Smiths Industries Wall Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1978
This wall clock was manufactured by Smiths Industries Ltd in Australia circa 1978. Measuring 326 mm in outside diameter with a depth of 70 mm, it features a circular grey metal base and a white dial.
The dial is printed with bold black Arabic numerals and includes the "SMITHS" brand name below the twelve o'clock position. The timepiece was utilised within the Enterprise Hostel in Springvale, Victoria, between approximately 1978 and 1992, where it served as a utility in public and staff areas such as kitchens and dining rooms to regulate daily meal schedules. Following the closure of the Enterprise Migrant Hostel in December 1992, the clock was preserved as part of a collection documenting the post-war experience of government-assisted migrants and refugees in Australia.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- circa 1978
- Type
- Wall clock
- Depth
- 70 mm
- Maker
- Smiths Industries Ltd
- Place recorded
- Australia
- Back Inscription
- Smiths Industries Limited/ Clock and Watch Division/ LIC BULOVA
- Outside Diameter
- 326 mm
- Front Inscription
- Smiths
- Maker / attribution
- Smiths Industries Ltd
- Registration Number
- HT 24162
- Country of Manufacture
- Australia
Design
- Visible features
- • White dial with black Arabic numerals • Grey metal circular outer casing • Minute track with individual minute markers • Distinctive red central sweep-seconds hand
- Marks and Provenance
- The object carries specific manufacturer identifiers both on the front and back. The dial is marked with the Smiths name, while the reverse side bears a comprehensive inscription detailing the corporate identity of the maker: 'Smiths Industries Limited / Clock and Watch Division / LIC BULOVA'. This suggests a manufacturing arrangement or license between the two entities. Acquired by the museum through a donation from Victor Sikich in July 2009, the clock is registered as HT 24162. It is classified under migration history and cultural diversity, serving as a rare artifact from the post-war migrant hostel system that was largely dismantled after closure.
- Physical Characteristics
- The clock is a circular wall-mounted instrument featuring a grey metal base and a white face. The design prioritises legibility, utilising a set of bold black Arabic numerals for the primary hour markers. These numerals are arranged in a standard clockwise sequence around the perimeter of the dial, which also includes a precise minute track. The clock face features a signature "SMITHS" in a clean, sans-serif font positioned centrally below the numeral twelve. It is equipped with hour and minute hands, as well as a thin red sweep-seconds hand. The total diameter of the piece is 326 mm, with a depth of 70 mm, indicating a form factor designed for high-visibility placement on internal walls.
- Usage and Institutional Context
- Used at the Enterprise Migrant Hostel in Springvale, Victoria, between 1978 and 1992, the clock functioned as part of the daily infrastructure of the accommodation facility. During this period, the hostel was managed by Commonwealth Hostels Limited, an entity later rebranded as Commonwealth Accommodation and Catering Services. The clock was installed in public and staff areas such as kitchens and dining halls to facilitate the regulation of meal times. As the hostel provided temporary accommodation for new arrivals, including refugees and assisted migrants, such timekeeping devices were integral to the operational rhythm of the facility before it eventually closed in December 1992.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The connection to Bulova remains unverified beyond the back inscription
- Research required: Specific mechanical movement type is not documented