This set of Victorian era wooden sand pegs was part of the equipment used by the Rocket Rescue Crew when attending a shipwreck. The broad pegs were designed to give a strong grip on soft sand and soil. The pegs could be used with the sand anchor as well as to give a stronger hold on the tripod holding the hawser. The same design is still available today and is used by the Army and by campers. The rocket rescue crews used a sand anchor at a beach rescue site to weigh down the rescue apparatus. The crew would connect the shackle to the other cable on the anchor and to the loose steel cable to form a triangle with the cable lengths. They would then bury the anchor in about a 0.75-meter trench, keeping the free end of the cable above the surface. This end of the cable was then connected to a block that was attached to the heavy hawser line. The block and a crotch pole were used to keep the hawser line high and taught as the survivors were hauled to shore on a line or in a breeches buoy. Saving lives in Warrnambool – The coastline of South West Victoria is the site of over 600 shipwrecks and many lost lives; even in Warrnambool’s Lady Bay there were around 16 known shipwrecks between 1850 and 1905, with eight lives lost. In 1859 the first Government-built lifeboat arrived at Warrnambool Harbour and a shed was soon built to house it. In 1858 the provision of rocket and mortar apparatus was approved for lifeboat stations in Victoria, and in 1864 a rocket house was built to safely store the rocket rescue equipment. In 1878 the buildings were moved to the Breakwater area, and in 1910 the new Lifeboat Warrnambool arrived with its ‘self-righting’ design. For almost a hundred years the lifeboat and rocket crews, mostly local volunteers, trained regularly to maintain their rescue skills. They were summoned when needed by alarms, gunshots, ringing bells and foghorns. Some became local heroes but all served an important role. By the end of the 1950s, the lifeboat and rescue equipment had become obsolete. Rocket Rescue Method - The Government of Victoria adopted lifesaving methods based on Her Majesty’s Coast Guard in Great Britain. It authorised the first line-throwing rescue system in 1858. Captain Manby’s mortar powered a projectile connected to a rope, invented in 1808. The equipment was updated to John Dennett’s 8-foot shaft and rocket method that had a longer range of about 250 yards. From the 1860s the breeches buoy apparatus was in use. The apparatus was suspended on a hawser line and manually pulled to and from the distressed vessel carrying passengers and items. In the early 1870s Colonel Boxer’s rocket rescue method became the standard in Victoria. His two-stage rockets, charged by a gunpowder composition, could fire the line up to 500-600 yards, although 1000 yards range was possible. Boxer’s rocket carried the light line, which was faked, or coiled, in a particular way between pegs in a faking box to prevent twists and tangles when fired. The angle of firing the rocket to the vessel in distress was measured by a quadrant-type instrument on the side of the rocket machine. Decades later, in about 1920, Schermuly invented the line-throwing pistol that used a small cartridge to fire the rocket. The British Board of Trade published instructions for both the beach rescue crew and ship’s crew. It involved setting up the rocket launcher on shore at a particular angle measured by the quadrant, inserting a rocket that had a lightweight line threaded through its shaft, and then firing it across the stranded vessel, the line issuing freely from the faking board. A tally board was then sent out to the ship with instructions in four languages. The ship’s crew would haul on the line to bring out the heavier, continuous whip line, then secure the attached whip block to the mast or other sturdy part of the ship. The rescue crew on shore then hauled out a stronger hawser line, which the ship’s crew fixed above the whip block. The hawser was then tightened using the block on the shore end of the whip. The breeches buoy and endless whip are then attached to the traveller block on the hawser, allowing the shore crew to haul the breeches buoy to and from the vessel, rescuing the stranded crew one at a time. This set of sand pegs would have been used with sand anchor that is part of the rocket rescue equipment . It is significant for its connection with local history, maritime history and marine technology. Lifesaving has been an important part of the services performed from Warrnambool's very early days, supported by State and Local Government, and based on the methods and experience of Great Britain. Hundreds of shipwrecks along the coast are evidence of the rough weather and rugged coastline. Ordinary citizens, the Harbour employees, and the volunteer boat and rescue crew, saved lives in adverse circumstances. Some were recognised as heroes, others went unrecognised. In Lady Bay, Warrnambool, there were around 16 known shipwrecks between 1850 and 1905. Many lives were saved but tragically, eight lives were lost.Peg or spike; set of twelve wooden pegs, painted red. Pages have a long, thick square shank with bevelled side edges, flat top with broad hook on one side of the top and a point at the other end. A small hole goes from one side to the other side near the centre of the shank, on the face without the hook. flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, flagstaff hill, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, great ocean road, shipwreck, life-saving, lifesaving, rescue crew, rescue, rocket rescue, maritime accidents, shipwreck victim, rocket crew, beach rescue, line rescue, rescue equipment, rocket firing equipment, rocket rescue equipment, rocket apparatus, beach apparatus, breeches buoy, rocket house, rocket equipment, rocket launcher, rocket line, marine technology, beach rescue set, traveller, block, running block, pulley, hawser, faked line, lady bay, warrnambool harbour, port of warrnambool, volunteer lifesavers, volunteer crew, breakwater, rocket rescue method, rocket rescue apparatus, shore to ship, rocket apparatus rescue, stranded vessel, whip line, endless whip, harbour board, sand anchor, rocket set, anchor backer, beach anchor, backer, steel cable, wire cable, sand peg, wooden tent peg, army peg, military peg

