Author Alan Marshall lived at Eltham from 1955 to about 1981. Alan owned land at Research and often lived there in his caravan while he was writing. A story about this land is told by John Morrison in "The Writer and the Swagman", which appears in his book "Australian by Choice." Local people also remember Alan living in his caravan beside an old house occupied by his friend, artist Neil Douglas, which was situated on the site of the present-day Eltham College oval and owned by the Pelling family at that time. It is understood that the land owned by Alan Marshall was nearby in Cassells Road. Vivienne Turner of Eltham recalled that her family had a photo of Alan and his caravan at Research and a copy was provided to EDHS in 2003. The caravan was a Sunliner model. See EDHS Newsletter No 151 July 2003Black and white photograph, injet print on paper alan marshall, caravan, research (vic.), eltham college, neil douglas, pelling family, turner family, sunliner caravan, ek holden special station sedan, cars, 1962

Nillumbik Now and Then takes the reader on a journey from when the Aboriginal people were this area's sole inhabitnats, to the present day. Nillumbik's history - told in this collection of 96 stories, which are nearly all based on sites - mirrors those of the wider Australian community. It includes tales of the Wurundjeri people, a former convict, farmers, a bushranger, gold-mining, soldiers, artists, intellectuals, environmentalists and sportspeople. Each story is illustrated with a photograph. As a journalist with the former Diamond Valley News, Marguerite Marshall wrote a series of articles on local places of historic interest, later published as the small book "Eltham Shire - Historic Buildings and Places". Many years later an expanded version was published under the title "Nillumbik Now and Then". This is a much larger version of "Nillumbik Now and Then", including significant rewriting and many additional articles. The new publication was made possible by financial support from the Victorian Public Records Office, Bendigo Bank and Nillumbik Shire Council. EDHS and other historical societies in Nillumbik assisted with content for many of the stories. The book was launched at the Eltham Library on Wednesday 19th November 2008. Source: EDHS Newsletter No 183, November 2009 The front cover art depicts The former house of naturalist and artist Neil Douglas at Bend of Islands, photographer Marguerite Marshall. This collection of almost 130 photos and stories about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. Paperback; x, 198 p. : ill., ports. ; 30 cm.Signed by the authornillumbik shire, houses, buildings, weller's hotel, landmarks, bend of islands

Barbara Seidel of Eltham has provided a copy of a photo of a group known as the "Eltham Campers" which included some of her relatives. Jock Read and Garnie Burges remember this group from the 1920's. They used to camp on the old pound site at Eltham Lower Park. They met in North Fitzroy and every A.N.A. weekend they cam to Eltham to camp. They had big tents and set up a stage on backs of their wagons or lorries. A concert was held on the Sunday night for local people to attend. They had very good artists including a pianist, violinist, flautist and banjo player. - EDHS Newsletter No. 83, March 1992Colour photograph copy of original showing a camping group at Eltham known as the Eltham Camperscamps, campers, eltham, groups, eltham campers, eltham lower park, eltham pound, concert

This is a program of a concert organized by the Soldiers’ Christmas Comforts Group and the Red Cross in Warrnambool to raise funds for the soldiers on active service in World War One. The concert was held in the Warrnambool Town Hall in September 1916 and featured a Melbourne artist, Horace Wood, who gave several violin solos and the local Warrnambool orchestra of Miss Gertrude Rooney. The Rooneys were early settlers in the Dennington area and had the property, ‘White Rock’ in Dennington and a produce store in Warrnambool. Miss Gertrude Rooney was an accomplished musician and was prominent in musical circles in Warrnambool during the first half of the 20th century. This program is of interest as an example of the fund raising activities in Warrnambool during World War One and of the type of entertainment offered at concerts at that time. There are many well-known names listed among the orchestra members at the back of the program. This is a sheet of buff-coloured paper folded in two to make four pages. The front page has an ornate red edging and there is dark blue printing on the front and back pages. The front page has a large Red Cross emblem The inside two pages have the printed program of concert items in black print. There are also advertisements for local Warrnambool businesses. The edges of the program are torn and ragged. world war one, warrnambool in world war one, gertrude rooney, musical entertainments in early 20th century, warrnambool

