Historical information

This blacksmith’s drawer cabinet once belonged to Goodall and Sons, who were blacksmiths in Terang. The drilled holes in the drawers may have once had knotted rope handles. Some of the drawer fronts have been split, on broken, in the area of the holes, indicating that they drawers have had heavy use. The stencilled numbers could have been used for sorting different blacksmith items such as tools, scraps of materials, fasteners and horse shoes.

The smith was called upon to do a variety of work. In the early 1900s he was often the nearest person to be able to perform an engineer’s services for many miles around.

HENRY GOODALL & SONS

Henry Goodall (1870-1936) was proprietor of garages as H. Goodall & Sons Pty. Ltd., at both Terang (McKinnon and High Streets) and Mortlake (Dunlop Street). His business was in operation in at least in 1916 and perhaps well before, considering the date of the tyre bender and its use for wagons with wooden wheels. It was still in operation in 1953, chasing up debtors in Mount Gambier Court.

Amongst the employees of H. Goodall & Sons Pty. Ltd. was Ernie Entwistle, a blacksmith (a soldier who died in 1916 ) and Alfred Hodgetts, radio expert (killed in a fatal accident in 1943, when he was in his early 30s ).

Henry Goodall was involved in the community as a Justice of Peace, a deputy coroner, President of the Mortlake Hospital, trustee of the Soldiers’ Memorial Hall, and as a prominent Freemason. He and his wife had two sons (Charles and John) and one daughter (Mrs. Chas. Newton, of Skipton).

Significance

The drawer cabinet is locally significant as it was used by a local company in Terang and Mortlake in their blacksmith, wheelwright and garage business. It is an example of the furniture of the blacksmiths’ trade in Victoria in the early to mid-1900s

Physical description

Blacksmith's drawer cabinet with 8 compartments and 7 drawers (the 8th drawer is missing). The drawers each have two drilled holes. Both top and base of the cupboard extend past the sides, the base further than the top to give it stability. The cupboard once belonged to Harry Goodall & Sons, blacksmiths of Terang. Dated early to mid-1900s.

Inscriptions & markings

Stencil or hand painted on drawers “5” “3” “12” “11” “4” “4P”