This Jack plane is used for general purposes such as shaving off surplus wood to bring a piece of work down to size and plane the edges of a door to smooth them off. This plane is an example of the tools used by ship builders in the maritime trade from the 19th century to the present day.Jack Plane; a large oblong shape with an aperture at one end, a long wooden guard that protects the sharp metal blade, and a saw like handle at other end. It is stained a red-brown colour.flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, wood working, wood working plane, wood working tool, jack plane, plane, wood plane, general purpose plane, tool, builders tool, carpenter's tool, ship builder's tool, maritime trade

This item is from the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art, and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. RALPH ERIC PATTISON Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 Pattison accepted a position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council. His huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower area of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine, and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave during 1942 to 1945 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. The Pattison Collection, along with other items at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, was originally part of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s collection. The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Collection is primarily significant in its totality, rather than for the individual objects it contains. Its contents are highly representative of the development of Mechanics' Institute libraries across Australia, particularly Victoria. A diversity of publications and themes has been amassed, and these provide clues to our understanding of the nature of and changes in the reading habits of Victorians from the 1850s to the middle of the 20th century. The collection also highlights the Warrnambool community’s commitment to the Mechanics’ Institute, reading, literacy and learning in the regions, and proves that access to knowledge was not impeded by distance. These items help to provide a more complete picture of our community’s ideals and aspirations. The Warrnambool Mechanics Institute book collection has historical and social significance for its strong association with the Mechanics Institute movement and the important role it played in the intellectual, cultural and social development of people throughout the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. The collection of books is a rare example of an early lending library and its significance is enhanced by the survival of an original collection of many volumes. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s publication collection is of both local and state significance. On Guard With The Volunteer Defence Corps Published for the Volunteer Defence Crops by Australian War Memorial, Canberra, A.C.T by the Government Printer Sydney Date: 1966Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 581.9944 MAI warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, great ocean road, on guard with the volunteer defence corps

