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

Invitation to a celebratory lunch for the Portland centenary in 1934 Blue printing on white card. Portland Centenary 1834-1934. Luncheon to H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester. Menu.Back: Donated to History House April 1994 / by Terang & District Historical Society.royal visit, celebration, duke of gloucester, 1934, portland centenary

PPPA (Port of Portland Authority)Black & white photo of several people, including Malcolm Fraser, standing at the foot of steps leading down from RAAF plane. Royal Visit 1970

This medal was issued to schools in Victoria to commemorate the visit of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip to Australia. They arrived in Sydney on 3february 1954 and left from Freemantle on 1 April 1954.Significant to the history of the state of VictoriaMedal has conjoined busts, Queen crowned, Duke head bare, facing right; around, QUEEN ELIZABETH II DUKE OF EDINBURGH; below in tiny letters the mint name, STOKES MELB. The medal is attached by a metal loop to a bar with pin for wearing, PRESENTED TO THE / CHILDREN BY THE / GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA The back of the medal has, below a crown, E II R / ROYAL VISIT / 1954 / VICTORIA The back of the bar contains the mint name in small letters, STOKES MELB.Front: Inverse - Bar - presented to the children by the Government of Victoria. Medallion - Queen Elizabeth II Duke of Edinburgh (round edge) Back: Obverse - Bar Stokes Melbourne Medallion - Crown EIIR Royal Visit 1954 Australiaroyal visit, queen elizabeth ii, prince phillip, victoria, medal numismatics, schools

Front: purple stamp 'Cancelled carried forward to new passbook' 2 purple stamps 'PFL & LI' Back: 2 'cancelled' stamps, 1 PFL&LI' stampglenelg shire council archives, portland free library, administration, finance, savings

Front: purple stamp 'Cancelled carried forward to new passbook' 2 purple stamps 'PFL & LI' Back: 2 of each of the above stampsglenelg shire council, archives, portland free library, savings, bank

Front: 3 purple stamps: 'Cancelled carried forward to new passbook', purple stamp PFL & LI' Back: purple stamp ' cancelled etc. purple stamp ' PFL & LI' as aboveportland free library, finance, administration, glenelg shire council archives, savings

Front: 'Portland Free Library' hand written, black ink, purple stamp 'Cancelled carried forward to new passbook' 2 purple stamps 'PFL & LI' Back: 2 'cancelled ' stamps, 1 PFL&LI stampportland free library, savings, administration, glenelg shire council archives

Cream soft cardboard cover. Orange, black printing on cover. Black printing on spine. Catalogue of Exhibits.agriculture, show, society, advertising

Register of wrechs and serious casualties to shipping, on and near the coast of Victoria from Jan 1860 to Dec. 1864. Royal blue textured card covers. 18 pages

Two-page typed history of William Allitt (1828-1893) Gardner and nurseryman who was instrumental in establishing the Portland Botanic Gardens. It bears the stamp of the Director and Government Botanist, at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne.

The Illustrated London News, special edition for the coronation of King George VI. Royal blue textured card covers, gold print and decoration. Silver oval centre front cover, with image of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Contains coloured and black and white images

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip visited Hamilton on February 26 1954. It was the first time a reigning monarch had visited regional Victoria. More than 13000 children were said to have listened to a speech by the Queen in Melville OvalFlag, Royal visit to Hamilton, 1954, blue, red and gold print and coat of arms, attached to wooden stick. Pennant style.royal visit, hamilton, western district, queen elizabeth ii, prince phillip, post war

Used in Macs Hotel. Macs Hotel is located on Bentinck Street in Portland. It opened in 1856 and was where survivors from the wreck of the Admella were brought after their ordeal. Macs Hotel is still running today.White saucer with black and white logo inside edge.Front: Base: Guaranteed/Royal/Stafford/English Bone China/Made in England (black transfer) Back: Top: Macs Hotel/Portland (inside edge)macs hotel, saucer, dining, restaurant, portland, admella

Belonges to Thomas EverettEnammelled silver badge, royal blue 'outerbelt' design and text. 'Waterside Workers Fed. of Australia', circling internal initials W in royal blue, WFA in aquaFront: Waterside Workers Fed. of Australia W.W.F.A. Back: 88772 0R 887/2 stamped into the metal

Commemorative glass. Royal Victorian Bowl Association Far Western District Bowling Association Goodwill Tour 1999 (listing participating Bowling clubs)

Displayed at History House.Medallion - Royal Life Saving Society Medallion, Awarded to A. Hazelwood, 1939Front: Inverse: Royal Life Saving Society/Establish 1891 (around edge) Awarded/to/A. Hazelwood/V/1939 (centre) Back: Obverse: Quemcunque Miserum Videris Hominem Scias Royal (around edge)

Fabric pennant/flag, souvenir of Royal visit for Centenary of Portland and Victoria (most likely used in Portland). Red background, blue border on long sides. Image of Duke of Gloucester in various colours. 'Our Royal Visitor H.R.H DUKE OF CLOUCESTER RECEIVED WITH GLADNESS 1934' in white

Small souvenir jug, white china gold rim, view of Portland harbour in colour. Base: 'Royal Scenic China, made in Czechoslovakia' around 'crown' IBC, all in orange printsouvenir, portland, portland harbour

View ware dish, glass oblong, eight sided design, Art Deco, Botanical Gardens, Portland, hand coloured photograph, royal blue baseBack: 'Botanical gardens POortland' - white label, black print