During Rogers' occupation in 1865, he built two huts. These huts still remain, probably being among the oldest buildings in Western Port. It is believed he first built the Bakehouse."Rogers Cottage" - showing the interior of the kitchen - note wood stove. Now a storeroom.local history, photographs, buildings - historical, rural industry, coloured photograph, john cook, churchill island, rogers cottage

During Roger's occupation in 1865, he built the huts which stand today as Rogers' Cottages. The kitchen cum Bakehouse believed to have been built first. Situated on Churchill Island - Western Port."Rogers' Cottage" - photograph showing back door to Bakery. Note Grinder Stone in foreground. Situated on Churchill Island - Western Port.local history, photographs, buildings - historical, rural industry, coloured photograph, john cook, churchill island, rogers cottage

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of the First Map of Phillip Island ever drawn. An eye sketch by Bass.As written on front of map - "Western Port on the South Coast of Nw. South Wales from GE Bass's Eye-sketch 1798"local history, photography, photographs, exploration, maritime, documents, maps, george bass, phillip island, bryant west, john jenner

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandClose Photograph of HMAS Australia in Western Port taken from off the starboard bow.local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, boats, shipping, - western port - hmas australia, black & white photograph, hmas australia, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of the first Motor Boat in Western Port. W. J. Kennon's "Iperna" 1913local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, boats, motor boat "iperna", black & white photograph, motor boats, fishing boats, w. j. kennon, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an Album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island and Western port Historical Society by The Shire Of Phillip Island.Photograph of the Koala Edward's Tree fenced in as a memorial near "Broadwater". Edward is on display in the Phillip Island & District Historical Society's museum in Cowes.local history, photography, photographs, "edwards" tree, black & white photograph, famous trees, edward the koala, broadwater guest house, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of the ship "Victoria" which surveyed Western Post in 1865. The first Victorian Man-o-War.local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, boats, steam sailing ship "victoria", black & white photograph, ships, man-o-war, western port, survey, john jenner, bryant west

Glen Isla built in 1868 by Robert Anderson, additions 1987 - 88. Had several owners subsequently, bought again into family by Grandson Stan Anderson but sold when he died. Now owned and restored by Mr & Mrs Lunn.Distant view of Glen Isla House depicting rural setting and Western Port Bay glimpse in background.local history, photography, photographs, slides, film, glen isla house, phillip island, sepia photograph, mrs emma anderson jacobs

Part of collection donated to the Museum by Mr. Bernard Grayden. 1975HMAS Australia in Western Port, viewed from Main Street, Cowes. (note tree guards around infant cypresses).local history, military history, navy, naval vessels, cowes, phillip island, black & white postcard, hmas australia, western port, cypresses

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of Mr W E Thompson telling the story of the Rhyll Cairn to the gathering at the unveiling in 1923. The Cairn commemorated the discovery of Western Port by Surgeon George Bass on the 4th January 1798 plus other visits paid by Grant, Murray, Baudin and D'Urville in the early 1800's.local history, photography, mr w e thompson, rhyll cairn, phillip islanders, black & white photograph, john jenner, bryant west

Printed plan on papermornington, phillip island, western port bay, bass straight, wonthaggi, lang lang, sherwood, nepean, narre worran, ringwood

Multi-fold pictorial map of towns, railways and main roads east of Port Phillip Bay from Melbourne to Yarra Junction and south to Phillip Island and Wonthaggi, backed by details of main features and points of interest.Photo-Lithographed by Department of Lands and Survey, Melbourne, 2.8.1929.

The Lady Nelson was the first decked ship to enter Western Port at the beginning of 1801, captained by Lt James Grant, who named Churchill Island after a man in Dawlish, Devon who gave him a quantity of a variety of seeds, including wheat, which he sowed on CI. Lady Nelson returned at the end of the year under the command of Murray, who reported that most of the seeds had grown. He harvested the wheat to feed to the swans they had on board for fresh meat. Friends of Churchill Island Society commissioned the building of the model ship from David Lumsden, who built it for FOCIS for the cost of materials.See historical information for the significance of the Lady Nelson to Churchill Island.1:24 scale model of the Lady Nelson (c.1801) made from cardboard, wood, cord, string, wool. Carvill Hull black ochre-yellow colour, brown timbers. Masts fawn with black trim and fittings. Lifeboat hull clinker built black and white. White inside, brown floor. Brown oars x 4. Tied onto Lady Nelson deck. LN flags: jack on stern gaff yard, and Royal Naval pennant on peak of rear mast."LADY NELSON" on stern white lettering on black.

