Tim Walker’s work is an eye-catching array of shipwreck artefacts and associated items. They help tell the story of the 19th century ships that travelled across the world full of people and cargo that are now part of our history. The work was commissioned especially for Flagstaff Hill and highlights the famous story of the 1878 ‘Loch Ard’ shipwreck. The images also include two small items from the 1981 ‘Fiji’ shipwreck. Local professional artist Timothy “Tim” Walker was born in Britain in 1970. He was self-taught had the desire to use his talents for full-time work. He specialised in painting local scenes, landscape and people of Warrnambool and district after he moved there in 1990. As he worked at the location of his subjects, people often told him interesting and amusing stories. He soon became involved in the Warrnambool and District Artists’ Society, where he has served for a period as President. In 2010 Warrnambool Art Gallery hosted an exhibition “Nine Lives” with works from nine local artists including Tim Walker. The ‘LOCH ARD’ 1873-1878 - brief history The clipper ship ‘Loch Ard’ was a built in Scotland in 1873. In 1978 the ship was sailing to Melbourne with 54 people on board as well as a mixed cargo of items, some of which were bound for the 1880 International Exhibition in Melbourne. On June 1st 1878 it was very close to its destination when it crashed into Mutton Bird Island, east of Port Campbell. Only two people survived. The wreck was re-discovered in 1967, almost a century later, and the site continues to provide evidence of the range of goods imported into the Colony of Victoria in the post-Gold Rush era. Flagstaff Hill divers in the 1970s reported finds of “Bottles of champagne, window panes, rolls of zinc, barrels of cement, iron rails, clocks, lead shot, corrugated iron, lead, marble, salad oil bottles, ink bottles, copper wire, gin bottles, rolls of carpet, floor tiles, copper rivets, gas light fittings, pocket knives, toys, crystal chandeliers, beer mugs, cutlery, candles sticks, wick scissors, cow bells, and sauce bottles.” The famous Loch Ard Peacock was also on board. The ‘FIJI’ 1875-1891 – brief history The barque ‘Fiji’ was built in Ireland in 1875. The sailing ship left Hamburg in May 1891, bound for Melbourne with a crew of twenty-five plus the captain. The ‘Fiji’ had almost reached her destination after a trip of 100 days at sea when, on September 5th 1891, she struck rock 300 metres from the shore at Moonlight Head, near Cape Otway. Eleven men lost their lives but with the help of locals including members of the Rocket Rescue Crew, the rest of the men were saved. In anticipation of Christmas, the cargo had included a wide variety of children’s toys, amongst which were dolls with china limbs, wooden rocking horses, miniature ships, and red and white rubber balls. There were also cases of dynamite, pig iron, steel goods, spirits, sailcloth, tobacco, fencing wire, concrete, 400 German pianos, concertinas and other musical instruments, artists’ supplies, porcelain, furniture, china and candles. This artwork has historical significance as it shows a small sample of the variety of items on board the late 19th century ships bound for Australia in the Colonial and late God Rush period. The cargo contained personal luggage, items intended as gifts, and goods ordered for domestic, commercial or industrial use. The wreck sites of both vessels, ‘Loch Ard’ and ‘Fiji’ are classified on the Victorian Heritage Register as significant and are now protected by government law. The sites are popular with divers and provide interpretive material regarding social and maritime history. Framed poster of a watercolour painting by Tim Walker, gilt frame, behind glass. Subject is a group of objects, most of which are connected with the 1878 shipwreck Loch Ard, such as items recovered from the shipwreck and the famous ‘Loch Ard Peacock’. Two items are from the wreck of the ‘Fiji’. Inscriptions on ingot, a handwritten letter, bell, clear bottle, and small plaque.On ingot: “PONTIFEX & WOOD. LONDON”. On letter: “Presented to Mr. Thomas Pearce”. On small ingot: “TIM WALKER”. On bell: “LOCH ARD”. On clear bottle “THE SINGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY“. On plaque: TIM WALKER”.warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, flagstaff hill, loch ard, fiji, watercolour, timothy walker, tim walker, warrnambool & district artists’ society, warrnambool art gallery, poster, henna street picture framers, cargo, print

