Please be advised: this website contains the names, images and voices of people who are now deceased.

Collections WA has a responsibility to preserve and make accessible the history and culture of Western Australia in all its various forms. The intention of Collections WA is to support research, and to reveal actions of the past that have impacted upon communities, families, and individuals.

In doing so, Collections WA acknowledges the need to respond sensitively and appropriately in cases when accessing this material may be confronting to Aboriginal visitors and clients.

Please also note: Some historical materials within this portal may include language or opinions that today are considered inappropriate or even offensive. Collections WA does not endorse this language and apologises for any distress caused.

Continue

Continue showing cultural advice

Stop showing cultural advice

Collections WA brings together collections from libraries, galleries, museums, archives, historical societies, cultural organisations, community groups and other collecting organisations across Western Australia.

Busselton Historical Society > Records

Washboard - metal

« Prev Item Next Item »

Subcollections

Laundry Equipment

Overview

A flat, rectangular wooden board that is used to wash clothes by hand. The flat surface with metal ridges or bumps helps to agitate the fabric and remove dirt and stains.
On the other hand, the textured surface provides a gentle scrubbing action that is effective and limits the damage to delicate clothing

Historical information

With mechanised cleaning of clothing becoming more common by the end of the 20th century, the washboard became better known for its secondary use as a musical instrument.

Details

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-124-2025.152

Item type

Household Items

Themes

Material

Keywords

Laundry Equipment

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance

Last modified

Wednesday, 4 June, 2025

Busselton Historical Society

Busselton Historical Society

Organisation Details
View Collection
Item Feedback

More items like this

Search all items »

Search all items »

Other items from Busselton Historical Society

Metal Washboard

Media reuse | View full size | Item feedback

Scan this QR code to open this page on your phone ->

Full size unavailable (you're already seeing this image in its highest resolution available on Collections WA)

Loading...