This gun was presented to Robert O’Hara Burke Esq in 1858 by the Beechworth Police in recognition of his four years’ service as the Police Superintendent at Beechworth. It arrived back in Beechworth on Thursday 10th April, 2014.Presented to R. O’Hara Burke Esq / Supt. of Police by the Officers of the district on his transfer from Beechworth / November 1858 /burke, robert o'hara burke, burke museum, robert o'hara burke museum, firearm, burke and wills, burke & wills, burke and wills expedition, expedition, beechworth, indigo shire, north-east victoria, revolver

HISTORICAL INFORMATION In an article dated 26 March 1963, the Warrnambool Standard reported: “A cannon which has lain on the ocean floor since the barque, Children, was wrecked at Childer’s Cove on January 15, 1839, was raised by three Warrnambool skindivers at the week-end…The cannon, weighing about 750 lb. and 4-ft. 6-in. in length…is in excellent order considering the length of time it has remained under-water”. No conservation measures were taken at that time, other than chipping off the marine growth with hammers and cold chisels. The minutes for the 4 February 1974 meeting of the Flagstaff Hill Planning Board recorded that “a cannon recovered some time ago was lying in the garden of [one of the three original divers] and that it could be picked up at any time”. Peter Ronald, past Manager and Diver for Flagstaff Hill, notes that the CHILDREN cannon would have been recovered by the other divers around 1964. When the cannon came into care of Flagstaff Hill it was given basic conservation relevant to the time. (At the same meeting the Board was advised of the recovery of an anchor from the wreck of the CHILDREN by Flagstaff Hill divers (Peter Ronald, Colin Goodall and Gary Hayden, and Hank Howey and Andrew Coffee), and its interim relocation in the sea at the end of the Warrnambool Breakwater while awaiting conservation). The CHILDREN was owned by the pioneering Henty family of Portland. She was en route from Launceston to Adelaide, when she foundered in rough conditions at Childers Cove on 14 January 1839. The CHILDREN was a small three-masted barque, only 29 metres long and 254 tons weight, with 14 crew members and 24 passengers (including 9 children) on board. The ship was also carrying an awkwardly ballasted cargo of 1500 sheep, 8 bullocks, 7 horses, 5000 London house bricks, 6 whaling boats, and general trade goods. When the CHILDREN was driven into the limestone stack at the entrance to the cove, the seas smashed her into pieces within half an hour, and 16 lives were lost. The CHILDREN was an all-wooden ship, built in 1825 at Liverpool, and her shipwreck in 1839 is one of colonial Victoria’s earliest and most significant maritime disasters. There is little left to mark the tragedy on the seabed now, apart from some of the house bricks intended for the Henty’s Portland Bay settlement. Despite its poor condition, the CHILDREN’s signal cannon remains an important and interpretable record of her demise, (along with her anchor, the bottom half of her ship’s bell, and portions of a brass porthole - artefacts that are also in the Flagstaff Hill collection). In 2015 the CHILDREN cannon will undergo further conservation. (Conservation Management Plan for Victorian Guns and Cannon, South Western Victoria, May 2008, ref W/F/06) The shipwreck of the CHILDREN is of state significance — Victorian Heritage Register No. S116.A 1.3 metre iron 6pdr cannon recovered from the wreck of the CHILDREN. The shape of the cannon tapers from a thick round breech to a flared muzzle, with an 8 centimetre bore, and two side trunnions for pivoting on a wooden gun carriage. It was recovered from the shipwreck site of the CHILDREN by local divers in 1963. This small muzzle-loading signal cannon is in poor and unrestored condition. The cannon’s upper profile of smooth grey metal casing has corroded off, leaving an extensively oxidised rough red surface of crumbling iron. The bottom half of the cannon remains intact although the outer smooth casing also appears to be separating from the iron core of the barrel. Original grey casting is also missing from the breech and muzzle ends of the cannon. Corrosion and spalling of the upper surface layer of the cannon has removed the maker’s marks and specificationsflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, the children, ship’s cannon, signal cannon, childers cove, 1839 shipwreck, conservation of marine artefactsm, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, cannon, 6pdr small bore cannon, children cannon, defence, children, shipwreck, 1839

