museum example would have been drawn by one horse, with the worker walking and steering the horse and scoop from behind using the timber shafts. There were even bigger metal scoops that required two or more horses to drag the scoop through the soil.Following the Dendy Special Survey 1841 allotments were sold to pioneer settlers who established market gardens in the Moorabbin area. Roads and roadside dams were needed as they transported both their stock and garden produce to markets in St Kilda and Melbourne By1880 the Shire of Moorabbin was using horse-drawn, road-working shovels on the main thoroughfares of the district.A medium sized metal, horse-drawn, road-working scoop, with timber shafts. Used by Moorabbin Shire in the late 1800s, and early 1900s for road-works, and other similar work in the shiremelbourne, shovel, brighton, moorabbin, metal, gardens, roads, markets, mckinnon, cheltenham, horse drawn, scoop, dendy henry, st kilda

These Wodonga photos are part of a collection donated by Miss Olive Codling. Arthur Dunstan Arthur Dunstan established mills at Red Bluff on the Mitta and a timber yard at Wodonga. He also built a sawmill at Glen Wills in 1931 which operated for about 16 years. A larger and more modern sawmill with drying kilns was erected at Eskdale in 1947. He was contracted to build Wodonga’s Municipal sale yards in 1935, followed by the Wangaratta sale yards. This created so many forward orders that he bought a large block of land on the corner of Beechworth and Tallangatta Roads and opened a timber mill and hardware store. The business stood on this corner for about 40 years. A large proportion of the company's timber output was processed at the Wodonga yards into flooring, weatherboards, mouldings etc. and practically the whole output was distributed locally and throughout the Riverina and eastern areas of New South Wales, and Canberra. At its peak Dunstan’s was one of the biggest sawmilling businesses in Victoria and in Wodonga employed 150 people and milled l6,000,000 super feet of timber annually. A super foot is a measurement for timber, equal to one foot square by one inch thick. Arthur Dunstan also built Tower Place in High Street. He died in Wodonga in 1963 and the business was continued on by his sons. Dunstan’s timber yards in Wodonga were sold to Ezerd Industries in 1987 with the retail section being bought by BBC Hardware.This photo collection is significant as it documents how the businesses and buildings in Wodonga have evolved and contributed to community throughout the 20th century.The first business at this location was a timber will and hardware store established by Arthur Dunstan in 1935. It operated there for about 40 years. In this photo Horseland occupies the corner premises including a video outlet. On the left is the Victoria Star Hot Bread Kitchen. This area is now know as Southside.wodonga businesses, dunstan's corner wodonga, thomas mitchell drive

Mining Scene from Big Hill. Open cut in fore ground with support timbers. Whims and poppet heads. Shows back of New Court House in Patrick Street. The flat area in distance is St Georges Crushing Battery settling Dam.Open Cut with supporting timbers in foreground, Various poppet Heads at centre of image. Wimmera Crushing Mill settling dam in distance. Rear of new Court House visiblestawell mining

13 strips of wood showing their different colour and grain and representing trees found in the Kiewa Catchment.A record of timber found in the Upper Kiewa Catchment13 different types of wood displayed in a wooden framed picture/wall hanging. Each wood is labelled. Green background and wooden frame.Labelled: Timber Samples - Upper Kiewa Catchmenttimber samples, upper kiewa catchment

Large barn built c1886 by Isaac Jeeves the younger on his property where the homestead 'Shiloah' stood. The barn was reputedly made from timbers split from only one messmate tree. Originally the home of Isaac Jeeves, brother of Ellis Jeeves, ‘Shiloah’ was enlarged to take guests in the early 1900s. It was situated close to a beautiful fern gully and Isaac and his family capitalised on this by setting out walking tracks through the ferns. They charged 1/- to walk through and this included afternoon tea in a garden setting. ‘Shiloah’ was a popular tourist attraction but the making of the Olinda Creek Road destroyed the fern gullies and, by the 1930s, it was all finished. John Lundy-Clarke grew up in the Kalorama/Mt Dandenong area and later in life (1972-74) began to write a comprehensive history of the area working from an original settlement map in an effort to cover all areas.Black and white photograph showing a large wooden structure surrounded by trees. Handwritten inscription on reverse by John Lundy-Clarke.Home of Isaac Jeeves the younger. Built about 1886 of timbers split from one messmate tree. Photo 1973isaac jeeves the younger, barn, kalorama, shiloah, messmate

