This was used by the A'vard family for sealing wine bottles. The neck of the bottle was placed under the base, the cork was placed in the centre hole, and then the wooden plunger was pushed down from the top to insert the cork into the bottle. The top of the plunger was then struck with a wooden hammer driving the cork to its final location. The cylinder is lined on the inside with metal to allow the cork to slide freely down the chamber.This was used by the A'vard family, who were early settlers in Emerald.Cylindrical shaped wooden cork press, containing an internal dowel plunger. The plunger has a brass plate at the end of it. None discerniblea'vard family, cork press

This hook was used by George and Noel A'Vard on their farm from the 1940s to lift bags of potatoes, chaff, and animal food. Sack or bag hooks were designed to make carrying these heavy bags far easier. The pointed end was sharp enough to pierce a woven bag and the handle was designed to fit ergonomically into the palm of a farmer's hand. This saved them from having to bend to pick the bags up or strain their fingers by gripping the necks of many bags over the course of a long and laborious day. Many sack hooks had a wooden handle which was attached to the shank later in the construction process, but the A'Vard family's hook is made from one continuous piece of iron, likely shaped with a tool by a local blacksmith in the early-mid 20th century.This hook is a prime example of the many tools farmers in Emerald and its surrounding agricultural areas used around their properties to ease the strain of manual labour. Prior to the mass mechanisation of farms, difficult tasks were done by hand, and any tool that could assist in their completion would have been greatly valued. A large, rusted iron or steel hook, tapered to a sharp point at one end. The other end of the hook's shank is wrapped into a large handle.emerald, a'vard family, 20th century, 1940s, farming

This photograph captures the rotunda at A'Vard Picnic Ground in Emerald (where Avard Road meets Menzies Creek). The A'Vard Park area was previously a mining camp for prospectors on the Menzies Creek in the 1890s, with signs of mining said to be visible near the picnic ground. The area was transformed into a picnic ground in the intervening years, and in 1914 Jim Stuart built this rotunda, allegedly for brass bands. Vandals eventually destroyed the original rotunda, but in 1996-7 a replica was built by John Currie and opened by George A'Vard under the direction of Gus Ryberg, the park curator. This photograph is said to have been taken by George W. A'Vard (1890-1966) and donated by George A. A'Vard (1914-2007).A'Vard Park was a significant gathering and recreation space for the local community in the early 20th century. The community considered this rotunda significant enough to be reconstructed in the 1990s, indicating its importance.This item is a relatively large black and white photograph of a covered rotunda. The rotunda stands in the middle of the frame on open, flat ground with occasional sticks and stones. The background shows trees rising behind a wooden fence. Two men sit under the rotunda, their features obscured by shadow; one is sitting on the wall of the rotunda, while the other leans on it. Both are leaning on the posts supporting the roof. The reverse features handwritten annotation in both pencil and blue pen, including information and an accession number. "Rotunda A'Vard Park Emerald 1913-1914 P294 / Jim Stuart Built / 28 x 17"a'vard family, a'vard picnic ground, jim stuart, george a'vard, 1910s, emerald

This hook was used by George and Noel A'Vard on their farm from the 1940s to hitch animal trailers or other dragged farming tools. The loop, which passes through the eye of the hook, would have once been attached to a sturdy chain and used to attach various implements for towing, dragging, or lifting heavy farming equipment or items. It may have assisted on the A'Vard fields, or in any number of tasks that were unable to be completed with only human labour.This hook is a prime example of the many tools farmers in Emerald and its surrounding agricultural areas used around their properties to ease the strain of manual labour. Prior to the mass mechanisation of farms, difficult tasks were done by hand, and any tool that could assist in their completion would have been greatly valued.A large, rusted iron hook with a blunt point on one end. An iron loop is threaded through the eye of the hook.emerald, a'vard family, 20th century, 1940s, farming

This Floating Dairy Thermometer was used on the A’Vard farm between 1930 and 1964. It is designed to enable the easy measuring of the temperature of liquids. In particular it facilitates checking whether dairy is at the right temperature for cheesemaking, churning and freezing. It was made to remain at the surface of the liquid, allowing workers to accurately take temperature readings with relative ease. Similar models of floating thermometers were used to measure the temperature of bath water in hospitals; these functioned identically but had different markers for their different use case.This was a specialised tool used historically in the local dairy farming industry.A glass vial thermometer housed in a wooden case. The glass thermometer has temperature markings visible from 20 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. There are long gaps with rounded ends on the front and rear of the wooden casing, allowing a user to see the temperature markings and labels. There is also a round hole in the front and rear of the wooden casing near the bottom, exposing the tip of the thermometer. At the top of the wooden casing is a handle, with string passed through a small hole allowing for the suspension of the thermometer from the string.Front side of glass vial, middle: "Made / in Germany" Front side of glass vial, upper: "FLOATING DAIRY THERMOMETER" Rear side of glass vial, 85 degrees: "85 Cheese" Rear side of glass vial, 62 degrees: "62 Churning" Rear side of glass vial, 32 degrees: "32 Freezing"a’vard family, farming, tools, 20th century, a’vard dairy farm, dairy

