In 1862, the units of the Mounted Volunteer Corps in Victoria were formed into a single regiment known as the Victorian Volunteer Light Horse. This title changed again in 1863, to the Prince of Wales Victorian Volunteer Light Horse ( Hussars ). In 1870 a uniform was adopted that was based on the British 19th Hussars. Troops were based at various times at Geelong, Ballarat, Kyneton, Bendigo, Castlemaine and Dandenong, as well as metropolitan Melbourne. In 1885, most of the Cavalry were incorporated into a newly formed Victorian Mounted Rifles. (http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/REL/18070.001) "It is notified in the Gazette that Lieutenant Laurence Whyte, Ballarat troop Prince of Wales Light Horse, has been appointed captain, seniority to date from January 31. " (The Argus, 17 February 1883) "An official inspection of the P.W.L.H. took place in the Royal Park last evening by the colonel-commandant, assisted by Colonel Rede; Captain Medealf in command of the, troop. After bring exercised in field movements, a sword competition took place, toe first prize bring awarded to Trooper L. Whyte ; the "second to Sergeant Blight; the third, to Trooper Jenkins; and the fourth, to Trooper Orr, of Creswick. Major Sleep officiated as timekeeper. The colonel commandant complimented Captain Med-calf upon the efficiency of the troop, and officers and men afterwards dined together at Craig's hotel. (Ballarat Courier, 09 March 1877.)Silver coloured sword and scabbard with leather hand grip within the hilt. The sword was awarded to Trooper Whyte of the Prince of Wales Victorian Volunteer Light Horse (Ballarat) in 1877.. Engraved into handle "Ballarat Troop P.W.V.V.L.H Officers Trophy FIRST PRIZE WON BY Trooper Whyte AT SWORD Competition 8th March 1877" volunteer forces, sword, trooper whyte, prince of wales victorian volunteer light horse (ballarat), l. whyte, laurence whyte

This cheque book was found in a shop on the corner of Sturt and Camp Streets, Ballarat by a builder around 2004. The English, Scottish & Australian Bank Limited was founded in 1852 by Royal Charter in London as the English, Scottish and Australian Chartered Bank. The bank opened its first Australian branch in Sydney in 1853. Australian banknotes were printed by the bank and issued at branches in Sydney, Adelaide, Hobart and Melbourne. In 1893, the bank was renamed the English, Scottish & Australian Bank following the financial upheaval. The bank was one of 16 banks which supplied blank note forms to the Australian Government in 1911 which were superscribed as redeemable in gold and issued as the first Commonwealth notes. The bank took over the Commercial Bank of Tasmania Limited and the London Bank of Australia Limited in 1921 and the Royal Bank of Australia Limited in 1927. On 1 October 1970, the bank merged with the Australia and New Zealand Bank to form the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English,_Scottish_and_Australian_Bank, accessed 27/03/2014)A half used cheque book from the English, Scottish & Australian Bank Ltd. The used cheques date from 1858 to 1860. Cheques are made out to the Old Colonists Club and Hotel Warrnambool. Notes on the inside cover are precautions against fraud.bank, banking, english scottish and australian bank, anz bank, cheque book

