Historical information

This tool, along with many other vintage tools in the collection of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society, is believed to have belonged to Henry Phillips, a19th century Warrnambool identity. English-born Henry Phillips (1821-1896) came with his wife Elizabeth to Australia in 1849 and lived in Port Fairy for some years. In 1865 Phillips formed a partnership with Christopher Beattie in the Warrnambool undertaking business of Beattie and Phillips. This was a major business in Warrnambool, continuing after the deaths of Phillips and Beattie until the year 2000. Henry Phillips was involved in the management of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute and the Art Gallery.

Significance

This tool is of interest as an example of a 19th century tool and as a memento of a prominent Warrnambool businessman of the 19th century, Henry Phillips.

Physical description

This is a planing tool with a rectangular-shaped wooden body and two round polished wooden handles at either end. The wooden piece is curved on the base. A metal plate with a curved end is inserted in an opening on the top of the wooden piece and extends down to a small slit at the base. Metal screws keep the handles and the metal blade in place.