Child-size rocking horse made and sold by a patient of Mayday Hills Asylum. Purchased in 1978 and used by a family for generations.Mayday Hills Asylum was one of the three largest psychiatric hospitals in Victoria, and played an important role in the treatment of mental health illnesses from its establishment in 1867 to its closure in 1995. As part of prescribed treatment, many patients participated in craft activities were they were able to create an array of objects. A small wooden rocking horse painted in green, white and brown, with carpet lining on seat.beechworth, burke museum, mayday hills asylum, rocking horse, children's toys

Used by Mr E. F. Reynolds, who conducted a hardware and tinsmith shop in Orbost until 1905. He married Elizabeth Davidson.The stereoscope became popular after being exhibited at the Crystal Palace Exhibition in London. The stereoscope is an instrument that unites images that are seen differently by each eye into one image creating a three-dimensional scene that allows the viewer to experience depth. The stereoscope is especially important to landscape photographers helping them to equally represent a landscape from two different points of sight. The stereoscope was a model for the creation of the Viewfinder in the 1950's, a popular children's toy. Small stereoscope with wire rack for viewing photos. Wooden eye mask.stereoscope reynolds-edward audio-visual appliances

This cap gun was found by a local Warrnambool resident in about 1971. Cap guns first appeared following the end of the American Civil War in the mid-1860s, when firearms companies experimented with toy guns to stay in business. Cap guns became especially popular when the heroes of cinema and television rode through the West ridding the territories of villains. Many cap guns were named after or endorsed by leading matinee idols like Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy, The Lone Ranger, Tonto, Dale Evans, Marshal Matt Dillon, or any of countless others. Cap guns became popular after the second world war and children all over the world emulated their heroes and collected and played with these toy guns. Eventually all of the famous cap gun manufacturers either sold out to other toy companies or started manufacturing other types of toys. Before it was deemed dangerous or politically incorrect for young children to point pistols at each other and fire at will, cap guns were a staple of toy chests. The item demonstrates how society has changed its attitudes and now regard these types of toys as morally unacceptable as they tend to promote violent attitudes towards others. The item demonstrates significantly how our societies social attitudes have changed since world war two from general societal acceptance of such toys to one of distaste.Toy gun; cap gun. Cast iron toy pistol with metal trigger. Name "National" in raised embossing in the casting on the handle on both sides of the gun. Made in 1911."National" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, toys, cap gun, national fireworks distrubuting company, toy guns, toy pistol

This photograph shows Ina Warren with Jack warren, Linda Warren and Cora Lynn. The photographer was Warren, Helena (1871-1962) who was a self-taught photographer who became both the local press correspondent and a producer of humorous trompe l'oeil postcard images. Helena Warren was a thirty-two year old settler living on a small mixed farm with her husband, William, at Newmerella, near Orbost in Gippsland, Victoria, when she bought her first camera, an Austral Box quarter-plate. Her family says she was entirely self-taught, like many women photographers who started out with nothing but the instructions on the packets of film and chemicals. In over fifty years practice she graduated from the total novice, who opened all her first mail order plates in bright sunlight and ruined them, to a competent photographer who became both the local press correspondent and an inveterate producer of humorous trompe l’oeil postcard images. Helena Francis Warren (nee McKeown) was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She supplied the photos for the Back-To-Orbost celebration book in 1937 and also designed the Back-To-Orbost badge. She was known for her soft toy making. (by Ivy Rodwell in from Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District by Mary Gilbert). This photograph has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker,A black / white photograph of a woman with three small children sitting in a pumpkin on water . There are small flags (Australian and British) at each end. On the pumpkin is "HMAS ORBOST".pumpkins-orbost warren-helena-photographer

This photograph shows Percy De Forest and his brother, Alfred of McLeod Street, Orbost. The photographer was Warren, Helena (1871-1962) who was a self-taught photographer who became both the local press correspondent and a producer of humorous trompe l'oeil postcard images. Helena Warren was a thirty-two year old settler living on a small mixed farm with her husband, William, at Newmerella, near Orbost in Gippsland, Victoria, when she bought her first camera, an Austral Box quarter-plate. Her family says she was entirely self-taught, like many women photographers who started out with nothing but the instructions on the packets of film and chemicals. In over fifty years practice she graduated from the total novice, who opened all her first mail order plates in bright sunlight and ruined them, to a competent photographer who became both the local press correspondent and an inveterate producer of humorous trompe l’oeil postcard images. Helena Francis Warren (nee McKeown) was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She supplied the photos for the Back-To-Orbost celebration book in 1937 and also designed the Back-To-Orbost badge. She was known for her soft toy making. (by Ivy Rodwell in from Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District by Mary Gilbert). This photograph has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker,Two black / white photograohs of two small children sitting in a large pumpkin on water.on front - An Orbost Pumpkinpumpkins-orbost de-forest warren-helena-photography

