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 that converts into a pusher, and a silver-plated Edwardian egg-cup and tray set . The cottage is a true treasure...

A BACCHUS MARSH WORLD WAR 1 SUPPER CLOTH This 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. World War 1 Bacchus Marsh enlisted men and their families are the common theme that has been embroidered skilfully with white cotton and amazing needle skills on a piece of linen. This portion came...

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 wonder. Lockie, our star Clydesdale stallion, a 7 year old at just over 17 hands, demonstrated his skills at...

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 Tony were just showing off. Other Lions were in attendance, but stood well back so as to not interfere in the technical aspects of...

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 at the newly located Police Cell, wooden carts (transport for families and industry), peer down the well – there’s plenty...

With these words as our starting point, we set up our display focusing on the wheel and how the wheel helped the early settlers to our area establish their new way of life. We thought of the tools they would use– the seed drills, the ploughs, the strippers, the wheelbarrows, the carts and drays they would use to grow their crops and take their produce to market. We thought of the wheels the wheelwright would make and the iron tyres the...