South Street competitions have been held in Ballarat since 1991.Official guide to the 1907 South Street competitions. Images include: Prince of Wales, Lord Northcote, W.D. Thomas, South Street Competition Executive Committee (W.H. Pearson, W.H. Chandler, A. Prichard, W.H. Richards, W.D. Hill, Col. Williams, W.D. Thomas, F. Besemeres, F.J. Martell, J.T. Morris. F.J. Williams, R. Maddern, R.J. Gribble), Sir John Madden, Lord Tennyson, W.D. Hill, Frederick Bevan, Ballarat (Sturt Street), Lake Wendouree (Yachts), J.W. Beswick, Lawrence Campbell, City of Ballarat Mayor and Councillor (Mayor Brawn, E. Williams, E. Morey. Cr Brokenshire, J. Whykes, J.M. Barker, G. Crocker, W.D. Hill, R. Pearse, T. Hollway), Ballarat East Mayor and Councillors (J. Gent, Cr Glendenning, J.N. Dunn, I. Pearce, C. Bunting, A. Levy, J. Ritchie, J. McNeil, A. McKenzie, Cr Penhalluriak), Sturt Street Looking West, Old Curiosity House, Entrance to the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, Interior of the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, Ballarat East Town Hall and Gardens, Lake Wendouree Ferry, W.E. Swenson, S.B. Swenson, J.G.M. Swenson, Rev. T. Flynn, Edwards' Pyrites, Lestor's Hotel, Sunshine Sheild, W to W Shield, Frank Herman, W.F. Coultman, Marks' Trophy, Lighthouse Port Fairy, R. Correll Music Seller, James Smith, Isaac Pitman, Arthur Brumfield, Hugh Leschen, John Robson, St Augustine's Band Geelong, Moorabool Falls, Kirks Dam, Ballarat Choral Society, Alfred Deakin, James Long, Hugh McKay Advertisements include: Huttons the Jewellers, Sam Jamieson, Sun Foundry, City Saw Mills, Blomeley Bros Iron and Brass Founders, G. Bongiorno- Railway Fruit Palace, Henry Brind & Co., Andrew Cant, Harrison's Foundry, Umbrella and Sunshade Emporium, Ballarat City Baths, Ballarat Coffee Palace, Irwin's Provincial Hotel, Victa Studio; D. Lem Chinese Medical Practitioner, Bosisto's Eucalyptus Oil, Ronaldson Bros & Tippett, Unicorn HOtel, Mrs F. Allen Caterer, Coles & Pullum, J.C. Dillon & Co., Surrey Tannery, Coulthard's Ballarat Business College, George Farmer, MrBride's Boots, L.J. Austin, Dyason's, Ballarat Brewing Company, Phoenix Brewery, Royal Standard Brewery, Edwards' Pyrites, Lestor's Hotel, Robson's College of Music, James A. Gear, Williams Shoemen, Tekardo Brothers, Powell & Co.south street competitions, eisteddfod, chinese herbalist, south street, r.b. lemmon, g. bongiorno, w.d. thomas, john madden, lord tennyson, w.d. hill, frederick bevan, j.w. beswick, lawrence campbell, boer war memorial, queen victoria statue, curiosity shop, m.b. john foundry, ballarat east town hall and gardens, sunshine shield, hugh victor mckay, w to w shield, w.j. coltman, frank herman, j. hutton-jones, t. downer, j. marks, hutton and co trophy, marks trophy, hugh leschen, john robson, st augustine's band, geelong, downer trophy, trekardo brothers, moorabool falls, kirks dam, ballarat choral society, alfred deakin, challenge cup, james long, grand national eisteddfod of australasia, ballarat east gardens, ballarat east town hall

Frank Wright was a renown resident of Smeaton, where he was born on 2 August 1901. He lived at Laura Villa, and attended Smeaton State School. His father William was a gold miner and his mother's name was Sarah. Their family won many singing and instrumental awards. Frank was tutored by Percy Code and was awarded a gold medal for the highest marks in the ALCM examinations in the British Colonies at the age of seventeen years. He became the Australian Open Cornet Champion by the age of eighteen. A year later, Frank conducted the City of Ballarat Band, and later the Ballarat Soldiers’ Memorial Band. He formed the Frank Wright Frisco Band and Frank Wright and his Coliseum Orchestra. These bands won many South Street awards, and Frank as conductor won many awards in the Australian Band Championship contest. In 1933 Frank Wright sailed to England to conduct the famous St Hilda’s Band and was later appointed Musical Director of the London County Council, where he organized many amazing concerts in parks, in and around the London district. He was made Professor of Brass and Military Band Scoring and conducted at the Guildhall of Music and Drama. Frank was often invited to adjudicate Brass Band Championships around Europe, in Australia, including South Street and in New Zealand. The Frank Wright Medal at the Royal South Street competition is awarded to an individual recognized as making an outstanding contribution to brass music in Australia. He died in England in 1970 at the age of 69.Black and white photograph of three men, two wearing band uniforms and one in a suit, hat and fob, sitting on chairs outside a building. The men are Spencer Peady, Earnest Bolitho and Frank Wright. The place is at the back of the Queens Hotel in Toowoomba, Queensland.Written in pen on the back - At the back of the Queens Hotel (Toowoomba) (Q), Spencer Peady, Earnest Bolitho, Frank Wright, Easter 1922, Taken by Percy James.city of ballarat band, brass band, frank wright, spencer peady, ernest bolitho, percy james

