Pollard’s Blacksmith Shop, c1900

Slab structure, later repairs to the walls and installation of a new corrugated iron roof made by QDHMS. Contains tools of the smith’s trade including: bellows, anvil, forge, farriers clamp and hand made tools.

Donated by Keith Pollard (1924-2007)

The Pollard family are graziers in the Michelago district, near Queanbeyan. The Museum’s blacksmith shop came from their property Tinderry Vale. It is believed the structure was on the property when purchased from the Egan family, who originally settled the property in 1863. Two bachelor brothers, Dave and Tom were the last of the Egans and they could have built the smithy.

The Tools of the Blacksmith
The basic equipment of the blacksmith shop was the forge, bellows, anvil, hammer and tongs.

The Work of the Blacksmith
These were the days when useful items had to be made by hand. The smith created items from iron or steel by forging the metal, which was heated until it glowed red, then orange, yellow and white would be the hottest. The ideal heat for forging is a bright yellow orange colour. The smithy worked in dim conditions so he could judge the right colour of the metal. In order to get the heat required to forge iron a large bellows was used to blow a stream of air over the bed of charcoal or coke in the forge to make it burn faster. Tools were used to hammer, bend, cut and shape objects against the anvil to produce items such as horseshoes, farm tools, nails, latches, hinges, hammers, axes, chisels, fitted iron tires and hub rings for carts.

The Meaning of the word Blacksmith
Blacksmiths work with black metals typically iron. The black colour comes from the layer of oxides that form on the surface of the metal during heating. The team smith originates from the word smite, which means to hit. It was also dirty work!

The Demise of the Blacksmith shop
The advent of the motor car, tractors and manufactured goods spelt the end of the usefulness of the blacksmith shop.

All photographs Copyright QDHMS Inc.