This key is an good example of keys used in 19th century Victorian Goldfield gaols.

This key is significant in that many of the original goldfield gaols are now closed to general public and we have objects to remind us of their past.

Old Ararat gaol key Metal with dents and scratches from use

-

gaol, prison, incarceration

The key was used in gaols in the Victorian goldfields in the 19th century.

The key is a good example of keys used in gaols in the Victorian goldfields in the 19th century.

Metal Goal key with engravings. Scratches and rust from wear and tear

"F134" "J. Hubball" "Melbourne"

goal, incarceration, prison

The key and tag are a good example of the keys used by goldfield gaols in the 19th century.

Metal Gaol Key with Wooden Tag. Tied with a leather tie that has two knots.

"F2" is engraved on the wooden tag.

gaol, keys, incarceration, prison

These watch house keys were used to secure the cell doors in an the Old Ararat Gaol. They are dated from the 19th century.

These keys are a good example of keys used by Victorian prisons in the 19th century.

Large metal ring holding seven large keys to Gaol cell doors.

J. Hubball Melbourne

locksmith, watchhouse, incarceration, keys, gaol, prison

This religious tract gives context in what was contained in Victorian mental asylum libraries at the turn of the 20th century.

Reprint. Hardback. Blue cloth-covered boards. Gilt lettering on spine. Spine ends worn. Book title is worn away on spine. White flowers and green leaves stencilled on front paste down. 190 pages.

Foxing and some finger-marks to page edges. D3 written in ink on the cover page. Some tears and fraying from use.

religious text, religion

Office Stationery : Officer Ward Book 1908 The book contains approximately 200 pages. Only the front page and the first page contain writing. The rest of the pages contain faint lines in blue and red typical of early 20th century stationery. No information is written on these pages. While the exterior cover shows signs of tears, stains, dirt, fading, fraying and general wear and tear - it appears the book has had very little use.

Handwritten - black ink Officers Ward Book 981 PRobin 81 = CL +Psalm Clancy Enplen Shropshire

ward book, stationery

Originally written in 1885 by Alice Bunker Stockham, an obstetrician and gynaecologist who practiced in the late nineteenth century. “Tokology” refers to the study of childbirth, midwifery, and obstetrics. Stockham wrote Tokology for women to give them knowledge about issues related to childbirth and maintaining their own health. Empowering women by informing them about their own bodies, the book gives women details that they may not have talked to their doctors about considering the lack of female doctors at the time of publication. Wide distribution allowed for women of a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds to have access to information that was often only accessible to those who had access to physicians and the knowledge they possessed. Tokology made progress in helping demonstrate the confidence that comes from being aware of how to maintain one’s own health instead of being subject to the fear that comes from the lack of knowledge. Tokology is more than just a book for every woman; it is an example of the power of education and distributing knowledge to a population to promote the health of a community. In some cultures, though, this book was also seen as taboo – hence the reason the illustrated plates were “hidden” within the inner back cover as is seen with this book.

The book is significant is representing the thoughts and concepts surrounding female reproductive and child health in the late 19th century.

Leather bound hardcover. Dark brown cover with black embossed print and borders. 386 pages. Pages show wear and ttear through use. Some pages are torn but the majority are good. Foxing on pages. Base of spine is torn away. Illustration plates in excellent condition. Publisher: Pater & Co. Melbourne 1898

Inside front cover - T1 (scribbled out) T8 in blue ballpoint ink

gynecology, obstetrics, mentalhealth, childbirth, reproductivehealth, womenshealth

fiction

A classic detective story. Harold Avery was born in 1869. His life reads like one of his own adventure stories. He was shipwrecked off the coast of Malaysia at the age of ten on his way to Australia with his parents who were drowned. Avery was brought up by the natives who, after three years put him on a Dutch boat bound back to England. He was brought up by an aunt who sent him to Eton and then settled with him in Edinburgh. Avery took a job in the city’s Water Department and in 1894 wrote his first book The Orderly Officer. In the next 45 years he wrote over fifty more books, mainly school stories and adventure stories. In 1941 he left Scotland to travel round the world and the last that was heard from him was a postcard sent to his aunt from Rio de Janeiro in 1943. It is chosen from his large output as being a typical school story but, it can be argued, it is the precursor of work by Enid Blyton and J K Rowling, dealing with school life, five children who go on an adventure and a mystical wizard who ends the story not with a wave of a wand but with kindness and consideration.