The Lady Nelson was the first decked ship to enter Western Port in 1801 under the command of Lt James Grant. She returned later in the year under the command of Murray. She carried a gig and a smaller tender, of which this is a model.The model ship and tender are as exact replications of the actual ship and boats as is possible to obtain through research, basic hull plans available and interpretation by the model builder.Model Lady Nelson ship modeltender - smaller life boat. Wood, cardboard. Three bench seats and stern seating. Clinker built. 3 sets rowlocks, no oars.lady nelson, model boat, david lumsden, churchill island, western port, port phillip bay

An examination of the origins of over 400 names in and around the Bass Strait, including Victorian areas from Cape Otway to Lakes Entrance and the north coast of Tasmania.Maps, b&w illustrations, b&w photographsbunerong, bass strait, tasmania, place names, bassian isthmus, king island, otway coast, port phillip bay, western port bay, wilsons promontory, cape barren island, flinders island, king island

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

With the establishment of the large heavy industrial zone at Hastings in the late 1960s, which included the BP oil refinery using the Port of Hastings at the north-western arm of Western Port, a number of environmental problems predicted by both scientists and conservationists arose. The main shipping channel on the western arm of Western Port was dredged, causing suspended particles affecting seagrass beds. With inadequate regulation around discharge of bilge water within the bay, and oil spillage, oil pollution affecting both seabirds and coastal areas was not uncommon. This report of 40 penguins actually known to have been killed by an oil spill event was typical of reports at the time. The 2 men quoted – Vernon Johnson and Ken Pound – were well known conservationists. Vernon and his wife Nora owned the Kingston Gardens picnic and zoo business where they cared for many injured wildlife. Ken was a Phillip Island counsellor for a few years, and instrumental in the establishment of the Phillip Island conservation Society. He also contributed various documents and newspaper cuttings to this archive.This article is significant for being a record of an exact number of penguins found dead from oil spill pollution in Western Port. Also as a record of conservationists in the early years of community and environment movements both locally and in Australia. The article further gives evidence of linking tourism with wildlife.Photocopy of newspaper cutting. Black print with very dark black and white photo of Fairy (Little) Penguin. Poor reproduction due to older photocopy machine.(indecipherable) - late/1960s.little penguins, fairy penguins, eudyptula minor, penguin behaviour, phillip island tourist attractions, phillip island conservation society, oil spills, bp refinery hastings, port of hastings, western port, marine pollution, oil tankers, vernon johnson, ken pound, phillip island promotion association

This letter to the editor of an unknown newspaper probably dates from the late 1960s or early 1970s. At that time the Victorian government’s Liberal Party Premier was Sir Henry Bolte. In a reference to the major industrial valley in Germany, he and his government had a vision to make Western Port and Hastings into “the Ruhr of Victoria”, if not Australia. While this letter does not refer to Western Port, but apparently to Wiliamstown, the situation was similar in both bays. Substantial land was zoned in Hastings by the Bolte Government for industrial purposes, where BP built a refinery for oil imported through the Port of Hastings. The large oil tankers entered Western Port Bay via the western channel, which required dredging to accommodate them. It became a common site to see globules or patches of oil washed up on beaches around Western Port, and oil-affected wildlife. It is impossible to know how many wildlife were affected directly by oil spills and other forms of pollution in the Bay during that era. Sufficient numbers of oiled Little Penguins were found to prompt numerous references to the problem in newspapers, including letters, articles and even major features. The refinery eventually closed, with tanker traffic dramatically reducing in Western Port from the late 20th century.Statement of significance: This letter to the editor is significant in making reference to pollution caused in Port Phillip and Western Port bays by tanker traffic and the presence of oil refineries on industrial land in the bays. It is also indicative of the emergence of many conservation-related community groups of volunteers in Australia during the 1960s and 1970s in response to growing concern around conservation issues. Letters to the editor were a common means for these groups to have their concerns aired in public.Photocopy of newspaper cutting, single column letter to the editor.little penguins, oil spill, western port, port of hastings, henry bolte, "ruhr of victoria", oiled penguins, oiled wildlife, bp refinery, oil tankers, , mrs d waight, williamstown and district animal relief society