WOODEN CHEST
1876 - 1945Black rectangular pine box rest on two horizontal pieces of wood across the base. Kick board all way around. Either end has a wooden fixture attached with rope handles looped through the centre. Lid has two internal metal hinges and a mortise lock accessed from the front. Inside is divided into three equal layers. Bottom layer runs the complete length of the box - 2nd and 3rd layers run 2/3 of the way and comprise of a wooden frame with no base. 2nd layer is broken and only has one wooden handle, 3rd layer has 2 handles. Right hand side of box has a separate compartment with a tray in the top section.
This travel chest was used by Alfred and William Skeet in 1876 when they travelled from England to Western Australia to start a new life. Alfred and William were granted land around Forrestdale Lake in 1885, making them one of the earliest British migrants to make the area their home. Alfred would marry Lillian Dumsday in 1912 and together they played a key role in developing the emerging community that became Forrestdale. The chest was kept by Alfred who used it in his Forrestfield home and later passed it onto his children. William Skeet died 1918 age 60, Alfred died in 1945, both are buried at Fremantle Cemetery.
Details
Details
The object tells the story of individuals and families that migrated to Western Australia from 1829 to modern day. These stories relate to leaving family and a known lifestyle and culture behind, embarking on a journey that for some was long, and creating a new home in an unfamiliar land with an unfamiliar culture.