Dame Nellie Melba, born Helen Porter Mitchell (1861-1931), was the first Australian to gain international fame as an opera singer and one of the best-known singers in late Victorian times. She took the name ‘Melba’ from her home town, Melbourne. She sang in Warrnambool on at least two occasions, staying at local homes, including ‘Summer Hill’, belonging to the Murray family and ‘Lyndoch’ as the guest of Florence Lake. In 1927 she sang at the Warrnambool Town Hall with three other assisting artists and this programme records that event. The Warnambool and District Historical Society has an evening bag that was given by Nellie Melba to Miss O’Donnell, a maid at ‘Lyndoch’ at that time. This programme is of considerable significance as it is a memento of the occasion in 1927 when the famous Australian opera singer sang at the Warrnambool Town Hall during her farewell tour. This is a cream-coloured sheet of paper folded into two to make four pages. The front cover has a decorative border and blue printing and a Warrnambool & District Historical Society stamp and the back cover has an advertisement. The middle pages contain blue printing. The folds are torn in parts.Dame Nellie Melba's Farewell Tourdame nellie melba, history of warrnambool, lyndoch, melba farewell tour

This collection of photographs contains a number done by local photographers including Thomas Johnson, James Harvey, Daniel Clarke, J Hider and P Dawson of Hamilton( and also Warrnambool). Some photos are dated 1873 and 1867 and names include C C Hunt July 17/66. This album contains a number of photographs by some of Warrnambool’s earliest photographers and while the subjects are unknown, the still add to the body of work by these artists which have survived to this day. As visual recorders of people they have left a valuable resource in their work through the depiction of some of our earliest people but also a useful record of fashion and styles of the mid to late 20th century Brown leather cover with green metal edge and hinged locks (one Missing). Sepia photographs enclosed in cream card.On a hand written note inserted in the front, “ There are copies from paintings representing a young boy going to tea and returning as midshipman in a first class carriage, we think ***warrnambool, warrnambool photograph album, daniel clarke, p dawson, j hider, james harvey

Etching of country scene, a horse pulling a rudimentary cart with three men collecting wood and possibly stones from underneath trees on a rough track. Two huts are in the background. Early settlers often had to make use of what was available in their local environment to build their shelters. Today roadside collection of firewood is regulated by the State government. Unknown location, unknown artist and unknown date.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 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, other areas, pioneer life, country scene, country roads

Typed notes and 2 newspaper cuttingsThe paintings are of local historical interest by Ringwood artists including two which are about 50 years old. Collection now hangs in Committee Room of the Civic Centre (1992)

Three catalogues for the Dick Ovenden Memorial Art Competition 18th June 1974, 14th June 1977 and 4th June 1984. All held at Eastland Shopping Centre. Presented by Eastern Suburbs Lions Clubs. Proceeds to charity. The 1974 catalogue states, "We are grateful to the late Dick Ovenden for his inspiration to hold an annual Art Competition with emphasis on the local environment. Entries this year have exceeded our expectations to an extent that late entries could not be accepted. The late Dick Ovenden suggested a competition for the best painting of Local Environment. We have donated $200 as the prize and the picture becomes the property of the Zone, and several Honourable Mentions to be selected by Sir William Dargie. The Artists select their Competition entries. Zone Lions clubs of Bennettswood, Box Hill, Forest Hill, Nunawading, Ringwood and Vermont are appreciative of support from the artists and thank the public for its continued interest."

Vivienne Young was a teacher at Orbost Secondary College. She is well known as an artist particularly in the medium of felting. She moved from a farm in Wairewa to live in Orbost and is still involved as a felt artist taking her skills regularly to Mongolia working with women there to re-vitalise the felting skills of local women. The Orbost Butter and Produce Co Ltd was registered on June 1st 1893. The site of the factory was purchased at a cost of five pounds from Mr James Cameron. (See In Times Gone By - Deborah Hall)The Orbost Butter and Produce Co. Ltd was registered on June 1st 1893 and was an important source of income to the Orbost district.A pen and ink drawing of the Orbost Butter Factory in Lochiel Street on the corner of Browning street as it was before 1911 when it became the bean factory. It is outlined in black and shaded in brown tones. orbost-butter-factory young-vivienne

