Built in 1858 at the Port and Harbour Master's yard in Williamstown Victoria, the Portland Lifeboat was overseen by Harbour Master Charles Ferguson. It is understood to have been constructed from the same moulds used to build the Port Fairy Lifeboat, designed by William White, in 1857. Both boats are similar to the lifeboats designed in England by James Peake and adopted by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in the UK. The Portland Lifeboat's 9.14 m (30 ft) long hull is double diagonally planked in New Zealand kauri, and many of the planks run from gunwale to gunwale in one piece under the inner keel section. Eucalyptus and oregon were used elsewhere and the local blacksmith made the iron work. The fastenings are copper. There are two flotation or buoyancy tanks at either end, with prominent whaleback style decking. Under the thwarts is a deck with scuppers so that the craft is both buoyant and self draining whenever large waves are taken aboard in rough conditions. The lifeboat was oar-powered with a sailing rig. The original rig was a lug mainsail, but this was replaced with a lug and headsail rig taken from a fishing boat in 1903. The lifeboat was manned by volunteer crews, mostly local fishermen from Portland. They maintained this service until 1915 when the boat was replaced with a new motorised craft. The lifeboat's most outstanding service was to the steamer ADMELLA in 1859 when the ship grounded on a reef off Cape Banks in South Australia, 150 km to the west of Portland. Survivors clung to the rigging in heavy seas for over a week and 89 people lost their lives in the shipwreck. Taken to the scene by the steamer LADY BIRD, the Portland Lifeboat was unable to assist until eight days after the ADMELLA's grounding when the seas abated enough for the lifeboat to manoeuvre close to the ship and rescue the last 19 survivors. Since its retirement in 1915 the lifeboat has been a memorial to those who manned it and those it rescued. For a long period it was on display in the Portland Gardens, first in the open and then under a canopy. In 2008 it was on display inside the Portland Maritime Discovery Centre, still in original condition complete with the rig from 1915. It is one of the oldest vessels of its type in Australia, and the world.Portland LifeboatPhotograph showing the Portland Lifeboatphotography, portland lifeboat, admella

Donated by abattoir staff during clean-up prior to demolition in 1996. Company was then owned by Australian Meat HoldingsBlack and white photograph, framed. Frame: stained wooden moulding c. 1970s. Image: Portland abattoirs, aerial view from N.E. Portland Drive-in theatre in backgroundFront: Photocopy - legend of key functions of the abattoir buildingsaerial photography, drive-in cinema, abattoir, industry, recreation

Contemporary postcard of Victorian lightbouses. 4 rectangular and one oval full coloured photos of lighthouses at Point Lonsdale, Aireys Inlet, Cape Nelson, Port Fairy and Cape Otway. 'Lighthouses Great Ocean Road, Victoria Australia' in white on black, bottom margin. Travellers notes logo on right.

Contemporary postcard of Portland. 3 full coloured photos of gannet colony at Point Danger and Lawrence Rocks. 'Portland Discovery Coast Victoria Australia' in black on white bottom margin.

Contemporary postcard of Portland. Full colour, 9 images of Portland 'Portland Victoria, Australia" in white, bottom edge, left. 'Traveller's notes logo - right. Reverse has descriptions of 9 images, outline map of Australia showing Melbourne and rectangle of Portland area.

Part of a collection of photographs taken by Zillah Maschmedt in 1934. Zillah was a teacher from South Australia.Negative for black and white photo. Simpson's Creek at Nelson, Victoria. View along creek.zillah maschmedt, photography, nelson, glenelg shire

Part of a collection of photographs taken by Zillah Maschmedt in 1934. Zillah was a teacher from South Australia.Transparency for black and white photo. Nelson, Victoria, Glenelg River in foreground, bridge on left.zillah maschmedt, photography, nelson, glenelg river

Part of a collection of photographs taken by Zillah Maschmedt in 1934. Zillah was a teacher from South Australia.Negative for black and white photo. Nelson Victoria. View across river looking towards mouth of the Glenelg River.zillah maschmedt, photography, glenelg river, nelson

Part of a collection of photographs taken by Zillah Maschmedt in 1934. Zillah was a teacher from South Australia.Negative for black and white photo. Glenelg River and bridge at Nelson, Victoria.zillah maschmedt, photography, glenelg shire, river

Part of a collection of photographs taken by Zillah Maschmedt in 1934. Zillah was a teacher from South Australia.Transparency for black and white photo. Panoramic view of Nelson Viczillah maschmedt, photography, panorama, glenelg river, nelson

Part of a collection of photographs taken by Zillah Maschmedt in 1934. Zillah was a teacher from South Australia.Transparency for black and white photo. View along Glenelg river at Nelson, Victoria. Township on right, bridge centre of the photo.zillah maschmedt, photography, glenelg river

Zillah Maschmedt took a series of photographs of Portland and the surrounds in 1934. She was a school teacher from South Australia.Negative for black and white photo. View of Nelson from Glenelg River, bridge over river visible.photography, zillah maschmedt

Illustrations of Australian Army Insignia 1903-1966. Compiled by Alfred N Festberg, Photography by Arthur G Genders Published by Military Historical Society of Australia, Victorian Branch, 1967.Inscribed by author: "To the Museum Alfred Festberg 9 Nov 78"australian army, insignia, badges, alfred n festberg, arthur g genders, miltary historical society of australia

Three newspaper articles from the Herald Sun newspaper. 1. Unveiling the State's first monument to the Light Horse. 2. A new battle to save the Australian Waler 3. The use of colour photography in WW1newspaper, light horse