The original photo is part of an album taken by W Walls, the front page of which is inscribed " The Hill /Sunbury/April 1897". Whilest most of the photos relate to the environs of the asylum, there are othrs taken around Sunbury and ? elsewhere. The original album is held as part of the Mental Health library Collection. During 2000 this was transferred from Mont Park to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Presumably Rupertswood Battery gun and gunners.Five men in uniform standing by a field gun. One wheel is missing from the gun and it is held upright with a length of timber. There is a hill and trees in the background.Unmounted black and white photograph.walls, w., sunbury asylum, walls album, rupertswood, george evans collection, rupertswood

Certificate of Merit (Sixth Class) - Education Department, Victoria.Elizabeth Hall; Eaglehawk State School No 210; December 1897. Signed by Colin H Campbell, Inspector of Schools. Certificate donated by Misses F & J Anderson.education, primary, eaglehawk state school no. 210, eaglehawk, certificate of merit, elizabeth hall, colin h camphell, misses f. & j. anderson.

The Springthorpe Memorial is the most important monument in the Boroondara General cemetery. It commemorates Annie Constance Springthorpe (nee Inglis), the wife of Dr. John Springthorpe (1867-1897). Following his wife’s death, Dr john Springthorpe worked with John Longstaff to produce a book, entitled ‘In Memoriam’ for his personal collection, for his children and for immediate family members. Designed by Longstaff, it contained poems, photographs, drawings and idealised memories of Annie and their life together. This is one of two copies of In Memoriam in the collection of the Kew Historical Society. It is believed to be one of eight copies held in public collections. Copies catalogued on Trove include one at the State Library of Victoria and another at the University of Melbourne. As such these two copies are historically, aesthetically, and spiritually significant with the added factor of their rarity. ‘In Memoriam: Annie Constance Springthorpe’ (Verses in memory of Annie Constance Springthorpe), compiled by John William Springthorpe and illustrated by J. Longstaff : 28 p. : ill., ports. ; 26 x 32 cm. non-fictionInscribed on frontispiece to the Misses Moore.john longstaff, annie springthorpe, springthorpe memorial, boriondara general cemetery, john springthorpe

The Springthorpe Memorial is the most important monument in the Boroondara General cemetery. It commemorates Annie Constance Springthorpe (nee Inglis), the wife of Dr. John Springthorpe (1867-1897). Following his wife’s death, Dr john Springthorpe worked with John Longstaff to produce a book, entitled ‘In Memoriam’ for his personal collection, for his children and for immediate family members. Designed by Longstaff, it contained poems, photographs, drawings and idealised memories of Annie and their life together.This is one of two copies of In Memoriam in the collection of the Kew Historical Society. It is believed to be one of eight copies held in public collections.‘In Memoriam: Annie Constance Springthorpe’ (Verses in memory of Annie Constance Springthorpe), compiled by John William Springthorpe and illustrated by J. Longstaff : 14 p. : ill., ports. ; 26 x 32 cm.Presentation copy: Name scratched outdr. john springthorpe, springthorpe memorial, john longstaff, annie springthorpe, boroondara cemetery, kew cemetary, crypt

The weatherboard former Golden Point Methodist Church was undergoing renovation in 2014. It was damaged by fire on 09 February 2014 while two owners were rennovating.The foundation stone states: "This Memorial Stone was laid to the Honour and Glory of God by Mrs M.A. Thomas 27th May 1897.methodist church, golden point methodist church, m.a. thomas, thomas

Black and white photograph of the front of a store with a number of people standing in front of it.Sign above veranda: "J. Knowles Cash Grocer." Sign on the top front of the building: "Graham's Buildings | A.D. | 1897"john knowles, knowles grocery store, j knowles cash grocer, grahams buildings, shops, main street rutherglen