The photograph shows Linda Warren, Enid Eaton, Jim Trewin and Jim Nixon. The photographer was Warren, Helena (1871-1962) who was a self-taught photographer who became both the local press correspondent and a producer of humorous trompe l'oeil postcard images. Helena Warren was a thirty-two year old settler living on a small mixed farm with her husband, William, at Newmerella, near Orbost in Gippsland, Victoria, when she bought her first camera, an Austral Box quarter-plate. Her family says she was entirely self-taught, like many women photographers who started out with nothing but the instructions on the packets of film and chemicals. In over fifty years practice she graduated from the total novice, who opened all her first mail order plates in bright sunlight and ruined them, to a competent photographer who became both the local press correspondent and an inveterate producer of humorous trompe l’oeil postcard images. Helena Francis Warren (nee McKeown) was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She supplied the photos for the Back-To-Orbost celebration book in 1937 and also designed the Back-To-Orbost badge. She was known for her soft toy making. (by Ivy Rodwell in from Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District by Mary Gilbert). This photograph has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker,A black / white photograph of a young girl on a horse pulling a group of children in a large pumkin. On the side of the pumpkin is "HMAS ORBOST"pumpkins-orbost warren-helena nixon-jim trewin-jim warren-linda eaton-enid

This child’s wash board, a play item, is possibly home-made. Wash boards for rubbing and washing clothes were common household clothes- washing items in Australia until the mid 20th century, along with wood coppers, washing troughs, copper sticks and simple wringers. By the 1950s and 60s washing machines were becoming more prevalent and the wash board was no longer a common item in households. This item is retained as an interesting example of a twentieth Century child's toy.This is a rectangular-shaped unpainted wooden wash board with clear rippled glass inserted in the centre and held in by four metal screws. The top of the board has a piece of the wood missing. household items, children’s toys

Comprises a collection of metal, wooden and plastic toys which would possibly date back to the 1920s to 1940sThis collection came from the Warton / Baker families from Tawonga and Redbank in the Kiewa Valley.Collection of metal toys: 1. x2 Train Locomotives 2. Red tractor - mechanical with key 3. Man using grinder - mechanical with key 4. Two birds with worm - mechanical with key 5. Green trailer - mechanical with key 6. Small tank - mechanical with key 7. Aeroplane 8. Metal top 9. Home-made push-along wheels 10. Home made top 11. Cap gun 12. Cookie Cutters 13. Small tin puncture Kit - empty 14. Metal fox whistle 15. Tin trumpet 16. Large metal pump top 17. Plastic & metal mechancal toy in cardboard box- Jolly Skipper Other: 1. Monkey puppet with paper legs 2. Small plastic bells 3. Plastic boy on bike 4. Plastic green car 5. Plastic small trains 6. Soldier dog 8. Two half coconut shells (hollow) 9. Cylinder of wooden mechano tinker toy 10. Plastic Mr & Mrs Funny Face in box 11. Trip to New York game in box 12. Wooden Modelcraft - Build-ees in box 13. Wooden ring 14. Jig-saw toys, puzzles, wooden mechano, mechanical toys, recreation, children

This doll belonged to member Allan Blain's sister. It was donated to WDHS and then recently returned after an extended loan. The doll has been re-dressed. Dollmaker Carl Trautmann founded his doll factory in Finsterbergen, Germany, in 1884. The firm made high quality ball jointed dolls and also pull-the-string mechanical and speaking dolls. In 1906 the factory moved to Catterfelder, Germany, and the company name was changed to Catterfelder Puppenfabrik. The firm JD Kestner supplied the bisque heads.This doll is significant as an example of the toys available in the early 20th century. It shows the manner in which dolls were jointed to allow movement of the limbs and head.12 inch (30cm) doll with fully jointed composition body and bisque head with open mouth containing two tiny teeth, and sleep eyes. She has a hair wig stitched down the centre of the head and has tiny pearl earrings. The doll is dressed in a lace trimmed pink nylon dress with puffed sleeves and matching hat, and cream shoes.Catterfelder Puppenfabrikblain, children's toys, dolls, warrnambool, catterfelder puppenfabrik