#detectivestory, fiction, adventurebook, boysownadventure

Hardback with brown fabric which is torn and stained. Embossed border and small flower design in black ink. Title embossed in gold. Fraying around the edges and spine. 168 pages.

fiction

A tale of disgrace and triumph. Originally written in the 1700's The Basket of Flowers has been translated from German. Mary and her father live in a cottage on The Count of Eichbourg's estate. Mary's father is a gardener and maintains a beautiful garden for the Count. When Mary is quite young her mother passes away and her father teaches her about her Father in heaven every day. Mary is a very honest and upright woman who loves and serves God and her father well. One day while Mary is out gathering Lily of the Valley's to brighten up their home the Counts daughter and wife come by. Mary gives them the flowers which begins a friendship between Mary and the young Countess Amelia. When Mary gifts Amelia with a basket of flowers for her birthday Amelia gives Mary a dress in return. Mary's father is concerned that she will become discontent with the world and that the dress will bring Mary trouble. He is soon proved correct. When Mary returns home with the dress a ring is found to be missing from the Countesses bedroom. Mary is the only one that was in the rooms so it is assumed that she is the thief. She is carried off to jail in disgrace. With the testimony of a maid condemning her Mary and her father are soon banished from the village. All the while Mary has told the truth, even when threatened with death, that she did not steal the ring. Throughout her time in jail and after being banished Mary and her father never falter in their faith in God. Mary's father continues to teach her life lessons through Scripture readings. These lessons help to form Mary as a young girl and into womanhood, through trials, tribulations and triumphs, her faith never waivers.

religion, moral tale, social order

This edition has blue cloth binding with black and gold lettering and decoration with the busy Strand street scene on the front board. The magazine's cover, an illustration looking eastwards down London's Strand towards St Mary-le-Strand, with the title suspended on telegraph wires, was the work of Victorian artist and designer George Charles Haité. The initial cover featured a corner plaque showing the name of Burleigh Street, home to the magazine's original offices. The lettering on the plaque in Haité's design was later changed when Newnes moved to the adjacent address of Southampton Street. Six issues bound in one volume. Complete with half-title and title page with an index of contents. Yellow endpapers, slight foxing, and some tears on pages. Text and illustrating are clean and readable. Inside, the inner hinges are firm with no splits at the endpapers making for a sound and solid binding. All complete and in good order. No jacket.

fiction

The Strand Magazine was a monthly British magazine founded by George Newnes, composed of short fiction and general interest articles. It was published in the United Kingdom from January 1891 to March 1950, running to 711 issues, though the first issue was on sale well before Christmas 1890. The Magazine contains articles and fiction by various authors including; chapters VI to XXI of The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells illustrated by Claude A. Shepperson; My Life on Devil's Island by Captain Alfred Dreyfus; Strange Stories from Life: three stories by Conan Doyle, An interview with Conan Doyle, and A Visit to Tennyson by Lewis Carroll and others. With illustrations throughout, many by notable illustrators of the time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Strand_Magazine

#fiction, magazine

The text is a dark tan leather back hardcover book. The book was written by E. MacDowel Cosgrave, MD, and published by the St. John Ambulance Association (London) in 1916. It contains a clean firm interior. The print is clear and readable. Contains a few illustrations - a little dulled at the top closed-edge of pages. Front and back covers have faint shelf wear marks. Good in its appearance considering its age. Some tearing away of pages from the spine but mostly tightly bound. 177 pages.

non-fiction

A handbook for all who have to do with sickness. It is written in a hope that it may be of assistance to all who have to nurse the sick. The book is arranged according to the Syllabus of the Second (or Nursing) Course of Lectures and to be used as a book of reference.

#nursing, homenursing, medical, #stjohnsambulance

The book has a dark green and brown leather hardback cover. There are also water stains and what appears to be mould growth. The cover has an Imprinted border around the edges of the title. The spine is torn at the top and bottom. A page is torn out between front cover and introduction page. The pages have stains from use and some foxing.

