There is no known history connected to this item. A spirit lamp was an essential household item in the 19th century and the first three decades of the 20th century until electric lighting became a common feature of most homes. This lamp has no particular significance and is suitable for display as an example of family life in the past.This is a spirit lamp with a milk glass base in two sections (two pedestals in rings). The bowl is made of green glass emulating the shape of the base. There is a brass section connecting the bowl to the wick holder with the wick exposed. There is a small knob or handle external to the bowl for controlling the wick’s use. The clear glass lamp mantle is slim-line bulbous shaped. history of warrnambool, social history, spirit lamp

Used by the Higginson Family farmers of the Kiewa ValleyMetal with glass globe. Kerosene reservoir with screw lid. Crank globe lifter, wick knob.On the base: No. 420 Frowo, Made in Germany with a medallion of dog and a badge. Wick winder knob has a pattern. Kerosene screw lid has a pattern. Glass globe: Dietz, Fitzall, New York, USA.lantern, household item, light, eric higginson, kiewa valley farmers

Candle stick manufacturing moulds were extensively used throughout the Kiewa Valley and its regions to provide rural homes and businesses with illumination during times of limited light e.g. night time. These candles were used before the Kiewa Valley was placed of the electrical grid. The candles were made from parrafin wax. Before the 1920"s electricity was in limited supply due to the inability of the private electricity suppliers to service isolated rural regions. It was not until the Victorian State Government passed legislation (1920) to improve electricity supplies by forming the State Electricity Commission of Victoria (S.E.C.V.) Isolated rural communities could not meet the higher costs to have electricity supplies connected and therefore it was not until the 1950's that adequate domestic electrical power could be supplied.The isolation that the Kiewa Valley provided was of a greater hindrance to any utility (power,roads & telephone) where the cost per instillation was beyond the rural population's ability to pay either directly or indirectly. One of the benefits that the "closed" community of Mount Beauty had, when it was administered by the SECV was that some utility costs were a lot lower than that of the other settlements in the Kiewa Valley. This disparity led to a conference in 1928 of the rural and regional councils to demand from the Government an equality of electricity tariffs. This equality did not take place until 1965. The demand and usage of cheaper and affordable lighting that wax candles provided was for some rural families a way of life until the mid 1900's.This candle making mould is made from mild rolled sheet steel(tin). The top basin is rectangular in shape with beveled edges(facing in on all sides. There are six holes in the top basin for vertical hollow tubes to feed off. The six tapered cyclindrical tubes running from the top basin to the bottom raised platform base. All connections are welded together. The bottom of each cylinder has an opening for the candle wick. The wick is positioned in place before the molten wax is poured into the cylinders. A positioning ring has been welded to one bottom ring for stability.parrafin wax, candles, domestic household ighting

The Richardson family was one of the very early settler families to establish themselves in the Orbost district. Samuel Richardson was a sawmiller and farmer in Orbost. He built The Curlip, a wooden paddle-steamer of 9 tons gross and dimensions of 43 feet long, 10 feet wide and a depth of 3 feet, on the slipway at their Tabarra sawmill in 1890. The Ballarat Horticultural Society was established in 1859 by a group of thirteen men with the aim of establishing an association for all lovers of horticulture. There were many such societies throughout the colonies making a contribution to their communities. In May 1852 Richard Wicking and his younger brother Frederick followed their father’s footsteps, leaving England to pursue a new life in the distant colony of Port Phillip. Sailing on the maiden voyage of the 'Roxburgh Castle' a new purpose built ship for the long voyages from London to Australia. Arriving on August 28th 1852, having paid their own fares they were "Unassisted Passengers". The brothers spent two years in Melbourne. He spent some tome in Ballarat and became a prominent community member involved in many areas.The Richardson family was one of the very early settler families to establish themselves in the Orbost district. Samuel Richardson was builder of the Paddle Steamer Curlip. This is a useful research tool. An ornately designed card with an oval frame of flowers and cherubs. It is a Ballarat Agricultural Society membership ticket made out to Mr S. Richardson (hand written) and endorsed by R. Wicking , the secretary.on back - hand-written - "J E Richardson"ballarat-horticultural-society richardson-samuel

