building of PS Curlip replica in old butter factory building Orbost VictoriaBuilt as tourist attraction on river at Marlo. Plus 6 other photos Colour photograph showing building of PS Curlip replica in old butter factory building Orbost Victoria. Plus 9 other photos tourism, boat building

The Paddle Steamer Shed was located on the eastern side of Lake Wendouree.lake wendouree, paddle steamer, boat shed, building

The construction of the lifeboat ‘Warrnambool’ began 15th September 1909 and was completed almost 12 months later, 1st September 1910. It was built at the Government Dockyard in Williamstown, Victoria, along the lines designed by the Great Britain’s Royal Lifeboat Institution, and included whaleback decks fore and aft, mast and centreboard, and rudder and tiller hung from the sternpost. It could be propelled by both sail and oar. At that time Captain Ferguson was Chief Harbour Master and Mr Beagley was foreman boat builder when he and his fellow workmen built the boat. The boat was described as “… a fine piece of workmanship and does credit to her builders and designers…” It had all the latest improvements in shape, disposition of weight and watertight compartments, and it had space for a large number of people in addition to the crew. It appears that 'H Meiers' whose signature, along with building dates, is pencilled on a concealed timber 'plaque' in the hull, was involved with the building of the lifeboat. It is interesting that the ‘Melbourne Directory’ of 1911, published by Sands and MacDougal, lists McAuley and Meiers, boat builders, Nelson Place foreshore, between Pasco and Parker Streets, Williamstown, (Victorian Heritage Database, ‘Contextual History, Maritime Facilities’), It is probably the company of the person whose name is inscribed on the lifeboat plaque. Flagstaff Hill’s documentation also mentions that the keel was laid at ‘Harry Myers, boat builders, Williamstown, Melbourne’ – the name ‘Myers’ can also be spelled ‘Meiers’, which could be the same person as the Meiers in “McAuley and Meiers” (as mentioned in genealogy lines of Myers). The new lifeboat, to be named ‘Warrnambool’ was brought to town by train and launched at the breakwater on 1st March 1911 using the Titan crane (the old lifeboat built in 1858, was then returned to Melbourne in 1911). This new lifeboat was stationed at Warrnambool in a shed located at the base of the Breakwater, adjacent to the slipway. A winch was used to bring it in and out of the water. The lifeboat ‘Warrnambool’ was similar in size to the old lifeboat but far superior in design, build and sea-going qualities such as greater manoeuvrability. The ‘self-righting, self-draining’ design was “practically non-capsizeable” and even if the boat overturned it would right itself to an even keel and the water would drain away. The hull was built of New Zealand Kauri, using double diagonal planking, laid in two layers at right angles, with a layer of canvas and red lead paint between the timbers to help seal the planking. It has “… plenty of freeboard, high watertight spaces between the deck and bottom… through which pipes lead…” The backbone timbers were made of Jarrah. The lifeboat Warrnambool was one of several rescue boats used at Port Fairy and Warrnambool in early 1900's. In late 1914 the Warrnambool lifeboat and crew were used to help find what was left of the tragic wreckage of the Antares, and were able to discover the body of one of the crewmen, which they brought back to Warrnambool. Between 1951 and 1954 the lifeboat was manned under the guidance of Captain Carrington. He held lifeboat practice each month on a Sunday morning, to comply with the Ports and Harbour’s request that lifeboats be manned by a strong and competent crew, ready for action in case of emergency. In the early 1960’s it ended its service as a lifeboat and was used in Port Fairy as a barge to help dredge the Moyne River, bolted to the Port Fairy lifeboat. Flagstaff Hill obtained the Warrnambool in 1975. In 1984 it was on display at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, Warrnambool. On 23rd May 1990 she was lifted from the water and placed in a cradle for restoration. The name ‘WARRNAMBOOL could be seen faintly on the lifeboat before it was restored. It was during the restoration that Flagstaff Hill's boat builder discovered the 'plaque' inside the hull. A copy of the blueprint plans has the name “V.E.E. Gotch” printed on it. His advertisement in Footscray’s ‘Independent’ newspaper of Saturday 11th May 1901 states he is “Principal and Skilled member (Naval Architect) to the Court of Marine Inquiry of Victoria and holds classes for naval architectural drawing and arithmetic.”The lifeboat WARRNAMBOOL is significant for its half century service to the local community as a lifesaving vessel. She was also used to help retrieve the body of a shipwrecked crew member of the ANTARES. Lifeboat "Warrnambool", a wooden, clinker hull, 'self-righting, self-draining design, single mast, pivoting centreboard. Complete with sail and yardarm. A 'plaque' was found inside the hull of the lifeboat, made of untreated wood, disc-shaped with one straight edge (Diam 15.5cm), inscribed by one of the boat builders in pencil script "Life Boat Start building / 15/9/09 - complete 1/9/10 / (signature looks like H Meiers) / Boat Builder)."'Plaque' inside body of boat is inscribed in pencil, script writing "Life Boat Start building / 15/9/09 - complete 1/9/10 / (signature looks like H Meiels) / Boat Builder)." flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, lifeboat, life boat, vessel, life saving, 1910 vessel, port fairy, boat builder plaque, rescue boat, beagley, williamstown, government dockyard, v.e.e. gotch, royal lifeboat institution, captain ferguson, meiers, nelson place, non-capsizeable, self-righting, titan crane, double diagonal planking, captain carrington, barge, antares, self righting, crew of twelve, capacity of 30 survivors

