Weights and Measures

East Central (Heights and measures Union

Many of our members will not be aware of the history and the background of our acquisition of our valuable set of standard weights and measures. 

In 1995, the secretary of the East Central Weights and Measures Union contacted us, with a view to our accepting these standards, and displaying them in our museum. The Union felt that they would like this material to remain in the Eastern Suburbs, so with the $1000 given to us by the Union to build a display stand we accepted these standard measures.

The following is a history of Weights and Measures in Victoria, the implementation of the Act and the importance to the public of.this safeguard to the purchase of petrol and other commodities.

The earliest Weights and Measures applying to Victoria was Act No CL1 of 1862. This Act repealed a NSW Act of 1832.  This 1862 Act was replaced by an 1864 Act, which placed the responsibility for Weights and Measures administration on Municipal Councils and Boards of Road districts.

In 1909, the Cities of Richmond and Hawthorn, the Borough ofKew and the town of Camberwell proclaimed the East Central Weights and Measures Union.

In 1919, the Shire of Nunawading was admitted to the Union. 

In 1926, the Shires of Blackburn and Mitcham applied for membership and as the eastern part of Melbourne expanded after World War 2, other Shires applied to join the Union. 

In 1947, the Shires of Lilydale, Healesville, Upper Yarra, and Doncaster-Templestowe were included in the Union.

Inspection tests were carried out on weighing and measuring equipment in shops, factories, and garages. This ensures that purchases by consumers are correct and reassures the trade that his equipment is operating properly. 

In the Minutes of the Union, it is possible to read some typical complaints received by the office:

1. Pre-packed potatoes - Whitehorse. Complaint of short weight packs. Tested with result - that packs were found correct.

2. Firewood —Yarra Ranges. Complaint that short measure was being given. Result - after testing, deficiencies were found and trader interviewed. Warning letter issued.

In 1996, a new Act changed the system. The role of the inspector was to be changed to that of auditor. The responsibility for verifying trade instruments was to rest with the service industry, licensed as the Trades Unions Measurements of Victoria. 131 years of weights and measures had finished. Thus, the East Central Weights and Measures Union were to be dissolved, its premises sold, assets divided and sold, and discussion was held about what to do with the standard weights and measures.

In 1995. at the second last (317th) meeting of the Union , the Inspectors' Report declared that “The Union had in its possession standards first stamped in 1864 and it was necessary to consider the future of these standards, as they have considerable historic merit, and should be retained within the historical collection of the region along with the records and minute books of the East Central heights and Measures Union.” Due to perhaps the influence of Vern Denford, the City of Doncaster- Templestowe representative on the Union board, it was moved that a letter be sent to the Doncaster-Templestowe Historical Society asking if the society would be prepared to preserve and maintain the Standards and records and if they could be periodically displayed at locations within the municipalities represented on the East Central Weights and Measures Union.

On 21st November 1995, at the last meeting , the cessation of the Union was completed with a list of assets being prepared, these were to be sold, and $1000 of the balance transferred to our society. We had declared in a letter signed by the late Irvine Green, Secretary of our Society that we would be prepared to assume responsibility for this material.

At a later date, the large number of standard weights was received by us and, Lawrie Reilly, arranged for a stand to be constructed to display them.

These are at present housed in the vehicle shed and we intend to put an interpretive sign to explain the story of the standards perhaps lit with an electric sign.

In June 2012, (as the concluding note to this story), we received from the former Secretary of the East Central Weights and Measures Union, Jim Benson, the records and Minutes of the Union, which will be added to our archives.

2013 09 DTHS Newsletter