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National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Book, Jungle Tracks: Australian Armour in Viet Nam (Copy 1)
...a fascinating and rewarding journey through the experience of our modern Armoured Corps at war. To read is to recall the dust, the mud, the noise and smells, the laughter and the dedication of those great times, those great men. By Peter Cosgrove, Lieutenant General, Chief of Army...a fascinating and rewarding journey through the experience of our modern Armoured Corps at war. To read is to recall the dust, the mud, the noise and smells, the laughter and the dedication of those great times, those great men. By Peter Cosgrove, Lieutenant General, Chief of Armyaustralia. army. royal australian armoured corps., vietnam war, 1961-1975 - participation, australian, general peter cosgrove, sir peter cosgrove -
Clunes Museum
Container - BOX
.1 BOX BOTTOM COVERED WITH WHITE SATIN PAPER GLUED TO THE OUTSIDE .2 BOX LID COVERED WITH WHITE SATIN PAPER GLUED TO THE OUTSIDE HAS A FINELY DRAWN CITY SCENE IS ON THE LID IN BROWN INK .1 481 PRINTED ON WHITE STICKER AFFIXED TO ONE END OF THE BOX AND 25' WRITTEN IN BLUE BIRO .2 12 YARDS EXTRA SUPERdomestic sewing, thread -
Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch
Salt and pepper shakers, Unknown
MV ETTRICK was a British Passenger Motor Vessel of 11,279 tons built in 1938 by Barclay Curle & Company, Glasgow, for the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company. The Vessel was on charter to the Admiralty as a Troopship. On the 15th November 1942 she was torpedoed by German submarine U-155 at 0315, 150 miles W of Gibraltar. She sank at 0836. She was on a voyage from Gibraltar to the Clyde in ballast, with a crew of 204, 66 naval ratings, and 41 gunners. 18 naval ratings and 5 Asian crew were lost; another Asian seaman died of his injuries. Survivors were taken to Gibraltar by the Norwegian destroyer Glaisdal and returned to the UK in P&O´s Mooltan the following day.Silver plated salt and pepper shakersSalt and pepper shakers with embossing showing Flag and M.V. ETTRICK.mv ettrick, ww2, troopship -
Australian Lace Guild - Victorian Branch
Textile - Brussels mixed lace, 1875-1900
Use: Domestic. Fashion Bobbin and needle lace collar -
Ballarat RSL Sub-Branch Inc.
Postcard - Post Card
'Mary Post Card Egypt'1916 For Little Harr From Archiefirst world war (ww1), 1914 - 1918, literature, ballarat rsl, ballarat -
South Gippsland Shire Council
Cube, Glass, Comune De Solarino
Glass etched cube in blue velvet case. Etched with text and crest. -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Document - Typed Notes, State Records Office and Adelaide, "Purchase of Horse Trams ex MTT 1909", Mar. 1996
Yields information about the purchase of second hand equipment from Adelaide following the fire at the Sebastopol tram depot.Typed copies of 4 letters from MTT Adelaide to ESCo Ballarat re purchase of two horse trams to replace those lost in the 1909 fire. Provided by State Records Office of Sth Australia - Ref. GRG 22/31/Vol D in March 1996 and copies of correspondence between Alan Bradley and SRO. 274.1 - Letter dated 15/10/1909 - receipt of ESCo's letter of 14/10 and delivery arrangements. 274.2 - letter dated 19/10/09 - confirming receipt of telegram for extra collars and reason for delayed dispatch of equipment. 274.3 - letter dated 20/10/09 - listing equipment sent and costs. 274.4 - letter dated 27/10/09 - cost of equipment. Copies of corresponded between BTM and State Records Office included within the scanned documents - 9 sheets. Scanned pdf image of document added 31/10/2013.esco, mtt, sebastopol depot fire, horse trams -
Moorabbin Air Museum
Machine - Rolls Royce Merlin Mk 46 - 1,600 HP Liquid Cooled V 12
Historical Details: . Description: Developed from the kestrel, the Rolls Royce Merlin is the most famous of all British aero engines. It powered a variety of types including the Spitfire, Hurricane, Lancaster and Mustang and was built under licence in Australia and America. A modified v. Level of Importance: State -
