Historical information

The original barrel was tapered outwards from top to base. It had three iron bands. Only the top and base remain.

Barrels with outward tapering bases are balanced and stable. Barrels contain a wide range of contents, both liquid and dry, from wines and spirits to cement. Ships have used barrels as shipping containers for cargo. Specially made rope slings were used to move the barrels to and from the ships by rope blocks and cranes.

A huge quantity of cement was brought to Warrnambool in barrels to construct the Breakwater, which was completed in 1890.

Significance

This parts of a wooden barrel represent the containers used for cargo imported from England into Australia in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
As an example, the vessel Edinburgh Castle was wrecked in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, in 1888. The cargo onboard was a consignment of casks, or barrels of cement for the construction of Warrnambool’s new Breakwater, which was completed in 1890.

Physical description

Barrel; remnants of a tapered wooden barrel that once had three iron bands and removable top with heavy wooden handle. Only the lid remains.