From this description, the Coolgardie safe is exactly like the swamp
coolers used to cool houses in the American southwest. I don't know
anything about their history, but I did visit a house that had one in
the early 1980s and it was very effective. It, and presumably the
Coolgardie, would only work in an environment where the ambient humidity
is low enough to allow the water to evaporate rapidly enough to provide
effective cooling.
Anne 

Anne T. Lane, Collections Manager
Charlotte Museum of History
3500 Shamrock Drive
Charlotte NC 28215
704-568-1774, ext 110
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Civil War Encampment, March 5, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

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-----Original Message-----
From: dkennard [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2005 12:38 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Question/need information on Coolgrardie meat safe or
similar products

Joan: As an Australian (also formerly Deputy Director of the Powerhouse 
Museum) I can provide you with further information about the Coolgardie 
safe. In my early career I was a jackaroo in the Far West of NSW and in 
Dirranbandi, SW Queensland. From my recollection, the Coolgardie safe 
was quite common. Most I have examined (and used) were locally made on 
the property, but some knowledge of soldering would have been needed to 
make the metal reservoir on top to hold the water and a pipe to allow 
the water to drip. Basically, the Coolgardie often  included pieces of 
charcoal retained between rabbit wire covered by hessian or sacking. The

water running down the sacking would evaporate, thus reducing the 
temperature of the interior and its contents - meat, cheese and butter.

I have sent you some references that you may not have seen.

I'll be interested in any responses you get.

Desmond Kennard
Museums in the making

HILL TOP NSW
Joan Goodbody wrote:

>Sorry for any cross postings
>
>We have a patron that is looking for information on the Coolgardie Meat
safe or similar products. We found information on this item at an
Australian Museum. " A Coolgardie safe helps keep perishable food items
cool, free of insects and therefore fresh. It relies on the principle of
evaporation absorbing heat. This particular safe is made of metal and
may have been purchased rather than home made. All coolgardie safes work
using the same principle of heat being dissipated by evaporation. The
safe is placed in a spot where it will be in the breeze, if any, and
shade. Water is used to wet the fabric sides in the safe. The heat of
the climate evaporates the water off the sides of the safe creating a
cooler interior. "
>This is from the Powerhouse Museum site (a museum in Australia).
>I am sure there are similar products in the US and Canada, any ideas?
>The patron is looking for a detailed description and how it is used.
Also maybe how to create one. Thanks. 
>Thanks for your help. You can respond off list.
>Joan Goodbody
>
>Joan Goodbody
>Reference/Instruction Librarian
>Government Documents Coordinator
>Michigan Technological University
>1400 Townsend Drive
>Houghton, MI 49931-1295
>906-487-2698
>fax: 906-487-2357
>email: [log in to unmask] 
>
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