Colour slide of a dark red truck beside a pile of cut wood in a timber yard near Eildon. It was during Operation Firewood. Legatees would organise collection of wood from the country and distribute it to widows in metropolitan Melbourne. Other slides show the cutting and loading of wood and delivery to widows in metropolitan Melbourne. Was with many other slides taken in the 1950s and 1960s. The slides have been photographed to make digital images and moved to archive quality sleeves. In many cases the original images were not well focussed and the digital image the best available.A record of Legacy helping widows by sourcing, supplying and delivering firewood. When open fires were the main source of heating, a load of firewood and help moving it, would have been very important to the widows.Colour slide of a red truck in a timber yard during Operation Firewood in brown Anscochrome cardboard mount.Printed on front in red ink 'Anscochrome / View from this side / Made in Australia'. Hand written on front 'Cutting last loads / Eildon' in blue pen. Printed on reverse in red ink 'Processed by Verycolor photo labs. Melbourne, Victoria'.operation firewood, trucks, wood

Colour slide of a dark red truck beside a pile of cut wood in a timber yard near Eildon. It was during Operation Firewood. Legatees would organise collection of wood from the country and distribute it to widows in metropolitan Melbourne. Other slides show the cutting and loading of wood and delivery to widows in metropolitan Melbourne. Was with many other slides taken in the 1950s and 1960s. The slides have been photographed to make digital images and moved to archive quality sleeves. In many cases the original images were not well focussed and the digital image the best available.A record of Legacy helping widows by sourcing, supplying and delivering firewood. When open fires were the main source of heating, a load of firewood and help moving it, would have been very important to the widows.Colour slide of a red truck in a timber yard during Operation Firewood in brown Anscochrome cardboard mount.Printed on front in red ink 'Anscochrome / View from this side / Made in Australia'. Hand written on front 'Cutting last loads / Eildon' in blue pen. Printed on reverse in red ink 'Processed by Verycolor photo labs. Melbourne, Victoria'.operation firewood, trucks, wood

The P.S. Alexander Arbuthnot was the last of the paddle steamers built at Koondrook, for the river trade in 1923. Owned by the Arbuthnot Sawmills. She was used to bring timber in from the forest to the sawmills to be processed from logs to timber. She was later owned by Evans Bros and then Barmah Charcoal Ltd. She sank at Yeilima, re-floated in 1973, placed on a low loader and taken to Shepparton for preservation. Echuca city council bought her for the Port of Echuca in April 1989. She was bought to Echuca in December 1991 to complete her restoration by shipwright Kevin Hutchinson. She is now used as a passenger vessel and is licensed to carry 47 passengers. The P.S. Alexander Arbuthnot is a reminder of the past life on the river. Being the last paddle steamer built for the river trade in 1923, the Alexander Arbuthnot is a reminder of the past life on the river. Licensed to now carry 47 passengers, she was used by the saw mills to bring timber in from the forests to the sawmills. A timber planked, monohull, side wheeled paddlesteamer with a 8hp horizontal Ruston Hornby steam engine. It has a flat bottom and mutiple decks. Currently painted cream with burgandy trim.Alexander Arbuthnot signage on wheelhouse and port and starboard bowp.s. alexander arbuthnot

The timber and cable swing bridge straddled the Deep Creek at Bulla behind the Bulla school. It enabled children who lived across the river to travel directly to school instead of going the long way around the road, a possible distance of 2-3 kms.A coloured photograph of the timber and cable swing bridge which was constructed across the Deep Creek at Bulla. Trees are growing along the river bank and there is a row of conifers growing along the opposite bank.swing bridges, deep creek, george evans collection

Each of the five telephones is attached to a timber, wall‐mounted box. They are original to the precinct buildings and date from the early twentieth century. Located in the lighthouse lantern room, the former head keeper’s quarters, the former assistants’ quarters, and the buildings known today as the generator shed and the café, they formed an intercom system that facilitated communication between the lightstation buildings.Wall‐mounted Bakelite telephones with crank handles can be found at all six light stations, however Gabo Island has the only other example of a timber‐mounted phone. Its design is slightly different for incorporating an inclined surface for jotting down notes. As fixtures, the telephones are considered to be part of the building fabric and included in the Victorian Heritage Register listing for the Cape Nelson Lightstation (H1773; 18 February 1999). They are historically significant for their historical and technical values as part of the early communications system used at the lightstation.Five similar intercom system telephones. All are wall mounted timber boxes with Bakelite black hand sets and black cords. The five phones each have two bells at the top of the box and a crank handle at the side. Three phones have brass bells, two have black metal bells. All phones have instructions on the front either in a frame or glued to the timber."C of A" and "PMG" Written instructions on how to use the phones are printed on paper fixed to the front of the telephones. "TO CALL ....../ TO ANSWER...../ WHEN FINISHED....."

