During early farming in Australia (before motorised whipper snippers) the hand held sickle was used to cut long grass, in this case in or around railway tracks. The inside of the blade's curve was sharp, so that the user can either draw or swing it against the base of the grass, catching the stems in the curve and slicing them at the same time. Historic - Railway Permanent Way and Works - track equipment - Grass SlasherWrought iron sickle with extended with wooden handle.puffing billy, extended sickle, farm tool, reaping hook, curved blade, grass cutting

Feed for sheep farming is crucially important. Whether growing a sheep for breeding, wool or meat, it is vital to ensure that all sheep at whatever stage of life are maintaining or growing in weight. Sheep are often pictured grazing in paddocks; however, the grass available in a paddock is often not enough to maintain a sheep’s weight. In addition, if a sheep eats grass too low in a paddock then corrosion can affect the soil preventing any grass from growing in this location. For these reasons, supplementary feed is introduced to sheep’s diets. In most occasions’ food high in protein such as Lupins is sought. In times such as drought or to makeup a sheep’s roughage; feed such as silage, hay and straw may be required in the feeding of sheep. This is where the sickle is introduced to sheep farming. Although modern-day machines are used to harvest cereals, in times past the sickle was used for harvesting these crops. Once harvested, these crops can be fed to sheep freshly cut or dried. This sickle has been on display for 30 years at the National Wool Museum. It was at the entrance to Gallery One in the “A New Europe” wood hut display case. It was taken off display in 2021 with the “On the Land” redevelopment of this gallery space.Curved Metal serrated blade extending from carved dark wooden handletools of the trade, sheep feed, sheep farming

This model was part of a panorama of 11 pieces designed from drawings in an 1892 almanac printed by the Port Fairy Gazette. The panorama was used in the Historical rooms in Bank Street on an extended mantle piece before the museum and Archives were relocated to Gipps Street.This model was made as a part of an eleven piece panorama of the streetscape of Port Fairy in 1892. By a local resident.small hand made model of a shop front from the 1892 almanacTailoring Establishment John Sickler Gazette Officemodel, panorama, sackville street, mewkill, almanac, bank street