Also known as Dutch Oven, a camp oven is traditionally made from cured cast iron. Hung by a length of wire affixed to the side handles, they are suspended over an open fire or placed directly into the coals. The latter was more popular in Australia, and camp ovens were extensively used due to its versatility and ability to easily cook most types of food.3 legged round camp oven with lid and 2 side handles. Pitted with rust.camp oven, churchill island heritage farm, bush cooking

A metal camp oven with handle for hanging above a fire. camp oven, camp, camping, bush, wodonga, cooking, cook, pot

Before 1908 the words "melting pot" was a term relating to a "crucible" with a meaning of "a pot in which metals and other substances are melted (fused) to provide metal items of varying shapes and uses. From the mid 1900's this term changed and became more related to the "mixing" of social and ethnically diverse populations. The description used here is that of pre 1908. This melting pot was used in the early to late 1900's when produce and hardware shops were too far away from the Kiewa Valley and time was at the essence. The ability to manufacture as many "crucial " items at the home property was the difference between running a successful rural business or not. The isolation of the Kiewa Valley (before the 1950's), hindered the "time down" of machinery and important "widget" replacements. The ability of self sufficiency on properties is still a boon to rural properties as time lost is never really recovered.This melting pot is highly significant to the Kiewa Valley as it provides evidence that the graziers and cattle stations required to be self sufficient in all aspects of day to day maintenance and replenishment of worn materials requiring to be "manufactured " at the property and lack of replacements from commercially shelved products. This aspect of "survival" in the "bush" can be seen in the "huts" built on the Bogong High Plains to accommodate the seasonal grazing of cattle from the Kiewa Valley.This black melting pot is made of cast iron. The lid is missing. The top rim of the pot has three lips for poring accuracy. The formation of these lips are in a "triangle" formation. The top section of the body has a curve inwards reducing the pot diameter from 270mm at the base to 135mm.at the top. The handle is made from heavy gauge wire which is fastened to the body through two lugs (welded onto the top section of the pot) and fasten through a hole at the top of each lug. The handle has a "U" shape as it goes through the lug hole, ensuring no accidental fixture to any side thus allowing free swiveling from one side to the other . "BH" indented within a diamond shape. Opposite "No 3"camp fire cooking utensils, hot plate, cast iron cooking appliance, drovers kitchen

Such items used by troops in field exercises. Known as "Choofers"Made of soldered tin plate. It has a central open column for fire of twigs and leaves, surrounded by a water jacket. Fitted with folding double wire handle. On top is a small fitted funnel to facilitate filling and a small vent hole. Traces of label adhesive on body suggest that it was made from a food can.Nilfield equipment, cooking

This aluminium kettle was manufactured between 1940 to 1960's and replaced the heavier caste iron "open fire" stove ones (in doors or in the bush). A cast iron flat base between the open fires and the kettle was required. This kettle was used extensively with indoor open fire places. It was part of the evolution in "tea" making kettles. These were the only method of making hot beverages before introduction of electric kettles. For the Kiewa Valley the connection to the major electricity grid was post 1950's.This kettle is significant demonstrating the type of kitchen utensils required before electrical home connections became a reality. The aluminium structure of the kettle was an advancement over the heavier caste iron kettles. This type of kettle is still in use for bush and mountain hikers/climbers due to the light weight. This kettle was used by the Tawonga C.W.A. Branch. The C.W.A. motto "Honour our God, Loyalty to the throne, Service to the country, Through country women, For country women, By country women."This 99% aluminium hot plate kettle with lid (bakelite handle) is Australian made for flat stoves (cooking or room heating). It has a "tea style" spout and a bakelite hand grip(knob) on the top of the lid. The lid has nine ridges (for strength) radiating from the central hand grip. The two handle prongs are bop riveted onto the the body of the kettle. The bakelite hand grip has been fashioned to fit the natural contours of a clutching hand.On both sides of the aluminium handle "HOT PLATE WARE" and covering an oblique shaped triangle "99% PURE ALUMINIUM" and below that "MADE IN AUSTRALIA".Within the triangle "DURALIFE"cwa, homeware aluminium kitchen utensils, made in australia cook ware

