The Kew Historical Society’s collection includes a wide range of leisure objects. Many of the items are European-made, generally of British origin, however there are a number that were made for the Australian market by Australian manufacturers. In the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries, there were large numbers of games produced for children and adults. These included: arcade games, board games, playing cards and puzzles. A representative sample, many now rare survivors, can be found in the collection.Card game called "Comic Families" housed in an original labelled box. The box is purple, orange and white in colour with pictures of family members on the front. There is a complete set of cards but the instructions are missing or never included.Front of box: "Exciting Comic Families. An amusing card game for all of the family."comic families, card games

The Kew Historical Society’s collection includes a wide range of leisure objects. Many of the items are European-made, generally of British origin, however there are a number that were made for the Australian market by Australian manufacturers. In the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries, there were large numbers of games produced for children and adults. These included: arcade games, board games, playing cards and puzzles. A representative sample, many now rare survivors, can be found in the collection.Lotto. Box title "THE POPULAR GAME OF LOTTO". Inside the lid are a set of instructions for playing the game of "Lotto or House". The game was manufactured "solely at Chad Valley Works, Harborne, England. Beside the rules, in pencil is the name "P. Knight", presumably the owner of the game. chad valley works, lotto

parliamentary inquiry, australian honey industry, pollination, beechworth honey

This trowel was presented to City of Bendigo Mayor, Simeon Ryan by Mr B. Deakin the Australian representative of the Victorian Electric Supply Company on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone for the new power house building in Hargreaves Street, Bendigo. This power house was built to supply power to both Bendigo and Eaglehawk and the overhead power system for the tramway which ran from Quarry Hill, through the city to Eaglehawk and from Golden Square to Lake Weeroona. The building of the power house changed Eaglehawk and Bendigo as street lights were installed and houses became electrified. A report in the Bendigo Independent in 1902 reported ' Night will then be almost as brilliant as the day and people .... who live in the suburbs are to be provided with a tram service worth of the name'. (See reference A Mammoth Scheme.) The tramways closed in April 1972 after the Victorian Parliament granted the SEC an application to cease operating. Today Bendigo Trust operates the tourist trams which run along Pall Mall and welcomes over 40,000 visitors annually. The Bendigo Tramways Depot is the oldest operating tram depot in Australia and is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. There are currently 45 trams in the fleet (13 of which operate as part of the 'Talking' Tram service).For more about the history and to tour the tramways visit www.bendigotramways.com.Triangular shaped silver engraved trowel with ivory handle (0286a). Top face of trowel is ornately engraved with floral and decorative motifs and an image of an electric tram and two power poles. Reverse has engraved text. No makers mark detected. Housed in a leather covered case (0286b), lined with ruched blue silk. Case has two brass hinges and two small brass clasps.PRESENTED / By / THE ELECTRIC SUPPLY CO / OF VICTORIA TO / SIMEON RYAN. ESQ JP. / MAYOR OF BENDIGO / ON THE OCCASION OF HIS LAYING / THE MEMORIAL STONE OF THE / BENDIGO AND EAGLEHAWK / ELECTRIC LIGHT AND TRAMWAY / POWER HOUSE / 26th JUNE, 1901/ STERLING SILVERcouncillor simeon ryan, councillor s h mc gowan, councillor john hoskins, councillor george loudon, councillor john green, councillor alfred hicks, borough of eaglehawk, borough of eaglehawk mayor, mayor loudon, city of bendigo mayor, mayor ryan, bendigo and eaglehawk tramway