A copy of a catalogue from an art show of paintings by Wykeham Perry that was held at the Victorian Artists Society in 1974.A copy of a catalogue from an art show of paintings by Wykeham Perry that was held at the Victorian Artists Society in 1974. Wykeham Lindley Perry grew up near Marysville in Victoria and painted local scenes from a very early age. wykeham lindley perry, victorian artists society, marysville, victoria

A copy of a catalogue from an art show of paintings by Wykeham Perry that was held at the Victorian Artists Society in 1976.A copy of a catalogue from an art show of paintings by Wykeham Perry that was held at the Victorian Artists Society in 1976. Wykeham Lindley Perry grew up near Marysville in Victoria and painted local scenes from a very early age. wykeham lindley perry, victorian artists society, marysville, victoria

The Heidelberg School Artists Trail was established in about 1999 with about 52 signs across four local governemnt areas including Nillumbik and Banyule. This one acknowledges "Landscape with Sheep" by Walter Withers. The text on the board states: Walter Withers depicts in this work a number of sheep on Mr. Tom Orr’s property. Our view is from the rise above this park, from the Lower Plenty side of the nearby Diamond Creek, looking northwards towards the main Eltham township. The area that is now Wingrove Park, would have been to the right, in the valley below the sheep. The mood of this work is warm and vibrant, with the use of strong blues and pinks, and this stands in marked contrast to the softer, cooler greens used by Walter Withers in his work ‘The Silent Gums’.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsAgfa HDC 200 plus-2eltham, heidelberg artists' trail, wingrove park trail, landscape with sheep, walter withers

The Heidelberg School Artists Trail was established in about 1999 with about 52 signs across four local governemnt areas including Nillumbik and Banyule. This one located in Wingrove Park Eltham pays tribute to Walter Withers and his painting "The Silent Guns"Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsAgfa HDC 200 plus-2eltham, heidelberg artists' trail, wingrove park trail, walter withers, the silent gums

Three historically significant buildings are here at 701 Main Road, opposite Dalton Street, Eltham. Jarrold Cottage or White Cloud was built about 1863 and remains one of the oldest buildings in Eltham. It was once used temporarily as Eltham’s first police station. The Jarrolds were a pioneer family of market gardeners and building tradesmen over six decades and from the early 1940s, with the Skippers and other prominent local figures involved in the construction and development of the Montsalvat Artists' Colony. Len Jarrold, a carpenter, worked at Montsalvat from the beginning and became foreman of works for the splendid 1938 Great Hall. The Skipper family, also involved with Montsalvat, were associated with Jarrold Cottage from 1944 when it was purchased by Lena Skipper. Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 2007, eltham, jarrold cottage, main road

Keith Edwin Rash was a Ballarat signwriter and local historianTwo blues sheets of K.E. Rash letterhead. 1.Faded blue sheet of paper with letterhead printing. 2.Blue piece of paper with Letterhead printing. .) Verso M. Pinney 11 Stafford Court, Ocean Grove, 3226 Watermark says WYNYARD BONDkeith edwin rash, sign writer, artist, advertising, ballarat, rash, keith rash

