Historical information

Among the early settlers in Moorabbin Shire were blacksmiths who made tools for the other settlers who were establishing the homes, market gardens, farms, orchards and various businesses. Early settlers were self reliant and repaired their own equipment for kitchen,dairy, farm, horses, wagons, carts using various tools . These large spanners were used on a horse-drawn wagons, carriages, stagecoaches, and carts. A wheelwright would use this tool to make or repair the wheels. All sizes of buggy spanners, or wagon wrenches, were needed as wagon wheels were of many different sizes.

Significance

This wagon wheel spanner is typical of the type used by early settlers in Moorabbin Shire c1900 Horse-drawn wagons were used to transport the produce of the market gardeners to the Melbourne markets. Buggies, Traps and Jinkers were popular with farmers, Doctors, and Councillors for trips into town before the advent of the motorized vehicles.

Physical description

A steel wheel wrench, spanner for wagon wheels. c1900