There are only seven shipwrecks in Victoria that have had more than 100 objects recovered from them reported as a result of the Commonwealth Amnesty held in 1993-94. These are the Loch Ard (1878), Schomberg (1855) and Fiji (1891) - all situated along the western district 'Shipwreck Coast' - and the George Roper (1883), Light of the Age (1868), Joseph H. Scammell (1891) and Victoria Tower - all situated along the short section of the 'Surf Coast' between Point Lonsdale and Torquay.The Victoria Tower is archaeologically significant as the wreck of an international inward-bound passenger and cargo vessel. It is educationally and recreationally significant as a coherently intact example of a British built iron clipper ie: representative of a class or type. Along with the wrecks of the Light of the Age (1868 - American-built wooden clipper ship) and Sussex (1871 - Blackwall frigate) nearby these vessels represent the three major design classes, and span the evolution of commercial and immigrant sailing ships used by the British in the colonial Australian trade in the last half of the nineteenth century.2 Doors from the 'Victoria Tower' made from teak and mahoganydoors, salvage, shipwreck, torquay, victoria tower

The steamship, SS Australia, was built in Greenock, Scotland in 1892, for the P & O Steam Navigation Company. Australia was considered to be one of the most luxurious vessels afloat and she held the speed record from England to Australia at the time. On 21st June 1904, due to pilot error, the Australia hit the notorious Corsair Rock, part of the Point Nepean Reef, on the eastern side of Port Philip heads, opening a gaping 5 meter hole along her keel. Passengers and some of the crew were rescued by craft sent from Queenscliff.Relic from a significant wreck on Corsair Rock at Point NepeanMetal letter A mounted on timber board in front with salvage account on the backAccount of salvage of artefactsign, ships name, ss australia

An inclinometer measures the angle of inclination of a vessel or aircraft to the horizontalTimber and brass inclinometer from the M.V. Australian Explorer. Triangular timber shape with curved base. Brass measuring plate with measurements from 0-40 degrees on each side. Brass pointer indicates angle of inclination of vessel. 'EIWA' label on front. '87-156' inscribed in pen on back and underside. navigational instruments, australian explorer

A Couta boat is a type of sailing boat originally designed and built in Victoria, Australia, around Sorrento, Queenscliff and along Victoria's west coast as far west as Portland. It was originally used as a traditional fishing boat from around 1870 until the 1930s, although it survived as a commercial fishing vessel until the 1950s. From the 1970s onwards a community of enthusiasts started restoring old couta boats to use recreationally.The Couta Boat has been associated with the fishermen of Queenscliff from the first quarter of the 20th Century, and still is of significance due to the popularity of this boat as a leisure sailing vessel.2 Reproduced photographs of couta boat fishing fleet under full sail in Queenscliffcouta, couta boat, sailing, fishing, port phillip, queenscliff

On August 23rd, 1949, S. S. TIME was on voyage from Sydney to Melbourne with a cargo of sugar (3,000 tons), timber, general cargo and coal, when she was wrecked on Corsair Rock, entrance of Port Philip Bay. The Australian Red Ensign is the official flag to be flown at sea by Australian registered merchant ships. The S.S. Time was a land mark vessel in Queenscliff and surrounding areas from August 23rd, 1949, when it was wrecked on Corsair Rock in the entrance of Port Philip Bay until the early 60s when it broke up in a storm. Australian Red Ensign from the salvage done on the wreck of the S.S.TimeSS Time hand written on calico edge of flagflag, red ensign, s.s.time, corsair rock, rip, port phillip

Built in 1914 by Fleming and Ferguson in Paisley Scotland as Sir William Matthews for the Ceylon Government, she was a twin screwed steam bucket dredge. She was purchased from the Western Australian Government by the Melbourne Harbour Trust on 10 October 1941. After an extensive overhaul, the vessel was renamed the George Kermode and commenced operation in Victorian waters on 22 June 1942. The George Kermode was scuttled by the Department of Conservation, Forests and Land off Phillip Island on the 1 April 1976 as part of an artificial reef program. This vessel was used to dredge the Port Phillip channels from 1942 and is of cultural significance to Queenscliffe.Binnacle compass from the 'George Kermode'Compass No. 3127N Sestrel Type 89098bucket dredge, port phillip, melbourne harbour trust