A child (possibly Alison Watson b1948 in Murtoa, Victoria) standing next to a toy pedal car.pedal car, toys, toys mid 20th century, childrens' clothing mid 20th century

A toy is an item that is used in play, especially one designed for such use. It is mainly intended for use by children, though may also be marketed to adults under certain circumstances. Playing with toys can be an enjoyable means of training young children for life in society. Different materials like wood, clay, paper, and plastic are used to make toys. Many items are designed to serve as toys, but goods produced for other purposes can also be used. For instance, a small child may fold an ordinary piece of paper into an airplane shape and "fly it". Playing with toys is considered to be important when it comes to growing up and learning about the world around us. Younger children use toys to discover their identity. The subject item is significant as it is an early example or a toy that was designed to fill the need for children to learn cause and effect, explore relationships, and practice skills they will need as adults. Adults also can use toys on occasion to form and strengthen social bonds, teach, help in therapy, and to remember and reinforce lessons from their youth. Wooden box with pieces of wood inside of various sizes believed to be a child's construction toySome pieces have designs

Unable to determine a specific company that manufactured this doll many Japanese companies manufactured dolls of this type for export and these were only marked "Nippon" to show country of manufacture. These dolls marked this way were in production from around 1920 until 1941 when Japanese toy factories began to manufacturing items for war.Unable to be determined provenance relating to specific Japanese manufacturer. The doll is an example of a children's toy from the 1920s-1940s.Porcelain Doll in white fabric dress Doll, female, has porcelain face, composite body with swivel head and limbs. Head has long brown curly mohair wig attached into a hole in the pate; several doll-sized hairpins hold hair in place. Face has open mouth showing two porcelain front teeth, brown eyes of hand blown glass and hand painted features. Back of neck has two pressed holes above maker’s mark. Doll has removable white silk socks and brown shoes with tied ankle strap and hard soles. Doll is wearing old fashioned cream coloured knitted woollen singlet, cream flannel vest with draw-string cotton bodice and scalloped edge. The doll also has a more modern style white cotton dress with pink smocking. Inscription pressed into back of neck, shaded with pencil, "Nippon"Maker’s Mark “NIPPON” (See media section this document for a list of possible manufactures of doll)flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, doll, nippon, nippon novelty company, porcelain, japanese doll manufacturer, porcelain doll, vintage doll

Game played by small children where the top is made to spin on its point by wrapping the leather thong around the top and flicking the thong.Turned wooden top; round stick with red-painted handle and leather "whipping" thongspinning top, games, toys

Cream crocheted pantaloons made for a doll. Cream satin ribbon threaded through waist and ankles.dolls clothes, doll, toy, children, clothing, pantaloon

Displayed at History House.Cream crochet baby singlet, full body length. Satin (cream) ribbon threaded through neck of garment. No sleeves.birmingham collection, dolls clothes, toys, domestic, children, childhood

This contains newspaper cuttings that record the events of the period 1969 to 1970. Many articles are about a Charity Queen Quest being sponsored by the Lions club and some relate to toys being donated to South Vietnamese children, as this was during the Vietnam war.Lists local activities of the Lions club to assist with community projects.Spiral bound folder with newspaper articles concerning the Lions Club of Greensborough during the period 1st July 1969 to 30th June 1970.Numerous biro commentaries through out. On front cover: "Started by PR Committee H. Fraser, N. Way and K. Gregson. June July 1969 - June 30 1970."lions club, lions club of greensborough, greensborough, vietnam war, charity, charity queen quest, janefield

There is evidence of the game of marbles in the ruins of Pompeii and the tombs of Egyptians as well as early American Indians. The earliest marbles were simply rounded stones which had been polished but this was refined to handmade versions made of clay, stone and glass. It was in the late 19th century that mass production began and it gives testament to the popularity of the game that the Dyke factory of Ohio could produce 1,000,000 marbles a day. It was around 1915 that the mass production of glass marbles began. The game reached the height of popularity in the 1920-1930’s. Many were prized for their designs.The game of marbles was one of the most common games played universally, from childhood hence has a strong link with people of all ages and cultures. Five marbles in glass jar. All are various sizes ranging from large yellow streaked with red and blue, black striped with white, marbled tan, clear with multi coloured streaks and bright blue. Shapes are roughly spherical. Materials range from glass to glazed and stone. Three have pontil marks either on end.The lid of the jar has Nestle vacuumed sealed for extra protection. Use special key to open. Old sticker on base with 173 written in black lead pencil. toys, marbles, children's games, warrnambool, handmade marbles, glass marbles, clay marbles, agate marbles

