William Poole was appointed the Director of Charters Towers School of Mines in 1904. In 1912 he was working at the Ballarat School of Mines.Handwritten applicaitonsfor the position of Lecturer in Engineering at the Ballarat School of Mines. .1) Application from Frank Ellis including testimonials from E.H. Rennie. R.W. Chapman, J.P.V. Madson, W.H. Ledger, W.S.T. Goodman. E.V. Clark. F. Chapple, J.A. Erskine and Wililiam Poole.charters towers school of mines, reference, william poole, schools of mines, j.p.v. madson, w.h. ledger, e.h. rennie, r.w. chapman, w.s.t. goodman, e.v. clark, f. chapple, j.a. erskine, prince alfred college adelaide, edward h. rennie, university of adelaide, leeds university, w.h. bragg, sulphide corporation limited broken hill, municipal tramways trust adelaide, sydney steel company, south australian school of mines, e.h. shapter

Dairy farms used cream separators to separate the milk and the cream before using it themselves or selling it to the dairy companies, shops or directly to the public.This cream separator was used by P & R Creamer on their dairy farm in the Kiewa Valley.3 parts - top brass lid with hollow cylinder enclosed across its top and extending beyond its circumference. 2. Stainless Steel hollow cylinders that fit the base and the lid but has 2 long curved spouts extending out - one for the milk and one for the cream to come out 3. Black cast iron stand that houses the gear mechanisms that drive the separator cones. The gear speed reduction wheel is on one side. "Alfa-Laval MOB / 80 Gall Capacity per hr / 48 Rev of Crank per Minute / Alfa-Laval Separator / Co. Ltd / 299 Sussex St. / Sydney" - on bottom side of the machinedairy; cream separator; kiewa valley; creamer family

McColl Rankin & Stanistreet, Deborah Extended Gold Mining Company. Miller & Co. Machinery Pty Ltd, Bendigo Branch, 10 Forest Street. a/ Letter attached to b/ Test Certificate For Wire Ropes tested by A Boote of Bullivant's Australian Co Pty Ltd Sydney, 13 July 1940.cottage, miners, mccoll rankin & stanistreet, deborah extended gold mining company. miller & co. machinery pty ltd, bendigo branch steel wire rope test

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 2000. Bank of Victoria: this was the first trading bank on the goldfield. The strong-room still contains an enormous steel safe which was installed as an extra precaution against theft. The Bank of Victoria merged with the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney in 1927 and now is known as the National Australia Bank. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

This photograph was one of ten photographs donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village by Fred Trewartha. Frederick John Fox Trewartha (Fred) was a well-known Warrnambool businessman. He was born in Beeac near Geelong in 1920 and came to Warrnambool with his family as a very young child. He was apprenticed to his father John, as a saddler and later opened his own shop on Raglan Parade. He then moved into working with tarpaulins and canvases for the trucking industry. Fred was keenly interested in photography (and was a member of the Warrnambool Cine Club), yachting and boat building. He kept his yacht moored at Port Fairy for many years and participated in sailing events locally and interstate. He also built boats with his sons. He had the opportunity to meet many older sailors and it's thought this photo (and others in the set) may have been given to him by one of these men. Fred Trewartha died in 2016 in Warrnambool. The "Strathgryfe" was a four masted steel barque built in 1890 by "Russell and Company", Port Glasgow and was owned by Duncan McGillivray (The Strathgryfe Ship Company Limited), Greenock. It arrived in Melbourne in December 1891 from New York. Between 1891 and 1910 it carried merchandise in and out of Australia to ports around the world - Melbourne to London (1892), Newcastle to San Francisco (1894), Capetown to Newcastle (1894), New York to Shanghai (1897), New York to Melbourne (1898), Frederickstadt to Melbourne (1899), Liverpool to Sydney (1900), San Francisco to Brisbane (1903), Newcastle to Pisagna, Chile (1905) and Rotterdam to Melbourne (1910). It carried breadstuffs from San Francisco, coal from Newcastle, wool from Sydney, saltpetre from Hamburg and wheat from Brisbane and Melbourne as well as a variety of general merchandise. In 1898, whilst on route between New York and Melbourne, it came across the Captain and crew of the missing barque "Glen Huntley" which had been reported as "lost" several months earlier. They had been marooned at Tristan D'Acunha (a remote group of volcanic islands in the South Atlantic ocean). Captain McIntyre, of the Strathgryfe, offered to bring Captain Shaw (of the Glen Huntly) on to Melbourne with them but the "old mariner" decided to stay on with his crew till arrangements could be made for rescuing the whole of them. In 1899, when in Melbourne, seven of its crew refused to go to sea in it due to its unsafe conditions. They said the vessel was unseaworthy and that the rigging was unsafe and the lifeboats, not watertight. The Captain (Donald McIntyre) denied the allegations and produced a marine surveyor's certificate as evidence of the condition of the vessel. The men were sentenced to three weeks imprisonment. In 1901 there was a fire on board the Strathgryfe just after it left Sydney for London which resulted in many bales of wool being destroyed. In 1902 it was beached at Shellback island (near Wilson's promontory) for several weeks and had to be considerably dismantled in order to lighten its load enough to allow tugs to pull it back into deep water. In 1910 it was sold to a German firm and renamed "Margretha". It continued to operate in Australian ports until 1914 when it left Sydney for the English Channel with 42,438 bags of wheat. However owing to W.W.1 breaking out, it made for the port of St Michael's where it remained for twenty-one months. Later it was seized by the Portuguese Government and renamed "Graciosa" and was leased back to the English Government. It was sunk by two German submarines in 1918.This photograph is significant as a record of the world wide mercantile trade Australia was engaged in at the end of the nineteenth century and beginning of the twentieth century.Black and white photograph of a four masted barque moored at a dock. The rigging and two lifeboats are clearly visible. Three large timber logs are in the foreground. On the back of the photograph, the donor's name and telephone number have been written in black ballpoint pen and the name of the ship has been handwritten (incorrectly) in pencil in cursive script.Back of Photo - donor's name and telephone number "Strarthgryfe" [Strathgryfe] / "late" / "Margurita" [Margretha]flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, strathgryfe, barque, steel barque, margretha, graciosa, frederick trewartha, mercantile trade, russell and company, merchandise, cargo ship, glen huntly, w. w. 1

