Again and again over the last decade working with Powerhouse Museum volunteers, I have been struck by the deep affection with which volunteers, both men and women speak about Never Done. I didn’t see this long running exhibition which ran from 1988 when the current Ultimo Museum opened, right up until 2010. Yet today, because of the way I’ve heard volunteers so affectionately praise this exhibition – I feel quite attached to it myself!
Here’s a blurb I found about this exhibition online:
“… Never Done”: Womens’ Work in The Home”, March 1988, Powerhouse Museum.
Eloquently revealing womens’ domestic labour, the display focused on a late 19th century bush hut and a 1920s city kitchen and laundry. In each of these, the arduous yet creative work of women at home was shown – in cooking, cleaning, washing and ironing.
Tasks like ironing and bread making illustrate the basic continuity of domestic work, but also highlight the ways in which technological change and industrialisation have affected it.”
Volunteers retrospectively celebrate this exhibition as a great display of changing domestic technologies, industry and commerce – but something else seems to be going on still to this day, when some of the volunteers remember this exhibition.
Their response is personal and emotional, as if these displays also provided longed-for, and otherwise missing connections with grandmothers and mothers, and even earlier generations. Men too seem to feel this connection to long absent elders: “There they are!” is the delighted feeling of recollection all-round, that often crops up when Never Done and the domestic objects it showcased, are mentioned.
Sometimes for some women, this is even more expansive, as the exhibition seems for them to have been a rare moment of recognition of the unpaid work, skills and knowledge of women through multiple generations – including their own generation.
The adjacent Discovery Station or a “Touch Table” as it was called at the time, was also very popular. Volunteers shared props with visitors related to the exhibition – from flat irons (frequently used as door stops) – to wooden dolly pegs, from laundry blue, to a writing slate with chalk maker.
To close this blogpost – here are some comments about this much-loved exhibition, from some of the volunteers who have shared their delight in it with me over the years.
“It is good there will be a blogpost remembering “Never Done” which was a favourite of mine. This exhibition was very relatable to many people as the kitchen was, and still is, the centre of home activities. This was more so in the 20’s kitchen in the display as the table was in the middle used for preparation as well as eating and doubtless many other household activities. Everyone can relate to a kitchen.
My favourite parts were the tiered saucepan stand and meat safe in the 20’s kitchen. The fun thing was the possum on the rafters in the bush kitchen and I think maybe there was also a Coolgardie safe. Beth, Volunteer.
“One of my favourite parts of the exhibition was the collection of ceramic electric jugs. Some visitors had fond memories of these items “My Mum had one of those” or “My Grandma had one of those” and I used to delight in explaining how, when they stopped working, instead of buying a new one, you simply changed the element and most households had supplies of element wire.” Cierwen, Volunteer
“I particularly liked talking about the kitchen. No stainless steel here, washing up dish and eating utensils on display were made from metal, which meant it rusted if left wet. Where did the soap come from? Of course, you had to make it before beginning any chore.
I liked to point out to children how different life was in these days. Boys had to work on the farm before and after school. This meant homework took second place but was still important. Girls were taught to sew from a very early age starting with dolls clothes, on exhibition.
The hanging safe (used for keeping meat) made of wet hessian with metal tray underneath, filled with water to keep the ants away was great! When I was a little girl and grew up in the country, I saw one of these being used at a friend’s place. They hung it on the verandah to get a cross breeze.” Jenny, Volunteer
“It was really the first time I had ever seen – and that we had ever had an exhibition that focussed on women, and the history of women and the work that women do, and the tools they use to do it all – in that domestic scene. And to have it in the Museum – well. it was just wonderful. The Touch Table too, was so engaging and brought back so many memories for people. For younger people – it was great for education and really brought alive the things that people in the past have had to deal with – and showed how technology has come along. It was marvellous!” Susanne, Volunteer
Dawn Rose
Volunteer Program Officer