This set of kitchen dry food canisters is made of metal; each container has a different height, width and capacity. The rolled thin metal has created a strong, round design with decorative rings on the circumference. The base and close-fitting lid protect the contents from vermin and most insects, and the handle on top aids in the removal of the lid. Metal containers like these are reusable and can be re-purposed, which is advantageous when living in regional or rural areas. The type of manufacture indicates that the set was made in the late 19th to early 20th century. Gradually, colourful and attractive plastic kitchenware began to replace metalware. One of the canisters is labelled 'coffee'; coffee plants and seeds were transported from Brazil into Australia in 1788 when the First Fleet arrived although their growth was unsuccessful. However, by the 1920s, a tenth of the Australian population was drinking readily stored coffee. Large quantities of harvested grains such as maize, wheat and barley were protected from pests by being stored in airy buildings, often raised from the ground. This was an age-old practice used by civilizations such as the ancient Egyptians and early Hebrews. Smaller quantities of food for short-term use in the homes were stored in woven baskets or clay pots.This set of kitchen food containers is an example of colonial food storage used in a domestic setting to store and preserve dry ingredients. These canisters give a snapshot of early domestic life in Australia. Canister set; four cylindrical cream coloured metal canisters with domed lids that have lift-up handles on top. They are made from rolled metal and the bases and lids have a side seam. Each canister is a different size and displays a label for different contents. The adhesive labels are vertical, and a gold colour with black vertical text. The cream paint has brush strokes and small areas have exposed green paint under the cream. The insides of the bases are painted dark grey but the lids have no paint underneath. The empty canisters can fit one inside the other. Labels, in descending order: "FLOUR" "RICE" "SAGO" "COFFEE"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, canister set, kitchen storage, food storage, metal canisters, dry food storage, food packaging, kitchen container, vintage, flour, rice, sago, coffee, kitchenalia, late 19th to early 20th centuries, nesting canisters

This "coffee" tin has by the "art deco" appearance its origins in the late 1950's to 1960's. This time period was one of accelerated growth both in the physical (housing) sense and the mental (new ideas and inventions) changes in "attitudes". These occurred more rapidly in cities but had its effects on the rural environment. The drinking of coffee was spurred on by easier distribution of imported food and drinks. Advertising by stronger radio links and then by television brought the variety of foods and drinks to semi isolated rural regions. The accessibility through greater information channels becoming available brought with it unbelievable ranges of goods and foodstuffs. Rural regions still relied on bulk supplies and relatively larger storage containers than those in cities. This "bulk" buying and storage "syndrome" was a lingering result of many years of "drought" periods when road transports met delays from flooded roadways in supplying population centres in the Kiewa Valley. The construction phases in building the SEC Vic Hydro electricity Scheme in the eastern sections of the Victorian Alps brought many changes to the quiet rural regions in the Kiewa Valley. Changes in population and social mores. The influx of a varied , mostly temporary, and "European flavoured cuisine" changes the "cuppa tea only" flavour to the have a "coffee break". The subliminal influence of the "American" films changed those children growing up in the post 1950s from the "English tea" to the "American coffee". This "Americanisation process has influenced not only rural Australia but also other areas throughout the world.This "insignificant" coffee tin is very significant as it demonstrates that the Kiewa Valley was becoming more accessible to reliable coffee supplies and general food items.The container was part of a "set" of containers that included tea, sugar,biscuits,flour, rice and other family condiments. This type of kitchen storage containers was brought about through changing patterns in tea and coffee useage and overall consumption. Household demands for faster "self help" cooking especially beveridges and the greater choice of kitchen "utensils" was brought on by easier access to products due to a lessening of the area's "isolation" by having a reliable (all weather) road system and an ever increasing population growth. The need for travelling goods/merchant supply caravans to service the area became a diminishing factor, as a result of the establishment of grocery stores in Tawonga and Mount Beauty in the supply of previously "hard to get" groceries. This transition was precipitated by the SEC Vic Hydro Scheme of the 1940's to 1960's which increased the valley's population level three fold.This cylindrical tin has a pull/push lid(for easy access to the contents). The container is labelled for "coffee" however it has no commercial manufacturer's label to establish that it was bought with coffee ingredients in it. The majority of the container's external surface has a "metallic" light blue colour with two sets of silver rings confining black (horizontal spotted) rectangles. "COFFEE" within an elongated spherical "art deco" four pointed banner of silver and black colouringkitchen containers, domestic food storage, bulk stocks of dried condiments