This crate of bottles may have come from a wholesaler, business, stationer or school. The design of the bottles is sometimes called a ‘cottage’ or ‘boat’ shape. Each of the 70 Caldwell’s handmade glass ink bottles was mouth-blown into a two-piece mould, a method often used in the mid-to-late 19th century. The glass blower burst the bottle off the end of his blowpipe with a tool, leaving an uneven mouth and sharp edge on the bottle, which was usually filed. The bottle was then filled with ink and sealed with a cork. More expensive bottles would have a lip added, which was more time-consuming and costly to produce. The capacity for a bottle such as this was about 3 ½ oz (ounces) equal to about 100 ml. Pen and ink have been in use for handwriting since about the seventh century. A quill pen made from a bird’s feather was used up until around the mid-19th century. In the 1850s a steel point nib for the dip pen was invented and could be manufactured on machines in large quantities. The nis only held a small amount of ink so users had to frequently dip the nib into an ink well for more ink. Handwriting left wet ink on the paper, so the blotting paper was carefully used to absorb the excess ink and prevent smudging. Ink could be purchased as a ready-to-use liquid or in powdered form, which needed to be mixed with water. In the 1880s a successful, portable fountain pen gave smooth-flowing ink and was easy to use. In the mid-20th century, the modern ballpoint pen was readily available and inexpensive, so the fountain pen lost its popularity. However, artisans continue to use nib pens to create beautiful calligraphy. Caldwell’s Ink Co. – F.R. Caldwell established Caldwell’s Ink Company in Australia around 1902. In Victoria, he operated from a factory at Victoria Avenue, Albert Park, until about 1911, then from Yarra Bank Road in South Melbourne. Newspaper offices were appointed as agencies to sell his inks, for example, in 1904 the New Zealand Evening Star sold Caldwell’s Flo-Eesi blue black ink in various bottle sizes, and Murchison Advocate (Victoria) stocked Caldwell’s ink in crimson, green, blue black, violet, and blue. Caldwell’s ink was stated to be “non-corrosive and unaffected by steel pens”. A motto used in advertising in 1904-1908 reads ‘Makes Writing a Pleasure’. Stationers stocked Caldwell’s products and hawkers sold Caldwell’s ink stands from door to door in Sydney in the 1910s and 1920s. In 1911 Caldwell promised cash for returned ink bottles and warned of prosecution for anyone found refilling his bottles. Caldwell’s Ink Stands were given as gifts. The company encouraged all forms of writing with their Australian-made Flo-Eesi writing inks and bottles at their impressive booth in the ‘All Australian Exhibition’ in 1913. It advertised its other products, which included Caldwell’s Gum, Caldwell’s Stencil Ink (copy ink) and Caldwell’s Quicksticker as well as Caldwell’s ‘Zac’ Cough Mixture. Caldwell stated in a 1920 article that his inks were made from a formula that was over a century old, and were scientifically tested and quality controlled. The formula included gallic and tannic acids and high-quality dyes to ensure that they did not fade. They were “free from all injurious chemicals”. The permanent quality of the ink was important for legal reasons, particularly to banks, accountants, commerce, municipal councils and lawyers. The Caldwell’s Ink Company also exported crates of its ink bottles and ink stands overseas. Newspaper advertisements can be found for Caldwell’s Ink Company up until 1934 when the company said they were the Best in the business for 40 years.This large collection of similar ink bottles is of particular significance as the bottles have come from the same source, most have their original corks and some retain their original labels, which is rare. The method of manufacture of these bottles is also representative of a 19th-century handcraft industry that is now been largely replaced by mass production. The bottles and their contents are of state significance for being produced by an early Melbourne industry and exported overseas. This case of ink bottles is historically significant as it represents methods of handwritten communication that were still common up until the mid-20th century when fountain pens and modern ballpoint pens became popular and convenient and typewriters were becoming part of standard office equipment.Ink bottles in a wooden crate; 70 rectangular, hand-blown clear glass ink bottles. They have side seams, uneven thickness, especially at the bases, and rough, burst-off mouths. The shoulders on the long sides have horizontal grooves used for pen rests. The bottles vary; some have labels, some contain remnants of blue-black ink, and many have their original corks. The glass has bubbles and imperfections. The remnants of printed labels are on white paper with a swirly border and black text. The bottles contained Caldwell’s blend of blue black ‘Flo-Eesi’ ink.Printed on label; “CALDWELL FLO-EESI BLUE BLACK INK” “ - - - - “ Printed script signature “F.R. Caldwell”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, ink, nib pen, writing ink, writing, copying, banks, lawyers, commerce, student, permanent ink, flo-eesi, blue black ink, stationery, record keeping, handwriting, writing equipment, writing accessory, office supply, cottage bottle, boat bottle, mouth-blown bottle, two-part mould, sheer-lip bottle, burst-lip, cork seal, f r caldwell, caldwell’s ink company, albert park, south melbourne, inkstands, stencil ink, copy ink, quicksticker, zac cough mixture

