Description:
CERTIFICATE, "Intercolonial Exhibition of Australasia, Held at Melbourne 1866 & 7", Honourable Mention awarded to James Henley of Wangaratta for Manufactured Tobacco, window mounted, overall 50x62cm.
A highly decorative lithographic print, in gold, olive, cream and red by De Gruchy & Co. Around the border of the certificate are banners with the names of participating Colonies and Nations.
The Chinese first introduced tobacco growing to North-East Victoria during the Ovens gold rush. During this early period, tobacco was imported to the colonies from America, but the American Civil War (1861-1865) interrupted supplies and a
market opened for locally produced leaf. Further impetus for developing a local industry was the import tax on tobacco which rose in 1862.
James Henley, of Markwood, was one of the first farmers to plant tobacco; presumably the idea rose from an earlier visit to California. He soon made a large return on 27 acres of Florida, Havana, Connecticut and Maryland varieties. Henley opened a tobacco factory c1866 and employed a Kentucky planter to supervise 22 workers. Henley set an example to other local farmers, including Samuel Norton who planted a crop and constructed his own tobacco factory in Wangaratta.
Categories: Collectables > International Exhibitions > 1866 InterColonial Exhibition
