Jarrah box containing key, presentation trowel and mallet. Also containing card marked 'With the compliments of.../National Trust of Australia (W.A.), which is in the supplementary file.
[1] Large rectangular brown jarrah box with simple grooving on plinth and lid. Contains parts [2], [3] , [4]. Has 2 metal hinges at back, and key hole at front with 2 vertical latches inside. Inside of lid lined with navy blue satin like material. Inside of base lined with navy blue velvet material with indentations for presentation trowel and mallet. Inside of lid has small square of blue material adhered in centre, printed in gold: 'ENGLISH WATCH/MANUFACTURERS/ESTD/LIVERPOOL/1871/Stewart Dawson & Co/JEWELLERS/LONDON/SYDNEY.MELBOURNE/PERTH.AUCKLAND'. Has small crack on top left at both front and back. Key hole slightly damaged on right side.
[2] Small metal key with cylindrical hollow stem, oval shaped bow, and small C shaped bit. Has 3 grooves engraved around circumference of stem just in front of bow. Key is attached by a metal ring to a rectangular blue plastic key ring. Handwritten on a piece of paper inside the key ring is 'KEY/For/PRESENTATION/BOX'.
[3] Large diamond shape sterling silver presentation trowel with elaborately carved jarrah handle with metal swan ornament attached on top. Face of trowel engraved with a picture of the GPO in Perth flanked on either side by a leafy stem and flower. Engraved underneath image is 'THIS TROWEL/Presented by/C.W.ARNOTT CONTRACTOR/was used to set the/FOUNDATION STONE/OF THE/NEW G.P.O. Perth W.A./by the/HON. W.O. ARCHIBALD/MINISTER OF STATE FOR HOME AFFAIRS/ON FRIDAY OCT. 8th/1915.' A metal cut out of the Australian Coat of Arms is attached at a 45 degree angle at the front of the handle where it is welded to the trowel base. Impressed on the top right of the base of the trowel is 'STG.SILVER'.
[4] Large round jarrah presentation mallet with handle and flattened face with circular sterling silver plaque. The mallet is elaborately carved with curved pattern around centre, flattened face, and along handle, which has a small round knob on end. The sterling silver plaque on the flattened face is engraved: 'THIS MALLET/WAS USED TO LAY/THE FOUNDATION STONE/OF THE/NEW G.P.O. PERTH/by the/HON W.O.ARCHIBALD/MINISTER OF STATE FOR HOME AFFAIRS/on OCT 8th 1915/It was presented by/C.W.ARNOTT CONTRACTOR/& is made from portion of a JARRAH PILE/used in the FOUNDATIONS/OF/THE BUILDING/Stewart Dawson Perth W.A.'. It is impressed with 'STG.SILVER'. The metal plaque is slightly dented at the top right.
Department:
History DepartmentCollection
History Collection
Collection Item Data
| Accession Number: | H2007.117.1-4 |
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| Accession Date: | 18 Apr 2013 |
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Material
| Plastic/Synthetic/Polymer | 2 - Key |
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| Sterling Silver/Metal | 3 - Trowel |
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| Sterling Silver/Metal | 4 - Mallet |
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Measurement
| length | 96mm | total including keyring |
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| width | 30mm | total including keyring |
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The WA Museum is in the process of digitising its collections. This record may not have been reviewed by curatorial staff and may be inaccurate or incomplete. Research departments are continually working on these collections by adding new objects and reviewing existing content when new information is made available.
