Kitchen Dresser

« Prev Item Next Item »

c. 1930

Overview

The Kitchen Dresser is of vernacular design and currently in two parts. The bottom consists of a safe with one shelf. The top of the bottom section consists of three planks with beading and displays evidence of water marks. The planks have wooden blocks attached at each end to allow for the top of the dresser to be fixed. The ends of the bottom section are enclosed with fly-wire, however the left end is no longer fully covered and a piece of plywood remains loose that would have been used to cover the opening. Two doors and a drawer placed at the front of the cupboard have wooden handles, of which the drawer fittings with wooden screws appear to be original- while the cupboard door knobs have been fixed with contemporary screws. The bottom right door has been fixed with a nail, place at an angle to secure the door from opening and the dresser exhibits bracket feet at the front. The base of the dresser has been replaced with oak coverd in plywood.
The top is extant, however while not currently attached to the dresser,is about to be rejoined. It has two shelves that exhibit evidence of former cup hooks that would have been used to hand/display cups.

Historical information

The British Empire Settlement Act detailed a migration scheme in which British and Australia would share the costs of migrants passage, settlement schemes and associated public works. W.A. had proposed what became know as the Group Settlement Scheme. Settlers were to work in groups of 20 to develop a number of dairy farms and be paid for their work. Later each would take on a farm when it was ready for dairying. WA undertook to settle 6,000families on farms.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-124-2019.179a.b

Item type

Objects

Inscriptions and markings

Nil

Contextual Information

This kitchen dresser is representative of Group Settlement furniture from the 2nd wave of settlers iat Wirring Rd Cowaramup from the property of Edith James(22/5/1901-24/12/200) and Alex (?) Robert James (9/6/1883-16/5/1955)

Place made

Cowaramup
WA
Australia

Year

c. 1930

Statement of significance

Historic: Kitchen dresser has strong social significance for its relationship to Wirring Road Group Settlement 18 at Cowaramup
Social: Strong connection to the James family and the Wirring Road No18 Group Settlement of Cowaramup

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance

Busselton Historical Society

Organisation Details
View Collection
Item Feedback