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

ABOUT THE ARTIST – Philip James 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.” [ref. 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. [ref. Sunbury Leader, Nov 15 2013] 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. [other references: Sunbury Art Society Inc. Oct-Nov 2012] HISTORY OF THE LOCH ARD The LOCH ARD belonged to the famous Loch Line which sailed many ships from England to Australia. Built in Glasgow by Barclay, Curdle and Co. in 1873, the LOCH ARD was a three-masted square rigged iron sailing ship. The ship measured 262ft 7" (79.87m) in length, 38ft (11.58m) in width, 23ft (7m) in depth and had a gross tonnage of 1693 tons. The LOCH ARD's main mast measured a massive 150ft (45.7m) in height. LOCH ARD made three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its final voyage. LOCH ARD left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of Captain Gibbs, a newly married, 29 year old. She was bound for Melbourne with a crew of 37, plus 17 passengers and a load of cargo. The general cargo reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. On board were straw hats, umbrella, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionary, linen and candles, as well as a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead and copper. There were items included that intended for display in the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. The voyage to Port Phillip was long but uneventful. At 3am on June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs was expecting to see land and the passengers were becoming excited as they prepared to view their new homeland in the early morning. But LOCH ARD was running into a fog which greatly reduced visibility. Captain Gibbs was becoming anxious as there was no sign of land or the Cape Otway lighthouse. At 4am the fog lifted. A man aloft announced that he could see breakers. The sheer cliffs of Victoria's west coast came into view, and Captain Gibbs realised that the ship was much closer to them than expected. He ordered as much sail to be set as time would permit and then attempted to steer the vessel out to sea. On coming head on into the wind, the ship lost momentum, the sails fell limp and LOCH ARD's bow swung back. Gibbs then ordered the anchors to be released in an attempt to hold its position. The anchors sank some 50 fathoms - but did not hold. By this time LOCH ARD was among the breakers and the tall cliffs of Mutton Bird Island rose behind the ship. Just half a mile from the coast, the ship's bow was suddenly pulled around by the anchor. The captain tried to tack out to sea, but the ship struck a reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Waves broke over the ship and the top deck was loosened from the hull. The masts and rigging came crashing down knocking passengers and crew overboard. When a lifeboat was finally launched, it crashed into the side of LOCH ARD and capsized. Tom Pearce, who had launched the boat, managed to cling to its overturned hull and shelter beneath it. He drifted out to sea and then on the flood tide came into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. He swam to shore, bruised and dazed, and found a cave in which to shelter. Some of the crew stayed below deck to shelter from the falling rigging but drowned when the ship slipped off the reef into deeper water. Eva Carmichael had raced onto deck to find out what was happening only to be confronted by towering cliffs looming above the stricken ship. In all the chaos, Captain Gibbs grabbed Eva and said, "If you are saved Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a sailor". That was the last Eva Carmichael saw of the captain. She was swept off the ship by a huge wave. Eva saw Tom Pearce on a small rocky beach and yelled to attract his attention. He dived in and swam to the exhausted woman and dragged her to shore. He took her to the cave and broke open case of brandy which had washed up on the beach. He opened a bottle to revive the unconscious woman. A few hours later Tom scaled a cliff in search of help. He followed hoof prints and came by chance upon two men from nearby Glenample Station three and a half miles away. In a state of exhaustion, he told the men of the tragedy. Tom returned to the gorge while the two men rode back to the station to get help. By the time they reached LOCH ARD Gorge, it was cold and dark. The two shipwreck survivors were taken to Glenample Station to recover. Eva stayed at the station for six weeks before returning to Ireland, this time by steamship. In Melbourne, Tom Pearce received a hero's welcome. He was presented with the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria and a £1000 cheque from the Victorian Government. Concerts were performed to honour the young man's bravery and to raise money for those who lost family in the LOCH ARD disaster. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: the apprentice, Tom Pearce and the young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. Ten days after the LOCH ARD tragedy, salvage rights to the wreck were sold at auction for £2,120. Cargo valued at £3,000 was salvaged and placed on the beach, but most washed back into the sea when another storm developed. The wreck of LOCH ARD still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island. Much of the cargo has now been salvaged and some was washed up into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. One of the most unlikely pieces of cargo to have survived the shipwreck was a Minton porcelain peacock - one of only nine in the world. The peacock was destined for the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. It had been well packed, which gave it adequate protection during the violent storm. Today, the Minton peacock can be seen at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in Warrnambool. From Australia's most dramatic shipwreck it has now become Australia's most valuable shipwreck artefact and is one of very few 'objects' on the Victorian State Heritage Register. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from LOCH ARD is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S417). The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the LOCH ARD. The LOCH ARD collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The LOCH ARD collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes). The collection is also historically significant for its association with the LOCH ARD, which was one of the worst and best known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history. Print of the sailing ship Loch Ard by artist Philip J. Gray, 1993. Depicts the Loch Ard in full sail at sea, figures on deck. Limited Edition number 54/925. Print is adhered to a piece of chipboard and is stamped by the framer, Ian's Picture Framing of Warrnambool.Signature of "Philip J. Gray" , "54/925" Stamped on back "IAN'S PICTURE FRAMING, 48 KEPLER STREET, WARRNAMBOOL 3280, PH: (055) 628 022, FAX: (055) 628 145"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, print, philip j. gray

