Historical information

A hand trolley can be loaded with heavy and bulky objects such as luggage, and stacks of boxes such as produce, cargo and equipment. It uses the principles of wheels and leverage, like a wheelbarrow, and can easily be wheeled from one place to another. Hand trolleys are still used by farmers, railway workers, shipping companies, porters, airports, hospitals, warehouses, logistical firms, furniture removalists, factory labourers and even in private homes when heavy loads need to be moved.

Hand trolleys were first used in the 18th century in industries where children were used to move heavy loads. By using a hand trolley, the young labourers could move the piles of objects with the same efficiency as the adult workers.

Significance

The design of the hand trolley is an example of equipment used since the 18th century to move heavy loads at the docks and shipyards. It is associated with the maritime industries of shipping, transportation, travel and trade as well as the colonial primary production sectors of farming, markets and produce.
The design represents an early step in the evolution of the simple hand trolley. More recently, as well as the continued use of this simple style of trolley, the design has been improved to include specialised trolleys that fold, climb stairs, move pianos and even easily turn corners on their spinning, pivoting wheels.

Physical description

Hand trolley: an L-shaped hand-operated trolley with handles and supporting legs at one end, wheels at the other, and a ledge or platform to hold the load. This hand trolley has orange wooden slats and handles, two metal wheels, and a black metal frame with curved corners on its rectangular side flanges.