History of meatsafes in Australia

The Coolgardie Safe: Australia’s Ingenious Early Refrigerator

The Coolgardie safe is a fascinating piece of Australia’s history, representing an innovative approach to food preservation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Invented by local contractor Arthur Patrick McCormick in the late 1890s on the Western Australian goldfields, this clever appliance was Australia’s early version of the household refrigerator. Utilizing the process of evaporation to keep food cool while protecting it from pests, the Coolgardie safe became a vital tool for those living in the harsh conditions of the goldfields.

The Invention and Functionality of the Coolgardie Safe

The Coolgardie safe is a simple yet effective piece of vintage homeware. It consisted of a timber or metal-framed cabinet with open sides covered in hessian fabric. A tank on top of the cabinet was filled with water, and felt strips extended down to the fabric, allowing water to drip onto the hessian through a wicking process. This kept the fabric damp. The safe was typically placed on a verandah or in a breezeway, where the breeze would evaporate the water from the fabric, absorbing heat from the air and thereby cooling the contents inside. The feet of the safe were often submerged in a water tray to deter ants from reaching the food.

Although McCormick is credited with the invention, the concept of using wet fabric to cool items was not entirely new. In 1911, a columnist in the Melbourne publication "Table Talk" remarked that the idea was a variation of a method known to bushmen, who would hang a hessian bag in a tree. The improvement in the Coolgardie safe lay in the use of a water-filled tin that only needed to be refilled once or twice a day. Some sources, such as agricultural journalist William Catton Grasby, even suggest that the first water-cooled safe may have been created by Mr. B. Seppelt of Seppeltsfield in South Australia in 1895.

The Role of the Coolgardie Safe in the Australian Goldfields

The Coolgardie safe played a crucial role in the daily lives of those living in the Western Australian goldfields, particularly in the town of Coolgardie, which was over 550km from Perth. After the discovery of gold in 1892, the town saw an influx of miners who needed fresh food, a commodity that was both scarce and expensive. The Coolgardie safe, with its latched door and internal shelves, allowed miners to store and preserve meat and other perishables, making it an invaluable asset in the harsh and remote environment.

While Coolgardie safes were commercially available, many were also crafted at home. Numerous manufacturers in Western Australia and beyond produced these safes, with the widely distributed Trafalgar Cool Safe being advertised as offering "Cold Storage Without Ice." The popularity of these safes is a testament to their effectiveness and the ingenuity of the people who relied on them.

The Evolution of Food Storage in Australia

The vintage homewares like the Coolgardie safe saw widespread use in rural areas across Australia well into the early 20th century. However, the advent of ice-making technology eventually led to the icebox supplanting the Coolgardie safe in urban and rural areas with easy access to ice. In more remote regions, the introduction of kerosene fridges in the 1920s provided an interim solution before electricity became widely available. Despite this, due to their operational costs and status as luxury items, kerosene fridges were not widely adopted, and the Coolgardie safe remained the primary method of food storage in rural Australia for many years.

Preserving the Legacy of the Coolgardie Safe

The Coolgardie safe is a symbol of Australian innovation and resilience, reflecting the resourcefulness of those who lived and worked in the challenging conditions of the goldfields. Today, these safes are cherished as vintage homewares, with collectors and history enthusiasts appreciating their unique design and historical significance.

At Vintage Upcycle, we celebrate the legacy of the Coolgardie safe and other vintage homewares that tell the story of Australia’s past. Whether you’re a collector or simply someone who appreciates the charm of vintage items, exploring our collection of vintage furniture and vintage homewares is like taking a step back in time. Shop with us today and find pieces that not only enhance your home but also carry a piece of history with them.