This eye wear transportation box was forwarded from and returned to Kiewa Valley in the 1960's. This period in time, the Kiewa Valley was still a semi remote location, and specialist eye facilities were not available in the region. It was not until the Australian Government proceeded with a "regional development Centre" (for relocating some Federal Departments from Canberra) that the Wodonga/Albury townships developed into a medium city, allowing "specialist" facilities to become available and multiply.This item is very significant to the Kiewa Valley as it demonstrates that even in the 1960's early 1970's the Kiewa Valley residents still had to obtain "specialist" services from MELBOURNE. The "isolation" of the Kiewa Valley was still in place due to unreliable transport routes, long distance travel needed to visit cities and a relatively "small" population. The slow but progress marketing of recreational areas in the region and the movement of retirees away from "city violence" and to a quieter location has been on the increase. The expansion of the existing small airfield to one that can accommodate larger aircraft will hasten the expansion of the population in the region, bringing an ever increasing "visiting specialists" covering among other fields, eye and medical practitioners.This brown coloured cardboard box was used by Coles and Garrard (Sight Testing Opticians) to transport spectacles to one of their clients. The box lid has four staples holding the four folded sides in place. The base is of similar proportions and fastened together.Printed on the top outside lid, in small print "When forwarding your spectacles for repairs, your co-operation is requested in placing name and full address inside the packet. This will obviate delay in repairing and returning spectacles", underneath and in bold print "COLES & GARRARD pty ltd", underneath "Sight Testing Optticians" underneath "We visit over 100 towns in Victoria. Local Newspapers give full details"eye specialist treatments, kiewa valley "isolation", cardboard packaging, personal eye wear

This small, slim case was manufactured to contain reading spectacles in a secure but yet "manageable pocket or purse" environment. It was manufactured to contain reading glasses that would not exceed 12mm in thickness. The product was targeting the "professional" reader ie. accountant, lawyer, business and property managers. Because it was made for a "eyesight" specialist to contain "prescription" reading spectacles the quality had to be of a higher level than cheaper "off the shelf" ones. This case was made and used in the late 1800's and early 1900's.This case, for spectacles, holds a significant position in that it points to a time in history when rural Australian families required to travel long distances to obtain professional "eyesight" treatment which, on the whole, were only available in the capital cities (in this case Melbourne). In the pre 1960's, the greater the distance from capital cities for Australian rural folk to seek professional medical, dental, nose ,eye and throat specialists the greater the time involved resulting in the greater expense. This "isolation" brought about increased costs not experienced by city residences. The quality and durability of this case was a pre-requisite for the Kiewa Valley based resident.This slim spring lid spectacle case has a body of light steel over layered by a fine skin dyed(dark brown) leather coating. The inside, of the case, has a 1mm lip opposite the hinged end (to secure the reading spectacles within the case). The inside is fully covered by a "royal" purple felt (to provide the spectacles with a scratch free enclosure).At the outside base in gold lettering "H.B. BISSELL" underneath "EYESIGHT" underneath "SPECIALIST" underneath "BARKLY st", underneath "FOOTSCRAY"personal effects, spectacles, eye fashion, reading glasses