Black and white photo of Queen Victoria, in profile, wearing official robes (with insignia VR) and a lace cap surmounted by a small crown. Head and shoulders only. She is surrounded by a wreath of fern leaves. The photo is a souvenir, produced by Albert Bush, whose photo is in the lower rh corner, also with a fern surround. To the left of him, is a photo of his corner store, with workers in the street at front (eighteen people). In front of the store is also a horse and carriage and a horse drawn wagon loaded with bags of produce (wheat?). The triple photos are a souvenir for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, 1897 and also an advertisement for Albert Bush's Grocery Store.topic

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. The Engineers Sketch-Book of Mechanical Movements, Devices, Appliances, Contrivances and details employed in the design construction of machinery for every purpose. Author: Thomas Walter Barber Publisher: E & F N Spon Ltd Date: 1897Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 620 BAR Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Librarywarrnambool, 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, the engineers sketch-book of mechanical movements, thomas walter barber

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 2002. Portraits: photos taken in Bendigo by photographer R. Dermer Smith who had a studio in Bull Street from about 1897 until 1908. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Letter dated March 13th 1897 to Conelly, Tatchell & Dunlop, re Ferguson, to pay to Mr. J. H. Curnow. Signed E. A. Curnow. Has reddish brown One Penny Victoria Stamp Duty stamp.business, legal, connelly & tatchell, connelly & tatchell collection - document, conelly tatchell & dunlop, ferguson, j h curnow, e a curnow, fred w curnow

Cream coloured silk ribbon formerly pinned with blue ribbon 6767.1. Bendigo Ladies Committee printed in gold. Connected with Bendigo 1897 eight hour work day demonstrations. Anniversary of Trade Union formation in Victoria.societies, trade unions, eight hour day

1. Michael Peter Kelly (1853-1929) was born in Galway, Ireland and came to Australia in 1870. He was a director of many mines and was elected to the Bendigo Stock Exchange in 1882. At one point he was the chairman of the Exchange. He married Margaret Jane Carr in 1887 and they lived at "Norwood", Wills St., Bendigo. 2. Arthur Allsop (1856 - 1921) was a renowned athlete in many fields, including running, lacrosse, cricket, football and lawn bowls. He was an independent bookmaker and was elected to the Bendigo Stock Exchange in 1906. He was also a Past Grand Master of the MUIOOF lodge. After his time in Bendigo, and following the death of his wife in 1914, he moved to Melbourne and then Sydney where he died. For full biography see Item 6896.5Very large cash book for Kelly and Allsop stockbrokers. The book has 386 double pages, recording the daily cash movements. The book covers the period from September 1897 to December 1906. All pages are filled.Cash book on the front coverkelly and allsop, cash book, stockbrokers

Warrnambool City Council CollectionHistorical RecordInformation contained in three ledgersNewspaper cuttings from The Warrnambool Standard concerning the Warrnambool Town/ City Councilwarrnambool town/ city council meetings.warrnambool town/ city council meetings.

Bandmaster Hugh McMahon is noted for conducing the McMahon's Brass Band (Hillgrove Brass Band) from 1892 - 1900. He was a very famous bandmaster and he, and his brothers, were all extremely competent musicians. In 1897 the McMahon's band competed in Tamworth and won the competition. Their closet rival, the Hillgrove Town Band was placed third. Unfortunately the McMahon's Band was wound up in 1900 when the six McMahon brother followed their brother John to the Western Australia goldfields at Kalgoorlie-Boulder.The photo is remarkable for its condition and completeness. Here we have a photo of 20 bandsmen who have just won a competition dressed in very neat suits. We can also see a distinctive crest on the bass drum and the two trombone players are playing valve trombones. The photo is also significant as it shows one of the two Hillgrove brass bands that were in existence at the time and this was while Hillgrove was a bustling mining town. The six famous McMahon brothers are all in this photo and this would be one of the rare photos of them playing in the one band.Sepia photo mounted on card.hugh mcmahon, harry mcmahon, john mcmahon, edward mcmahon, will mcmahon, alick mcmahon, mcmahon's band (hillgrove), hillgrove, hillgrove town band, tamworth, victorian bands' league

