This nameplate was attached to the steel steamer Matthew Flinders I, a Suction Hopper Dredge used for pumping up sit and sanding from seabeds. It was donated by the Marine Engineer, Neville Dodds, from Ports and Harbours, from the Matthew Flinders I. The Matthew Flinders was constructed by Morts Dock & Engineering Coy. Ltd in Sydney, New South Wales. Identified as Ship No. 40, the dredge had twin screw engines that were made in Sydney. Its gross tonnage was 1180. It was launched on July 15th, 1916, and registered in 1917 at the Port of Melbourne by the owner, the Department of Public Works in Victoria. Unlike bucket dredges, the Matthew Flinders did not use permanent moorings but instead had bow and stern anchors. It travelled forward on the bow anchor, taking up a strip of even-depth wilt from the bed below. A local newspaper noted that the Matthew Flinders has many advantages that were especially useful for its work at Warrnambool. Warrnambool Harbour had been experiencing silting and sanding for many years. The problem continued even after the construction of the Breakwater in 1890, which was overseen by New Zealand engineer Arthur Dudley Dobson. Melbourne’s Department of Ports and Harbours sent the new Matthew Flinders to dredge the heavy silting in the Warrnambool Harbour in May 1919. This work was previously done by the smaller dredge, the Pioneer. However, after a month of work, the Matthew Flinders was returned to Melbourne for alterations to make it suitable for work in the heavy seas it experienced at Warrnambool. Both dredges were sent up from Melbourne when required over the years to periodically attend to the silting in the Harbour, but the Matthew Flinders was preferred because of its efficiency. It was still dredging the Harbour even in July 1938. The ship’s original master was J G Rosney. In February 1922 Percy Taylor from Ports and Harbours joined the Matthew Flinders as a Mate. 1923 the master in charge was Captain Dunbar. In August 1926 Percy Taylor was appointed as her Master and was later transferred to the Pioneer as Master in 1933. 1930 the dredges were no longer required as the Harbour was no longer suitable as a port. However, one source notes that the Matthew Flinders was still dredging the Harbour in 1938.This nameplate is significant for its association with the suction hopper dredge Matthew Flinders I, which was used to remove the build-up of silt and sand from the Warrnambool Harbour, allowing shipping activities to continue to operate in the Port of Warrnambool. The nameplate identifies the vessel and shows that it was built in Australia in the early 20th century for use within Australia. The need for dredging in the Warrnambool Harbour was a serious and ongoing problem, as silting continued to happen after a series of measures were taken to try and resolve the issue. Eventually, the Harbour could no longer function successfully as a port.Brass nameplate, rectangular with cut-away corners and moulded text, mounted with screws on timber. The plate is from a vessel, the dredge Matthew Flinders I, ship no. 40, built by Morts Dock & Engineering Coy Ltd in Sydney, and registered in 1917. A small rectangular engraved plaque below the nameplate gives further details of the ship and the donor.On nameplate: "MORTS DOCK / & / ENGINEERING COY. LTD. / SHIP BUILDERS / SYDNEY 1917 / SHIP NO 40" On small plaque: "Donated by / NEVILLE DODDS / PORTS & HARBOURS / MARINE ENGINEER / EX "MATTHEW FLINDERS I"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, dredge, mathew flinders i, steel steam ship, twin screw engines, nsw, state of victoria, suction hopper, public works melbourne, warrnambool harbour, lady bay, sanding, silting, breakwater, morts dock & engineering co ltd, captain dunbar, ship no. 40, niville dodds, ports & harbours, marine engineer, marine technology, ship relic, percy taylor, matthew flinders, pioneer