HMAS Una was a Royal Australian Navy sloop that began its life as the German motor launch Komet. The ship and her 57 crew was captured by an infantry detachment of the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force led by John Paton on 9 October 1914, with no loss of life. Komet was then sailed to Sydney as a prize. During the time in which the Una was in service under Australia, the sloop was used as a Patrol and General Purpose Vessel. The sloop was used to patrol the areas of New Guinea, New Britain, New Hebrides and Malayan waters. In December 1918, Una was sent to Darwin to protect Administrator John Gilruth, following the Darwin Rebellion. She arrived on Christmas Eve anchoring beneath the Government House cliffs until HMAS Encounter arrived in early 1919. After World War I, Una was decommissioned and taken to Port Phillip Bay, renamed Akuna and used as a pilot vessel. She was finally broken up in Melbourne in 1955.Anchor from ex German Yacht KOMET built in Hamburg in 1911, captured in New Guinea 1914. Acquired by PPPS 1925 renamed UNA then AKUNA. In service 1925 - 1954 Made of Cast Ironanchor, komet, una, akuna, pilot vessel

A Ship's Log looked very similar to a torpedo but was used to measure the speed of a ship. When dragged behind the vessel, movement of water past the propeller caused it to rotate, turning the small needle dials to record the distance and speed travelled. https://museumsvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum/resources/journeys-to-australia/Ship's Log Display HeadWalkers Cherub 111 ships lognavigation, speed, knot, chip log, log, thomas walker and son

Transported to Victoria as deck cargo aboard s.s. Port Darwin. This vessel was ordered by Government of Victoria and was only used in training exercises in Port Philip and had become outmoded by the time the Royal Australian Navy was formed in 1911.Buried by sand in the grounds of the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum. There is no known record of how the "Lonsdale" ended abandoned on the beach at Queenscliff. Originally the land where the QMM is situated was the foreshore at the back of the houses in Beach Street, Queenscliff. There were two Torpedo boats built in 1884, the Lonsdale and the Nepean.Site of the buried remains of the Torpedo Boat HMAS Lonsdale [HMVS]hmas lonsdale, hmvs lonsdale, victorian navy, port phillip, royal australian navy

The Melbourne Harbour Trust Commission purchased the steam dredge SIR WILLIAM MATHEWS on 10 October 1941 from the Western Australian Government. Although the dredge was described as a suction dredge it was in fact a bucket dredge. After an overhaul, the vessel was renamed the GEORGE KERMODE and commenced operation in Victorian waters on 22 June 1942. The vessel was hired out to the Port of Burnie in 1945-46 but continued in the ownership of the Trust until 1 April 1976 when it was scuttled by the Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands as part of their artificial reef program. This program resulted in a number of reefs being established in Port Phillip Bay, including one off Carrum containing the wooden steamer URALBA.Timber and brass ship's wheel from center ladder hopper dredge George Kermode (formerly Sir William Mathews). Built Paisley Scotland 1914.noneships wheel, scuttled vessels, artificial reefs, george kermode

Arthur V Gregory b.1867, d.1957 worked from studio at 326 Albert Road South Melbourne established by his father G F Gregory in 1852. FALIE operated for many years as a cargo ship, largely around South Australia where it formed a strong regional association. During World War II, FALIE was requisitioned by the Royal Australian Navy for service, and was on patrol off Sydney Heads during the mini-submarine raid on Sydney Harbour in May 1942. After the war it returned to commercial service and was retired in 1982. It was then the last working ship representing the South Australian ketch fleet, and along with NELCEBEE ( HV000419) one of the last two working sail powered cargo vessels in South Australia.Water colour painting in painted gilt frameFalie off Cape Schank A.V. Gregory 1934falie, a.v. gregory, water colour, painting