Part of collection of maritime artefacts donated by Wilfred Libby. Timber crate containing hand light [Aldis Lamp], resister with cable plug and switch [as lamp was converted to 240v power], envelope containing glass screen, five Mazda light gobes. Signal Lamp converted to 240v with accessories [glass screen and globes]Timber crate: Lantern outfit, Patt W 1061 Resister: Admiralty Pattern W 1000; Resistance 50.5 Ohms, 2.18 Amps. Serial Number No ES 474024 Year 1943 Globe: The British Thompson Houston Co.aldis lamp, mazda light globes

Colour slide of legatees standing by two cars a timber yard near Eildon. It was during Operation Firewood. Legatees would organise collection of wood from the country and distribute it to widows in metropolitan Melbourne. Other slides show the cutting and loading of wood and delivery to widows in metropolitan Melbourne. Was with many other slides taken in the 1950s and 1960s. The slides have been photographed to make digital images and moved to archive quality sleeves. In many cases the original images were not well focussed and the digital image the best available.A record of Legacy helping widows by sourcing, supplying and delivering firewood. When open fires were the main source of heating, a load of firewood and help moving it, would have been very important to the widows.Colour slide of legatees beside two cars in a timber yard during Operation Firewood in brown Anscochrome cardboard mount.Printed on front in red ink 'Anscochrome / View from this side / Made in Australia'. Hand written on front 'Eildon / After the job is done' in blue pen. Printed on reverse in red ink 'Processed by Verycolor photo labs. Melbourne, Victoria'.operation firewood, cars, wood

Colour slide of three men cutting logs using a sawmill at a timber yard in Eildon. It was during Operation Firewood. Legatees would organise collection of wood from the country and distribute it to widows in metropolitan Melbourne. Other slides show the cutting and loading of wood and delivery to widows in metropolitan Melbourne. Was with many other slides taken in the 1950s and 1960s. The slides have been photographed to make digital images and moved to archive quality sleeves. In many cases the original images were not well focussed and the digital image the best available.A record of Legacy helping widows by sourcing, supplying and delivering firewood. When open fires were the main source of heating, a load of firewood and help moving it, would have been very important to the widows.Colour slide of men cutting logs in a timber yard in Eildon during Operation Firewood in brown Anscochrome cardboard mount.Printed on front in red ink 'Anscochrome / View from this side / Made in Australia'. Hand written on front 'Champion cutter / Eildon' in blue pen and '22' in pencil. Printed on reverse in red ink 'Processed by Verycolor photo labs. Melbourne, Victoria'.operation firewood, wood, sawmill

Colour slide of men cutting logs using a sawmill at a timber yard in Eildon. It was during Operation Firewood. Legatees would organise collection of wood from the country and distribute it to widows in metropolitan Melbourne. Other slides show the cutting and loading of wood and delivery to widows in metropolitan Melbourne. Was with many other slides taken in the 1950s and 1960s. The slides have been photographed to make digital images and moved to archive quality sleeves. In many cases the original images were not well focussed and the digital image the best available.A record of Legacy helping widows by sourcing, supplying and delivering firewood. When open fires were the main source of heating, a load of firewood and help moving it, would have been very important to the widows.Colour slide of men cutting logs in a timber yard in Eildon during Operation Firewood in brown Anscochrome cardboard mount.Printed on front in red ink 'Anscochrome / View from this side / Made in Australia'. Printed on reverse in red ink 'Processed by Verycolor photo labs. Melbourne, Victoria'.operation firewood, wood, sawmill