Front: Lighter and fishing boats on the Beach at Portland pre 1890 Back: Port of Portland Authorityport of portland archives, battery point, lighthouse

Associated with - Boating On Reservoir Buildings - "Reservoir, Boat" People - "Swainston, Jessie"

The five types of nails include a stamped steel nail made for wooden flooring; four copper nails used for boat building found at various locations on the island; two steel nails removed from the lantern room door during restoration in 2002 which possibly came with the Chance Bros. lantern room kit delivered in 1862; three galvanised steel nails used to pin the railway track to sleepers and decking on the jetty (the rail track carried a small trolley for unloading stores from supply ships); and a square copper nail found on the rocky shore on Tullaberga Island close to the location of the Monumental City wreck of 1853. The huge American steamer, Monumental City, was wrecked on 15 May 1853. Built in 1850, the ship was the first screw-propulsion steamer to cross the Pacific and was heading back to Sydney after dropping off Californians heading for the Victorian goldfields. Thirty-seven lives were lost, including the owner of the ship, Peter Strobel. A medal was awarded by Sydney residents to Charles Plummer who swam ashore with a line from the wreck. The tragedy renewed the urgency for a lighthouse on Gabo Island, and in 1862 when this was achieved an obelisk was erected as a memorial to those who perished. That year, Victorian PWD architect and designer of the lightstation buildings, Charles Maplestone, gave the following instructions: ‘You may remove the remains of the poor unfortunate shipwrecked of the Monumental City to the site on Gabo you propose but take scrupulous care to collect all the remains and inter them decently under the monument. Pray save any relics’.246 Heritage Victoria has 39 artefacts listed under the Historic Shipwrecks Act (S473) with a clear provenance to the Monumental City. While the copper nail has no documented provenance, it still has contributory significance as part of a diverse assemblage of relics that help to interpret the history of the Gabo Island Lightstation and the numerous shipwrecks that have occurred in its vicinity since the mid nineteenth century..1 Steel nail - flat. Stamped. This type of nail was used for secret nailing of flooring. Source of this nail is unknown. .2 Copper nails. This type of nail was used for boat building. Found at various locations around island. .3 Steel nails. Extracted from lantern room door during restoration 2002. .4 Galvanised steel nails. Used to pin railway track to timber sleepers and decking on jetty. Rail track carried a small trolley used during the unloading of stores from supply ships. .5. Copper nail square. This nail was found on the rocky shore line on Tullaberga Island close to the location of the wreck of the "Monumental City" wrecked May 1853. Nail found in June 2000.

