Deakin street, Mitcham, formerly part of the Springfield Estate Co. Ltd, was named after Alfred Deakin, Australia's second Prime Minister.Deakin street, Mitcham, formerly part of the Springfield Estate Co. Ltd, was named after Alfred Deakin, Australia's second Prime Minister.deakin street, mitcham, springfield estate

A summary of the life of William Henry Slater who established a herb garden in Mitcham and won an Honorable Mention for essential oils at the Paris Exhibition in 1867.Deakin street, Mitcham, formerly part of the Springfield Estate Co. Ltd, was named after Alfred Deakin, Australia's second Prime Minister.slater, william henry, mitcham, herbs, lavender farms, pearce, harry

Australia became a federation of States in 1901.Ten men of the first Australian Federal Cabinet Standing left to right: J.G. Drake, R.E. O'Connor, Sir P.O. Fysh, C.C. Kingston, Sir John Forrest. Seater left to right: Sir Wiliam Lyne, Prime Minister Edmund Barton, Governor-General Lord Tennyson. Alfred Deakin, Sir George Turner. j.g. drake, r.e. o'connor, sir p.o. fysh, c.c. kingston, sir john forrest., prime minister edmund barton, sir george turner., afred deakin, lord tennyson, william lyne

Colour photographs of a stone memorial commeorating the first overseas wireless message sent from Australia. From this spot on twlfth July 1906 The first overseas wireless messages from Australia were sent by Lord Northcote Governor-General Sir R. Talbot Governor Hon. A. Deakin Prime Minister Hon. A Chapman Postmaster General Hon. R.A. Crouch M.P, For Corio Equipment supplied and operated bu Marconi Wireless Coy Ltdwireless, telegram, queenscliff, lord northcote, alfred deakin, a. chapman, r.a. crouch, r. talbot, marconi wireless company

Alfred Deakin (3 August 1856 – 7 October 1919) was an Australian politician who served as the second Prime Minister of Australia, in office for three separate terms – 1903 to 1904, 1905 to 1908, and 1909 to 1910. Before entering office, he was a leader of the movement for Australian federation. (Wikipedia)Black and white image of Alfred Deakin.portrait, alfred deakin, prime minister

Alfred Deakin (3 August 1856 – 7 October 1919) was an Australian politician who served as the second Prime Minister of Australia, in office for three separate terms – 1903 to 1904, 1905 to 1908, and 1909 to 1910. Before entering office, he was a leader of the movement for Australian federation. (Wikipedia)Black and white image of Alfred Deakin.portrait, alfred deakin, prime minister

Map of Australia printed for the Centenary of Federation 1901-2001. Description of the footsteps to federation and starting at left pictures of: John Forrest (first premier of Western Australia) - Edmund Barton (Australia's first Prime Minister) - Charles Kingston (premier of South Australia) - Catherine Helen Spence (first woman to run for political office) - Alfred Deakin ( Australia's first deputy Prime Minister) - John Quick (Force behind the people convention) - Andrew Inglis Clark (Attorney General of Tasmania) - Henry Parkes (Premier of New South Wales) - Robert Garran (helped draft the final version of the Constitution) - George Reid (Premier of New South Wales) - Maybanke Wolstenholme (leading women' s suffrage and Federation campaigner) - Samuel Griffith (former Queensland Premier) - The Exhibition Building, Melbourne - Vaiben Louis Solomon (represented the Northern Territory). On the right the evolution of the colonies and the states from 1788 to 1915.australia, history, centenary of federation

On March 2, 1940, Sir Winston Dugan, Governor of Victoria unveiled the busts of the six first prime ministers of Australia at a ceremony on the long avenue of Horse Chestnuts. The donor, Richard Armstrong Couch, was born in Ballarat in 1868.The Prime Ministers Avenue is a feature of national significance, set in the magnificent Horse Chestnut Avenue of the Gardens. The 28 Prime Ministers of Australia are displayed as bronze portraits mounted on polished granite pedestals. The collection includes a portrait of one of the founding fathers of Federation, Alfred Deakin, who was the first Federal Member for Ballarat and the second Prime Minister.Kodachrome slide depicting the gardens during the installation of the pedestals and busts of the first six prime ministers.Kodachromeballarat botanical gardens, trees, lawns, pathways, sculptures, busts, governors, prime ministers avenue, richard armstrong couch, federation, 1940, chestnut trees, horse chestnuts, bronze, granite, pedestals, alfred deakin, sir winston dugan, wallace anderson

