The tenant lived at the mercy of the resident landlord. Home was a one-roomed house, a chimney of wicker work plastered over with mud or just a hole in the roof. The walls might consist of mud too, or sods of grass. Any windows, were rarely glazed and would be open to the elements all year round. The Pig, if any, was kept in the house, the most valuable possession. Sold for cash at local market. The main items in the house were a potato pot and water bucket. As well as mother, father and children, there could well be grandparents all living in the same cramped conditions. The family would sleep on rushes or straw lain on the floor. Most tenants were tenants 'at will ', which meant they could be evicted at the 'will' of the landlord. Some had a lease for the life of the father and the eldest son, and this meant they were relatively safe from eviction as long as they could pay their rent. There was a tradition of passing on a portion of your land from father to each of the sons, who would build a small dwelling, and in turn pass a portion onto their own sons. This cycle of subdivision meant that many families were surviving on a tiny plot of land from which to derive a crop of potatoes for the year. Women worked hard in this environment, rearing children, cooking, cleaning, tending to any animals such a pigs or chicken and when needed, helping in the potato field. Life was dictated by the annual rent due to the landlord. Other typical expenses could be the Hearth Tax (actually charged by the number of fire places in a house) Turf, Hay (for any farm animals) and tithes. A tax known as the tithes were calculated at one tenth the value of everything saleable. Tithes were a bitter issue. They were for the support of the Church of Ireland, Protestant Bishops and Ministers, and a cess tax for the construction and maintenance of Protestant Church buildings. The problem being that the vast majority of those paying the Tax were Catholic and paying to support something that was contrary to their beliefs. Potatoes were the staple diet from September through to the end of Spring of the following year. But the summer months were months of hunger and hardship as they waited for the following harvest to come in Autumn. During these months people had to resort to eating anything they could find; turnips, cabbage, even wild grass, nettles, wild berries and dandelions. Those who lived close to the sea would collect seaweed and use it spread on their land as a form of manure. The dependency of so much of the population on the Potato as their sole source of food was to prove disastrous during the Famine years. [http://www.youririshroots.com/irishhistory/tenant.php, accessed 14 December 2013]A woman spins wools, while another cards fleece in preparation for spinning. I man smokes a pipe by an open fireplace, while a cow takes shelter in the cabin for warmth. ballarat irish, cabin, spinning, wool, cow