The children in this photograph are Frank abd Ivy Warren. Helena Francis Warren (nee McKeown) was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She supplied the photos for the Back-To-Orbost celebration book in 1937 and also designed the Back-To-Orbost badge. She was known for her soft toy making. (by Ivy Rodwell in from Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District by Mary Gilbert). This photograph has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker,A black / white studio portrait photograph of a young boy and girl standing against an outdoor wall. The girl is wearing a long white dress and has a ribbon bow in her hair.The boy a tunic with a wide belt and lace collar. His long sleeved have wide cuffs. The photograph is an oval shape on a grey / white background.warren-frank warren-ivy

These items are from the estate of Norma Adelaide Scott (nee Johnston) ,January 2, 1925 - May 18, 2018 (93 years old) who died in Orbost. Norma was part of the Morris family who came to Newmerella in 1888, had land on Grandview Road and on the flats. Mr Morris had been a school teacher at Lake Tyers Mission before coming to Orbost. "Bobs y’r Uncle" was a nursery rhyme game designed by Frank H. Simpson for John Waddington Ltd. in 1935. The game was especially designed for children. The cards had scenes from nursery rhymes and six cards were needed to make up each rhyme in a set. Games turned out to become an important part in the progress of Waddingtons, who eventually acquired the rights to Monopoly in the UK, and then published Cluedo, opening the way for their supremacy in the toy industry These items are examples of common household items used in an Orbost family in the first - mid 20th century.3228.1 is a wooden tray with handles. The tray is lacquered and hand - painted with green leaves and orange flowers. 3228.2 is a brush with a curved wooden handle, lacquered and decorated in a similar pattern of green leaves and flowers. 3228.3 is a small wooden tray, lacquered and hand -painted with green leaves and yellow flowers. It is a rectangular shape with raised edging attached on the four sides. 3229.4 is a pack of cards in a red box with a cartoon type drawing of a man wearing a checked coat and hat holding two dogs on leashes.3228.5 is an orange / white cardboard box containing a pair of nylon stockings: box labelled " 'KOLOTEX/ Free-n-eezy" stockings.3228,5 - in orange and white print - "KOLOTEX/ Free-n-eezy/ Clings/ 40 denier/ SEAMLESS/ S-T-R-E-T-C-H" and in black - "NEW guaranteed never to ladder"scott-norma cards-playing hosiery-kolotex-stockings trays-wooden household

The National Bicycle Game is an Australian-made and designed board game for 2, 3 or 4 players made by The National Game Company of Ballarat and Melbourne between 1930 and 1950. The earliest board games date from the mid-18th century and were printed on copper or steel plates and coloured by hand. By 1839 lithography was first used, making it possible for publishers to produce larger quantities of all types of toys. By the 1890s the games were mounted on to a folded board. Popular subjects were of an historical or geographical nature, as well as transport including motoring, aviation and railways and various sports. The board game 'A Motor Ride' ,made by The National Game Company, was possibly the first large-scale manufacturer of locally-designed board games in Australia. The firm was established in Ballarat, Victoria, at the beginning of the twentieth century by W. Owen. Other board games made by National include the 'Victory-United Nations" game, 'Fairyland', 'Yacht Race', 'Golf Game', 'Bicycle Game', Steeple Chase', 'Our Great Game' about football, 'Courtship and Marriage', 'Around the Commonwealth by Aeroplane', and 'Dugouts and Trenches' as well as the more traditional games such as Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, and Noughts and Crosses. This game board has been well-used. The game is significant because it uses scenarios familiar to Australian children in the first half of the twentieth century. This game board reflects the experience of being a child in the twentieth century. Toys were how children were socialised and taught. Most toys mimic the adult world, and looking at them can tell us something about how the world has changed. A folding game board for The national Bicycle Game for 2,3 or 4 players. It has a yellow spiral track on which the player progresses at the throw of the die, starting at the clubhouse until reaching home. In the background are pictures of rural scenes.board-games recreation cycling national-game-company