Colour slide of a man repairing a sawmill at a timber yard in Eildon. It was during Operation Firewood. Legatees would organise collection of wood from the country and distribute it to widows in metropolitan Melbourne. Other slides show the cutting and loading of wood and delivery to widows in metropolitan Melbourne. Was with many other slides taken in the 1950s and 1960s. The slides have been photographed to make digital images and moved to archive quality sleeves. In many cases the original images were not well focussed and the digital image the best available.A record of Legacy helping widows by sourcing, supplying and delivering firewood. When open fires were the main source of heating, a load of firewood and help moving it, would have been very important to the widows.Colour slide of a man repairing a sawmill in a timber yard in Eildon during Operation Firewood in brown Anscochrome cardboard mount.Printed on front in red ink 'Anscochrome / View from this side / Made in Australia'. Handwritten 'Repairs / Eildon' in blue pen. Printed on reverse in red ink 'Processed by Verycolor photo labs. Melbourne, Victoria'.operation firewood, wood, sawmill

Colour slide of men cutting logs using a sawmill at a timber yard in Eildon. It was during Operation Firewood. Legatees would organise collection of wood from the country and distribute it to widows in metropolitan Melbourne. Other slides show the cutting and loading of wood and delivery to widows in metropolitan Melbourne. Was with many other slides taken in the 1950s and 1960s. The slides have been photographed to make digital images and moved to archive quality sleeves. In many cases the original images were not well focussed and the digital image the best available.A record of Legacy helping widows by sourcing, supplying and delivering firewood. When open fires were the main source of heating, a load of firewood and help moving it, would have been very important to the widows.Colour slide of men cutting logs in a timber yard in Eildon during Operation Firewood in brown Anscochrome cardboard mount.Printed on front in red ink 'Anscochrome / View from this side / Made in Australia'. Hand written on front 'Cutting Firewood / Eildon' and '22' in blue pen. Printed on reverse in red ink 'Processed by Verycolor photo labs. Melbourne, Victoria'.operation firewood, sawmill, wood

A tramline was built to bring logs down from a mill up on Stoney Creek. The tramline was made of timber and the trolleys of logs were pulled as afr as possible by horse and then a driver would ride the logs down to the flat land below pulling a brake when nearing the end. (Close to site of present Primary School).Photo is a copy of Anne Borella (nee Nicholson) depicting the haulage of timber along a tramline. Two horses are pulling a trolley while a driver stands on the load with the wheelbrake ready.transport, horse drawn, structures, tramway

The big Hayshed was built by J. D. McHaffie on his property at Ventnor. He used timber washed up by the sea and roofing iron from the dome of the Exhibition Building in London. After purchasing the historic McHaffie homestead, Mr Harbison removed most of the buildings to Innishowen. It was still standing in 1977."Innishowen". Coloured photograph of large galvanised iron haystack, rusted with age. Part of timber frame visible at right hand side. Training Jinker shown against the side of shed.local history, photographs, buildings - historical, coloured photograph, john cook, innishowen, ventnor, phillip island

This wooden humidicrib came from Cobram ambulance station which was part of the old Goulburn Valley Ambulance Service. When the need for humidicribs was understood, none were available at Cobram. Not prepared to wait for a humidicrib to be issued to them, local ambulance officers made their own! If you look carefully you will see the air circulation vents and springs between the inner and outer timber boxes. These were designed to make what could be a long ride over rough roads as comfortable as possible for sick babies. Probably made in the 1950s, we do not know how many babies were saved by this particular humidicrib - but it was a success. Other ambulance services made their own after hearing about the Cobram Ambulance Station humidicrib. Source Chas Martin AHSV curator). Humidicribs are used to transport sick babies from small hospitals to major hospitals for specialist care. They work by maintaining normal body temperature and provide oxygen if needed during ambulance transit. Known by a variety of commercial names, earlier humidicribs were ones heated with water bottles. Not part of an ambulances standard equipment, humidicribs are kept in ambulance stations and carried if babies needed to be transported. In the early days before humidicribs came into use and when air ambulances did not exist, many more babies died during emergency transits than do today. A doll was sourced from St Vincent de Paul Brighton. The doll was dressed in an original hand made christening gown made in 1975 by Miss Molly Hambly from Glen Waverley (now deceased). It was used for her Great Nephew's christening in 1976. Brown timber box with top opening lid and Perspex vision/access panel in lid. inner timber cot/box free standing on springs.cobram, goulburn valley ambulance, infant, baby

Advertisement for the sale of two homes, 265 Mitcham Road, Mitcham and 534 Mitcham road, Mitcham a 1930s timber home. Agent, drakes real estate. Photographs. Cutting from Nunawading Gazette, 18th April, 1984.Advertisement for the sale of two homesmitcham road, mitcham, no. 534, mitcham road, mitcham, no. 265, houses, drake & co.