Arapiles Historical Society
Box Of Bottles
House hold items, -
Magnet Galleries Melbourne Inc
Soldiers digging trench and resting
world war i, ww1, anzac, australian expeditionary forces, trenches, digging, resting -
Hand Tool Preservation Association of Australia Inc
Saw set
This item is part of the Thomas Caine Tool Collection, owned by The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) and curated by the Hand Tools Preservation Association of Australia.saw set, -
University of Melbourne, School of Chemistry
Discharge Tubes
4 discharge tubes in wooden box -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Photograph - Black & White Photograph/s, The Met, c1985
Black and white photograph of Volvo Articulated bus in "The Met" colours, c1985, Number 06 at Doncaster depot. Has other buses in the background. Model No. B10ML on radiator. Web site: http://www.showbus.co.uk/Australia/gallery/met2.htm accessed 20/8/2013 - says under a photo of a similar bus: "In 1985 Japan took delivery of 100 Volvo B10ML articulated buses for services to the World Expo in Tokyo. The order caused a stir at the time as Japan was self-sufficient in bus production. However articulated buses were not street legal, so after the Expo the buses were all exported. Seventy nine of them ended up in Australia, popping up all over the country."On rear in ink "MTA Newly acquired Volvo Artic Bus"trams, tramways, the met, buses, doncaster, tram 6 -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - CAMBRIDGE PRESS COLLECTION: LABEL - HEANEY'S TEAS
Sheet with the four sides of a tea packet printed in dark blue and white. Two sides have Specially Selected Teas from the finest gardens of Ceylon & India. A. Heaney, tea Merchant, 274 Victoria St., North Richmond. The other two sides have Pure Economical Pure Blended Heaney's Teas Fragrant & Refreshing. 1/2 lb. Net Weight printed on them.business, printers, cambridge press, cambridge press collection, a heaney, heaney's teas -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Lost Relations, 2015
This book details the lives of the ancestors of the author, Graeme Davison. It begins with the story of Jane Hewett who migrated with her eight children to Australia from England in 1850. The book not only tells the story of the Hewett families but also gives a wider picture of Australian conditions at the time, making it a valuable social history of Australia in the 19th century and beyond. Graeme Davison, Emeritus Professor of History at Monash University in Melbourne, has also written five other books dealing with aspects of Australian history. This book is of high interest because it is an important social history of Australia detailing the lives of the Hewett families. It is also of significance to those in the Warrnambool region as a member of the Hewett family, John Hewett, settled in Warrnambool with his wife and family and was a local butcher there for some years. This is a soft cover book of 274 pages detailing the family history of the author Graeme Davison. The cover is cream-coloured and has sepia-coloured photographs of the author’s ancestors on the front and back. The printing on the front and back covers is in gold and black. The book contains a Contents page, Introduction, ten chapters on the author’s family history, Acknowledgements, Picture Acknowledgements, Notes and Index. There are many black and white photographs, sketches and maps. Front Cover: ‘Graeme Davison’ ‘Lost Relations’ ‘Fortunes of my family in Australia’s Golden Age’ Inside title page: Signature of author ‘Graeme Davison’ graeme davison, 19th century australian social history, hewett families, warrnambool, history -
Ballarat Clarendon College
Honour board, Ballarat & Clarendon College Senior School
