Showing 1510 items
matching a. robertson
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City of Greater Geelong
Acrylic on Canvas, Big Day Out, 2010-2011
Rohan Robinson is an artist born in Geelong, and attended “the Mill” part of Deakin University in 1980-82, studying Fine Art. In 2010-11, he was the manager of Kayili Artists Aboriginal Corporation, at Patjarr in the Gibson Desert W.A., where he oversaw the development and marketing of artworks of the corporation’s members. The community is the remotest in Australia and averaged 25 people, mostly consisting of elderly people and part of the Ngaanyatjarra region, with some members not having any consistent contact with white fellas up to the mid 1960’s. During his time it was common for all the community members to go out hunting and having a visit to important areas, where members would get some tucker of rabbits and lizards and honey ants and perhaps some “meow meow” and have a nice sleep in the shade on the warm sand. Robinson would often take his painting gear along and do some work on unstretched linen on the desert ground, he would paint for a while and then perhaps lie around with the elders or follow one of the expert hunters and observe from a distance [several meters] the skills of elderly women casually walking through some recently burned spinifex knocking cowering bunnies on the head with a steel rod. It was on one of these occasions, when this particular painting was being conceived, that after returning from the hunting mission, he was informed by some of the mob, that an elder had been spending time looking at this work in it’s infantile stage...”You know the old fella over there, he been looking at that painting of yours” It was later in the day, when returning to Patjarr, that the elder Arthur Robertson approached Robinson, and demanded/asked that Robinson paint his stories for him. Mr Robertson was suffering from Parkinson’s disease, and was having trouble painting, but had been doing some brilliant work with Posca markers. It was with a certain reluctance that Robinson agreed, as he felt this to be a “political hot potato in some quarters” but also respected a relationship between artists beyond the cultural divide. Mr Robertson demanded that they start immediately and armed with pencil and paper they created the notes for several paintings under Mr Robertson’s direction. The painting that you are viewing is signifcant in that it was the catalyst for this relationship between the two artists. Mr Arthur Robertson died later that year 2011.Gold framed blue and earth tone painting. Painting depicting four circles with mountain and sky in the background. -
Federation University Historical Collection
Book, Jennifer O'Donnell, Caragulac, 2021
Soft covered book with a photographuc image of the building known as Caragulac on the cover. Contents include the Gulidjan, Robertson family, Cargulac house, Cororooke, Andrew Spence Chirnside, William Prenzel, polo, Colac Caledonian Society, Colac Mounted Cadets, Thomas Baker, Leonard Samuel Ralton, Len Talton, Matthews family, Monash Cottage, Disappearing lakes.gulidjan, robertson family, cargulac house, cororooke, andrew spence chirnside, william prenzel, polo, colac caledonian society, colac mounted cadets, thomas baker, leonard samuel ralton, len talton, matthews family, monash cottage, disappearing lakes., tuff quarries, red rock, hugh murray, murdering gully massacre, william robertson, margaret robertson, william buckley, the hill estate, colac estate, colac polo club, guyon purchas, caragulac land sale, garry gibson, sharyn gibson -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Book, A Tour of the Lilydale Cemetery 1861-1994 Volume One, 1995
Map and history of some of the graves in Lilydale Cemetery, compiled By Sandy Ross, Lilydale and District Historical Society. +Additional Keywords: Mary Hussey / Daniel Cameron / Captain Alexander John Herbert Robertson / Ernest Buckmaster / Jimmy Ah Tak / David Mitchell / Dame Nellie Melba / Jessie Mary Vasey O.B.E., C.B.E. / William Blamire Young -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Photograph - Copy of Photograph - Store of James Robertson, 1859