Born: Uxbridge, Middlesex, England 1872; Arrived: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia c.1914; Lived and worked: France 1905-1913, Australia: 1908 and 1913, Europe, Middle East and Asia 1916- c.1936; Died: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1952ImpressionismMajor Basil MacNay Bequest, Gift of Arts Victoria, 1998Hand-coloured lithograph depicting colourful buildings, boats and figures along shoreline. UnframedRecto: Signed "Carrick Fox" in black pencil in l.l.c of composition; "1/25" in black pencil in l.r.c of compositon; Not dated; Not titledprint, waterscape, boats, houses, bridge, figures, europe, trees, hill, water

Shows buildings, boats and people on beachblack and white photograph, unmounted, original, good conditionOn back: Elwood Beach

Black and white postcard of the township of Lakes Entrance, taken form the south bank of Cunninghame Arm, showing the boat haven, buildings along Esplanade, and the Kalimna escarpment in the distance. Lakes Entrance VictoriaLakes Entrance from Ocean Beachtownship, waterways

Postcard Album of Blanche Sly. Postcards stored in Folder 81 (49 postcards). 1403.1 - 1403.28 Grey linen look cover with picture of a small sailing boat pasted centre front pf cover. Partly torn sticker on lower LH corner. Blanche Victoria SLY Born: 11 Oct 1890, daughter of William and Hannah Sly Address: 1913; Loddon Vale Address: 1980; 100 Barnard Street Bendigo Died: Bendigo 12 June 1982, buried Bendigo G3 William Sly: Born: 1856 at Smythesdale, Victoria Married in Victoria in 1887; Hannah Theilman Died: Bendigo 1937, buried Bendigo G1 Hannah Sly Nee Theilman Born: 1866 Married in Victoria in 1887; William Sly Died: Bendigo 1948, buried Bendigo G3 See additional Research .Postcard Album of Blanche Sly containing 49 postcards. See 1403 Coloured painting of a landscape with palm trees, river, man in a boat and buildings on far bank. Mokkatam, Egypt Artist - A Vivenzio? . Addressee - Mrs. W Sly, Loddon Vale, via Pyramid, Victoria Sender - Pte S Olgaiti Not datedpostcard, collector, blanche sly

The donor's (Karen Bowden) grandfather - Roy Liebig (1897-1968) - took these photos in the 1940s. Karen, as administrtor of his estate, has extracted various photos and sent them to appropriate historical societies.A series of photographs taken by Roy Liebig in the 1940s Hard copy and digital. Visiting NZ warship at Station Pier, also sail boats and waterfont buildingsmaritime, piers and wharves, war - world war ii, piers and wharves - station pier, roy liebig, karen bowden, yarra river, aircraft carrier

Flathead square copper nails probably used either for building timber boats or for killing tree stumps.1. None 2. Several line marks on each of 4 sides near topnails, copper

This photo shows a river boat under construction on the eastern bank of the Murray river in the Echuca Port area where the boat shed and swimming pool were located in the 1970's. The boat shed can be seen through the trees but the swimming pool isn't visible. There is another river boat behind, possibly the Canberra.This photograph is of historical and social significance in that it shows the condition of the Murray river in the 1970's at an area used as the local swimming area on the Echuca side of the river. There is a river boat under construction (the frame work shows a bottom and top storey on the boat). This could be the Pride of the Murray. It is difficult to see the name on the river boat behind but it looks like the Canberra. Three houseboats are moored together, a bit further down the river.Colour photograph (post card size) of the Murray river looking north towards the boat shed building. Two river boats are moored by the left bank close to the swimming pool and three house boats can be seen moored further down the river. The river boat in the fore ground is under construction.Printed on reverse:" this paper manufactured by Kodak". Written in blue pen"12B"echuca, port of (riverboats), echuca, port of