The photograph taken on Sunday September 6, 1891, shows the Port Campbell Rocket Rescue Crew and Equipment at Wreck Beach, Moonlight Head, preparing to save the stranded men on the wreck of the barque Fiji. The man standing in the middle, front of the photograph, facing the ocean, is Herbert Maxwell Morris, a farmer at Barruppa near Princetown, also a member of the Rocket Rescue Crew. The Rocket Rescue lifesaving method used an explosive rocket to shoot a light line from shore across to the distressed vessel. The line was then secured to the ship’s mast and a heavy, continuous line was then sent out with a ‘breaches buoy’ attached (a buoy similar to the seat of a pair of trousers). The stranded seafarers would sit in the seat and be pulled along the line to safety. A lot of skill was needed to set up the line to reach its target and the Crew trained regularly to keep up their skills. The three-masted iron barque Fiji was built in Belfast, Ireland, in 1875 by Harland and Wolfe for a Liverpool based shipping company. The ship departed Hamburg on May 22, 1891, bound for Melbourne under the command of Captain William Vickers with a crew of 25. The Cape Otway light was sighted on September 5, 1891. However, the bearing was different from Captain Vickers’ calculations. At about 2:30am the next morning land was reported only 4-5 miles away. The captain tried to redirect the ship in the rough weather without success and the Fiji struck rock only 300 yards (274 metres) from shore. The crew burned blue lights fired rockets to signal distress. The lifeboats either capsized or were swamped and smashed to pieces. Two younger crewmen volunteered to swim for the shore with a line. One, a Russian named Daniel Carkland, drowned after he was swept away when the line broke. The other, Julius Gebauhr, a 17 year old German able seaman, reached shore safely on his second attempt but had cut the line lose with his sheath-knife when it tangled in kelp. He climbed the steep cliffs in search of help. Later that morning a young man, William (Willie) Ward, saw the wreck of the ship close to shore near Moonlight Head from the cliffs and the alarm sent for help from Princetown, six miles away. At around the same time a Mott’s party of land selectors, including F. J. Stansmore, Leslie Dickson, was travelling on horseback from Princetown towards Moonlight Head. They were near Ryans Den when they found Gebauhr in the scrub, bleeding and dressed only in singlet, socks and a belt with his sheath-knife. They thought the man may be an escaped lunatic, due to his wild and shaggy looking state and what seemed to be gibberish speech. After Gebauhr threw his knife away they realised that he was speaking half-English, half-German as he talked about the wreck. They gave him food, brandy and clothing, and he was taken to a nearby guest house Rivernook, owned by John Evans, where he was cared for. Most of the party went off to the wreck site. Stanmore and Dickson rode for help from both Port Campbell for the two Rocket Rescue Crew buggies, and Warrnambool for the lifeboat. The vessel S.S. Casino sailed from Portland towards the scene. Half of the Port Campbell Rocket Crew and equipment arrived after a 25 mile journey and set up the rocket tripod on the beach below the cliffs. By this time the weary crew of the Fiji had been clinging to the jib-boom for almost 15 hours, calling frantically for help. The Office in Charge of the Rocket Crew, W. Tregear, ordered the rocket to be fired but the light line broke and the rocket was carried away. A second line, successfully set up by Herbert Morris, crossed the ship and was secured. The anxious sailors tried to come ashore along the line but some were washed off as the line sagged with too many on it at one time. Other nearly exhausted crewmen made their way through masses of seaweed and were often smothered by waves. Only 14 of the 24 who had remained on the ship made it to shore. Rocket Crew members and onlookers on the beach took it in turns to go into the surf and drag the half-drowned seamen to safety. These rescuers included Bill (William James) Robe, Herbert Morris, Edwin Vinge, Hugh Cameron, Fenelon Mott, Arthur Wilkinson and Peter Carmody, who was also involved in the rescue of men from the Newfield. Arthur Wilkinson, a 29 year old land selector, swam out to help one of the ship’s crewmen, a carpenter named John Plunken who was trying to swim from the Fiji to the shore. Two or three times both men almost reached the shore but were washed back to the wreck where they were both hauled back on board. Wilkinson was unconscious, possibly from hitting his head on the anchor before they were brought up. Plunken survived but Wilkinson later died and his body was washed up the next day. The 26 year old Bill Robe hauled out the last man; it was the captain and he’d been tangled in