This design of the bottle is sometimes called a ‘cottage’ or ‘boat’ shape. The Caldwell’s handmade glass ink bottle was mouth-blown into a three-piece mould, a method often used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the maker's name engraved into the mould section for the base. The glass blower would cut the bottle off the end of his blowpipe with a tool and join a mouth onto the top, rolling the lip. The bottle was then filled with ink and sealed with a cork. This method of manufacture was more time-consuming and costly to produce than those made in a simple two-piece mould and 'cracked' off the blowpipe. The capacity for a bottle such as this was about 3 ½ oz (ounces) equal to about 100 ml. This particular bottle is unusual as it has four sloping indents at the corners of the shoulder, most likely for resting a pen with its nib upwards and the handle resting on a flat surface. Most of the bottles made during this era had horizontal pen rests that were indented into both of the long sides of the shoulder. Pen and ink have been in use for handwriting since about the seventh century. A quill pen made from a bird’s feather was used up until around the mid-19th century. In the 1850s a steel point nib for the dip pen was invented and could be manufactured on machines in large quantities. This only held a small amount of ink so users had to frequently dip the nib into an ink well for more ink. Handwriting left wet ink on the paper, so the blotting paper was carefully used to absorb the excess ink and prevent smudging. Ink could be purchased as a ready-to-use liquid or in powdered form, which needed to be mixed with water. In the 1880s a successful, portable fountain pen gave smooth-flowing ink and was easy to use. In the mid-20th century, the modern ballpoint pen was readily available and inexpensive, so the fountain pen lost its popularity. However, artisans continue to use nib pens to create beautiful calligraphy. Caldwell’s Ink Co. – F.R. Caldwell established Caldwell’s Ink Company in Australia around 1902. In Victoria, he operated from a factory at Victoria Avenue, Albert Park, until about 1911, then from Yarra Bank Road in South Melbourne. Newspaper offices were appointed as agencies to sell his inks, for example, in 1904 the New Zealand Evening Star sold Caldwell’s Flo-Eesi blue black ink in various bottle sizes, and Murchison Advocate (Victoria) stocked Caldwell’s ink in crimson, green, blue black, violet, and blue. Caldwell’s ink was stated to be “non-corrosive and unaffected by steel pens”. A motto used in advertising in 1904-1908 reads ‘Makes Writing a Pleasure’. Stationers stocked Caldwell’s products and hawkers sold Caldwell’s ink stands from door to door in Sydney in the 1910s and 1920s. In 1911 Caldwell promised cash for returned ink bottles and warned of prosecution for anyone found refilling his bottles. Caldwell’s Ink Stands were given as gifts. The company encouraged all forms of writing with their Australian-made Flo-Eesi writing inks and bottles at their impressive booth in the ‘All Australian Exhibition’ in 1913. It advertised its other products, which included Caldwell’s Gum, Caldwell’s Stencil Ink (copy ink) and Caldwell’s Quicksticker as well as Caldwell’s ‘Zac’ Cough Mixture. Caldwell stated in a 1920 article that his inks were made from a formula that was over a century old, and were scientifically tested and quality controlled. The formula included gallic and tannic acids and high-quality dyes to ensure that they did not fade. They were “free from all injurious chemicals”. The permanent quality of the ink was important for legal reasons, particularly to banks, accountants, commerce, municipal councils and lawyers. The Caldwell’s Ink Company also exported crates of its ink bottles and ink stands overseas. Newspaper advertisements can be found for Caldwell’s Ink Company up until 1934 when the company said they were the Best in the business for 40 years.This hand-blown bottle is significant for being the only bottle in our collection with the unusual sloping pen rests on its shoulder. It is also significant for being made in a less common three-piece mould. The method of manufacture is representative of a 19th-century handcraft industry that is now been largely replaced by mass production. The bottle is of state significance for being produced by an early Melbourne industry and exported overseas. This ink bottle is historically significant as it represents methods of handwritten communication that were still common up until the mid-20th century when fountain pens and modern ballpoint pens became popular and convenient and typewriters were becoming part of standard office equipment.Ink bottle; rectangular base, hand-blown clear glass bottle with its own cork. The bottle has side seams from the base to the mouth, an indented base and an applied lip. The corners of the shoulder sides have unusual diagonal grooves that slope down and outwards that may have been used as pen rests. Inside the bottle are remnants of dried blue-black ink. The glass has imperfections and some ripples on the surface. The bottle has an attached oval black label label with gold-brown printed text and border. The base has an embossed inscription. The bottles once contained Caldwell’s blend of blue black ink.Printed on label; “CALDWELL's BLUE BLACK INK” Embossed on the base "CALDWELLS"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, ink, nib pen, writing ink, writing, copying, banks, lawyers, commerce, student, permanent ink, blue black ink, stationery, record keeping, handwriting, writing equipment, writing accessory, office supply, cottage bottle, boat bottle, mouth-blown bottle, cork seal, f r caldwell, caldwell’s ink company, albert park, south melbourne, inkstands, stencil ink, copy ink, quicksticker, zac cough mixture, three part mould, cauldwells, cauldwell's