On March 2, 1940, Sir Winston Dugan, Governor of Victoria unveiled the busts of the six first prime ministers of Australia at a ceremony on the long avenue of Horse Chestnuts. The donor, Richard Armstrong Couch, was born in Ballarat in 1868.The Prime Ministers Avenue is a feature of national significance, set in the magnificent Horse Chestnut Avenue of the Gardens. The 28 Prime Ministers of Australia are displayed as bronze portraits mounted on polished granite pedestals. The collection includes a portrait of one of the founding fathers of Federation, Alfred Deakin, who was the first Federal Member for Ballarat and the second Prime Minister.Kodachrome slide depicting a pathway and lawns where pedestals and busts of the first six prime ministers are lying on the ground to be installed. A man with hat, long winter coat is standing on the pathway.Kodachromeballarat botanical gardens, trees, men, pathways, lawns, sculptures, busts, prime ministers avenue, chestnut trees, granite, alfred deakin, federation, horse chestnuts, richard armstrong crouch, pedestals, governor, sir winston dugan, wallace anderson

On March 2, 1940, Sir Winston Dugan, Governor of Victoria unveiled the busts of the six first prime ministers of Australia at a ceremony on the long avenue of Horse Chestnuts. The donor, Richard Armstrong Couch, was born in Ballarat in 1868. Edmund Barton (1849 –1920) was an Australian politician and judge who served as the first Prime Minister of Australia, in office from 1901 to 1903. He was appointed prime minister on 1 January 1901, the day on which the new federal constitution came into effect. The Prime Ministers Avenue is a feature of national significance, set in the magnificent Horse Chestnut Avenue of the Gardens. The 28 Prime Ministers of Australia are displayed as bronze portraits mounted on polished granite pedestals. The collection includes a portrait of one of the founding fathers of Federation, Alfred Deakin, who was the first Federal Member for Ballarat and the second Prime Minister.3/4 view using flash of the bronze bust and granite pedestal of Prime Minister, Edmund Barton in the Prime Ministers Avenue. A vertical scratch line is visible on the right side.Kodachromeballarat botanical gardens, trees, lawns, pathways, sculptures, busts, governors, prime ministers avenue, richard armstrong couch, federation, 1940, chestnut trees, horse chestnuts, bronze, granite, pedestals, alfred deakin, edmund barton, wallace anderson, sir winston dugan

Redheads is an Australian matches brand, originally manufactured in Richmond, Victoria. The factory was opened in 1909 by the Prime Minister, Alfred Deakin, and his wife, Pattie Deakin. Redheads are Australia's top selling matches brand.This item is among the many in the Wodonga Historical Society's collection that reflect the social history of twentieth century Australia. A mid-century Redhead safety matches box, featuring an illustration of a redhead woman.matches, safety matches, redheads, redheads matches, wodonga, albury wodonga

Deakin University was established in 1974 as the fourth university in Victoria. It has a number of campuses around the state including Warrnambool where it merged with The Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education in 1990. The university was named after Alfred Deakin, three times Prime Minister of Australia and leading figure in the process of Federation in Australia. Each year a number of students graduate from the Warrnambool Campus which is located on the Eastern edge of Warrnambool on the banks of the Hopkins River. In 2015, there were graduands from the faculties of Arts and Education, Business and Law, Science and health. Deakin University occupies an important educational position In Warrnambool and district. This program contains the names of the many people associated with the university and the graduating students for the year 2015. Photograph of two students sitting on lawn in front of grey building. Text in white at top of cover.Back cover green with white text. "Phillpot OAM" on sticker on front cover. Deakin logo on bottom right corner of front cover.deakin university warrnambool, deakin university graduation 2015

