We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land. We celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respect to Elders — past, present and future.
Please be aware that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Some material may contain terms that reflect authors’ views, or those of the period in which the item was written or recorded but may not be considered appropriate today. These views are not necessarily the views of Victorian Collections.
Users of this site should be aware that in many areas of Australia, reproduction of the names and photographs of deceased people is restricted during a period of mourning. The length of this time varies and is determined by the community.
Reuse of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander material on this site may require cultural clearances. Users are advised to contact the source organisation to discuss appropriate reuse.
Educational slate used at schools -used with chalk which could be wiped off
Education History
Fragment of slate with etched lines
Etched lines 13mm apart
Etched letters of the alphabet (faint)
Turn of the century; Australian Natives Association
A turn of the century presentation to W. Rain Esqr. by the A.N.A.
Pewter Tray with handles. Previously gilded, some of which has been worn off when cleaned. Oval with handles, engraved.
Presented/to/W. Rain Esqr./ by the officers & members/ of the/ Melbourne Branch No. 1/A.N.A./ as a token of esteem & recognition of services rendered/during the 41/2 years he occupied the position of/President/24th Jany 1899
w. rain, australian natiives association, pewter, presentation, gilded
Plaque commemorating city of Broadmeadows
Varnished wooden wall plaque in the shape of a shield. A circular logo of City of Broadmeadows, coloured enamel, metal.
city of broadmeadows, wall plaque, commemorative
Photography; Instant Photograph; Camera
Addition to Timeline for amateur photography
Polaroid Instant Camera - Model EE 33, Black plastic with Brown Face
Face: Polaroid / EE/ 33
camera, photography, amateur
non-fiction
Magazine with articles of historical interest
port phillip association, state library of victoria, exhibition, 1982, john helder wedge, michael connolly, john batman, charles swanston, joseph tice gellibrand, george mercer, william buckley
Presentation to Cr. Rosemary Kerr
Presentation to Mayor from local Italian Community
Wooden shield, with golden adhesive lettering. In the top half at centre is a wooden roundal with a metal centre. Shield is made from two types of wood, a dark (on top) with a backing of a lighter wood. The same lighter wood makes up the roundal.
City of Broadmeadows / in appreciation from / Glenroy Italian Pensioner Group - Presented to / Her worship the mayor / Cr. Rosemary Kerr/ 31-8-1989
glenroy, glenroy italian pensioner group, cr. rosemary kerr, mayor, city of broadmeadows
Self-Published souvenir book soft card cover with stapled pages (2 copies)
non-fiction
Details information and stories relating to the history of the school to the date of publication.
silver anniversary, broadmeadows technical school, education
Photography; Cinematography
Only example in the Collection, Enhances History of Photography
Black Plastic (with chrome accents) Bell + Howell Director series super 8 zoom
Front: (Embossed) Bell & Howell / Lens: Various Markings Right (From Rear): (Embossed) Super 8 Zoom Left (From Rear): (Embossed) Director Series : Film remaining Meter
photography, amateur, development, cinematography
Field Telephone
Telephone Set, Military Use, Green Metal Case, Internal components are metal, Painted black or galvanised. Inside top is electrical diagram and instructions.
Inner top: Electrical diagram/ Instructions Handset Rest: Press key when finished Label with Phonetic alphabet
military, field telephone, communications
Kerosene lamp for lightning home - Pre-Electricity. Could also be used if there was a disruption in supply.
Glass Kerosene Lamp. Bulb and Base made of Glass. Metal screw for lengthening wick corroded - won't move. Wick is present.
lamp, kerosene, wick, riddell
Early → late 60's School desk, Primary school?
Used for majority of 20th century
Two seat wooden school desk with metal frame, Top of each side of desk lifts to reveal storage space, two ceramic ink wells
education, school, furniture
Standard manual eggbeater with unusual stand to allow easier addition of ingredients while mixing.
Vintage metal eggbeater with cream enamel clamp made for purpose. Propert clamp Persinware beater
Clamp - Propert Pat. NO 28044/49 Beater - Persinware
domestic object, egg beater, propert, stand, persinware
Photography, Projector, Slide
Slide Projector - non carousel
White/cream plastic slide projector with black inserts and chrome coloured plastic label.
Front: Titan/colourside10/semi-automatic Details on lens Bottom: Made in France/Re exportation identifier/re export forbidden
photography, projector, slide
Utensil used in kitchens when preparing coffee.
Black enamel Cast iron coffee grinder attach to table or bench. Long handle clamp
Rapide No.1 Beatrice Coffee grinder
domestic object, kitchen utensil, coffee, grinder, bench top, manual
Kitchen gadget used in the 1930s/1940s to be a labour saving device
Green metal domestic slicer with three blades on a wheel turned by handle, can be clamped to bench
Initials KBC, Cast iron
domestic object, kitchen, bean slicer, ken bowes & co ltd, labour saving
19/20th Century
Social Significance - Used at School
School Bell, Brass with Wooden Handle repaired cracks with segment welded into place
education, school
Opening of School
Plaque from inside the Broadmeadows Technical School detailing the day it was opened and by whom.