The Seppelt company was founded in the Barossa Valley in 1851 by Joseph Seppelt, a German immigrant. In 1902 the family business was registered as B. Seppelt & Sons Ltd. As part of the expansion of this successful business, they acquired the Clydeside Cellars in Rutherglen from the estate of Mr. David G. Hamilton in 1914.,Due to changing conditions the vineyards were sold in the 1980s and all stock taken back to their property at Seppeltsfield in South Australia. From 1984 until the present, the Cellars in Rutherglen has had several operators including Jolimont Cellars (Doug Shears), Tony Lamb and 2 different Asian-owned conglomerates operating as Rutherglen Estates. In 2018 Rutherglen Estate was purchased by De Bortoli Family Winemakers of Griffiths, NSWThis jug is representative of leading pioneers and companies in the Australian Wine industry located in Northeast Victoria.A ceramic wine carafe produced by the House of Seppelt. It features the coat of arms of the House of Seppelt on one side and a portrait of Benno Seppelt on the opposite side. The lower section of the carafe is beige in colour and the top half, coat of arms and portrait are in blue. THE HOUSE OF / SEPPELTb. seppelt & son, australian wine industry, northeast victorian wineries

Clydeside Cellar was established by David G. Hamilton, a Scotsman who migrated to the Rutherglen district in 1861. He established a large business including a general store and vineyards. The Hamilton Clydeside brick cellars were built beginning in 1886 and completed in 1892. In August 1914, Messrs B. Seppelt and Sons Ltd. purchased Clydeside Cellars from the Mr. Hamilton’s estate. Due to changing conditions the vineyards were sold in the 1980s and all stock taken back to their property at Seppeltsfield in South Australia. From 1984 until the present the former Clydeside Cellar had several operators including Jolimont Cellars (Doug Shears), Tony Lamb and the 2 different Asian owned conglomerates operating as Rutherglen Estates. In 2018 Rutherglen Estate was purchased by De Bortoli Family Winemakers of Griffiths, NSW.This jug is representative of an historic and Australian Winemaker located in Northeast Victoria.An earthenware wine jug produced the House of Seppelt Clydeside Cellar at Rutherglen, VIctoria. The jug has a tradition loop handle and cork stopper.The bottom half of the jug is a traditional beige colour with a blue section. There are images in black on both sides of the jug. Originally it would have had a wax seal over the stopper to preserve effective closure to protect the contents from any chance of seepage.On front: "THE HOUSE OF SEPPELT" beneath an image of a Clydesdale drawn beer cart and driver. The image is surrounded by a representation of a horse harness containing the text "CLYDESIDE WINE CELLAR/ RUTHERGLEN" On reverse: an image of horse-drawn beer wagons and workers in front of buildings. Across the front of the building "CLYDESIDE CELLARS RUTHERGLEN / B. SEPPELT & SONS LTD."northeast victorian wineries, clydeside cellar, b. seppelt & son

The Wodonga Historical Society Haeusler Collection provides invaluable insight into life in late nineteenth and early twentieth century north east Victoria. The collection comprises manuscripts, personal artefacts used by the Haeusler family on their farm in Wodonga, and a set of glass negatives which offer a unique visual snapshot of the domestic and social lives of the Haeusler family and local Wodonga community. The Haeusler family migrated from Prussia (Germany) to South Australia in the 1840s and 1850s, before purchasing 100 acres of Crown Land made available under the Victorian Lands Act 1862 (also known as ‘Duffy’s Land Act’) in 1866 in what is now Wodonga West. The Haeusler family were one of several German families to migrate from South Australia to Wodonga in the 1860s. This item is unique and has well documented provenance and a known owner. It forms part of a significant and representative historical collection which reflects the local history of Wodonga. It contributes to our understanding of domestic and family life in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history and social history.A black and white photograph taken by Louis Haeusler (b.1878) of the Haeulser family farm in Wodonga West. photograph, photography, farm, agriculture, house, home, farm house, wodonga, haeusler collection

non-fictionThis report is the result of and inquiry into infrastructure and the development of Australia's regional areas by the House of Representatives, Standing Committee on Primary Industries and Regional Services. The foreword to the Committee's report states that the title 'Time running out' reinforces the urgent need to firstly acknowledge the deficiencies in infrastructure that exist throughout regional Australia and secondly, the need to remedy that lack of infrastructure. Action is needed to ensure that many regional communities don't just survive but learn to thrive once again. Chapters focus on major issues of leadership and local skills; policy, planning and coordination; and finance and investment. Other chapters focus on particular sectors or issues including advanced telecommunications; information technology; transport (roads, rail, shipping, airports); energy (electricity, gas, renewable energy); education; water resources; and health.infrastructure regional australia, regional planning australia