Hugo Wertheim (1854-1919), was a merchant and manufacturer and was born on the 12th July 1854 at Lispenhausen, in the German electorate of Hesse-Kassel, son of Meyer Wertheim and his wife Minna, née Heinemann. Hugo reached Melbourne in October 1875. He soon began advertising, from premises at 39 Flinders Lane East, as agent for his father's cousin Joseph Wertheim, a well-established manufacturer of sewing machines. Hugo returned to Germany where he married Joseph Wertheim's daughter Sophie Emilie (1864-1953) on 30 August 1885 at Frankfurt. the couple then came to Melbourne. In a short time, with extensive advertising, Hugo established a substantial business, selling sewing machines, bicycles, pianos and other mechanical devices, under brands such as Wertheim, Electra, Planet, Griffin and Hapsburg. He also mounted elaborate displays at agricultural shows and in 1901 at the Pan American Exposition, Buffalo, United States of America. O. C. Beale worked with him before setting up his own piano business in New South Wales. Hugo continued to own 25 per cent of one of Beale's companies, which became Wertheim's Queensland business. In 1908 Wertheim opened a large, innovative piano factory at Richmond, Melbourne, intending to produce 2000 pianos and player pianos annually, predominantly using Australian materials. In laying the foundation stone, Prime Minister Alfred Deakin observed that “few men with such opportunities for a life of ease would have embarked on such an enterprise” Hugo died of chronic hepatitis on 11 July 1919 at his home at South Yarra, his wife, two daughters and three sons survived him; Herbert Joseph (1886-1972), the eldest, continued the business. Rupert became a share broker and went on to represent Victoria in inter-State tennis in 1913-27 and Australia in Davis Cup matches against Czechoslovakia in 1922. The piano factory closed in 1935, becoming a Heinz food processing plant and in 1955, GTV Channel 9 studios and offices.Early Australians had to be self-reliant in regards to making and mending their clothes and utensils. This sewing machine was one of many items used that exhibit the skill and craftsmanship of the women in these early families. A sewing machine was a necessary part of each home and this item demonstrates how women of the time managed had to become self-reliant in the repair and making of their families clothes to make their household budgets go further.Sewing machine, Wertheim brand “ Syst 182” hand crank operated machine with folding handle, timber case and carry handle. Metal machine is painted black, with remnants of gold, red and green scrolls and floral decoration. Machine has base with inlaid measuring rule across front and 2 holes drilled through the base (perhaps for mounting machine to a bench). Machine tilts open, hinged on one side, after thumb screw is unwound, revealing machine’s workings and serial number. Base has a fitted round, concave, silver metal pin holder with lid that hinges open, and symbol pressed into lid; several pins are inside. Body of machine has brand name transfer across front and oval metal trademark disc on front. Metal sliding covers over footplates have stamped lettering. Timber machine case or cover includes an accessory box with sliding cover and metal hook and eye latch, and inside the box are 23 metal sewing attachments, a disc and a stick of black crayon with maker’s trademark on it paper cover. Workings of machine have seized up. The crayon wrapper has printed on it “For the wonderful Wertheim new family machine made in Germany ‘Syst. 182’”, and the maker’s symbol with “Trademark” beside it. Made for Hugo Wertheim.“WERTHEIM” transfer across front and back of machine body. Cover of pin holder has symbol ‘Wings above a shield’. Maker’s trademark on gold oval disc, “WERTHEIM / FRANCFURT” and picture of a dwarf with a hammer. Left footplate has script “Syst 182”, right footplate has stamp in oval shape “MANUFACTURED IN - - /SPECIALLY FOR / HUGO WERTHEIM” Serial Number “7501”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, sewing machine, hand crank sewing machine, hugo wertheim, wertheim, clothing manufacturer, sewing, syst 182

Established by George Guthrie in 1857 (about 5km north of its current site) and then again seven years later in 1864 after it initially closed, Bendigo Pottery remains one of the most influential and longest running Pottery’s in Australia. Over the years the Pottery has contributed to the growth and development of the district through both its products including building products, table ware and decorative and commemorative war as well as artistically, being responsible for training and supporting many potters locally. The City of Greater Bendigo has had a long history of partnering with Bendigo Pottery and the Civic Collection holds a number of important items within its collection. This John C Watson (Chris Watson) 'reform' flask was one of a limited edition character bottles produced by the Pottery to commemorate important figures in Australian politics. He was the first Labour Prime Minister elected forming a minority government in April 1904, aged 37, after the ALP withdrew its support from Deakin. He was one of the first socialists to head a government in a parliamentary system, attracting international attention, and remains Australia's youngest prime minister. After less than four months in office, the Watson government lost a confidence motion and Watson was succeeded as prime minister by anti-socialist George Reid. The original reform flasks were English salt-glazed stoneware flasks produced in the early 19th century shaped into the form of figures connected with the Reform Bill of 1832. Much was made of puns like ‘the spirit of reform’ at the time. Artist John Frith has taken the reform flask form as inspiration for a series of political ceramics of some Australian Prime Ministers. The series included Edmund Barton, Alfred Deakin and Watson.Glazed ceramic flask in the shape John Watson. Square shaped with most of the detail on the front facing side other than head which is more detailed. Cork still in place in top of head.On reverse of flask; John C Watson / Prime Minister / of Australia / 27.4.1904 / To / 18 .08. 1904 Bendigo Pottery / LMTED / Edition Series / 55/1200 /Australia Signed lower centre; 'Frith'australian politics, bendigo pottery

