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Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Negative - Photograph, Harry Gilham, Grave of William Hill and Agnes Somerville Irvine and family, Eltham Cemetery, Victoria, 1 Aug 2007
... and sat in the Commonwealth Parliament (as Liberal Member... and sat in the Commonwealth Parliament (as Liberal Member ...William Hill Irvine was born 6 July, 1858 in Newry, County Down, Ireland. He arrived in Melbourne December 1879 and taught at Geelong College. He was admitted to the Supreme Court in 1884 having qualified from Melbourne University and practiced in Melbourne. In 1891 he married Agnes Somerville Wanliss and they had one son, William Mitchell (1901 Armadale) and two daughters, Beatrice Wanliss (1899 Armadale) and Agnes Somerville Wanliss (1903 Armadale). Sir William Irvine sat in the Victorian Parliament (as Liberal Member for Lowan) from 1894 to 1906 and was Premier of Victoria from 1902 to 1904. He then switched to Federal politics and sat in the Commonwealth Parliament (as Liberal Member for Flinders) from 1906 to 1918. He was considered a potential Prime Minister, but his abrupt manner and hard-line conservatism (particularly his attitude to a railway strike) made him unacceptable even to many Liberals: he was known in Parliament as "Iceberg Irvine". He lived at Richmond, but in 1908 purchased land in Laughing Waters Road at Eltham, where he built the house ‘Killeavey’, initially as a weekend retreat. The site, a peninsula surrounded on three sides by the Yarra River, is of geological importance and has considerable cultural significance to the Wurundjeri. In 1912 Sir William moved to Killeavey and in 1913 purchased more land, extending his property to Reynolds Road. In 1923 he shifted to Toorak, donating Killeavey to his daughter Beatrice as a wedding gift. Sir William was a founding member of the RACV and was Acting Governor of Victoria from 1931 to 1934. He was also a notable public figure involved in several local events including the: 1919 Unveiling of Eltham War Obelisk 1921 Eltham Primary School Extensions 1921 Eltham Primary School Roll of Honour of prior students 1928 Opening of Eltham Higher Elementary School 1926 Unveiling the Shire of Eltham War Memorial in Memorial Park at Kangaroo Ground He died in 1943 and is buried in Eltham Cemetery with his wife Agnes along with son William Mitchell Irvine and his wife, Dora Haswell Sacred to the memory of William Hill Irvine G.C.M.G. Lieutenant Governor And Chief Justice of Victoria Born 6th July 1858 At Newry, Northern Ireland Died 20th August 1943 Also his wife Agnes Somerville Born at Ballarat 16th Nov 1867 Died at Eltham 16th Aug 1954 W. M. W. Irvine 1901-1975 And Dora Haswell Wife of W. M. W. Irvine 1900-1979eltham cemetery, gravestones, memorials, agnes sommerville irvine (nee wanliss), dora haswell irvine, william hill irvine, william mitchell irvine -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Journal, Arnall & Jackson: Printers & Stationers, Victorian Municipal Directory and Gazetteer : Also Commonwealth Guide and the Water Supply Record for 1928
... . - Commonwealth of Australia (Constitution, Parliament, Departments... of the Victorian Municipal Directory and Gazetteer: Also Commonwealth Guide ...The Victorian Municipal Directory provided annual details, and later bi-annual details, of all councils. Published by Arnall & Jackson (Printers and Stationers), copies were published in 'cloth' for sixteen shillings and 'half roan' for eighteen shillings. This copy was owned by Cr C.S.Parry. Elected to the Kew City Council as a representative of North Ward, Cr Parry was elevated to the position of Mayor in 1931. It, together with five other editions, was presented to the Kew Historical Society in 1987 by his grandson.Bound copy of the Victorian Municipal Directory and Gazetteer: Also Commonwealth Guide and the Water Supply Record for 1928. The volume contains 846 pages and includes sections on: - Comparative table – Municipal Returns for Twenty-one Years. - Index to Townships, Parishes and Railway Stations. - Changes and appointments. - Commonwealth of Australia (Constitution, Parliament, Departments and Officers). - State of Victoria (Parliament, Departments and Officers / Boards, Institutions, Trusts and Loans). - Municipalities in Victoria (Cities and Towns, Boroughs, Shires). - Water Supply (State Rivers and Water Supply Commission).non-fictionThe Victorian Municipal Directory provided annual details, and later bi-annual details, of all councils. Published by Arnall & Jackson (Printers and Stationers), copies were published in 'cloth' for sixteen shillings and 'half roan' for eighteen shillings. This copy was owned by Cr C.S.Parry. Elected to the Kew City Council as a representative of North Ward, Cr Parry was elevated to the position of Mayor in 1931. It, together with five other editions, was presented to the Kew Historical Society in 1987 by his grandson. victoria -- registers -- periodicals., victoria -- directories., water-supply -- victoria -- directories., municipal government -- victoria -- periodicals., cities and towns -- victoria -- directories. -
Orbost & District Historical Society
10/- note, June 1954 to February 1966
The 10/- banknote was first issued on 1 May 1913 as a blue banknote payable in gold. It was equal to a half sovereign gold coin. This is an example of Australian pre-decimal currency.A brown rectangular paper Australian ten shilling note. On the obverse side is Matthew Flinders and on the reverseis Parliament House. The signatories are : H. C. Coombs, Governor, Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Roland Wilson, Secretary to the Treasury. The watermark is Captain Cook in left oval and ’HALF’ behind each signature. The serial number is AE 617665 72currency australian-ten-shilling-note -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Certificate - Invitation to the opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, 1900
... Invitation to the opening of the Parliament of the...‘Opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth by His Royal... parliament of australia ‘Opening of the Parliament ...This certificate is an invitation to the opening of the first Parliament of Australia on January 1st 1901 in Melbourne. On this date the six Australian self-governing colonies were federated to become the six states of Australia. The designers of the certificate were Norman Lindsay and John Longstaff. This particular invitation was sent to George Rolfe and his wife and two of his stepdaughters, Annie and Florence. George Rolfe (1836-1919), a tea merchant from Melbourne, began buying blocks of land near the mouth of the Hopkins River in Warrnambool in the 1870s. By the early 1880s Rolfe owned 50 acres in the town, including farming properties and used the buildings near the mouth of the Hopkins as holiday accommodation. He called his property Lyndoch which he improved with the addition of stables, chaff and bone sheds, jetty, boathouse, reservoir, water well and windmill and extensive gardens and he spent most of his later life in this Warrnambool area. Lyndoch today is the site of an aged care facility. This certificate is of considerable importance for two reasons: 1. It is an important memento of a signal event in Australia’s history - the Federation of the States in 1901. 2. The certificate was an invitation to the family of a prominent Warrnambool person – George Rolfe of Lyndoch.This is a piece of thick paper with illustrations and decorations in brown, red, blue, yellow and green tonings. The lettering is in white with coloured capital letters. The images include the shields of the six Australian States, the Coat of Arms of Britain and Australia, outlines of two trees (gum tree and oak tree) and three symbolic female figures representing Justice, Britannia and Australia. The top border decoration represents the waratah flower. The names of the invitees on this certificate have been handwritten in black ink. ‘Opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth by His Royal Highness The Duke of Cornwall and York’ ‘Mr G and Mrs Rolfe and the Misses Rolfe (2)’ george rolfe of lyndoch, federation of australia, history of warrnambool, george rolfe, opening of first parliament of australia -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Certificate, Duke of Cornwall