Plate created to celebrate the centenary of the Melbourne Harbor Trust beginning operations. Presented by Australian Dredging and General works Pty. Ltd. Large blue and white Dutch Delftware ceremonial plate with image of two ships, one sailing ship and the Abel Tasman at sea. The Melbourne Harbor Trust shield features above the ships. "The Melbourne Harbor Trust Commissioners/ 1877 Centenary 1977/ 1877 1977/ Abel Tasman" On reverse: "Presented by/ Australian Dredging and/ General works Pty. Ltd./ Delfts blauw/ Hand painted / Made in Holland/ Wp." Sticker attached "43196 B" "PMA 0166/1"

Electro hydraulic dredge Snake Valley 1909. J Mc Bennett, was an engineer back at the main base, at Dawson's dam on the Carngham Road, Between Linton and Snake Valley. These dredges were used for getting gold. The streams of water under high pressure just washed the hills and ground away. This dredge closed down early 1910. 200 H.P. motors were used and 10 in. pumps.Black and white image of three workmen, one beside mining building the other two at dredge pump outlet. Image mounted on dark brown card. Between 1904 and 1911 the Electro Hydraulic Company sought to extract gold in an area north of Linton known as the Hard Hills. By blasting water from high-pressure hoses into the hillsides, soil containing gold was washed out for sluicing. Two gravel pumps in Dawson's Dam pumped the wash through the sluices. Despite considerable investment in expensive equipment, the Company did not have a great deal of success, and the mining operation ceased in 1911.mining, gold, mining equipment, electro hydraulic dredge, dredging, sluicing, dawson's dam, snake valley, miners

Port of Portland Authority archivesFront: (no inscriptions) Back: dred 018 (pencil, lower left)port of portland archives, dredge, harbour dredging, portland harbour trust

Port of Portland Authority archivesFront: (no inscriptions) Back: Priestman/ on Timber Barge (black pen on white label, centre)port of portland archives, dredging, priestman stippert, barge

Article in the Lakes Post Newspaper April 14, 1999 about the sand transfer system launch.Colour photograph of the sand dredge April Hamer, dredging in close. Back view of two men standing on the shore. Lakes Entrance Victoriadredging, jetties

Color photograph of Bullock Island. It shows the dredge Sandpiper working in Cunninghame Arm on the southern shore of Bullock Island. Dredged sand in background on island from previous dredging operations, Kalimna Heights and Jemmys Point in the background. Lakes Entrance Victoriaislands, topography, waterways, public works

Port of Portland Authority archivesFront: (no inscriptions) Back: DRED. 010 (pencil, lower right)port of portland archives, dredge, harbour dredging, portland harbour trust

Port of Portland Authority archivesFront: (no inscriptions) Back: Pencil notations on back for reprint. dred 006 (pencil, lower right)port of portland archives, dredge, harbour dredging

COLOUR PHOTOGRAPH OF building /machinery. Dredge in water.photograph, building

Port of Portland Authority archivesFront: (no inscriptions) Back: (no inscriptions) pencil crop marks over back.port of portland archives, portland harbour trust, dredging

QUEENSCLIFFE boat channel being dug out c1934-36Boat channel for fishing fleet protectionBlack & white photo of horse drawn sand dredgingReverse - NILcommunity information, boat channel c1934-36

Typed note in album describes the photoBlack and white photograph showing PWD dredge WH Edgar with hopper barge during dredging operation at mouth of Mitchell River. Silt jetty at back. Bairnsdale Victoriaboats and boating, jetties, islands, waterfront

Typed note in album explains how hinged steel doors in the bottom of the barge release the sand.Black and white photograph showing discharge of dredged sand from PWD dredge W H Edgar into her hopper barge, off Jemmys Point. Lakes Entrance Victoriadredging, jetties, ships and shipping, waterways

Port of Portland Authority archivesFront: (no inscriptions) Back: P.H.T./ Print no. 7/17 Neg. No..../Date taken 27/7/53/ SUBJECT/ Lifeboat/ Dredger (purple ink stamp and handwriting, upper centre) dredger (pencil, upper left)port of portland archives, lifeboat dredger, 1953, 1950s