non-fictionAn autobiography of Bob Whan, born in Wodonga on 5 January 1933, into the fourth generation of the Whan family in Wodonga. As part of a varied career, he became a member of the Australian Labor Party and represented the Division of Eden-Monaro in the House of Representatives from 1972 to 1975. He died on 4 October 2015. This book describes his childhood and student years, his impact on the wool market in Australia with the introduction of objective measurement, the social and political changes he witnessed, his philosophies on life (which may surprise some) and the highs and lows of a varied career. There is serious thought, plenty of humour, particularly with the characters described, and above all the memories and recollections of someone intimately involved in many aspects of Australian life. bob whan, robert whan politician, whan family wodonga

Photograph of General Sir John Gellibrand and L/- Stan Savige (at far right) at an unknown event that appears to be also attended by a mayor. From Wikipedia: Major General Sir John Gellibrand, KCB, DSO & Bar (5 December 1872 – 3 June 1945) was a senior Australian Army officer in the First World War, Chief Commissioner of the Victoria Police from 1920 to 1922, and a member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Tasmanian Division of Denison for the Nationalist Party from 1925 to 1928. Concerned about the plight of fellow ex-servicemen, whose businesses were often failing, Gellibrand banded together with like-minded individuals to form the Hobart Remembrance Club. This organisation aimed to support ex-servicemen by providing employment and support for their businesses. The Hobart Club inspired the formation of Legacy Australia in Melbourne, which over time became a national movement, expanding its scope to the care of ex-servicemen's widows and their families. Sir John Gellibrand is considered to have influenced Stanley Savige to commence the process to form Legacy in September 1923. Melbourne was the first Legacy club to form.Black and white photo of General Sir John Gellibrand.Handwritten on the reverse: 'General Sir John Gellibrand. SGS at rear' in blue pen. Also '545' in pencil. Stamped with copyright of The Leader in red ink, and 'Property of Melbourne Legacy. Please return this correspondence to Executive Officer' in purple ink.sir john gellibrand, remembrance club

A letter to Deputy Prime Minister Doug Anthony inviting him to speak at Legacy and his replies that he couldn't commit at that stage, the notations were updates on further contact with him to try and finalise a date. Legatees met regularly and had guest speakers to entertain and inform on different subjects at their Tuesday Luncheons. These documents was from a file of information about guest speakers (see also 00812-00822 and 00829-00837). The Programme Committee was responsible for organising the speakers. A record that the speakers at Legacy functions were from very different walks of life and the subjects varied.00819.1 White foolscap letter from J.D. Anthony of Parliament of Australia on House of Representatives letterhead. 00819.2 Green quarto copy paper, black type, carbon copy of letter to J.D. Anthony Deputy Prime Minister with notations in pencil and pen. 00819.3 Off white letter from J.D. Anthony, Leader of the Country Party on letterhead.Notations in blue and black ink..speakers, programme committee, correspondence

A group photo of the delegates sent to Canberra for the 1983 Conference. It was the 60th anniversary of Legacy that year. A record of a conference of members from many different Legacy Clubs in 1983.Colour photo of legatees at Legacy House in CanberraTyped: "Meeting of the Representatives of the Legacy Club Australia / Canberra 26/27 March 1983 / With compliments / Canberra Legacy." Handwritten: "1983 Conference - Canberra / Qualifications for membership"conference, canberra, 60th anniversary

