Tobacco farming began circa 1960 in the Kiewa Valley and consequently became one of its major industries. Many of the Italian families were involved in tobacco farming.Historical: This equipment was used on one of the first tobacco farms in the Kiewa Valley at Mongans Bridge. The picking apron was home-made showing the resourcefulness of farmers living in the Kiewa Valley. Picking machines replaced the picking apron. Provenance: This tobacco farmer came from Italy and was sponsored to visit a tobacco farmer in Myrtleford to learn how to grow tobacco so that he could transfer those skills to his own farm in the Kiewa Valley.The apron was used to gather green leaf before picking machines were made. Thick cotton cream apron, hemmed around the outside. Widest at the waist which has 2 rings each side where string is attached with a knot to tie around the waist. From the ring, material tapers inwards to form a bib. The corners of the bib have rings from which white rope is attached to hang around the neck. Similariy material tapers to the bottom where rings in the corners have rope attached - also to hang around the neck. Half way between the waist and neck, the material is double stitched and overlapped. grubbytobacco. mongans bridge, kiewa valley, parmesan, rossaro . picking apron.

Tobacco farming began circa 1960 in the Kiewa Valley and consequently became one of its major industries. Many of the Italian families were involved in tobacco farming.Historical: This equipment was used on one of the first tobacco farms in the Kiewa Valley at Mongans Bridge. The picking bag was home-made showing the resourcefulness of farmers living in the Kiewa Valley. Provenance: This tobacco farmer came from Italy and was sponsored to visit a tobacco farmer in Myrtleford to learn how to grow tobacco so that he could transfer those skills to his own farm in the Kiewa Valley.Picking bag known as 'Sacco'. The bag was used as a liner to the collecting bin in front of each of the 4 pickers on the picking machine. The bag was then hooked closed and held the leaf together for transport to the shed. Brown hessian woven length with 2 thick wires at 1 end hooked through 'bag' 100 mm from each side and hook on other end. Shaped in 1 rectangle rather than like a bag.Edges rough with wear and tear. A couple of holes where weave in 1 direction has torn.tobacco. picking bag. mongans bridge. kiewa valley. sacco. parmesan. rossaro. lorenzi brothers.

Tobacco farming began circa 1960 in the Kiewa Valley and consequently became one of it major industries. Many of the italian families were involved in tobacco farming.Historical: This equipment was used on one of the first tobacco farms in the Kiewa Valley at Mongans Bridge. Provenance: This tobacco farmer came from Italy and was sponsored to visit a tobacco farmer in Myrtleford to learn how to grow tobacco so that he could transfer those skills to his own farm in the Kiewa Valley.Wooden, panelled red (painted on outside) rectangular box on side are iron bars with steel reinforcements around the box, near the top and bottom on 4 sides and across the middle on the 2 ends and front (not back). Diagonal steel between bottom and middle iron on the front. Ends: 2 iron bars from the ground curved up to top holding an iron rectangular beam that goes from end to end. Midway of beam is a vertical long screw at the top of which is a cross formation of 4 iron rods forming a handle for turning. Inside, the screw is attached to an iron frame which is attached to a wooden panelled platform enabling it to be raised or lowered as required.tobacco. mongans bridge. kiewa valley. hand press. parmesan. rossaro. lorenzi brothers.

Tobacco farming began circa 1960 in the Kiewa Valley and consequently became one of its major industries. Many of the Italian families were involved in tobacco farming.Historical: This equipment was used on one of the first tobacco farms in the Kiewa Valley at Mongans Bridge. The tobacco 'stretcher' was home-made showing the resourcefulness of farmers living in the Kiewa Valley. Provenance: This tobacco farmer came from Italy and was sponsored to visit a tobacco farmer in Myrtleford to learn how to grow tobacco so that he could transfer those skills to his own farm in the Kiewa Valley.The 'stretcher' was used for carrying dry tobacco from kiln to stacking shed and later from stacking shed to the grading benches. 2 tree logs parallel to each other with 2 hessian bags cut into a piece each to overlap down the middle and starched between and held by a plank of wood nailed along at each end. The tree logs are held in position across the middle and behind the hessian by a thick plank of wood.Holes. One piece of hessian has painted in green:- Albury NSW and 5 green rectangles printed on it at the top partly covered by wooden plank.tobacco. mongans bridge. kiewa valley. kiln. shed. parmesan. rossaro. lorenzi brothers.

This bottle contained castor oil or cod-liver oil and has a hand finished top. It would have been bought at a local chemist or in a larger city on a shopping expedition.Historical: Found inside the walls of a Tawonga South farm house having been left there when the house was being built. Change of bottles - shape, glass stopper, manufacture and use. Aesthetic: Display showing shape and colour due to the affect of sunlight.Clear glass bottle with manganese/purple tinge caused by sunlight. Hand finished top. Joins in glass on each side but not continuing to opening. Straight sides from the base to a little more than half way up. Sharp taper to neck which is straight and long to lip and opening. Cork stopper.Bubbles in glass. chemist, castor oil, codliver oil, tawonga south, aurora parmesan