Vern Mc Callum CollectionDigital copy of monochrome photo taken in Portland in 1859. Store of James Robertson west side of Percy street. Between Henty and Tyers streets. Double storey tin building, with curved roof. Horse and cart standing in front. Two single storey bluestone buildings on left store, several people and large dog standing on the foot path. -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Pamphlet, Alexander Robertson, "The Cromwell Building - Auction", 2009
Pamphlet - folded and cut in the shape of a Melbourne W class tram with arched advertising windows, for the marketing of an auction of "The Cromwell Building" - Wednesday 19 August 2009 (year based on calendar search). Gives details of the building and site, and agent contact details. Has photos of the building on the corner of Elizabeth and Bourke Streets. Agents Alexander Robertson and Colliers Jardine.trams, tramways, auctions, real estate, advertisements, bourke st, elizabeth st -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Document - Photocopy, Electric Railway Journal, Struan Robertson, "A Recent Australian Tramway", 1917
Photocopy of an article from the Electric Railway Journal, pages 10 to 12 of the 7 July 1917 issue, Vol 50, No. 1 titled, "A Recent Australian Tramway", describing the construction, tramcars and equipment for The Melbourne Brunswick and Coburg Tramway Trust written by Struan Robertson. Has photos of the track, sub-station. type of tramcar and depot with tramcars. MBCTTtrams, tramways, mbctt, new tramway, depot, thornbury depot, brunswick, coburg -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Book - OFFICIAL HISTORY OF AUSTRALIA IN THE WAR OF 1914 TO 1918
Official History of Australia in the war of 1914-1918 Vol VI The AIF in France 1918 - The Armistice by C.E.W. Bean , published by Angus & Robertson 89 Castlereagh St Sydney 1942 , faded maroon hard bound covered book with gold lettering , inside cover signed A.E./ Emmerson , 74 Sternberg St Bendigo , 530 illustrations and maps ,C.E.W. Beanbooks, military, the aif in france 1918 - the armistice / c.e.w. bean -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Book - OFFICIAL HISTORY OF AUSTRALIA IN THE WAR OF 1914 TO 1918
Official History of Australia in the war of 1914-1918 Vol IV The A.I.F. in France 1917 by C.E.W. Bean , published by Angus & Robertson 89 Castlereagh St Sydney 1939, maroon hard bound covered book with gold lettering, inside cover signed Wesley Harry 1973, 423 illustrations and maps, eighth edition (first edition was 1933).C.E.W. Beanbooks, military, c e w bean / -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Slide - PETER ELLIS COLLECTION: SLIDE, May 1970 - Jan 1972
Coloured slide transparency. Image is of a bush area. There is dense medium scrub in the background and dense low growing flowering yellow wattle in the foreground. The words, Wherrakee Wattle Regeneration Lot 18 (Robertson) are handwritten along the bottom border and the words 'Bagshot area Clear area in background was originally cropped. Wattle area was not.' are handwritten along the top border.Kodachrome Transparencyslide, bendigo, bendigo institute of technology -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Book - ALEC H CHISHOLM COLLECTION: BOOK ''AT DAWN AND DUSK'' BY VICTOR J DALEY
Book. ALEC H CHISHOLM COLLECTION. 211 page leatherette bound book of verse by Victor J Daley, author of 'Wine and Roses'. Published in 1910 by Angus and Robertson, Sydney. First published in 1898. Printed by Websdale, Shoosmith and Co. Sydney. B & W photo of the author with signature opposite the title page. Catalogue sticker '2030 DAL' on spine.Victor J Daleybooks, collections, poetry, alec h chisholm collection, victor j daley, poetry -
8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regimental Collection
Photograph - Beersheba Day AWM 1992, November 1992