The tunes in the set of sheet music are mostly marches, jaunty and bright songs from the 1910s. The sheet music were published by W H P & Co., which was the company of William Henry Paling, Sydney. Paling was born in the Netherlands in 1825. He was a musician, composer, and violin teacher at the Academy of Rotterdam. In 1853 he arrived in Sydney where he became a piano and violin teacher and a professor of music at a ladies' college. He opened the W H Paling music warehouse around the same time, at 85 Wynyard Square in Sydney. He initiated clubs and groups, was involved in fundraising in the community, and conducted a Philharmonic Society concert. He seized the opportunity to supply the growing demand for pianos and local sheet music, becoming an agency for European manufacturers. He made several trips to Europe to supply his business. In 1875 the firm opened up premises in George Street Sydney. On his 1884-85 trip, he met Pietro Marich, an Austrian musician and businessman who then joined Piling's company and successfully expanded it into large premises with showrooms. In 1886 Piling's brother John joined the firm as partner. In 1883 it became a limited liability company, setting up in other major cities. He had many civic involvements and eventually presented his model farm at Campden for use as a hospital, along with finances to erect buildings on the land. He became ill after a trip to Europe, passing away in 1895, but the company continued in business.The collection of sheet music represents the musical and entertainment taste of the early 20th century. Sheet music was collected from Europe and locally and played in homes and public gatherings for listening to, for dancing and for background music. It was even recorded and played on portable gramophones with wax cylinders.Sheet Music wet; three sheets of printed music, comprising two large sheets with two pages of music printed on each side in black ink, and one small sheet with one page of music printed on one side in red ink. Music on the large sheets is March Music by W H P & Co. no. 1437, which is the same company as the music on the last sheet, The Music on the small sheet is Tango Music by Paling & Co. Ltd, of Sydney, and established by William Henry Paling (W H & P Co). Music Titles on the large sheets are: - - Parade of the Tin Soldiers - Guard of Honour - Irish Guards March - Slope Arms Music title on the small sheet is: - - Caro Mio Tango (My Dear) by Silvo ArnoOn the large sheets: printed "W.H.P. & CO." "1437" and handwritten in pencil "268" On the small sheet: printed "THE LATEST SUCCESS" "Try this on your piano" "Price 1/6 or Post Free 1/7, From all Music Stores, or direct from the Publishers" "PALING & CO. LTD. George-st., SYDNEY."flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, sheet music, music, guard of honour, parade of the tin soldiers, irish guards march, caro mio tango (my dear), w h p & co., william henry paling, pietro marich, john piling, jos j kaiser, silvo arno, leon jessel, george street sydney, early 29th century, march music, tango music

Rogers Cottage was built by John Rogers on the hill on Churchill Island in the early 1860s. It is believed he first built the Bakehouse in 1865 and shortly after built the 2 roomed dormitory which was originally lined with calico and plaster - later with hand split boards."Rogers Cottage" showing the rear section. circular saw in foreground. Note guard on saw.local history, photographs, buildings - historical, rural industry, coloured photograph, john cook, churchill island, rogers cottage

Part of collection donated to the Museum by Mr. Bernard Grayden. 1975HMAS Australia in Western Port, viewed from Main Street, Cowes. (note tree guards around infant cypresses).local history, military history, navy, naval vessels, cowes, phillip island, black & white postcard, hmas australia, western port, cypresses

Part of collection donated to the Museum by Mr. Bernard Grayden. 1975View down Main Street to Bay and newly planted Cypresses within tree guards approx 1911-1912Main Street, Cowes, Phillip Island, Victoria. The Rose Series P 3413local history, documents, postcards, cowes, phillip island, sepia postcard, cypresses

Leather sailmaker's or roping palm. Left hand- simular to a seaming palm, except for the much heavier indentations in the eye and thicker moulded leather guard to the thumb hole. Rd No 666761.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, sail maker's palm, sail making, roping palm

A fender is part of the hardware used in open fireplaces to prevent the fire from spilling out of the fireplace. Wood fires were the main source of domestic heating in the 19th century.This fender is significant for its association with domestic heating in the 19th and early 20th century.Fire fender, cast iron, painted black, sides bolted onto front as is base plateflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, fire fender, fire guard, domestic heating, fender