Artist Alison Withers work DIY Deluge Design No. 5 was awarded Expressions: The Wool Quilt Acquisitive Award in 2023. Works were received from across Australasia and internationally from some of quilting’s most highly regarded and awarded artists. Finalists work was displayed at Art Quilt Australia 2023 presented by Ozquilt Network and the National Wool Museum from 12 August to 12 November 2023. Artist Statement: It's clear we need to adapt the anatomy of our human spaces to become more resilient to the increasingly unavoidable impacts of climate change. Made by piecing, applique and free machine stitching, using industrial felt, hand dyed merino felt, woollen suiting, cotton fabric, wool theatre curtain backing and cotton and polyester thread.Rectangular portrait orientated art quilt depicting an environmental scene including boats, lights, elevated buildings, plants and birds on a background of shades of cream, blue and grey. A baton is sewn into the back at the bottom.Back: DIY Deluge Design No.5 / Alison Withersquilt, ozquilt network, prize, wool, art, felt, piecing, applique

Colour print of a watercolour painting titled "Boats in Wicklow Harbour". Set in cream card window mount. Features boats, water, buildings and low hills in the distance. Colours of red, greys, creams, blues and browns. Title printed lower left corner and artists signature lower right corner. Produced by Wicklow Scenic Prints. Made in Ireland.

Black and white photograph showing building, boats, and workmen at site of proposed New Entrance. View of Reeves River, later called Cunninghame Arm, looking east towards natural entrance. Lakes Entrance VictoriaReeves River from the New Lakes Entrance 1885c waterways, public works

This set of ten photographs was donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village by Fred Trewartha. Frederick John Fox Trewartha (Fred) was a well-known Warrnambool businessman. He was born in Beeac near Geelong in 1920 and came to Warrnambool with his family as a very young child. He was apprenticed to his father John, as a saddler and later opened his own shop on Raglan Parade. He then moved into working with tarpaulins and canvases for the trucking industry. Fred was keenly interested in photography (and was a member of the Warrnambool Cine Club), yachting and boat building. He kept his yacht moored at Port Fairy for many years and participated in sailing events locally and interstate. He also built boats with his sons. He had the opportunity to meet many older sailors and it's thought these photographs may have been given to him by one of these men. Fred Trewartha died in 2016 in Warrnambool.These photographs are significant because of their association with coastal trading along Victoria's West Coast in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Some of the photographs also reflect the importance of ships to Australia in its world wide trading routes.Collection of ten photographs of different sailing ships and coastal steamers. They are different sizes and at different locations. Nine of the photos are black and white or sepia toned and tend to show the ships either moored at a dock or anchored in a bay. All the photographs have the donor's name and telephone number handwritten on the back as well as a handwritten note naming the ships in the picture.Backs of photographs - Donor's name, telephone number and address handwritten in ink Handwritten notes about ship(s)depicted Some have stamped numbersflagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, great ocean road, shipping, sailing ships, steamers, coastal trade, port fairy, portland, melbourne, fred trewartha, frederick john fox trewartha, photographs, maritime photographs

One of a number of 'real photo' and commercial postcards created by or owned by members of the Christian and Washfold families of Kew. The postcards are part of a larger collection of photographs, postcards and publications donated to the collection in May 2021.Sepia postcard of quay at Port Said, located on the north east coast of Egypt on the Mediterranean Sea, showing buildings and boats at left and two ocean liners at rightwashfold family, christian family, postcards -- port said, christian-washfold family

Laminated screenprint of Portland harbour from the perspective of a boat looking back towards the shore. In the foreground is the front of the boat and four birds about to take flight from the water. The background features a few boats and the buildings along Bentinck Street.