This painting of the “La Bella” is associated with Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from the wreck of the “La Bella”. It was painted around the 1980s by maritime artist Philip J. Gray. 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. The Kosnar Picture Framing and Mirrors Shop identified the "GRAY 3135, Y04/111" as their job number for the framing and said that the label "ANOTHER KOSNAR FEATURE" was last used before about 1990. About artist Philip J. Gray “Philip is one of Australia’s leading maritime artists and his meticulous research and social commentary paintings of ships, such as, the Loch Ard and Schomberg form an important part of Warrnambool’s Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum.” [Dr Marion Manifold, Artist and Art Historian, 2014] Philip James Gray was born in London but has lived most of his life in Australia. He graduated from a London school of art as an illustrator, specialising in technical and scientific illustration as well as other commercial and applied art. He was also a student for a time of Fyffe Christie - British figurative artist, mural painter and humanitarian – who had a great influence on his career. Philip has always worked as a professional artist and illustrator. Many publications on maritime history have featured his work. His paintings have been released and sold all over the world as limited edition prints. The State Library of Victoria’s ‘Latrobe Collection’ holds two of his paintings. His street painting of ‘The Ashes Contest’ decorates the brick wall of Old Bakery Laneway in Sunbury and a Sunbury café owner commissioned him to paint the ‘Sunbury Pop Festival’ as a remembrance of local history. Philip has been an active member of the Sunbury Art Society in Victoria for several years, serving on the committee for some of that time and being involved in exhibitions. He enjoys helping new artists and sharing his skills and experience. About the “La Bella” The wreck of the La Bella lies at the bottom of the Warrnambool Harbour in Lady Bay. Some 15 ships are believed to have been wrecked there but only two have been discovered on the sea floor; the La Bella and the Edinburgh Castle. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. The story of the final voyage of the La Bella is summarised as follows … 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 being 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. La Bella 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 sea water and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on 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 11pm 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 11pm 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 2am 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 was 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 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.This painting of the La Bella by Philip J. Gray 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 painting connects with other objects and artefacts associated with the wreck of the La Bella. This painting 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. Large framed painting of the three masted barquentine "La Bella" fully rigged. Painted by Phillip J Gray. A fine printed line squares off the painting. Beneath painting and line is a gold plate with black copper plate designating "La Bella" is encased in glass, surrounded by a silver-metal frame. Yellow and brown paper label is adhered to back of painting. Picture framed by Kosnar in Melbourne."The La Bella" on gold plaque Logo of "K" inside a brown square. "GRAY 3135, Y04/111", "ANOTHER KOSNAR FEATURE" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, painting, la bella, artist phillip j gray, maritime painting, lady bay warrnambool

The Bronze Medal and Certificate of Merit of the Royal Humane Society of Australasia were awarded to James Patten for the bravery he displayed on 18th April 1890, and presented to him on 21st May 1890. The Royal Humane Society of Australasia was founded in 1874 with the aim to recognise those who risked their lives to save others and to assist those whose acts of bravery caused them or their surviving dependants to be disadvantaged in some way. The producers of the certificate were Fergusson & Mitchell, a Melbourne organisation established by 1858 that was an engraver, lithographer and printer. Details of the incident were published in the Argus, Saturday 19 April 1890, page 11 - "FATAL BOATING ACCIDENT, (BY TELEGRAPH FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.), WARRNAMBOOL, FRIDAY A fatal boating disaster occurred in Lady Bay this morning, the victim being Joseph Lowe, licensee of the Bay View Hotel, South Warrnambool. The deceased, in company with two lads named James Ferrier and James Patten, went out in a small dingy to shoot musk ducks. The water was perfectly smooth, and the party were tempted to proceed as far as the mouth of the Hopkins River. In their eagerness they neglected to keep clear of the breakers, and were presently carried in on the crest of a large wave, and the boat cap sized within a cable's length of the shore, precipitating the occupants into the water. Patten and Lowe stuck to the overturned boat, Ferrier striking out for the shore, which he reached in an exhausted state. In the meantime his companions had been washed off the boat, and were struggling in the breakers. Lowe was unable to swim, and Patten kept him afloat, at the same time making gallant attempts to get him ashore, but finally had to leave him to his fate. Ferrier, seeing Lowe's danger, undressed and swam out, but became exhausted. Ferrier and Patten were both found in a fainting condition by persons who saw the catastrophe from the jetty, and ran along the beach to render assistance. Attempts were subsequently made to rescue Lowe's body, which could be seen washing abort in the surf. These proved unsuccessful, and no hope is now entertained of recovering it. Lowe was a smart young man, 28 years of age, and unmarried. He was formerly bar-man at the Commercial Hotel here, having been engaged in Melbourne...." The bronze medal and accompanying certificate of the Royal Humane Society of Australasia recognise the bravery of James Patten, a Warrnambool citizen who risked his life in the attempt to save the life of his friend Joseph Lowe.Certificate, cream paper, rectangular, decorative border and headings, printed and handwritten in pen and ink. Letterhead of The Royal Humane Society of Australasia. Awarded on 21st May 1890 to James Patten of Warrnambool. for his bravery on 18th April 1890.Print and writing includes - "The Royal Humane Society of Australia under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen and their excellencies, the Governors of all the Australian Colonies and Fiji. At a general court of directors holden at the Offices of the Society Melbourne on the 21st day of May 1890, it was resolves that the courage and humanity displayed by James Patten, aged 20 years, labourer Warrnambool in attempting to rescue Joseph Lowe from drowning in the North Eastern bight of Lady Bay 18th April 1890. Call for the admiration of this court and justly, entitles him to the Bronze Medal of this society which is hereby awarded." Signatures [Secretary] and [President]flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, maritime museum, maritime village, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, bronze medal 1890, royal humane society of australasia, james patten, medal, australian award medal, commemorative medal, numismatics, life saving, lifesaving, rescue, bravery, drowning, joseph lowe, james ferrier, lady bay, hopkins river, boating accident, certificate of merit, lithograph, north eastern bight