On May 20 1812, a group of Church of England evangelical clergy & laity met in The Freemasons' Tavern in Great Queen Street, London, to form "The Prayer Book and Homily Society." The founders were also members of the Church Missionary Society (founded 1799) and the British and Foreign Bible Society (founded 1804). The purpose of this Society was to print and distribute the Book of Common Prayer (1662) in English and in other languages, as needed by missionaries; and also to publish "The Book of Homilies" which is referred to in "The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion" as a source of the foundational doctrine of the Church of England by law established. The Society published the Prayer Book in at least 12 languages and seems to have been at the peak of its activity in 1828-1833. The Homilies were only published in English and in editions without the critical apparatus. http://pbs1928.blogspot.com/2003/01/prayer-book-homily-society.html

religion, religious text, sermons, homilies

In green cloth with a pasted-on colour lithograph illustration. Black and red titles with a black and white frontispiece. 304 pages. Book is in fair the boards show some use and shelf-wear. The front and back covers are worn with some staining and foxing. Corners are worn and holes in spine. Binding tight and text unmarked. Internally there is some light soiling. No Jacket.

fiction

"The story of the boy chums hunting the blue herons and the pink and white egrets for their plumes in the forests of Florida is full of danger and excitement. In this story is fully told how the chums encountered the Indians; their battles with the escaped convicts; their fight with the wild boars and alligators; and many exciting encounters and escapes. This is the third story of the boy chums' adventures." -- 1910. A.L. Burt. https://c.web.umkc.edu/crossonm/boychums.htm

adventures, boys

Historical

This publication is a good example of how staff in Victoria's mental institutions kept up to date with medical and psychiatric information from around the world.

The publication contains a series of Papers produced as a result of a Conference regarding Reserpine in the Treatment of Neuropsychiatric, Neurological, and Related Clinical Problems. The Conference was conducted by the Section of Biology of the New York Academy of Sciences on February 3 and 4 1955. The cover is tan coloured. The material is similar to a manila folder. Two metal staples. The cover and pages are slightly worn from use. The print is crisp and easily readable. 280 pages.

The cover has a plastic sticker reading 377. The inner front cover and front page has an ink stamp reading "Mental Hygiene Authority Central Library, Royal Park 28 Oct 1955". The number 974 is handwritten in ink inside the front cover. The number R1 is handwritten in ink on the front page.

medical, psychiatry, medication

Religious text used in Victoria's mental institutions

A good example of the texts relating to Protestant Missions in the late 1800s

18.5 cm x 25 cm. 160 pages. Hardcover [publisher’s original navy blue pebbled-finished cloth]. Gilt-stamped device with title and black tooled borders on front board. Blind border tooling to rear board. Fair condition with some significant signs of external wear. Faded and torn cloth at spine. Binding relatively firm and solid. Sharp cornered interior clean and with some aging.

Tricoloured Bookplate carrying “Sin, Subsitution, Salvation” and similiarly themed quotes.

bible, biblical commentary, protestantism, religious literature

Keys played an important role at Ararat Mental Institution. They locked away patients, medications, offices, wards, workshops and utility areas. Patients and staff would have been all too familiar with the sounds of doors being locked and unlocked.

The board is significant because it contains keys that can only be used at Aradale Mental Hospital.

Timber board containing an assortment of over one hundred keys mounted keys belonging to Ararat Mental Hospital [Aradale]. Keys secured to board with small eyelet screws and glue. Keys and board are lacquered. Two brass screws at the top secure board to the wall.

No serial numbers, engravings or manufacturers details.

mental health, keys, locks, mental institutions, psychiatric history

In a medical context, restraint is defined as forcible confinement or control of a subject, as of a confused, disoriented, psychotic, or irrational person. It is also an intentional restriction of a person’s voluntary movement or behaviour. Within the mental health sector restraint belts were used frequently particularly before the invention of psychotropic drugs.

The leather restraint belt is significant as an intact example of restraint devices used in the earlier decades of Victorian mental health institutions.

The black and tan leather belt consists of two parts. The first wraps around the waist and is secured with a brass buckle and perforated holes. The second consists of two small belts attached to the main belt. These also have brass buckles and perforated holes and secured at the wrist.

No serial numbers, manufacturer details or personal markings.

restraint belt, medical history, psychiatric history, mental health

Microscope were essential medical tools in diagnosing blood and tissue samples of patients. Microscopes were used at Ararat Mental Hospital from the time of its opening.

The microscope is significant as an example of medical equipment used at the mental institution in the 1800's.