Also black and white copy 9 x 14 cm with inscription 'The Jetties'Sepia photograph showing buildings, boats and jetties at New Works. Large sailing boat on slipway at left. Several small boats at PWD jetty, steamer at New Works wharf. Two works buildings on left background and white shed on New Works wharf. Lakes Entrance Victoria ships and shipping, waterways, jetties

Fishing Club building under construction Bullock Island bridge in background April Hamer moored Lakes Entrance Victoria. Another colour photograph of Gippland Lakes Fishing Club under construction in background dredged sand behind building boat ramp in foreground number 04057.1 size 10 x 15 cmColour photograph of Fishing Club building under construction Bullock Island bridge in background April Hamer moored Lakes Entrance Victoria recreation, fishing, buildings, clubs

Colour photograph distant view of boats at Eastern Wharf, includes boat on slip, other fishing boats tied at jetty, buildings on Esplanade in background, grass on sand opposite side of Lake, in foreground. Lakes Entrance Victoriafishing industry, ships and shipping, jetties

Half-hull ship models were an important step in the process of building a vessel. Shipwrights or designers would construct a half-hull scale model of a ship before the vessel was built. They used it to ensure that the dimensions would work together and that the ship look balanced. They would often mount the half hull onto a board in their workshop. The half-hull ship models were also used to show prospective buyers how the design would work and look. Given the plywood construction of the model, it is believed to have been made around the 1930s as plywood construction had started in earnest in Queensland around this time and soon became the centre of the industry because of Queensland's attractive rain forest woods used which also included red cedar, silver ash, black bean, Queensland maple and silky oak. It is also believed the model was a design for a clinker-built barge to be built by Peter Payne who operated a boat building works on the Mordialloc Creek, Victoria going out of business in 1973. Records show Peter Paynes' first craft launched in 1962 and the last in 1973 from Mordialloc Creek works. However, he was one of the most prolific builders from the 1930s and produced many more vessels than the records currently show. There is at this point no further record of the subject model or whether a full version was ever built and for whom is not known at this time.A model that demonstrates the boat-building process is believed to have been made by Peter Payne or someone who worked in his yard. P Payne was a very well-known boating personality, vessel captain and boat builder throughout most of the 20th century. Model barge half hull on wooden of plywood laminated construction. Marked "AUXILIARY BARGE 80'x16'x6' 315 TONS 4" - 1 FOOT" "P and H PAYNE?" "22/E/26" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, ship model half hull, ship half model, shipbuilding, shipwright, ship design, peter payne, boat builder victoria, clinker design, barge

This historic bronze nail dates back to 1840s when the ship Grange was built. Nails such as this one were used for boat building, as deck fasteners and many other uses. This nail was made at a time when the shanks of nails were usually machine cut but the heads were hand formed by blacksmiths. The nail was recovered from the shipwreck of the Grange in around 1968, 110 years after the Grange was wrecked (see below for further details on the Grange). It is part of the John Chance Collection. THE GRANGE, 1840-1858- The wooden barque ’Grange’ was a three-masted ship built in Scotland in 1840 for international and coastal trade. On March 22, 1858, the Grange set sail from Melbourne under Captain A. Alexander, carrying a cargo of ballast. The barque had left the Heads of Phillip Bay and was heading west along the Victorian coast towards Cape Otway. The ship struck Little Haley’s Reef at Apollo Bay due to a navigational error and was stuck on the rocks. The crew left the ship carrying whatever they could onto the beach. Eventually, the remains of the hull, sails and fittings were salvaged before the wreck of the Grange broke up about a month later. About 110 years later, in 1968, the wreck of the Grange was found by divers from the Underwater Explorers Club of Victoria. They were amazed to find a unique, six to nine pound carronade (type of small cannon) and a cannonball on the site. There have been no other similar carronades recorded. In that same year the anchor of the Grange was recovered by diver John Chance and Mal Brown.The nail is significant historically as an example of hardware used when building wooden ships in the early to mid-19th century. The nail is historically significant as an example of the work and trade of blacksmith. The nail also has significant as it was recovered by John Chance, a diver from the wreck of the Grange in the 1968. Items that come from several wrecks along Victoria's coast have since been donated to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village’s museum collection by his family, illustrating this item’s level of historical value. The nail is historically significant for its association with the 1840s wooden barque, the Grange. The Grange is an historical example of a Scottish built vessel used for international and coastal trader of both cargo and passengers in the mid-19th century. The Grange is an example of an early ship, designed with a wooden hull. It is significant as a ship still available to divers along the south coast of Victoria, for research and education purposes. The Grange is an example of a mid-19th century vessel that carried a weapon of defence onboard.Nail, bronze, round head, four-sided shank, tip flattened to a rounded wedge shape. The surface is pitted and rough. There is orange and blue concretion on the shank. The nail is bent. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, west coast trader, apollo bay, mid-19th century shipwreck, the grange, scottish barque, little henty reef, captain a alexander, underwater explorers club of victoria, 1840s carronade, vhr 5297, coastal trader, wooden shipwreck, john chance, fastener, nail, square nail, machine cut mail, blacksmith, historic nail, bronze nail, carronade, mal brown