Arthur V Gregory b.1867, d.1957 worked from studio at 326 Albert Road South Melbourne established by his father G F Gregory in 1852 SS KATOOMBA of McIlwraith, McEacharn & Co entered the Australian trade in 1887 bringing immigrants from Britain to Queensland. They entered into the fierce competition for passenger trade in the first decades of the 20th century when competition for passengers required companies to provide more than converted cargo vessels. In 1909 their ship KAROOLA won a reputation for its salubrious accommodation and its size, and was the first Australian ship to exceed 7,000 tons. The company maintained the advantage in 1912 by commissioning KATOOMBA, which was larger and more luxurious than all its generation of passenger ships. KATOOMBA was requisitioned as a troopship in both World War I and World War II. It was sold to a Greek company in 1949 and sold for scrap in Japan in 1959.Water colour painting in painted gilt frameA.V Gregory 1929katoomba, a.v. gregory, water colour, painting

Collected by person in the 1960s before amnesty. Recovered from the wreck of the William SalthouseWilliam Salthouse was the first merchant vessel to sail with a cargo of merchandise from the British Dominion of Canada to British Colonies of Australia. The ship was lost on 28 November 1841 while attempting to enter Port Phillip Heads en-route to Melbourne Harbour. The wreck of William Salthouse has been the site of several maritime archaeological investigations as well as experimental in situ conservation efforts.Large sounding lead and handmade bottle recovered from the wreck of the William Salthouse [lost on 28 November 1841]'No.2' on bottleshipwrecks, salvaged items, william salthouse, sounding lead, hand made bottle

Anieura. Four-masted wooden schooner, 1328 tons. Built California, 1918 as the Oronite. Reg. Melbourne, 1928. Lbd 236.5 x 42 x 29. Last captain, de Carteret. Stripped of anything of value at the Yarra Street Pier, Geelong, in 1932; burnt to recover her copper and brass, and sunk off Avalon Bach, two kilometres east of Point Lillias. She had been seized for debt. @ Her wreckage is scattered and overgrown, covered in light silt in 4 metres. [NWR],[LC],[NSC]A relic from the broken up Barque 'Anieura' in 1932/33: BARQUE ANIEURA. Left to Sink in Mud. GEELONG Monday -The hulk of the barque Anieura, which has been idle in Corio Bay for more than four years, was towed to a spot near Bird Rock on the northern shores of the outer harbour on Monday. The Anieura was built for the timber trade and made a journey to Australia. The owners then decided that the vessel was unsuitable for this trade, and she was sold to an Australian firm. The ship was placed in Corio Bay, and remained at anchorage for about three years before an effort was made to sell her. This being unsuccessful most of the fittings, were disposed of, and the hulk was taken to Fletcher's pier to be out of the way of shipping. The Victorian Salvage Co's offer to the Geelong Harbor Trust to dispose of the hulk was accepted. The 300 tons of road metal ballast was removed, and a quantity of timber taken out. The vessel was towed through the channel this morning and run aground near Bird Rock just outside of the north-east extremity of the bar where it is away from shipping. More timbers will be stripped from the vessel, and it is likely that she will be allowed to sink into the mud. The Argus Tuesday 4 April 1933. A wooden bunk from the 'Anieura', drawers underneath with brass handlesanieura, bunk, port phillip

Her role as a pilot cutter was to sail with pilots on board to meet ships entering Port Phillip Bay. Pilots would be transferred by the Wyuna's workboat to the vessel requiring pilotage while it was stopped dead in the water, with shelter provided by the vessel itself. In the early 1970s the pilot service started using fast launches to allow pilots to board while ships were still underway, and in 1979 the Wyuna was sold to the Australian Maritime College in Launceston, Tasmania as a training vessel. Wyuna served in Port Phillip as a pilot tender Significant vessel served in Port Phillip Pilot ServiceSilverware from Pilot Boat Wyuna: Salt & Pepper Pots [6] - 5 with blue glass inserts, Small spoons [3], Gravy boats [1], nutcracker [1], Plate cover [1]T.S.M.V. WYUNA on pots and gravy boats and oval spoon, P.P.P.S. on two round spoons. Makers mark on round spoonswyuna, pilots, silverware

