Historical information

The wicker crate for delivering drinks was used in the J. Mann & Sons General Store in High St., Wodonga and is Part of the 'Mann' collection in the Wodonga Historical Society.

J. Mann and Sons was first established as a farm produce store in 1921. The range of products was extended in the 1930s and included groceries and hardware, as well as the first petrol bowser in Wodonga outside the store. After WWII, the premises were extended and the range of products continued to increase.

In the 1960s the Mann Family opened a new supermarket in Wodonga, in addition to the hardware business, providing steel, plumbing and industrial supplies, and they employed over 100 people at one stage. With changes in the retail industry, the Mann Family sold the main hardware business to Bunnings and the produce business to the Kelly brothers in 2006.

Significance

The wicker crate for delivering bottled drinks has local significance due to its use in the J. Mann & Sons General Store in High St, Wodonga and the association with the prominent Mann family in Wodonga.

Physical description

Rectangular wicker crate with 12 individual compartments and handles at each narrow end, used in the J. Mann & Sons General Store for delivering bottled drinks. Two wooden slats extending the length of the underside to provide structural support.