City of Armadale - History House > Records

LAMP, ELECTRIC - BEDSIDE TABLE

RICHARDSON Francis
c. 1950 - 1960
Overview

Rectangular wooden base with raised edge and a moulding around the outer edge. Banksia nut stand with plastic light fitting on top at one end of the base, and a plastic on/off switch at the other end. Twin flex cable with three-pin plug protrudes from centre of the end where switch is located.

Historical information

Made by Francis Richardson in the early 1950s while working for the Callow family in Armadale, after his return from the war in Japan. The Callows had a nephew in the carpentry business and the two of them would make these bedside lamps. He found the Banksia on the side of the road south of Armadale. Francis Richardson was living on Friar Rd, Armadale, at the time the donation was made in 2013. He has since passed away while living in Osborne Park WA.
Francis (Frank) was born in Kelmscott WA in July 1925 and enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy in November 1942 at the age of 17. He served on HMAS Westralia and HMAS Parkes during World War 2. He discharged from the Navy in March 1946 after the cessation of hostilities.
Francis referred to the nut on the lamp as being a Bull Banksia nut. Banksia Grandis, commonly known as Bull Banksia, or Giant Banksia, is a species of common and distinctive tree in the south west of Western Australia. It has a fire-resistant main stem with thick bark, leaves with triangular side-lobes, pale yellow flowers and elliptical follicles in a large cone. The Bull Banksia is common in the Jarrah forest on the Darling Range. The old flower falls early and the follicles usually open as they mature.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-33-COA2013.3
Item type
Lighting
Themes
Social History
Material
Metal
Plastic
Wood
Width
225 mm
Height or length
260 mm
Depth
168 mm
Keywords
RICHARDSON Francis Mr
Armadale
Place made
Armadale, Western Australia, Australia
Year
c. 1950 - 1960
Statement of significance

The bedside lamp, designed and crafted by Francis Richardson in the early 1950s, is a significant example of local craftsmanship and ingenuity in Armadale, Western Australia. Made from locally sourced materials, including a Bull Banksia nut found by Richardson south of Armadale, it reflects the creativity of the local community in post-war Australia. Richardson, born in Kelmscott in 1925 and a World War II veteran, worked for the Callow family in the 1950s.

Primary significance criteria
Artistic or aesthetic significance
Historic significance
Comparative significance criteria
Interpretive capacity
Rare or representative
Well provenanced
Last modified
Wednesday, 1 July, 2026
Completeness
100
City of Armadale - History House

City of Armadale - History House

Flat wood rectangle shaped base. On left side is a banksia nut, on top of the nut is a white plastic lightbulb fixture. On the right side of the base is a single white plastic switch, coming out of the right side is a white electrical cord with a three prong plug at the end
Rectangular wooden base with a Banksia nut stand housing a plastic light fitting on top and a plastic on/off switch beside it. A cable with a three-pin plug protrudes from the side.
Rectangular wooden base with a Banksia nut stand housing a plastic light fitting on top and a plastic on/off switch beside it. A cable with a three-pin plug protrudes from the side.
Rectangular wooden base with a Banksia nut stand housing a plastic light fitting on top and a plastic on/off switch beside it. A cable with a three-pin plug protrudes from the front.

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