the kelp. Only 20 minutes later the wreck of the Fiji was smashed apart and it settled in about 6m of water. Of the 26 men on the Fiji, 11 in total lost their lives. The remains of 7 bodies were washed onto the beach. Their coffins were made from timbers from the wrecked Fiji and they were buried on the cliff top above the wreck. The survivors were taken to Rivernook and cared for over the next few days. Funds were raised by locals soon after the wreck in aid of the sufferers of the Fiji disaster. Captain Vickers was severely reprimanded for his mishandling of the ship. His Masters Certificate was suspended for 12 months. There was public criticism of the rescue. The important canvas ‘breeches buoy’ and heavy line for the Rocket Rescue was in the half of the rocket outfit that didn’t make it in time for the rescue as they had been delayed at the Gellibrand River ferry. The communications to Warrnambool were down so the call for help didn’t get through on time. The boat that had been notified of the wreck failed to reach it in time. Much cargo looting occurred. One looter was caught with a small load of red and white rubber balls. Essence of peppermint mysteriously turned up in many settlers homes. Sailcloth was salvaged and used for horse rugs and tent flies. Soon after the wreck “Fiji tobacco” was being advertised around Victoria. A Customs officer, trying to prevent some of the looting, was assaulted by looters and thrown over a steep cliff. He managed to cling to a bush lower down until rescued. In 1894 some coiled fencing wire was salvaged from the wreck. Hundreds of coils are still strewn over the site of the wreck, encrusted and solidified. The hull is broken but the vessel’s iron ribs can be seen along with some of the cargo of concrete and pig iron. Captain Vickers presented Bill Robe with his silver-cased pocket watch, the only possession that he still had, as a token for having saved his life and the lives of some of the crew. Years later Bill used the pocket watch to pay a debt, and it was handed down through that family. Seaman Julius Gebauhr later gave his knife, in its hand crafted leather sheath, to F. J. Stansmore for caring for him when he came ashore. The knife handle had a personal inscription on it. A marble headstone on the cliffs overlooking Wreck Beach pays tribute to the men who lost their lives when Fiji ran aground. The scene of the wreck is marked by the anchor from the Fiji, erected by Warrnambool skin divers in 1967. Captain Vickers’ pocket watch and Julius Gebauhr’s sheath knife are amongst the artefacts salvaged from the Fiji that are now part of the Fiji collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The man identified in the photograph, Herbert Maxwell Morris, was the nephew of the Victorian era artist, William Morris. Herbert had sailed from England to Australia and was about 25 years old when he joined the Rocket Rescue Crew at Port Campbell. His successful rocket line firing at the Fiji wreck site was noted by author Jack Loney in one of his historic shipwreck books. Later Morris moved from his property at Baruppa to Laver’s Hill to run a more profitable enterprise. This photograph is significant as an image of a historical event, being the willingness of local volunteers to aid in the saving of lives of stranded seafarers. It gives a clear picture of the use of Rocket Rescue Equipment in shore-to-ship rescues. Flagstaff Hill’s Fiji collection is of historical significance at a State level because of its association with the wreck Fiji, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register VHR S259. The Fiji is archaeologically significant as the wreck of a typical 19th century international sailing ship with cargo. It is educationally and recreationally significant as one of Victoria's most spectacular historic shipwreck dive sites with structural features and remains of the cargo evident. It also represents aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes. The Fiji collection meets the following criteria for assessment; Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history, possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history, and potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria’s cultural history. Black and white photograph. Subject is the Rocket Rescue Crew from Pt Campbell on Wreck Beach, Moonlight Head, at the wreck site of the barque 'Fiji'. September 6, 1891.warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, shipwrecked artefact, pocket watch, fob watch fiji, william vickers, william robe, bill robe, gebauhr, stansmore, carmody, wreck bay, moonlight head, fiji shipwreck 1891, rocket crew, port campbell rocket crew, lifesaving crew, photograph of rocket crew, herbert morris, warrnambool, shipwreck artefact, mott, william ward, rocket rescue, breeches buoy, rivernook guest house