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

This brass rail holder fixture would have been used to hold the end of a rail in place. There is no information as to where the fitting or rail would have been placed on the ship; sailing ships had many brass fittings. It was recovered from the wreck of the La Bella, which lies at the bottom of the Warrnambool Harbour. Some 15 ships are believed to have been wrecked in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the sea floor; the La Bella and the Edinburgh Castle. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. The story of the final voyage of the La Bella is summarised as follows … 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 being 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 sea water and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on 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 11pm 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 11pm 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 2am 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 was 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 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. 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. 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. 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 item 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. Brass rail holder from the wreck "La Bella". This rail holder would have been used as a fitting for the end of a rail. It is made up of two parts and looks a little like a goblet in shape. The top is a hollow spherical shape with a circular hole cut out on one side, into which the end of a round rail would fit. There are two gouge marks close to each other on one side of the hole, about one centimetre apart, at 1 and 2 o’clock position. The sphere has a hollow pipe-like stem with a screw thread turned into the outside of the lower section and the bottom of the stem has been flared out after having the base fitted. The base is round and has a mound in the centre. The edge has four evenly spaced fixture holes around its edge. The metal shows signs of pitting and has mild encrustation. The fitting of the base is loose, allowing it to swivel in a complete circle. The top of the sphere is rough and has a dent in it. Underneath the base there is verdigris; some has flaked off and reveals a bright golden colour underneath. rail holder, brass rail holder, la bella, lady bay, norway, 1893, new zealand, captain mylius, william ferrier, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village

The Bronze Medal and Certificate of Merit of the Royal Humane Society of Australasia were awarded to James Patten for the bravery he displayed on 18th April 1890, and presented to him on 21st May 1890. The Royal Humane Society of Australasia was founded in 1874 with the aim to recognise those who risked their lives to save others and to assist those whose acts of bravery caused them or their surviving dependants to be disadvantaged in some way. Details of the incident were published in the Argus, Saturday 19 April 1890, page 11 - "FATAL BOATING ACCIDENT, (BY TELEGRAPH FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.), WARRNAMBOOL, FRIDAY A fatal boating disaster occurred in Lady Bay this morning, the victim being Joseph Lowe, licensee of the Bay View Hotel, South Warrnambool. The deceased, in company with two lads named James Ferrier and James Patten, went out in a small dingy to shoot musk ducks. The water was perfectly smooth, and the party were tempted to proceed as far as the mouth of the Hopkins River. In their eagerness they neglected to keep clear of the breakers, and were presently carried in on the crest of a large wave, and the boat cap sized within a cable's length of the shore, precipitating the occupants into the water. Patten and Lowe stuck to the overturned boat, Ferrier striking out for the shore, which he reached in an exhausted state. In the meantime his companions had been washed off the boat, and were struggling in the breakers. Lowe was unable to swim, and Patten kept him afloat, at the same time making gallant attempts to get him ashore, but finally had to leave him to his fate. Ferrier, seeing Lowe's danger, undressed and swam out, but became exhausted. Ferrier and Patten were both found in a fainting condition by persons who saw the catastrophe from the jetty, and ran along the beach to render assistance. Attempts were subsequently made to rescue Lowe's body, which could be seen washing abort in the surf. These proved unsuccessful, and no hope is now entertained of recovering it. Lowe was a smart young man, 28 years of age, and unmarried. He was formerly bar-man at the Commercial Hotel here, having been engaged in Melbourne ..." This medal recognises the bravery of James Patten, a local citizen who risked his life to save the life of his friend Joseph Lowe whilst at sea and was recognised for this act by the Royal Humane Society of Australasia.Medal awarded to James Patten by the Royal Humane Society of Australasia for his bravery on18 April 1890 and presented to him on 21 May 1890. Bronze medal in hard black rectangular case. Lid and base have centre hinge and brass spring button catch. Case is padded and lined with blue silk and has a fitted hook. The round medal has a bronze bar with pin closure, dark blue, braided ribbon with brass swivel mount. The case has a gold embossed rectangular border on the lid and base. Embossed inscription on lid. The obverse shows a woman on the left in long robe placing a wreath on the head of a kneeling man at right, with the five stars of the Southern Cross constellation above his head. A motto is inscribed around the edge. The reverse has inscriptions around the edge, a wreath of two overlapping olive branches, and engraved text.OBVERSE: Embossed around "VIRTUTE PARATUM" REVERSE: Embossed on the medal around the edge "ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY OF AUSTRALASIA INSTD. A.D. 1874", in the centre "AWARDED TO" Engraved in the centre "James Patten/ 18th April / 1890" CASE LID: "PRESENTED BY / THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY / OF AUSTRALASIA / TO / JAS. PATTEN. / 21ST MAY 1890."flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, maritime museum, maritime village, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, bronze medal 1890, royal humane society of australasia, james patten, medal, australian award medal, commemorative medal, numismatics, life saving, lifesaving, rescue, bravery, drowning, joseph lowe, james ferrier, lady bay, hopkins river, boating accident, certificate of merit, north eastern bight