The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948. It was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse in 1991 forming the VMR Squadron of the regiment. Captain Kel Robertson commanded the guard. It was the first occasion at which the squadron wore slouch hats in lieu of berets.Good photograph of Army Reserve unit on parade on a significant day for Australian Light Horse.Framed coloured photograph of gaurd drawn from Victorian Mounted Rifles Squadron 4/19 Prince of Wales's Light Horse drawn up at the Beersheba Day parade at the Australian War Memorial 31 October 1992.On plaque at bottom centre of frame: "VMR Sqn Beersheba Pde 31 October 92. Presented to Maygar Club Albury by Cpl AH Collins Dec 92"vmr squadron, 4th/19th prince of wales's light horse, beersheba, parade, slouch hat -
Melbourne Legacy
Document, Comments on the President's Year 1971 - AG Robertson, 1971
The President in 1971 was AG (Robbie) Robertson. He gave an outline of factors he felt were relevant for the incoming President to know. The presidential year ran from March to the following February. Was in a binder of documents that is passed from an outgoing President to the incoming President. It is primarily from the 1930s to 1990s. Most documents are being catalogued separately.A record of the duties of the President in the 1970s.White foolscap paper x 2 pages with black type of the President's comments in 1971.presidents, robbie robertson -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Photograph, Unveiling Pioneer's Stone at library 1974
Typed below one of the photograph, 'Unveiling Pioneer's Stone at library 1974. R. Atkins, A. Robertson, J. Wedge, J. Anderson, Hubbard'. Written on backing sheet, 'At library 26.10.74. John Wedge with hands in pockets.' -
Falls Creek Historical Society
Newspaper - Australia's Playground of the Future, 1954
Australian Magazine (A.M.) published a special three page article about Falls Creek and the Bogong High Plains on 24th August 1954. The article was titled "Australia's playground of the future". Written by Muir Maclaren, it referred to the Bogong High Plains as a comparatively new and unexploited winter playground which could be one of the best snow resorts in the world. There were 13 huts which were at Falls Creek which were there due to "hard work, the grace of God, and the permission of the Victorian State Electricity Commission". A brief history of the Albury Ski Club Lodge was included. In 1954 the Lodge was run byLes Meikle and had the Club had a membership of 200 people. Lodges with accommodation established at this time, with the ability to house a total of 280 people, included Albury, Skyline, Bogong, Myrtleford, Hymans, Dawn, Galleon, Kiewa Valley, Snowden, Nelse, Moroma, Trowalla, St, Trinian's, Bowna and Nissen. Fred Griffith, as a member of the Albury Ski Club and owner of Bowna Lodge escorted the reporter and explained the potential of Falls Creek and the surrounding area to become a year-round playground, a paradise for tourists and a great income-earner for the State.This article and accompanying images are significant because they capture early information about the Bogong High Plains, Falls Creek and its pioneers.A centre spread from a monthly publication featuring text and colour imagesBelow photo Johnny Robertson points out the route of a long, downhill follow-my-leader to expert skiers Bob Howe, Norm Douglas (Albury dentist and President of the Albury Ski Club) and Dick Walpole.albury ski club, bob howe, dick walpole -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Newspaper, Scrapbook Clipping, Library Collection, Ringwood, Victoria
Newspaper Clipping from "The Mail", 15 June ,1993. Three get honors Three Ringwood/Croydon residents have been named in the 1993 Queens birthday honors list. They are Professor Neil Carlson of Warranwood, paralympic gold medalist Brian McNicholl from Ringwood and Alan Robertson of Ringwood. -
Blackburn Cricket Club
Blackburn Cricket Club Team of the Century
