The invention of the Coolgardie Safe is credited to Arthur Patrick McCormick, a contractor in Coolgardie, and later the Mayor of Narrogin. Coolgardie is in the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia. Gold was first discovered there in 1892; the townsite became a municipality in 1894, and by 1898 its population of 15,000 made it the third largest town in Western Australia after Perth and Fremantle. In the last decade of the 19th century, Coolgardie was the capital of the West Australian goldfields. Being 180 kilometres from the nearest civilisation, food supplies were initially scarce and expensive. As fresh food was a valuable commodity there was incentive to preserve it, and keep it out of reach of scavengers such as birds, dingos, dogs, ants, and flies. It was in an effort to do this, in the extreme heat of the Australian Interior, that McCormick came up with his design for the Coolgardie Safe. McCormick noticed that a wet bag placed over a bottle cooled its contents. He further noted that if this bottle was placed in a breeze, the bag would dry out more quickly, but the bottle would get colder. What McCormick had discovered was the principle of evaporation: ‘to change any liquid into a gaseous state requires energy. This energy is taken in the form of heat from its surroundings.’ Employing this principle, McCormick made a box for his provisions which he covered with a wet hessian bag. He then placed a tray on top, into which he poured water twice daily. He hung strips of flannel from the tray so that water would drip down onto the hessian bag, keeping it damp. As the water evaporated, the heat dissipated, keeping the food stored inside cool and fresh. The success of McCormick’s invention would not have worked without a steady supply of water. Fresh water was scarce in the eastern goldfields at this time but the demand for water from a steadily growing population encouraged innovation. The solution was to condense salt water. Heating salt water in tanks produced steam that was condensed in tall cylinders, cooled and then collected in catchment trays. By 1898 there were six companies supplying condensed water to the goldfields, the largest company producing 100,000 gallons of water a day. In the early 20th century, Coolgardie Safes were also manufactured commercially. These safes incorporated shelving and a door, had metal or wooden frames and hessian bodies. The feet of the safe were usually placed in a tray of water to keep ants away. (MAV website) The early settlers of Moorabbin Shire depended on this type of Food Safe to protect their food from flies and vermin as they established market gardens in the fertile area around the notorious Elster Creek A metal framed, 4 sided structure standing on 4 legs with 2 hinged doors on one side, a metal tray at base of food safe and a metal cover over top. Ridges on which to rest trays carrying food are inside safe. The Safe is enclosed by fly-wire mesh.'...IN.....GEELONG' A manufacturer's oval metal plate is embossed on one side of Safe but it is illegible.elster creek, moorabbin, brighton, dendy's special survey 1841, market gardens, infant mortality, disease, cemeteries, fruit, vegetables, pioneers, coolgardie safe, mccormick arthur patrick, dendy henry, vaccination, jones martha, jones ethel may

The Coolgardie safe was invented in the late 1890s on the Western Australian goldfields. Its invention was credited to a local contractor named Arthur Patrick McCormick. It was a practical system to preserve food prior to modern refrigeration. The wire grid kept the food safe from vermin and allowed breeze to blow through. It was often covered with wet hessian so that as the breeze circulated the water evaporated, creating the same concept as coolant in modern refrigerators and ice boxes. In most respects it was a variation of the bushman’s hessian bag hanging in a tree. In larger towns and cities during this time period large "ice works" could deliver block ice to areas that required a form of refrigeration. These ice blocks where held in early refrigerators to keep perishables cool. In isolated or rural households, the Coolgardie or meat safe was the next best, practical solution for food preservation. This safe was used in the home of the Conway family in Wodonga.This item is very significant to the Wodonga region as it represents the initiative and problem solving skills of the early settlers. It also reflects the primitive conditions in which they lived before the arrival of more modern services such as electricity.Meat safe or Coolgardie safe manufactured in Australia. This safe is made from metal and has been painted in green paint. 