This shaped ink bottle made by Caldwell's is called a 'boat ink bottle'. It was shaped especially to hold a nib pen when the pen was not in use. The design of the bottle is sometimes called a ‘cottage’ or ‘boat’ shape. The Caldwell’s handmade glass ink bottle was mouth-blown into a two-piece mould, a method often used in the mid-to-late 19th century. The glass blower burst the bottle off the end of his blowpipe with a tool, leaving an uneven mouth and sharp edge on the bottle, which was usually filed. The bottle was then filled with ink and sealed with a cork. More expensive bottles would have a lip added, which was more time-consuming and costly to produce. The capacity for a bottle such as this was about 3 ½ oz (ounces) equal to about 100 ml. Pen and ink have been in use for handwriting since about the seventh century. A quill pen made from a bird’s feather was used up until around the mid-19th century. In the 1850s a steel point nib for the dip pen was invented and could be manufactured on machines in large quantities. The nis only held a small amount of ink so users had to frequently dip the nib into an ink well for more ink. Handwriting left wet ink on the paper, so the blotting paper was carefully used to absorb the excess ink and prevent smudging. Ink could be purchased as a ready-to-use liquid or in powdered form, which needed to be mixed with water. In the 1880s a successful, portable fountain pen gave smooth-flowing ink and was easy to use. In the mid-20th century, the modern ballpoint pen was readily available and inexpensive, so the fountain pen lost its popularity. However, artisans continue to use nib pens to create beautiful calligraphy. Caldwell’s Ink Co. – F.R. Caldwell established Caldwell’s Ink Company in Australia around 1902. In Victoria, he operated from a factory at Victoria Avenue, Albert Park, until about 1911, then from Yarra Bank Road in South Melbourne. Newspaper offices were appointed as agencies to sell his inks, for example, in 1904 the New Zealand Evening Star sold Caldwell’s Flo-Eesi blue black ink in various bottle sizes, and Murchison Advocate (Victoria) stocked Caldwell’s ink in crimson, green, blue black, violet, and blue. Caldwell’s ink was stated to be “non-corrosive and unaffected by steel pens”. A motto used in advertising in 1904-1908 reads ‘Makes Writing a Pleasure’. Stationers stocked Caldwell’s products and hawkers sold Caldwell’s ink stands from door to door in Sydney in the 1910s and 1920s. In 1911 Caldwell promised cash for returned ink bottles and warned of prosecution for anyone found refilling his bottles. Caldwell’s Ink Stands were given as gifts. The company encouraged all forms of writing with their Australian-made Flo-Eesi writing inks and bottles at their impressive booth in the ‘All Australian Exhibition’ in 1913. It advertised its other products, which included Caldwell’s Gum, Caldwell’s Stencil Ink (copy ink) and Caldwell’s Quicksticker as well as Caldwell’s ‘Zac’ Cough Mixture. Caldwell stated in a 1920 article that his inks were made from a formula that was over a century old, and were scientifically tested and quality controlled. The formula included gallic and tannic acids and high-quality dyes to ensure that they did not fade. They were “free from all injurious chemicals”. The permanent quality of the ink was important for legal reasons, particularly to banks, accountants, commerce, municipal councils and lawyers. The Caldwell’s Ink Company also exported crates of its ink bottles and ink stands overseas. Newspaper advertisements can be found for Caldwell’s Ink Company up until 1934 when the company said they were the Best in the business for 40 years.This pen and ink bottle set is of significance as the bottle has its original cork and retains remnants of ink, which was made from a recipe that at the time was over 100 years old, according to Caldwell.. The handmade, mould blown method of manufacture is representative of a 19th-century handcraft industry that is now been largely replaced by mass production. The bottle and its contents are of state significance for being produced by an early Melbourne industry and exported overseas. The pen and ink set is historically significant as it represents methods of handwritten communication that were still common up until the mid-20th century when fountain pens and modern ballpoint pens became popular and convenient and typewriters were becoming part of standard office equipment.Victorian boat ink bottle; small rectangular clear glass ink bottle with horizontal grooves made in the glass for resting and holding the pen. The set includes one pen and nib with the bottle and cork. The bottle is made by Caldwell's and contains its Flo-Eesi Blue Black Ink brand."Caldwell's Flo-Eesi Blue Black Ink."flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, ink, nib pen, writing ink, writing, copying, banks, lawyers, commerce, student, permanent ink, flo-eesi, blue black ink, stationery, record keeping, handwriting, writing equipment, writing accessory, office supply, cottage bottle, boat bottle, mouth-blown bottle, two-part mould, sheer-lip bottle, burst-lip, cork seal, f r caldwell, caldwell’s ink company, albert park, south melbourne, inkstands, stencil ink, copy ink, quicksticker, zac cough mixture

Set of three manufacturer's serial plates from GE 247-A motors used in tramcars. Manufactured in Australia under licence from General Electric of the USA. Known as "railway motors" in the USA. Used extensively in Australian tramway systems. The company changed its name a number of times. 1 - Associated General Electric Industries - Serial Number A1307 2 - Australian General Electric Limited - A2349 3 - Australian General Electric Pty Ltd - A10253 - has the GE logo.Yields information about the Australian Company who made tramway motors in SydneySet of three metal (brass or steel) manufacturers plates for GE 247-A motorsge 247 motors, tramways, trams, motors, general electric, australian made

Yields information about the type and presentation of books or information folders that were sent to the Electric Supply Company of Victoria about tramway products available on the market and the company the produced them.Folder with 24 pages of advertising pamphlets bound into it with two metal clip binders advertising products available from the Railway Track-Work Company and titled ""Railway Track Equipment - Track Grinding Machines, Welding and Bonding Machines - Bonds, Welding Steel, Grinding Wheels and Blocks". Has brochures or pamphlets for: . The Universal Rotary Track Grinder . Reciprocating Track Grinder . The Atlas Rail Grinder . The Ajax Electric Arc welders .Vertical Rail Lifter . The Jackson Electric Tie Tamper. Generally the lead page of each pamphlet has been imaged. Provides a description of each item, along with method of operation and parts listing generally. The folder has on a number of pages and the back cover, a sticker from Frank R. Perrot (Now Perrot and Adams Ltd), Machinery Merchant of 394 Kent St Sydney. Railway Track-work Company , Clementine, Thompson and Mercer Sts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA. For a full scan of the document see the hi res file.Numerous: Front cover sticky label "1620" in top left hand corner, "Mr Pringle" on front cover and stamp with words "Ballarat Tramway Preservation Society Catalogue No. 10" in ink on front cover. Inside front cover has a pencil note, behind the crease in the bottom right hand corner. On the first pamphlet "Ballarat Tramway Preservation Society Catalogue No. 10" in ink on top right hand corner. On parts page for the Reciprocating Track Grinder has the "Perrot and Adam Ltd" company stamp.trams, tramways, trackwork, equipment, rails