Some decades ago a card sorting set for the identification and description of Australian timbers was developed for timber species which were available commercially and were in common usage, by the Commonwealth of Australia (CSIRO, Division of Forest Products) To complement and inform this national timber set each State or Territory developed reference timber sets of representative species. The Commercial Timbers of Victoria set was Victoria’s most recent (circa 1984) expression of this Victorian timber samples were sourced from logs selected by Forest Commission of Victoria (FCV) District Foresters and milled locally. Kiln drying and machining was carried out at timber producers Row, Web and Anderson, in Port Melbourne. Labeling and boxing was done by FCV Timber Inspectors, with box and booklet design and graphics handled in-house More recent timber samples were badged as Conservation Forests & Lands, reflecting historical government restructuring in the early 1980s Info: Simon MurphyProvided the public, industry (timber and associated), and educational facilities with a reference collection of notable Victorian timbers. Initially in a reduced format from 1940-50s, with boxed sets produced from 1981 until 1984A boxed set of timber samples representing the 20 tree species that were considered to be the most notable in Victoria. The set also includes an information booklet. Each timber specimen has information on species, occurrence, uses and physical properties Produced for sale by the the FCV and later by the Department of Conservation Forests and Lands. (CFL). forests commission victoria (fcv)

Situated at the eastern end of York Street, Eltham, 'Shinrone', the former home of Professor William (Mac) MacMahon Ball was one of the first in the Shire of Eltham to incorporate mud-brick. Professor MacMahon Ball, a political scientist, writer, broadcaster and diplomat and family moved to York Street, Eltham in 1945 into a timber cottage built around the 1890s and in poor repair. Mac asked Alistair Knox to renovate the home and he expanded the living area and added verandahs. In 1948 Montsalvat artist and sculptor Sonia Skipper supervised the building of most of the mud-brick studio. Neighbour Gordon Ford made the mud-bricks. Mac also asked John Harcourt, who had worked with him as a journalist in shortwave broadcasting, to build a pise (rammed earth) and stone addition to the largely timber house. Harcourt built two bedrooms - including an attic bedroom - a balcony with a shower and toilet, a nd a fireplace and chimney of local stone. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p141 At the eastern tip of York Street, Eltham, stands Shinrone, the former home of one of Australia’s intellectual leaders. Professor William Macmahon Ball, was one of the first to bring Asia as a foreign policy issue to the Australian public.1 He was a political scientist, writer, broadcaster and diplomat. The house was one of the first in Eltham Shire to incorporate mud-brick,2 because of the acute shortage of building materials after World War Two. Its novice builders later become leaders in Eltham’s built and garden design. Mac (as he was usually called), who was the son of a Church of England minister, was born in Casterton, Victoria in 1901 and died in 1986. In 1945 he helped establish the United Nations, as political consultant to the Australian Delegation at the San Francisco Conference.3 Then in 1946 Mac was appointed British Commonwealth Representative on the Allied Council for Japan, which is recorded in detail in his diary.4 In 1948 Mac led an Australian Government Goodwill Mission to South East Asia. However, Mac was perhaps most successful as an academic and public speaker.5 He was a commentator on the Australian Broadcasting Commission, from the early 1930s to the early 1960s. He was also Controller of the Short-Wave Broadcasting Unit during World War Two, which later became Radio Australia. From 1923 he taught at The University of Melbourne, then became foundation Professor of Political Science in 1949 and was Chair until his retirement in 1968.6 In 1942, as the government expected a Japanese invasion, Mac’s wife Katrine and their only child Jenny, moved from Kew to Eltham as temporary evacuees. However Mac and Katrine lived in Eltham for almost the rest of their lives. After staying with friends, they rented a house in Reynolds Road, where, as it was wartime, they needed to keep horses for transport and a cow and poultry for milk and eggs. In 1945 the family moved to the house at York Street, which was then a timber cottage, built around the 1890s and in poor repair. The underground well, cellar and part of the garden are all that remain of what stood on the original 18 acre (7.3ha) allotment. Thanks largely to Katrine’s hard work, the house was gradually renovated and extended. The long rambling house was partially built by several young neighbours, who were inspired by the cheap mud-brick and stone building style of Montsalvat, the Eltham artists’ colony. Mac asked Alistair Knox to renovate Shinrone, named after an Irish village near Katrine’s family home. Knox later popularised the mud-brick style of house construction, for which Eltham became known. He expanded the living area and added verandas. In 1948 Montsalvat artist and sculptor Sonia Skipper supervised the building of most of the mud-brick studio. Another neighbour, Gordon Ford, who was to have a major influence on the Australian garden style, made the mud-bricks. Mac also asked John Harcourt, who had worked with him as a journalist in short-wave broadcasting, to build a pisé (rammed earth) and stone addition to the largely timber house. Harcourt built two bedrooms – including an attic bedroom – a balcony with a shower and toilet, and a fireplace and chimney of local sandstone. With pioneering work naturally came mistakes, including one particularly dramatic incident when Harcourt was building walls with unsupported sections. Jenny Ellis, Mac’s daughter, remembers being awakened from sleep by a thundering shudder. The wall of her room had fallen down – fortunately away from her! In 1950 artist Peter Glass – another neighbour and later landscape designer – built Katrine a mud-brick pottery. As a result, the house features at one end Harcourt’s characteristic steep gable roof, while at the other the flatter construction characteristic of Knox. Mac referred to the home as the Eltham ‘experimental building site’.7 Surprisingly, the combination works, perhaps partly because it has the warm inviting feel of timber, mud-brick and stone.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, eltham, alistair knox, gordon ford, john harcourt, mudbrick construction, pise construction, professor macmahon ball, shinrone, sonia skipper, york street