... ‘In Celebration of the Opening of the Parliament... rolfe ‘In Celebration of the Opening of the Parliament ...This certificate is an invitation to the Evening Reception in Melbourne in 1901, an event which was part of the celebrations in Melbourne to commemorate the Federation of the six colonies into the six States of Australia in January 1901. The certificate was sent to the invitees after the event as a souvenir of the occasion. The certificate was designed by the artists Julian and Howard Ashton and lithographed and issued by Sands and McDougall Limited of Melbourne. This particular certificate was sent to George Rolfe and his wife Annie. George Rolfe (1836-1919), a tea merchant from Melbourne, began buying blocks of land near the mouth of the Hopkins River in the 1870s. By the early 1880s he had acquired 50 acres of land in the town and several nearby farming properties. He used the buildings on the land at the mouth of the River Hopkins as holiday accommodation and called this property Lyndoch. Rolfe improved this property adding stables, jetty, boathouse, bone and chaff sheds, reservoir and windmill and extensive gardens. Rolfe spent most of his later life at Lyndoch. Today the property is the site of an Aged Care Facility. This certificate is of considerable importance for two reasons: 1. It is an attractive and valuable memento of a signal event in Australia’s history – the Federation of the States in 1901. 2. The certificate was an invitation to Mr and Mrs George Rolfe. Rolfe was a prominent person in Warrnambool in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This is a multi-coloured certificate mounted on a piece of grey cardboard. The certificate is highly embossed and has a figure of Britannia in a red dress and a mailed vest holding a shield with the Union Jack emblem. Britannia is extending her hand to a figure of a younger woman representing Australia. This figure is dressed in blue and holds a shield which has a blue cross with white stars. The borders have vines and vine leaves and the Royal Crest is at the base of the certificate. The names of the invitees are handwritten in black ink. ‘In Celebration of the Opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, To Meet Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, His Majesty’s Ministers of State for Australia have the honor to invite Mr & Mrs G. Rolfe to an Evening Reception at the Exhibition Building, Melbourne on the 9th of May 1901, at 8 0’clock’. george rolfe of lyndoch, warrnambool, federation of australia, history of warrnambool, george rolfe -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Document - Invitation to the opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, 2014
... Invitation to the opening of the Parliament of the... Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. It is on an A4... Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. It is on an A4 ...Gideon Nicol (1836-1908) was a seaman who came to Warrnambool in 1858. In 1865 he selected land at Mount Warrnambool. He was one of the founders of the Farnham Cheese and Butter Factory and the Garvoc Cheese and Butter Factory and was a Warrnambool Shire Councillor from 1879 to 1906. He received to invitation to attend the opening of Australia’s first Parliament as the President of the Warrnambool Shire at the time. This scan will be useful to include in the Gideon Nicol file.This is a scan of an invitation to Gideon Nicol and Lady as President of the Shire of Warrnambool for the opening of the first Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. It is on an A4 sheet. Multi-coloured sketches of Britannia etc with invitation detailsfederation, gideon nicol, warrnambool, opening of parliament -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Coin, 50 Cents Centenary of Federation, 2001
This coin was issued to commemorate the centenary of Federation in Australia in 2001. The six Australian States were federated into the Commonwealth of Australia in January 1901 after several years of campaigning and planning. The first Prime Minister was Edmund Barton and the first Federal Parliament was held in Melbourne and continued to be held in Melbourne until the establishment of the Australian capital at Canberra in 1927. In 2001 ceremonies and celebrations were held all over Australia to commemorate the centenary of Federation. This coin is retained for display purposes as a souvenir of the centenary of Federation in AustraliaThis silver-coloured 12-sided coin has an image of Queen Elizabeth 11 and etched printing on one side and a Coat of Arms and printing on the other side. Elizabeth 11 Australia 2001 Centenary of Federation 1901 - 2001 New South Wales Fifty Cents federation in australia, history of warrnambool, coin -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Badge, Federation Badge 2001
This was one of the many badges issued to celebrate the Federation of Australia. The colonies of Australia were federated into the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901 The first parliament was held in Melbourne in May, 1901. In the newly established capital of Australia, Canberra, the federal parliament sat in 1927. This of minor interest as a memento of the centenary of Australian Federation.This is a gold coloured metal stylised map of Australia and a star . The perimeter of the map is raised and links to the star. The reverse has a lapel badge mechanism. It is attached to a piece of white card with text. Federation Badge 2001federation of australia -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Medals, Opening of First Australian Parliament 1901, 1901
These medals were issued to commemorate the opening of the first Parliament in Australia in Melbourne in May 1901. The Federation of the Australian States and Territories took place in January 1901. The Federal Parliament met in Melbourne until Canberra was established and a new Parliament House was opened in 1927. The fist Parliament in Australia was opened by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York. These medals have no known local provenance and are retained for display purposes..1 This is a shield-shaped metal medal with a crown on the top. Obverse: Images of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York and printing. Reverse: Images of Queen Victoria and Edward V11 and printing. .2 as above Opening of the First Federal Parliament T.R.H The Duke & Duchess of Cornwall and York Melbourne, May 1901 Aust. Commonwealth Est. 1 Jan. 1901 First Parliament opened May 1901 63rd of Victoria R.I. 1st of Edward V11 W.A. Tas. N.S.W. Vic. S.A. Qld. -
Bendigo Military Museum
Album - ALBUM, LETTERS WW2, C.WW2
