Barrier Reef milk urn

Steel cans of this design were in widespread use in Australia for transportation of milk and cream from the late nineteenth century.  This particular can features the words ‘Barrier Reef’ stencilled across its body. Although some dairy farming did occur across reef islands historically, it is also possible that this can was part of the Low Isles scientific expedition of 1928/29.  Photographs from the expedition show milk cans lined up outside the Low Isles laboratory. Supplies, possibly including milk, were delivered to the Low Isles from Port Douglas every second Wednesday. The milk cans may also have been used for storage of specimens. Yonge’s expedition provided the world’s first detailed scientific study of a coral reef.