4 page A4 printed document. Achievements of Peter Ellis (for consideration for the Order of Australia) Peter is regarded as one of the leading collectors and presenters of traditional dance tunes, dances and musical instruments in Australia. At the 2005 National Folk Festival it was announced by Robyn Holmes that he has the largest selection of dance related material collected in the National Library Archives in Canberra. Peter has been collecting for many years and has collected with the late John Meredith (AM), Shirley Andrews (AM), Rob Willis and Dave Di Santi amongst others. Peter has literally travelled Australia collecting over the past thirty years. He has extensive field recordings from Western Australia and Tasmania in addition to his Victorian collection, for example. Most of his recording has been in North Western and Central Victoria. Peter collected a lot of his material from Harry McQueen ( Castlemaine), which led to a double CD of Harry's music. Harry had played in dance bands for over sixty years in Central Victoria. Harry had a number of tunes from Bill McGlashan who had taken Harry under his wing as a young man. Through Peter's efforts much valuable material and knowledge from almost a century ago was saved for posterity. Founder, Charter member and life member of the Bush Dance and Music Club of Bendigo. Life Member of the Victorian Folk Music Club. Recipient of the Graham Squance award (for the person who has done the most to promote folk dance and music in Victoria)) from the Folk Song and Dance Society of Victoria. Member of the famous Wedderburn Old Timers Band for over twenty-eight years (two platinum and several gold recordings in that time). Founder and leader of the Emu Creek Bush Band (twenty-nine years old in 2010) Emu Creek has made many CDs of dance music as listed. Friday Night at the Spring Gully Hop, Three double CDs called 'Quadrille Mania' which contain many rare dances and tunes which have been learnt and recorded, under Peter's guidance, so they would not be lost to posterity. A triple CD called 'Take Me Back To Bendigo' with heritage songs and music from the Gold Rush to Federation (solely organised and financed by Peter) These CDs show the multicultural heritage in Bendigo and include music and groups from the Koorie, Chinese, Cornish, German, Irish, Italian, Scots, English and Welsh communities of Bendigo and district. Upon his recovery of costs Peter has handed over copyright to the Bendigo Community so future profits go back into the community. Three double CDs called 'The Merry Country Dance' with dances and tunes going back to the time of Governor Lachlan Macquarie's Ball in 1804. Most of the tracks are performed by Emu Creek Following much practice under Peter's tutelage. For further authenticity Peter liaised with other musicians to record some tracks which were revived from almost two hundred years ago and have now been recorded using the instruments of the time. A three volume set of Bush Concert recordings (Vol 1 Goornong (launched Australia Day 2006 with any profits going to the Soldier's Memorial Hall Committee), Vol 2 Heywood and Vol 3 Maldon/Sutton Grange, already recorded and to be released as money from other projects becomes available. NOTE: None of these CDs have led to any profit. All money raised is put back into the community and further heritage recordings, books and videos through the Bush Dance and Music Club of Bendigo Inc. In 2009 a full collection of all Peter's book and CDs was donated to the John Gorton Library as part of the recognition of the fifty year career of the Gay Charmers Dance Band from Lake Charm. 'Music of the Diggings' (4 tracks by Peter or Emu Creek). In addition the Emu Creek Band, under Peter's leadership, has appeared on a CD backing Bruce Watson on his song, 'The Old Bush Dance'. Emu Creek has performed at National Folk Festivals in four states and several times at the National Folk Festival in Canberra. They have also been mainstays of the Maldon Folk Festival for over twenty years as well as doing dance programs for the Port Fairy Folk Festival on two occasions. Peter has written and published many books related to traditional music and dance. These include Three volumes of 'Collectors Choice' which is musical notation for bush dances coupled with much dance history which would have been lost without Peter's efforts. 'Two Hundred Dancing Years - How to run a Colonial Ball: (co-authored with Shirley Andrews (A.M.), 'Music Makes Me Smile - The Music of the Nariel Valley' (co-authored with Harry Gardner). The Merry Country Dance' (292 pages) a companion to the three double CDs. He has also been a contributor to Verandah Music' authors Rob Willis and Graham Seal and 'The Oxford Companion to Australia Folklore' Ed Graham Seal. Peter is also a regular contributor to 'Trad and Now' Magazine. His latest completed book is titled 'The Merry Country Dance' and is over three hundred pages of social history, recipes and dance instructions. It was completed with the assistance of a Victorian Government Heritage Grant. The first edition sold out in only a few weeks. Peter has taught many children about old time