The dual-naming of the Wimmera Library took place in November 2019, and includes a name in local Wergaia language. The Horsham Campus is now known as “Werrunangity larr Wimmerata” (pronounced: Wherroon narn kitch – larr – wimmerartar) meaning “a quiet place in the Wimmera.” The official naming took place in the presence of Professor Helen Bartlett (Vice Chancellor who was joined by Aunty Jennifer Beer, Uncle Rob Fry, Geoff Lord (Horsham Campus Director) , Sue Owen (Library Director), Jasmine Graham (Manager of the Aboriginal Education Centre), Keith Caldwell (Facilities), Katrina Beer and artist Tanisha Lovett. This naming was the result of extensive teamwork and community consultation between local Aboriginal Elders, land councils, our Aboriginal Education Centre, as well as library and campus leadership. It is just one of the ways in which we are progressing our University’s Reconciliation Action Plan. Federation University librarians stand new artwork and signs for Werrunangita larr Wimmeratawerrunangita larr wimmerata, horsham campus, library, librarians, ann jardine, women

The Guirguis New Art Prize (GNAP) is a biennial national acquisitive $20,000 contemporary art prize. It is for Australia's contemporary artists with works that explore new ways of artistic expression, utilising existing mediums as well as new technologies. It was initiated and supported by local Ballarat surgeon Mr Mark Guirguis. The art prize is administered by the Federation University Australia (FedUni) and displayed at the Post Office Gallery in Ballarat. The prize was managed and curated by Shelley Hinton. .1) Large purple promotional banner made of maroon synthetic fabric printed with white lettering, hemmed on the long sides and 8 cm wide pockets on the ends. .2) Feather Flag in maroon shiny synthetic fabric printed with white lettering, hemmed and with a black 6.5 cm elastic pocket around the long side.Printed with GNAP, Guirguis New Art Prize and the date 11 April - 31 May 2015guirguis new art prize, mr mark guirguis, federation university australia, post office gallery exhibition, contemporary art, contemporary art prize, mark guirguis, shelley hinton, herbert werner frederick de nully

Neville Mirvane Bunning was born in Rockhampton, Queensland in 1902. He was home taught until 1916 and then was a boarder at Geelong Grammar School, Victoria until 1921. He then returned to Queensland and worked on the family property. During this time he built ceramic kilns and taught himself the required skills for ceramiic production. During the Depression he went to Sydney and set up an artist's studio. In 1934 he went to England and studied, wrote and did commission work. Achieving local success and had work acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum. Neville returned to Australia and became a lecturer at East Sydney Technical School until the outbreak of the Second World War. He joined the RAAF. After the War he joined the staff of the Art School of the Ballarat School of Mines and Industries until his retirement in 1964. Neville Bunning formed the Ballarat Artist's Society, a group which sponsored art and invite guests to speak to students and the public of Ballarat. He wrote a weekly column in "The Courier", the local newspaper where he encouraged people to be more aware of the trends in art. His works were included in the 1988 Australian Bicentennial Exhibition. His sympathetic understanding of Aboriginal culture is recorded in a letter written in 1937 to the Victoria and Albert Museum. Neville Bunning continued painting during his retirement. His last major exhibition was held at the Golden Age Gallery in Ballarat in 1983. The sketch books cover a range of topics using pen, ink and watercolour.28 A3 sketch books, spiral boundneville bunning, queensland, geelong grammar school, ceramics, kilns, depression, sydney, england, commission work, victoria and albert museum, east sydney technical school, art school, ballarat school of mines and industries, ballarat artist's society, second world war, raaf, australian bicentennial exhibition, golden age gallery ballarat, painting

