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. J & M Ewan History: J&M Ewan was a Melbourne firm that began by selling retail furniture and wholesale ironmongery. They had substantial warehouses situated at the intersection of 81-83 Elizabeth and Little Collins Streets, the business was established by James M Ewan in 1852. Shortly afterwards he went into partnership with William Kerr Thomson and Samuel Renwick. When Ewan died in 1868 his partners carried on and expanded the business under his name J & M Ewan. The business was expanded to provide a retail shop, counting-house and private offices. Wholesale warehouses adjoined these premises at 4, 6 and 10 Little Collins Street, West. This company provided and sold a large and varied amount of imported goods into the colony that consisted of agriculture equipment, building materials, mining items as well as steam engines, tools of all types and marble fireplaces. They also supplied the Bronze measuring containers in the Flagstaff Hill collection and the probability is that these containers were obtained by the local Melbourne authority that monitored weights and measures in the mid to late 19th century. The company grew to employ over 150 people in Melbourne and opened offices at 27 Lombard St London as well as in New Zealand and Fiji. The company also serviced the Mauritius islands and the pacific area with their steamship the Suva and a brig the Shannon. Robert Bate History: Robert Brettell Bate (1782-1847) was born in Stourbridge, England, one of four sons of Overs Bate, a mercer (a dealer in textile fabrics, especially silks, velvet's, and other fine materials)and banker. Bate moved to London, and in 1813 was noticed for his scientific instrument making ability through the authority of the “Clockmakers Company”. Sometime in the year 1813 it was discovered that one Robert Brettell Bate, regarded as a foreigner in London had opened a premises in the Poultry selling area of London. He was a Mathematical Instrument maker selling sundials and other various instruments of the clock making. In 1824, Bate, in preparation for his work on standards and weights, leased larger premises at 20 and 21 Poultry, London, at a rental of four hundred pounds per annum. It was there that Bate produced quality metrological instruments, which afforded him the recognition as one of one of the finest and principal English metrological instrument-makers of the nineteenth century. English standards at this time were generally in a muddle, with local standards varying from shire to shire. On 17 June 1824, an Act of Parliament was passed making a universal range of weights, measures, and lengths for the United Kingdom, and Bate was given the job of crafting many of the metrological artifacts. He was under instruction from the renown physicist Henry Kater F.R.S. (1777-1835) to make standards and to have them deposited in the principal cities throughout the United Kingdom and colonies. Bate experimented with tin-copper alloys to find the best combination for these items and by October 1824, he had provided Kater with prototypes to test troy and avoirdupois pounds, and samples with which to divide the troy into grams. Bate also cast the standard for the bushel, and by February 1825, had provided all the standards required of him by the Exchequer, Guildhalls of Edinburgh, and Dublin. In 1824, he also made a troy pound standard weight for the United States, which was certified for its accuracy by Kater and deposited with the US Mint in 1827. Kater, in his address to the Royal Society of London, acknowledged Bate's outstanding experimentation and craftsmanship in producing standards of weights, measures, and lengths. An example of a dry Bronze measuring container made specifically for J & M Ewan by possibly the most important makers of measurement artifacts that gives us today a snapshot of how imperial weights and measures were used and how a standard of measurement for merchants was developed in the Australian colonies based on the Imperial British measurement system. The container has social significance as an item retailed by J & M Ewan and used in Victoria by the authorities who were given legal responsibility to ensure that wholesalers and retailers of dry goods sold in Victoria were correct. The container was a legal standard measure so was also used to test merchants containers to ensure that their distribution of dry goods to a customer was correct. Bronze round container with brass two handles used as a legal standard for measuring dry quantities & is a 'peck' measurement. "IMPERIAL STANDARD PECK" engraved around top of container with " VICTORIA" engraved under.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, standard measure, bronze, peck measurement, j & m ewan, victorian standard dry measurement, bronze container, victorian standards, melbourne observatory, robert bettell bate

Commemorative Port issued in 1995 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the opening of St Mary's Church in Greensborough.Ceramic wine bottle with cork in cardboard container, black and whiteBrown Brothers Milawa Vineyard Australia: Viictorian Port on cardboard containerst marys parish greensborough, st marys catholic church greensborough, brown brothers

Permanent treatment markings, glass tube with measurements, paper containerglass tube showing measurements paper container - permanent - amber stainpermanent marking stain

