Historical information

This tool is one of several tools which 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 time in Port Fairy. In 1865 Henry formed a partnership with Christopher Beattie and established 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.

Significance

This tool is of interest as an example of a home-made vintage tool and as a memento of the Warrnambool carpenter and businessman, Henry Phillips.

Physical description

This is a small mallet with a wooden handle and a cylindrical-shaped piece of wood inserted into the handle to form a mallet head. The head section is reinforced with a piece of curved thin metal. The ends of the mallet head are very worn. This is a home-made tool.