This cookery book was printed in the early 1960s for the purpose of obtaining the necessary funds for the construction of the Mount Beauty swimming pool. The advertisements within this book covers local traders of this time frame, for example, the Bogong Hotel which is no longer operational. the culinary measurements are in Imperial measures(pounds and ounces). The book has sections for continental dishes and sweets (Australian flavour), special dishes for Lent, cakes (farmhouse fruit cake), jams, marmalades (home made), marrow and apple chutney. Some of these recipes are early 20th Century related and in the 2000s are not sought after. The food "take away" lifestyle has been responsible for the demise of a lot of the recipes in this book. The swing away from home grown produce has been not only a lifestyle change but also the faster pace of living in rural areas. The specialisation and redefined development of the local produce store (previously provided everything the rural shopper needed) was a forced move due to larger and cheaper city born fresh food supermarkets. Although there are still some local produce store within the region these will in time vanish. This cookery book was produced just after Mount Beauty was released from an SEC "closed" community in 1961(see KVHS 0134) and the town then had to fend for itself. This book was compiled and produced because the town needed a swimming pool (which possible would have been provided had the SEC still been responsible). The book demonstrates the strong rural psyche of rallying together for the good of all and united for something which would be of benefit to all. The period 1961 to the 1970s was one of great change for Mount Beauty. The SEC protective cage was a blessing for some but a goal for others. The independence that was gained after the SEC left provided for a drastic "make over" in regards to the facilities provided for the "locals" and that for the tourists. An increase in tourist related industries such as snow skiing in winter, hang gliding and gliding, mountain bike rallies, bush walking and horse riding, all of which have supply outlets in the town, has provided a more cosmopolitan atmosphere. These activities and the greater interaction with populations outside of the region has reduced the "hermit" type feel of the town psyche.This recipe book consists of eighty nine pages in black and white print. It contains black and white sketches, recipes of local domestic cooks and advertisements covering local traders. The cover is approximately 280 g/m2 in weight and the pages are at 90 g/m2 in weight. The cover has a design in the style of Abstract Expressionism (period 1950-1960s) of identifiable (clock,jug,fruit,window) and abstract objects in tints of blue and shades of black. This was designed by Cheryl Ryder of the Mount Beauty High School, under supervision of Mr I Baker (Art Teacher)On the foreword(page two and page three) "Mt. Beauty Souvenir Cookery Book First Edition" . This foreword was presented by Rosa Kinnear, President, Ladies' Auxiliary 2nd copy - no inscriptionrecipe, cooking, food, domestic, kitchen, local history, comfort food, pioneer cleaning methods

One of a set of display images thought to be produced by the Shire of Eltham c.1979-1987. Women and children are gathered in small courtyard area, backing on to a bush area, around a small open fireplace with bricks and a grate, with a small fire burning. The grates hold large containers with steam steam rising out of them. BBQ Gathering at either Eltham or Panton Hill Living and Learning Centre.Illustrative of services provided by former Shire of ElthamColour photograph 20 x 29 cm mounted on green-painted chipboard 28 x 35.5 cm (string on back for hanging)Title printed on label adhered to board below photograph (replaced June 2017)bbq, living and learning centre, cooking