musicianship through the junior bands which have functioned over the years with many children joining Emu Creek and then going on to follow their own musical inclinations. He has trained several young concertina and button accordion players over the years. Peter has been a regular tutor with Continuing Education in tin whistle, harmonica and old time dancing for many years. Peter has conducted workshops in music dance at National Folk Festivals in Perth, Alice Springs, Maleny, Melbourne, Adelaide, Kuranda and more recently at several Canberra National folk Festivals. He has also done this at Maldon for many years, Port Fairy, Glen Innes, Jamberoo and Kiama Festivals. For over thirty years Peter has been a guest player and MC for the dances at the Nariel Folk Festival (Australia's oldest continuing Folk Festival) Peter is very well known in the Corryong area as a collector and the co-author of the book, Music Makes Me Smile, about the Klippel/Simpson dynasty in the Nariel Creek Band. This book is currently being revised for re-issue as more material has come to light since the original publication. For many years Peter trained Debutante Sets in the Bendigo District. Peter was an instigator of the annual Dinki Di Ball held each September in Eaglehawk for the past thirteen years. At this ball three bands play for a quarter of the night and then join together for the final part of the evening. The bands are Emu Creek, The Wedderburn Old Timers and the Gay Charmers. Up to four hundred dancers, many in heritage costumes have attended this dance. The ball also pays tribute to, and involves, the old MC's. Through this example their skills have been passed down to a younger generation of MC's. All profits are returned to the Dance Club to foster our musical heritage. Each Ball includes presentations designed to promote social dancing in Australia. Over the years several young musicians have been presented with musical instruments at the Ball, libraries have been given copies of Peter's books and CDs and one year a keen young dancer was presented a pair of dancing shoes. Peter is a trained ballroom dancer and has gained gold medal status in this field. Peter is an accomplished musician and is one of Australia's foremost button accordion players. He is also highly accomplished on the tin whistle, bones and harmonica. He is the only exponent of the Swanee whistle that I have seen. Peter also plays the piano and ukulele. Thirty six years membership of the Bendigo Field Naturalists Club, Secretary in the 1970s and actively involved in campaigns to save Lake Pedder and establish the Whipstick and Kamarooka State Parks (now part of the Bendigo National Park). Peter was also extremely active in the establishment of the Salomon's Gully and Jackass Flat Flora Reserves in Bendigo which have now been saved for posterity. Peter has also been involved in efforts to save One Tree Hill and this area has now been included in the Greater Bendigo National Park. He has discovered and named new plant species in the Whipstick Forest and propagates Australian plants. Peter takes regular guided tours of interested people through the Whipstick each Spring on wild flower educational tours. He is a keen and gifted photographer of local plant species. Life member of the Bendigo Field Naturalists. Peter contributed text and photographs to their publication 'Wildflowers of Bendigo'. When the Victorian State Parliament had its first historical sitting outside Melbourne Emu Creek played during lunch for the guests and public. They have also played at functions such as the Centenaries of Federation, the Bendigo Post Office, the Shamrock Hotel and the opening of the new Melbourne Museum and the Federation Museum in Bendigo. The band regularly plays for Seniors week and at homes for the aged such as Bethlehem, Mirridong, Bignold Park, Bendigo Village and others. Peter has been instrumental in getting the band to play for fundraisers such as schools, scouts and environmental groups. The band plays many charitable 'gigs'. The band supports the Bendigo Easter Fair and the Eaglehawk Fair when able and has appeared in several parades over the years. The above list shows the invaluable contribution that Peter Ellis has made towards the collecting and distributing of Australia's musical and dance heritage. No one has done more than Peter in this area. He has also been active locally and nationally in his endeavours towads saving the natural environment. He has put many years of time and energy into both area's and has many on going projects in mind for the years ahead. The awarding of an honour from Australia would be just reward for a man who has preserved so much of our musical and dance heritage for future generations. Knowing Peter I have no doubt he would treasure such an honour as he has given so much to preserve Australia's music and dance heritage over most of his sixty plus years. Compiled by John Williams. Handwritten notes at bottom of last page reads: Referees Jacinta Allan MLA Steve Gibbons MHR Willie Carney ex Mayor of Bendigo Supporting letter Mary Smith Sec. Bush Dance + Music Club.person, individual, peter ellis oam