From the collection of the A'Vard Family.Carlton Ware - Australian Design, made in United Kingdomcarlton ware

The photo was taken on Empire Day 1930, which was then celebrated on 24 May. The assorted fancy dress probably represents the various countries belonging to the British Empire. One girl (wearing the stovepipe hat?) has the same surname as the donor, presumably the donor's daughter. The information regarding the identities of the other children is therefore trustworthy.The photograph shows how Empire Day was celebrated and by implication how it was understood. The rear of the photograph is highly informative about families resident in the district at the time. B/W Photograph of a group of 17 schoolchildren in various kinds of fancy dress. Includes: American Indians, "pilgrim father"(?), blackened faces. A girl in the centre is holding a Union Jack.Rear: very faint, under darker overwriting: "Empire Day Celebrations 1930" Darker: "G A'Vard Emerald Concert Preparations 1930" "Back ?J Fulford?? Moyra Sherriff Alma MacKeller F Kennedy Edith A'Vard Molly Young Elsie Scott Thelma Holloway "Front Vic Fyffe Ron Stuart George Hail Rory Nichols standing Les Cook Front Des Gleeson?" Stamped number "604" empire day, sherriff, a'vard

Belonged to the Gleghorn family. May Gleghorn married George Walter A'Vard. May's sister married Robert ColemanVEMU1695.1 Tapestry of coloured chain of flowers on a beige background. Top and bottom brass supports, with the bottom one holding a suspended brass bell. VEMU1695.2 Display board of 11 lace doilies, made of crochet and linen. VEMU1695.2 Display board of 7 lace doilies, made of crochet and linen.

The trough pictured was erected outside of Tim Kennedy's La Belle guest house in Emerald, from at least the 1930s. It allowed travellers at the guest house to water their horses, with water pumped from underground with a hand pump. It was likely installed by Charles A'Vard. The photograph itself was produced in the 21st century.Water troughs like the one pictured were once available everywhere; the memory of this one is a memory of the time when much transport still occurred under horsepower.This item is a colour photograph of a concrete water trough, standing on dry flat ground with a fence and then trees in the background. The trough stands on six concrete legs, with a metal pipe emerging from the ground to follow the rightmost foreground leg to a semicircular upper concrete section at the rightmost end of the trough. Some elements of the trough have chipped away but it is mostly intact. The reverse of the printed photograph features regular FujiFilm logos and a section of annotation, handwritten in blue pen.Handwritten annotation: "Water trough © 1930. / Was situated out side "la Belle" guest house / Main Rd. Emerald"kennedy family, la belle guest house, 1930s, emerald, transport

The trough pictured was erected outside of Tim Kennedy's La Belle guest house in Emerald, from at least the 1930s. It allowed travellers at the guest house to water their horses, with water pumped from underground with a hand pump. It was likely installed by Charles A'Vard. The photograph itself was produced in the 21st century.Water troughs like the one pictured were once available everywhere; the memory of this one is a memory of the time when much transport still occurred under horsepower.This item is a colour photograph of a concrete water trough, standing on dry flat ground with a fence and then a paved road in the background. The trough stands on six concrete legs, with a metal pipe emerging from the ground to follow the leftmost background leg to a semicircular upper concrete section at the leftmost end of the trough. Some elements of the trough have chipped away but it is mostly intact. The reverse of the printed photograph features regular FujiFilm logos and extensive annotation, handwritten in blue pen.Handwritten, reverse: "Original trough from outside "La Belle" guest / house owned by Tim Kennedy. He was a carrier / he had horses and lorry. / This trough was used by travellers to water their horses. There was also one at / Hermon's Corner Menzies Creek. (Main Rd & / Grantulla Rd.) / Charlie A'Vard worked on installing these for / Ard [?] Franklin who had a plumbers business in / Belgrave. / The trough legs were buried well into the ground. / Water was pumped from underground by a hand / pump. / © 1930."kennedy family, la belle guest house, transport, emerald, 1930s

This petrol iron was used by the donor Gwen Asling (nee A'Vard) when she lived on her parent's (George and May A'Vard) dairy farm in 1920.The A'Vard family were pioneers who came to selected land in The Dandenong Ranges in 1898Green enamel body, iron base, 2 control knobs, black wooden handle and petrol can attachedPeerman pumpless, serial number PL/46 . Melbournedomestic appliance, laundry