The tent model mentioned in the letters was displayed in the Ballarat School of Mines Museum. During the 1960s it was transferred to the Ballarat Historical Society. Two handwritten letters on paper with black mourning edge written by Walter M. Hitchcock to the Ballarat School of Mines, and another written by Walter's brother George M. Hitchcock.Letter transcription follow: Letter from Walter M. Hitchcock regarding the death of James Oddie and early gold mining at Ballarat, 1910 and 1911 48 The Memorial Hall Farringdon St London Dec1/10 The Secretary Ballarat Museum Dear Sir, I am just now sending you this line, i anticipation of further correspondence later on, simply to forward you a Post Card of the 1st mining tent erected 1851 on the site of he then newly proclaimed Township of Ballarat, which, as the sole survivor of the party who built the original, I have had the pleasure in making, and have decided to present it to your museum, Sir Jno Lasenor out Agent General for Victoria came to a Bazaar recently held in London. where I had it on view in the museum from 3 days, - and desired I would allow its [ ? ] exhibited in the first large window of the beautiful new building of the Victoria Agency situate in the Strand. It is there for the past few days and he may wish it to remain a week or two longer, I know of no other exhibition of it to delay it being packed and shipped to my relatives in Geelong (Mr [?] Bright of Hitchock's Firm) who may wish to show it in one of their windows before forwarding it to your museum - I have had an itemised pane glass case made for it with drop down end and [?} it stands on a plateau of moss, to represent grass 32 x 13 x 13 high and chimney 14 1/2 - the case is made 34 x 26 x 20 high inside - I shall have it very carefully packed - tent emptied tools, beds, &c &c in separate packing and insured for 50 pounds - I will send you full details later on. I hope and believe your President will accept it in due time Meantime believe me to be very truly Cat Walter Hitchcock G.F.B. 48 The Memorial Hall Farringdon St London March 15th 1911 The Secretary Ballarat School of Mines Dear Sir, Thanks for your letter received last week – I have unaccountably mislaid it, so cannot address you personally, shall no doubt find it among office papers. The model is being fetched today from Victorian Agent General’s (Sir John [Lavernor?] office window in the Strand where many thousands, he tells me, have stopped in passing to see it (their first peep of Ballaarat). It will be on view at Blackheath (Kent) for a week, then packed and shipped without further delay. I shall enclose in the glass case (which is 26 x 34 x 16 in high) some spare minced moss and gas (smoke) in case in transit the plateau suffers by shaking (though it is well glued down). All the tools, mining appliances, cradle, windlass, &c will be separately packed enclosed – which you can easily place in respective positions. HRH Prince of Wales has graciously accepted a photo of it – and in my letter to him when sending it for his acceptance I said – as he would probably ere long visit Australia as did his grandfather and father, which ought to (and certainly will) include at least a day or two in seeing your beautiful City, and also something of your mines &c instead of the hurried visit of his father (2 hours) when he, as Duke of York, unveiled a statue to the memory of those slain in the sad Boer War, which now is admitted by almost everybody to have been a big political mistake, - though in the future with England’s present wise policy towards that country it will prove for Africa’s welfare. It may interest you to know that when I ascertained that Geelong was not to be visited by the Royal Pair – I went up to St James’s Palace by appointed time the Duke’s private Secy Sir Arthur Bigge – taking with me a specially illustrated paper issued in Melb. showing many pictures of the beauties and industries of Geelong – Sir Arthur was impressed but said all the arrangements for the Royal stay in Victoria (10 days) were made locally, by Lord Hopetoun and collegues and committee, and were practically closed – which meant that only a brief trip to Ballarat to uncover the memorial was intended outside Melbourne. Perhaps if we were Melbourne residents we should have succumbed to the prevailing spirit of selfishness – forgetting (or trying to forget) that there are many beauty spots in Victoria and centres of great interest - Ballarat, Geelong, Bendigo, &c that ought to have been visited instead of Melbourne only. Finding Sir Arthur favorably impressed about Geelong I thanked him and returned to City work again. I at once called to Geelong whose mayor and friends had been twice unsuccessful in trying for the Melbourne functions programme being altered to include a visit to Geelong and lovely spots in the Western District, reporting my interview with Sir A B and his favourable reception of my representations, but that any alteration to the programme of engagements during the Royal visit must be made locally and by the local authorities. This had the desired success for on receipt of my message the Geelong mayor and colleagues again reopened the question and went to Melbourne, resulting in a concession (but what an altogether inadequate one) and they graciously ? consented to the train, on its way with the Duke and Duchess to your city, to stop at the Geelong stn (15 minutes) and so it came about that by a hasty local effort, 3,000 school children, and not a few of the leading people including the Mayor &c were gathered to welcome them in Geelong. The National anthem being sung, an Address read and presented and kindly replied to. Now Ballarat should doubtless has influence. See