Nicholas Caire was born on Guernsey in the Channel Islands in 1837. He arrived in Adelaide with his parents in about 1860. In 1867, following photographic journeys in Gippsland, he opened a studio in Adelaide. From 1870 to 1876 he lived and worked in Talbot in Central Victoria. In 1876 he purchased T. F. Chuck's studios in the Royal Arcade Melbourne. In 1885, following the introduction of dry plate photography, he began a series of landscape series, which were commercially successful. As a photographer, he travelled extensively through Victoria, photographing places few of his contemporaries had previously seen. He died in 1918. Reference: Jack Cato, 'Caire, Nicholas John (1837–1918)', Australian Dictionary of Biography.An original, rare photograph from the series 'Views of Victoria: General Series' by the photographer, Nicholas Caire (1837-1918). The series of 60 photographs that comprise the series was issued c. 1876 and reinforced a neo-Romantic view of the Australian landscape to which a growing nationalist movement would respond. Nicholas Caire was active as a photographer in Australia from 1858 until his death in 1918. His vision of the Australian bush and pioneer life had a counterpart in the works of Henry Lawson and other nationalist poets, authors and painters.Views of Victoria (General Series) No.24 / ‘Scene at Healesville’ / Albumen silver photograph mounted on cardOn Reverse: ‘After leaving the villages of Lilydale and S. Hubert the scenery commences to assume a very wild and romantic appearance. The country becomes exceedingly undulatory, and the belts of densely packed scrub, present altogether a very different appearance from the more settled and cultivated districts. Our illustration is taken from one of the many creeks which surround the rising township of Healesville.’nicholas caire (1837-1918), australia - landscape photography

