Historical information

This hook was used by George and Noel A'Vard on their farm from the 1940s to lift bags of potatoes, chaff, and animal food.

Sack or bag hooks were designed to make carrying these heavy bags far easier. The pointed end was sharp enough to pierce a woven bag and the handle was designed to fit ergonomically into the palm of a farmer's hand. This saved them from having to bend to pick the bags up or strain their fingers by gripping the necks of many bags over the course of a long and laborious day. Many sack hooks had a wooden handle which was attached to the shank later in the construction process, but the A'Vard family's hook is made from one continuous piece of iron, likely shaped with a tool by a local blacksmith in the early-mid 20th century.

Significance

This hook is a prime example of the many tools farmers in Emerald and its surrounding agricultural areas used around their properties to ease the strain of manual labour. Prior to the mass mechanisation of farms, difficult tasks were done by hand, and any tool that could assist in their completion would have been greatly valued.

Physical description

A large, rusted iron or steel hook, tapered to a sharp point at one end. The other end of the hook's shank is wrapped into a large handle.