to it when our P. Of Wales visits Victoria – an unselfish ¬ programme is fixed up – and HRH afforded ample opportunity of visiting leisurely your city, Geelong, Bendigo and other centres of beauty and importance. The Prince himself will be the gainer by such an equitable and enlightened programme, - and come back with all the more favourable views of the marvellous development ever since our family first settled in Geelong in 1850. A far preferable result of such a visit than night after night having Melbourne Banquets and the visiting of its undoubted attractions - whilst all the rest of the State remained unvisited. Such an official mistake must not be made again. I will write you again, stating name of steamer of which the model is shipped and date of departure – it is firmly built on a backing of 3/8 in oak tall uprights so through the 7/8 in plateau and am entrusting the packing be very careful. I expressed firm – so that except possibly any breakage in glass case – it should reach you in due time all right. The top of case will be screwed so that it can be readily removed temporarily to enable my [ ? ] firm to show it in one of their windows. Believe me Yours very truly Captn Walter M. Hitchcock My brother will deliver it on my a/c – all carriage paid. Mt very kind regards to my friend since 1850 Jas Oddie. University of Ballarat Historical Collection Cat. No. 8133.3 & .4 Letter from Walter M. Hitchcock regarding the death of James Oddie and early gold mining at Ballarat, 1911 48 The Memorial Hall Farringdon St London April 20th 1911 My Dear Sir, It is with no ordinary feeling of regret that I received the tidings of the death of my good friend, your fellow citizen for many years, Mr James Oddie. Living at Geelong from March 1850 I came to know him there as carrying on a foundry business in Ashby. With the discovery of gold at Ballarat started off almost of the working people, as well as of all other classes of the male population. Mr Oddie arrived in Ballarat I believe on or about September 1st 1851. My three comrades and I arrived October 1st 1851 – among the many thousands soon gathered within a mile or so of Golden Point – my friend Oddie and I often met. I returning to Geelong after a year mining – my friend on the other hand remaining at Ballarat ever since – a marvellous record, and I am sure his life has been one of unique value to your City in many ways, - his age (87) naturally prepared me for his call home – and only two mails before the news came I received from him on of his kindly chatty letters in which amongst other things – he referred with pleasure to having received from me two 10 x 12 photos – one being of my model and that he was arranging to have it placed in a shop window in your city. I am interested in the fact of your having known each of my three comrades of 1851/52. It was J.M. Garrett and I who got permission to conduct public Sunday morning service in their large Marquee – used all the week for issue of Licenses in the absence of any church buildings, and it being on wet Sundays impossible to have services as usual under the trees – Ballarat then was more like a Gentleman’s Park – than bush country – but the axe soon did its work – and all were felled for our cooking, and hencewith to make our kindling etc. Shafting of holes not being at first done because too shallow – our deepest (at Eureka) was only 115 ft. Bendigo I hear had now mines of 4,000 ft in depth (deeper than our tin or coal mines here). I fortunately have, in excellent state of preservation, my last of 12 licenses dated October 1 1852 and have recently purchased here a Miner’s Right dated 1864, to that when explaining on matters re Gold Licensing I can show sample of each. With kind regards Believe me Yours sincerely Walter M. Hitchcock Geelong June 20/11 Dear Sir, By rail to day through Messrs Bannister I send the model of miner’s tent packed in a case 50 donated by my brother Captain Walter M. Hitchcock of London. This model was made by my brother and represents the tent he worked in on the Ballarat Gold Fields in the year 1851 or 2. In a separate parcel a few extras omitted from the case. Please send me receipts in duplicate, one for my brother, the other for the Customs, Geelong, as being donated to your institution, after some little correspondence it was admitted [??] any payment for duty. You probably have my brother’s address and would like to acknowledge its arrival, direct. I hope it is in good order. I did not open it for show in Geelong, as there would be less risk of breakage on repacking. With kind remembrances. I am Yours Faithfully Geo. M. Hitchcock. A Mr G. F. B. Sharick who is living near my home called in to see my model – he said he knew FM [Fred Martell] and was lately at Ballaratballarat school of mines, frederick martell, fred martell, james oddie, walter m hitchcock, walter hitchcock, f m garratt, george hitchcock, hitchcock, golden point, gold discovery, j m garrett, gold license, j.m. garrett, t.m. hall, george m. hitchcock, f.m. garratt, walter m. hitchcock

The fieldguide edition of Wild Food Plants of Australia. It is presented in a concise, convenient form to facilitate quick and ready reference in the field. Tim Low has provided a truly reliable guide to our edible flora, making identification easy. Thus it is a perfect companion for bushwalkers, naturalists, scientists and, with emphasis on wild food cuisine, gourmets. Low describes more than 180 plants - from the most tasty and significant plant foods of southern and eastern Australia to the more important and spectacular inland and tropical foods.Maps, colour photographs, b&w illustrationsedible wild plants, cooking, flora, cuisine, bush tucker