Harpoon, Toggle Headed Harpoon, wooden handle and Toggle spear-head, which opened to a perpendicular angle after entering whale. Spear fitted into handle and bound with twine. Handle is tapered at throwing end and where spear meets handle.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, shipwreck-coast, harpoon, toggle headed harpoon, whaling, whaling harpoon

The objects are a sample of medium caliber lead shot raised by Flagstaff Hill divers from the Loch Ard shipwreck site in 1976. Included in the vessel’s cargo manifest were 22 tonnes of lead shot, packed into her holds in cloth bags and wooden casks. These 49 pieces of 7 mm diameter lead shot are identical in size and smoothness. Each one also bears the same slightly raised square of residual metal left behind by the process of pouring molten lead into individual but identical moulds through a small (square) opening. These pieces of shot can be compared with contrast pieces in the Maritime Village collection, which are examples of shot tower pellet production; an industrial technique more suited to the creation of uniformly spherical balls that do not need subsequent trimming. In conventional shot tower production, lead is heated in a cauldron at the top of a 150-160 feet tower, and poured through a copper lattice that divides the metal into falling droplets. As these droplets fall, they spin into small spheres and gradually cool, before finishing in a pool of water at the bottom of the tower. However the maximum size of lead shot, and the economic efficiency of shot tower production, is limited by the practical height of the drop. Larger diameter lead shot must fall further in order to cool evenly and sufficiently to avoid shape distortion on hitting the water at the base. This sample of larger 7 mm lead shot, although mass produced, appears to have been manufactured under the traditional and more labour intensive mould system. They are therefore distinct from the other samples of smaller gauged and shot tower produced lead shot that were being imported on the Loch Ard . In terms of metallurgical technology these 7 mm shot are more closely related to an artifact in our Collection (No. 5241) — a forged set of pincers or pliers with two facing cups at the end. When the pincers are closed, the cups join to form a single mould. Molten lead is poured through a small (circular) opening left at the top of the mould. When cooled the pincers are opened, breaking the mould and releasing the lead shot. The excess metal left over from the pouring operation at the top of the ball is then trimmed off using the scissor like cutting edges on the inner side of the pliers handles. In this manner, individual shooters were able to make their own ammunition for their shotguns. History of the Loch Ard: The Loch Ard got it’s name from ”Loch Ard” a loch which lies to the west of Aberfoyle, and to the east of Loch Lomond. It means "high lake" in Scottish Gaelic.The vessel belonged to the famous Loch Line which sailed many vessels from England to Australia. The Loch Ard was built in Glasgow by Barclay, Curdle and Co. in 1873, the vessel was a three-masted square-rigged iron sailing ship that measured 79.87 meters in length, 11.58 m in width, and 7 m in depth with a gross tonnage of 1693 tons with a mainmast that measured a massive 45.7 m in height. Loch Ard made three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its fateful voyage. Loch Ard left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of 29-year-old Captain Gibbs, who was newly married. The ship was bound for Melbourne with a crew of 37, plus 17 passengers. The general cargo reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. Onboard were straw hats, umbrella, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionery, linen and candles, as well as a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead and copper. There were other items included that were intended for display in the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880. The voyage to Port Phillip was long but uneventful. Then at 3 am on June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs was expecting to see land. But the 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 4 am the fog lifted and a lookout 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 towards land. 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 the ship was among the breakers and the tall cliffs of Mutton Bird Island rose behind. 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 subsequently broke over the ship and the top deck became 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 a passenger had raced onto the 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 the 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 complete state of exhaustion, he told the men of the tragedy. Tom then 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 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 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 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 items were washed up into Loch Ard Gorge. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced in March 1982. One of the most unlikely pieces of cargo to have survived the shipwreck was a Minton majolica peacock- one of only nine in the world. The peacock was destined for the Melbourne 1880 International Exhibition in. 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 artifact and is one of very few 'objects' on the Victorian State Heritage Register. The shipwreck of the Loch Ard is of significance for Victoria and is registered on the Victorian Heritage Register Ref S 417. Flagstaff Hill has a varied collection of artefacts from Loch Ard and its collection is significant for being one of the largest accumulation of artefacts from this notable Victorian shipwreck. The collections object is to also give us a snapshot into history so we are able to interpret the story of this tragic event. The collection is also archaeologically significant as it represents aspects of Victoria's shipping history that allows us to interpret Victoria's social and historical themes of the time. The collections historically significance is that it is associated unfortunately with the worst and best-known shipwreck in Victoria's history. A quantity of forty-nine (49) loose round lead shot of 7 mm diameter retrieved from the wreck of the Loch Ard. All are smooth round spheres with the same small raised square of excess lead on one face.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, shipwreck artefact, shot, lead shot, shot towers, shot mould, colonial imports, practical metallurgy