Ticket was used in 1931 and kept in storage by a member of the Edina's crew. The SS Edina was the most famous steamer in Australia and underwent a number of changes and refits during its lifetime. It had an unchallenged record of strandings and collisions with other vessels and of escaping serious damage itself. The vessels City of Melbourne, Courier, Manawatu, Excelsior (twice), Hovell, Batman, all suffered. When Edina was retired in 1938 it was the world's oldest working steamer and had travelled more than 1 million km. She was finally broken up by George Seelf on the banks of the Maribyrnong in 1957.The SS Edina was an iconic and affectionately regarded part of Port Phillips maritime history and culture. It is historically significant for being internationally famous as the worlds oldest working screw steamship between 1912 and 1938. Its career was varied and interesting and it is considered significant for its involvement in the Crimean War, US Civil War, NZ gold rushes, and locally for its career as a western district steamship and Bay steamer. The site is archaeologically significant as the only remnant of the hull of the vessel and as part of the Maribyrnong riverine landscape situated amongst the remnants of shipbuilding slipways, Footscray wharves, S781 UnidentifiedClipped and used steamship tickets [the children's tickets are an adult ticket cut in half diagonally] - Melbourne to PortarlingtonAustralian Steamships Pty Ltd, Howard Smith Ltd, managing agentsticket, steam screw vessels, ss edina, port phillip, bay steamers

The First Fleet comprised the 11 ships that departed from Portsmouth, England on 13 May 1787 to New South Wales, the penal colony that became the first European settlement in Australia. The First Fleet consisted of two Royal Navy vessels, three store ships and six convict transports, carrying between 1,000 and 1,500 convicts, marines, seamen, civil officers and free people (accounts differ on the numbers), and a large quantity of stores. From England, the Fleet sailed south-west to Rio de Janeiro, then east to Cape Town and via the Great Southern Ocean to Botany Bay (Australia), arriving over the period of 18–20 January 1788, taking 250 to 252 days from departure to final arrival. During the period 25–26 January 1788 the fleet moved from Botany Bay to present-day Sydney.A poster listing the names of men and women who landed with the first fleet including provisions and livestockThe First Fleet 1788the first fleet, botany bay, sydney

HMAS Una was a Royal Australian Navy sloop that began its life as the German motor launch Komet. The ship, and her 57 crew, was captured by an infantry detachment of the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force 9 October 1914, with no loss of life. Komet was then sailed to Sydney as a prize. During the time in which the Una was in service under Australia, the sloop was used as a Patrol and General Purpose Vessel. The sloop was used to patrol the areas of New Guinea, New Britain, New Hebrides and Malayan waters. After World War I, Una was decommissioned and taken to Port Phillip Bay, renamed Akuna and used as a pilot vessel. She was finally broken up in Melbourne in 1955.After World War I, HMAS Una was decommissioned and taken to Port Phillip Bay, renamed Akuna and used as a pilot vessel. She was finally broken up in Melbourne in 1955.A sclae drawing showing side view of the double screw passenger steam boat 'Komet' which was captuered by the RAN in WWI Doppelschrauben Passagierdampfer Aussen Haut [Double Screws, Passenger Steam Boat, Outside Hight]akuna, ppps, port phillip, hmas una, ran

This vessel was owned by Huddart Parker & co a shipping line started in Geelong and later transferred to Melbourne. The SS Elingamite operated between 1876 and 1961. It was one of the seven major coastal shippers in Australia at a time when shipping was the principal means of interstate and trans-Tasman transport. Congratulatory letter from the cabin passengers of the SS Elingamite dated the 19th November 1887 addressed to Captain P.W. Bull. The letter is behind glass in a timber frame.captain pw bull, ss elingamite, huddart parker & co, immigration, travel, england - australia route