... Base Sub Area. .15) Letter. Letterhead is of Parliament.... Letterhead is of Parliament of the Commonwealth Federal Members Rooms ...Herbert Trangmar Allan, refer Cat No 2755.4 for his extensive service records and awards.Pink, hard cover photo album used as a holder to display letters. .1) Letter from C in C Gen HQ Melbourne, 17.4.1942. From Gen BLAMEY to Major H T ALLAN 2/17 AIF. .2) MID Certificate dated 30.12.1941. Major H T ALLAN M C. .3) Letter dated 24.12.1944 from HQ 1Aust Corps to 'Blue' from 'Morshead'. .4) Letter dated 18.4.1946 from OIC NSW Echelon & Records to Mrs G M ALLAN, Bellevue, NSW, notifying her of Award of Mention in Despatches. It refers to NX12229 Lt Col Herbert Trangmar ALLAN HQ 5 Base Sub Area. .5) Letter dated 14.4.1945 from OIC NSW Echelon & Records to Mrs G M ALLAN notifying her of Award of Mention in Despatches. It refers to NX12229 Major T/Col Herbert Trangmar ALLAN, Finschhafen Base Sub Area. .6) Newspaper cutting titled Many NSW Men Receive Bravery Awards. Up to 31.3.1944. Marked down near bottom of the cutting is MID for T/LT Colonel H T ALLAN OBE MC ED. .7) Memo dated 11.1944 from 5 Aust Base Sub Area. Cover note for Record of Service for NX12229 Lt/Col H T ALLAN 5 Aust Base Sub Area. .8) Letter dated 2.8.1942 from NSW L of C Area Sydney to Mrs G M ALLAN Bellevue, NSW, notifying her of MID for Maj H T ALLAN MC NX12229 for his services 2.1941 - 7.1941. Signed by Lt Col H J Bennett. .9) Letter dated 14.4.1945 from OIC NSW Echelon & Records, Sydney to NX12229 Lt Col H T ALLAN HQ 5 Aust Base Sub Area. Aust Honours & Awards. MID. .10) Letter 7.12.1950 from HQ Eastern Command Vic Barracks Paddington to Col H T ALLAN OBE MC ED R of O. Watsons Bay re Change of address to 2MD. .11) Memo dated 28.12.1944 from HQ 1st Army AIF to 5 Aust Base Sub Area re Confirmation of Promotion of NX12229 Major H T ALLAN to Lt Colonel. .12) MID Certificate dated 15.3.1945 for Maj CT / LT Col H T ALLAN OBE MC ED Finschhafen Base Sub Area. .13) MID Certificate dated 19.7.1945 for Major CT / LT Col H T ALLAN OBE MC ED, Finschhafen Base Sub Area. .14) MID Certificate dated 21.2.1946 for LT Col H T ALLAN OBE MC ED, HQ 5 Aust Base Sub Area. .15) Letter. Letterhead is of Parliament of the Commonwealth Federal Members Rooms, Sydney, dated 1.12.1941. To: Dear Mr Allan. From: W M Hughes. Handwritten on 3 sheets of paper using 4 sides. Subject matters such as fighting, AIF, loss of HMAS Sydney, the Russian front. .16) Letter & envelope. Letter: Dated 18.4.? Letterhead: Guards Club Brook St W1. To: Dear ALLAN From: BIRDWOOD of ANZAC. Subject: Their friendship - then they have to deal with 'loathsome Japs & Germans'. Envelope. OHMS, 2-1/2 penny stamp. To: Major H T ALLAN MC & OBE AMF. C/o Defence Dept Melb, Australia. On the bottom is signature of BIRDWOOD M. Readdressed to C/o 9th Div HQ Abroad. Envelope rear is franked: PO 3D JE 42. .17) Memo dated 18.6.1946. From: HQ 8MB. To: H/Col H T ALLAN ANG PcB Rabaul. Releaes of NX12229 Lt Col (T/Col) H T ALLAN OBE MC. Posted to Retired list 7.5.1946. .18) Memo dated 6.11.1946. From: OIC, 2nn Echelon AHQ. AMF. To: Lt Col H T ALLAN OBE MC ED. C/- Mrs G M ALLAN, Queens Club, King St. Sydney NSW. .19) Letter dated 8.8.1941. Letterhead of Minister for the Navy. To: Dear Major ALLAN. From: W HUGHES. Subject: All facets of WWII to date & prospective war with Japan. .20) Memo dated 31.8.1945. From: AMF OIC NSW Echelon & Records. To: Mrs E M ALLAN, King St Sydney. Re: MID for NX12229 Maj (T / LT Col) Herbert Trangmar ALLAN OBE MC ED Finschhafen Base Sub Area.letters, albums, certificates, awards -
Federation University Historical Collection
Document - Document - Correspondence, VIOSH: Letters from the Commonwealth Tertiary Education Commission and Office of Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, 1987
Victorian Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (VIOSH) Australia is the Asia-Pacific centre for teaching and research in occupational health and safety (OHS) and is known as one of Australia's leaders on the field. VIOSH has a global reputation for its innovative approach within the field of OHS management. VIOSH had its first intake of students in 1979. At that time the Institution was known as the Ballarat College of Advanced Education. In 1990 it became known as Ballarat University College, then in 1994 as University of Ballarat. It was 2014 that it became Federation University. VIOSH Australia students are safety managers, senior advisors and experienced OHS professionals. They come from all over Australia and industry. Students are taught active research and enquiry; rather than textbook learning and a one-size fits all approach. VIOSH accepts people into the Graduate Diploma of Occupational Hazard Management who have no undergraduate degree - on the basis of extensive work experience and knowledge. Letter to Jack Barker re Special Research Centres Program from the Commonwealth Tertiary Education Commission, ACT. Selection committee and guidelines being established for the selection of Centres. Details will be forwarded when completed. Letter to Derek Woolley from the Office of Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT. Letter thanks him for the invitation to address the students at the Annual Dinner of the Graduate Diploma Course in Occupational Hazard Management, July 1987.Five A4 sheets-typedLetterhead for Commonwealth Tertiary Education Commission. Signature of Hugh Hudson; Chairman. Letterhead of Office of Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Parliament House ACT. Signature of Mary McFadden, Personal Secretaryviosh, victorian institute of occupational safety and health, derek woolley, dennis else, commonwealth tertiary education commission, e j barker, special research centres program, hugh hudson, chairman, office of minister for employment and industrial relation, parliament house canberra, mary mcfadden -
Conservation Volunteers
Photograph: Prime Minister John Howard visits ATCV head office in Ballarat in 1997 after ATCV wins Green Corps contract, Prime Minister John Howard visits ATCV head office in Ballarat in 1997 after ATCV wins Green Corps contract, 1997
Colin Jackson, Phil Harrison and Garry Snowden were in Parliament House, Canberra, on the evening of 20 August 1996, to hear the Budget Speech by the new Federal Treasurer, Peter Costello MP, who announced: “…the Government will provide $42 million over the next three years to establish the Green Corps. The Green Corps will be open to young Australians aged 17 to 20 to demonstrate their commitment to the environment by working on projects to preserve and restore Australia's natural environment and cultural heritage. The projects will also contribute to their career and employment prospects through training, skills development, work experience and personal development.” Soon after, the Commonwealth advertised a tender for a manger for the new program. Phil Harrison orchestrated a flurry of faxes between Brisbane and Ballarat, as Colin Jackson, Madeline Townsend, Garry Snowden and John Fenton fine-tuned the document. National reach and credible record won ATCV the job to administer and manage Green Corps for the whole of Australia for five years (1997-2002) was won in November and the contract was signed on the eve of Christmas, 1996. At the national launch of Green Corps – Youth for the Environment held in sweltering Adelaide on 12 January 1997, Colin Jackson assure the responsible Minister, Senator Amanda Vanstone, that thirty six projects were already in place and that recruiting was going well. Those who were there recall with awe the remarkable celebration that was the National Green Corps Conference on 21-24 February 1998 in Canberra. One hundred and one participants representing 71 past and current teams from around Australia, Treasurer Peter Costello, three other Commonwealth Ministers, and several “captains of industry” were on hand. Board member Sue Campbell remembers feeling “deeply moved” when Travis Schicchitano explained to the audience how much joining Green Corps had meant to him. Travis said: “Green Corps was an amazing hands-on practical experience, which has enabled me to learn and to fulfil my passion, the Australian environment.” Black and white group portrait photograph.“It’s not every day that you get the Prime Minister walking in off the street, and one of my favourite moments was in 1997 when the Hon. John Howard made his visit to Head Office in Ballarat” – Colin Jackson atcv cva green corps young australians for the environment commonwealth government prime minister john howard tony abbott mp michael ronaldson mhr senator amanda vanstone -
Wycheproof & District Historical Society Inc.