These meetings were held at the Kooyong office and the minutes include Present, Chair, Apologies, Minutes, Matter arising from minutes, Correspondence, Life governors, Election of members, Nominations, Reports from Regional Blind Members groups, White Cane Day October 15th promoted. Some highlights include: 3/12/1982 the film, 'A world that is dark', which was made by AFB for television release is now available on video. 31/8/1984 the Blind members' brochure includes sections titled 'Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow' which outlines the history, present position and the aims for the future of the AFB, 'Information about Blind Members' and Blind Members' Council', List of AFB homes and centres' and 'An invitation from Bryan Sitlington to be a Blind Member accompanied by an application form. It will be available to all visually impaired people, their family and friends, AFB staff and suitable for distribution at doctor's surgeries. 14/12/1984 it was reported 29 new Blind members were elected at the September meeting and the 1,000th member was among them. 8/6/1984 Mr John Blanch reported that the General Committee had approved, although rather reluctantly, Mr John Wilson's resignation and had appoint Mr John Cook as his successor. 13/9/1985 Mr John Blanch reported that following Mr Pat Lightfoot's resignation he had contacted Mr John Wicking to offer him the position of sighted representative on Blind Members' Council. John Wicking had been approached for role on the BMC however he was unable to attend Fridays. It was moved to move the meetings to the last Monday of the Month, after approaching John Wicking again. Council members agreed that if John Wicking took the position it would be good as would have been held by Pat Lightfoot and John Wicking, both past Presidents of AFB. Mrs Margaret Canavan and Mr Alan Cooper had been selected to attend a garden party at Government House with Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburg on Thursday March 6. Minute book for Blind Members Councilassociation for the blind, blind members council

Purchased by Christian Ziebell on one of his two visits back to Germany.This object is of primary significance. Christian Ziebell brought it back from Germany on his return visit to Germany in 1856. It always hung where it is now and it is retractable to different heights. It hung on the lowest chain length over the table and was only raised when the family had festive events such as dances when Dorothea would accompany them on the piano. Great care had to be exercised when the lamp was raised because if it went up too high, and therefore became too close to the wooden ceiling, it could cause a fire. Francis Adams – son of Sylvia Adams (Ziebell) restored the lamp in the 1990’s. This Miller-style hanging oil lamp is a rare and culturally layered object that connects American industrial manufacture with German domestic life and early migrant history in Victoria. Produced by Bradley & Hubbard (B&H) in the United States in the 1890s, the lamp displays characteristic features of the firm’s Rayo line, including a brass body, opaque white glass shade, quality burner mechanism, and a chain-operated raising and lowering system. The inscriptions “B&H Valpirfor” and patent dates 1894-1895 confirm its authenticity as an American-made B&H Rayo lamp. This lamp was likely purchased in Mecklenburg, Germany, reflecting the export of modern lighting technologies into rural German households in the late 19th century. The lamp’s significance is further enhanced by its believed association with the Ziebell family. It is understood that a family member brought the lamp to Melbourne on a subsequent return journey to Germany after the family had established themselves at Westgarthtown. As a result, the lamp embodies themes of migration, technological adaptation, and the lived domestic environment of the Ziebell family across two continents. Its high level of intactness, combined provenance and dual- history contribute to its importance as a culturally rich artefact within the Ziebell’s Farmhouse collection. Original Miller hanging lamp, made of brass and opaque white glass. Lamp has chain-operated raising and lowering mechanism. Decorative brass trimming around widest edge of glass lampshade. Contains tubular wick.B & H Valpirfor written on lowering mechanism on top of the lamp. Rayo 24.98, PAT'D. NOV. 20.94, FEB 28.95, written on top of oil compartment.lighting, kerosene & oil, oil lamp, hanging lamp, original.