While a sailmaker’s palm is intended for rope work, hand sewing sails and marine canvas work, it can also be used for other extremely thick or heavy-duty sewing applications. You can use a sailmaker’s palm for hand sewing leather, webbing or any sewing assembly that’s thicker than your sewing machine can handle.A late nineteenth to early twenty century sewing palm heavy duty used for rope work, its a tool that is still in use today aboard sailing vessels and gives a snapshot into the sailors life aboard the old sailing ships of times past.Leather roping palm. Left hand- simular to a seaming palm, except for the much heavier indentations in the eye and thicker moulded leather guard to the thumb hole. Rd No 666761.Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Self Heating Family Charcoal Iron. Box iron with wooden handle and brass finger guard. The finger guard has two round emblems and the inscription "Awarded To T & G Clark & Co" on it.Two emblems within circles plus the inscription "Awarded To / T & G Clark & Co. on the finger guardflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, iron, self heating iron, coal iron, laundry, family charcoal iron, t & g clair & co

Fire screen, gold plated meta,l fan shaped. Centre stem has sculptured head of loon (?)-type animal with wings. Main fan area has fold away leaves that fold to centre stem.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, fire screen, fan shaped fire screen, fire guard, fireplace, fire place tool

The iron is an example of laundry equipment from the Victorian era before electricity was commonly available.Charcoal box iron with iron body, wooden handle and metal finger guard. It has been painted black. Inscription on top of iron.On top of iron"8"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, iron, domestic iron, box iron, laundry equipment, household item, family charcoal iron

This decorative fire screen is placed in front of an open fireplace to prevent hot sparks and ash from causing damage. Open fires were common in Australia in the 19th and early 20th century, for both cooking and heating.Fire screen, crescent shaped, brass pressed sheet, with a ship motif within a rectangular area. Ship is a 3 masted sailing vessel, a Spanish galleon. Made in England, c. 1930.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, fire screen, fire guard, domestic item, heating, cooking

Sword, iron with disc hand guardflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, sword

Lamp, rectangular shaped ship's lamp with handle attached to curved top. Burner site on rectangular fuel tank with sloping edges. Glass partitions have metal cross protective guards.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, lamp, rectangular shaped ship's lamp, ship's lamp