The plaque was erected at the Mair Street campus following amalgamation of the two schools in 1974. The senior campus was established with the express aim of encouraging students to take responsibility for their own learning (Golden heritage p. 274). Adult students also attended business school at this campus. The 1989 school evaluation report recommended the return of senior students to the Sturt Street campus and the Mair Street property catered for Kindergarten to Grade 6. The honour board represents a significant era of the school's development and its continued openess to new ideas and disciplines for learning. Metal framed oblong plaque with metal face and white lettering. Face of plaque: CLARENDON / THE SENIOR & ADULT CENTRE / OF / BALLARAT & CLARENDON COLLEGEclarendon, senior-school, adult-classes, mair-street-campus, amalgamation, ballarat-and-clarendon-college -
Ballarat Heritage Services
Photograph - Photograph - Colour, Former Masonic Lodge, Albert Street, Sebastopol, 2018, 12/03/2018
The Sebastopol, or Guiding Star Lodge was consecrated on 22 May 1999 following the amalgamation of ‘Hope No. 274’, ‘Orion No. 53’ and ‘Sebastopol No. 63’, three of Ballarat’s oldest Freemasons Lodges with a combined total of over 345 years of masonic history, and is chartered under the United Grand Lodge of Victoria. In 2011 the Sebastopol and other Central Ballarat Lodges were sold, with the lodges now meeting at 616 Barkly Street, Golden Point. Colour photograph of the former Sebastopol Masonic Lodge.sebastopol, sebastopol masonic lodge, guiding star lodge no 222 -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Negative, Geoff Grant, 8/05/1954 12:00:00 AM
Negative No. 274 and colour print made by colour laser printer (stored in folder ) of Melbourne PCC tram 980, in Coldblo Road , Malvern depot, during an AETA tour on 8/5/1954. Photo by Geoff Grant. Envelope with negative describes the scene as "980 PCC type tram. Side on view of this tram on a special AETA tour to Footscray for opening of new branch to that suburb. At Malvern depot May 8, 1954." Hi res scan of negative and image updated 19/5/2020.trams, tramways, malvern depot, pcc, coldblo road, footscray, tram 980 -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - PRESENTATION OF CRICKET EQUIPMENT TO PRIMARY SCHOOL BY SANDHURST CRICKET CLUB
group photo of 11 school boys with four men, standing outside brick building, wooden door behind group. Boys in front are holding cricket pads and gloves. Written on back : 'back: Neil Button, John Turner, Maurice Grose, Centre: Lance Orchard, Graeme Moore, Merv Miles, Les Rodda, F. Stave Wallace, Ken Hartley, Paul Gill, Trevor Phillips, Bill McConnell, Noel Turner Walshy !. Presentation of cricket equipment to school by Sandhurst Cricket Club, 1951 ? On bottom LH side : V. Phillips, 274 (?9) Eaglehawk Rd. Eaglehawk.bendigo, sporting clubs, sandhurst cricket club, cricket, sandhurst, school, presentation -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - H. A. & S. R. WILKINSON COLLECTION: CONTRACT OF SALE
Contract of sale of land dated 23rd May, 1956 between Mrs. M. A. L. Tobin - Mrs N. McMahon as executors of estate G. C. La Franz - deceased (sellers) and Mr. A. C. & Mrs. M. E. Tait (purchaser). Property: land being part of Crown allotment 6 section 12B Parish of Sandhurst City of Bendigo, land described in certificate of title volume 2592 folio 274 and having a frontage to Violet Street, Bendigo, together with all buildings thereon, fly wire doors, window screens and gas stove and blinds. Price: 4,075 pounds.organization, business, h.a. & s.r wilkinson real estate -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - H. A. & S. R. WILKINSON COLLECTION: CONTRACT OF SALE
Contract of sale of land dated 23rd May, 1956 between Mrs. M. A. L. Tobin - Mrs N. McMahon as executors of estate G. C. La Franz - deceased (sellers) and Mr. A. C. & Mrs. M. E. Tait (purchaser). Property: land being part of Crown allotment 6 section 12B Parish of Sandhurst City of Bendigo, land described in certificate of title volume 2592 folio 274 and having a frontage to Violet Street, Bendigo, together with all buildings thereon, fly wire doors, window screens and gas stove and blinds. Price: 4,075 pounds. Office copyorganization, business, h.a. & s.r wilkinson real estate -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Audio - Audio Recording, Irene Kearsey - Snr Constable Arthur Eggleston Dungey at home in Eltham, 14 Feb. 2024