Three medals
Souvenir medals - British Royalty and First Federal Australian Parliament. Earliest date: 1837 - 1901.Medals of Commonwealth and National significance.3 bronze medals with red/white/blue rlbbons. Presented to Wycheproof S.S. by Maurice Boyce 1877 -1978. 1. Coronation of King George v & Queen Mary, June 22nd, 1911. 2. Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee1837-1897. 3. Opening of the First Federal Parliament by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall &York, May 1901. queen victoria, duke & duchess, federal parliament -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Postcard - People, Bill Ferrier - rescuer, 11th November, 1905
... parliament of the commonwealth... from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth... from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth ...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 -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Joint Commemorative Meeting of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Centenary Commemoration Ceremony, nation united - 9 May 2001 : a joint commemorative meeting of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Centenary Commemoration Ceremony, 2001
... of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia and the...Joint Commemorative Meeting of the Parliament of the...-island-and-the-bass-coast Australia Parliament centennial ...australia parliament, centennial celebrations, centenary of federation, australia -
Greensborough Historical Society
Booklet, John Carter, Parliamentary Government in Australia: a student's guide to the Commonwealth Government, 1995
A student's guide to the Parliament of Australia with clear explanation of how the House of Representatives and the Senate work.35 p., illus.Some highlighting of text. australia politics and government, parliament of australia -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Medal - Medal - opening of the first federal parliament, 1901, \, 1901
Medal issued to commemorate the opening of the First Federal Parliament of Australia on 9 May 1901. The silver medal was minted by Stokes & Sons and presented to MLA Thomas Bent. Knighted in 1907, Bent served as Premier and Treasurer of Victoria from 1904-1909.At top of red ribbon Australian Arms over blue enamelled ribbon AUSTRALIA, below busts of Victoria and Edward VII in ovals; above, AUST. COMMONWEALTH / EST.1.JA.1901 / 63D. OF VICTORIA, R.I; below, FIRST PARLIAMENT OPENED / MAY 1901 / 1ST OF EDWARD VII / W.A. TAS. N.S.W. VIC. S.A. Q'LD. Reverse: Busts of the Duke and Duchess in ovals; above, OPENING OF THE FIRST / FEDERAL PARLIAMENT; below, T.R.H. / THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CORNWALL / AND YORK / MELBOURNE, MAY 1901Front: Inverse: Opening of the first/Federal Parliament/T.R.H./The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall/-and York-/Melbourne, May 1901. Back: Obverse: Aust. Commonwealth/Est. 1 Jan. 1901/63 D. of Victoria. R.I./First Parliament opened/May 1901/1st of Edward VII/ W.A. TAS. N.S.W. VIC. SA. QLDcelebration, numismatics, medal, federal parliament, 1901 -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Souvenir - Souvenir - Stamp Set Foundation of the Commonwealth 1901, c. 1934
Set of 4 stamps Foundation of the Commonwealth 1901-19151. Blue, oblong 5½D, HRH Duke of York opening 1st Federal Parliament, Victoria; brown, oblong 1 shilling & six D, Federal Parliament House, Canberra; 2x red, oblong joined, Barton on one, Parkes the other, both 3D -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, John Andrew La Nauze, Alfred Deakin, 2009
Biography of Alfred Deakin.Hardcover in sleeve. Fawn coloured dust cover with Black and white photograph. Title in gold lettering . Author’s name in black text. Hard cover is navy blue. Inside front and back covers are printed with black and white and some sepia photographs. Text of the book is 660 pages followed with appendixes and index. 732 pages in total. non-fictionBiography of Alfred Deakin.warrnambool, alfred deakin, deakin university, j a la nauze 1974, prime minister deakin -
Orbost & District Historical Society
book, McCarron, Bird & Co, Addresses to H.R.H Duke of Cornwall and York, 1901
This book was published by the Municipal Association of Victoria to commemorate the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The addresses were made on the occasion of the Duke & Duchess of Cornwall & York's visit to Melbourne in May 1901. They were in the city for the opening of Federal Parliament which took place at the Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens on 9 May 1901. .This item is associated with the history of the Federation of Australia and is a useful research tool.Hard-covered book, red cloth, with gold impressed lettering, containing 118 pages of illustrated copies of addresses to HRH Duke of Cornwall & York and His Excellency, Earl Hopetoun, the Governor General from the Shires of Victoria (includes Orbost). The addresses are surrounded by elaborate borders containing native flowers, particularly wattle. There are alsos cenes of rural Victoria. Incised on front cover - Addresses to H.R.H. Duke of Cornwall & York and his Excellency the Gov. General, the Earl of Hopetoun from the Municipalities of Victoria.federation duke-of-cornwall speeches-addresses -
Orbost & District Historical Society
Invitation, 1901
... / the Opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth./ Edmund Barton.../ the Opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth./ Edmund Barton ...Henry James (1860-1932) was an agent and auctioneer. Record secretary of the Snowy River Shipping company. Shire councillor. Foundation member of Butter Factory.Henry James was a prominent Orbost identity who was very much involved in the local community.Invitation to James, H. (Mr) to the opening of Federal Parliament by the Prime Minister Edmund Bartonon 9 May 1901. Framed in wood, white paper with print of the young queen on a horse holding court. Colour invitations shows a young woman with armour and sword dismounting from a white horse in front of an older woman who has a crown in front of her. Several other women look on. The room is hung with heraldic bunting and shields, including one of the Union Jack and one showing the Southern Cross. The older woman is dressed as Britannia, and her shield and trident are at rest beside her.Printed: His Majesty's Ministers of State for the Commonwealth of Australia/ request the honour of the presence of... / in the Exhibition Building, Melbourne, on Thursday, 9th May, to witness/ the Opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth./ Edmund Barton/ Prime Minister invitation 1901 parliament james-harry federation snowy-river-shipping-company -
Orbost & District Historical Society
medal, 1901
... to commemorate the opening of the first Parliament of Australia, held ...This is a commemorative medal issued to school teachers to commemorate the opening of the first Parliament of Australia, held in Victoria in 1901.this item was created to commemorate an historic event, the opening of the Australian federal Parliament, in May 1901.A shield shaped bronze medal. On one side are busts of the Duke and duchess of Cornwall and York. The other side depicts HM Queen Victoria and King Edward V11. There is a small length of red, white and blue ribbon threaded through the metal loop at the top.obverse : "AUST COMMONWEALTH / EST.1 JAN 1901 /63RD OF VICTORIA, R.I. below , FIRST PARLIAMENT OPENED /MAY 1901 / 1ST OF EDWARD V11; below, WA TAS NSW VIC QLD" reverse: "OPENING OF THE FIRST / FEDERAL PARLIAMENT below , T.R.H. / THE DUKE & DUCHESS OF CORNWALL / AND YORK / MELBOURNE MAY 1901medal australian-federation federal-parliament-australia -
Federation University Historical Collection
Photograph - Photograph - Sepia, Ballarat School of Mines Cadets, 1916, c1916
Field Marshal Viscount Kitchener of Great Britain was invited by Prime Minister Deakin in 1909 to visit Australia and advise on the best way to provide Australia with a land defence. Kitchener’s report echoed the bill, introduced to Parliament in 1909 and supported by the Opposition Labor Party at its 1908 conference, to introduce compulsory military training in peace time (referred to as universal training). On 1 January 1911, the Commonwealth Defence Act 1911 (Cth) was passed as law and all males aged 12 to 26 were required to receive military training. Men were divided according to age, with junior cadets comprising boys 12-14 years of age, senior cadets comprising boys 14-18, and young men aged 18-26 assigned to the home militia defence. The support of schools was vital to the success of the scheme, since the system of cadet training began in the primary schools, with physical training prescribed by military authorities. Junior cadet training was entirely in the hands of school teachers, who had first been trained by military officers. This early training was less military in nature than focused on physical drill and sport. It also acted to inculcate boys with the notions of loyalty to country and empire. At this age, uniforms were not worn, although there were schools with pre-existing uniformed cadet units, who continued to do so. Senior Cadets were organised by Training Areas, administered by Area Officers. If a school had at least 60 senior cadets, they could form their own units. Unlike their junior counterparts, Senior Cadets were issued uniforms, a rifle, and learned the foundations necessary for service in any arm of the defence forces. Boys and men could be exempted from compulsory training