OBJECT TITLE / NAME

Blacksmiths, Mornington, c1900

DATE1900s

MEDIAImage

COLLECTIONMornington and District Historical Society

REG NO.1235.25

HISTORY

The Blacksmiths at Mornington owned by John Pitchford. The blacksmith was an essential part of any colony and Port Philip had both a blacksmith and a wheelwright in 1838. Prior to the land on the Peninsula being surveyed and selected, in the 1860’s, blacksmith work had to be done at each of the station homesteads by a skilled member of the farm staff. As selectors took up land they sought help with work they could not do themselves. With the increased population, demand grew and dedicated men opened blacksmith shops to service the district. Richard Pitchford was born in 1839 in Kingsland, Hertfordshire and emigrated to South Australia in 1863 where he built bridges across the Murray. He had a coach building, horse shoeing and general blacksmith business in Barkly Street, near the railway line and north of the Main Street in Mornington from about 1896.In 1910 Richard sold the business to his son John W, who was married to Martha Grace McComb, daughter of Frankston pioneers Thomas and Grace McComb.

DESCRIPTION

This image shows a corrugated iron building with a pitched roof, and large wooden doors. There are three gentleman in front of the building, alongside two horses. On the right of the picture are three carriages.

SUBJECTS

Blacksmiths, Carriages and coaches, Horseshoes

KEYWORDS

Barkly Street, Blacksmiths, Carriages and coaches, Horseshoes, Main Street, Mornington, Mornington Railway Station, Pitchford, John, Pitchford, Richard