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Working Life & Trades Collection
Image: Planes - Jack, Trying, Grooving, Tongueing and Moulding, Yarra Punt Builder
Source: Museum Victoria
This collection aims to document and preserve the history of Victorian workers, and to record their impact on and contribution to Australian society.
Focussing on the post-European settlement period to the present, it aims to reflect the experiences and actions of individuals and groups of workers in different historical, personal, social, economic and cultural settings. It also aims to document the personal and unique renderings of workers' experiences and actions.
Much of the collection documents 'case studies' of working life in Victoria and Australia. These offer insight into a particular type of workplace and work, with some emphasis on workers' voices, while the wider collection represents a variety of working-life skills, experiences and cultures.
The strengths of the collection lie in its coverage of early to mid-20th century factory work, small businesses and trades and the trade union movement. It focuses on work practices in more formal work environments such as factories, commercial workshops and the traditional apprentice-based trades, but is complemented by other collections of less formal workplace objects, such as the home work and handicrafts area in the Domestic and Community Life Collection.
Trades relating to metalworking and precision engineering, especially those requiring the extensive use of machine tools and power tools, are covered under the Engineering Collection rather than in Trades.
Significant items
- Barfoot Bootmaking Collection: 211 items from a former surgical bootmaker's business.
- Bruhn Collection: 985 items from a father and son woodturning shop operated in Carlton and later South Melbourne, 1920s-1980s.
- Grenoble Gloves Collection: 454 items from a Melbourne glove factory started in 1944.
- McInnes Delicatessen and Butcher's Shop: 106 items from the East Malvern shop, which operated from 1933 to the 1970s.
- Newmarket Saleyards Collection: 27 items from former livestock saleyards.
- Pigment Manufacturers of Australia (PMA): 135 items from a major paint manufacturing plant at Laverton, 1960s-1990s.
- Sam Brown Bootmaker's Collection: 297 items from a former bootmaker's shop in Albert Park, c. 1930s-1980s.
- Simpson's Gloves Collection: 1491 items from the former Simpson's Glove Factory which operated in Victoria Street, Richmond, from 1924 until 1988.
- Victorian Institute for the Blind Collection: 107 items from former RVIB workshops.
- Artworks, including Ambrose Dyson, David Armfield and Aileen Brown, 1950s-1980s.
- 'Stick Together' radio program oral history collection, 1970s-1980s.
- Contemporary occupational health and safety material, 1990s.
- Stonemason's tools and early bootmaking machinery.
See The Working Life Collection, and an essay on this collection from A Museum for the People: A history of Museum Victoria and its predecessor institutions 1854-2000.
Items per page: 10 50 (showing 1 - 50) 5175 items
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Photograph - Kodak Australasia Pty Ltd, 1886 Austral Laboratory Building & Construction Wo ...
Black and white gelatin panoramic photograph of the Kodak Australasia factory in Abbotsford, Victoria, 1927-1930. This photograph features the multi-storey 1886 Austral Laboratory buil ...
From: Abbotsford, Australia Images: 2 -
Digital Photograph - Four Men Standing outside Bush's Confectionery Factory, Richmond, cir ...
Black and white photograph showing Mr Perlman and Mr Ribush with two unknown gentlemen standing outside Bush's Confectionary factory in Richmond, circa 1935. Mr Perlman, on the left, ...
From: Richmond, Australia Images: 1 -
Photograph - Shopfront Display of Hecla Products, circa 1920s
Black and white photograph of a shop front window display of Hecla electrical appliances including kettles and heaters and several advertising posters. A large sign in the centre displa ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Products in Roses Electrical Contractors, Brunswick, circa 1940
Black and white photograph of the shopfront of Roses Electrical Contractors, Sydney Road Brunswick. It features Hecla products in the display window including heaters [known then as ele ...
Images: 2 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Factory Premises, 1920s
Black and white photograph of an empty factory floor, possibly Hecla's Little Bourke Street site. This photograph is from an album containing 255 black and white photographs depictin ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Factory Premises, 1920s
Black and white photograph of the interior of a Hecla factory. The photograph possibly shows Hecla's Little Bourke Street premises in Melbourne. This photograph is from an album conta ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Factory Workers in the Plating Department, circa 192 ...
