Historical information

FROM - HEARD Farm, Noradjuha
DONATED BY - Ricky PRICE
This is a box-type wool press, likely late 1800s to early 1900s, built mainly from hardwood with wrought-iron fittings. It was used on farms and shearing sheds to compress fleeces into bales, making them compact for transport. The wool was loaded into the box (the chamber you see), then pressure was applied via a screw, lever, or geared wheel system (you can see the gearing, wheels, and ratchets on the side).
Construction Features:
1. Wooden Frame & Sides: Heavy timber, bolted and strapped with iron.
2. Iron Ratchets & Gearing: The chain and cog wheels allowed a lever or winch to steadily pull the top down, compacting the wool.
3. Sliding Doors / Hinges: On some presses, panels could be opened to release the pressed bale.
Historical Context:
Wooden presses like this were very common across the Wimmera and Western District in the 1870s–1910s before metal “double box” presses became standard.
They were often locally built by blacksmiths and carpenters, sometimes even on the farm, which is why you’ll see lots of variations.
By the 1920s, larger mechanical and later hydraulic presses replaced them in big sheds, but these wooden ones survived for decades on smaller farms.