This historic bronze nail dates back to 1840s when the ship Grange was built. Nails such as this one were used for boat building, as deck fasteners and many other uses. This nail was made at a time when the shanks of nails were usually machine cut but the heads were hand formed by blacksmiths. The nail was recovered from the shipwreck of the Grange in around 1968, 110 years after the Grange was wrecked (see below for further details on the Grange). It is part of the John Chance Collection. THE GRANGE, 1840-1858- The wooden barque ’Grange’ was a three-masted ship built in Scotland in 1840 for international and coastal trade. On March 22, 1858, the Grange set sail from Melbourne under Captain A. Alexander, carrying a cargo of ballast. The barque had left the Heads of Phillip Bay and was heading west along the Victorian coast towards Cape Otway. The ship struck Little Haley’s Reef at Apollo Bay due to a navigational error and was stuck on the rocks. The crew left the ship carrying whatever they could onto the beach. Eventually, the remains of the hull, sails and fittings were salvaged before the wreck of the Grange broke up about a month later. About 110 years later, in 1968, the wreck of the Grange was found by divers from the Underwater Explorers Club of Victoria. They were amazed to find a unique, six to nine pound carronade (type of small cannon) and a cannonball on the site. There have been no other similar carronades recorded. In that same year the anchor of the Grange was recovered by diver John Chance and Mal Brown. The nail is significant historically as an example of hardware used when building wooden ships in the early to mid-19th century. The nail is historically significant as an example of the work and trade of blacksmith. The nail also has significant as it was recovered by John Chance, a diver from the wreck of the Grange in the 1968. Items that come from several wrecks along Victoria's coast have since been donated to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village’s museum collection by his family, illustrating this item’s level of historical value. The nail is historically significant for its association with the 1840s wooden barque, the Grange. The Grange is an historical example of a Scottish built vessel used for international and coastal trader of both cargo and passengers in the mid-19th century. The Grange is an example of an early ship, designed with a wooden hull. It is significant as a ship still available to divers along the south coast of Victoria, for research and education purposes. The Grange is an example of a mid-19th century vessel that carried a weapon of defence onboard.Nail, bronze, oval head, four-sided shank, tip flattened to a rounded wedge shape. The surface is pitted and rough. There is orange and blue concretion on the shank. The nail is bent. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, west coast trader, apollo bay, mid-19th century shipwreck, the grange, scottish barque, little henty reef, captain a alexander, underwater explorers club of victoria, 1840s carronade, vhr 5297, coastal trader, wooden shipwreck, john chance, fastener, nail, square nail, machine cut mail, blacksmith, historic nail, bronze nail, carronade, mal brown

Printed black and white postcard. Images depict various views of Capetown. Clockwise from upper left is of a jetty with boats and buildings with the words The Jetty printed in red across the top. Next is a streetscape with buildings and trees with the words Tambours Kloof printed in red across the top. Next is an aerial view of a sea port with the words The Docks printed in red across the top. Finally a streetscape with buildings, horse drawn vehicles and people walking with the words Adderley Street printed in red across the top. The words Cape Town are printed in White on the left hand side. A white space depicted as a scroll is in the lower right hand corner containing handwriting. On reverse card is addressed to Mr G Balsillie Hopper St Bendigo Victoria Australia. Writing covers the left hand side.postcard