The objects are a small sample of small gauge lead shot raised by Flagstaff Hill divers from the LOCH ARD shipwreck site in 1976. Companion pieces are in the Maritime Village collection. The three masted, iron hulled, LOCH ARD was wrecked against the tall limestone cliffs of Mutton Bird Island in the early hours of the first of June 1878. Included in her diverse and valuable cargo were 22 tons of lead shot, packed in cloth bags and wooden casks. Bulk quantities of lead shot, uniformly round balls of dull grey metal ranging from 2mm “birdshot” to 8mm “buckshot”, were routinely exported to the Australian colonies. Shot was used mostly as projectiles fired from smooth bored guns to bring down moving targets such as wild ducks and small game. It was also useful as ballast, when a dense, “pourable” weight was required to fill cavities or establish volume within a measuring container. The production of consistently round spheres of lead shot required the pouring of molten metal through a sieve and then a long drop through the atmosphere to a water filled basin for final cooling and collection. This “shot tower” process was first patented by William Watts of Bristol in 1782. His calculation of a 150 feet fall was not only to form evenly spherical droplets through surface tension, but also to provide partial cooling and solidification to each shot before they hit the water below. The value of his innovation was the minimising of indentation and shape distortion, avoiding the expense of re-smelting and re-moulding the lead. Lead shot was already being produced in Australia at the time the LOCH ARD loaded her cargo and left Gravesend on the second of March 1878. James Moir constructed a 157 feet circular stone shot tower near Hobart in 1870, with a peak annual production of 100 tons of lead shot sold in 28 pound linen bags. However colonial demand exceeded this source of local supply. The continued strength of the market for lead shot in the Colony of Victoria prompted substantial investment in additional productive capacity in Melbourne in the next decade. In 1882 Richard Hodgson erected the 160 feet round chimney-shaped Clifton Hill shot tower on Alexandra Parade (VHR H0709) and in 1889 Walter Coop built the 160 feet square tower-shaped Melbourne Central shot tower on La Trobe Street (VHR H0067). At its peak, the Coop Tower produced 6 tons of lead shot per week, or 312 tons per annum. The shipwreck of the LOCH ARD is of State significance – Victorian Heritage Register S417 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. A quantity of 2mm and 4mm lead shot ammunition retrieved from the LOCH ARD shipwreck site. They are concreted together by sediment. There are (6) small pieces with some single shot and a larger conglomerate of cemented shot. 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, lead shot, colonial industry, melbourne shot towers, victorian metallurgy, colonial imports

This item is situated in the gardens of the Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch Inc Havilah Road Bendigo.Bomb 1000 lb Aerial, metal construction, cylindrical shape, on top are two lifting lugs, rear tapers down with 4 fins inside a circular cover, the nose tapers sharply then forms a smaller impact point. Item is on a stand.On side of the bomb, “No.37 - IMC 1000 LB R&M 9/43”bdrslinc, smirsl, brsl, bomb, 1000