This butter cooler was used in households to prevent butter from melting in the warmer weather. Ice would have been used in the butter container. The top of the container is domed, indicating the shape of the butter at that time (late 19th century). This butter cooler would have been a costly item and would have graced the dining table of a family that had considerable means. It would have been used on a dining table even after the invention of refrigeration in the 1880s as the eating rooms would have had little or no cooling mechanisms in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This butter cooler has no known local provenance but it is a very attractive item and is retained as a good example of a household item no longer in use. It will be very useful for display.This is a silver butter cooler with a circular base with an ornamented edge. The base has a stem holding two highly ornamented arms branching out from the sides. These arms hold an oval container which has a chased silver base and an overhanging chased silver top. Inside the container is the space to hold ice or cold water. On top of the inside of the container sits a small round lid which holds the butter and the ice. The lid has several small holes for the ice water to drain underneath. The base of this lid is impressed with moulded fruit and leaves. The oval container has an over-arching handle attached. This is highly ornamented in fretwork. The sides of the container have two projecting pieces for holding the butter cooler and two other smaller projecting pieces with chains attached for hanging the object. One of these pieces has an oval holder for turning the hinged top of the container to close the container. This top has a chased silver patterning on its top. When the lid is closed the container adapts to a globe or egg shape.‘Made and Guaranteed by Meriden B. Company 5085 U.S.A. household items, history of warrnambool, silver butter cooler

A field ration, combat ration or ration pack is a canned or pre-packaged meal, easily prepared and eaten, transported by military troops on the battlefield. They are distinguished from regular military rations by virtue of being designed for minimal preparation in the field, using canned, pre-cooked or freeze-dried foods, powdered beverage mixes and concentrated food bars, as well as for long shelf life.Most armies in the world today now field some form of pre-packaged combat ration, suitably tailored to meet national or ethnic tastes.AMF Emergency Ration Pack ContainerOn front: To open pull ring this way. Retain portion for handling contents when cooked. Gadden container On back: AMF Emergency Ration. To be consumed only when no other rations of any kind are procurable. Consumption of this ration must be reported at first opportunity. Instructions for use are printed under cover of container and also on paper slip within can. Gadden container.ration, container, food, ring pull, emergency

Metal containerCartridges, small arms, blank 4A/Y10/S/95 GBA/1681

belonged to Dorothy Meaghers' motherdonated by Ray Meagher who was a councillor 1972-1979. He was also chairman of works committee 1974-76, and Mayor of Nunawading 1976-77. Rays' wife Dorothy was on lake committee and supported the extension of the lake reserve. Ray was also a local builder.1 rectangular cream coloured tray .2 oval shaped hand mirror with handle, coloured cream .3 narrow oblong cream coloured brush .4 oblong cream brush .5 rounded square cream powder container with raised bump on each side .6 lid for powder container with raised bumps on each side square shape .7square handkerchief with farm animals- blue edged .8 round pink coloured powder puff, dark pink. .9 round pink coloured powder puff, light pink. .10 round circle of nylon meshon cream container 'made in England'personal effects-toilet requisites, cosmetics

Possibly WWI historical significance.American model safety razor. Made in Germany possibly from 1914 with metal container.Safety Razor, Warranted, Made in Germany. Safety razor printed on metal container

The container could be amongst personal effects as luggage or in a home, used for storing small items.It is currently not associated with a historical event, person or place at this time and is being used to augment Flagstaff's village display.Wooden container, round shape, with lid. Container shows evidence of wood turning inside. Decorative painted flower design flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, container, jar with lid, wooden jar, personal effects

Used for cleaning of military small arms.Used by Australain Military Forces F88 Styer Rifle Small arms cleaning kit in a olive green pouch. The pouch has a flap opening secured with three metal press studs and two internal compartments secured with Velco strips. On the front is a nylon webbing loop with a metal slide clip. The kit contains 18 items, with two multitools, a two ended green toothbrush (large and small brushes), a four piece metal rod sections which screw together to form a barrel pull through with two eyelet (long and short) flannel and two wire brush attachments. The kit also contains a black small ended long brush, and a yellow ended large brush. Two 5.56 dummy rounds are included. Also included are a small green plastic container, and a small plastic slotted top with three holes. A red painted knurled metal top attachment with a screw thread, central vent hole and slotted top for an F88 rifle is also included. On the front is a nylon webbing loop with a metal slide clip for belt attachment.8465-00-781-9564 on the ouside of the pouch. F88 stamped on red metal tool top. HP 223 5.56 stamped on the base of the dummy rounds. Arrow marked on the green plastic slotted top. S,A.F. Marked on base of small plastic container. f88, small arms, cleaning kit, australian military, styer rifle

