City of Armadale - History House > Records

WATCH, GOLD - LADIES

c. 1930
Overview

Gold-coloured timepiece with an intricate golden chain. The face of the wristwatch has blue hands and numbers on the display.

Historical information

This watch was presented to Ivy Cull in 1930, during her final year at Armadale State School, for having the best homework books throughout the year. Each page was carefully completed with no mistakes and stamped as excellent by the teacher. Ivy remembers having to do her homework by the light of a kerosene lamp. She happily remembers the pride and pleasure she felt when she was awarded the watch. An example of her award winning homework can be seen at AK1990.2.
Ivy was born in Albany in 1916. In the 1920s her family moved to Eighth Road in Armadale to start a poultry farm. Ivy first attended the Westfield State School before going to the Armadale State School. In 1929 she was awarded a medal for the quality of her homework. In 1936 Ivy married Henry ‘Harry’ Chedzey at St Matthews in Armadale. Harry moved to Armadale in 1930, buying land on the corner of Eight Road and the railway line (later Dalton Stables).

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-33-AK1990.13a
Item type
Watches
Material
Glass
Metal
Inscriptions and markings

The initials "I" and "C" on the back of the watch.

Keywords
Watches
HOROLOGY
Year
c. 1930
Statement of significance

This gold ladies’ wristwatch, presented to Ivy Edna Cull by Armadale Primary School in 1930, is a rare and locally significant artefact that embodies early 20th-century educational achievement, community values, and Australian watchmaking history. Crafted with a 15-jewel Swiss movement and encased in 9-carat gold marked “HANTILY,” the watch reflects the interwar period practice of importing precision Swiss mechanisms into Australia, where local firms such as Handley & Tilley (operating until c.1934 in Abbotsford, Victoria) produced the cases.

Comparative significance criteria
Interpretive capacity
Object’s condition or completeness
Well provenanced
Last modified
Wednesday, 17 June, 2026
Completeness
66
City of Armadale - History House

City of Armadale - History House

A small, gold wristwatch with a belcher-chain band. The face is off-white and has gold filligree around the centre, with both hands of the watch being metallic blue.
Gold-coloured timepiece with an intricate golden chain. The face of the wristwatch has blue hands and English numbers on the display.
The backside of a gold-coloured wristwatch with a belcher-chain wristband. Engraved with the initials I and C.
Gold-coloured timepiece with an intricate golden chain. The rear is engraved with the initials "I" and "C".

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