It was inevitable that once children began to play with dolls and to create their own accessories for these toys, opportunistic manufacturers would begin to market products to cater for them. Toys made especially for little girls were designed to imitate the life and the society around them and to prepare them for their adult life as mothers. In the 21st century toys are less recognisable as miniature playthings. This item reflects the type of toys likely to be used by young girls.This is a cane pram for a doll. It has a wire handle which was probably once covered with cane. There are 4 steel wheels with solid rubber tyres. The cane has been woven around wire attached to the base. the hood is part of the basket. toys pram-dolls

This toy belonged to Graeme McLeod and was used during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It was then used by his children during the 1970s and 1980s.Red tin typewriter with a blue roller carriage, metal bar to hold the paper and a knob at the end of the roller to turn the paper. A red and black inked ribbon is stretched across in front so that when the chosen letter is selected and the press bar activated, the letter types onto the paper. A yellow disk on top has the alphabet and numbers 2-9 around the outside.METTYPE Junior/Place letter under pointer and press for spaces and to return carriage use arrow. [on top disk]allansford, mcleod, typewriters, toys, mettype, mettoy

The toy soldier is a relic from the shipwreck of the LOCH ARD in 1878. It has a companion piece in the Flagstaff Hill collection. The toy soldier is unpainted, but the style of uniform, and the weapons carried (a musket and a basket-handled cutlass), indicate it is a representation of the Napoleonic Wars period from the beginning of the nineteenth century. Mass-produced toy soldiers made of cast metal (lead or tin) became popular during the 1800s. Heyde of Germany manufactured silhouette-shaped flat toy soldiers early in the century. Mignot of France released three-dimensional solid figures and later around 1893 W. Britain, a toy company became known for its die-cast lead toy soldiers. These innovations were designed to make sets of toy soldiers more affordable for middle and lower-class children, extending the market beyond the intricately made and hand-crafted replicas that were the preserve of the rich in the eighteenth century. Wooden military figures, specially carved and unpainted ones, were therefore not particularly common at the time when the Loch Ard foundered on Victoria’s southwest coast. Mignot was the first to sell unpainted soldiers, leaving their customers to fill in the colours according to their own patriotic preferences. It is, therefore, possible the two figures in the Flagstaff Hill collection were part of a new set intended for sale, rather than part of a passenger’s existing collection. Loch Ard History: The Loch Ard got its name from ”Loch Ard” a loch that lies to the west of Aberfoyle, and the east of Loch Lomond. It means "high lake" in Scottish Gaelic. The vessel belonged to the famous Loch Line which sailed many vessels from England to Australia. The Loch Ard was built in Glasgow by Barclay, Curle & Co. in 1873, the vessel was a three-masted square-rigged iron sailing ship that measured 79.87 meters in length, 11.58 m in width, and 7 m in depth with a gross tonnage of 1693 tons with a mainmast that measured a massive 45.7 m in height. Loch Ard made three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its fateful voyage. Loch Ard left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of 29-year-old Captain Gibbs, who was newly married. The ship was bound for Melbourne with a crew of 37, plus 17 passengers. The general cargo reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. Onboard were straw hats, umbrellas, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionery, linen and candles, as well as a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead and copper. There were other items included that were intended for display in the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880. The voyage to Port Phillip was long but uneventful. Then at 3 am on June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs was expecting to see land. But the Loch Ard was running into a fog which greatly reduced visibility. Captain Gibbs was becoming anxious as there was no sign of land or the Cape Otway lighthouse. At 4 am the fog lifted and a lookout aloft announced that he could see breakers. The sheer cliffs of Victoria's west coast came into view, and Captain Gibbs realised that the ship was much closer to them than expected. He ordered as much sail to be set as time would permit and then attempted to steer the vessel out to sea. On coming head-on into the wind, the ship lost momentum, the sails fell limp and Loch Ard's bow swung back towards land. Gibbs then ordered the anchors to be released in an attempt to hold their position. The anchors sank some 50 fathoms - but did not hold. By this time the ship was among the breakers and the tall cliffs of Mutton Bird Island rose behind. Just half a mile from the coast, the ship's bow was suddenly pulled around by the anchor. The captain