if they lived more than five miles from the nearest training site, or were passed medically unfit. Those who failed to register for training were punished with fines or jail sentences, and the severity of this punishment generated some of the strongest opposition to the scheme. While institutions such as the political parties and most churches generally supported universal training, some in the broader labour movement were less enthusiastic, as evidenced in the Daily Herald newspaper’s editorials and letters. Universal military training persisted after the conclusion of World War 1, with the Junior Cadet scheme the first to go, in 1922. Senior cadets and service with the militia was suspended in November 1929. (http://guides.slsa.sa.gov.au/content.php?pid=575383&sid=4788359, accessed 29/10/2015) According to Neil Leckie, Manager of the Ballarat Ranger Military Museum: * Originally 12 – 14 year olds went to Junior Cadets attached to their school. * From age 14 – 17 they were Senior Cadets attached to the local militia unit. * After 1 July of the year a Cadet turned 18, the Cadet left the Senior Cadets and became a member of the Citizen Military Force. * In October 1918 the AIF, Militia and Cadets were renamed to give some connection to the AIF battalion raised in the area. Ballarat saw: 8th Australian Infantry Regiment comprising: * 8th Battalion AIF renamed 1st Battalion 8th Australian Infantry Regiment * 70th Infantry Militia renamed 2nd Battalion 8th Australian Infantry Regiment * 70th Infantry Cadets renamed 3rd B, 8th Australian Infantry. 39th Australian Infantry Regiment comprising: * 39th Battalion AIF renamed 1st Battalion 39th Australian Regiment * 71st Infantry Militia renamed 2nd Bn, 39th Australian Infantry Regiment * 71st Infantry Cadets renamed 3rd Bn, 39th Australian Infantry Regiment Prior to the reorganisation in 1918 the 18th Brigade was the 70th, 71st and 73rd Infantry. It is thought that the 18th Brigade Cadet units in 1920 were those that came from the old: * 69th Infantry (Geelong/Queenscliff) * 70th Infantry (Ballarat/Colac) * 71st Infantry (Ballarat West) * 72nd Infantry Warrnambool) * 73rd Infantry (NW Vic) The next name change came in 1921!Mounted sepia photograph of 21 young males. They are the Ballarat School of Mines Cadets on a training camp at Lake Learmonth. Back row left to right: Harold Wakeling; ? ; T. Wasley; H. Witter; H.V. Maddison (staff); Lieutenant S.J. Proctor, Joe ? ; ? ; B.C. Burrows. Centre left to right: Howard Beanland; ? ; F.N. Gibbs; H. Siemering; P. Riley; ? : E. Adamthwaite. Front row left to right: Albert E. Williams; Francis Davis (RAAF Dec.); A. Miller; W. Shattock; T. Rees From the Ballarat School of Mines Magazine, 1916 "Our Competition Team, 1916 At a parade, held on the 25th August competition teams were called from from the three colleges - Ballarat College, St Patrick's College, and the School of Mines. In each case, a large muster was obtained, twenty-nine volunteering fro the School of Mines. On account of the number in a team being limited to 21, some had to be weeded out. The team decided to have a camp at Learmonth in the vacation for the benefit of training for the coming competitions. The tents, within our baggage, were brought to the Junior Technical School at 10 a.m. on Monday, 11 September. Everything was carted to the station on a lorry, which was very kindly lent by Mr C. Burrow. ... Arriving at our camp, which was in the Park, we first raised the tents. This was done in record time. Three large tents, A.B.C., were pitched one behind the other. We also pitched a smaller one to act as a provisions tent. The provisions supplied by each cadet were placed in this tent. Dinner was ready by 3.30, and was prepared by the three senior non-coms., who also acted as orderlies. Things went alright Monday night, the two senior non-coms. acting as sentries for the first two hours. On Tuesday morning Reville sounded at 7. There was no need for it, however, as nearly all the cadets were up before daylight, owing to their beds being too hard. After physical exercises were gone through we had breakfast. We then had rifle exercises until Messrs A.W. Steane and F.N. King arrived. The former put the team through the table of physical exercises set down for competition work, many valuable points being obtained. The visitors remained for dinner, afterwards returning to Ballarat. Wednesday was uneventful, until the soldiers arrived at about 11 a.m., stopping at the park for lunch. As we handed over the coppers, etc., to them, our lunch was delayed. Two more visitors arrived after lunch, and after taking a few photos returned home. That night we had a "Sing-a-long" in C Tent until "Lights out" sounded at 9.30. After physical exercises ad breakfast on Thursday, we went for a six mile route march round the lake, doing skirmishing on the way. In the afternoon we practised rifle exercises and the march past. A concert was arranged for that night, the chief singers being cadets H. Siemering and W. Shattock. Supper was served at the end of the entertainment. On Friday, Reveille sounded at 6.30 instead of 7, and, as usual, we had physical exercises before breakfast, after which the team went through skirmishing at the reserve. In the afternoon, section drill and the march past were practised. Friday night, being our last night in camp, leave was granted until 10 p.m., "lights out" sounding at 11. Reveille sounded on Saturday at 4.30, the reason being that all kits, tents, etc., had to be packed away ready to catch the 8.15 train to Balalrat. At 7.30 we were all ready to leave for the station. We had a very enjoyable time in the train, each cadet having a chip in at the patriotic songs. On arriving at Ballarat, we found the lorry awaiting us. The luggage was carted to the Junior Technical School, the team following. The team were here dismissed, everyone feeling that he had had a very good time. F.G. Davis"Written in ink on front 'cadet camp at Lake Learmonth about 1916. Training for South Street Competitions. ballarat school of mines, cadets, ballarat school of mines cadets, lake learmonth, world war one, boomerang, camp, cadet camp, h.g. wakeling, harold wakeling, f.g. davis, albert w. steane, f.n. king, h. siermering, w. shattock, francis davis, harold wakeling, t. wasley, h. witter, h.v. maddison, s.j. proctor, b.c. burrows, howard beanland, f.n. gibbs, h. siemering, p. riley, e. adamthwaite, albert e. williams; francis davis, a. miller, w. shattock, t. rees, photography, foto, boxing gloves -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Painting - Maritime painting, The La Bella, 1980s
... the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams... the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams ...This painting of the “La Bella” is associated with Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from the wreck of the “La Bella”. It was painted around the 1980s by maritime artist Philip J. Gray. Some 15 – 17 ships are believed to have sunk in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the seafloor; the “La Bella” and the “Edinburgh Castle”. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. The Kosnar Picture Framing and Mirrors Shop identified the "GRAY 3135, Y04/111" as their job number for the framing and said that the label "ANOTHER KOSNAR FEATURE" was last used before about 1990. About artist Philip J. Gray “Philip is one of Australia’s leading maritime artists and his meticulous research and social commentary paintings of ships, such as, the Loch Ard and Schomberg form an important part of Warrnambool’s Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum.” [Dr Marion Manifold, Artist and Art Historian, 2014] Philip James Gray was born in London but has lived most of his life in Australia. He graduated from a London school of art as an illustrator, specialising in technical and scientific illustration as well as other commercial and applied art. He was also a student for a time of Fyffe Christie - British figurative artist, mural painter and humanitarian – who had a great influence on his career. Philip has always worked as a professional artist and illustrator. Many publications on maritime history have featured his work. His paintings have been released and sold all over the world as limited edition prints. The State Library of Victoria’s ‘Latrobe Collection’ holds two of his paintings. His street painting of ‘The Ashes Contest’ decorates the brick wall of Old Bakery Laneway in Sunbury and a Sunbury café owner commissioned him to paint the ‘Sunbury Pop Festival’ as a remembrance of local history. Philip has been an active member of the Sunbury Art Society in Victoria for several years, serving on the committee for some of that time and being involved in exhibitions. He enjoys helping new artists and sharing his skills and experience. About the “La Bella” The wreck of the La Bella lies at the bottom of the Warrnambool Harbour in Lady Bay. Some 15 ships are believed to have been wrecked there but only two have been discovered on the sea floor; the La Bella and the Edinburgh Castle. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. The story of the final voyage of the La Bella is summarised as follows … The ship from which the sailors were rescued was the three-masted, iron and steel barquentine the La Bella, built in Norway in 1893. She was one of two iron and steel ships by Johan Smith, the company being one of the leading shipping families in Tvedestrand, Norway. She was significant to Norwegian shipping, being one of only 27 iron and steel ships ever built in Norway. La Bella was registered in New Zealand and engaged from 1902 in inter-colonial trading of timber in the pacific, between New Zealand and Australia and was often in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. On 5th October 1905 the twelve year old La Bella left Lyttleton, New Zealand carrying a cargo of timber bound for Warrnambool, Australia . She was manned by a crew of twelve: the Master, (Captain Mylius, previously 1st Mate of La Bella, appointed Captain to La Bella on 6th February 1903) 2 Mates, Cook, six able seamen, one ordinary seaman and a boy. Bad weather en-route caused her to shelter at Burnie on Tasmania's North West coast. On November 10th, the 37th day of her journey, La Bella approached Warrnambool. Captain Mylius steered her towards Lady Bay Channel in heavy south-west seas and evening mist. He ordered the helmsman to steer for the light. As the ship came round, a tremendous sea struck her on the port quarter, causing her to breach broadside in a north-westerly direction into breakers. The helm was brought round twice more, but each time heavy seas broke over her, the third time throwing the La Bella on to a submerged reef in Lady Bay now known as La Bella Reef (about 100 yards from the Warrnambool breakwater). The sea was so rough that it even wrenched a one-and-a-half ton anchor from its fastenings and into the sea. As Captain Mylius headed to the steel wheelhouse, intending to send up a rocket flare, a huge sea slammed the steel door into him (resulting in massive bruising front and back) Despite his injuries he still managed to set off a blue light, which he held up in his hands. La Bella’s lifeboats were filled with sea water and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on shore that there was a ship in distress. The Harbour Master, Captain Roe (who lived in the Harbour Master’s House opposite Flagstaff Hill), organised a group of volunteers to crew the lifeboat because the trained crew was unavailable; the crewmen were working on a steamer in Port Fairy at the time. He then poured oil onto the water to try and smooth the sea. At around 11pm three of the crew took shelter in the steel forecastle but the sea crashed into it and broke it up. While the rest of the crew and onlookers watched helplessly in the moonlight the bodies were washed away into the sea, never to be seen again. Some of the crew lashed themselves to the weather rail to keep from being washed away. Watson, the ordinary seaman, became tangled in the rigging lines and was too weak to move, so the 2nd Mate, Robertson, put a line onto him so that he wouldn’t wash off. Around 11pm three of the crew were unconscious from exhaustion. The situation on La Bella was becoming dangerous. The 2nd Mate moved to the ‘house’ and soon afterwards the ship slipped in the heavy sea. The lashings of the 1st Mate and the ‘boy’ Denham had kept them safe until about 2am when they were washed overboard; no one was able to help. One by one, the exhausted crew were being washed overboard, too weak to hold on any longer. During the night the La Bella had broken into two and the deckhouse ran out towards the sea. Two more men drowned when trying to reach the lifeboat. By sunrise the only survivors of the twelve were the Master, 2nd Mate and three seamen. Early in the morning Captain Roe used the rocket apparatus on shore to try and shoot a line to the ship for a safer rescue but each attempt fell short of the target. Several attempts were made by the lifeboat to rescue the stricken sailors, but the rough conditions made this difficult for the boat to get close enough to the ship and the lifeboat had to return to shore. During a final attempt to reach the ship Captain Mylius ordered his men to jump into the sea. Leonard Robertson, 2nd mate, jumped and swam towards the lifeboat, taking hold of the boat hook offered to him. Oscar Rosenholme managed to reach the boat floating on a piece of timber from the ship’s load and a third survivor, Noake, also made the boat. Along with the lifeboat rescue crew, 25 year old William Ferrier rowed his small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain, whom he landed on the breakwater. Ferrier then returned to the ship to attempt a final rescue, losing his oars and rowlocks into the high sea. Using just a spare paddle he skulled towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the lashing that held him to the ship; the terrified sailor dropped from the ship and into the dingy. Shortly after the last man was rescued, the La Bella was lifted by a huge wave and crashed back down on the reef; she broke up and sank. The ordeal had lasted ten hours. The survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. In the following days an unidentified body of a young person was washed ashore; it was either Watson or Denham. The body was buried in the Warrnambool cemetery with an appropriate gravestone and inscription. William Ferrier became a national hero as news of the daring rescue spread. In recognition of his bravery in the two daring rescues he was awarded the Silver Medal for Bravery by the Royal Humane Society and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams and a cheque for £20 from the Governor General, over £150 subscribed by the public, including Warrnambool and district and readers of The Argus, and a gold medal from the Glenelg Dinghy Club of South Australia. Ferrier’s rescue efforts are one of the most heroic in Victoria’s shipwreck history. (William Ferrier’s son, Frank, received a similar award almost fifty years later, when he helped rescue four members of the crew on the yacht Merlan, after it ran on to a reef near the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. ) The wreck of La Bella now lies on her port side in 13 metres of sheltered water inside the reef she struck. The bow section is relatively intact and part of the stern has drifted north-easterly towards the mouth of the Hopkins River. The reef the La Bella struck now bears its name. Those five rescued from the La Bella were Captain George Mylius, Leonard Robertson (2nd Mate, 21 years old), R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. Those seven who lost their lives were Mr Coulson (1st mate), Charles Jackman (cook) Gustave Johnson, Pierre Johann and Robert Gent (all able seamen), Harry Watson (ordinary seaman) and Jack Denham (ship’s boy). Captain Mylius was found guilty of careless navigation; he had sailed into the bay without the services of a pilot. His Master Certificate was suspended for twelve months. Later he was also charged with manslaughter of one of the crew who had died when the La Bella was wrecked, but found not guilty. The event’s adverse publicity and damage to his career took a toll on his health and he died of a heart attack six months after the wreck; he was only thirty-seven. His body was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. The La Bella was “the best documented of all sailing ships owned in New Zealand”. Her record books, ship logs, correspondence and supporting papers are still available. At the time of the tragedy she was owned by Messers David C.Turnbull and Co. of Timaru, New Zealand timber merchants and shipping agents, who had purchased her on 13th December 1901. A detailed account of the last journey of La Bella can be read in “Leonard Robertson, the Whangaroa & La Bella” written by Jack Churchouse, published in 1982 by Millwood Press Ltd, Wellington, NZ.This painting of the La Bella by Philip J. Gray is part of the La Bella Collection and is significant at both a local and state level. Its connection to the La Bella shipwreck and the rescue of five survivors highlights the dangers of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast. The painting connects with other objects and artefacts associated with the wreck of the La Bella. This painting is significant because of its association with the sailing ship “La Bella” . the “La Bella” is of local and state and national significance. It is one of the only two shipwrecks discovered in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, out of the 15-17 shipwrecks in the bay. Large framed painting of the three masted barquentine "La Bella" fully rigged. Painted by Phillip J Gray. A fine printed line squares off the painting. Beneath painting and line is a gold plate with black copper plate designating "La Bella" is encased in glass, surrounded by a silver-metal frame. Yellow and brown paper label is adhered to back of painting. Picture framed by Kosnar in Melbourne."The La Bella" on gold plaque Logo of "K" inside a brown square. "GRAY 3135, Y04/111", "ANOTHER KOSNAR FEATURE" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, painting, la bella, artist phillip j gray, maritime painting, lady bay warrnambool -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Functional object - Rail holder, About 1893, when the ship was made