This document reveals the way in which Mission to Seafarers grew in response to demand. With increased shipping to Australia for all purposes, the need for the then existing Mission to grow to be conveniently located and to accommodate seafarers became increasingly evident. This document also shows the formal nature of documents and petitions in the 1890s and documents the names of twenty-two contemporaneous ships and their respective captains. The Anna, Dharwar and Mermerus arrived in port at the end of July 1897. The Carmanina arrived on the 21 October 1897. The Loch Katrine, at the end of the list, arrived on 5 November 1897. The letter was published in the Argus, 22 December 1897: "APPEAL FOR SEAMEN. TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS. Sir, I beg that in the interests of the Victorian Seamen's Mission you will be kind enough to publish the appended testimony of the ship masters who for many years have been trading to this port, and therefore have had many opportunities of judging the effects of his work. The mission has much need of monetary assistance, and, should any of your numenous leaders deem it worthy of support, the committee would feel most grateful for any help that may be given in this direction. It has been the pleasure of the committee as far as possible to supply the crews of all outward bound steamers and sailing vessels with literature for their use on the voyage. My former appeals through your columns for leading matter have always been liberally responded to, and I trust that should any of our booksellers have any surplus stock of periodicals, religious and secular, illustrated or otherwise, at the end of the year, they will kindly remember the Victorian Seamen's Mission and the sailors. Private individuals also who may have stacks of literature by them, if they would kindly send some to the Seamen's Institute, Beach street, Port Melbourne, would cause the cheering of many a dark and lonely hour in the seamen's life. From 900 to 1.200 parcels have hitherto been given to the sailors and firemen annually by this mission, and we should be extremely grateful to those who would place us in a position to continue such donations in the future. Yours, &c. , E. JAMES, Chaplain to the Mission. Seamen's Institute, Beach street, Port Melbourne, Dec. 10." -------------------------------------------------- "To the Executive Committee of the Victorian Seamen's Mission, Melbourne. "Ladies and Gentleman, "We, the undersigned captains of several ships now lying at the Melbourne wharves think it most desirable that the Victorian Seamen's Mission, being the mission that has for so many years shown a most part their interest in the spiritual, moral, and social well-being of the seamen of all nationalities, shall him on the banks of the Yarra an institute such as that at Port Melbourne, where sailors of every grade could profitably and pleasantly spend their evenings. At almost every other seaport in the world such institutions are being provided for seamen, and we are satisfied from our opinion of the Melbourne public that the matter needs only to be prominently brought under their notice to be accomplished. We are confident that the good work of the mission is being hampered by its not having such a place near the shipping at the Melbourne wharves. Our crews are at present placed at a great dis advantage through not having an institute more convenient to the scene of their labours than that at Port Melbourne, which, on a very wet or a very hot, is not easily reached. If a site could be obtained immediately above the Gasworks but on the other side of Flinders street extension, that is to say, on the lower part of the land on which the Harbour Trust offices are built, it would be most convenient for the shipping on both the north and south side of the