The City of Moorabbin Historical Society was formed c 1960 by a group of Moorabbin residents who were concerned that the history of the area should be preserved. A good response to a call for items related to the historical area of Moorabbin Shire brought donations of a wide variety of artefacts which are now preserved by the current members of CMHS at Box Cottage Museum . Helen Stanley, Secretary of CMHS, began producing a Newsletter for members in April 2007 to provide current information and well researched items of historical interest. Helen Stanley has produced a bi-monthly Newsletter, 2007 - 2013, for the members of the City of Moorabbin Historical Society that contains well researched interesting historical items, notification of upcoming events, current advice from Royal Australian Historical Society , Museums Australia Victoria and activities of Local Historical Societies. The Newsletter is an important record of the activities of the CMHS. The Blackman family were early settlers in Moorabbin Shire A4 paper printed both sides x1. Issue 8 of the bi-monthly, City of Moorabbin Historical Society Newsletter produced by Society member and Secretary, Mrs Helen Stanley in August 2008. Notices of a talk by Dorothy Booth, “ The Historic Mentone Railway Gardens’ on August 31st and a request for volunteers to begin an Inventory of the Box Cottage artefacts and to assist at upcoming Open Days. An excerpt from the CMHS Newsletter March 1965 ‘ Three Pieces of Paper’, by Mrs Nance Blackman, a member, describing items from “The Moorabbin News” ‘ 1907 that included The Cheltenham Butter Factory, and advertisements aimed at the local people and their occupations. Note is made of 3 businesses run by Women – butcher, milk delivery and a ‘delicatessen’ - and an ‘Oriental Laundry’ in Cheltenham, as well as the trading hours for shops and weekly wages. Gas light and candles were in common use because Electricity did not come to Bentleigh until 1916 and several Fire Brigades were formed in the Shire. A photocopied photograph of an Electric Power pole c1930.CITY of MOORABBIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY / AUGUST 2008 NEWSLETTER city of moorabbin historical society, stanley helen, melbourne, moorabbin, mentone, mordialloc, cheltenham, ormond, bentleigh, market gardeners, farmers, dairymen, confectioner, pioneers, early settlers, moorabbin shire, blackman nance, box cottage museum, highett, booth dorothy, mentone railway station gardens, cheltenham butter factory, beazley hannah, redstron mrs., bickerton mrs., oriental laundry cheltenham, biehl mr., matthews mr., gas-light, electric light, smith j.l., journeaux james, king george, grommann’s hotel mordialloc, telephones, fire brigades

The photograph of William Ferrier was given to Avis Quarrell by Lewis Ferrier, 3rd youngest son of William during the centenary of the wreck of the La Bella. The photograph was framed by the Henna Street Picture Framers, Warrnambool in 2005. The photograph is of William Ferrier, the 25-year-old fisherman from South Warrnambool, whose rescue of two sailors from the wrecked La Bella made him an overnight national hero. The La Bella was wrecked on 10th November 1905,and the remains of the vessel now lie 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. Several attempts were made by the Warrnambool lifeboat crew to rescue the stricken sailors on the La Bella, 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. A another rescue attempt was made by Ferrier who rowed a small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain George Mylius, 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 swam towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the ropes and debris 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 survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. 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.This photograph is significant at both a local and state level. Its connection to the La Bella shipwreck and the rescue of survivors highlights the dangers of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast and demonstrates the bravery of ordinary Australians like William Ferrier who risked their lives to save victims of shipwrecks along the coast. Moreover, the photograph has an association with the sailing ship ‘La Bella’, as it is one of the only two shipwrecks discovered in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, out of the 15-17 shipwrecks known to have been wrecked in the bay.Framed sepia photograph, mounted behind glass. Portrait of a man seated on a log. He is wearing a brimmed hat, dark coloured jacket and trousers, and a light coloured collarless shirt with buttons. The figure in the photograph is William Ferrier.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, la bella, william ferrier, rescue, hero william ferrier

