Skip to content
The Encyclopedia of Horology

Clock · Wall clock

Smiths Industries Wall Clock

Partially verified

This wall clock was manufactured by Smiths Industries Ltd in Australia circa 1978. Measuring 326 mm in outside diameter with a depth of 70 mm, it features a circular grey metal base and a white dial. The dial is printed with bold black Arabic numerals and includes the "SMITHS" brand name below the twelve o'clock position. The timepiece was utilised within the Enterprise Hostel in Springvale, Victoria, between approximately 1978 and 1992, where it served as a utility in public and staff areas such as kitchens and dining rooms to regulate daily meal schedules. Following the closure of the Enterprise Migrant Hostel in December 1992, the clock was preserved as part of a collection documenting the post-war experience of government-assisted migrants and refugees in Australia.

A front view of the Smiths wall clock showing the white dial, bold black numerals, and the red sweep-seconds hand.
A front view of the Smiths wall clock showing the white dial, bold black numerals, and the red sweep-seconds hand. — Museums Victoria. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
collections.museumsvictoria.com.au
Category
Clock · Wall clock
Maker / attribution
Smiths Industries Ltd
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
HT 24162
Source-reported date
circa 1978
Source-reported place
Australia

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Physical Characteristics

The clock is a circular wall-mounted instrument featuring a grey metal base and a white face. The design prioritises legibility, utilising a set of bold black Arabic numerals for the primary hour markers. These numerals are arranged in a standard clockwise sequence around the perimeter of the dial, which also includes a precise minute track.

The clock face features a signature "SMITHS" in a clean, sans-serif font positioned centrally below the numeral twelve. It is equipped with hour and minute hands, as well as a thin red sweep-seconds hand. The total diameter of the piece is 326 mm, with a depth of 70 mm, indicating a form factor designed for high-visibility placement on internal walls.

Evidence for this section
  • “Wall clock with white face and a grey metal base.”
  • “Numbers are printed in bold black font.”
  • “326 mm (Outside Diameter)”

Usage and Institutional Context

Used at the Enterprise Migrant Hostel in Springvale, Victoria, between 1978 and 1992, the clock functioned as part of the daily infrastructure of the accommodation facility. During this period, the hostel was managed by Commonwealth Hostels Limited, an entity later rebranded as Commonwealth Accommodation and Catering Services.

The clock was installed in public and staff areas such as kitchens and dining halls to facilitate the regulation of meal times. As the hostel provided temporary accommodation for new arrivals, including refugees and assisted migrants, such timekeeping devices were integral to the operational rhythm of the facility before it eventually closed in December 1992.

Evidence for this section
  • “Wall clock used at the Enterprise Hostel, circa 1978 -1992.”
  • “Meal times at the Enterprise Hostel were regulated, and this clock would have been one of a number used in public and staff spaces”

Marks and Provenance

The object carries specific manufacturer identifiers both on the front and back. The dial is marked with the Smiths name, while the reverse side bears a comprehensive inscription detailing the corporate identity of the maker: 'Smiths Industries Limited / Clock and Watch Division / LIC BULOVA'. This suggests a manufacturing arrangement or license between the two entities.

Acquired by the museum through a donation from Victor Sikich in July 2009, the clock is registered as HT 24162. It is classified under migration history and cultural diversity, serving as a rare artifact from the post-war migrant hostel system that was largely dismantled after closure.

Evidence for this section
  • “Smiths Industries Limited/ Clock and Watch Division/ LIC BULOVA”
  • “Donation from Victor Sikich, Jul 2009”
  • “Registration number: HT 24162”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific nature of the 'LIC BULOVA' relationship mentioned on the clock casing?
  • Was this specific model standard-issue for other Commonwealth migrant hostels in Australia during the late 1970s?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Smiths Industries Wall Clock
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerSmiths Industries Ltd“Manufacturer, name: Smiths”
Datecirca 1978“circa 1978”
Registration NumberHT 24162“Registration number: HT 24162”
Outside Diameter326 mm“326 mm (Outside Diameter)”
Depth70 mm“70 mm (Depth)”
Country of ManufactureAustralia“country: Australia”
Front InscriptionSmiths“Inscription (front): 'Smiths;”
Back InscriptionSmiths Industries Limited/ Clock and Watch Division/ LIC BULOVA“Inscription (back) Smiths Industries Limited/ Clock and Watch Division/ LIC BULOVA”

Visible details

  • White dial with black Arabic numerals
  • Grey metal circular outer casing
  • Minute track with individual minute markers
  • Distinctive red central sweep-seconds hand

Research qualifications

  • The connection to Bulova remains unverified beyond the back inscription
  • Specific mechanical movement type is not documented

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Clock - Smiths Industries Ltd, Walk Clock, circa 1978

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record 0dd7ceae6c

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

Other wall clock records