In 1952 the subject surf boat crewed by Geoff Scott, Ron Blackney, Wes McLaren, Jim Tibb, and Stan Stephens, won the Victorian Surf Boat Championships. When the club had finished with the boat Mr. Harold Stephenson paid one shilling and it eventually found its way into a garage where it remained for over 20 years before being donated to Flagstaff Hill. This boat is regarded as a unique example of craftsmanship, closely resembling Bay whaleboats used around the Warrnambool area in the 1800s. This timber caravel surf boat was named “Aeroplane Jelly” and was built by N & E Towns a Newcastle boat builder in 1949 Aeroplane Jellies and David Jones as sponsors of the Sydney Surf Carnival of 1950/1951 donated jointly the vessel. George Towns started his boat-building business in 1869 on Dempsey Island on the Hunter River, NSW. George's sons took over the business as N & E Towns (Norman and Eldrid) and continued until the early 1950s. The business made a variety of small craft including fishing boats, launches, and flood boats. In 1928 they built their first surf boat it took about six weeks to build with cedar planks and hardwood frames. After World War II surf boats became their main focus and they became well known for the lighter and faster designs. Many “Towns built” craft have won events at state and national surf championships. They were renowned Boat Builders producing a much lighter and faster running boat than anything previously made, with a buoyant type bow design giving it the lift necessary to get out and through heavy surf. while its sleek lines from amidships aft provided very fast running qualities. Either side of its bows, it bore the bright silver aircraft transfer of the Aeroplane Jellies Company. After a surf competition at Narrabeen NSW, the competing Warrnambool surf lifesaving team returned home to Warrnambool their club committee decided to purchase the "Aeroplane Jellies" Surf boat if and when it became available as the team had been so impressed with the boat. On 30 October 1951 a cheque for £207-2/6' was raised, £180 for the boat, balance for oars. Transport was arranged and the boat was delivered in November 1951. When the "Aeroplane Jellies" competition days were over in the early 1960's due largely to changing surf boat design, Warrnambool Club's Secretary, Mr. Harold Stephenson, sought permission from the Committee to purchase the boat for the nominal sum of one shilling thus preserving the vessel for posterity. The boat had been stored for many years at the Nullawarre Bakery where it remained until Mr. Stephenson died in 1985. After Mr. Stephenson's passing his family donated the vessel to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in 1986.A very rare example of a surf lifesaving boat that for its time was a unique creation that revolutionised small vessel design in Australia. It was made by a renowned maker that today unfortunately many of his examples of boats he made, especially surf life-saving boats no longer exist making the Flagstaff Hill boat very significant to not only surf lifesaving history but to the part it played in our social life for all those who went to the beaches in 1960s Australia.Surf boat named "Aeroplane Jellies". Timber, double ender carvel, built in 1949 by N & E Towns, Newcastle, NSW. Only a few are in existence. She was a trophy prize at Sydney Surf Carnival 1950/1951, donated by Aeroplane Jellies and David Jones Dept. Store, Sydney. The boat was won by South Narrabeen Surf Club. Warrnambool Surf Club purchased her on 30/10/1951 for £207-2/6, and she was sold to Harold Stephenson in early 1960's for 1 shilling. Donated to Flagstaff Hill by the family of Harold Stephenson around 1985-1986. The name Aeroplane Jellies was lettered in gold across the boat's coaming and there is a remnant of some of the gold lettering still there.warrnambool, flagstaff hillflagstaff hill maritime museum, great ocean road, ememgency, historic boat, surf boat, n & e towns, carvel, vintage boat, double ender boat, lifesaving boat, geoff scott, south narrabeen surf club, warrnambool surf life saving club, lifeboat

Three copies -Sepia photograph showing dunes, houses and Works buildings and boats at the entrance to Gippsland Lakes from ocean - Bass Strait. Photo shows two PWD houses on left and small school building, plus other Works buildings. Flagstaff on dune above houses. Large barge on left in front of houses. Large passenger steamer at New Works wharf with people waiting, has flags and bunting, two masted ketch on right of rock groynes. Lakes Entrance Victoriajetties, boats and boating, settlement, historic site