EDHS Newsletter No. 274 February 2024 Our EDHS member Irene Kearsey is forever searching, researching and at times discovering hidden historical gems. One such discovery is finding details about the life and career of “Senior Constable Dungey – Eltham’s third policeman” and what he and his wife had in the Eltham police house; now our Local History Centre at 728 Main Road, Eltham. At our meeting on Wednesday 14th February 2024, Irene with talk about the career of Arthur Eggleston Dungey leading him to Eltham and then describe what was in the house. We now know how he and wife Louisa furnished the house in 1890, down to the number of teaspoons. If you had ancestors in 19th century Victoria, Irene has a suggestion for your research that might reveal such details1:02:35 duration Digital MP3 file; 21.4MBaudio recording, eltham district historical society, meeting, society meeting, eltham, guest speaker, eltham police station, irene kearsey, snr constable arthur eggleston dungey, eltham police residence -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Newspaper, "Want Provincial Trams Retained", c1949
Newspaper clipping, titled "Want Provincial Trams Retained" re deputation of Provincial tramway employees waiting upon Government - notes trolley buses. Refers to Mr. H.H.Bell (M&MTB) and Mr. Kent Hughes as "Minister for Transport". VR to 62 gives K. Hughes as Minister for transport from 20/3/1935 to 1/4/1935. Was Minister for Railways 25/7/1934 to 20/3/1935 and 11/1947 to 10/1949. Reference to the Bell report dates cutting Sept./Oct. 1949. Record revised and image added 21/9/2013. See "VR to 62", p 274 and A.Bradley's draft book re Bell Reporttrams, tramways, provincial tramways, geelong, ballarat, bendigo, h.h.bell -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - NATIONAL TRUST, SUBMISSION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF CERTAIN POST SUPPORTED VERANDAHS IN BENDIGO
Loose page book contains photos and descriptions of cast iron verandah's deemed worthy of preservation in the City of Bendigo. Buildings include: shamrock Hotel, Dr. Long's surgery, Cnr. Mundy and McCrae Sts., Batchelder, 346 McCrae St., Bendigo, Favaloro's, 139 Pall mall, Bendigo Jockey Club, pall Mall, View Point Hotel, Johnson, 274 High St.,Hopetoun Hotel, 147 Mitchell St., Cumberland Hotel, 279 Williamson St., Limerick Castle Hotel, Williamson St., BUFS Dispensary, 75 View St., Rifle Brigade Hotel, 137 View St., Goldmines Hotel, Marong Road, Manchester Arms Hotel, 302 Eaglehawk Rd., Victoria Hotel, 48 High St., Eaglehawk.cottage, miners, bendigo, heritage, verandahs, cast iron work, wrought iron -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Ephemera - Timetables - MMTB Buses - set of 9, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB), 1976 to 1978
Timetables - provide information on ticketing, fares, timing points, with a description of the route and a map. Not all services had been allocated a route number at the time. 1 - Garden City - Port Melbourne - City - routes 201 and 202 - Jan. 1977 2 - Bulleen - North Kew City - Routes 203, 204, 205, 206, 208 and 209 - Feb. 1977 3 - Deer Park West - Sunshine - Footscray - City - routes 215, 216, 217, 219. 