2 sides of the safe have a pattern of 6 squares of holes to allow for ventilation and air flow. The holes would also guard against insects and other vermin. There is one shelf inside, dividing it into 2 sections. The safe has a hook attached so that it can be suspended, often from a tree or on a verandah to increase air flow. The safe would often be covered by wet hessian to promote further cooling and preservation of foods such as milk, butter and meat.coolgardie safe, food preservation, pioneers innovation

The harsh summer temperatures and the isolated rural environment(of the 1890's) provided the inventor of the "Coolgardie safe" (Arthur Patrick McCormick) with an idea to cool perishable foods by using water soaked "hessian" cloth to provide the "coolant" for the evaporation process to cool the inside temperature of the "safe". Items such as meat,cream/milk/butter and cool "drinks" are a few perishables that need cool environments , especially in isolated "ice free" locations. Cities during this time period had large "ice works" which delivered block ice to all areas that required a form of refrigeration. These ice blocks where held in early refrigerators to keep perishables cool to cold. This "Coolardie" safe was the next best thing for isolated rural households and travellers/campers/stockmen to provide a cooler environment for foodstuff affected by heat. Ice filled "esky" coolers and ice boxes are a modern day off shoot to the original Coogardie safe however they still rely on ice or frozen coolant bricks for cooling.This "Coogardie" safe is very significant to the Kiewa Valley and the Bogong High Plains because it represents not only the initiative thinking of the early settlers and communities but also the "primitive" solution to an everyday (1800s to 1930s) problem (before gas and electric run refrigerators) of keeping "perishables" at a low temperature and thereby prolonging their "shelf" life. This was before electricity and gas was available to the inhabitants of the Kiewa Valley and Bogong High Plains. Another cooling method for food was to have "water tight" containers dipped into the very cold streams running from the "cooler" alpine mountains and the Bogong High Plains. This however could not be carried out in all situations eg. fast flowing currents and locations away from streams. This "Coolgardie safe" is made from a medium grade steel enclosure and its appearance is of a perforated box with a wire handle and one side (long side) being a hinged "door" with a clasp securing "lock". There are air holes grouped into a small "boxed" pattern. Each "box" is divided by a crossed pattern, dividing the "holed" sections(4) into a diamond configuration of 49 small holes each. There are four sides (long) which have the perforations except for the base which does not. The base has an indentation with a loose "catch" tray to catch water spills. When in use the "box" is covered with a water "soaked" cloth. The wet cloth is used as "coolant" ie. fibers in the cloth hold the water droplets seep out evaporating the area and thereby (in mass) cooling the air inside the container.domestic refrigeration cabinets, coolgardie "safe", insect and vermin proof food containers, electric and gas free cold storage containers

Without refrigeration, storage of meat was difficult. Flies were a problem, and it was important to keep meat cool and out of the way of pests. One way of doing this was to use a meat safe: a kind of cupboard designed to store meat and keep it fresh enough to eat. Meat safes are ventilated. They were sometimes made with sides of wire mesh or perforated metal, so that air could circulate around the meat while keeping flies and other animals out.The Coolgardie safe was invented in the late 1890s by Arthur Patrick McCormick, who used the same principle as explorers and travelers in the Outback used to cool their canvas water bags Originally they were handmade using materials to hand. In the early 20th century, Coolgardie Safes were manufactured