Historical information

This tin once contained Rayleigh's Nutmegs, a cooking ingredient. It was donated with other similar tins that were used by the donor’s mother who was married in 1932. It those times in Australia all manner of household items, including food and drink, were sold by hawkers (salesmen) who travelled from door to door in both suburban and rural areas. The donor remembered the tin on her mother’s pantry shelf.

The Rawleigh Nutmegs label stated “Selected whole nutmegs not ground but granulated to preserve full strength and flavour.” The company had operated in Melbourne, Australia, and Wellington, New Zealand.

W.T. Rawleigh & Co. was established by William Rawleigh in America in 1889 and later expanded into Australia. The company made a variety of household products in a factory in Collins Place, Melbourne, between 1930 and 1935. It specialised in medicines and remedies, food additives, cleaning products and toiletries. The company in Melbourne expanded into their factory in Dawson Street, Brunswick, in the mid-1930s. Independent salesmen, often referred to as ‘The Rawleigh’s man’, sold Rawleigh products door-to-door between the wars and after the Second World War in the Melbourne suburbs. Rayleigh’s products are still produced today.

Significance

The tin is significant for its association with W.T Rawleigh, one of Melbourne’s strong growing manufacturers in period particularly between the World Wars. Rawleigh’s was, and still is, well known for its household and cleaning products, medicines, food additives and toiletries.

The tin increases in significance for its use as a recognised object found in many Australian kitchens since early days. It gives a snapshot into domestic life and social norms of the pre and post war period in Melbourne

The tin is significant for its association with a local family in the 1930s for the preparation of family meals.

Physical description

Rawleigh spice tin, rectangular, tall, used for storing Rawleigh's nutmeg. Tin has a flip-top lid, is coloured gold and comes with directions for use on front, back and sides of container.

Inscriptions & markings

Text includes “W.T. RAWLEIGH Co. Ltd.”, “MELBOURNE / AUSTRALIA”, WELLINGTON / NEW ZEALAND” “Rawleigh’s / NUTMEGS”
Motif: man’s portrait in a circle. Other text includes information about spices.