This microscope sits in an flat tripod, much like the American style foot. It has an inclination joint. The mirror is on a double jointed arm, allowing oblique illumination and above stage illumination of opaque objects. The substage ring fitting can be removed to allow for extremely oblique lighting. Removing the ring is easy as it is fixed by a simple bayonet arrangement. Many microscopes had a bullseye condenser which attached to the stage, but this is lacking in this example, perhaps because the mirror can articulate above the stage. Coarse focus is by straight rack and pinion, fine by micrometer screw acting on the stem. There is an extendable drawtube which extends to allow optimal use of the objectives and a single objective and ocular are present. The microscope is missing pieces such as glass slides and two side braces.

R & J Beck London Serial Number: 7925

microscope, pathology, medical equipment, biospsy

Keys played an important role at Ararat Mental Institution. They locked away patients, medications, offices, wards, workshops and utility areas. Patients and staff would have been all too familiar with the sounds of doors being locked and unlocked.

The board is significant because it contains keys that can only be used at Aradale Mental Hospital.

Timber board containing an assortment of over one hundred keys mounted keys belonging to Ararat Mental Hospital [Aradale]. Keys secured to board with small eyelet screws. Keys and board are lacquered. Comes with two timber stands for display purposes

No serial numbers, engravings or manufacturers details.

keys, mental institutions, locks

With the advent of electricity, so to came the invention of the Electrocardiograph Machine. This piece of medical equipment gave nursing staff and doctors a more precise indication of a patients heart beat and was used extensively across Victoria's medical institutions.

The equipment is significant because it is a fully intact example of diagnostic equipment used in a mental health hospital in Victoria Australia.

Cardiotrace Electrocardiograph Machine in blue plastic case with black handle. Contains: Electric cord Cords to link electrodes Graph paper to measure heart beats Instruments on panel marked 'stylus heat', 'off', 'run', 'position', 'test', 'record', '1', '2', '3', 'aVR', 'aVL', 'aVP', 'V', '1/2V', 'lmV', marker.

Manufacturer: Medical Instrument Co. Pty. Ltd. Distributor: Watson Victor Limited Serial No: 3362 Cardiotrace Heat Mark III Electrocardiograph/Voltage 220-240 A/C /Frequency 50 cycles per second/Watts 45 serial 3362/Caution: Refer to Manual for full detail.

electrocardiograph machine, medical instrument, medicine, health, mental health, ararat mental hospital, j ward

Everyday kitchen items added a feeling of "home" in many of Victoria's institutions.

The vintage butter dish is significant in its representatives of a kitchen object frequently used in Victorian institutions. Objects such as these tell the stories of peoples everyday lives.

Inscribed with “The Jolly Boatman” River scene – boat, bridge and cottage Two pieces – dish and lid Yellow porcelain – crazed

Manufacturer: Lancaster & Sandland

kitchen item, dish

The medical instrument is used for the treatment of Trichomonas Vaginitis. Insufflation has been a medical practice since the early nineteenth century, the earliest mention of it appearing in 1823. There are descriptions of its therapeutic and diagnostic purposes in connection with almost every cavity of the body. Despite being used widely across many Victorian health institutions, insufflation has not been regarded as a dangerous procedure.

The object is significant because it is representative of medical treatments used to cure sexually transmitted diseases in Aradale Mental Hospital in the 1940's.

Black leatherette covered wooden box with a metal latch on the front and 2 hinges at the rear. "Wyeth Vaginal insufflator for silver picrate" printed on inside of lid. Blue, painted wood, custom made interior. Contains: Four canisters of Silver Pictrate [Sealed] One canister of Silver Pictrate [attached to Insufflator] One canister of Silver Pictrate [Open but covered with a plastic top] One Vaginal Insufflator (Holmspray) Each bottle has a white paper label with blue banners at the top and bottom and blue text which reads in part reads "5 GMS Wyeth's compound silver picrate 1% powder" A receipt of sale dated 18 February 1944 is included in the box.