Manufactured by E. Hoppus the Hoppus's Practical Measurer, or measuring made easy by a new set of tables which show by looking the solid content of any piece of timber, stone, etc, either square, round or unequally sided, and the value at any price of cubic feet. The book also gives the superficial comtent of boards, glass, painting and plastering with explanations of the uses and applications of the tables. The contents are given in feet, inches, quarters and twelfth parts of an inch. It includes the measurment of timber by several dimensions together with tables showing the weight of iron by measure.Hoppus's Practical Measurer; or, Measuring made easy by a new set of tables, which show, at sight, the solid content of any piece of timber, stone, &c. W. Nicholson & Sons; London; nd. 238 p. Hard cover.e. hoppus; measurment; timber; stone; boards; glass; painting; plastering, iron;

This is a bridge across the Snowy River at Orbost. This bridge was built in the 1920s as a road and rail bridge, and was partly washed away by flood waters in 1934. After the end of the first World War the Victorian Railways considered an extension of the railhead across the river at Orbost, and in 1922 a new timber and steel girder structure, a joint Country Roads Board — Victorian Railways venture, was built and completed at a cost of £41,000 (the steel girders came from the Flinders Street viaduct reconstruction). Subsequently it was decided not to take the railway across the river, and the bridge has only been used by road traffic.This is a pictorial record of an early bridge across the Snowy River at Orbost.A very large black / white photograph under glass in a timber frame. It is of a bridge across a river and is framed by trees.bridge snowy-river-bridge road-transport-orbost