tried to tack out to sea, but the ship struck a reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Waves subsequently broke over the ship and the top deck became loosened from the hull. The masts and rigging came crashing down knocking passengers and crew overboard. When a lifeboat was finally launched, it crashed into the side of Loch Ard and capsized. Tom Pearce, who had launched the boat, managed to cling to its overturned hull and shelter beneath it. He drifted out to sea and then on the flood tide came into what is now known as Lochard Gorge. He swam to shore, bruised and dazed, and found a cave in which to shelter. Some of the crew stayed below deck to shelter from the falling rigging but drowned when the ship slipped off the reef into deeper water. Eva Carmichael a passenger had raced onto the deck to find out what was happening only to be confronted by towering cliffs looming above the stricken ship. In all the chaos, Captain Gibbs grabbed Eva and said, "If you are saved Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a sailor". That was the last Eva Carmichael saw of the captain. She was swept off the ship by a huge wave. Eva saw Tom Pearce on a small rocky beach and yelled to attract his attention. He dived in and swam to the exhausted woman and dragged her to shore. He took her to the cave and broke the open case of brandy which had washed up on the beach. He opened a bottle to revive the unconscious woman. A few hours later Tom scaled a cliff in search of help. He followed hoof prints and came by chance upon two men from nearby Glenample Station three and a half miles away. In a complete state of exhaustion, he told the men of the tragedy. Tom then returned to the gorge while the two men rode back to the station to get help. By the time they reached Loch Ard Gorge, it was cold and dark. The two shipwreck survivors were taken to Glenample Station to recover. Eva stayed at the station for six weeks before returning to Ireland by steamship. In Melbourne, Tom Pearce received a hero's welcome. He was presented with the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria and a £1000 cheque from the Victorian Government. Concerts were performed to honour the young man's bravery and to raise money for those who lost family in the disaster. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: the apprentice, Tom Pearce and the young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost her family in the tragedy. Ten days after the Lochard tragedy, salvage rights to the wreck were sold at auction for £2,120. Cargo valued at £3,000 was salvaged and placed on the beach, but most washed back into the sea when another storm developed. The wreck of Lochard still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island. Much of the cargo has now been salvaged and some items were washed up into Lochard Gorge. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced in March 1982. One of the most unlikely pieces of cargo to have survived the shipwreck was a Minton majolica peacock- one of only nine in the world. The peacock was destined for the Melbourne 1880 International Exhibition. It had been well packed, which gave it adequate protection during the violent storm. Today the Minton peacock can be seen at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in Warrnambool. From Australia's most dramatic shipwreck, it has now become Australia's most valuable shipwreck artifact and is one of very few 'objects' on the Victorian State Heritage Register.The toy soldier represents a 19th-century child's interest in military history. The item is one of two toy soldiers recovered from the Loch Ard in Flagstaff Hill's collection. The shipwreck of the Loch Ard is of significance for Victoria and is registered on the Victorian Heritage Register ( S 417). Flagstaff Hill has a varied collection of artefacts from Loch Ard and its collection is significant for being one of the largest accumulations of artefacts from this notable Victorian shipwreck of which the subject items are a small part. The collections of objects give us a snapshot of how we can interpret the story of this tragic event. The collection is also archaeologically significant as it represents aspects of Victoria's shipping history, allowing us to interpret Victoria's social and historical themes. Through is associated with the worst and best-known shipwreck in Victoria's history.An unpainted, cream-coloured toy soldier, recovered from the Loch Ard. The figure wears a Napoleonic Wars-era uniform, a plumed helmet, a short jacket with tails, bib-front trousers with button closure, straps crossed at the front and back, and epaulettes. The figure is in marching posture with one foot extended forward, and is bearing a musket at the slope-arms position, with a sabre or cutlass slung behind. It is unable to stand on its own. There are reddish-brown and orange-brown stains on the head and body. The body has seams along both sides that are uneven at the lower leg. There is a hole in the back and the inside is hollow. The material has a rough texture.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch ard, toy soldier, napoleonic uniforms, military toy, moulded soldier