Established by George Guthrie in 1857 (about 5km north of its current site) and then again seven years later in 1864 after it initially closed, Bendigo Pottery remains one of the most influential and longest running Pottery’s in Australia. Over the years the Pottery has contributed to the growth and development of the district through both its products including building products, table ware and decorative and commemorative war as well as artistically, being responsible for training and supporting many potters locally. The City of Greater Bendigo has had a long history of partnering with Bendigo Pottery and the Civic Collection holds a number of important items within its collection. This Sir Edmund Barton 'reform' flask was one of a limited edition character bottles produced by the Pottery to commemorate his contribution to Australian politics. Edmund Barton became Australia’s first Prime Minister on New Year’s Day 1901, at a huge public ceremony in Centennial Park in Sydney. Reform flasks were English salt-glazed stoneware flasks produced in the early 19th century shaped into the form of figures connected with the Reform Bill of 1832. Much was made of puns like ‘the spirit of reform’ at the time. Artist John Frith has taken the reform flask form as inspiration for a series of political ceramics of some Australian Prime Ministers. The series includes Edmund Barton, Alfred Deakin and Chris Watson. Glazed ceramic flask in the shape of Sir Edmund Barton. Square shaped with most of the detail on the front facing side other than head which is more detailed. Cork still in place in top of head.On reverse of flask; Sir Edmund / Barton / Prime Minister / of Australia / 1901 to 1908 Bendigo Pottery / LMTED / Edition Series / 110/1200 /Australia Signed lower centre; 'Frith'australian politics, bendigo pottery

Established by George Guthrie in 1857 (about 5km north of its current site) and then again seven years later in 1864 after it initially closed, Bendigo Pottery remains one of the most influential and longest running Pottery’s in Australia. Over the years the Pottery has contributed to the growth and development of the district through both its products including building products, table ware and decorative and commemorative war as well as artistically, being responsible for training and supporting many potters locally. The City of Greater Bendigo has had a long history of partnering with Bendigo Pottery and the Civic Collection holds a number of important items within its collection. This Alfred Deakin 'reform' flask was one of a limited edition character bottles produced by the Pottery to commemorate important figures in Australian politics. The original reform flasks were English salt-glazed stoneware flasks produced in the early 19th century shaped into the form of figures connected with the Reform Bill of 1832. Much was made of puns like ‘the spirit of reform’ at the time. Artist John Frith has taken the reform flask form as inspiration for a series of political ceramics of some Australian Prime Ministers. The series includes Edmund Barton, Alfred Deakin and Chris Watson.Glazed ceramic flask in the shape Alfred Deakin. Square shaped with most of the detail on the front facing side other than head which is more detailed. Cork still in place in top of head.On reverse of flask; Alfred Deakin / Prime Minister / of Australia / 1903 - 1904 / 1905 - 1908 / 1909 - 1910 Bendigo Pottery / LMTED / Edition Series / 101/200 /Australia Signed lower left; 'Frith'australian politics, bendigo pottery