Item in the collection re Wing Commander Leonard Bacon OBE. Refer Cat No 7510.2 for his extensive service history.Dark brown piece of ragged steel shrapnel collected as souvenir from exploded munitions.shrapnel, souvenir

This mine is situated in the gardens of the Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch Inc Havilah Road Bendigo. Refer photo .1) re details of manufacture and its history/use..1) Plaque on black metal stand with white text with details re the mine. 2) Mine slightly oval shape, black with a white band, the top has a bolted on section as a lid, there are multiple "horns" attached around the mine.Refer .1) plaque.brsl, smirsl, bdrslinc, sea mine

These two items are displayed in the gardens of the Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch Havilah Road. Refer Cat No 8157.2 for Centurion details..1) Centurion Barrel half section showing the internal metal and rifling of the barrel, item is on a stand. .2) Centurion barrel metal construction, tapered, item is on a stand. brsl, smirsl, bdrslinc, centurion

This item is on display in the gardens of the Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch Havilah Road. Refer photo .1) re its manufacture, history and use..1) Plaque black metal on a stand with white text with details of the item. .2) Scale replica of a Supermarine Spitfire Fighter Mark V111 with markings."Lest we Forget" - "CAL"brsl, smirsl, bdrslinc, replica, spitfire

This item is on display in the gardens of the Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch Havilah Road. Refer photo .1) for details re manufacture, history and use..1) Plaque metal black on a stand with details re the item. .2) Centurion Main Battle Tank Model Mark 5/1, complete with motor, painted green colour, tracked vehicle.brsl, smirsl, bdrslinc, tank, centurion

This item is on display in the gardens of the Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch Havilah Road. Refer Photo .1) for details re manufacture, history and use..1) Plaque metal black on a stand with white text re details of the item. .2). Leopard Tank Model AS1 painted in camouflage colours with markings, tracked vehicle.“34B” - “Choco”. - “27741 - 44” - “30”brsl, smirsl, bdrslinc, tank, leopard

This item is on display in the gardens of the Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch Havilah Road. Refer photo .1) for details re manufacture, history and use..1) Plaque metal black on a stand with white text re details of the item. .2) Naval AN 40/60 Bofor Gun Mount Model MKV11 painted blueish colour, barrel black, sits on its traversing base.brsl, smirsl, bdrslinc, bofor, 40 mm, naval

This item is on display in the gardens of the Bendigo District RSL Havilah Road. Refer photo .1) for details re manufacture, history and use..1) Plaque metal black on a stand with white text re details of the item. .2) Bofor 40 mm Anti Aircraft Gun M11 painted light green, mounted on a four wheeled base towed item.brsl, smirsl, bdrslinc, bofor, 40 mm, anti aircraft

This item is on display in the gardens of the Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch Havilah Road. Refer photo .1) for details re manufacture, history and use..1) Plaque metal black on a stand with white text re details of the item. .2) German heavy Field Howitzer short barrelled, Model year 1913, painted green, on two timber/metal wheels towed.brsl, smirsl, bdrslinc, german, field howitzer

This item is on display in the gardens of the Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch Havilah Road. Refer photo .1) for details re manufacture, history and use. .1) Plaque metal black on a stand with white text re details of the item. .2) 25 Pounder Quick Firing Gun Model Mark 11, painted green, on two wheels, towed.brsl, smirsl, bdrslinc, 25 pounder

This item is on display in the gardens of the Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch Havilah Road. Refer photo .1) for details re manufacture, history and use..1) Plaque metal black on a stand with white text re details of the item. .2) Bren Gun Carrier or Carrier Universal Model MG No 2A, in camouflage colours, tracked vehicle.“3” - “3820”brsl, smirsl, bdrslinc, carrier, bren gun