... the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams... the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams ...This brass rail holder fixture would have been used to hold the end of a rail in place. There is no information as to where the fitting or rail would have been placed on the ship; sailing ships had many brass fittings. It was recovered from the wreck of the La Bella, which lies at the bottom of the Warrnambool Harbour. Some 15 ships are believed to have been wrecked in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the sea floor; the La Bella and the Edinburgh Castle. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. The story of the final voyage of the La Bella is summarised as follows … The ship from which the sailors were rescued was the three-masted, iron and steel barquentine the La Bella, built in Norway in 1893. She was one of two iron and steel ships by Johan Smith, the company being one of the leading shipping families in Tvedestrand, Norway. She was significant to Norwegian shipping, being one of only 27 iron and steel ships ever built in Norway. 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 north-westerly direction into breakers. The helm was brought round twice more, but each time heavy seas broke over her, the third time throwing the La Bella on to a submerged reef in Lady Bay now known as La Bella Reef (about 100 yards from the Warrnambool breakwater). The sea was so rough that it even wrenched a one-and-a-half ton anchor from its fastenings and into the sea. As Captain Mylius headed to the steel wheelhouse, intending to send up a rocket flare, a huge sea slammed the steel door into him (resulting in massive bruising front and back) Despite his injuries he still managed to set off a blue light, which he held up in his hands. La Bella’s lifeboats were filled with sea water and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on shore that there was a ship in distress. The Harbour Master, Captain Roe (who lived in the Harbour Master’s House opposite Flagstaff Hill), organised a group of volunteers to crew the lifeboat because the trained crew was unavailable; the crewmen were working on a steamer in Port Fairy at the time. He then poured oil onto the water to try and smooth the sea. At around 11pm three of the crew took shelter in the steel forecastle but the sea crashed into it and broke it up. While the rest of the crew and onlookers watched helplessly in the moonlight the bodies were washed away into the sea, never to be seen again. Some of the crew lashed themselves to the weather rail to keep from being washed away. Watson, the ordinary seaman, became tangled in the rigging lines and was too weak to move, so the 2nd Mate, Robertson, put a line onto him so that he wouldn’t wash off. Around 11pm three of the crew were unconscious from exhaustion. The situation on La Bella was becoming dangerous. The 2nd Mate moved to the ‘house’ and soon afterwards the ship slipped in the heavy sea. The lashings of the 1st Mate and the ‘boy’ Denham had kept them safe until about 2am when they were washed overboard; no one was able to help. One by one, the exhausted crew were being washed overboard, too weak to hold on any longer. During the night the La Bella had broken into two and the deckhouse ran out towards the sea. Two more men drowned when trying to reach the lifeboat. By sunrise the only survivors of the twelve were the Master, 2nd Mate and three seamen. Early in the morning Captain Roe used the rocket apparatus on shore to try and shoot a line to the ship for a safer rescue but each attempt fell short of the target. Several attempts were made by the lifeboat to rescue the stricken sailors, but the rough conditions made this difficult for the boat to get close enough to the ship and the lifeboat had to return to shore. During a final attempt to reach the ship Captain Mylius ordered his men to jump into the sea. Leonard Robertson, 2nd mate, jumped and swam towards the lifeboat, taking hold of the boat hook offered to him. Oscar Rosenholme managed to reach the boat floating on a piece of timber from the ship’s load and a third survivor, Noake, also made the boat. Along with the lifeboat rescue crew, 25 year old William Ferrier rowed his small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain, whom he landed on the breakwater. Ferrier then returned to the ship to attempt a final rescue, losing his oars and rowlocks into the high sea. Using just a spare paddle he skulled towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the lashing that held him to the ship; the terrified sailor dropped from the ship and into the dingy. Shortly after the last man was rescued, the La Bella was lifted by a huge wave and crashed back down on the reef; she broke up and sank. The ordeal had lasted ten hours. The survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. In the following days an unidentified body of a young person was washed ashore; it was either Watson or Denham. The body was buried in the Warrnambool cemetery with an appropriate gravestone and inscription. William Ferrier became a national hero as news of the daring rescue spread. In recognition of his bravery in the two daring rescues he was awarded the Silver Medal for Bravery by the Royal Humane Society and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams and a cheque for £20 from the Governor General, over £150 subscribed by the public, including Warrnambool and district and readers of The Argus, and a gold medal from the Glenelg Dinghy Club of South Australia. Ferrier’s rescue efforts are one of the most heroic in Victoria’s shipwreck history. (William Ferrier’s son, Frank, received a similar award almost fifty years later, when he helped rescue four members of the crew on the yacht Merlan, after it ran on to a reef near the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. ) The wreck of La Bella now lies on her port side in 13 metres of sheltered water inside the reef she struck. The bow section is relatively intact and part of the stern has drifted north-easterly towards the mouth of the Hopkins River. The reef the La Bella struck now bears its name. Those five rescued from the La Bella were Captain George Mylius, Leonard Robertson (2nd Mate, 21 years old), R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. Those seven who lost their lives were Mr Coulson (1st mate), Charles Jackman (cook) Gustave Johnson, Pierre Johann and Robert Gent (all able seamen), Harry Watson (ordinary seaman) and Jack Denham (ship’s boy), Captain Mylius was found guilty of careless navigation; he had sailed into the bay without the services of a pilot. His Master Certificate was suspended for twelve months. Later he was also charged with manslaughter of one of the crew who had died when the La Bella was wrecked, but found not guilty. The event’s adverse publicity and damage to his career took a toll on his health and he died of a heart attack six months after the wreck; he was only thirty-seven. His body was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. The La Bella was “the best documented of all sailing ships owned in New Zealand”. Her record books, ship logs, correspondence and supporting papers are still available. At the time of the tragedy, she was owned by Messers David C.Turnbull and Co. of Timaru, New Zealand timber merchants and shipping agents, who had purchased her on 13th December 1901. A detailed account of the last journey of La Bella can be read in “Leonard Robertson, the Whangaroa & La Bella” written by Jack Churchouse, published in 1982 by Millwood Press Ltd, Wellington, NZ. 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. As well as this letter, Flagstaff Hill’s La Bella Collection includes a photograph of the wrecked La Bella, a brass rail holder and a postcard of William Ferrier with four of the survivors. This original congratulatory letter sent to William Ferrier by the Prime Minister and Government of Australia demonstrates the importance attached to his efforts for Victoria and to Australia. The letter 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 letter to William Ferrier from the Australian Government acknowledges the bravery of ordinary Australians who risked their lives to save victims of shipwrecks along the coast. The letter is significant to the history of Warrnambool as it honours 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 letter connects to the postcard of William Ferrier with four of the five rescued crew, the photograph of the wreck of the La Bella and the artefact from the wreck, the rail holder. This item 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. Brass rail holder from the wreck "La Bella". This rail holder would have been used as a fitting for the end of a rail. It is made up of two parts and looks a little like a goblet in shape. The top is a hollow spherical shape with a circular hole cut out on one side, into which the end of a round rail would fit. There are two gouge marks close to each other on one side of the hole, about one centimetre apart, at 1 and 2 o’clock position. The sphere has a hollow pipe-like stem with a screw thread turned into the outside of the lower section and the bottom of the stem has been flared out after having the base fitted. The base is round and has a mound in the centre. The edge has four evenly spaced fixture holes around its edge. The metal shows signs of pitting and has mild encrustation. The fitting of the base is loose, allowing it to swivel in a complete circle. The top of the sphere is rough and has a dent in it. Underneath the base there is verdigris; some has flaked off and reveals a bright golden colour underneath. rail holder, brass rail holder, la bella, lady bay, norway, 1893, new zealand, captain mylius, william ferrier, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Photograph, Foyle Photographic Studio, Wreck of La Bella, about 11/11/1905
