Historical information

The trowel and mallet set was purchased by Mr Swanson, the builder of the Maryborough (Victoria) Railway Station prior to the planned ceremony for the laying of the foundation stone. Duncan Gillies. the Victorian Premier, was to lay the foundation stone, but his government was defeated in the week before the scheduled ceremony. The trowel and mallet set was never used. This set was held by the Maryborough Borough (later City) Council and lay unidentified for almost 120 years until a receipt from the jeweller was discovered. The set was donated to the Maryborough Midlands Historical Society in 2010.

Physical description

Ceremonial trowel and mallet set in brown leather covered presentation case with blue satin lining. Trowel has silver blade with cream handle possibly bone. Mallet cream, possibly bone.

Inscriptions & markings

H. NEWMAN/Jeweller/MELBOURNE