218, 220, 231 with a Saturdays and Sundays timetable sheet printed on green paper - Aug. 1977 4 - La Trobe University - Northland - West Heidelberg - City - routes 256, 251, 253, 254, 252, 255 - Sept. 1978 5- Warrandyte - Park Orchards - Ringwood - routes 273, 274, 275 - June 1976 6 - Warrandyte - Donvale - Templestowe - Shoppingtown - City - routes 276, 277, 278, 294, 278, 280, 299, 268 - July 1976 7 - Box Hill - Mitcham, East Doncaster, Ringwood - routes 287, 286, 288, 282, 283, 272 - June 1976 8 - Box Hill - North Blackburn - route 290 - June 1976 9 - Box Hill - Heidelberg, East Doncaster, Shopping town - routes 291, 297, 296, 293, 271 and 269 - Sept. 1976Yields information about MMTB Bus services during the mid 1970s. Set of nine MMTB Bus timetables - multifolded printed on yellow paper, unless noted otherwise. timetable, mmtb, buses, port melbourne, garden city, deer park, fisherman's bend, west heidelberg, box hill, doncaster, shoppingtown, mitcham, ringwood, blackburn, templestowe, lower templestowe -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Ephemera - Timetables - MMTB Buses, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB)
Timetables - provide information on ticketing, fares, timing points, with a description of the route and a map. Not all services had been allocated a route number at the time. 1 - Deer Park West - Sunshine - Footscray - City - Jan 1975, including a separate weekend timetable' 2 - Box Hill - Shoppingtown - Templestowe - May 1975 3 - Bulleen - North Kew City - Routes 203, 204, 205, 206, 208 and 209 - August 1972 4 - North Altona - City - route 232 - June 1979 5 - Clifton Hill - Elsternwick route - route 246, Point Ormond - route 247 and 248 - June 1974 6 - La Trobe University - Northland - West Heidelberg - City - routes 256, 251, 253, 254, 252, 255 - August 1974 7 - Warrandyte - Park Orchards - Ringwood - routes 273, 274, 275 - Feb. 1974 8 - Warrandyte - Donvale - Templestowe - Shoppingtown - City - routes 276, 277, 278, 294, 278, 280, 299, 268 - April 1975 9 - East Kew, Box Hill Doncaster, Shoppingtown - routes 284, 285, 270 - May 1974 10 - Box Hill - Mitcham, East Doncaster, Ringwood - routes 287, 286, 288, 282, 283, 272 - March 1974' 11 - Box Hill - North Blackburn - route 290 - March 1974 12 - Fishermans Bend - City - routes 233, 235, 237 - Feb 1979.Yields information about MMTB Bus services during the 1970s.Set of twelve MMTB Bus timetables - multifolded printed on yellow paper, except for Deer Park timetables for Saturdays and Sundays printed on green paper.timetable, the met, buses, box hill, doncaster, templestowe, warrandyte, elsternwick, fishermans bend, deer park, altona, sunshine, footscray, shoppingtown -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Poster - Poster, Information Board, 5 RAR 1966 - 1967 (1st Tour)
An Poster, Information Board of 5 RAR 1966 to 1967 (tst Tour). The 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment ("Battalion") were the leading element of the First Australian Task Force (1 ATF) and stationed in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967. The Battalion's task was to break Viet Cong control over the central region of Phuoc Tuy Province - an area that communists had freely operated in since 1945. Commencing of the 24th May 1966, the Battalion conducted its first operation codenamed "Hardihood". Their objective was to sweep and clear areas to the north and east of Nui Dat to a distance of 5000 meters, then create a defensive position to enable 1 ATF to establish an operation base. The Battalion conducted eighteen full-lenght operations as well as numerous day and night cordon and search, search and destroy, ambush and clearing patrols conducted at company, platoon and section levels. the Battalion achieved considerable success during Operations Canberra and Queanbeyan in October 1966 when it swept and cleared the Nui Thi Vai mountain. A Viet Cong base consisting of training facilities, a hospital, booby trap factory and several tonnes of rice was located and destroyed. during phase two (Operation Queanbeyan) the battalion discovered complex cave and tunnel systems along with other fixed installations that were vigorously fought for and destroyed by the battalion. Not only di the caves contain large quantities of weapons, equipment and documents but the 274 VC Regiments deputy commanders radio complex. For bravery and leadership, three Military Crosses, one Military Medal