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Heyfield Butter Factory Company was formed as a private company in 1890, and became a co-operative in 1891. About 1915 it established an electricity generation unit in the factory, which supplied the town until about 1924, when it was taken over by the State Electricity Commission. The company became part of South Eastern Milk Products in 1960, and Gippsland Consolidated Milk in 1971. In 1973 GCM became part of Murray Goulburn, and was closed in May 1973. This seal was used to stamp (and therefore authenticate) red paper seals on share scripts for the company, from c.1915 to 1960.

Important historically as the ultimate authority for the identity of a company that was an important factor in the commercial life of Heyfield and the surrounding district for over eighty years. It has community significance as the ultimate legal authority for issuing shares in a large, locally controlled co-operative.

A metal seal / stamp for the Heyfield Butter Factory and Electricity Supply Co. It consists of a short arm that pivots above two round dies.The whole is in black metal on a rectangular base, with remnant transfers.

dairy factories, electricity supply

James Tyson (8 April 1819 - 4 December 1898) purchased Heyfield Station from the Firebrace family in the late 1860s. Tyson referred to Heyfield as his "cabbage patch". Tyson was famous for insisting his workers were accommodated at the same standard as he was, and arranged for George Drew (1834-1892) and his family to come to Heyfield from his home station at Deniliquin to make bricks for the homestead and for the workers quarters. As far as can be ascertained they arrived in 1868, and selected land that became known as the Brick Yard. After making the bricks for Tyson he operated as would any normal brickmaker. George carried on the business until his death, with it being then operated by his sons Jack and Henry. Many buildings in the district contain Drew bricks, which are sometimes smaller than normal bricks. The most accessible example is the first Anglican Church of 1874, now in the school grounds.

This brick has historical significance as an example of one of the early bricks made by the family, similar to those made for James Tyson, an important figure in Australian history. It has community significance as the story of the Drew family (who still remain in Heyfield) provides the community with a strong link to Tyson. The family has remained linked to the Anglican Church (having made the bricks for the first church), as well as being active in the wider local community.

A single clay brick with two thumbprints in diagonal corners, ends glazed.

brick industry, brickmaking, bricks

Heyfield Butter Factory Company opened in 1891, and became a co-operative in 1892. It was a major employer in the town, and provided an outlet for local dairy farmers. It amalgamated with Traralgon and Yarram Co-operatives in 1960 to form South Eastern Milk products, which in turn amalgamated with Gippsland Consolidated Milk in 1971 to form Gippsland Amalgamated Milk. In 1973 Gippsland Amalgamated Milk became part of Murray Goulburn, who closed the Heyfield Butter Factory in May 1973. One enquiry to a resident, who arrived there in 1948, suggested this may have ceased being used before that date, or was not available locally.

This wrapper is of historical significance as an example of the packaging and promotion of the main product from the Heyfield Butter Factory and Electricity Supply Company. This factory was a major employer and economic influence in the Heyfield District from 1891 to 1973, with the buildings still being an important component in the landscape of the town.

Three butter wrappers for one pound blocks of Heyfield Creamery pasteurised butter. This is waxed paper, cream-coloured and pre-cut. One panel has "Cream of the Gippsland Pastures", the others are printed with the name of the factory and other detail

dairy factories

This school burnt down in 1906.

Oiginal sepia photograph, pasted to cardboard, of Heyfield State School, with group (mostly students) dressed for Boer War Peace Celebrations. They are gathered in front of the old school, with four older boys and five older girls gathered prominently at the front, the girls dressed as nurses, the boys possibly as Boers. Other interesting costumes include a boy in a split black and white outfit, two boys as footballers and boys in military uniform. One boy is seated on a horse.

schools, boer war 1899-1902, nurses and nursing, celebrations, peace

George Barraclough (1907-1981), a landholder from north of Licola, in the Victorian Great Divide, made a number of these spikes, as needed. As accounts were paid, receipts were pasted to the account, the account was impaled on the spike, and the spike was rehung on a nail on a wall stud. All transactions dealing with money were filed in this manner, as an orderly way of tracking items that were usually remotely ordered and delivered on the mail car. George Barraclough used No8 in a number of creative ways, and his durable and untilitarion toasting forks are still in family use today. After George died in 1981 the spikes with their accounts passed to his daughter Linda Barraclough, who archived the accounts and later made copies available for study. Those accounts form a record of the businesses of Heyfield for 1940s and 1950s.

This bill hook is of historical significance as a survivor of bush ingenuity and bush filing systems. Commercially made bill spikes were in common use in offices, where they usually consisted of a heavy metal base with an upright pointed piece of wire. Number 8 fencing wire was an important and readily accessible repair commodity for rural dwellers, and achieved iconic status as the most generic method of repair for cars broken down (resort to nearest fence) and was even used to hold houses together. Referring to "No 8 fencing wire" became a type of Australian shorthand for bush ingenuity. It is no longer available, being replaced by 4mm high tensile wire. This item is important both as an example of inventive use of No8 wire, and also as an example of the bush filing methods in use in the 1940s and 1950s. No 8 fencing wire holds a similar position in New Zealand - see Wikipedia NZ at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_8_wire

A section of number 8 fencing wire twisted to form a bill spike. It has a rounded.base made from several twists of wire in a flat platform, with the remaining wire rising from the centre to form a stem that terminates in a hook with a sharpened point.

wire, bush ingenuity, barraclough, licola north