Nicholas Caire was born on Guernsey in the Channel Islands in 1837. He arrived in Adelaide with his parents in about 1860. In 1867, following photographic journeys in Gippsland, he opened a studio in Adelaide. From 1870 to 1876 he lived and worked in Talbot in Central Victoria. In 1876 he purchased T. F. Chuck's studios in the Royal Arcade Melbourne. In 1885, following the introduction of dry plate photography, he began a series of landscape series, which were commercially successful. As a photographer, he travelled extensively through Victoria, photographing places few of his contemporaries had previously seen. He died in 1918. Reference: Jack Cato, 'Caire, Nicholas John (1837–1918)', Australian Dictionary of Biography.An original, rare photograph from the series 'Views of Victoria: General Series' by the photographer, Nicholas Caire (1837-1918). The series of 60 photographs that comprise the series was issued c. 1876 and reinforced a neo-Romantic view of the Australian landscape to which a growing nationalist movement would respond. Nicholas Caire was active as a photographer in Australia from 1858 until his death in 1918. His vision of the Australian bush and pioneer life had a counterpart in the works of Henry Lawson and other nationalist poets, authors and painters.‘View of the Township of Mt. Blackwood’ : Views of Victoria (General Series) No.42 : Albumen silver photograph | Photo on card with Title and Description on reverse | Mounted 24 x 30 cm; Photo 12 x 17 cm.On Reverse: ‘The locality which this illustration represents was formerly known as the Blackwood Forest, and has been the scene of considerable mining activity. The shallow alluvial diggings of the early days have given place to the deep sinking in search of reefs. This scene is characteristic of the wild appearance which many of the inland townships of Victoria represent.’nicholas caire (1837-1918), blackwood (vic), mount blackwood, landscape photography - victoria

non-fictionThe story of the life, family and achievements of Arthur Henman, born in 1861 in Lidlington, Bedfordshire, England and his wife Elizabeth Ann nee Pollard of Bonegilla, Victoria. For a time on arrival in Australia at the age of 17, Arthur had a contract to supply timber to the New South Wales Railway Department. After marrying in 1888, Arthur and Elizabeth became successful dairy farmers in Glen Innes, northern New South Wales, before deciding to come to the Barmedman district. They took up the property, now well known as "Pine Valley." They had a pioneer's task to face for a thick belt of green timber stretched from the back door of their first home to Temora. Undaunted by the task, but with great determination and courage, they fashioned a first class property out of the wild and waste of those days and made valuable contribution to the fledgling communities until retirement from active farming in 1923 when they moved to Sydney.pioneers australia, pioneers nsw, arthur henman, elizabeth ann pollard, barmedman district nsw

Ill, p.281non-fictionThe story of Grey Owl and Anaharare, his wife; their days trapping, guiding and exploring, and then their life work devoted to the conservation of game generally, and the beaver in particular.conservationists - canada - biography, beavers

Ill, p.281non-fictionThe story of Grey Owl and Anaharare, his wife; their days trapping, guiding and exploring, and then their life work devoted to the conservation of game generally, and the beaver in particular.conservationists - canada - biography, beavers

Ill, p.444.fictionA terrifying encounter with an escaped convict in a graveyard on the wild Kent marshes; a summons to meet the bitter, decaying Miss Havisham and her beautiful, cold-hearted ward Estella; the sudden generosity of a mysterious benefactor 7F 13 these form a series of events that change the orphaned Pip's life forever, and he eagerly abandons his humble origins to begin a new life as a gentleman. Dickens's haunting late novel depicts Pip's education and development through adversity as he discovers the true nature of his 'great expectationsengland - fiction, charles dickens 1812-1870

lll, maps, p.244.non-fictionThe life and times of Buffalo Billunited states - frontier life., united states - indian wars