The team of the Century was selected in 2002.. The Selection Committee comprised Michael Long, Andrew Smith, Terry Dynes and Neville Jacobs. The Team of the Century are: Peter Grant, Darren Croft, Terry Sacristani, Tom Cullen (VC), Terry Dynes, Don Meehan (C), Griag Gislingham, Russell Punton, Neville Jacobs, Neil Robertson, Ivan Meehan and Robert Croft.This is Blackburn Team of the CenturyBlackburn Cricket Club team of the century 1902 - 2002. Selection Committee The selection committee comprised four life members whose experience and knowledge of Blackburn 1st XI cricket covered as many years from 1902 -2002: Michael Long (1966 - 1992) Chair Andrew Smith (1977 - 2003) Terry Dynes (1957 - 1986) Neville Jacobs (1943 - 1978) 1. Peter Grant - Right hand opening batsman. Five premierships in 3 decades of playing (1950s, 1960s and 1970s). 2. Darren Croft - Darren (Crofty) was a right hand opening batsman. He is a dual premiership player and been the clubs captain and coach. He made a century in a gutsy partnership to win the 1993-94 Grand Final. 3. Terry Sacristani - Right hand upper order batsman. Won five batting trophies and four prestigious Neville Jacobs trophies. Playing from 1979 - 1990. 4. Tom Cullen (Vice Captain) - The most talented batsman to represent the club. He was a captain-coach. He scored a triple century to win the Under 16 premiership. Tom played district cricket for Fitzroy and was selected to play Sheffield Shield for Victoria. Tom captained-coached Box Hill in the sub-districts and returned to Blackburn in 1987-88 until 1994-95 where he won one 1st XI premiership. He won four batting trophies and seven Neville Jacobs trophies in eight seasons. team, team of the century, century -
Carlton Football Club
Herald Sun Liftout, 100 Years of footy : glamor and the glory, 9 May 1996
Includes B& W photos. Geoff Southby (Carlton) marking in front of Neil Balme (Richmond) with Geoff Hurst (Carlton) looking on. 1972 second semi final replay. Photo of Carlton Richmond game where policeman on horse is trying to advise umpire siren has gone. Ian Robertson (34) in foreground. From Roger Skien Collection.Newspaper -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Document - Report copy - extract - MTOCo - Annual report - 1896
Provides the financial details and performance for the operator of the Melbourne cable system operator for 1896, the Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Co (MTOCo). Extracted from a Melbourne newspaper for 11/8/1896. Notes the dividends, disputes over payment of rates, the death of A. W Robertson, one of the directors, costs, assets, and passengers. The report was presented by the Chairman, Mr. F B Clapp.Yields information the financial situation in 1896 for the Melbourne cable Tram operator, MTOCo.Typed document on a single sheet of blue paper - extract - from a Melbourne newspaper dated 11/8/1896tramways, trams, cable trams, mtoco, annual reports -
Hymettus Cottage & Garden
Book, Sparks and Sounds from a Colonial Anvil, 28 November 2022
An example of a cover created by using a diecast stamp in its printing and gilding and by a colonial die cast stamp pioneer in booming Melbourne.non-fictionAn example of a cover created by using a diecast stamp in its printing and gilding and by a colonial die cast stamp pioneer in booming Melbourne.binding, engraving, lithography, printing, publishing, george robertson, roeszler, stamps, melbourne -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, 1965
Three photographs donated by Edna Perrin.Three Black & White Photographs of Mr Moloney outside his decorated house and fence with shells, Summerland Peninsula, Phillip Island 1. Mr Moloney outside the shell decorated house wall. 2. Close up of the shell fence with a swan and two tennis rackets depicted. 3. Mr Moloney at the front gate. Fence was erected 1958 by M Moloney and A Robertson.On back of photos 1 & 3: Mr Moloney at his shell decorated fence.shell house summerland phillip island, mr moloney's shell house summerland, edna perrin -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Magazine - Magazines and brochures
BHS Collection.Eight magazines and brochures. Titles are: Australian House and Garden book of Small Home plans, Best Homes, New horizons in houses, 19 Architect designed contemporary homes, 22 specially selected home plans, Plans for 26 small holiday homes, The Australian Women's weekly's home planning service 28 home plans and an advertising brochure for Daniel Robertson.Phillip Ellison name on several books, and the stamp of the State School No. 1008 Axedale on four others.homes, building -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - R.S.L. BENDIGO COLLECTION: BENDIGO R.S.L. NEWS VOL. 1 NO. 3
