Historical information

This plane tool is believed to have belonged to a Warrnambool carpenter, Henry Phillips. English-born Henry Phillips (1821-1896) came to Australia with his wife Elizabeth in 1849 and lived for some time in Port Fairy. In 1865 he formed a partnership in Warrnambool with Christopher Beattie and established the undertaking business of Beattie and Phillips. This business continued on after the deaths of the founding partners, Beattie and Phillips 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, firstly as an example of a 19th century carpenter’s tool and secondly as a memento of the 19th century Warrnambool businessman, Henry Phillips.

Physical description

This is a wooden plane tool with a boat-shaped body curved at the sides and a wooden piece inserted in a top opening. This wooden piece holds a metal blade which protrudes at a slit opening in the base of the body. The straight-edged metal blade and the wooden piece are held together by a metal screw.