This item is on display in the gardens of the Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch Inc Havilah Road. Refer photo .1) for details re manufacture, history and use..1) Plaque metal black on a stand with white text re details of the item. .2) Breech Loading Gun 5.5 inch Model 3 or 4 painted green colour, on two wheels, towed item.brsl, smirsl, breech looading, 5.5, bdrslinc

photograph prints 2 offTwo rectangle Black & White Photographs A, On board a family ship the Borda, bound for Australia, December 1919. More than 10000 Australian soldiers had married in Britain, and many returned accompanied by wives and young children. (Australian War Memorial D00935) B, Australian soldiers and their British wives go ashore on leave at Cape Tpwn, South Africa, during the voyage to Australia. (Australian War Memorial D00936)photograph prints 2 off

Naval shells specification sheets (18 sheets)Types of projectiles.

This is a pocket size tin, the lid has image of two cigarettes. Diagonally across the tin is written "Imperator". At bottom corner are the letters D.R.G.M. (Germany). On the bottom can be seen four extra lugs. Inside is a spring loaded mechanism that can be set then the lid shut. When the lid is opened the spring loaded arm wacks the explosive charge. This example is inert.passchendaele barracks trust collection, 22-734-t, ww1, german

This is a brass cartridge. It is rimmed, the other end has been crimped over. There is no projectile.Stamped on the base - MF AQ AI..303, blank cartridge

Machetes similar to this example were issued as part of the USAAF emergency survival kits for B-2 and B-4 crew. This item was brought back from Korea by Flight Lieutenant Ian A. Lyons. Part of the Flight Lieutenant Ian A. (Joe) Lyons MBE Collection. See catalogue No 5374P for his service record..1) Machete with short slightly curved single-edged folding blade. Black riveted bakelite handle fitted with a thumb operated lock which secures the blade when opened. .2) Black metal detachable blade guard..1) Stamped on blade but partially obscured by corrosion: 'Ca?augus U.S.A.'machete, weapons, edged weapons, us army air force

“VX52199”. George Edward Krygger, enlisted 31.3.1941 age 39 years, discharged from the 2nd AIF on 13.3.1943 with the rank of Sapper in 2/16th Fld Coy RAE. Bayonet type for .303 Rifle..1) Bayonet. .2) Scabbard. .3) Bayonet frog, leather.1) On blade, “MA 130 1 44”, “XOA” .3) DENSIL DON 1941 D (arrow up) D”, “VX52199” written in blackweapons, bayonets

Cutaway of round for display and education purpose.Ammunition round 20 mm brass shell and cutaway of projectile for education purposes. Brass shell tapered cone shape with rim at base for ejection of round and detonator at end. The projectile is cone shaped with yellow plastic covering half the round.On brass shell - 20 mm - DS - MK - AN 149. Mod 1 ALN073. WC859 LOT 83. ADI 11/01.ammunition, round, inert, display

Cannon shell, brass, 105 mm calibre, flanged base, the base has 4 round recess painted white, sides have painted numbers, letters in black.Painted on sides, “NH 033. Cv 8 - 80 - 94D HESH. L35A3” On base stamped, “105mm H.W 242. COTY RLB 1979”cannon, shells

Rocket, projectile, inert, colours blue, white & green, has 6 fins, 3 wires coming out of the base, red, blue & green, lettering in yellow & white.On the nose, “RKT FRAG ? IN. U.K M29 Mk ?” On stem, “PRACTICE L5 MICA. T7 BRIT M7 MY - 66”rockets, projectiles, practice

The shrapnel belonged to Thomas William Tuckerman, No 7318, 2nd Australian Tunneling Company AIF. Refer 935P, 1265.3.Small pieces of shrapnel, grey metallic in colour. Both are flatish on one side and dome shaped on the oppositeshrapnel, 7318, t.w.tuckerman

Items collected by James Worland Mills No 3441 59th Batt AIF. Refer 169P. Ordnance items .1) shell .2) shell .3) 5 x .303 casings in clip.arms-ammunition, military history