and one Mentioned in Dispatches were awarded. The last was awarded posthumously. However, at the completion of the battalion's first tour, the 274 and 275 Viet Cong Regiments remained functional. While the enemy retained the capacity to inflict serious casualities on smaller allied forces, the Battalion and other elements of the 1 AFt were successful in denying the enemy their previous gains. This enabled the South Vietnamese Government to re-establish control of over 96 per cent of the Phuoc Tuy Province during Australia's involvement. Source O'Neill, RJ Vietnam Task, the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment 1966/67, Melbourne. Cassell Australia Ltd, 19685 rar, 1st tour 1966 - 1967, operation hardihood, 1st atf base, poster, information board, nui dat, nui thai vai mountains, operation canberra, operation queanbeyan, viet cong, 274 vc regiments -
Australian Commando Association - Victoria
Book, Z Special- Desert-Jungle- Sabotage
When Lloyd Campbell joined the AIF, he was underage and went to the Middle East with 2/17 Battalion. Later in New Guinea he made a major career change and volunteered for an unknown unit and special operations. What he had joined was the SRD – known as Z-Special Unit. Z Special Unit—also known as Special Operations Executive (SOE), Special Operations Australia (SOA) or the Services Reconnaissance Department (SRD)—was a joint Allied special forces unit formed during the Second World War to operate behind Japanese lines in South East Asia. Predominantly Australian, Z Special Unit was a specialist reconnaissance and sabotage unit that included British, Dutch, New Zealand, Timorese and Indonesian members, predominantly operating on Borneo and the islands of the former Netherlands East Indies. The unit carried out a total of 81 covert operations in the South West Pacific theatre, with parties inserted by parachute or submarine to provide intelligence and conduct guerrilla warfare. The best known of these missions were Operation Jaywick and Operation Rimau, both of which involved raids on Japanese shipping in Singapore Harbour; the latter of which resulted in the deaths of 23 commandos either in action or by execution after capture. Although the unit was disbanded after the war, many of the training techniques and operational procedures employed were later used during the formation of other Australian Army special forces units and they remain a model for guerrilla operations to this day. pp. 274, illusts, maps ww2, the australian special operations, special forces, z special unit -
Seaworks Maritime Museum
Shipbuilders model, Tri Ellis
Model ship was presented to the Melbourne Maritime Museum by the British Phosphate Commissioners. Built as Tri-Ellis (1958-74), Tryphena (1974-78), Man Tat (1978-80), 1980 broken up. DWT 13,756 SPEED 14 KNOTS.AT 112RPM. BOILERS LARKSON TRIMBLETUBE. FUEL CONSUMPTION 7 TPD. GENERATORS W.H.ALLEN - 4CYL.2SA290/470. 480B.H.P.320L.W.-220V 333RPM DAILY CONS - 1.5 TONS. EMERGENCY GEN R & H. 40 K.N. -220V. REFRIGERATING MACH: J & G HALL LTD. SUPERSTRUCTURE: FORECASTLE 62'..2 DECKS RIVETED AND WELDED. CARGO BATTONS NOT FITTED. 9 BULKHEADS. RISE OF FLOOR 6".WATER BALLAST 3,296 TONS INCLUDING TUNNEL TANKS 1,341 TONS. 'TWEEN- DECKS FORWARD 274 TONS. REFRIGERATED CARGO INSTALLATION - 6 HOLDS - 55.2',52',54',59.5',43' ,53'. GRAIN CAPACITY :621,640 CU. FT. BALE CAPACITY : 573,810 CU. FT. INSULATED CAPACITY : 5,050 CU.FT. 6 STEEL HATCHWAYS (27',30',30'* 30') (30'* 27.75') (27', 24' * 28' ). 12 WINCHES...DERRICKS 1 (25), 2 (10), 10 (5). MACHINERY: OIL 2SA 7CY.C20 * 1400MM EXHAUST 470MM. 6500 BHP. FUEL BUNKERS: 2135 TONS HIGH VISCOCITY FUEL. The main engine was an opposed piston type Harland & Wolff 6-620/ 1870 6 for the number of cylinders.. 