Historical information
These type of tobacco pouches were used mostly by the outdoor/outback type of male. They were a product of an earlier period in time when males in the outback were considered "red back" adventurers. This pouch is more of a statement than a useful tobacco pouch. It comes from a younger time in bush folk law when the outback appearances was in fashion and before the "new age" male emerged(circa early 1900s).
Significance
This tobacco pouch was admired in the outback scene and spoke of adventure and "the wild". It was a time when travel in the outback was, in the top end of Australia especially, considered unsafe and "frontier" type adventure filled environment. It was a time when colloquially speaking 'men were men', in other words tough and resourceful, and could tackle anything. This attitude was more so in isolated country areas such as in the Kiewa Valley before "the sensitive new age" male was evolved. The pouch presents the early presentation of the outback male as rugged, independent and resourceful. The Kiewa Valley and the tobacco fields, especially during the construction stages of the Hydro Electricity Scheme, was the right environment for such a display.
Physical description
This tobacco pouch is the bottom or main containment pouch for rubbed tobacco leaf to be smoked either as "roll you own" cigarettes or in a pipe. The pouch is of crocodile skin and is light brown on one side and darker brown on the other. The pocket is fashioned with the top section curved to allow fingers to remove the top cover, see KVHS 0059(2). The pocket has fine , but strong stitching holding the bottom and sides together. It is made of relatively medium thick hide and the crocodile markings are both outside and inside. See KVHS 00059(01) for main pouch
Inscriptions & markings
Crocodile markings (not hand made)
