The can(product) of powdered Mortein was used throughout Australia and especially in rural regions where environmental conditions of crops, cattle and other livestock resulted in greater amount of "invasions" from insects. The eradication of unwanted invaders into the homestead required either manual extermination or a relevant poison which in low doses would not affect humans. Fly squats were still a good measure of eradication of flying pests however those lurking in cupboards or "hard to get at" locations needed a method, such as the Mortein powder to do the deed. This product and especially this can was used at the fore front of pest eradication. Powders and pellets are still in use 100 years later and the core ingredient is still environmental friendly and meets health conscious modern Australians. The basic product has survived the passage of time and was invented by a German immigrant to Australia in the late 1800s.This can and what it represents to rural households and outhouses, is in some ways immeasurable to the peace, health and tranquility within the household of all the families within the Kiewa Valley. Although small in size the relief of those within the sanctity of the home from annoying pests is enormous. The relief not only physical but also mentally to those residents, from the sometimes grueling and painful rural existence in a "sunburnt" countryside cannot be truly expressed in words. Kiewa Valley residents are part of the sometimes harsh rural environment where the introduction of helpful products such as this powder are noticed and used more prolifically. Any product, especially invented within Australia, which allows for a easier existence is of a great significance.This small cylindrical can contains powder of crushed the chrysanthemum flowers(pyrethrum extract) and has two circles of small circular perforations in the lid (to allow contents to be sprinkled onto other surfaces). It is constructed of mild steel with both ends crimped onto the main cylinder. A paper information label has been adhered to the outside of the cylinder.Printed on the outside label is: 1st line "MORTEIN!" 2nd line "THE GREAT INSECT DESTROYER" underneath "(Registered)" and underneath "It is without doubt the best and most reliable Insect powder in the World" underneath this line "In order to use Mortein with profit it is best to get a Mortein spreader through", next line "which by pressure of the hand the powder is ejected and well diffused." An inflection mark appears over the e in "Mortein" as to signify that the word "mort" is french for (dead) and the "ein" is german for "one". The word "mortein" therefore is diffused and translated into "dead one". A thin line separates the above from the list of insects which the powdered contents will kill together with the suggested application targets. T the bottom of the instructions is printed the manufacturer "J. HAGEMANN PTY. LTD., MELBOURNE," Below is "Sole Proprietors"natural insecticide products, environmentally friendly products, household pest dispensers, australian inventions

a. 546 page ledger book for a General Produce Merchant. No identification but could be Albert Bush? Alphabetical index at front. Approx half the pages are blank. Entries in black ink & Date from Feb 1909 to 1920. Sticker inside front cover with Reference Number - No 154 - 11/9/1902 and the name of the printer Andrew Jack & Co.,347 and 349 Flinders Lane Melbourne. Book has a brown leather cover with a red sticker with gold printing and border and the name Ledger printed on it. Inside the front and back covers is a dark blue, lighter blue and red marble pattern. b. Deposit slip but from The National Bank of Australasia Limited, stamped Bendigo in purple for a deposit of £50 and signed S A Bush. Receipt for Debentures left for Safe Custody, Bairnsdale Branch, due 1923 and 1927. Has description, numbers on Debentures and Total Face Value typed on Receipt. Not signed or dated. Also an unsigned and undated form that the Bank incurs no liability whatever in the event of destruction, theft, miscarriage or loss of the documents in transfer from Bairnsdale to Melbourne. Description of document, their number, value and due date are typed on the form.business, retail, bushs, bush collection - ledger no 154 - 11/9/1902, aust jam coy, bairnsdale district farmers' co-op coy ltd, berry henry, blogg bros, brockoff & coy, bush albert, bush s a, bush f w, bush a estate, bendigo residence 251 view st, bush amy, cordan & co, crosby & co, cannon j e, cockatoo preserves ltd, drevermann & co, dudgeon and arnell, dyason prop ltd, eclipse soap & candle co, felton grimwade & co, fisher j and coy, groves mcvitty & co, gans de saxe coy, harper and co, hagemann j, hawkins a, jack & co a, jefferson miss, kitchen and sons prop ltd, king bros, lewis and whitty, long and coy, levy bros & coy, mitchell and coy, maffra sugar factory, macrobertson, mckenzie j f and coy, mclintock and co a, mcleod's soap coy, noske bros, national bank, peterson and coy, phoenix biscuit coy, power patrick joseph, parsons bros & co, parkin a c and co, potter a, robur tea coy, ross bros, russo bros, ryan w, reid bros james, sutherland & sons, swallow and ariell, saunders a, sniders i & b, sargood bros, sims j & co, k vogt, victoria soap & candle coy, united soap and perfumery co ltd, mcleod's soap coy, war bonds, yates and coy a, yeates jas, the national bank of australasia limited bendigo, commonwealth treasurey bonds