Photographer notations on slide: Steel Manuf’rs at McPherson’s Ltd 1933 Published: The Age, 30 August 1933 BUREAU OF STEEL MANUFACTURERS OF AUSTRALIA. (1933, August 30). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved January 25, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204372874 Published title: Bureau of Steel Manufacturers of Australia Published caption: A group of Inter-State Visitors, from the Bureau of Steel Manufacturers of Australia, on a tour of inspection at the Bolt Works of McPhersons Pty. Ltd., Burnley-Richmond, yesterday. Research by Project Volunteer, Louise McKenzie: The photo shows a line up of 36 men, in three rows, in front of a building. They are mostly dressed in dark 3-piece suits, or camel coats. But one gentleman stands out in his full length leather coat! Striped ties are popular, and they are all holding hats. One man, at the rear towards the right, looks a bit younger with his thick, black, brylcreamed hair.. These interstate gentlemen are described in the newspaper caption as representatives of the Bureau of Steel Manufacturers "...on a tour of inspection at the Bolt Works of McPhersons Pty Ltd, Burnley, Richmond." Interestingly, the Bureau of Steel Manufacturers of Australia (BOSMA) still exists, and is the industry body for major Australian steel producers like BlueScope, Liberty, and InfraBuild, representing their interests, engaging with government, and participating in standards setting for the domestic steel market, with a history dating back to 1923. While BOSMA focuses on primary manufacturing, the Australian Steel Institute (ASI) serves as the broader peak body for the entire steel supply chain, from mills to end-users, promoting and supporting the industry. But at the time of this photo, the Australian steel industry was just starting to make headway. As the AST website explains, "Steelmaking in Australia began just a decade prior to the start of the 1851 Gold Rush whilst Australia was still divided into colonies. Iron ore deposits were discovered in 1840 at Iron Knob, South Australia but a lack of equipment meant that the process of producing steel was impossible. Even attempts at smelting the iron ore in a blast furnace to create pig iron were unsuccessful due to the poor quality of iron ore and coke available to the budding industry. In the other colonies at the time, such as Victoria, Tasmania, and New South Wales, there were minor discoveries of iron ore but poor technical expertise and limited quantity meant that the quality of steel was poor. Compared to the far superior steel being imported from Britain at the time, the steel manufacturing industry simply couldn’t compete and was unviable. By the 1870s, almost all steel production in Australia had been abandoned. The situation began to change at the turn of the century. Rapid growth sparked higher demand for industrial machinery made from steel and infrastructure such as rail. It became apparent that there was a need for locally manufactured steel and soon there would be an answer. In 1901, the year Australia united into a federation, the nation’s first blast furnace went into production at Eskbank near Lithgow in New South Wales. The development was spearheaded by William Stafford and his son Esk, and Stafford is known as the father of Australian steel production. In 1915, production expanded with another steel mill in Newcastle that was opened by BHP. It sourced coke from local mines and iron ore from South Australia, creating a domestic loop for steel manufacturing. In the following years, more steelworks opened in Whyalla, South Australia and Port Kembla in NSW. Steel manufacturing in Australia was now underway." The company mentioned in the photo’s notation and in the newspaper caption, was McPhersons, "...an Australian hardware firm, for many years a leading merchant of woodworking and metal-working machinery... [and founded by] Thomas McPherson (c.1823–1888) who had a home "Dudley House" at 142 Dudley Street, West Melbourne. [The] ironmongery business [was located] in 1860 at 149 Spencer Street, Melbourne. Merchandise carried included bells, lathes, horseshoes and steam engines." (Wikipedia - McPherson's Pty Ltd) Anyone who has read Robyn Annear’s excellent award-winning 2014 book Bearbrass – the name for early Melbourne - will remember only too well her description of West Melbourne, from where the city of Melbourne as we know it, emerged. Her book resurrects the village that was early Melbourne – from the arrival of white settlers in 1835 until the first gold rushes shook the town – and brings it to life in vivid colour. The McPherson family, whose arrival in Bearbrass coincides with this period (Thomas arrived in 1852), became intimately involved in the growth and development of Melbourne. Thomas was Mayor of Melbourne (1870-1871); his eldest son Hunter became a successful Sydney businessman; second son Edward and third son William inherited the company, and ran it together until 1896 when Edward killed himself. William had a notable career in politics as treasurer of Victoria 1917-1923, in which year he was knighted. 1928-1929 he was Premier of Victoria, and a noted philanthropist. The family were significant property owners in the city of Melbourne: 149 Spencer Street, 582-588 Collins Street, 554-566 Collins Street, together with a property on Jeffcott Street, West Melbourne, and factories in Sunshine, Tottenham, Kensington and Richmond – all by the mid 1940s. By that time they also had controlling interests in several Australasian industries, including Ajax Bolt and Rivet Pty Ltd of NZ, F W Hercus Manufacturing Co Ltd, manufacturers in South Australia of lathes, guillotines and other heavy machinery, also of Patience and Nicholson (P & N), manufacturers in Maryborough, Victoria, of twist drills and thread-forming tools; also Wiltshire Files on Sunshine Road, Tottenham, manufacturing files and rasps. The Acme Machine Tool Company became a branch of McPhersons, and the company claimed to have supplied, from their own manufacture, all five million rivets (some 3,600 tonnes) used in the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge – described as a steel through arch bridge, which opened in 1932; the tallest of its kind in the world (Wikipedia – Sydney Harbour Bridge) McPherson’s was also innovative in other ways. It published a comprehensive catalogue, extensively detailed with prices, available free of charge to farmers and other businesses. In 1908 it had 148 pages. By 1937 it had grown to 372 pages. The University of Melbourne’s Archives entry on McPherson’s Limited notes: "After the outbreak of the Second World War, McPherson’s factories worked at full capacity and were crucial to Australia’s war efforts. On 5 December 1944 McPherson's converted to a public company named McPherson's Ltd, with William Edward as Chairman of Directors. By the start of the 1950s