This collection of 23 photos of map production on the AUTOMAP 2 computer-based system in Air Survey and Cartographic Squadrons, was most likely taken in 1986. The AUTOMAP 2 system was an upgrade to the AUTOMAP 1 system, comprising Intergraph graphic edit workstation terminals networked to VAX 750/785 main frame computers. Unlike AUTOMAP 1, operators could display digital topographic features on monitors for editing. Successful adaptation of this system meant RASvy was at the forefront of digital mapping/cartographic systems in Australia and overseas. The system comprised Input (Wild B8 Aviograph feature extraction) Raster Scanning (digitising from compilation sheets, Graphic Edit (cartographic completion) and Plot Verification Sub Systems. The system was operational from 1984 to its ‘Newheart’ upgrade in 1993. Throughout its life, the system was progressively refined with productivity gains, achieved from award winning technical development in-house by talented and innovative Army Survey Regiment personnel.This is a set of 23 photograph of AUTOMAP 2 production at the Army Survey Regiment at Fortuna, Bendigo, c1986. The photographs were on 35mm colour slides and were scanned at 96 dpi. Photos .5P and .6P are also printed on photographic and scanned at 300 dpi. They are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. .1) - Photo, colour, c1986, AUTOMAP 2 Production - Army Survey Regiment, Fortuna, Bendigo. c1986. .2) - Photo, colour, c1986, AUTOMAP 2 Wild B8 Aviograph stereoplotter. .3) - Photo, colour, c1986, AUTOMAP 2 Wild B8 Aviograph stereoplotter feature extraction, unidentified technician. .4) - Photo, colour, c1986, Wild B8 Aviograph stereoplotter feature extraction, LCPL Raelene (Munting) Brodie. .5) - Photo, colour, c1986, AUTOMAP 2 computer tape maintenance, SPR Steve Linane. .6) - Photo, colour, c1986, AUTOMAP 2 Graphic Edit Workstation, SPR Steve Linane. .7) to .8) - Photo, colour, c1986, AUTOMAP 2 Graphic Edit Workstation, unidentified technician. .9 to .10) - Photo, colour, c1986, AUTOMAP 2 Graphic Edit Workstation. .11) - Photo, colour, c1986, AUTOMAP 2 Graphic Edit Workstation feature coding and command menu. .12) - Photo, colour, c1986, AUTOMAP 2 high resolution computer monitor. .13) to .16) - Photo, colour, c1986, AUTOMAP 2 production output comparison to AUTOMAP 1. .17) to .18) - Photo, colour, c1986, AUTOMAP 2 computer system components. .19) - Photo, colour, c1986, AUTOMAP 2 Intergraph 7596 verification plotter. .20) - Photo, colour, c1986, AUTOMAP 2 Benson verification plotter, SPR Steve Coulson. .21) - Photo, colour, c1986, AUTOMAP 2 drainage, contour, roads and cultural digital data verification plot. .22) - Photo, colour, c1986, AUTOMAP 2 drainage, contour, roads and cultural digital data on computer monitor. .23) - Photo, colour, c1986, AUTOMAP 2 3D digital terrain model on computer monitor. .1P to .23P - Some of the equipment is annotated on the frame of the 35mm slides. .5P & .6P prints annotated incorrectly ‘Steve Lenane’. Correct spelling is - ‘Steve Linane’ royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr, automap 2

The Wreck of Hope (Long-nosed Common Dolphin skeleton, Delphinus delphis) featured as part of the exhibition Anatomy Lessons, shown at the National Wool Museum in 2024. The exhibition featured meticulously-sculpted, life size skeletons, making visitors question their place in this web of the living and the dead. From a towering giraffe stretching 4.4 metres in height, to an army of over 50 delicately rendered frogs, this exhibition was enthralling in scale. Each sculpture is an accurate portrayal of a real animal and is carefully measured, drawn, and moulded from steel, wire, and foam. The frame is then intricately knitted over to create these thought-provoking pieces. Each sculpture tells a story, one of the collection of animals by museums and collectors, of Western safari hunters, of human encroachment, and of the often-sad role of the animals in our lives. These underlying concepts are explored and reflected by the materials used. Wool, that speaks of warmth, of comfort, of care, meets the size, grace, and sheer breathtaking beauty of the pieces, clashing with the hard and complex stories beneath. This knitted dolphin skeleton was the start of Beevor's interest in comparative anatomy. Beevors recalls viewing a dolphin, one of many skeletons alongside a mouse and a lion in the Australian Museum's collection during a school visit in the 1970s. At the time, school children watched TV reruns of 'Flipper', which portrayed dolphins as intelligent and noble animals. Elsewhere, the conservation movement was growing, and appeals to protect marine mammals were gaining momentum through the 'Save the Whales' campaign. The fascination with live dolphin shows had grown throughout the 1960s and 1970s and the ethics began to be questioned. Some believe they played an important role in raising public awareness of cetaceans and their welfare. Others argued the performances glorified the dominance of heroic trainers over the subordinate dolphin, and offered little education about the dolphins' natural characteristics nor prioritised their welfare. Many of these facilities are now closed and all dolphin species are protected by international accords aimed at conserving wild populations. Despite this dolphins are still at risk of swallowing plastic waste, mercury toxicity, toxoplasmosis, boat impacts and being bycatch in commercial fishing operations. Originally from Australia, Michele Beevors has been practicing in New Zealand for the last 20 years. She is Head of Sculpture at Dunedin School of Art, Otago Polytechnic, New Zealand’s oldest, and one of its most prestigious, art schools. Beevors has exhibited in galleries, museums, and exhibition spaces in across New Zealand, Australia and Vienna with art that is defiant, unconventional, and moving.Life sized knitted skeleton of a dolphin, with white wool and internal steel, foam and wire frame. The dolphin is mounted on a wooden base, made from a desk, with books placed under the desk lid. The books and desk are painted black.knitting, art, dolphin, conservation, sculpture, skeletons, anatomy lessons, michele beevors