Typed copy of what appears to be a speech. Mentioned is that after 1910 the Commonwealth took over the minting it's own money. Gold mining was chosen for the one pound note and a Bendigo scene was chosen. The scene chosen shows boring operations in the Victoria Quartz Mine. The picture was taken by Vincent Kelly of the five figures but for engraving only three were shown. They were Mr W Healy, Mr J Smith and Mr James Beverage. James Beverage was a member of Bendigo's first fire brigade. He went to Beechworth for a demonstration and on the way home stopped at Christie's Hotel in Swanston Street. There was a fire at the hotel and Mr Beverage rescued Mrs Christie, her baby and a servant. At a later date Mr Beverage saved a woman from a burning building in Moore Street in Bendigo. He received the Royal Humane Society's Medal which is now housed at the Bendigo Fire Station in Hargreaves Street. In the City's formative years the area that deposited its rain water into the Long Gully Creek was considered to be in Long Gully and for many years the Victoria Quartz Mine deposited many thousands of gallons of water into the Long Gully Creek. Mr Steve Gibbons unveiled the plaque.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - banknotes and james beverage, victoria quartz mine, vincent kelly, shepard's bush, mr rickards, mr abraham, mr w healy, mr j smith, mr james beverage, south iron bark mine, rae's hill, sandhurst no 1 fire brigade, christie's hotel, mrs christie, royal humane society's medal, bendigo fire station, long gully history group, mr steve gibbons, department of environment water heritage, arts commnmoration of historic events and famous persons

Handwritten, detailed account of Hospital Sunday at Sandhurst. It mentions the crowds coming into town, the procession, and the day’s entertainment at the Reserve. Also mentions the donations raised for charity. Also a number of small pages titled Facts & Scraps. Mentions a number of daily happenings and the bells at St. Paul's Church.event, entertainment, sandhurst, the australian sketcher 1873, rev mr croxton, the bendigo advertiser, hallas' band, northcott's regimantal band, captain moorhead, captain boyd, lieutenant sibley, lieutenant henderson, mr morrison, bendigo rifles, major taylor, captain joseph, lieutenant blackham, bendigo hotel, bank of victoria, prince alfred, mr abbott, st paul's church bells, hustlers mine, prince bismarck, james park, bell, william hartlett, mr williamson, mr purcell, connell watson & hogarth, mr j b watson, the engineers engine-drivers and blacksmiths association, melbourne botanical gardens, mr hodgkinson, baron von muellerus, patrick hugo mchugh, golden fleece mine, orpheus c kerr, jones, the victorian racing club, mr walker, spencer, robert chambers's index to heirs-at-law legatees missing friends and persons advertised for during 150 years past, mr higinbotham, mr d r morrison, mr mccosh, mr hicks, carlisle company, james hamilton, samuel rochford, royal hustlers claim, william mycroft, rifle brigade hotel, mr randall, the right rev dr gould, r m s s china, james kennedy

Typed account of the entertainment in Bendigo in the early days. People made their own entertainment and from 1853 theatres and concert halls became a part of life on the goldfield. Singers and musicians came to perform. There was also processions, race meetings and sporting events.bendigo, entertainment, gold fields, entertainment on the gold fields 1850 - 1890, m dixon, lola montez, amy castles, charles thatcher, bendigo advertiser, the theatre royal, yates, royal exchange restaurant, shamrock hotel, merchant of venice, othello, hamlet, lady of lyons, royal victoria theatre, bendigo histrionic club, the old curiosity shop, benevolent asylum, shakespearean society, criterion theatre, w howitt, land labour and gold, frank cusack, bendigo a history, the bendigo advertiser centenary edition, r ward, the australian legend, the shamrock concert hall, royal princess theatre, j c williamson, maggie moore, ilma de murska, easter fair, jim crilly, annals of bendigo, gilbert and sullivan, dick davey's pub, g mackay, mackay & co, sandhurst bee, m clark, a short history of australia, r lacour-gayet, a concise history of australia, jack hattam

Letter written on cream paper with grided watermark and dated August 15th 1871. Writer has enclosed Clearance from Court royal Oak, Doctors receipt, & renew his application for admittance as member of Court King of the Forest. Signature is mostly missing where page was folded?societies, aof, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no. 3770 collection - correspondence, silver mines hotel, court king of the forest, court royal oak

'Theatre on the Goldfields'' - paper by Frank Cusack. Two versions of this paper - an incomplete version (foolscap) of 6 pages and full version (A4) with pencilled annotations (19 pp). (Incomplete version covers pages to p11). Reference to Theatre Royal; Yates (lessee); Gregg (lessee); Carcross's Royal Exchange Restaurant; Wright's tent theatre; Victorian saloon; Sydenham Gardens; Burton's Circus; C H Rignold; Royal Victoria Theatre; Princess Theatre; Criterion Hotel; Fawcett Rowe; Lola Montez; Criterion Theatre; Henry Coleman; G V Brooke; Burralls Assembly Rooms; Nicholls Assembly Rooms; Shamrock Concert Hall; Bendigo Hotel; Billy Heffernon; John Crowley; Thatcher; Greville; Joe Small; Fanny Young; Frank Varley; Lyceum Theatre; Haymarket; Bendigo Histrionic Club; Garrick Club; Sandhurst Philharmonic Society; Abbott; new Lyceum theatre; Richard Younge; opera house; St. James Hall; Royal Princess Theatre; Masonic Theatre; Bendigo Dramatic Society; Bendigo Glee Club; Bendigo Amateur Dramatic Club; Bendigo Orchestra; Bendigo Liedertafel; Alice Crawford; Conservatorium of Music; E A Bindley.Frank Cusackentertainment, theatre, history, frank cusack, royal theatre, wrights tent theatre, burtons circus, c. h. rignold, burralls assembley rooms, nicholls assembley rooms, shamrock concert hall, garrick club, st james hall, royal princess theatre, alice crawford, lyceum theatre. e a bindley.