the company had a very different Board of Directors; in 1947 the Managing Director Oliver Addison died, and his replacement Marshall Eady died only six months later. Both had been Directors since McPherson’s became a proprietary company in 1913. Another Director, Philip Bevan, died in 1948 and this was followed by the death of William Edward in 1950. S.B Holder, F.G. Thorpe, H.L. Hastie, F. Grassick and D.G. Syme all joined the Board before 1950. The company continued to prosper for many years after the death of William Edward. His son, William David, was invited to join the McPherson’s Ltd Board in 1951. He married Angela Cumming in 1955 and soon after was sent to Brisbane as Director in Charge to oversee the building of a new warehouse. The opening of this warehouse in Queensland meant that the company now had major outlets in five states. As time went on, manufacturing in Australia began to decline and imports of everyday tools began arriving from Asia. These tools were being produced with much lower labour costs and could be sold at cheaper prices. William David retired in 1984 and eventually parts of the company were divested, such as the Richmond Bolt Works which closed in the early 1990s. Since the 1980s, McPherson's has diversified into housewares, printing, and health and beauty care products." This article also contains photos, one of which is a photograph of 'Bolt works picnic' 1920, showing workers in their shirt sleeves participating in a tug of war in a rural "picnic" setting. McPherson’s premises at 554-566 Collins Street more than lasted the test of time and is listed as historically significant. The magnificent art deco building from the 1930s in the heart of Melbourne was first commissioned in 1934 and completed in 1937. It is an imposing building fronting almost a quarter of the city block between Spencer Street and King Street, and was designed to be a warehouse, office and showroom for the hardware empire. International architects Stuart P Calder, and Reid and Pearson designed the four-storey building with a basement level and a stair tower at the centre that provides access to what was a tennis court on the roof. It is considered an example of the streamlined modern style in Melbourne and shows how the McPherson company, protected from taxes after World War I, was able to manufacture goods without being affected by the competition. The building has survived, and its current iteration is as the home to il Mercato Centrale – an Italian style artisan market concept. The University of Melbourne Archives hold a particularly good image of the building from its heyday, complete with Collins Street lamps on the pavement outside the store. And to return to our image, sited at "Bolt Works of McPhersons". Today this segment of McPhersons is still very well known - Ajax. A good summary of the company’s history, and the development of the name and business, can be found on the Mine Suppliers Online website: "AJAX Fasteners can trace its heritage back to 1900, when the Acme Bolt Company was established in West Melbourne, Victoria. In 1909, William McPherson used the company as the basis for establishing McPherson’s Bolt Works – adopting the brand ‘Ajax’ – and moved it to Richmond. Over the years, the company changed many times in response to industry needs to ensure that it remained the premier manufacturer of high quality fasteners in Australia. Many other names in the industry, such as Firth Cleveland, Spurway Cooke and Nettlefolds were merged or acquired into the company. McPhersons ended their 80-year ownership of Ajax in the early 90s when they sold their shares to National Consolidated, which was also a major shareholder at the time. In 1997, Ajax Fasteners moved to new purpose-built premises in Braeside, Victoria. Soon after, National Consolidated was taken over by the diversified manufacturer Austrim. The group soon acquired the iconic Nylex, and adopted the name Nylex Corporation. In January 2007, ACME Operations Pty Ltd acquired Ajax Fasteners and continues to operate the business today from the Braeside plant. The name ACME provides a nostalgic return by the new owners to the company’s heritage, when the Acme Bolt Company was founded in July 1900." REFERENCES: BUREAU OF STEEL MANUFACTURERS OF AUSTRALIA. (1933, August 30). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved January 25, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204372874 Wikipedia, McPherson’s Pty Ltd, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McPherson%27s_Pty_Ltd Wikipedia, Richmond, Victoria, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond,_Victoria Industry: From the mid-19th century, Richmond was a centre of manufacturing industry, including many large complexes such as the Bryant & May match factory, Jaques Limited engineering works, the Wertheim Piano factory and Pelaco. Wikipedia, Sydney Harbour Bridge, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Harbour_Bridge eMelbourne, Manufacturing, https://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM00896b.htm 'New life for Melbourne's McPherson Building', The Urban Developer, https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/mcphersons-building-melbourne-il-mercato-centrale-food-retail-destination Bureau Of Steel Manufacturers Of Australia Limited, http://www.bosma.org.au/ 'A Brief History of Steel Manufacturing in Australia', AST, https://astraders.com.au/a-brief-history-of-steel-manufacturing-in-australia/ 'Steel manufacturing in Australia: a brief history', Hard Bakka Steel Fabrication, https://www.hardbakka.com.au/component/virtuemart/steel-manufacturing-in-australia-a-brief-history?Itemid=494 McPherson's Limited, University of Melbourne Archives, https://archives.library.unimelb.edu.au/nodes/view/58364 Source of Description: 'Nuts and Bolts: A story of a family and a firm', Barbara Hamer (2006), McPherson’s Printing Group 'Photograph of 'Bolt works picnic' 1920', University of Melbourne Archives, https://archives.library.unimelb.edu.au/assets/display/1287217-max?u=dea2e4d2fd07ac822e624f1e7d39adb3 'Photograph of the exterior of the McPhersons Department store at 546 Collins Street, Melbourne.', University of Melbourne Archives, https://archives.library.unimelb.edu.au/assets/display/1287215-max?u=12430d30453a77059b7d10d49006a521 Robyn Annear, Bearbrass: imagining early Melbourne, Black Inc., 2014 (originally published 1995 by Mandarin) 'Company details', Ajax Fasteners, http://www.minesuppliersonline.com.au/australia/braeside/hardware/ajax-fasteners 'Former McPherson's Building', Victorian Heritage Database, https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/741Photographer notations on slide: "Steel manuf'rs at McPherson's Ltd 1933 B5".1930-1939, industrial workers, clothing and dress, 1930, iron and steel industry, businesses, bridges, industry, melbourne, gold rush, moderne style architecture