non-fictionThe comprehensive history of the 6th Australian Division Cavalry Commandos – a (now out of print) reprint of one of the rarer Armoured unit history books. This is the story of one of Australia’s most famous fighting regiments during World War II. As an armoured cavalry unit it fought the Italians and Germans in the sands of the African desert and the Vichy French in the mountains of Syria. Later as a dismounted commando unit it fought the Japanese in the terrifying jungles of New Guinea. The heroism of the men in its ranks and the actions in which they engaged are portrayed in a way which makes battle deeds leap realistically from the pages. “To The Green Fields Beyond” is a documented and detailed book which is of value to everyone who is interested in Australia’s story. Seldom before has such a contribution been made to record of our national history. The book has been approved and sponsored by the Australian War Memorial. The 6th Division Cavalry Regiment was formed in November 1939 and, just two months later, was sent overseas to the Middle East in January 1940. Arriving in Egypt, the regiment immediately went to Palestine, where it joined the rest of the 6th Division and trained using machine-gun carriers and, from October, six old Vickers light tanks. At the end of the year the regiment moved into the Western Desert, where it joined British forces ready for the major offensive to commence on 9 December. Two days later the regiment became the first unit of the 2nd Australian Imperial Force (AIF) to go into action when one of its squadron fought a sharp action against the Italians holding Garn el Grein and Fort Maddalina on 11 and 12 December. By 21 December British forces had captured Sidi Barrrani and the desert was now open for the 6th Division’s advance along the Libyan coast. On 3 January 1941 the division attacked and captured the Italian fort of Bardia. The regiment’s A Squadron, under the command of Major Denzil Macarthur-Onslow, who went on to command the 4th Armoured Brigade, supported the attack. Tobruk was the next Italian fort to be captured, with the regiment again in support and covering the 19th Brigade’s advance. The regiment, though, was under-equipped and without its full compliment of vehicles, using only machine gun carriers. To compensate for this, A Squadron was parity re-equipped with captured Italian light tanks, which had large kangaroos painted on the hulls and turrets to distinguish them from enemy vehicles. After Tobruk, the regiment was used as part of the advance guard in the capture of Derna and then Benghazi. In April the unit moved to Helwan, where it was equipped with Vickers light tanks and machine-gun carriers, and operated with British troops in capturing Sollum. Towards the end of May the regiment moved to Palestine, where it came under the command of the 7th Division for the imminent invasion of Syria. The regiment experienced its heaviest fighting during the Syrian campaign, which began on 7 June. A Squadron was attached to the 21st Brigade and advanced along the coast, where the rugged hills made it difficult to manoeuvre the tanks and carriers. The squadron was relieved by one of the 9th Division Cavalry Regiment’s squadrons on 13 and 14 June. C Squadron, meanwhile, was with the 25th Brigade, and advanced along the Rosh Pinna road, engaging strong enemy defences at Fort Khirbe. C Squadron was relieved by B Squadron, which was later attacked by Vichy French tanks that were supported by heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, which forced the Australians to withdrawal. Always willing or needing to improvise during the campaign, A and B Squadrons both operated three captured French R35 Renault light tanks, while C Squadron provided personnel for a horse troop, quickly nicknamed the “Kelly Gang”, to patrol the high, rugged hills near the Mardjayoun–Banis Road. The regiment remained in Syria as part of the occupation force and returned to Australia in March 1942. It was sent to the Adelaide River, in the Northern Territory, and then later to Murgon, in Queensland. In 1943 and 1944 divisional cavalry regiments were reorganised into cavalry (commando) regiments. In January 1944 the 6th Division Cavalry Regiment became the 2/6th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment. The regiment lost its vehicles and became the administrative headquarters for the 2/7th, 2/9th, and 2/10th Commando Squadrons. The regiment remained with the 6th Division and participated in the Aitpae–Wewak campaign, in New Guinea, during 1945. Includes Nominal Rollww2, australian commandos, australian special forces, world war 2

Framed coloured photograph of two Centurion tanks with guns lowered stand guard at a firebase in the background.centurion tank, fire support base, photograph

Photo of sign outside a POW camp, photo of Cpl J Archbold mounted on black cardNui Dat - Bed and Breakfast - Body guard - Running waterphotograph, cpl james archbold, collection point

Black nylon banner with white print of circle with silhouette of guard tower, prisoner and barbed wire, with words POW&MIA You are not forgottenPOW MIA You are not forgottenmia, pow

Colour photos of POWs under guard from RVN military personnelpows

Framed colour Photograph of a Vietcong soldier in black pyjamas kneeling in a field. His hands are tied behind his back and his eyes and mouth are taped shut. An armed soldier stands guard.photograph, prisoner of war

Black and White Photograph. A Vietnames Soldier with a rifle watches over a boy lying on his backphotograph, vietnamese soldier

A black and white photograph of a command Armoured Personnel Carrier of A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Australian task Force Base, Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province, stands guard as the American 11th Armoured Cavalry moves through the Province,photograph, apc, a sqn, 3rd cavalry regiment, 1st atf base, nui dat, phuoc tuy province, gibbons collection catalogue

In the Sanctity of the Snake Pit discloses the tribulations of the Vietnam helicoper war, and provides deeply moving insight into the lives of those crewme who routinely flew combat assault missions.vietnamese conflict, 1961-1975 - aerial operations, american, vietnam war - military helicopters - history

A black and white photograph of Townsville, Qld 18/08/1968. The Trooping of the 6 RAR Colour past the Prime Minister The Right Honourable John Gorton MP. The Colour is followed by number 1 Guard consisting of Delta Company 6th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regimentphotograph, battle of long tan, 6 rar, d company, townsville, john gorton, gibbons collection catalogue

Black and white photograph of the Funeral Guard with weapons for the funeral of James Kelly Kerrphotograph, funeral procession, james kelly kerr