Bendigo R.S.L. News Volume 1, Number 3 Christmas-New Year Issue. Red, blue, yellow and gold badge on the front cover. Contains advertisements from local businesses, Bendigo R.S.L. Office Bearers 1960, news, notes from Clubs, an article titled 'When the Japs Broke Out at Cowra' and a short obituary of Sir Horace Robertson.A Wicks Knott Publication, Printed by Southdown Press, 33 Rosslyn Street, West Melbourne.magazine, organization, bendigo rsl, r.s.l. bendigo collection - bendigo r.s.l. news vol. 1 no. 3, ashmans dry cleaners, h q radio service, f c straub, hampel furniture products, pierce grenfell, ron meurer, h w snell, axedale quarries, a l & k stringer, excavations, al & b g pearce, w mcculloch & co, bendigo motor co, m g taylor, fair-view upholsterers, alwyn nelson, northern terrazzo co, l fawssett & co, bendigo sub-branch r.s.s, &, a.i.l.a., col j w swatton, h a w morey, s thompson, g j baker, j k barnes, a c harridge, j harrison, t h hume, w h pinder, d e mcgregor, f e schilling, g g styles, c vaughan, j e fay, geo j baker, a v palmer, n mclaren young, e m vains & co, g e h rowell, a v & l e smith, j r palmers, graham lowe refrigeration service, a w pulfer motors, b r burns, vic palmer, golden square dry cleaners, j w carter & sons, alltyre service pty ltd, ian wills, bill nicholls jack watts, the robyn, a g power, leo a hughes, bendigo manchester house, frank wilson, hesse bros, frank bouchier, your typewriter sales and service, tom heenan, win patten, bendigo legacy, r wilson, w e p carruthers, antonian café, kairn's auto-bits, cohns, jeffreys bread, 4th armoured regt social club, g e baldwin, bendigo & district ex-p.o.w. social club, w hargreaves, d gregor, bendigo r.s.l. ladies auxiliary, mrs h morey, mrs p floyd, mrs w hocking, mrs h sims, mrs t hall, rsl women's council of victoria, mr & mrsa kersting, w coates, a bolitho, w hocking, n mcivor, perretts, martin washington, e a bennett pty ltd, john burgoyne, 38th battalion (a.i.f.) social club, j plim c findlay, ex-navelmen's club, t staley, airforce association, a stevens, t grimes, rats of tobruk association, j ferguson, catholic war veterans' association, j noonan, t coppock, dads' association, w murphy, bendigo legacy club, win patten, t h iser, t h runnalls, legacy house, 105 anti-tank regiment social club, alwyn nelson, laurie townsing, bendigo repatriation local committee, v w hosking, w rex porter, g a pethard, f t dunphy, l m porter, e h duus, lt col thomas waitson williams dso, ric coulson, r ball & son, lorraine florist, neol searle pty ltd, bendigo and district t & p i social club, e j taylor, t wellins, w phelan, g keily, l boyd, t tuddenham, e butler, g armstrong, geo j baker, easter fair society, bendigo agricultural society, 6th battalion (a.i.f.) social club, f t dunphy, w green, r c wright, bendigo showgrounds r.a.a.o.c. camp club, j j davies, e p perrett, t g heenan, w rex porter, fred coulson, harry hall, alan bath, tom hume, ted commons, geo h baker, percy floyd, stan hunter, joe wagland, railway sub-section r.s.l., g brown, don chalmer pty ltd, bendigo timber co pty ltd, g p hyett, a w comber, w nichols, maurice f noonan, allans walk delicatessen, r b webb, jack l lyons, perrow, s paints, t c sheers, provincial motors (bendigo) pty ltd, banjo paterson, will ogilvey, ben hall, joe gardiner, major bob ramsay mc, 53rd batt., major e v timms, ww1, 2nd a.i.f., f m carson, tooranie house, brian abe, p e dunstan, a lam sun, don murray, windermere hotel, bendigo disposals, frank a hill & co, fitzpatrick's, sandhurst dairies pty ltd, m williamson, george symon's dairy, w h oakley, sir horace robertson, british commonwealth occupation forces, australian light horse, state savings bank, royal military college, golden fleece service station, j w williams, tomlins simmie pty ltd, clark king & co pty ltd, mckenna's modern store, bryan mckenna, wicks knott publication, southdown press -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Book - ALEC H CHISHOLM COLLECTION: BOOK ''GINGER MURDOCH'' BY WILLIAM HATFIELD