The ocean Steamtug "Racer" was built in 1886 in Sunderland by "Boolds, Sharer and Company" for the "Queenstown Tug and Shipping Company". It is mentioned in several newspapers that soon afterwards it sank in Queenstown Harbour, Ireland and remained submerged for six months before being raised. It was a steel screw boat with a sluice keel, was 185 tons and 420 feet long. It was purchased around 1889 by the "Melbourne Coal, Shipping and Engineering Company Ltd" as it had sufficient power to work with the huge iron clippers that the company were dealing with. It survived several dangerous incidents on its voyage out to Melbourne. On May 28th in the middle of the night in a heavy gale, the tug was swamped by heavy seas and then several hours later was almost run down by a very large ship (the clipper Loch Vennachar) in full sail. The "Racer" (later owned by the "Melbourne Steamship Company") became one of the fastest and best-known tugs in the Port of Melbourne - working in the port until 1935. The "Racer" was involved in many rescues and dangerous incidents during its 45 years including the attempted rescue of the "Craigburn" near Cape Schanck, the rescue of the "Edina" from a reef near Williamstown and the rescue of the "Netherby" from heavy seas near Inverloch. In March 1930 she was caught by a strong wind when turning in the Yarra River and crashed into the Spencer Street Bridge - resulting in some damage to the scaffolding on the bridge and slight damage to the tug. In 1906 the "Racer" created a record for the fastest tow when it towed the 900-ton barque "Elizabeth Graham" from Sydney to Melbourne in 73 hours. In 1934 it was withdrawn from commission with plans for it to be broken up for scrap metal but was bought by a Melbourne businessman to be converted into a three masted schooner trading between Tasmania and Melbourne. George (Joe) Cunningham was born in 1892 in Geelong. His father, Alexander Cunningham was a ship builder and carpenter. George worked on oceangoing ships as a young man but after his marriage, had a twenty-six year career on Tugboats. He worked as a deckhand on the "Racer" and then worked his way up as a mate and then master on the "Maitland" and "Tooronga". Later he was in charge of two larger boats - the "Alvina" and "Helen Moore" and was engaged in salvaging the Union Steamship vessel "Karkariki" near Gellibrand Pile Light at the entrance to Hobsons Bay. George Cunningham died in 1978. This photograph was one of ten photographs donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village by Fred Trewartha. Frederick John Fox Trewartha (Fred) was a well-known Warrnambool businessman. He was born in Beeac near Geelong in 1920 and came to Warrnambool with his family as a very young child. He was apprenticed to his father John, as a saddler and later opened his own shop on Raglan Parade. He then moved into working with tarpaulins and canvases for the trucking industry. Fred was keenly interested in photography (and was a member of the Warrnambool Cine Club), yachting and boat building. He kept his yacht moored at Port Fairy for many years and participated in sailing events locally and interstate. He also built boats with his sons. He had the opportunity to meet many older sailors and it's thought this photo (and others in the set) may have been given to him by one of these men. Fred Trewartha died in 2016 in Warrnambool.This item is significant as a reminder of the important role tugboats and their crews played in the maritime history of Melbourne and the surrounding seas. This is a close-up view of a tugboat showing a man leaning against the upper deck. Two lifebuoys (with the words S. S. Racer Melbourne) are attached to the side of the deck and a funnel and an airvent are in the background. A handwritten note in pencil saying "Geo Cunningham on board Racer "is on the back of the photograph.Back - "Geo Cunningham on board Racer" Front (on lifebuoys) - S. S. RACER MELBOURNEflagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, tugboats, steamtug boats, racer, george cunningham, port of melbourne, melbourne steamship company, rescues, craigburn, steamtug, edina, elizabeth graham, netherby, yarra river, ships, historic maritime photographs, boolds sharer and company, queenstown tug and shipping company, melbourne coal shipping and engineering company limited