commercially across Australia, and found their way into homes in both rural and urban areas. These safes incorporated shelving and a door, had metal or wooden frames and Hessian bodies. The feet of the safe were usually placed in a tray of water to keep ants away. (refs ABC-Home; Museum Victoria)The Coolgardie safe was an Australian invention used especially in country areas from the 1890s until the mid 20th century. It began to be replaced by ice chests from the turn of the twentieth century in cities and country towns which had ice works. This item is an example of a domestic appliance commonly used before electricity was widely available for domestic use.A cube-shaped metal Coolgardie safe painted blue. It has a triangular hook on the top for hanging or lifting. There are small feet at bottom . The sides are perforated in a Above the door; Inside a rhomboid shape "WILLOW"food-storage coolgardie-safe domestic

Without refrigeration, storage of meat was difficult. Flies were a problem, and it was important to keep meat cool and out of the way of pests. One way of doing this was to use a meat safe: a kind of cupboard designed to store meat and keep it fresh enough to eat. Meat safes are ventilated. They were sometimes made with sides of wire mesh or perforated metal, so that air could circulate around the meat while keeping flies and other animals out.The Coolgardie safe was invented in the late 1890's by Arthur Patrick McCormick, who used the same principle as explorers and travelers in the Outback used to cool their canvas water bags Originally they were handmade using materials to hand. In the early 20th century, Coolgardie Safes were manufactured commercially across Australia, and found their way into homes in both rural and urban areas. These safes incorporated shelving and a door, had metal or wooden frames and Hessian bodies. The feet of the safe were usually placed in a tray of water to keep ants away. (refs ABC-Home; Museum Victoria)This item is an example of a common domestic appliance used before the widespread connection of electricity to homes and refrigeration. The Coolgardie meat safe is an Australian invention used widely in rural areas from the 1890's until the mid 20th century.A metal meat safe, painted white. It has a shelf inside. The door has two perforated rectangular sections metal framed in solid metal. The base is flat.storage domestic coolgardie-safe

Flight Lieutenant A copy of Australian Gallant and Distinguished Service Vietnam 1962-1973: Being A Record of British and Foreign Decorations Awarded to Australian Servicemen which was published by The Military Historical Society of Australia.commander of the order of the british empire, cbe, air commodore jack dowling, 0370, air commodore john fullarton lush, 0369, group captain john wilkins hubble, 05833, air commodore geoffrey thompson, 0393, group captain john irwin adams, o33119, air commodore frederick stephen robey, o5787, group captain ronald jack mckimm, o22084, air commodore clarence haddon spurgeon, o399, air commodore neville patrick mcnamara, o11353, group captain roberts (robert) hunter martin, o22188, distinguished service order, dso, companion of the distinguished service order, group captain peter frank raw, wing commander anthony watcyn powell, o314347, group captain selwyn david evans, o22127, wing commander john alan paule, o35028, wing commander john alan whitehead, o33710, wing commander peter geoffrey larard, o35023, wing commander roy walter hibben, o37568, wing commander jack robert boast, o14165, wing commander peter lionel howard coy, o26006, wing commander peter william hahood, o52901, officer of the order of the british empire, order of the british empire (obe), wing commander phillip arthur bloom, o210837, wing commander peter william kennedy, o4667, member of the order of the british empire (mbe), warrant officer andrea giovanni pellizzer, a4149, chaplain third class patrick john mccormick, o19853, wing commander cecil george kilsby, o33178, warrant officer allan richard grinter, a31866, flight lieutenant philip anthony mogridge, o39014, flight lieutenant george walter foskett, o223127, squandron leader ronald holden tucker, o220878, flight lieutenant neville colin walliss, o12206, flight lieutenant walter wolfgang wurm, o55848, flight lieutenant john thomas