The design of this small disc is from the Australian Colonial period. The cedar wood desk was made in Australian by Foy & Gibson in the 1880s, most probably in the business’s works in Collingwood, Victoria. The heavy brass locks fitted into the desk drawers were made by the famous Hobbs & Co of London, mid-late 19th century. In 1860 the business changed hands but the locks were still branded Hobbs & Co. The desk is branded with the symbol of Victoria’s Public Works Department. There is currently no information on when, where and by whom this desk was used. However, a very similar desk with Hobbs & Co. locks is on site at the Point Hicks Lightstation in Victoria and was formerly used by the Point Hicks head light keeper there. Other light stations also have similar desks from the P.W.D. (see also ‘Desk, Parks Victoria – Point Hicks Lightstation, Victorian Collections’.) HOBBS & CO., LONDON Alfred Charles Hobbs, 1812-1891, was American born. He became an executive salesman in 1840 for renowned lock manufacturer Day & Newell. His technique of exposing the weaknesses of people’s current locks was very successful in generating sales. He represented Day & Newell at London’s Great Exhibition of 1851, competing with other lock makers. Through the Exhibition he became famous for picking the best trusted Bramah and Chubb locks. Hobbs’ fame led him to found his own company in 1851 then register it in 1852 as Hobbs & Co., London. Hobbs was awarded the Telford Medal by the British Institution of Civil Engineers in 1854 for his paper 'On the Principles and Construction of Locks'. In 1855 the very successful company added partners and became Hobbs, Ashley and Co. In 1860, it traded under the name of Hobbs, Hart & Co. and was based in Cheapside London, where the business remained. Hobbs then returned to America, having sold the complete company to John Mathias Hart. He briefly returned to attend the 21st anniversary celebrations of the successful business in 1872. Hobbs kept himself busy in America, inventing and manufacturing firearm ammunition, for which he held several patents. He passed away there in 1891, a month after his 70th birthday. FOY & GIBSON Mark Foy wan an Irish draper who migrated to Bendigo, Victoria in 1858, attracted by the gold rush. He lived and worked in the area, establishing a drapery business. In the 1870s he moved to Melbourne where there were better prospects for expansion. He chose a place in Smith Street, Collingwood, a suburb of Melbourne, and started his business at the rear. In 1883 Foy retired, bringing in William Gibson as a partner, and then transferred his own share of the company to his son Francis Foy. Not long afterwards Francis sold his half share to Gibson, and the business continued under the name of Foy & Gibson. Francis Foy and he and his brother Mark Foy (junior) moved to Sydney. They established a business there in 1885, named after their father, Mark Foy. Gibson added to his business by starting his own manufacturing works from 1887, producing clothing, millinery, furniture, bedding and hardware for his stores. The factories, warehouses and stores complex became one of Victoria’s largest employers. He set up branches of his stores in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide and two more branches in Melbourne. Foy & Gibson (usually referred to as Foys) became one of Australia’s largest retail department stores. In 1931 Foy’s little house in Collingwood was still part of the entrance to Foy & Gibson Emporium. In 1955 the company was bought out by Cox Brothers. Later on the stores were sold to various businesses such as David Jones, Woolworths and Harris Scarfe. In 1968 Cox Brothers went into receivership, ending almost 100 years of the business known as Foy’s. The former Foy & Gibson Complex is registered by Heritage Council Victoria. “Designed by William Pitt, this magnificent 19th and early 20th century complex of factories, warehouses and showrooms saw the production of a remarkable range of goods for Foy & Gibson, Melbourne’s earliest department store chain”. (Quoted from the Plaque erected by the Collingwood Historical Society 2007) P.W.D. – Public Works Department, Victoria The desk is stamped “P.W.D,” signifying that it is from the Public Works Department in Victoria, which operated from 1855-1987. The department was responsible for, among other things, the design and supply of office furniture and equipment for public buildings and organisations. This desk is significant historically as it originated from Foy & Gibson, a colonial Australian company that had a positive and strong impact on employment, manufacturing and retailing in Melbourne, Victoria and Australia. The significance of Foy & Gibson to Victoria’s and Australia’s history is marked by the Collingwood Complex being registered in both Heritage Victoria Register (H0755, H0897 and H0896) and National Trust Register (B2668). This locks on this desk are significant for their connection with their manufacturer, Hobbs & Co, who invented a lock that surpassed the security of any other locks produced in the mid-19th century. Desk; Australian Colonial cedar desk, honey coloured. Desktop has a wooden border with a rolled edge and a fitted timber centrepiece. The four tapered legs are tulip turned. Two half-width drawers fit side by side and extend the full depth of the desk. The drawers have dovetail joints. Each drawer has two round wooden knob handles, a keyhole and a fitted, heavy brass lever lock. Inscriptions are on the desktop, drawers, desk leg and lock. Made in Australia circa 1880 by Foy & Gibson, lock made by Hobbs & Co, London.Impressed into timber frame of one drawer “FOY & GIBSON” Impressed into lock “HOBBS & CO / LONDON”, “MACHINE MADE”, “LEVER” Impressed along the front edge of the desktop [indecipherable] text. Impressed into the timber of right front leg “P. W. D.” below a ‘crown’ symbol Handwritten in white chalk under a drawer “206” flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, desk, cedar desk, colonial desk, 1880s desk, australian colonial furniture, furniture, office furniture, office equipment, australian made furniture, colonial furniture, colonial hardware, foy & gibson, alfred charles hobbs, hobbs & co london, hobs & co lever lock, cabinetry lock, machine made lever lock, p.w.d., public works department victoria, day & newell, great exhibition of 1851, bramah lock, chubb lock, telford medal 1854, cheapside london, mark foy, mark foy – bendigo draper, smith street collingwood, william gibson, foy & gibson emporium, foy & gibson complex, cox brothers

A dowel is a cylindrical rod, usually made of wood. In its original manufactured form, a dowel is called a dowel rod. Dowel rods are often cut into short lengths called dowel pins.These are commonly used as structural reinforcements in cabinet making and in joining large timbers together. To make a dowel, a piece of wood is split or whittled to a size slightly bigger than desired and to place the stock into a vice then rotate past a fixed knife, or alternatively, to rotate the knife around the stock such as the subject tool was used. Machines based on this principle emerged in the 19th century. Frequently, these are small bench-mounted tools, prior to this time dowels had to be cut by hand. The tool is an example of early to late 19th century hand tool used to make timber dowels. It is not associated with an historical event, person or place, makers provenance is unable to be determined at this time. Many small American and British tool manufactures were taken over by Stanley tools after 1843 when the company was established and this item could have been made by one of these. However the subject item appears to be rare and would be regarded as a collector's item.An adjustable woodworking tool know as a Moot, used for making Trunnels or Treenails (Dowels) for fastening joints in timber. Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, moot, trunnels, treenails, circular, dowels, woodworking tool