The letter to William Ferrier of South Warrnambool from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth recognised the significance of William’s brave and courageous lifesaving act to the people of Australia; “They all feel that your conduct was worthy of the best deeds done by British sailors in the past and they are proud to know that Australia can produce such as you.” The story of that brave rescue follows on below … The ship from which the sailors were rescued was the three-masted, iron and steel barquentine the La Bella, built in Norway in 1893. She was one of two iron and steel ships by Johan Smith, The company was one of the leading shipping families in Tvedestrand, Norway. She was significant to Norwegian shipping, being one of only 27 iron and steel ships ever built in Norway. She was registered in New Zealand and engaged from 1902 in inter-colonial trading of timber in the Pacific, between New Zealand and Australia and was often in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. On 5th October 1905, the twelve-year-old La Bella left Lyttleton, New Zealand carrying a cargo of timber bound for Warrnambool, Australia. She was manned by a crew of twelve: the Master, (Captain Mylius, previously 1st Mate of La Bella, appointed Captain to La Bella on 6th February 1903) 2 Mates, Cook, six able seamen, one ordinary seaman and a boy. Bad weather en route caused her to shelter at Burnie on Tasmania's North West coast. On November 10th, the 37th day of her journey, La Bella approached Warrnambool. Captain Mylius steered her towards Lady Bay Channel in heavy south-west seas and evening mist. He ordered the helmsman to steer for the light. As the ship came round, a tremendous sea struck her on the port quarter, causing her to breach broadside in a north-westerly direction into breakers. The helm was brought round twice more, but each time heavy seas broke over her, the third time throwing the La Bella on to a submerged reef in Lady Bay now known as La Bella Reef (about 100 yards from the Warrnambool breakwater). The sea was so rough that it even wrenched a one-and-a-half ton anchor from its fastenings and into the sea. As Captain Mylius headed to the steel wheelhouse, intending to send up a rocket flare, a huge sea slammed the steel door into him (resulting in massive bruising front and back) Despite his injuries he still managed to set off a blue light, which he held up in his hands. La Bella’s lifeboats were filled with seawater and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on the shore that there was a ship in distress. The Harbour Master, Captain Roe (who lived in the Harbour Master’s House opposite Flagstaff Hill), organised a group of volunteers to crew the lifeboat because the trained crew was unavailable; the crewmen were working on a steamer in Port Fairy at the time. He then poured oil onto the water to try and smooth the sea. At around 11 pm three of the crew took shelter in the steel forecastle but the sea crashed into it and broke it up. While the rest of the crew and onlookers watched helplessly in the moonlight the bodies were washed away into the sea, never to be seen again. Some of the crew lashed themselves to the weather rail to keep from being washed away. Watson, the ordinary seaman, became tangled in the rigging lines and was too weak to move, so the 2nd Mate, Robertson, put a line onto him so that he wouldn’t wash off. Around 11 pm three of the crew were unconscious from exhaustion. The situation on La Bella was becoming dangerous. The 2nd Mate moved to the ‘house’ and soon afterwards the ship slipped in the heavy sea. The lashings of the 1st Mate and the ‘boy’ Denham had kept them safe until about 2 am when they were washed overboard; no one was able to help. One by one, the exhausted crew were being washed overboard, too weak to hold on any longer. During the night the La Bella had broken into two and the deckhouse ran out towards the sea. Two more men drowned when trying to reach the lifeboat. By sunrise, the only survivors of the twelve were the Master, 2nd Mate and three seamen. Early in the morning, Captain Roe used the rocket apparatus on shore to try and shoot a line to the ship for a safer rescue but each attempt fell short of the target. Several attempts were made by the lifeboat to rescue the stricken sailors, but the rough conditions made this difficult for the boat to get close enough to the ship and the lifeboat had to return to shore. During a final attempt to reach the ship Captain Mylius ordered his men to jump into the sea. Leonard Robertson, 2nd mate, jumped and swam towards the lifeboat, taking hold of the boat hook offered to him. Oscar Rosenholme managed to reach the boat floating on a piece of timber from the ship’s load and a third survivor, Noake, also made the boat. Along with the lifeboat rescue crew, 25-year-old William Ferrier rowed his small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain, whom he landed on the breakwater. Ferrier then returned to the ship to attempt a final rescue, losing his oars and rowlocks into the high sea. Using just a spare paddle he skulled towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the lashing that held him to the ship; the terrified sailor dropped from the ship and into the dingy. Shortly after the last man was rescued, the La Bella was lifted by a huge wave and crashed back down on the reef; she broke up and sank. The ordeal had lasted ten hours. The survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. In the following days, an unidentified body of a young person has washed ashore; it was either Watson or Denham. The body was buried in the Warrnambool cemetery with an appropriate gravestone and inscription. William Ferrier became a national hero as news of the daring rescue spread. In recognition of his bravery in the two daring rescues, he was awarded the Silver Medal for Bravery by the Royal Humane Society and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams and a cheque for £20 from the Governor-General, over £150 subscribed by the public, including Warrnambool and district and readers of The Argus, and a gold medal from the Glenelg Dinghy Club of South Australia. Ferrier’s rescue efforts are one of the most heroic in Victoria’s shipwreck history. (William Ferrier’s son, Frank, received a similar award almost fifty years later