Treasures of the Collection.

Visitors to the Blacksmith’s Cottage on Sunday 16th August enjoyed a display of some of the treasures held at the cottage. On display was an unusual embroidered velvet mantelpiece drape, a dress suit once owned and worn by the late Mr Cornelius Alkemade, a Marshman radio, designed and manufactured in Bacchus Marsh, a high chair…

July 22, 2015

“Wipe ya’ boots”.

On Sunday 19th July 2015, the Cottage and Forge/Book Barn hosted the launch of Barbara Manly’s new book, ‘Wipe Ya’ Boots!” For this book, Barbara took as her starting point the women and children who have lived and worked in the cottage from the first days of pioneering blacksmith, Vere Quaile to the last family,…

June 10, 2015

WW1 Supper Cloth portion.

This WW1 hand-embroidered portion of a linen supper cloth is an interesting donation from the Van Alkemade family that is being researched at present by members of the Blacksmith and Forge Group of Volunteers.

January 7, 2015

Gaol Cell update

In mid-December 2014 and in time for our visitors prior to Christmas, an interpretive sign was erected featuring the Gaol cell and the square ship’s water tank with the expertise of Mason and Geoff from Challis Design. Both the cell and the water tank are positioned at the rear of the yard behind the Cottage and…

August 29, 2014

Our August 2014 Men’s Work Display

What a treat for those who attended our open day on 17 August 2014. We had Stan mending shoes, Bill explaining whittling (shaving bits of wood into beautiful objects), and Lockie, the Clydesdale. We had great attendance throughout the day; many children with parents and grandparents walking back into the “good old days” watching with…

August 7, 2014

Re-location of the Gaol Cell

Blacksmith’s Cottage Re-location of the Gaol Cell June 2014 Tony Cawood and Russ Hendry acted as “dogmen” as the cell was lifted onto the prepared site. Tony used a bit more muscle than Russ ……hence the cry “COMPO I’ve done me back!!!” Actually we believe the crane did all the heavy work and Russ and…

July 28, 2014

Men’s Work display, Sunday, 17 August 2014.

We are looking forward to the “Men’s Work” display on Sunday, 17 August 2014, with access to the Blacksmith’s Cottage and Forge Bookbarn from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Our wheelwright shed will be open where you can view old tools valuable to the working blacksmith and wheelwright of yesteryear. Walk around the yard, take a look…

March 17, 2014

Harvest Weekend Happenings

The Blacksmith’s Cottage and Forge are very proud to be part of the Bacchus Marsh Harvest Festival, held annually in March. This year, we were able to display a wide range of locally-grown produce in our heritage setting. Our volunteers were pleased to welcome a steady stream of visitors from places as far afield as…

January 26, 2014

The ‘Smithy’s Day Book.

The ‘Smithy’s Day Book, the DB, the Ledger – it’s the book which records the commissioned work of the Blacksmith together with the charges for his toil. There was no PC or telephone; the customer walked into the Forge and arranged the work. Horses were walked into the Forge near the work area when shoes…

January 19, 2014

‘Bills’ horse trough

The Annis and George Bills horse trough at the Blacksmith’s Cottage is a survivor of a series of troughs donated by the estate of Annis and George Bills. When he died in 1927 George Bills left his estate of 80,000 pounds to ‘construct and erect and pay for horse troughs wherever they ………..are desireable for the…

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