connell, o33721, chaplain john julian white, o317689, squadron leader donald arthur ernest tidd, o313248, flight lieutenant raymond keith crossley, o32838, flight lieutenant bruce victor tipping, o35364, squadron leader robin norman wade, o217796, chaplain john eward grannall, o222956, distinguished flying cross, dfc, wing commander victor douglas guthrie, o22015, wing commander raymond alfred scott, o22143, wing commander (acting) vance drummond, o33624, wing commander charles james melchert, o11419, flight lieutenant leigh oxley hindley, o23946, flight lieutenant francis patrick riley, o216204, pilot officer michael john haxell, o218798, squadron leader anthony john fookes, o33200, squadron leader james henry cox, o216731, flying office macaulay cottrell, o316174, squadron leader peter john reed, o35030, squadron leader athol charles jory, o15831, squadron leader nicholas james gregory watling, 015612, flight lieutenant anthony philip ford, o219917, flight lieutenant peter graham smith, o216415, flying officer brian harris fooks, o44200, wing commander jack darby espie, o33153, squadron leader ronald david crump, o53401, squadron leader brian leslie john dirou, o314174, flight lieutenant robert alec charles kendell, o316951, flight lieutenant donald herbert porter, o217899, flight lieutenant garry gordon cooper, o219964, wing commander barry moore thomas, o32568, squadron leader thomas ward, o14288, flight lieutenant gerald maurice cramer, o22886, flight lieutenant reginald john thompson, o316968, flight lieutenant roger arthur wilson, o221235, flight lieutenant peter william davies, o221384, squadron leader graham dyke, o14384, flight lieutenant kenneth james mitchell, o43443, flight lieutenant john frederick hazelwood, o219888, flying officer michael ross tardent, o113526, flight lieutenant rex robert budd, o212791, flying officer douglas john stuart riding, flight lieutenant douglas john stuart riding, o221573, flight lieutenant edward brian john bolger, o23741, squadron leader michael robinson, o14202, squadron leader ronald james crimmins, o32764, squadron leader ivan laurence grove, o34222, flight lieutenant ronald alexander slater, o61240, flying officer gary john ennis, o19987, flying officer nicholas william hobson, o116949, squadron leader graham wallace neil, o215111, flight lieutenant john laurence ellis, o315190, flying officer bruce charles townsend, o224152, squadron leader stewart cosmann kostlin mitchell, wing commander stewart cosmann kostlin mitchell, o213595, flight lieutenant john patrick hayden, o315434, flight lieutenant william norton robertson, o56673, flying officer christopher allan beatty, o45549, flying officer robert francis meares, o223862, wing commander francis john leonard downing, o34496, squadron leader arthur barnes, o36433, squadron leader donald couldrey white, o13864, flight lieutenant francis leo clough, o218083, flight lieutenant lindsay arnold naylor, o315270, flying officer david evan ozanne, o57511, wing commander colin leonard ackland, o14204, squadron leader stanley clark, o217663, squadron leader kenneth david clark, o52798, flight lieutenant norman mellville goodall, o43963, conspicuous gallantry medal (flying), cgm, cpl john desmond coughlan, a220788, george medal, gm, sgt gordon dudley buttriss, a21702, military medal, mm, sgt noel edward power, a111932, distinguished flying medal, dfm, sgt robert joseph stoyles, a217773, cpl william wallace o’rourke, a42889, cpl john gordon yorke, a45046, cpl barry thomas gracie, a219151, sgt terence john pinkerton, a216972, cpl george alexander edwards, a314994, leading aircraftman kerry john shipp, a44980, leading aircraftman david thomas moles, a61704, leading aircraftman trevor lawrence hamill, a317922, cpl rodney joseph ranger, a222471, british empire medal, bem, sgt ernest edward moore, o216106, flight sergeant colin milton robb, a51944, sgt alan william rudd, a14871, sgt barry william fitzell, a218341, cpl james benedict vanderkyl, a216178, british empire medal for gallantry, cpl robert albert stephens, a220871, mentioned in dispatches, mid, flight lieutenant ronald george raymond, o33756, sgt robert maxwell wark, a216427, leading aircraftman david michael gwin, a218227, wo frank anthony latham, a13057, pilot officer charles john downes, o218221, flight lieutenant anthony lempriere