The Hotel was delicensed 3.5.1975. Building still standing and occupied as a private residence 2017.Sepia coloured photograph of the Carrier Arms Hotel, SpringhurstSigns on awnings on front of hotel: "Cool Clean Beer. Carriers Arms Hotel. Cool clean beer. Try for yourself. For a good meal." At top on front of building: "Carriers Arms Hotel. Est. 1875" Written at bottom of photo: "Carriers Arms Hotel Springhurst. Delicensed 1975" Written on back of photo: "de-licenced 3.5.1975" "Carriers Arms Hotel Springhurst"carriers arms hotel, hotels, pubs, springhurst

Used for the maintenance of leather harness and saddlery c1900 Use for maintaining equine leather and leather goods by Holden and Frost c1900 Round tin container with yellow and black text explaining direction for useSaddle Soap inscribed on twist lid . Frank Miller's Saddle Soap on container surrounds and unreadable directions.saddle soap, equine agricultural, equine civilian, c1900

Mower fuel container also marked as "Victa Motor Mower Fuel".Metal container for mower fuel.The slogan "Best for 2-stroke", instructions for mixing ideal fuel combination, quick fault finding and advice to shake can before use. petrol cans, mower fuel

Official Victorian Railways crest. Victorian Railways Crest Reproduction / copy of what was possibly used on the head offices in the 1900s. Victorian Railways, Emblem featuring a kangaroo atop of a shield depicting the Southern Cross. Historic - Official Victorian Railways crest.Victorian Railways Coat of Arms Crest Victorian Railways, Emblem featuring a kangaroo atop of a shield depicting the Southern cross. Made of cast ironVictorian Railways with coat of arms.puffing billy, victorian railways, victorian railways crest.

Maroon fabric neck 'chain' with metal badges attached with name and year of Sergeants at Arms - 19 in number. A blue and gold Rotary Badge attached.Rotary International - Sergeant at Arms

Small individual container of Australian Department of Defence issue foot powder for anti-bacterial treatment of the skin. Possibly issued to Australian service personnel during the Vietnam era. The container has a sliding perforated lid to enable the user to sprinkle the powder on the skin.The container is marked on front and back sides with the following "FOOT POWDER", "D /l\ D", "NET WEIGHT 2 OZS", "MANUFACTURED BY MURPHY LIEBERT PTY LTD SYDNEY AUSTRALIA" The side of the container is marked "PD 2/66".

This certificate recognizes the contribution of Corporal H E Swan to the effort of World War 2 by the President, councillors and ratepayers of the Warrnambool Shire.A link to a local person and is representative on many given to soldiers of the district.Coloured certificate mounted on a metal backing and covered with a plastic type material. It has a photo of the king flanked either side by flags at the top with the flags of the Australian states and other countries of the Commonwealth placed in a border of green gum leaves on brown. Shire of Warrnambool, Signed by Albert Henderson, L* Crawleyworld war 2 certificate, warrnambool shire, corporal h e swan

Hard, cardboard cover, mid green buckram, with gold print on spine. 265 cut, plain, beige, pages. Black / white photos & illustrations. End papers illustrated in green / cream. 2 Full length portraits of uniformed soldiers with maps in background.book, at arms, awm

An anthology of true life stories as told by Australians who served in New Zealand, South Africa, World War I & II.Hard, green, buckram cover embossed with gold shield surrounded by laurel wreath. Dust jacket with colour illustration on front. Title in white print on green background. Title in gold print on spine. End papers illustrated in green with maps & figure of soldiers. 265 pages with cut edges & black & white photos & drawings.books-biography, military history, photography, illustrations

Hard cardboard cover, dark green buckram with gold print on front cover & spine. 265 pages, cut plain light beige paper, illustrated with black & white photos, maps & illustrations. Front & back end papers & fly leaves illustrated in dark green & cream, 2 soldiers in uniform with map in back ground.books, military history