pastoral

This appears to have been taken from what is now Lawrence Hargrave Drive, between where Wrexham Rd and High St are now.

I believe that is a tin of IXL jam on the table, made by Henry Jones & Co., established Hobart 1898. Perhaps the piece of bread that Albert is slicing will soon be spread with a dollop of that tasty jam.

In 1895 the Henry Jones company purchased a building in Melbourne and commenced manufacture of jams and spreads. The building became known as The Jam Factory. IXL formed as a limited liability company in 1903. The IXL brand – 'I excel in everything I do' was Henry Jones's personal motto.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jam_Factory
www.henryjonesfoods.com.au/about-us/

The manual meat mincer on the left behind the enamel mug, would be for making rissoles from tough meat.
www.bunnings.com.au/victoria-cast-iron-manual-meat-mincer...

Behind that appears to be a packet of porridge oats, next to an old and battered Arnotts biscuit tin.

This is such a terrific image of a man living alone, quietly preparing a meal at his plane table.
The jam tin lid needs to be pushed down to keep the flies out, or put in the meat safe. On top of the biscuit tin is the tea caddy. I'm also thinking the kerosene lamp may have a reflector plate or wall hanger at the back, similar lamps do show up online. www.ebay.com.au/itm/385980994205?chn=ps&_ul=AU&no...

I had a look at Albert's military records via Ancestry, he was medically discharged from the 35th Batt. AIF in 1917, due to an old fracture of the left fore arm resulting in a deformity at the elbow and reduced arm movement, aggravated by war service. You can see his arm holding the loaf appears misshapen.
Albert had served overseas and so qualified for the British war service medals: Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.
www.worldwar1luton.com/object/pip-squeak-and-wilfred-wwi-...

What a wonderful image!
Pretty sure that's a wall bracket on the kero lamp. What's in the plate - maybe a boiled potato? Wire toasting fork on the far side of the plate. Looking at the dates on Ancestry, it would appear Albert sustained the fracture as a child.

thanks for the great insights from these comments. Noticed also the toilet in the background.

trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/163682091# - this pic appeared in the Sydney Mail, 17th October, 1906...in a feature article on the wool industry (see pic 2nd page of link)...