City of Armadale - History House > Records

Watch Box, Lady's Gold Watch

Handley & Tilley (Hantily)
1930
Overview

Oblong box in two parts, the base is dark green with a white lining inside holding cotton wool padding. The top which fits over the white lining onto the base is a cream colour with a swirling ribbon pattern around the edge of the top side of the lid, also has cotton wool padding inside. Text on side of box written in blue and black ink.

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-AK1990.13b
Item type
Accessories
Watches
Material
Card
Cotton
Paper
Inscriptions and markings

Text in blue; "IVY CHEDZEY / 3 Railway Ave. / Kelmscott 6111" (In black ink)

Keywords
Accessories
Watches
HOROLOGY
Place made
Abbotsford, Victoria, Australia
Year
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
Rare or representative
Well provenanced
Last modified
Wednesday, 24 June, 2026
Completeness
100
City of Armadale - History House

City of Armadale - History House

A rectangular watch box with a dark green base and cream coloured top. The top of the box lid has a gold ribbon design around it's edge.
Oblong box in two parts, the base is dark green with a white lining inside holding cotton wool padding. The top which fits over the white lining onto the base is a cream texture with a swirling pattern around the edge of the lid, also has cotton wool padding inside. Text on side of box written in blue and black ink.
The dark green base of a rectangular watch box, it has a white inner sheath for the box top and is filled with a soft padding.
The dark green base of an oblong box, with a white lining inside holding cotton wool padding.

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