Shamrock Hotel, Pall Mall, Bendigo / cardboard Shamrock Hotel menu with red printing dated 28.8.1951 for the official luncheon of the Quadrangular Contests 1951, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Toorak Colleges / Rubber stamp of Royal Historical Society of Victoria / MP380/ emblem showing Per ardua ad astra Bendigo - translated as 'Per ardua ad astra' ("Through adversity to the stars" [1] or "Through struggle to the stars"[2]) is the motto of the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces such as the RAAF, RCAF, and RNZAF. It dates from 1912 and was used by the newly formed Royal Flying Corps./ back page shows Autographs / This belongs to E A Goetse.ephemera, mementoes, shamrock hotel , pall mall , bendigo / quadrangular contests 1951

Handwritten 'Notes' re various Bendigo buildings (no author, no date) - for a talk or article? References to: Sandhurst Brewery (Havelock Street); Bendigo Brewery (Vine Street); Mr J Armstrong; Phoenix Brewery (Vine Street); Star Brewery (Bridge Street); Shamrock Hotel; Phillip Kennedy; Vahland and Getschmann; Royal Theatre; Haymarket Theatre; Scherffs Store; Abbotts Hotel and Assembly Room; Lyceum Theatre; G A Fletcher; Moore Bros Store; Lyric Theatre; H Barrow; Campaspe Inn (Runnymede)buildings, commercial, breweries

VARIOUS PRINTED ITEMS RELATING TO THE SHAMROCK HOTEL. a. Letter from Royal Historical Society of Victoria to BHS in relation to the application to the Historic Building Council (dated 28 Jan 1992); b. cutting from Bendigo Advertiser Sept 9, 1991 re the ''small booklet'' written by Frank Cusack - ''The Shamrock Story'' - has detail taken from the booklet; c. coloured postcard of the hotel (taken from the position of the Lansell monument) - 'Plastichrome' - Murfett Publishers; d. handwritten page with details of Shamrock Hotel incl. reference to: Messrs Heffernan & Crowley; alterations and enlargements (1855, 1859); present building (1897); reference to lighting with gas (1855)- this extract has ''Annals 1855'' appended as a source.buildings, hotel, shamrock hotel.

TEXT OF TALK - ''THE FIRST 50 YEARS OF FREEMASONRY IN BENDIGO''. (Stamped on first and last page with name of Mc.G W Morse 'Dunmaghlas' 36 Thomas St, Kangaroo Flat. (author?; no date provided). Typed pages cut and mounted on 17 stapled pages. References to: W C Vahland; ''The Golden Lodge of Bendigo''; organ; Corinthian Lodge of Sandhurst; ''Black Liners''; Eaglehawk Lodge; Zenith Lodge; Golden and Corinthian Lodge; Art Union; Masonic Charity Sunday; Sandhurst Lodge; Corona Lodge; Royal Golden Chapter; Kinghts Templar; Mark Master Masons Degree;mcG. W. Morse, Dunmaghlas, 36 Thomas Street Kangaroo Flat. 3555clubs, social, freemasonry, bro. w.c. vahland, boltons brothers, bendigo gold rush, freemasons, brother r.c. mackenzie, criterian hotel, brother w. scott, brother edward salaman, grant's cafe.

394 c, Six handwritten pinned pages including abstract and Valuation of Hotel Properties on behalf Cohn Bros Brewery Company made by Messrs G M Hobson & Co licensed valuers Hargreaves St Bendigo dated 10/11/91 and signed G M Hobson. Nineteen hotels are valued. 1. Albert Hotel. 2. Fire Brigade Hotel. 3. City Hotel. 4. British & American. 5. Hustlers Reef. 6. Garden Gully. 7. Universal. 8. Brougham Arms. 9. Victoria. 10. United Kingdom. 11. West End. 12. View Bend. 13. Sparrowhawk. 14. Greyhound. 15. Normandy. 16 Noahs Ark. 17. Saw Mill. 18. Royal. 19. South Elmore. Total value £14305.00bendigo, industry, cohn bros brewery

Printed Cohn Bros Memorandum letterhead notepaper dated 23rd Dec 1891 with handwritten 'Property Valuations'. Nineteen Cohns Hotels with 1891 valuations are listed. These include: Albert Hotel, Fire Brigade, City, British American, Hustlers Reef, Garden Gully, Universal, Brougham Arms, Victoria, United Kingdom, West End, View Bend, Sparrowhawk, Greyhound, Normanby, Noahs Ark, Saw Mills, and the Royal at Wedderburn, as well as the South Elmore at the township of Elmore. These totalled £14,305bendigo, industry, cohn bros brewery