This signal lamp was originally fitted on the steam tug 'Wattle'RAN Career 1932 to 1969: Wattle's construction and career as a non-commissioned vessel of the Royal Australian Navy. Saved from the Scrapyard 1969 to 1979: Sydney-based enthusiasts rescue Wattle from the scrapyard, forming an association with Sydney Heritage Fleet. Melbourne Pleasure Steamer 1979 to 2007: A volunteer group brings Wattle to Melbourne to restore, then sails Port Phillip on outings and excursions. Restoration Journey 2007 to 2015: Wattle is hoisted onto the hard to undergo major restoration work. Back in the Water, 2015 to present: Wattle returns to the water for further restoration, and in 2019 sails again on Port Phillip.Brass candle powered signal lamp with a lens circumference of 14cm, mounted on a timber plinthSundercombes Patent Eclipsesignal light, marine fittings, steam tug 'wattle'

The Lifeboat Queenscliffe was built in Adelaide and commenced service at Queenscliff in 1926. She was taken out of service in 1976 by the Marine Board of Victoria and subsequently offered to the Borough of Queenscliffe for care and display.Ben BlairA framed painting of the lifeboat 'Queenscliffe' motoring off Shortlands Bluff in 1963.lifeboat 'queenscliffe', shortlands bluff, ben blair

The ship was built in 1953 by Ferguson Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow, Scotland for the Port Phillip Sea Pilots organisation as a pilot cutter. Her role as a pilot cutter was to sail with pilots on board to meet ships entering Port Phillip Bay. Pilots would be transferred by the Wyuna's workboat to the vessel requiring pilotage while it was stopped dead in the water, with shelter provided by the vessel itself. In the early 1970s the pilot service started using fast launches to allow pilots to board while ships were still underway, and in 1979 the Wyuna was sold to the Australian Maritime College in Launceston, Tasmania as a training vessel. She continued in that role until 2004 when sold to Mineralogy Pty Ltd as an accommodation vessel. In September 2013 she was donated to the Western Port Oberon Association for the Victorian Maritime Centre currently at Crib Point. For a time she was docked at Beauty Point, Tasmania, and after being refurbished for 18 months she was to be moved to Docklands in Melbourne, Victoria. After this berth became unavailable the vessel was docked at Inspection Head Wharf in Beauty Point. After a period there it was towed into Bell Bay where she lays at anchor as of January 2016. When funding becomes available the Western Port Oberon Association has plans to display the vessel in a wet berth alongside the former Royal Australian Navy Oberon-class submarine HMAS Otama.Mr Henry HudsonBlack and white photograph of the Pilot Tender MV Wyuna partially obscured by a large wave at the rip, entrance to Port Phillip Bay.mv wyuna, port phillip pilot service, the rip, the heads, queenscliff, point lonsdale

Built in 1874 in Sunderland England she was employed carrying cargo around the world and rounded Cape Horn 23 times in 26 years. In 1900 she was acquired by Mr J J Craig, renamed James Craig in 1905 and began to operate between New Zealand and Australia until 1911. Unable to compete with freight cargo, in later years James Craig was used as a collier and later laid up, then used as a hulk, until eventually being abandoned at Recherche Bay in Tasmania. In 1932 she was sunk by fishermen who blasted a 3-metre hole in her stern. Restoration of James Craig began in 1972, when volunteers (now the Sydney Heritage Fleet) refloated her and towed her to Hobart for initial repairs. Brought back to Sydney under tow in 1981, her hull was placed on a submersible pontoon to allow work on the hull restoration to proceed. Over twenty-five years, the vessel was restored and relaunched in 1997. In 2001 restoration work was completed and she continues to go to sea.Mr Robeert Greenway A framed reproduction of a painting by Oswald L Brett on canvas paper of the Barque James Craig 1874 Barque James Craig 1874. Images of two flags; a red ensign and a ships flag 'Craig'; Oswald L Brett N.Y. 1978 james craig, windjammers, barque