river. Trusting that it may be possible to do some thing to meet this long felt want, We suscribe ourselves, Yours respectfully, Geo.H Steven, master ship Dharwar; Thos. Curd, master ship Narcissus; James Horne, master ship Loch Garry; T.Tait, master ship Loch Ryan; T. Nilsen, master ship Hebe; G. Ch Christian, master ship Anna; R.E. Peasley, master ship Seminole; Wm. Martin, master ship Loch Ness; T.C. Martin, master ship Loch Tay; W.H. Bennett, master ship Loch Vennachar; J. Raglan Brodie, master s.s. Warrnambool; James E. Coles, master ship Mermerus; J. H. Walker, master ship Hinemoa; R.J. Johns, master ship Ariel; D. Gorchem (sic. Gerckens), master ship Matador; H. Petersen, master ship Nesaia; Wm. J. Reid, master s.s. Star of New Zealand; A. F. Svhanstrom, master ship Hermes; Alex. Smith, master ship Sophocles; W. Y. Bunn, master ship Carmanian; William Anderson, master ship Loch Katrine."This petition is historically significant as it is documentary evidence of the need for a new facility for seafarers signed and presented by the captains of 21 ships, including several of the sister ships of the Loch Ard. The need for a new facility was a result of changes in shipping and the use of the Melbourne ports in the 1890's and this document supported the pressure on the Harbour offices to finally release land for an appropriate building in the early 20th C.Mounted hand-written petition to the Executive Committee of the Victorian Seaman's Mission Melbourne. The letter petitions the Executive Committee to create a facility on the wharves, "where sailors of every grade could profitably and pleasantly spend their evenings." This portion of the letter takes up three quarters of the document. The remainder has two lists, one of twelve captain's signatures and the other of the names of their ships. The list is continued on the reverse side with an additional nine signatures and corresponding ship names.In cursive handwriting: To The Executive Committee of the Victorian Seamans Mission', / Melbourne / Ladies and Gentlemen / we the undersigned captains....... We subscribe / ourselves respectfully, Captain signatures and names of ships ( NB Ship names in upper case for this entry ): Geo H. Stevens - DHARWAR / Thomas Curd - NARCISSUS; / James Horn - LOCH GARRY / T.Tait - LOCH RYAN ; / T.NIlsen - Hebe ; / G.C. Christians - ANNA ;/ R E Peasley - SEMIOLE ; / William Martin - LOCH NESS ; / T C Martin - LOCH TAY;/ W H Bennett - LOCH VENNUACHAR; / RJ Raglan Brodie - SS WARRNAMBOOL; ; / James E. Coles - MERMERUS; / ( signatures continue overleaf) J H Walker - HINEMORA ; / R J Johns - ARIEL; / D Gorchem - MATADOR; / H Petersen - NESAIA;/ William J Reid - STAR of N. ZELAND [sic] ; / TJ Sohanstrom - HERMES;/ Alex Smith - SOPHOCLES; / W Y Bunn - CARMANIAN;./ William Anderson - LOCH KATRINE;/ Handwritten in red ink on the front of the parchment: "8182" NB The second digit in the number sequence appears to have been written over and could also be a "9", an "8" or a "3". paper Watermark "HERCULES". Prior to conservation and taped to the glass on the reverse side of the parchment was a small piece of paper reading: "Letter written in 1897 and signed between the last week of October and the first week of November." T and C probably stands for Trade and Customs and 8382 is the file no." (H8.4 x W11.8)victoria, melbourne, ships, petition, australia-wharf, captains, signatures, 717-flinders-street-docklands, maritime welfare services, mission to seafarers, seamen's mission, mission to seamen, mermerus, captain coles, sir john coode, loch line, loch ness, loch gary, loch ryan, ss warrnambool, loch tay, loch vennachar, matador, nesaia, d. gerckens, h. petersen, a.f. svhanstrom, hermes, ariel, loch katrine, william anderson, dharwar, narcissus, hebe, anna, hinemoa, sophocles, carmanian, captains' petition