The letter to William Ferrier of South Warrnambool from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth recognised the significance of William’s brave and courageous lifesaving act to the people of Australia; “They all feel that your conduct was worthy of the best deeds done by British sailors in the past and they are proud to know that Australia can produce such as you.” The story of that brave rescue 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 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 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 has 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 the 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 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. 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 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 letter 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. Letter to William Ferrier of South Warrnambool from the Prime Minister and Members of Parliament commending him on his bravery. The printed letterhead includes a coat of arms in the top centre and the official address. The letter is very neatly hand written in black pen and includes 4 signatures of Members of Parliament. The rectangular paper is cream coloured with some yellow/brown discolouring. It has the letterhead on the right hand side of it and the written letter begins below the letterhead. The paper has been folded so that the right side becomes the cover page of the letter. The writing is continued onto the inside right hand page of the folded paper and the writing ends here. There is more recent writing on the bottom right hand corner of the back page. The paper has been officially folded in half a total 3 times and there is heavy discolouration on the sections that form the front and back of the folded letter. There is a 4th fold line that is less pronounced that the other folds and would make the paper the size to fit into a pocket. At several fold creases the paper has worn through. The edges of the paper have minor tears. The printed coat of arms is that of the House of Representatives. Underneath is printed “The Parliament of the Commonwealth, / Parliament House / Melbourne”. The hand written, letter is dated “14th November, 1905” and addressed to “Mr. William Ferrier / South Warrnambool” The letter begins “The Speaker, the Prime Minister and Members of the Ministry and its supporters, the Leader and Members of the Opposition, the Leader and Members of the Labour Party, being all the Members of the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Australia” … It continues “desire to express to you their appreciation of your bravery in skulling out to the wreck of the “La Bella” at Warrnambool on Saturday, 11th November, 1905, and recovering therefrom two of the crew who were in imminent danger of their lives. They all feel that your conduct was worthy of the best deeds done by British sailors in the past and they are proud to know that Australia can produce such as you.” The letter is “Signed on behalf of the Members – Speaker (Frederick Holder ), Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Joseph Cook ), Prime Minister (Alfred Deakin), Leader of the Labour Party ( J.C. Watson)” On the back of the letter is blue ink handwriting “OWNER / G. FERRIER / TO. BE. PHOTOGRAPHED / 27-4-76”la bella, william ferrier, bill ferrier, lady bay, 1905, 10th november 1905, 11th november 1905, parliament of the commonwealth, prime minister, australian government, new zealand, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village

Contains the original signature of Robert Menzies, then opposition leader. Later to be Prime Minister of Australia.Document addressed to Mr. Knyvett Signed by R.J. Menzies.House of Representatives, The Parliament of the Commonwealth. Leader of the Opposition, Canberra, A.C.T., Dated 28th March, 1946. Dear Mr. Knyvett, Thank you for your letter of the 25th instant. I will give consideration to the proposals you have put before me and I appreciate your very real interest. With all good wishes to you, I am yours sincerely, signed (R.J. Menzies).