harley abbott, o55138, cpl robert patrick st john, a218262, group captain lyall robert klaffer, squadron leader lyall robert klaffer, o4218, flight lieutenant graeme alexander nicholson, o41992, flight lieutenant george godfrey, o54101, flying officer peter yates, o56263, cpl stanley donald mellow, a14968, cpl raymond charles chandler, a55714, wo james richard kenny, a21316, flight sergeant thomas george lenton, a2927, sgt eric glen allen, a6548, aircraftman ronald neil mcnamara, a25038, squadron leader rex stevens ramsey, o33687, flight lieutenant robert max hayes, o51626, flight lieutenant clifford mitchell dohle, o39642, flight lieutenant geoffrey alfred banfield, o37553, flight lieutenant john terence mcdonnell, o38531, flight lieutenant john mcleod harris, o43732, flight sergeant owen vincent cooke, a24168, sgt douglas william henry kennett, cpl dennis frederick olsen, a18781, leading aircraftman david john collins, a221540, cpl herbert roy sharpe, leading aircraftman herbert roy sharpe, a45003, wing commander henry alfred hughes, o21144, squadron leader john irvine thomson, o32446, squadron leader thomas dunning wright, o27562, squadron leader john maxwell chesterfield, o32860, flight lieutenant barry squires, squadron leader barry squires, o216046, flight lieutenant michael raymond lewino, squadron leader michael raymond lewino, o55331, flight lieutenant leslie wilfred morris, o219176, flight lieutenant jeffrey allan pedrina, o314595, flying officer william stewart mcalister, o17860, cpl stewart hampton bonett, leading aircraftman stewart hampton bonett, a215424, cpl ronald cecil orchard, aircraftman ronald cecil orchard, a14436, cpl gregory michael aleckson, a222329, flight lieutenant william allen gill, o316957, flight lieutenant robert charles thompson, o33757, flight lieutenant richard allan fisher, flying officer richard allan fisher, o18628, flying officer peter alexander davidson, pilot officer peter alexander davidson, o222082, cpl murray denis johnson, a55622, cpl arthur douglas gale, a317317, flight lieutenant alan john perry, o216406, flying officer ian bruce cooper, o316302, cpl allan elliott matthews, a216396, wing commander robert john limbury tebbutt, o211575, squadron leader hedley robert thomas, o219178, flight lieutenant gregory norman goddard, o15633, pilot officer john knox ross, o113665, flying officer onno dalmolen, o317513, cpl david john dubber, leading aircraftman david john dubber, a317809, cpl john henry parsons, leading aircraftman john henry parsons, a223927, aircraftman john lynn seibel, a112818, flying officer neil francis jonasson, flight lieutenant neil francis jonasson, o314130, pilot officer john jeffrey wilkinson, flying officer john jeffrey wilkinson, o223864, sgt patrick arthur burkett, flight sergeant patrick arthur burkett, a23477, leading aircraftman ronald wilson, a117793, cpl colin william duffield, leading aircraftman colin william duffield, a44284, squadron leader lloyd duncan knight, flight lieutenant lloyd duncan knight, o37573, flight lieutenant robert william howe, o218328, flying officer joseph james wilson, o220792, flying officer robert bruce treloar, o317557, flight sergeant herbert keith rieck, a13890, sgt walter joseph jones, a36497, cpl vincent albert lowe, sgt vincent albert lowe, a17829, squadron leader hans jorg friederich roser, o217004, flight lieutenant raymond john butler, o221233, flight lieutenant bruce david searle, o110302, flight lieutenant kevin vernon griffin, o43348, flying officer ian douglas fogarty, o317512, wo david roy grover, a32816, squadron leader brian edward o’shea, o116226, squadron leader lynton thomas winn, o219589, flight lieutenant martin campbell newman, o316978, flight lieutenant barry edgar stanley williamson, o220069, flight lieutenant john francis byrnes, flying officer john francis byrnes, o222542, flying officer stuart wesley dalgleish, o224143, flight sergeant john penn, a25124, cpl barry keith birchan, a44066, flight sergeant john maurice ignatius hayes, a659, sgt ronald o’neill, a12379, cpl colin john gray, a21893, aircraftman terry david jackson, a317581, squadron leader samuel nelson todhunter, o53169, flight lieutenant maurice francis linden, o32387, flying officer richard neil kelloway, o221393, pilot officer brinley guest haylock, o223593, wo patrick edward