Two black and white photos pasted onto a sheet of paper. The top photo is a photo of three men, one playing a fiddle, one with a brass instrument and the third is not very clear. They are in front of a hut with branches on the roof and hessian walls. Beneath the photo is typed on a piece of paper - A Bendigo Camp by Mulgarrie W. A. (Boer War Training Camp? Bendigonian Jan. 14 1897. Latrobe Collection, State Library of Victoria. The second photo is three men, dressed in suits and sitting on chairs in front of a building. One has a clarinet, the middle one has a concertina and the other has a fiddle. The men are the Coleman Brothers. The photo was taken by a travelling photographer called Siebart.photo, group, male, peter ellis collection, mulgarrie w a, boer was training camp?, bendigonian 14/1/1897, latrobe collection, state library of victoria, bill coleman, charles coleman, john robertson, singabout vol 6 no 1 1966, siebart, peter cuffley

Work Book and Accounts (Eldridge and Burnet - but not titled). What appears to be a running daily work book with handwritten notes about a wide range of business activities (1897 -1900) comprises the (now rolled) book, working from one end of the book. Working from the other end of the book are handwritten accounts for the period 1897-1898. This document has not been examined in detail (see 'Condition/Valuation' section) but it obviously has mention of a wide range of people and businesses in Bendigo of that era - due to them having had plumbing work performed by the business.business, retail, bendigo, eldridge and burnet

American 1897 - 1977LithographSigned in plate l.r and title in pencil beneath image

American 1897 - 1977Lithograph in coloursSigned l.r in image and under image in pencil

1897 G P G THE BENDIGONIAN Black and white newspaper cutting pasted onto cardboard. ' Captains and Secretaries of the local cycling clubs' 8 male figures with bicycle lying in front of photo. Names of men printed around photo:; Rear: J. Porter, Secretary, Rovers CC. C.E.H. Swyer, Secretary Bendigo CC., J.H,. Marwick Captain Ramblers CC., Centre : G.W. ---- Captain Rovers CC, H.M. Bickerton Secretary proterm Rambers CC, C. Jeffrey, Captain Eaglehawk CC, C. Ward Captain Bendigo CC. , H. Lay Secretary Eaglehawk. G P G Bottom R.H.Side On back in blue biro: Mr. Ward, 72 Lily Street.organization, club/society, cycling clubs

Pale pink silk banner with blue text and hand painted decoration of butterflies, pink blossoms and a scene of moonlight over water in the lower left-hand corner. The banner has a scalloped lower edge with metallic fringing."VICTORIAN AND TASMANIA WESLEYAN METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION SCHOLARS' EXAMINATION DISTRICT TROPHY GEELONG & BALLARAT DISTRICT Schools Under 100 Average Attendance Won by BELMONT, MAY, 1897. GONG GONG, OCTOBER, 1897. GONG GONG, MAY, 1898. GONG GONG, OCTOBER, 1898. JAS McGREGOR, Supt."victoria and tasmania wesleyan methodist sunday school union, belmont wesleyan methodist sunday school, gong gong wesleyan sunday school

Shakespeare. This book was presented to R. D. Mackay Esq. by W. D. C. Denovan in Bendigo on 7th September, 1897. Also a notation to J. Glen Oliphant from Angus and Girlee Mackay. The works of William Shakspere, his plays and poems.cottage, miners, literary history, literary history

ARTIST WALTER WITHEBS, whose pictures are now on exhibition at his Melbourne studio on Wednesdays and Saturdays, is an Englishman by birth, but an ardent Australian by adoption. His landscapes are "racy of the soil,” and amongst the most successful work of the kind done by Victorian artists. Withers does most of his work at his Heidelberg home, where he leads a serene life of artistic simplicity amidst the most picturesque surroundings. PEOPLE WE KNOW (1897, June 17). Melbourne Punch (Vic. : 1855 - 1900), p. 2. Retrieved August 22, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article174626232Journal inscribed: "Mrs Withers 463 Collins St. West Melbourne"art exhibition, art review, john withers collection, melbourne, walter withers studio, 463 collins street west, walter herbert withers, artist

Reproduced from "The Leader" 14th Aug. 1897, page 7 The "Black Swan" mine - on Captain Selby's property of 200 acres. Discovered by Captain Selby 8 years ago. He is working it himself. 'The shaft is down 70 feet and with deeper sinking the reef is found to increase in width. Nearly £2,000 has been obtained from this mine, the gold being of high quality, fetching £4-1-6 per oz.' Warrandyte photo "The Old Dam" - erected accross the river by Mr John Wallace, M.L.C., who attempted to turn the river and to work the river bed.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital imagesepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, warrandyte, gold mining, black swan mine, old dam