The photograph shows the wreck of La Bella in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, Australia. It was probably taken on 11th November 1905, the morning after she was wrecked. “Foyle” written on the photograph is the name of Foyle’s Photographic studio. At the time of the photograph the studio was owned by both Charles and Lilian Foyle (sometimes known as Lillian or Lily), either of whom could have taken this photograph. They also worked together at a later date on the photographs, sketches and paintings of the famous and historical Pioneers’ Honour Board, which is currently on view in the Warrnambool Library. Foyles Photography was the studio of James Charles Foyle. He owned “Foyle’s Photo Card Studios” in Liebig St , Warrnambool, which operated between 1889 – 1919 . A letter to the editor (by Mr Edward Vidler) in the Melbourne Argus, 3rd August, 1907, mentions that in that year Warrnambool would celebrate its 60th anniversary of its proclamation as a town, and that talented local artist Miss Lily Foyle would paint 200 portraits in watercolour of the pioneers who settled in the district prior to 1860. The Pioneer Honour Board can still be seen on display in the Warrnambool Library. In the Warrnambool Standard, Dec. 1917, “Mr Foyle’s studio was awarded contract to decorate rail cars on newly opened Trans-Continental railway, assisted by his sister, Miss Findlay.” The subject of the painting, La Bella, has its own tragic story. Read on for further details … On November 10th, 1905, the Norwegian-built barquentine La Bella approached Warrnambool at the end of her 37 day voyage. She was carrying a cargo of timber from Lyttleton, New Zealand, in heavy seas and evening mist. (On its only other visit to Warrnambool a year earlier the master had gone to shore to find a tow. He returned to the ship to find the crew drunk and unwilling to take up their posts, even though the ship was dragging its anchors and in a dangerous position.) As Captain Mylius steered La Bella to Lady Bay Channel the ship was tossed onto its side by heavy breakers and ran aground on what is now known as La Bella Reef. The sea was so rough that it wrenched a one-and-a- half ton anchor from the vessel. Several attempts were made by parties of volunteers in lifeboats to rescue the stricken sailors, but the rough conditions made this difficult for the boats to get close enough to the ship and the parties had to return to shore. The La Bella’s crew became exhausted and sailors were being washed overboard, one by one. By sunrise only five of the twelve crew still clung to the wreck. A local fisherman, 25 year old William Ferrier, rowed his small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the captain, whilst the volunteer lifeboat crew rescued a further three sailors, returning to shore. Ferrier made a final attempt at rescue and was able to reach its stern as the conditions eased slightly, saving the last remaining, terrified sailor just before the ship broke up and sank. William Ferrier became a national hero as news of the daring rescue spread. He was awarded the Silver Medal for bravery by the Royal Humane Society and was honoured by the Prime Minister and the Governor. He was presented with several other awards for his daring rescue. Ferrier’s rescue efforts are one of the most heroic in Victoria’s shipwreck history. The wreck now lies in 13m of water and is home to an abundance of marine life. Flagstaff Hill’s La Bella Collection includes a rail holder from La Bella, a photograph of William Ferrier with four of the five men rescued, a rail holder from the ship and the letter from the Prime Minister and other Members of Parliament that was sent to William Ferrier to commend him for his bravery. La Bella has been protected under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act (1976) as a Historic Shipwreck since 23 April 1982 (VHR S401). It is archaeologically significant as the remains of an international and inter-colonial passenger and cargo ship. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from the La Bella is of historical and archaeological significance because of its association with the La Bella, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register, and because of the relationship between the objects. The collection represents aspects of Victorian history, and the letter to William Ferrier demonstrates how important his rescue efforts were to Victoria and Australia. Black and white photograph of the wreck of the sailing ship La Bella in the bay at Warrnambool. The photograph shows the ship lying on its side in rough sea, with mast and rope rigging hanging loosely. Several large rocks are also visible. The photograph is a rectangle shape, mounted on heavy card, with slightly ragged edges. The photographer’s name, a title for the photograph and the location are hand written in white along the bottom third of the photograph. The back of the photograph is blank. Printed in white hand writing “Foyle”, “WRECK OF “LA BELLA”, “W’Bool”foyle, la bella, william ferrier, lady bay, lifeboats, lilian foyle, lillian foyle, charles foyle, james foyle, royal humane society medal, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village -
Federation University Historical Collection
Book - Consitution, L.F. Johnston, Commonwealth Printer, Report of the Royal Commisssion on the Constitution, 1929, 1929
Charcoal green hard covered book relating to the Commonwealth of Australia Constitutionnon-fictioncommonweath of australia, constitution, referendum, high court, trade, commerce, navigation, shipping, industrial powers, health, alteration of the constitution, w.h. irvine, f. strahan, wireless transmission, cinematograph films, hal colebatch, railway, colenel p. p. abbott, e.k. bowden, j.b. peden, senate, t.r. ashworth, commonwealth of australia, m.b. duffy, d.l. mcnamara, j.g. hardman, parliament -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Photograph - William Ferrier, Henna Street Picture Framers, 2005
... and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament... and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament ...The photograph of William Ferrier was given to Avis Quarrell by Lewis Ferrier, 3rd youngest son of William during the centenary of the wreck of the La Bella. The photograph was framed by the Henna Street Picture Framers, Warrnambool in 2005. The photograph is of William Ferrier, the 25-year-old fisherman from South Warrnambool, whose rescue of two sailors from the wrecked La Bella made him an overnight national hero. The La Bella was wrecked on 10th November 1905,and the remains of the vessel now lie 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. Several attempts were made by the Warrnambool lifeboat crew to rescue the stricken sailors on the La Bella, 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. A another rescue attempt was made by Ferrier who rowed a small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain George Mylius, 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 swam towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the ropes and debris 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 survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. 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.This photograph is significant at both a local and state level. Its connection to the La Bella shipwreck and the rescue of survivors highlights the dangers of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast and demonstrates the bravery of ordinary Australians like William Ferrier who risked their lives to save victims of shipwrecks along the coast. Moreover, the photograph has an association with the sailing ship ‘La Bella’, as it is one of the only two shipwrecks discovered in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, out of the 15-17 shipwrecks known to have been wrecked in the bay.Framed sepia photograph, mounted behind glass. Portrait of a man seated on a log. He is wearing a brimmed hat, dark coloured jacket and trousers, and a light coloured collarless shirt with buttons. The figure in the photograph is William Ferrier.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, la bella, william ferrier, rescue, hero william ferrier -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Medal - FEDERAL PARLIAMENT MEDALLION, 1901
Medallion: Opening of Federal Parliament Medallion. Shield shaped medallion with crown on top. Pictures of King Edward and Queen Victoria, Duke and Duchess of Cornwall with inscription. Issued to commemorate opening of 1st Federal Parliament by Duke and Duchess at Melbourne Exhibition Building, 1901. Box 625Opening of the first Federal Parliament T.R.H. The Duke and Duchess of Cornwell and York. Melbourne May 1901. Aust. Commonwealth est 1st Jan 1901 63D of Victoria R.I. First Parliament opened May 1901 1st of Edward V11 W.A. TAS. NSW. SA. QLDnumismatics, medals - commemorative, 1901.1st federal parliament opening. king edward. queen victoria. -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - LYDIA CHANCELLOR COLLECTION; INVITATION TO VIEWING OF TOM ROBERT'S PAINTING OF PARLIAMENTARY OPENING
... . ' The Opening of the First Parliament of the Commonwealth.' 'By Tom... of the First Parliament of the Commonwealth.' 'By Tom Roberts ...An invitation in the form of a card with black print. ' The Opening of the First Parliament of the Commonwealth.' 'By Tom Roberts. The honor of your presence is requested at the Queen's Hall, Parliament House, on Friday next (13th inst.) at Three o'clock, to view the progress of the Picture prior to its departure for London. John Rowe for Australian Art Association Pty. Ltd.' Handwritten in black ink are the words 'His Worship the Mayor of Bendigo & Lady.'event, official, painting, lydia chancellor, collection, australian art, art work, australian history, history, painting, tom roberts, politics, australian politics, australian parliament, event