A photocopy of newspaper publication of obituary for Annie Mavis Webster, MBE 21/5/1914 - 8/4/2000 An exceptional singer who contributed greatly to local Bendigo and Australia as well as abroad Bendigo born and raised by Edwin and Annie Webster, Education was at Camp Hill. A life long participation in and commitment to local music and Competition Society provided opportunities for performance. The ultimate prize for amateur singers at the time was the Sun News Pictorial Aria Competition, which Mavis attained as runner up in 1938 and as winner in 1939. Outbreak of WWII curtailed early opportunities for overseas travel but there was much call for her as recitalist, artist and teacher such as at The Sisters of Mercy at St Mary's Convent, Bendigo where she taught singing. Mavis gained impressive reputation and experience in numerous roles including as chorister (and founder of the all female choir and the Benola singers which she also named, after her home), and later (1960) included male voices; she was also conductor; musical director; and adjudicator at Eisteddfords. She laso taught at Girton, St Killian's. During the 1950s Mavis went on a very successful 9 month overseas trip on which she was inspired in many respects including the formation of the choirs. In 1978 Mavis was made a Member of the British Empire for her services to music.City of Greater Bendigo acknowledged Mavis contribution and skills by establishing the Mavis Webster Vocal Collection at the City library.bendigo, history, obituary and biography of annie mavis webster mbe, forest st methodist (now uniting) bendigo, girton, st killian's, herald sun aria, the eisteddford, sisters of mercy at st mary's convent, mavis webster vocal collection, city of greater bendigo, margaret watters.

Ballet Victoria, White Hills Technical School Assembly Hall. Tuesday, 20th at 8.15pm. Presented by the Victorian Ballet Guild, the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust and the Arts Council of Australia (Victoria Division) in association with the Australian Ballet Foundation. Guest Artist Elaine Fifield and Rex McNeill. Artist Director: Laurel Martyn on tour throughout Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, June/July, 1972. Choreography: Laurel Martyn, Rex Reid, Arthur Turnbull. Music Grieg, Harold Badger, Laurence Rosenthal, Peter Sculthorpe, Tchaikowsky. Prices: $3.50, $2.50, $1.50 children & pensioners half-price all perfs. Bookings see local press for details.entertainment, dance, victorian ballet guild, ballet victoria, white hills technical school assembly hall.20 june 1972 victorian ballet guild, the australian elizabethan theatre trust and the arts council of australia (victoria division) australian ballet foundation. elaine fifield rex mcneill. artist director: laurel martyn, june/july, 1972. choreography: laurel martyn, rex reid, arthur turnbull. music grieg, harold badger, laurence rosenthal, peter sculthorpe, tchaikowsky. prices

Bill Delecca was born in Bendigo, Victoria in 1929. A Bendigo-based teacher and painter, he has exhibited widely in the local area from 1951, including a retrospective in Bendigo Art Gallery, 1990. He has twice won the Bendigo Art Prize for watercolour and his work is represented in galleries and private collections throughout Australia and overseas. Instrumental in the establishment of degree courses in Art at Bendigo College of Advanced Education, he is also the author of an Education Department report to the Australia Council, 1987.Untitled Oil painting depicting an old miner's cottage. The cottage has two wooden doors the one on the left is open and a window can be seen at the other end. The second door is closed. On the right hand side there is another building. A large tree and a tree stump on the foreground.The signature of the artist at the bottom right hand side landscape, miner's cottage

Bill Delecca was born in Bendigo, Victoria in 1929. A Bendigo-based teacher and painter, he has exhibited widely in the local area from 1951, including a retrospective in Bendigo Art Gallery, 1990. He has twice won the Bendigo Art Prize for watercolour and his work is represented in galleries and private collections throughout Australia and overseas. Instrumental in the establishment of degree courses in Art at Bendigo College of Advanced Education, he is also the author of an Education Department report to the Australia Council, 1987.Portrait of a young man. He has dark hair and dark eyes. The signature of the artist at bottom right. Untitled. William Delecca collection.On the back: Camden Art Centerpainting, male youth, portrait