These stores were complied by the Museum Victoria as a part of their McKay ProjectAnnealing Workshop - Key Names Sam Boreham, Alex Saunders, Jack Nevill, J. Evans, S. Hunter, F. Currow, J. Bird, E. Lauders|Power House or Electrical Department - Key Names Raymond Bult, Roy Smellie, Norm Harvey, Brian Polly, Walter Harry Shildton, Vern Bult. Sunshine Electrical Company - Electricity supply to Sunshine|Shafting Shop (Cold Drawn & Cold Rolled, Bright Steel Mill) - Key Names Charlie Carter, Don Devison (Deveson), Jim Eason, Derek Craggs, Ern Nichols, Keirl Gardiner, Charlie Condon, Norm Innes, Dick Tyers. Rivits made on contract from MacPhersons for the Sydney Habour Bridge|Sydney Branch George Street Concord West|Hugh Victor McKay C.B.E. 70 Years Of Developmenth.v. mckay massey harris, sunshine harvester works

Saw Bench - New Record Saw Bench Timber framed with steel wheels, belt driven saw blade powered by a Rosbery internal combustion engine. The Rosebery Engine No C28437 R.P.M 800 H.P. 6 Manufactured By Westinghouse Rosebery Pty.Ltd. Sydney Rosebery Engine Works Ltd began as the engine and pump manufacturing division of Buzacott & Company, and in 1923 became an incorporated company. In 1935, Westinghouse gave Rosebery Engine Works the right to manufacture and sell nearly all Westinghouse products. The name of the company then changed to Westinghouse Rosebery Ltd From the late nineteenth century, petrol engines gradually supplanted steam engines for running a wide range of machines, and in turn petrol engines were largely supplanted by electric motors. The Champion was a successful small petrol engine made by the large Sydney company, Westinghouse Rosebery, based on the American-designed Fuller and Johnson engine. With hopper cooling and a fuel tank between the skids, and weighing only 240 pounds (109 kg), it was easy to mount on wheeled transport, making the Champion a self-contained mobile source of power. Engines of this type were used in rural areas for driving chaff cutters, small saw benches, pumps and orchard sprayers. These engines were also commonly used in both rural and urban areas for powering concrete mixers. Both Westinghouse Rosebery in NSW and Toowoomba Foundry in Queensland made these engines in large quantities, beginning in the 1920s when tariff protection made local manufacturing viable. The production of small petrol engines continued in Australia until the 1970s, when reduced tariff protection led to increased competition from cheaper imported engines. Historic - Industrial Timber working - belt driven saw blade powered by a Rosbery internal combustion engine. Timber framed with steel wheels, belt driven saw blade powered by a Rosbery internal combustion engine. The Rosebery Engine No c28437 R.P.M 800 H.P. 6 Manufactured By Westinghouse Rosebery Pty.ltd. Sydneysaw bench, puffing billy, new record, internal combustioin, westinghouse rosebery pty.ltd., rosebery pty, internal combustion engine.