Book. ALEC H CHISHOLM COLLECTION. 268 page hardcover book. A story of the Australian outback by William Hatfield. Published in 1932 by Angus & Robertson Ltd. Sydney and printed by Halstead Printing Co. Sydney. Catalogue sticker ''2208 HAT'' on spine. Handwritten in ink on flyleaf ''To A. H. Chisholm of bird fame with my sincerest wishes William Hatfield Xmas 1932''William Hatfieldbooks, collections, australiana, alec h chisholm collection, william hatfield, australian outback -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Book - DUCK AND CABBAGE TREE - PICTORIAL HISTORY OF CLOTHES IN AUSTRALIA 1788-1914, 1968
Duck & Cabbage Tree : A pictorial history of clothes in Australia 1788-1914. Arranged & annotated by Cedric Flower First published 1968 by Angus and Robertson LTD. Printed by Halstead Press, Sydney. Multi-colour with white background dust cover. Green hard back. Markings – Bendigo Historical Society Inc. stamp front and back. Copy not assigned a part letterCedric Flowerhistory, clothing, pictorial 1788 - 1914, clothing, convicts, settlers, goldminers, aborigines -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Book - ALEC H CHISHOLM COLLECTION: BOOK ''THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE'' BY C J DENNIS
Book. ALEC H CHISHOLM COLLECTION. 128 page hardcover book of 'The Songs of the Sentimental Bloke' by C J Dennis. Cover design and decorations by Hal Gye and Foreword by Henry Lawson. First published in 1915. This edition published in 1957 by Angus and Robertson and reprinted in 1974 by John Sands Pty Ltd, Halstead Press Division. Catalogue sticker on spine '2090 DEN'C J Dennisbooks, collections, poetry, alec h chisholm collection, c j dennis, hal gye, poetry -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Book - ALEC H CHISHOLM COLLECTION: BOOK ''THE GLUGS OF GOSH'' BY C.J.DENNIS
Book. ALEC H CHISHOLM COLLECTION. A slim hardcover book, The Glugs of Gosh by C. J. Dennis. A story in verse for all ages. Funny, but loaded with timeless wisdom. Illustrated by Sandra Ristway. Published in 1974 by Angus & Robertson and printed in Hong Kong by Dai Nippon Printing Co. Catalogue sticker ''2068 DEN'' on cover. ISBN 0 207 13058 2.C. J. Dennisbooks, collections, poetry, alec h chisholm collection, c.j.dennis, poetry, sandra ristway -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Book - OFFICIAL HISTORY OF AUSTRALIA IN THE WAR OF 1914 TO 1918
Official History of Australia in the war of 1914-1918 Vol I The story of Anzac :The first phase , from the outbreak of war to the end of the first phase of the Gallipoli campaign , May 4, 1915 by C.E.W. Bean , published by Angus & Robertson 89 Castlereagh St Sydney 1939 , 21.6x14x6.5cm maroon hard bound covered book with gold lettering , inside cover signed Wesley Harry 1973 , 111 maps 56 illustrations and , ninth edition ( first edition was 1921) the outbreak of war to the end of the first phase of the Gallipoli campaign , May 4, 1915 by C.E.W. Bean , published by Angus & Robertson 89 Castlereagh St Sydney 1939 , 21.6x14x6.5cm maroon hard bound covered book with gold lettering , inside cover signed Wesley Harry 1973 , 111 maps 56 illustrations and , ninth edition ( first edition was 1921)C.E.W. Beanbooks, military -
Lake Bolac & District Historical Society
Black and white photograph, Lake Bolac CWA, 1958/9
Lake Bolac CWA, 1958/9. L-R on stairs: May Murray, Jean Knight, Grace McInnes, Maisie McMaster, Ruby Wills, June Phillips (?), Mrs Howard, Nell O'Rorke. L-R front: Margaret Moreton, Mrs Davidson, Amy Robertson, Joyce Hucker, Mrs McMurray, Gwen Peters, Kath O'Rorke. On the steps of the Memorial Hall.lake bolac, cwa, davidson, howard, hucker, knight, moreton, mcinnes, mcmaster, mcmurray, murray, peters, phillips, o'rorke, robertson, wills -
Melbourne Legacy
Document, President Appointment Diary 1971-72 - AG Robertson, 1971
A detailed diary of the commitments of the President in 1971. He lists the events in date order showing the high number of events attended. The President in 1971 was AG (Robbie) Robertson. The presidential year ran from March to the following February. Was in a binder of documents that is passed from an outgoing President to the incoming President. It is primarily from the 1930s to 1990s. Most documents are being catalogued separately.A record of the duties of the President in the 1970s.White foolscap paper x 7 pages with black type about the President's commitments in 1971.presidents, robbie robertson -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Postcard - People, Bill Ferrier - rescuer, 11th November, 1905