The toy soldier is a relic from the shipwreck of the LOCH ARD in 1878. It has a companion piece in the Flagstaff Hill collection. The toy soldier is unpainted, but the style of uniform, and the weapons carried (a musket and a basket-handled cutlass), indicate it is a representation of the Napoleonic Wars period from the beginning of the nineteenth century. Mass-produced toy soldiers made of cast metal (lead or tin) became popular during the 1800s. Heyde of Germany manufactured silhouette-shaped ‘flats’ early in the century; then Mignot of France released three-dimensional ‘solids’; and later (1893) Britain of England made ‘hollow cast’ figures. These innovations were designed to make sets of toy soldiers more affordable for middle and lower-class children, extending the market beyond the intricately made and hand-crafted replicas that were the preserve of the rich in the eighteenth century. Wooden military figures, specially carved and unpainted ones, were therefore not particularly common at the time when the LOCH ARD went down on Victoria’s southwest coast. Mignot was the first to sell unpainted soldiers, leaving their customers to fill in the colours according to their own patriotic preferences. If a similar attitude is assumed for the two virtually identical figures in the Flagstaff Hill collection, it is possible they were part of a new set intended for sale, rather than part of a passenger’s existing collection. A similarly light composite material of sawdust, glue and linseed oil (press-moulded onto a metal frame) was used by the German firm O & M Hausler to create toy soldiers, but this type of modelling was not commercialised until after 1912. The first heat-moulded plastic toy soldiers did not become available until after 1945.The toy soldier represents a 19th century child's interest in military history. The item is one of two toy soldiers recovered from the Loch Ard that are in Flagstaff Hill's collection. The shipwreck of the Loch Ard is of significance for Victoria and is registered on the Victorian Heritage Register ( S 417). Flagstaff Hill has a varied collection of artefacts from Loch Ard and its collection is significant for being one of the largest accumulation of artefacts from this notable Victorian shipwreck of which the subject items are a small part. The collections objects give us a snapshot of how we can interpret the story of this tragic event. The collection is also archaeologically significant as it represents aspects of Victoria's shipping history that allows us to interpret Victoria's social and historical themes of the time. Through is associated with the worst and best-known shipwreck in Victoria's history.An unpainted replica or toy soldier, presented in a Napoleonic Wars era uniform. The moulded figure is in a standing posture and is bearing a musket at the slope-arms position, with a sabre or cutlass slung behind. It wears a plumed helmet, short-fronted coat with longer buttoned tails at the back, button-fastened bib-front trousers, a pair of crossed bandoliers, and tasselled shoulder epaulettes. The figure is a creamy colour with red-brown stains on the head and shoulder. There is a hole in the end of the musket. The model is detailed and sharp. It was recovered from the wreck of the Loch Ard.Cataloguing numbers: “6599” on the rear of the left trouser leg “PWO 2308” on the sole of the left boot, (partially obscuring “R122” written in biro) “2218” on the sole of the right boot.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, loch ard, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, napoleonic uniform, toy soldier, replica soldier

The pram appears to have been developed during the 18th century. Queen Victoria is known to have bought three prams (she had 10 children). From then, it was a natural progression to create a smaller version as a leisure item, particularly for little girls.The introduction of dolls prams into the leisure item area, mirrors the development of toys generally.Pram cane, painted white with interwoven cane hood. Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, pram, cane pram

This cloth or rag book “The Life of a Bold AB on his Ship in the Rolling C” is a child’s ABC or A-Z illustrated book written in poetic form with the theme of the British Navy at turn of 20th century. This rare book is one of the first cloth books manufactured for children. It is likely that the book was illustrated by Will Kidd and published in London by Dean and Son, circa 1902, according to research of similar books. The book was sent to Flagstaff Hill as padding around the donated medal of Nelson Johnson for bravery at the time of the shipwreck of Eric the Red. This medal is also in our collection. The book was published by Dean & Son of London, established around 1800.This book is an early example of early 20th century children's literature.Rag book (or cloth book), child's book "The Life of a Bold AB on his ship in the rolling C". Illustrated ABC book with poetic text, telling the story of a young sailor's life at sea. Images are screen printed onto cloth pages. Bottom edges are salveges, top and side edges are frayed. The book is bound by stitching through the middle of the centre pages. Original red coloured print of front cover has faded. Theme of book is British Navy at turn of 20th century. Published by Dean and Sonflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, dean and son, child’s book, cloth book, rag book, children’s sailor book, 20th century children's literature, abc book, nautical book, maritime storybook, dean & son, toy book