Set of nine Engineering standards that were acquired by ESCo during the 1920's. 2261.1 - British Engineering Standards Assoc. No. 101 - 1921, titled "British Standard Specification for Tramway Tyres" dated July 1921. 12pp + printed cover and a folded tip in sheet printed as plate 1, date stamped ESCo 14 Sep. 1923 - 216H x 141W, with "Tait Book Co. 90 William St. Melbourne" stamp on front cover. Light blue grey cover, with off white paper inside. Saddle stapled, rounded corners. Printed by Waterlow & Sons Limited, 49 Parliament Street Westminster SW1. See image 2261i1 for front cover. Publisher - Crosby Lockwood and Son London UK. - see images btm2261i1 and i2 for scans of the document. 2261.2 - British Engineering Standards Assoc. No. 2 - 1922, titled "British Standard Specification and Sections for Tramway Rails and Fishplates" dated March 1922. 56pp including cover, actual pages 35 - 50 are fold out sheets for plates 1 to 8 with rail sections detailed, date stamped ESCo 8 Jun 1926 - 216H x 142W, with "Tait Book Co. 90 William St. Melbourne" stamp on front cover. Light blue grey cover, with off white paper inside. Saddle stapled, rounded corners. Printed by Waterlow & Sons Limited, 49 Parliament Street Westminster SW1. Publisher - Crosby Lockwood and Son London UK. See image btm2261i3.pdf and i4.pdf 2261.3 -Australian Commonwealth Engineering Standards Association, Standard No. E 1a - 1926T - "Tentative Australian Standard Specifications for Railway Permanent Way Material", dated May 1926. 32pp plus cover, date stamped by ESCo 14 June 1926 - 229H x 157W saddle stapled. Grey cover with off white paper inside. Printed by The Australasian Medical Publishing Company Limited. See image 2261i2 for front cover. Publisher - The Association Sydney, Australia. See images i6 and i7 for a pdf scan of this document. 2261.4 - British Engineering Standards Assoc. No. 2 - 1927, proof issue, titled "British Standard Specification and sections for Tramway Rails and Fishplates" dated 1927. 56pp including cover, actual pages 35 - 50 are fold out sheets for plates 1 to 8, date stamped ESCo 16 Jul 1927 - 216H x 142W. Off white paper covers and text. Saddle stapled, rounded corners. Has "Waterlow" name on front cover bottom right hand corner. 2261.5 - Australian Commonwealth Engineering Standards Association, Standard No. C. 30 -1926T - "Tentative Australian Standard Specification for Drum Controllers and Resistances for use therewith for electric motors (DC and AC slip ring, excluding controllers for traction purposes", dated December 1926. 28pp plus cover, date stamped by ESCo 29 Jun 1927 - 227H x 152W. Grey cover with off white paper inside, saddle stapled. Printed by The Australasian Medical Publishing Company Limited. Publisher - The Association Sydney, Australia. 2261.6 - Australian Commonwealth Engineering Standards Association, Standard No. C 33 - 1926T - "Tentative Australian Standard Specifications for Drum Starters for electric motors", dated December 1926. 28pp plus cover, date stamped by ESCo 29 June 1927 - 227H x 153W. Grey cover with off white paper inside, saddle stapled. Printed by The Australasian Medical Publishing Company Limited. Publisher - The Association Sydney, Australia. 2261.7 - Australian Commonwealth Engineering Standards Association, Standard No. E 13 to 15 1927 T - "Tentative Australian Standard Specifications for Railway Rolling Stock Material, locomotive tyres, carriage wagon and tender tyres, weldless steel angle rings", dated August 1927. 32pp plus cover, date stamped by ESCo 15 Sep 1927 - 228H x 153W. Grey cover with off white paper inside, saddle stapled. Printed by The Australasian Medical Publishing Company Limited. Publisher - The Association Sydney, Australia. 2261.8 - Australian Commonwealth Engineering Standards Association, Standard No. E 22 to 29 1928 - "Australian Standard Specifications for Railway Permanent Way Material", dated January 1928. 64pp plus cover, date stamped by ESCo, but not readable - 228H x 153W. Light purple cover with off white paper inside, saddle stapled. Printed by The Australasian Medical Publishing Company Limited. Publisher - The Association Sydney, Australia. 2261.9 - British Engineering Standards Assoc. No. 101 - 1929, titled "British Standard Specification for Tramway Tyres" dated February 1929. 16pp +cover, pages 13 and 14 are foldout plate 1, held together with sewn thread, - 218H x 142W, with "J. Ewins & Sons, Booksellers and Stationers Ballarat" label on front cover. Light blue grey cover, with off white paper inside. Printed by Waterlow & Sons Limited, 49 Parliament Street Westminster SW1. Publisher - Crosby Lockwood and Son London UK. Yields information about British Tramway Standards which were used on Australian and New Zealand Tramways.Set of nine printed books, centre stapled. trams, tramways, standards, tramway equipment, tyres, permanent way, track materials, electric motors, esco

Thirteen sheet book, each sheet printed single side, secured with two metal clips and washers in a pink cover card cover, titled "Westinghouse brake repairs parts". Published May 1927, by Westinghouse Brake Co. of Australasia. Binders - "The Grip Binder" - nickel plated steel using sheets printed by The Westinghouse Brake & Saxby Signal Co. Ltd. Cover larger than the sheets. Details parts list for: DH25 - Motor Driven Air Compressor for 1500V DC ER4C - Control Governor ES16 - Air compressor Governor Emergency Application Valve Used for electro-pneumatic brake equipment - Sydney Suburban electrification. Scanned to the COTMA Website 4-10-2015."Colin Rutledge" stamped on top of page 1.trams, tramways, westinghouse, compressors, governors, equipment

2285.1 - 12 page technical pamphlet (2 sheets of paper - pages 5 -10 formed as a concertina folded centre sheet) titled "Interlocked electo-pneumatic brake", published by Westinghouse Brake Company of Australasia Limited, December 1926. Manual D.P. 9. Stapled with two steel staples along fold. Describes in detail the electro-pneumatic brake system as used on Sydney Suburban trains, complete with diagrams, brake valve operation, magnet valve and isolating cock switch. 2285.2 - Six page technical pamphlet, titled "The Westinghouse Brake with electro-pneumatic control", published by Westinghouse Brake and Saxby Signal Co. 1915. Pages 3 and 4 have been tipped in the cover sheet. Describes standard brake equipment for use with electric trains and electro pneumatic control over the brakes. Gives details of house the brake valve (No. 18 EP) operates. Scanned to the COTMA Website 4-10-2015."Colin Rutledge" stamped on top of page 1.trams, tramways, westinghouse, electric trains, electro - pneumatic brakes, sydney suburban trains

Part of the 'Mann' collection in the Wodonga Historical Society, used for accounting in the J. Mann & Sons General Store in High Street, Wodonga in 1934-35. J. Mann and Sons was first established as a farm produce store in 1921. The range of products was extended in the 1930s and included groceries and hardware, as well as the first petrol bowser in Wodonga outside the store. After WWII, the premises were extended and the range of products continued to increase. In the 1960s the Mann Family opened a new supermarket in Wodonga, in addition to the hardware business, providing steel, plumbing and industrial supplies, and they employed over 100 people at one stage. With changes in the retail industry, the Mann Family sold the main hardware business to Bunnings and the steel and rural produce business to the Kelly brothers in 2006.Local significance due to its use in the J. Mann & Sons General Store in High St, Wodonga and association with the prominent Mann family. National significance as kalamazoos were manufactured by an Australian company and used in the 1930s for accounting purposes by local businesses.Visible card book or kalamazoo used by the accounts department of J. Mann & Sons General Store, High Street, Wodonga, in 1934-35 for customers with surnames from K to P.Details for each customer provided on individual cards. "KALAMAZOO - ACME / Visible Card Equipment / THE "RAPID SIGHT" METHOD / Kalamazoo (AUST.) LTD. / SYDNEY - MELBOURNE - BRISBANE - ADELAIDE"mann, accounting, financial record, high street wodonga, wodonga, commerce, business, kalamazoo, general store, j. mann & sons