curtis, a2887, leading aircraftman jan johannes kiewiet, a223858, aircraftman alan roy brazil, a45935, flight lieutenant cunningham norman mcintyre cassels, o316966, flying officer maurice alexander lewis, o316431, flying officer hector goldie rutherford, o317276, wo leslie alderton, a34026, cpl barry alan sharman, a218593, leading aircraftman geoffrey kenneth smith, a223095, chaplin stanley bruce ford, o217659, leading aircraftman ian lee, aircraftman ian lee, a224697, squadron leader lloyd dennis brown, flight lieutenant lloyd dennis brown, o110501, flight lieutenant colin monk, o221681, flight lieutenant david kingsley palmer, o44431, flying officer peter robert nuske, pilot officer peter robert nuske, o224148, sgt kevin ralph stapleton, a313317, cpl glynn james young, sgt glynn james young, a56060, squadron leader frank ronald lonie, wing commander frank ronald lonie, o35101, chaplain david thomas pritchard, o314053, flight lieutenant brian greatorex hammond, o55985, flight lieutenant kenneth ian semmler, o44135, flying officer michael sandro calvert, o57541, flying officer barry james ellison, o15953, cpl douwe de boer, a61419, squadron leader bernard alan johnson, o35022, flight lieutenant anthony john taylor, o116118, flight lieutenant john arthur power, o44953, flying officer robert upham, o117199, flying officer peter vincent murphy, o117342, flying officer kerry john connors, o117503, flying officer john raymond huggett, o117508, sgt kenneth wayne marks, a222358, cpl colin henry bruce, a222195, leading aircraftman joseph earl pettit, a113187, squadron leader ian hamilton whisker, o218759, flight lieutenant bruce john mouatt, flying officer bruce john mouatt, o222080, flying officer robert lawrence redman, o224385, cpl keith john munns, a45385, wing commander elvin jacki felton, o25166, flight lieutenant rodger howard boerth, chaplain rodger howard boerth, o318567, flying officer jeffrey philip trappett, o117198, flying officer rhys northwood james, pilot officer rhys northwood james, o119113, sgt gregory stewart love, a211438, legion of merit (lom, the silver star medal (ssm), flying officer macaulay cottrell, 0316174, squadron leader alan raymond reed, o52363, the bronze star medal, flight lieutenant william middlemiss, o51083, the air medal, the national order of the republic of vietnam, fifth class medal (knight’s badge), republic of vietnam gallantry cross with silver star

This Coolgardie safe is a significant example of late-19th-century Australian ingenuity and domestic adaptation in response to the challenges of life in remote and harsh environments. Invented in the late 1890s by Arthur Patrick McCormick at Coolgardie, then the center of a major Western Australian gold rush, the safe represents an important technological response to the need for preserving perishable foods in extreme heat before the availability of mechanical refrigeration. Using the same evaporative principles employed by explorer’s canvas water bags, the Coolgardie safe utilised a timber frame, zinc metal sheets, wire mesh panels and wet hessian cloth to create a naturally cooled storage chamber. When placed in a draught or breeze, evaporation lowered the internal temperature, allowing miners, settlers and later rural households to keep meat, dairy and vegetables safe for longer periods. Sylvia Schultz (nee Ziebell) remembers the Coolgardie safe at Ziebell’s Farmhouse “was always positioned in the pantry where it is today, near the window to allow the breeze in”. Items the Ziebell’s stored in the safe included meats, milk and cream, and home-made goods. This object embodies a pivotal moment in Australia’s social and technological history, illustrating resourcefulness, adaptation to climate, and the lived realities of those who settled and worked in remote regions. As an early form of sustainable refrigeration, it contributes valuable interpretive depth to domestic, rural and goldfields history. Handmade food safe with white painted wooden frame and perforated zinc screen panels. Galvanised sheet roof. Raised four beveled legs. Two rectangular doors, bottom door large, opens to main area with one shelf. top door small, opens to triangular roof section. Movable latches of wood on both doors.No visible markingsdomestic items, food storage and preservation, food, safe, storage, pantry, carl ziebell