Black and white photograph showing Pall Mall with Beehive Building, Shamrock Hotel, Alexandra Fountain, Parade (military?). Crowd watching, some in horse drawn vehicles. Trams at Fountain. Flags at half mast. Inscriptions on back 'MP 254'. Circular rubber stamp 'Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Bendigo Branch'. History of object: Commemorative service for death of Queen Victoria, early 1901, which was held in Rosalind Park following parade.Bendigo Advertiserplace, streetscape, pall mall, see also 2000.539.01

Black and white photograph taken from the City Family Hotel Tower, looking along Pall Mall towards White Hills, Showing Alexandra fountain, toast rack tram, 1903 tram, Hustler's Royal Reserve Mine, Post Office, Law Courts behind, tram track, School of Mines tower, Shamrock Hotel and other businesses, The Beehive, Pikes Building and verandah of building in foreground. Inscriptions: 'Bendigo, looking East' in TLH corner. History: photographic copy in black and white of a colour tinted postcard, printed c1915. Copied c1970place, streetscape, pall mall, photograph, photography, bendigo, alexandra fountain, toast rack tram, bendigo law courts, bendigo post office, bendigo school of mines, beehive building, hustler's royal reserve mine

Black and white photograph. Alexandra Fountain, Pall Mall, Post Office, 2nd Shamrock Hotel. Bendigo School of Mines, Beehive Stores, Fence along Pall Mall. Horse cabs along Pall Mall. Men, women and children. Women wearing full length dresses. Inscriptions: in image - 'Henderson & Goodisson', 'City Drapery', 'Melbourne Cash Store', J Edwards Practical Watchmaker', ':Emery', 'A Lannduff', Karl Van Damme'. On back - rubber stamp, purple 'Royal Historical Society of Vic, Bendigo Branch, Dudley House, 60 View Street, Bendigo'.place, streetscape, alexandra fountain, photograph, photography, bendigo, alexandra fountain, pall mall, shamrock hotel, bendigo school of mines, beehive store, bendigo post office, bendigo clock, bendigo post office clock, bendigo citizens

Black and white photograph, on fawn mount. Group of men in costumes representing various nationalities. At rear of photo, group of men in suits. First Commercial Traveller's Prize Packet Effort Easter 1919. Inscriptions: WH Robinson, Bendigo. Attached to back with white paper 'First Commercial Traveller's Prize Packet Easter Effort 1919. Photographed by WH Robinson outside the Shamrock Hotel. Included in the photo are: Gilbert Rule, James Steward, Charles Bulley, WJ Chapman, Alex Hamilton, H V Pulfer, Fred Wilkinson, Norm Wilkie, W Hillier, A L McMillan, Les Oliver, Arthur Powell, WH Thomas, Bob Munro, Tom Pritchard, W Grimsley, Tom Horn, Lou Gormann, Fred Wittschiche, H Quinell, Tudor Wittschiche', 'Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Bendigo Branch 1959, 139 circular stamp on rear.WH Robinson Bendigocottage, miners

Sepia photograph of 1900 Bendigo Bowling Club. Group of well dressed men outside a building. Men wearing waistcoats, suits, ties, hats. Four bowls (for playing law bowls) right front of photo. Inscriptions: Card, front - R Dermer Smith, Photo Bull St., Bendigo. Card back - GP88. Stamped 'Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Bendigo Branch, 1959, 145)' Paper posted to rear of card. Stamped - 'Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Bendigo Branch' Hand written in stamp '1959', '145'. Hand written in blue ink '1900 Bowling Club'. 'M Yates (Bendigo Station Master), F Brown, Roeder (Hotel Athenaeum), Howel (Band Manager), Town Clerk W Honeybone, Jackson Parker, AJ Pearce (Grammar School), Fred Barder, Pascoe, JA Deravin (Dolfe), WHB Neill, Charley Satchell (Solicitor_, Charlie Fly (Grocer), Andrews (Commercial Traveller), MA Bosselman, Mr WJ Jackson Sen, Mr WJ Jackson Jun. (tailors), John Fly (brother of Charles), Dr. Garnet, Dr. Theodore Deravin. (old Grammar School at back of St Andrews about to be demolished). Not Bendigo. Rear Admiral Dr St---dee, 1893.person, group, sports team

Black and white photograph on grey board of view (from Law Courts?) towards Howard Place, Bendigo. Conservatory Building in foreground and row of horse drawn cab (equivalent to present day taxis). Two story buildings with Hotel, Grocers, Undertakers, Photographers and Black Swan Hotel. Inscriptions: on back - Conservatory Gardens and Howard Place, Bendigo', '30', 'Gardens, 1204, FSP', '1165 (a)', 'date about 1900 ----', 'Royal Historical Society Victoria, Bendigo Branch' in a circular stamp.buildings, conservatory