The Dunstan Collection consists of equipment and archives relating to the operation of the Federal Bakery in Howlong from 1914 to the 1970s. It contains over 200 items, including a bakery cart (currently on display in Crossing Place), flour bags and bakery equipment such as cake tins, pie moulds, cutters, rolling pins, a bun prover, and mixing bowls.
The Dunstan Collection consists of equipment and archives relating to the operation of the Federal Bakery in Howlong from 1914 to the 1970s. It contains over 200 items, including a bakery cart (currently on display in Crossing Place), flour bags and bakery equipment such as cake tins, pie moulds, cutters, rolling pins, a bun prover, and mixing bowls.
Established around 1900 and named the Federal Bakery in support of Federation in Australia, the bakery delivered bread around the Howlong area as well as the mail run to Burrumbuttock.
James “Jim” Dunstan took over the running of the Federal Bakery in 1914 and stayed on until 1940 when his son John Clifford “Cliff” Dunstan took over. Cliff remained there until its closure in the 1970s. As a young man Cliff had been sent to Albury to complete his apprenticeship as a baker. His specialty was Christmas cakes and he was referred to as the best cake maker in the district.
The collection represents the commercial operations of a business and the nature of food consumption in rural Australian communities over a 60 year period. The collection is also significant for its strong provenance and associated information about the family managed business and its operations.
