Bills horse troughs
Encyclopedia
Bills horse troughs are watering trough
s that were manufactured in Australia
and installed to provide relief for working horse
s in the first half of the twentieth century. The troughs were financed by a trust fund established through the will
of George Bills. A total of around 700 troughs were distributed by the trust in Australia and 50 in several other countries.
in England in 1859. He migrated with his family to New Zealand
and subsequently to Echuca, Victoria
in Australia in 1873. In 1882 he opened a bird dealers shop in Brisbane
, where he met and married Annis Swann who had immigrated from Sheffield
in England. In 1884 the couple moved to Sydney
and George Bills went into business with his brothers, manufacturing innerspring mattresses. In 1908, George retired to Hawthorn, Victoria
and in 1910, Annis died while the couple were visiting England. George became a Life Governor of the RSPCA
in 1924.
Each trough cost 13 pounds plus transport and installation . The majority of the troughs were installed in Victoria
and New South Wales
between 1930 and 1939.
Initially the troughs were individually designed and constructed, however by the early 1930s, J.B. Phillips, a relative of the Bills, became the head contractor. Working to a standard design he produced the troughs in Auburn Road in Hawthorn
. The troughs were pre-cast concrete with a curved pediment
with the inscription "Donated by Annis & George Bills Australia".
Manufacture was subsequently handled by Rocla, who produced troughs to the same design in Victoria and later in Junee
in New South Wales. With the rise of motorised transport, demand for the troughs declined and production had ceased by the end of World War II.
Aside from the horse troughs, the trust was involved with other animal welfare
projects including the establishment of the George Bills RSPCA Rescue Centre at Burwood East, Victoria
which opened in 1964.
Watering trough
A watering trough is a receptacle for the storage of water so both domestic and non-domestic livestock can obtain drinking water....
s that were manufactured in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and installed to provide relief for working horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s in the first half of the twentieth century. The troughs were financed by a trust fund established through the will
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
of George Bills. A total of around 700 troughs were distributed by the trust in Australia and 50 in several other countries.
George and Annis Bills
George Bills was born in BrightonBrighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
in England in 1859. He migrated with his family to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and subsequently to Echuca, Victoria
Echuca, Victoria
Echuca is a town located on the banks of the Murray River and Campaspe river in Victoria, Australia. The Border town Moama is on the northern side of the Murray river in New South Wales. It is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the Shire of Campaspe...
in Australia in 1873. In 1882 he opened a bird dealers shop in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, where he met and married Annis Swann who had immigrated from Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
in England. In 1884 the couple moved to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and George Bills went into business with his brothers, manufacturing innerspring mattresses. In 1908, George retired to Hawthorn, Victoria
Hawthorn, Victoria
Hawthorn is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Boroondara...
and in 1910, Annis died while the couple were visiting England. George became a Life Governor of the RSPCA
RSPCA Australia
RSPCA Australia is an Australian organisation that promotes animal welfare. It is funded in part by the Australian Government but relies on corporate sponsorship, fundraising events and voluntary donations for its income.RSPCA Australia defines its purpose as being the leading authority in animal...
in 1924.
Trust fund
George and Annis had no children, and following the death of George in 1927, a trust fund was set up, believed to be around 70,000 to 80,000 pounds. One of the purposes of the trust, as set out in George Bill's will, was to:- "..construct and erect and pay for horse troughs wherever they may be of the opinion that such horse troughs are desirable for the relief of horses and other dumb animals either in Australasia, in the British Islands or in any other part of the world subject to the consent of the proper authorities being obtained."
Each trough cost 13 pounds plus transport and installation . The majority of the troughs were installed in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
between 1930 and 1939.
Initially the troughs were individually designed and constructed, however by the early 1930s, J.B. Phillips, a relative of the Bills, became the head contractor. Working to a standard design he produced the troughs in Auburn Road in Hawthorn
Hawthorn, Victoria
Hawthorn is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Boroondara...
. The troughs were pre-cast concrete with a curved pediment
Pediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
with the inscription "Donated by Annis & George Bills Australia".
Manufacture was subsequently handled by Rocla, who produced troughs to the same design in Victoria and later in Junee
Junee, New South Wales
Junee is a medium sized town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. The town's prosperity and mixed services economy is based on a combination of agriculture, rail transport, light industry and government services, and in particular correctional services...
in New South Wales. With the rise of motorised transport, demand for the troughs declined and production had ceased by the end of World War II.
Aside from the horse troughs, the trust was involved with other animal welfare
Animal welfare
Animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals.The term animal welfare can also mean human concern for animal welfare or a position in a debate on animal ethics and animal rights...
projects including the establishment of the George Bills RSPCA Rescue Centre at Burwood East, Victoria
Burwood East, Victoria
Burwood East is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located 17 km east of Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whitehorse. The suburb is bounded by Springvale Road to the east, by Middleborough Road to the west, by Eley Road and Hawthorn Road...
which opened in 1964.
See also
- The Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough AssociationMetropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough AssociationThe Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association was an association set up in London by Samuel Gurney an MP and philanthropist and Edward Thomas Wakefield, a barrister in 1859 to provide free drinking water...
was founded in London in the year George Bills was born and was no doubt his inspiration.
External links
- Bills horse troughs - An enthusiast's site with locations and pictures.
- Englefield Green - One of the two troughs installed in England