The egg preservation material offered in this tin was during a period in Australia's history (especially in the rural areas) when the "freshness" of produce was not able to be maintained by refrigeration means. Rural towns did rely on the "Ice Works" providing block ice for prolonging "produce shelf life" however semi remote and smaller communities did not have that facility. It was products such as this egg preserving ability that enabled these smaller rural communities to maintain a constant source of healthy "short life" organic produce.This tin which contained egg preservative powder is very significant to a rural region (Kiewa Valley) in the late 1800's to early 1900's. It details the type of food preservative methods that were available to rural areas which lacked proper refrigeration means at their disposal. Basic foodstuff which required "special" preservation means to extend their "shelf" life were sometimes regarded as luxuries by semi remote communities. Kiewa Valley and its regions were typical of these remote communities in the time frame of this egg preservation product. The ability to keep products that deteriorate due to "normal" outdoor temperature (bacterior prone produce) was a factor of rural living.This round "tubular" tin has a indented lid which fits snugly into the top opening. The lid has a rolled out lip which ensures a degree of "air" tightness. The tin is pressed and folded together and has no synthetic inner cover to protect the egg preservative powder from the raw tin surface. This "raw" method was the typical application for all tins containing dry food stuffs in this period(mid 1900's) of goods manufacture. The outer tin surface has a tightly pressed laminated paper label with product and manufacturer's information (promotional, preservation "tips" and usage details - will preserve sixteen dozen eggs). On the "front" side "EGG PRESERVATIVE" underneath "OVO" ,underneath "REGISTERED" and in a double lined enclosed square "AWARDED TWO GOLD MEDALS" underneath is a sketch of a mixing dish containing fourteen visible eggs. The bottom label has within an oval boundary (white print on a blue background) "FOR HOUSEHOLD USE" underneath "OVO" and underneath "PRESERVES EGGS PERFECTLY WITHOUT MESS OR TROUBLE" On the opposite side of the tin is printed "VICKERY'S FIRST & ONLY ORIGINAL EGG PRESERVATIVE - in red print. Underneath this is a "round stamp" with the figurehead(royalty) and these encircling words" TASMANIAN INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION" with a scrolled "GOLD MEDAL HOBART 1895" with another medal like "medallion" showing another female face with a "warrior" headdress and these encircling words "HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE". Below this within a scrollis printed "GOLD MEDAL BALLARAT 1896" underneath this is printed "MANUFACTURED BY OVO PROPRIETARY LIMITED BALLARAT"egg preservation, rural food storage, kitchen preservation facilities

In early civilization's cereal grains such as maize, wheat, barley etc. were stored in large airy buildings, often raised up from the ground to reduce infestation by pests and vermin. Ancient Egyptian and early Hebrew writings include reference to such buildings. Smaller quantities of food were stored in baskets made from woven grasses or leaves. In more recent times but prior to the invention of the refrigerator many food products were stored in the home as preserves or pickles, often in heat sealed jars. Dry food items were stored in vermin proof metal containers and could be found in any early colonial kitchen. Items such as coffee, tea, rice and sago were stable food types and needed longer term storage and a higher degree of protection from vermin and the elements, a common material used during this time was sheet metal or tin such as is used today in a common form of storage the biscuit tin. An early example of colonial food storage used in a domestic setting, it is interesting to note the subject items have provision to be locked. This indicates the value early colonial settlers placed on the contents and used to prevent pilfering. The subject items are now sought by collectors. Canister set; set of four canisters. Cylindrical matching kitchen storage tins with hinge lid that has a latch closure, and a folding handle on top of lid. Canisters are painted brown and the body has a graphic of a scroll in gold with printed label of contents. The canisters range from small to large, "COFFEE", "TEA" , "SAGO", " RICE" (respective RNs 163.1, 163.2, 163.3, 163.4)Respectively labelled "COFFEE," "TEA," "SAGO," "RICE" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, canister, canister set, rice canister, kitchen canister, food storage, domestic item

`Belonged to Norm Foun. Originally contained dried milk.Tall round tin with words 'Nestle Milk 'and picture of people on a boat. Empty.Use by December 84 R M 662domestic items, food storage & preservation