Black and white photograph of male factory workers plating appliance components at a Hecla manufacturing plant, probably the Little Bourke Street premises. Along the left wall component ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Factory Workers Polishing Kettles, 1920s
Black and white photograph of Hecla factory workers in the polishing division of Hecla's Melbourne factory, possibly the Little Bourke Street site. This photograph is from an album co ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Machining and Assembly Workers, 1920s
Black and white photograph of factory workers machining and assembling domestic electrical appliances, chiefly kettles. The photograph possibly shows Hecla's Little Bourke Street premis ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Assembly Workers, 1920s
Photograph of male Hecla employees assembing electrical products, possibly at Hecla's Little Bourke Street premises in Melbourne. To the left of the image partially completed kettles an ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Dispatch Room, Sydney, circa 1930
Black and white photograph of Hecla Electrics products ready for distribution from the Hecla distribution office in Castlereagh Street, Sydney, circa 1930. The products include Hecla el ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Factory Workers Assembling Electric Stoves, circa 19 ...
Hecla factory workers employed assembling electric stoves, possibly at the Little Bourke Street Hecla Factory in Melbourne. The floor is crowded with partially completed "Hecla" Electri ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Factory Workers Wiring Electric Stoves, circa 1925
Hecla factory workers wiring switches on electric stoves, possibly at the Little Bourke Street Factory in Melbourne. The floor is crowded with partially completed "Hecla" Electric Stove ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Workers Operating Machinery, circa 1920s
Hecla factory workers shaping metal components of Hecla products, possibly in the Little Bourke Street factory. The machinery is rudimentary and powered by a driveshaft running along th ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Display of Kitchen Appliances, circa 1938
Black and white photograph of a Hecla display of products at the Geelong Centenary Manufacturers' Exhibition held in 1938 at the Dennys Lascelles building. This photograph is from an a ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd Shield, circa 1940
Black and white photograph of Hecla advertising material featuring a shield depicting a volcano. The heat from its lava was meant to signify the heat flowing from Hecla electric radiato ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Shopfront Heater Window Display, Siemens Shop, circa ...
Black and white photograph of a shopfront window featuring a display of Hecla heaters in a Siemens (Australia) Pty Limited shop circa 1940. This photograph is from an album containing ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, State Electricity Commission of Victoria Showroom Di ...
Black and white photograph of a shopfront window featuring a display of Hecla products at a State Electricity Commission of Victoria showroom in Moonee Ponds, circa 1920s-40s. This ph ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Chef Standing at Hecla Bain Marie, circa 1930s
Black and white photograph of Hecla fryer/ bain marie in use, circa 1930s. Stove has large sign reading 'Electric Cooking' over the fume hood and is situated in a commercial kitchen. T ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Display of Hecla Products for Advertising Purposes, circa 1920s
Black and white photograph of display of Hecla heaters and other domestic appliances including examples of the Hecla logo and an advertising poster with the slogan 'CLEAN / QUICK / ECON ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, 'Adjuster-Rod' Heater, South Yarra, post 1939.
Black and white promotional photograph of Hecla 'Adjuster-Rod' Electric Heater, post 1939. This photograph is from an album containing 255 black and white photographs depicting electri ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Bar Heater, circa 1930s
Black and white photograph of Hecla electric bar heater circa1930s. This photograph is from an album containing 255 black and white photographs depicting electrical appliances, showroo ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, 'Chariot' Heater, South Yarra, circa 1920s.
Black and white promotional photograph of Hecla 'Chariot' Electric Heater, circa 1920s. This photograph is from an album containing 255 black and white photographs depicting electrical ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, 'Fluta-Rod' Heater, South Yarra, circa 1930s.
Black and white promotional photograph of Hecla 'Fluta-Rod' Electric Heater, circa 1930s. This photograph is from an album containing 255 black and white photographs depicting electric ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, 'Imperial' Heater, South Yarra, circa 1920s.
Black and white promotional photograph of Hecla 'Imperial' Electric Heater, circa 1920s. This photograph is from an album containing 255 black and white photographs depicting electrica ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, 'Ray-Rod' Heater, South Yarra, 1938.
Black and white promotional photograph of Hecla 'Ray-Rod' electric heater, 1938. This photograph is from an album containing 255 black and white photographs depicting electrical applia ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, 'Turbo-Heater', South Yarra, circa 1950s.
Black and white promotional photograph of Hecla Electrics 'Turbo-Heater', circa 1950s. This photograph is from an album containing 255 black and white photographs depicting electrical ...
