Historical information

This chisel is one of several tools that are believed to have belonged to the Warrnambool carpenter and businessman, Henry Phillips. English-born Henry Phillips (1821-1896) came to Australia with his wife Elizabeth in 1849. They lived for some years in Port Fairy. In 1865 Henry formed a partnership with Christopher Beattie to establish the Warrnambool undertaking business of Beattie and Phillips. This business continued on after the deaths of the founders and lasted until the year 2000. In Warrnambool Henry Phillips was involved in the management of the Mechanics Institute.

Physical description

This tool has a wooden handle indented in the middle to give a firmer grasp and a metal blade inserted at the end of the handle to form a chiselling straight edge. The metal blade is held at the handle end by a band of metal. The wood in the handle has been gouged out and broken at the top end on both sides. Traces of paint are on the handle and the blade is rusted.