About this objectThe first man made roofs to protect man were probably some type of thatching .... Grass, Reeds and tree branches. Apparently the first thatch was held down with strips from Bark or such. Most Thatch was secured to the rafters with string, using long needles to carry the thread round the rafter and up again. The lower ends if rough were trimmed with shears. In early Australia,
rye straw was specially grown for thatching and sold after the grain had been ''flogged'' out. Pig sheds and such low sheds were in the early days mostly roofed with thatch. The straw was a cool covering and if well done, was a dry animal shelter. This two pronged fork was owned and used by my Father. The straw was spread out on the ground to a thickness of about four inches and then dampened down with water. Using this type of fork, the straw was pulled towards the legs to a small roll. Taken onto the roof, the roll was unrolled as a blanket and secured to the rafters. Sometimes the thickness was doubled and one roll secured to the other. The rolled, wet thatch prepared for roofing the building was called "A. Yellem".
From the original Viv Kable catalogue exhibit register.
