Used in the timber industry for trimming sleepers or shaping timber.This item is associated with the timber and sleeper-cutting industry in the Orbost Region. Timber sleepers were superceded by concrete sleepers in c. 1970s.An iron axe with a long cutting edge. The neck of the wooden handle is chipped.broad-axe sleeper-cutting timber-industry

Used in the timber and sleeper-cutting industry. Used to square sleepers. This axe was possibly used by the donor John McMahon.Used in the timber and sleeper-cutting industry in the Orbost region.Timber sleepers were superceded by concrete sleepers in c. 1970s. broad-axe sleeper-cutting timber-industry An iron axe head with a very long cutting blade and a long wooden handle. broad-axe sleeper-cutting timber-industry

This is one of a set of six photographs taken for the Victorian Railways Magazine, a pamphlet produced for Victorian Railways. t 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 The man in the photograph is Pat Donchi, a member of the Donchi family, who have been involved in the sleeper - cutting industry since the 1890s. This item 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 Timber sleepers were superceded by concrete sleepers in c. 1970s.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 a sleeper cutter at work swinging a broad axe.on back - Pr 8765timber-industry-orbost sleeper-cutting-orbost donchi-family