620 for the cylinder bore and 1870 for the combined strokes of the main exhaust pistons in each cylinder. This engine was based no a Burmeister and Wain design but H & W gave these engines their own type designation. Sailed on board its maiden voyage to Australia via Casablanca Morocco where she collected her first load of phosphate. We sailed to Geelong via the Suez canal and the Port of Aden (Yemen) and Freemantle. The first load of phosphate was unloaded at Corio Bay (geelong) Formerly part of the collection of Melbourne shipping company, Howard Smith Ltd. Ship builder's model of the cargo ship Tri-Ellis IMO 5368196 - Body of moulded polyurethane painted in red, black and grey, the deck painted in red, with detailed fittings, machinery, rigging and superstructure, raised on a wooden base. Original ship built Clyde 1958, 11,761 gross tonnes, 531.5' x 68' x 31' (162.0 x 20.73 x 9.45m)plaque at foot of model "MV TRI ELLIS/ LENGTH B.P. 486'-3"- BREADTH MLD 68'0" - DEPTH MLD 40'6"/ TONNAGE GROSS 11,760/ Built by HARLAND & WOLFF LTD/ For BRITISH PHOSPHATE COMMISSIONERS" On model "TRI-ELLIS" painted black -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Weapon - Knife, Made on or before September 1891
This sheath knife belonging originally to German seaman Julius Gebauhr and an artifact associated with the story of the survivors of the wreck of Fiji. A three-masted iron barque Fiji had been built in Belfast, Ireland, in 1875 by Harland and Wolfe for a Liverpool based shipping company. The ship departed Hamburg on 22nd May 1891 bound for Melbourne, under the command of Captain William Vickers with a crew of 25. The ship’s manifest shows that she was loaded with a varied cargo consisting of cases of dynamite, pig iron, steel goods, various spirits, sailcloth, tobacco, coiled fencing wire, concrete, 400 German pianos and other musical instruments. On September 5th, one hundred days out from Hamburg in a squally and boisterous south-west wind, the Cape Otway light was sighted on a bearing differing from Captain Vickers' calculation of his position. At about 2:30 am, Sunday 6th September 1891 land was reported 4-5 miles off the port bow. The captain tried to put the ship on the other tack, but she would not respond. He then tried to turn her the other way but just as the manoeuvre was being completed Fiji struck rock only 274 meters from shore. The place is known as Wreck Bay, Moonlight Head. Efforts were made to lower boats but all capsized or became swamped two of the younger crewmen volunteered to swim for the shore, taking a line. One, a Russian named Daniel Carkland, drowned after the line broke. The other, 17-year-old able seaman Julius Gebauhr, a German, reached shore safely on his second attempt without a line, which he had cut loose with his sheath-knife when it becomes tangled in kelp. He rested on the beach a while then climbed the cliffs in search of help. At about 10 am on Sunday a party of land selectors including F. J. Stanmore, Leslie Dickson found Gebauer. They were on their travels back from Princetown towards Moonlight Head. Gebauer was lying in the scrub in a poor state, bleeding and dressed only in a singlet, socks, belt and his sheath-knife. His rescues gave him food and brandy and some clothing and gain information about the wreck. Some of the men took him to Rivernook, a nearby guest house owned by John Evans, where he was cared for. Stanmore and Dickson rode off to try and summon help. Messages for rescuing the rest of the crew were sent both to Port Campbell for the rocket rescue crew and to Warrnambool for the lifeboat. The S.S. Casino sailed from Portland towards the scene. After travelling the 25 miles to the scene, half of the Port Campbell rocket crew and equipment arrived and was set up on the beach below the cliffs. By this time the crew of Fiji had been clinging to the jib-boom for almost 15 hours. Mr Tregear from the Rocket Crew fired the line the light line broke and the rocket was carried away. A second line was successfully fired across the ship and made fast. The anxious sailors then attempted to come ashore along the line but, as many as five at a time, however, some were washed off. Only 14 of the 24 men who had remained on the ship made it to