A scythe is an agricultural hand tool for mowing grass or reaping crops. It was largely replaced by horse-drawn and then tractor machinery. A scythe consists of a wooden shaft and a long, curved blade is mounted at the lower end, perpendicular. Scythes always have the blade projecting from the left side when in use. Mowing is done by holding the handle , with the arms straight, the blade parallel to the ground and very close to it, and the body twisted to the right. The body is then twisted steadily to the left, moving the scythe blade along its length in a long arc from right to left, ending in front of the mower, thus depositing the cut grass to the left. Mowing proceeds with a steady rhythm, stopping at frequent intervals to sharpen the blade. The correct technique has a slicing action on the grass, cutting a narrow strip with each stroke Mowing grass is easier when it is damp, and so hay-making traditionally began at dawn and often stopped early, the heat of the day being spent raking and carting the hay cut on previous daysEarly settlers and market gardeners used these scythes as they established their farms in Moorabbin Shire c1880A large metal scythe with a wooden handle x 2early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, moorabbin, bentleigh, brighton, cheltenham, tools, blacksmiths

Used in the 19th and early 20th century.A metal scythe with a long curved wooden handle to manoeuvre the blades. There are also two shorter wooden handles or 'nibs' fitted at an angle to suit the user attached to the main handle by a metal ring. It has two curved pointed cutting blades which are attached by nuts and bolts to the handle.agricultural tools, scythes, cutting tools, agricultural equipment

Scythes were used with a long sweeping movement which made them much less tiring for labourers to use than reaping hooks or sickles though they still involved great physical labour and considerable skill to perfect. Both hands were in use and the operator did not have to bend his back to reach down to the crop. Scythes were not used as often on farms after the mechanisation of harvesting. They were still used for cutting awkward shaped small plots and for opening a path for the tractors. This item is an example of a tool used by the early settlers of the Orbost district. A curved wooden scythe handle with two nailed grips attached with metal rings. There is no blade. There is a metal hook at the bottom.scythe agricultural tool farming

1. Scythe - Agricultural hand-tool for mowing grass or harvesting crops.Horse drawn machinery and tractors replaced the scythe. The scythe with the metal rod may have been fitted later, replacing a wooden rod. 2. Fern Hook - Used for slashing or reaping plants 3. Long handled sickle - A traditional single handed agricultural tool with a curved metal blade and handle. Used for harvesting. 4. Mattock - Heavy duty hand tool featuring a long handle and a stout dual-headed metal blade used in many ways eg. digging 5. Pitch Fork - An agricultural tool used to pitch loose material such as hay or leaves. 6. Pick Axe - A tool used to break and pry at the pointed end and the axe end for hoeing, skimming and chopping through roots.Douglas used these tools 70-80 years ago (1950s) mainly on his family's farm at Dandongadale near Buffalo River for harvesting as well as clearing land. Some may have been used on a family property at Whorouly as well and at the Dederang family properties from 1964. At Dederang the family had a tobacco farm and a dairy farm - (now 4 properties). Douglas Petzke had a soldier settlement farm in Dederang. Property was 'Woodside' about 1 km south east of the Dederang store. Douglad had 100 acres on each of the top and bottom sides. The bottom side was the dairy farm and the top side was beside House Creek. The farm totalled more than 200 acres. Douglas left Dederang c 2000 and now (2026) lives at Baranduda.1. Scythes x2 - Long wooden and one is metal curved rod with offset handles and a curved 600 mm long steel blade projecting from one end 2. Fern Hooks x2 - Wooden handle with curved steel blade attached at one end 3. Long-handled Sickles x2 - Both have wooden handles one of which is made from a branch of a 'tree' hence the curve. The blade is curved metal 4. Mattock - A long wooden handle with a dual-headed metal blade 5. Pitch Fork - A long wooden handle with three curved metal prongs attached at one end 6. Pick Axe - A wooden handle with a T-shaped metal attachment fixed perpendicularly to one end. The metal has a pointed end on one side of its head and a broad flat blade on the other side. Fern Hook - "116-319 1250 forge steel" Mattock - "783 4 1/2 (half) lbs" "oomatty". On the other side "LTD" and "AM"farm tools, deans family, douglas petzke, dederang

This is an early sharpening stone of unknown origin . Stones have been used for hundreds of years to sharpen metal blades on a wide range of tools from scythes, scissors plane blades and knives. More recent examples come with particular grades according to the fineness of the grit in the stone.This item is of antiquarian interest only and is kept for displays. It is an example of tool sharpening methods which have been used for many years.This is a small square stone with a polished surface used to sharpen small bladestrade, sharpening stone, warrnambool

Jonathan Harris operated a winery on the banks of the Axe Creek, Axedale in the 1850s.A curved metal blade 31 centimetres long eight centimetres wide tapering to a point. Attached to a one centimetre diameter, 18 centimetre long curved metal rod which has a two centimetre to three centimetre tapered 11 centimetre long wooden handle. Part of the Harris Collection.agriculture, farm, harris collection, hand scyche

Jonathan Harris operated a winery on the banks of the Axe Creek, Axedale in the 1850s. A curved wooden shaft two centimetres diameter at the top, five centimetres diameter at the bottom and 150 centimetres long. Two wooden handles three centimetres diameter and 11 centimetres long are attached to the shaft. At the bottom of the shaft a curved metal blade is attached, it's 75 centimetres long and nine centimetres wide at the shaft and tapers to a point. Part of the Harris Collection.harris collection, scythe

Round wooden handle with metal blade bolted to one end.Hoe made by Sheffield impressed on metal blade.garden, farming, tools, sythe, weeding

Long handle scythe used by the college to maintain gardensManual scythe blade with long wooden handle painted orange. Used by Burnley Students for garden maintenance,Metal stamped 1285garden maintenance, burnley, grass control, weed control, students, artifact

Designed in the USA. Founded in 1890 merged with Massey Harris in the 1930s. Manufactured and improved in Australia by H.V. McKay. Manufactured in Sunshine Victoria. Towed by horse. It replaced hand scythes to cut grass, barley, oats, lucerne and green feed to be stored as winter stock feed. This hay mower was used by farmers in the Kiewa Valley for harvesting their crops.A long, large towable agricultural Hay Mower.Iron frame, cast iron wheels, raised lugs on outside surface. Metal seat positioned at the back for the operator.Steel cutting blade, 2 hand operated levers to the right of the seat. 1390 mm high; 1090 mm wide; 2730 mm longH.V. McKay Massey Harris Pty Ltd Sunshine Victoria. Founded 1890farm machinery, hay mower