Plaque to commemorate the opening of Broadmeadows Technical School - 1965
Broadmeadows Technical School/ This school was officially opened by/ the Honourable J.S. Bloomfield, M.L.A/ Minister of Education on the 8th of October 1965
education, broadmeadows technical school, wall plaque, honourable j.s. bloomfield, m.l.a, 1965
Early 20th Century, Late 60's Early 70's school Desk, Primary or Secondary School
Used for majority of 20th Century
Two Seat School Desk, Wooden with Metal Frame, Top of each side of desk lifts to reveal storage space. No Ink wells brass hinges on desktops
Non- Sensical Graffiti written on surface of desk flaps, and inside storage spaces, some engraving - again non- sense
education, school, furniture
Kodak institution manual for kodak carousel slide projector 11pp paper with stapled pages
non-fiction
Instruction manual for using a carousel slide projector
photography, slide projector slide, camera equipment
City of Broadmeadows
Flag used by City of Broadmeadows
Yellow Loose weave Flag with applique city of Broadmeadows logo of various colours
flag, city of broadmeadows, rural, logo
Worn by Broadmeadows Shire Secretary
Owned by previous Shire Secretary
Top Hat worn by Mr. Albert T.C. Cook, Broadmeadows Shire Secretary, Black silk with cork skeleton with box white card.
Inside Hat: Crown: Logo Christys' London/ Made in England for Lincoln Stuart & Propt. Ltd. Melbourne. On leather band, Logo Christys' London/ 6 5/8 / Made in England for/ Lincoln Stuart & co. Propt. Ltd. Melbourne Box: Logo Christy's London/ Trademark. Top of Box: Shipping label, Lincoln, Stuart, See images
broadmeadows, shire, secretary, cook
Presented to Council by A.C Gibb, Son of Alexander Gibb of Meadowbank
From 1st generation settler, 6th Shire President
Three wooden chairs, each with red leather upholstery, brass, 1 x chair, silver plaque
Shire president chair plaque: Presented to the shire by Cr. A.C. Gibb J.P. / February 1916, Secretary's Chair: right front leg - Scratched: BYLAWS
shire council, broadmeadows, furniture, alexander coupar gibb
Presented to the shire council (part of 3 Chair Set) By A.C Gibb, son of Alexander Gibb
Presented by 1st Generation Settler, and 6th Shire President
Chair, wooden with arms, red leather upholstery with brass upholstery tacks
shire council, broadmeadows, furniture, alexander coupar gibb
Presented to council by A.G.Gibb, Son of Alexander Gibb of Meadowbank
Presented by a first-generation settler who was a sixth time shire president.
Wooden Chair with Red leather Seat, Brass Tacks
Right front leg (rear): By laws
shire council, broadmeadows, furniture, alexander coupar gibb, 1916
Chair donated to the shire of Broadmeadows in 1916 part of a set of three (3)
Presented by first generation settler, noted as a six-time shire president.
Wooden chair with red leather seat with brass upholstery tacks. Has silver engraved plaque attached to the crest rail.
On silver plaque: Presented to the Shire by CR. A.C. Gibb J.P / February 1916
shire council, broadmeadows, furniture, alexander coupar gibb, a.c. gibb, 1916
This iron was used by women to press the clothes from the mid 19th century. Coal embers were put inside, heating the base of the iron. Small bellows could be used to fire up the embers in order to keep the iron hot.
This item is significant as it represents the appliances used by women from the mid 19th century until the advent of electricity.
Brass iron with hinged lid, curved funnel and wooden handle with asbestos stand
domestic object, iron, laundry, appliance
Hoover Steam or Dry Iron - vintage 1950s or 1960s. It is a compact and heavy iron with electric cable. Model 4554
This is an early electric stem iron, with a cloth covered power cable.
Old Hoover iron with different settings
The Hoover Iron trademark, model 4554, Ser No RF71510, 240V. 1000 watts A.C. only. Made at Meadowbank, Sydney, NSW, Hoover (Australia) Pty Limited
iron, steam iron, electric, hoover brand
These wooden butter pats were used to shape butter into bricks; making butter ready for sale and use. The excess moisture would be squeezed out of the butter; which was then transferred to a wooden board. The butter maker would hold one of these pats in each hand and work the butter into shape. These wooden pats are thin; light and easy to hold. The inside face is serrated to grip the butter and squeeze out any further water. It was also used to make patterns on the finished butter.
Wooden butter pats with handle. One side is rubbed, the other smooth
butter pats, butter making
Halda typewriter made in Sweden, 1914. Introduced in Sweden by Halda Fickurfabriks in 1896. Originally owed and used by the Ferry Aviation company until the late 1960s. A plaque 'Sydney Pincombe Pty Ltd Sole Australian Agents'. They were Sydney based agents for typewriters. Founded by Sydney Pincombe c.1909. The company continued until 1981.
Forms part of the "Office Equipment Collection" which shows the progress of equipment used to assist in office work.
Green, metal, Manual Halda typewriter. With an extended platten for typing large documents.
Halda - Made in Sweden Sydney Pincombe Pty Ltd - Sale Australian Agents
manual typewriter, office equipment
Fairbanks weighing scales (to weigh 2 lb) - Fairbanks' most famous invention then became the platform scale for weighing heavy objects.
This item is significant as it demonstrates a by-gone method of weighing mail. It is also significant as it uses pre-metric measurements, placing its age before 1966.
Post office scales with two dishes and five weights ranging from 1 oz to 2 lb.
To weigh 2 lb - Fairbanks, Birmingham
scales, postage, mail
Electric portable heater with a bow pattern 1940's
Example of domestic electric heater
Portable heater with power cord, and a bow pattern on the front (1940's).
1940s, heater, electric, portable, radiator
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