Demonstrating cutting edge maritime military technology, the Cerberus patrolled the waters in and around Melbourne, protecting it and its rich gold resources from attack. The Victorian gold rush coincided with growing instability in Europe. Britain and Russia prepared to face each other in battle as the threat of a second Crimean War grew.The HMVS Cerberus was one of only three vessels of its exact type ever built, and is the only surviving example of this type of vessel in the world. It is also the only substantially intact warship of Australia’s pre-Federation colonial navies. This shipwreck rests in shallow waters at Black Rock, Melbourne.HAnd built timber model of the HMVS CerberusCerberushmvs cerberus, model making

Ordered in 1938 to replace the aging ships on the Dutch East Indies route, her keel was laid in 1939 at De Schelde shipyard in Vlissingen, Netherlands, for Rotterdamsche Lloyd (now Nedlloyd). Interrupted by World War II and two bombing raids, the ship was finally launched in July 1946, as Willem Ruys. The ship was named after the grandson of the founder of the Rotterdamsche Lloyd who was taken hostage and shot during the war.B SmythA framed oil painting of the Dutch vessel Willem Ruys which was later refitted to become the Lloyd Triestino 'Achille Lauro'.Willen Ruysmv willem ruys, ms achille lauro, migrant ships

Tall Ships at Queenscliff; 'The sail training barquentine "Leeuwin" from West Australia and the Republic of Ireland brigantine "Asgard II" at anchor off Queenscliff prior to the "Arrival Convoy" in Melbourne of a number of the Tall Ships, all bound eventually for Sydney via Hobart for Australia's 1988 bicentenary. The Queenscliff pier with the old lifeboat shed and the Blacklight (Queenscliffe's High Light) alongside the old signal tower are also depicted. Port Phillip Heads in the disctance. By Dacre Smyth 29 Dec 1987.A barquentine or schooner barque is a sailing vessel with three or more masts; with a square rigged foremast and fore-and-aft rigged main, mizzen and any other masts. A brigantine is a two-masted sailing vessel with a fully square-rigged foremast and at least two sails on the main mast: a square topsail and a gaff sail mainsail (behind the mast). The main mast is the second and taller of the two masts.Oil painting in frame of the Leeuwin and Asgard tall ships in Queenscliff 1988.On front: Tall Ships at Queenscliff (LEEUWIN and ASGARD). Hand written on back: Tall Ships at Queenscliff; 'The sail training barquentine "Leeuwin" from West Australia and the Republic of Ireland brigantine "Asgard II" at anchor off Queenscliff prior to the "Arrival Convoy" in Melbourne of a number of the Tall Ships, all bound eventually for Sydney via Hobart for Australia's 1988 bicentenary. The Queenscliff pier with the old lifeboat shed and the Blacklight (Queenscliffe's High Light) alongside the old signal tower are also depicted. Port Phillip Heads in the disctance. By Dacre Smyth 29 Dec 1987'.leeuwin, barquentine, queenscliff, dacre smyth, brigantine

Schomberg was a large clipper ship built for James Baines' famous Black Ball Line. Schomberg has historical significance as one of the luxurious ships built to bring emigrants to Australia, cashing in on the gold rush era. The clipper is one of only three clipper wrecks in Victorian waters that operated the England to Australia run. While the other two, Empress of the Sea and Lightening, were built by the famous American shipbuilder, Donald MacKay, Schomberg was built in Aberdeen. The Schomberg story was almost the nineteenth century's Titanic; built at great expense, labelled the most perfect clipper ship ever built and designed to be the most comfortable vessel to sail to Melbourne?and sinking on its maiden voyage in 1855.10 horse harness buckles in various condition and completeness. Some encrusted and corroded.cargo, salvage, ship wrecks, shomberg

Set of four textured silver(plated) goblets made by Don Shiel. From his Stalactite series. Suede lined bases. No markings. Materials: Metal, Suede leather tennis