Item of family crockery donated by a Jean Woollard, KHS member, and Kew resident. Her family, residents of Kew since the 1860s, was highly involved in the political life of Kew. William Woollard was a councillor and mayor while Herbert Woollard was also a councillor and a member of the local Labor Party BranchGlazed earthenware tea cup, saucer and plate with transfer printed decoration, using the 'Hawthornden' pattern by Ridgways. The underneath of each item bears the maker's mark and a pattern registration date for April 1880.dinnerware, ridgways (1879-1920), earthernware, staffordshire ceramics, hawthornden pattern - reg. april 1880

Teaspoons of Loose Leaf Tea are placed in the china or earrthenware teapot then boiling water is added with the lid replaced an infusion occurs. Holding the handle the hot drink is poured from the spout through a strainer into a cup, mug or pannekin and milk, sugar or lemon may be added This drink was very popular with early settlers in Moorabbin Shire. The Temperance Society built a Tea Palace in Mentone - now Kilbreda College. The tea leaf was imported from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and stored in tall silos in Melbourne where it was packaged and delivered to grocery stores.The early settlers in Moorabbin Shire enjoyed a well brewed pot of tea several times during the day.An opaque white china teapottea leaf, teapot, china crockery, earthenware, tea palaces, mentone, bentleigh, moorabbin shire, cheltenham, ceylon, temperance society, billy tea,