when he helped rescue four members of the crew on the yacht Merlan after it ran on to a reef near the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. ) The wreck of La Bella now lies on her port side in 13 metres of sheltered water inside the reef she struck. The bow section is relatively intact and part of the stern has drifted north-easterly towards the mouth of the Hopkins River. The reef the La Bella struck now bears its name. Those five rescued from the La Bella were Captain George Mylius, Leonard Robertson (2nd Mate, 21 years old), R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. Those seven who lost their lives were Mr Coulson (1st mate), Charles Jackman (cook) Gustave Johnson, Pierre Johann and Robert Gent (all able seamen), Harry Watson (ordinary seaman) and Jack Denham (ship’s boy), Captain Mylius was found guilty of careless navigation; he had sailed into the bay without the services of a pilot. His Master Certificate was suspended for twelve months. Later he was also charged with the manslaughter of one of the crew who had died when the La Bella was wrecked but found not guilty. The event’s adverse publicity and damage to his career took a toll on his health and he died of a heart attack six months after the wreck; he was only thirty-seven. His body was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. The La Bella was “the best documented of all sailing ships owned in New Zealand”. Her record books, ship logs, correspondence and supporting papers are still available. At the time of the tragedy, she was owned by Messers David C.Turnbull and Co. of Timaru, New Zealand timber merchants and shipping agents, who had purchased her on 13th December 1901. A detailed account of the last journey of La Bella can be read in “Leonard Robertson, the Whangaroa & La Bella” written by Jack Churchouse, published in 1982 by Millwood Press Ltd, Wellington, NZ. As well as this letter, Flagstaff Hill’s La Bella Collection includes a photograph of the wrecked La Bella, a brass rail holder and a postcard of William Ferrier with four of the survivors. Some 15 – 17 ships are believed to have sunk in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the seafloor; the “La Bella” and the “Edinburgh Castle”. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. This original congratulatory letter sent to William Ferrier by the Prime Minister and Government of Australia demonstrates the importance attached to his efforts for Victoria and to Australia. The letter is part of the La Bella Collection and is significant at both a local and state level. Its connection to the La Bella shipwreck and the rescue of five survivors highlights the dangers of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast. The letter to William Ferrier from the Australian Government acknowledges the bravery of ordinary Australians who risked their lives to save victims of shipwrecks along the coast. The letter is significant to the history of Warrnambool as it honours William Ferrier, a local fisherman whose descendants continue to live in the area. It highlights the way of life of people who lived in coastal towns in 19th century Victoria and the effects of shipwrecks upon them. The letter connects to the postcard of William Ferrier with four of the five rescued crew, the photograph of the wreck of the La Bella and the artefact from the wreck, the rail holder. This letter is significant because of its association with the sailing ship “La Bella”. The “La Bella” is of local and state and national significance. It is one of the only two shipwrecks discovered in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, out of the 15-17 shipwrecks in the bay. Letter to William Ferrier of South Warrnambool from the Prime Minister and Members of Parliament commending him on his bravery. The printed letterhead includes a coat of arms in the top centre and the official address. The letter is very neatly hand written in black pen and includes 4 signatures of Members of Parliament. The rectangular paper is cream coloured with some yellow/brown discolouring. It has the letterhead on the right hand side of it and the written letter begins below the letterhead. The paper has been folded so that the right side becomes the cover page of the letter. The writing is continued onto the inside right hand page of the folded paper and the writing ends here. There is more recent writing on the bottom right hand corner of the back page. The paper has been officially folded in half a total 3 times and there is heavy discolouration on the sections that form the front and back of the folded letter. There is a 4th fold line that is less pronounced that the other folds and would make the paper the size to fit into a pocket. At several fold creases the paper has worn through. The edges of the paper have minor tears. The printed coat of arms is that of the House of Representatives. Underneath is printed “The Parliament of the Commonwealth, / Parliament House / Melbourne”. The hand written, letter is dated “14th November, 1905” and addressed to “Mr. William Ferrier / South Warrnambool” The letter begins “The Speaker, the Prime Minister and Members of the Ministry and its supporters, the Leader and Members of the Opposition, the Leader and Members of the Labour Party, being all the Members of the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Australia” … It continues “desire to express to you their appreciation of your bravery in skulling out to the wreck of the “La Bella” at Warrnambool on Saturday, 11th November, 1905, and recovering therefrom two of the crew who were in imminent danger of their lives. They all feel that your conduct was worthy of the best deeds done by British sailors in the past and they are proud to know that Australia can produce such as you.” The letter is “Signed on behalf of the Members – Speaker (Frederick Holder ), Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Joseph Cook ), Prime Minister (Alfred Deakin), Leader of the Labour Party ( J.C. Watson)” On the back of the letter is blue ink handwriting “OWNER / G. FERRIER / TO. BE. PHOTOGRAPHED / 27-4-76”la bella, william ferrier, bill ferrier, lady bay, 1905, 10th november 1905, 11th november 1905, parliament of the commonwealth, prime minister, australian government, new zealand, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village