shore. Many onlookers on the beach took it in turns to go into the surf and drag half-drowned seamen to safety. The wreck of Fiji has smashed apart within 20 minutes of the last man being brought ashore, and it settled in about 6 m of water. Of the 26 men on Fiji, 11 in total lost their lives. The remains of 7 bodies were washed onto the beach. They were buried on the clifftop above the wreck. Captain Vickers was severely reprimanded for his mishandling of the ship and his Masters Certificate was suspended for 12 months. At the time there was a great deal of public criticism at the slow and disorganised rescue attempt to save those on board. The important canvas ‘breech buoy’ or ‘bucket chair’ and the heavy line from the Rocket Rescue was in the half of the rocket outfit that didn’t make it in time for the rescue: they had been delayed at the Gellibrand River ferry. Communications to Warrnambool were down so the call for help didn’t get through on time and the two or three boats that had been notified of the wreck failed to reach it in time. Captain Vickers presented Bill Robe who had dragged the captain out of the surf with his silver cased pocket watch, the only possession that he had left, as a token for having saved his life and the lives of some of the crew. Years later Bill passed the watch to his brother in law Gilbert Hulands as payment of a debt. Since that time it has been passed down the family to Gilbert Hulands’ grandson, John Hulands. Seaman Julius Gebauhr later gave his knife, in its hand crafted leather sheath, to F. J. Stanmore for caring for him when he came ashore. The knife handle has a personal inscription on it. A marble headstone on the 200 m high cliffs overlooking Wreck Beach, west of Moonlight Head, paying tribute to the men who lost their lives when Fiji ran aground. The scene of the wreck is marked by the anchor from the Fiji, erected by Warrnambool skin divers in 1967. Amongst the artefacts salvaged from the Fiji are china miniature animals, limbs from small china dolls, rubber balls, a glass bottle, sample of rope from the distress rocket and a candlestick holder. These items are now part of the Fiji collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum, along with this sheath knife and Captain Vickers’ pocket watch. Flagstaff Hill’s collection from the wreck of the Fiji and Julius Gebauhr knife is of historical significance at a State level because of its association with the vessel, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S 259). The Fiji is archaeologically significant as the wreck of a typical 19th-century international sailing ship with cargo. It is educationally and recreationally significant as one of Victoria's most spectacular historic shipwreck dive sites with structural features and remains of the cargo still evident. Also the story of the heroic attempt by many to save the crew of the Fiji. The knife also represents an aspect of shipping history and fits in well with Victoria's framework of historical themes of living with natural processes as items such as these contribute to a better understanding of Victoria’s cultural history.Knife, metal with black wooden handle. Handle is riveted to knife in 3 places, with shaft of knife between the 2 parts of the handle. The handle also has a carved ring around the end, possibly for attaching a wrist strap. Knife blade is pointed in the centre of the tip and is rusty. The knife has a rectangular metal plaque on handle with inscription. The hand crafted dark brown, soft leather sheath is shaped to fit the knife and joined at the back with cross stitching. The sheath also has a leather belt strap that has come away from the sheath at one end.Metal plaque “FROM JULIUS GEBAUHR/”FIJI” /TO F.J.S.” (F J Standmore recipient)1891, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwrecked artefact, flagstaff hill maritime village, shipwreck coast, warrnambool, knife, fiji, pocket watch, moonlight head, gebauhr, stansmore, wreck bay, sheath knife