Crib Pail owned by John Tom Clifton. His mother Frances Clifton re-married after his death to Thomas Harvey and it was held by the Harvey family It was loaned by Leonard Harvey to the organisers of the Great Australasia Mining Disaster Centenary Committee 1982 but then presented by his family to the museum in his memory.It is the only known article from the New Australasian No.2 Gold Mining Disaster. It was reported that three were removed from the mine at the time of the disaster. The Bellingham Billy rusted when left in a shed. Manley's was believed to have been lostThe round crib pail is made of tin and is badly rusted. A crib pail was used by miners to carry their food down the mines. The lid is missing. This pail was taken down the mine by John Tom Clifton and he wrote a message on it before he died in the New Australasian No.2 Gold Mining Disaster 1882. It was known to have the following inscription "Goodbye dear mother, sisters and brothers: Philippa my dear girl. John Tom Clifton" but is not readable .clifton billy, miner's pail, crib pail, new australasian no.2, gold mining disaster, creswick

The New Australasian Gold Mining Company's No 2 shaft was flooded on 12 December 1882, trapping 27 miners, 22 of whom died despite heroic efforts to save them. A number of photographs of the memorial to those who died in the New Australasian Mine Disaster, including names of those who died.new australasian mine disaster memorial, creswick cemetery, creswick old cemetery