The postcard shows a photograph of William Ferrier, the 25-year-old Warrnambool fisherman from South Warrnambool whose rescue of two sailors from the wrecked La Bella made him an overnight National hero, quoted as “one of the most heroic rescues in Victoria’s shipwreck history”. The La Bella was wrecked on 10th November 1905 and the photograph was taken on the next day. In the photograph, William Ferrier is seated in the centre, with four of the five survivors beside him: (from left to right) Leonard Robertson, R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. The photograph was taken by Foyle Photography Studio in Warrnambool, originally owned by James Charles Foyle. He previously had a photographic studio in Melbourne 1882 1887, then opened “Foyle’s Photo Card Studios” in Liebig St, Warrnambool. James Foyle died on 13th July 1905 and his son and daughter, Charles and Lilian Foyle continued on with the business until 1945. This photograph was most likely taken by either Charles or Lilian Foyle. The story of William Ferrier’s brave act 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 northwesterly 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 had 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. As well as this postcard, Flagstaff Hill’s La Bella Collection includes a photograph of the wrecked La Bella, a brass rail holder and the letter from the Prime Minister and other Members of Parliament that was sent to William Ferrier to commend him for his bravery. 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 postcard 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 photograph of William Ferrier and four of the five survivors demonstrates the bravery of ordinary Australians who risked their lives to save victims of shipwrecks along the coast. The postcard is significant to the history of Warrnambool as it portrays 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 postcard connects to the congratulatory letter which was sent to William Ferrier by the Prime Minister and Government of Australia and demonstrates the importance they attached to his efforts for Victoria and to Australia. The postcard is also an example of the photography of Foyle Photographers who were in the town of Warrnambool from the late 1800’s. Charles and Lillian Foyle took over the business when their father James died in 1905. Lillian Foyle is significant as the first woman photographer in Warrnambool. It is not known whether Charles of Lillian took this photograph. This postcard 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. Sepia photograph of William (Bill) Ferrier (seated in the middle), heroic rescuer of two crew members of the La Bella, wrecked at Warrnambool. The photograph is a postcard and shows five men dressed formally in suits and hats. Printed below the photograph are the name and place of the photographer, a royal crest and the details of two patrons of the photographer. Also below the photograph are some handwritten words in black pen. On the back of the postcard is a handwritten message in the same writing as the front.Printed on the front of the card is “Foyle, WARRNAMBOOL” “PATRONS: / HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CORNWALL & YORK. / HIS EXCELLENCY LORD BRAS_ EY, R.O.B.” Handwritten on the front of the card is “Bill Ferrier / rescuer / Oh my hero _ _ _ “ Handwritten on the back of the card is a message. “La Bella” Wrecked off W.Bool Breakwater Nov. 1906 (_ _ _ _ show night) Payne Noake Rosenholme Robertson and Capt Mylius (saved) (moonlight bright) Watson (_ _ _ _ boy) Richwoud [possibly Richmond] drowned” and signed “Desdewoua [possibly Desdemona] Slogos”la bella, foyle, william ferrier, bill ferrier, lady bay, 1905, 10th november 1905, 11th november 1905, parliament of the commonwealth, royal humane society medal, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village