Manufactured by John Wyeth & Bros Inc, Sydney, Australia

medical history, silver pictrate, trichomonas vaginitis, ararat mental hospital

This small, portable 1930’s Sanax First Aid in Accidents Kit has been strongly constructed, the case reinforced with metal to take knocks and bumps as it was transported to the site of an emergency. Having these supplies organised into a kit made them easily accessible and reduces time to take them to the accident site. The text of the printed brand “Sanax - First Aid” embossed on the lid. In Aradale Mental Hospital and J Ward, people are well aware of the institutions remoteness and of the importance of quick treatment when accidents occur. However, prior to the first commercial First Aid Kit being produced in 1888 by Johnson & Johnson, there was limited knowledge about treating injuries and about medical supplies to have ready for emergencies. A quote from Johnson’s & Johnson’s 1888 price list states, “It is a fact ... that many lives are lost and much suffering entailed in such accidents on account of the lack of the simple but necessary articles required to afford prompt assistance to the wounded.” [cited Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village]

The kit is significance because it illustrates the first aid paraphernalia used in the care of staff and patients at Aradale Mental Hospital and J Ward.

Black tin container. Inside lid shows printed instructions regarding treating various ailments. Contains: Absorbent gauze Canister of castor oil Petroleum jelly First Aid dressing Absorbent dressing Salvolatile ointment Gauze bandage x 3 Ache tablets x 25 3 loose metal safety pins The contents are not dissimilar to items used in first aid kits today.

Due to its portable nature, the kit contains many dents and scratches.

first aid, medical supplies, sanax

Both patients and staff were in frequent possession of passports and bank books particularly during the 20th century. These objects give an insight into people lives.

The objects belonging to Miss Isabella Beatrice White are significant as they show everyday objects used by both patients and staff of Aradale Mental Hospital.

British Passport - bound in thick blue material with the British Coat of Arms embossed in gold. The Passport contains 32 pages. The State Savings Bank of Victoria Book - The bank book is grey with black printed type.

The Passport has both printed and hand written information and personal details. The bank book contains account details and hand written deposits and withdrawals made.

bank book, passport

The traditional scale consists of two plates or bowls suspended at equal distances from a fulcrum. One plate holds an object of unknown mass (or weight), while known masses are added to the other plate until static equilibrium is achieved and the plates level off, which happens when the masses on the two plates are equal. Medication given to patients at both Aradale Mental Hospital and J Ward had their does measured using these weights and scales - and some evidence of residue remains.

The scales are in excellent condition and a good example of medical equipment used in Aradale Mental Hospital and J Ward.

Measuring scales for medications Timber construction with glass lid Small crack along the left hand side of scales Two drawers contain four weights in ounces Case painted in black lacquer Metal hinges and three brass knobs (one missing from right lower drawer) Small piece of folded butcher paper in left hand drawer

No manufacturer markings or serial numbers

psychiatric history, mental health, aradale mental hospital, j ward

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was invented in Italy in the late 1930s. ECT is a medical treatment most commonly used in patients with severe major depression or bipolar disorder that has not responded to other treatments. Psychiatrists had already discovered that inducing seizures could relieve symptoms of mental illness. Before ECT, this was done with the use of chemicals, usually one called Metrazol. More can be read here: http://theconversation.com/electroconvulsive-therapy-a-history-of-controversy-but-also-of-help-70938 This machine was used both at Aradale Mental Hospital and J Ward.

The object is significant because it is a well preserved instrument that illustrates the medical apparatus used at both Ararat Mental Hospital and J Ward for the treatment of mental illness.

A metal instrument. The front contains three knobs, two switches, and power button. Two fully intact electrical cords - One leads to the paddles used on the patient: One used to attach to the electric source [power point]. Paddles are made of hard plastic and stainless steel metal. The back has a compartment where the paddles can be stored. The top has a carry handle.

Manufacturer: Siemens Power supply: 220V 85AC, 50Hz

psychiatric health, mental health, depression, ararat mental hospital, ect

A speculum is a duck-bill-shaped device that doctors use to see inside a hollow part of your body and diagnose or treat disease. One common use of the speculum is for vaginal exams. Gynaecologists use it to open the walls of the vagina and examine the vagina and cervix.

Speculum, made of stainless steel.

Nil

medical, medical instrument

Radio Set, green & white in colour, case made of plastic. Black & gold knobs.

'Electrice' brand. 'Model E 516M' on rear.

radio entertainment activities

A red house-brick carved into the shape of a bird by a J Ward patient.

Previously broken and repaired at neckline

carving brick bird

Photograph of May Day celebrations in the Alexandra Gardens in Ararat, with J Ward buildings in background. After investigation, it was concluded that the photograph was taken on the 1st of May 1901 (the year of Federation).

photograph may, day ararat 1901 federation