Images: 2 -
Photograph - Industrial Kitchen Featuring Hecla Products, circa 1930s
Black and white photograph of an industrial kitchen with Hecla water urn, stoves and food warmers circa 1930s. This photograph is from an album containing 255 black and white photograp ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Kitchen Display featuring Hecla Products, circa 1930s
Black and white photograph of a kitchen display, entirely kitted out with Hecla domestic appliances including several hot water urns, stoves and toasters, circa 1930s This photograph i ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Shop Display of Hecla Products, circa 1930s
Photograph of an interior of a shop with a display of products including Hecla domestic appliances and light fittings circa 1930s. This photograph is from an album containing 255 blac ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Shop Interior featuring Hecla Products, circa 1930s
Black and white photograph of interior shop display of Hecla appliances including kitchen appliances and heaters. This photograph is from an album containing 255 black and white photo ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Shopfront Display Featuring Hecla Products, circa 1920s
Black and white photograph of McDonald & Co. Electrical Contractors shop with window display of Hecla domestic appliances circa 1920s. This photograph is from an album containing 255 ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Shopfront Display Featuring Hecla Products, circa 1920s
Black and white photograph of shop window display of Hecla domestic appliances including kettles, urns, and a small electric oven circa 1920s. There is a hanging sign advertising Hecla ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Shopfront Display of Hecla Products, circa 1920s
Black and white photograph of a shop window display of Hecla heaters circa 1920s. The shop window has the name 'Atkins (WA) Limited' in small dark letters on the left hand side and ther ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Bread Making Oven in factory interior, 1930s
Black and white photograph of Hecla bread making oven, circa 1934, in factory with man on left hand side turning knob. This photograph is from an album containing 255 black and white ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Factory with Rows of Heaters in Foreground, circa 19 ...
Black and white photograph of factory with rows of Hecla heaters in the foreground and three workers behind them circa 1920s. This photograph is from an album containing 255 black and ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Model H Oven, circa 1930s
Black and white photograph of Hecla Electric oven and cook top, Model H range, circa 1930s. This photograph is from an album containing 255 black and white photographs depicting electr ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Oven in Factory Interior, circa 1940
Black and white photograph of a Hecla oven in a factory, circa 1940s. This photograph is from an album containing 255 black and white photographs depicting electrical appliances, showr ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Ovens in use in industrial kitchen, circa 1930s
Black and white photograph of an industrial kitchen featuring a long row of Hecla electric ovens circa 1930s. A chef is in the foreground. This photograph is from an album containing 2 ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd Showroom Display, circa 1940
Black and white photograph of Hecla display at trade fair, circa 1940. This photograph is from an album containing 255 black and white photographs depicting electrical appliances, show ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Sydney Showroom, Sydney, circa 1940
Black and white photograph of street scene featuring building with sign indicating the 'Hecla Electrics Sydney Showroom and Services Depot'. This photograph is from an album containing ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd three level pastry oven, circa 1930s
Black and white photograph of three level Hecla pastry oven, circa 1930s. This photograph is from an album containing 255 black and white photographs depicting electrical appliances, s ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Trade Fair Display of Electric Appliances, circa 194 ...
Black and white photograph of a Hecla Electrics display at a trade fair. This photograph is from an album containing 255 black and white photographs depicting electrical appliances, sh ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Wash Boiler, circa 1930s
Black and white photograph of Hecla Electric Wash Boiler, circa 1929-40. This photograph is from an album containing 255 black and white photographs depicting electrical appliances, sh ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Products Shopfront Display for 'Empire Day', circa 1940.
Black and white photograph of Hecla heaters and advertising material in window display. There is a small poster above the window featuring a British flag with the inscription: 'EMPIRE D ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Products, Shopfront Exterior, Coburg, circa 1940
Black and white photograph of the exterior of Hecla shop at 187 Sussex Street, Coburg. Photograph is touched up with white and silver paint. This photograph is from an album containi ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Products Showroom Display, circa 1930s
Black and white photograph of Hecla display of domestic products including kettles, toasters and irons as well as advertising material. This photograph is from an album containing 255 ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Heater, circa 1920s
Black and white photograph of Hecla electric heater, circa 1927. This photograph is from an album containing 255 black and white photographs depicting electrical appliances, showroom d ...
Images: 2 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Heater with Sydney Harbour Bridge, circa 1930s
Black and white photograph of Hecla electric heater circa 1932, with image of the Sydney harbour bridge embossed on the front panel. This photograph is from an album containing 255 bla ...
Images: 2 -
Photograph - Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd Shopfront, circa 1940
Black and white photograph of a row of shops circa 1940. The central shop displays the Hecla name in and above shop window. The street number is clearly visible as well as shops on eith ...
Images: 1