Tilly Aston sits in this studio portrait, her outfit obscured by the oval framing of the image. Her hair has been tied back and around her crown, as per her adulthood. A collared top with long sleeves which have a band around the cuff. She looks to have rosettes on her shoulders, a pin with 'V (crown symbol) R' under her chin, and fuchsias draped around her neck. The image could have been taken around 1897, when Queen Victoria celebrated her jubilee and various ornaments were produced to symbolise the occasion.Young adult female in studio portrait wearing collared, long sleeved dress with fuchsia necklacetilly aston, association for the blind

This three-dimensional Distant Signal is part of a Flagstaff Signal set of ball, cone and drum shapes. It has been woven and then fabricated with strong metal swivel fittings and loops for suspending from a high point on a flagstaff at a signal station or on a ship’s masthead. The cane signal was constructed to withstand all weather and to be visible from a long distance. The gaps between the woven cane allow air to pass through, minimising possible swaying. Similar sets were made from rope or fabric. Warrnambool's Flagstaff was erected in 1854. Its primary use was to display visual signals that could convey messages between land and sea. It was also used to notify the local population of the approach of ships. One of the popular signalling codes in use in the early-to-mid 1800s was the Marryat’s Code but there were others in use as well; there was no one standard code. In 1857 the International Marine Conference adopted an International Code of Signals as a standard communications system for all vessels that could be understood in many different languages. The Normanby Advertiser reported on June 5th 1857 a query from the Post Master General as to whether the request of the Chief Harbour Master would be carried out, in that Warrnambool would receive a new flagstaff and a set of Marryatt’s signal flags. The Table of Codes was published, showing how to use combinations of these flags to send messages. The Code was revised in 1887 to cover situations where distance, light, wind and weather conditions affected the visibility of the flags and prevented clear communication. The first report of the International Code of Signals Committee of 1897 warned signalmen not to rely on ordinary semaphore flags and introduced a Distant Signal Code using either particular semaphore flags or the three-dimensional shapes of a ball, cone and drum that aligned with the semaphore flag shapes of a circle, pennant and square. International Code of Signals In 1931, after World War I’s experiences in using signal codes, the International Code of Signals conference in Washington revised and published the rules for the conduct of signalling. One of the changes was that “the use of the Distant Signals and of fixed semaphore was abandoned”. It is of interest to know that modern marine law in many countries insists that a set of Day Shapes must be carried onboard vessels of a certain size. These highly visible geometric shapes are used at sea in daylight to communicate messages between vessels. They are used in a similar way to the Distant Signals, in that different combinations of shapes represent different messages. The set of shapes includes a ball, cylinder, cone and diamond. The shapes are hung between the top of the vessel’s foremast and the front of the vessel. They are only coloured black and are about 1.5 metres high. The vertical line of shapes can mean messages such as Boat not under command, Fishing, and Under sail and power.Distant Signals were an important means of marine communication from the late 1880s to the early 1930s, including during World War I. They were an advancement to the International Shipping Codes and safety. The cane signals’ shapes appear to be the same from whatever direction they are viewed, removing confusion about the message they convey. The same shapes continue to be used today for the sets of Day Shapes used as marine navigational signals that are mandatory on certain-sized vessels.Distant Signal Ball, part of a Flagstaff signal set. A round woven cane ball, painted black, with a metal rod passing through the centre. The rod has a loop at each end, then a concave, octagonal metal plate that rests on the outside surface of the ball, serving as a washer. The rod has swivels at each end.flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, distant signal, signal, maritime signal, ball signal, signal shape, flagstaff signal, signal station, masthead signal, communications, marine technology, signals, marine signals, flaghoists, international marine conference, international code of signals, signal codes, marine safety, signal flags, day shape, daymark, day symbol, navigation, warrnambool flagstaff, 1854, 1857 1931, 1887, 1897