Historical information

These items are among 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 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

These tools are retained as examples of vintage tools and as mementoes of the Warrnambool carpenter and businessman, Henry Phillips.

Physical description

These are nine brown wooden tools, rectangular in shape and similar in size and design. An extra piece of wood adjoins one side of each tool. A thin metal blade has been inserted at an angle in each tool in a slot at the top of the wooden blocks and these have small wooden pieces resting on them. The blades protrude at the base of the wooden blocks to form planing mechanisms.