fictionFrom Korea to Vietnam, on earth or up to the stars, in fighters or in spaceships, the comradeships and rivalries, the glories and the tragedies combine to make this an exhilarating novel of US Airforce life - a novel as glorious and glamerous as flight itselfvietnam war, 1961-1975 - fiction, us air force

The Whipstick was a gold mining area and is now a national park. Peter Ellis ( 1946 - 2015 ) died 27th March, 2015. Bendigo Advertiser personal notices re death and funeral; obituary and two page spread on Peter Ellis' life and contribution to the retention of Australian bush music. B. Peter Nicolaus Ellis' Service of Thanksgiving for his funeral held on 25th. May 2015 at Mulqueen Family Chapel, Bendigo.Part of the Peter Ellis Collection. Survey of Whipstick, Part 7. A detailed map of the Whipstick National Park Showing locations of wildflowers. Compiled by Peter Ellis. There is one paper copy and three Laminated paper copies which are probably preparations for the paper copy. map, whipstick, peter ellis collection, wild flowers

This majestic peacock embodies technical achievement, skill and ingenuity of artisans during the 19th century. It is now known as the 'Loch Ard Peacock' and was designed and modelled in 1873 by Paul Comolera (1818-1897), and fired in one piece at the Minton factory at Stoke-on-Trent in the United Kingdom in 1875. The peacock has been portrayed in symbolic motifs and has figured heavily in folktales and fables since antiquity, and many cultures around the world see it as a symbol of beauty, rebirth and power. Wealthy Victorians, loved majolica, and the large peacock would have been the ultimate home accessory, as a conservatory ornament – combining their desire for nature, the exotic and vibrant colours. The peacock model was listed in catalogues by Minton & Co. for a retail price of 35 guineas or sold as a pair for 90 guineas. Minton & Co. was founded in 1793 by Thomas Minton (1765–1836) and became famous pottery and porcelain manufacturers. Comolera was a French artist and sculptor, renowned for dramatic naturalistic forms, and life-size renditions of birds and animals that won him admiration in public and artistic circles. He was employed by Minton & Co. from 1873 to 1880, and the life-sized peacock became his best known work. Comolera, kept a live peacock loaned from the nearby Duke of Sutherland's Trentham Hall Estate in his studio, to create a life-size model of fine buff earthenware model, which was then hand painted in brilliantly coloured green and blue glazes to mimic the peafowl’s dazzling plumage. There are no surviving production records, but according to documents in the Minton Archive, nine peacocks were made by Comolera. However, today some historians now believe that twelve were fired at the Minton factory, research is still on-going. These peacocks were so admired that the Minton & Co. used them as exhibition showpieces at International Exhibitions in London, Paris, and the United States of America, assuring the company had a worldwide reputation. So, when Melbourne hosted an International Exposition in 1880, Minton & Co. sent out ceramics, tiles and in particular, this peacock was intended to be part of their exhibit in the British Court in the Exhibition Building, built in the Carlton Gardens. The early dispatch date (1878) indicates that the company may have intended to exhibit their wares including the peacock at the 1879 Sydney International Exhibition, but the company did not take up this option. The ship that Minton & Co. used to bring the peacock and their other wares to the Australian colonies was the ill-fated Loch Ard, which sunk after striking Mutton Bird Island near Port Campbell, Victoria in calm foggy weather in June 1878 on the final leg on the ships journey to Melbourne. The loss of 52 lives made it one of Victoria’s worst shipwrecks. Therefore, this peacock never made it to the grand exposition in Melbourne, as Minton & Co. had planned. Charles McGillivray dragged this peacock, still in its original packing case onto the beach in the gorge just two days after the Loch Ard went down. The peacock was rescued unscathed apart from a chip on its beak (only repaired in 1988). After a disagreement with Melbourne Customs Officer, Joseph Daish, McGillivray stopped his salvage operations, leaving the peacock on the beach. The second salvagers were James Miller and Thomas Keys. Miller was a member of the firm Howarth, Miller and Matthews, Geelong, who had brought the salvage rights to the Loch Ard wreck on 10 June. When Miller and Keys arrived at the wreck site, a storm had washed many of the salvaged goods including this peacock back into the sea. The two men found the peacock in its case ‘bobbing along in the water’, and pulled it back to the beach. To ensure the peacock wasn't washed out to sea again, Miller and Keys hauled the packing case containing the peacock up the gorge's cliff face to the top, ready to be transported. In an interview in 1928, Keys claimed that at the time of the rescue the head had broken from the body. This account was proven to be true in 1988, following the birds display in Brisbane. This peacock began its life in Australia, not in grandeur of an International Exhibition as intended, but in the hallway of a simple domestic house in Geelong. It appears Minton &Co. did not attempt to buy this peacock back. Florence Miller, daughter of James Miller (Loch Ard salvage rights holder), later remarked that the only item of real value rescued from the wreck had been the peacock and that this had been kept by her father in the family home for many years, and became a treasured family possession. As such, this 'Loch Ard peacock' was almost forgotten and mistaken with other Minton peacocks around the world. Florence tried to sell the peacock due to financial difficulties in the 1930s but was unsuccessful. While attempting to sell the peacock, it was displayed in the window of the Argus newspaper office on Collins Street, and at the National Museum on 1st June 1935, the date of the 57th anniversary of the Loch Ard wreck. As a result, the peacock again attracted public attention with books, newspaper and magazine articles being published telling the story of its survival from a shipwreck. After Miller's death, the peacock remained in an antique dealer's shop in Melbourne for many years until it was bought at auction by Frank Ridley-Lee, in the 1940s, who displayed the bird at his home in Ivanhoe/Heidelberg. The peacock remained in the hands of the Ridley-Lee, until it was offered for sale in 1975 as part of Mrs Ridley-Lee's estate. In 1975, an advertisement in Melbourne newspaper, the Age announced the sale by auction of the art collection of the Ridley-Lee estate that included this peacock. The peacock was not sold at this time, as the reserve price of $4500 was not met. This news was passed on to the board of the newly created Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. Urgent efforts were made to raise the necessary funds through fundraising by the Warrnambool City Council and public donations. The Fletcher Jones Company and the Victorian Government contributed half of the of the cost. On 9 September 1975, the peacock was purchased by Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, and it found a new home at the maritime museum. Since, it has only left Warrnambool twice. Firstly, in 1980 at the centenary celebrations of the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, and secondly, in 1988, the peacock was given pride of place at the entrance to the Victorian Pavilion at the Brisbane World Expo, acknowledging that this Minton majolica peacock is the most significant shipwreck object in Australia. The Minton majolica peacock is considered of historical social and aesthetic significance to Victoria and is one of only a few 'objects' registered on the Victorian Heritage Register (H 2132), as it is a most notable and rare object associated with the Minton factory of the 1870s and works by the celebrated sculptor Paul Comolera along with the wreck of the Loch Ard on the Victorian coastline. This Minton peacock is historically significant for its rarity; it was one of only 9-12 known to exist. The shipwreck of the Loch Ard is also of significance for Victoria and is registered on the Victorian Heritage Register Ref (S 417). Flagstaff Hill has a varied collection of artefacts from Loch Ard and its collection is significant for being one of the largest accumulation of artefacts from this notable Victorian shipwreck. The collections object is to also give us a snapshot into history so we can interpret the story of this tragic event. The collection is also archaeologically significant as it represents aspects of Victoria's shipping history that allows us to interpret Victoria's early social and historical themes. The collection is historically significant is that it is associated, unfortunately with the worst and best-known shipwreck in Victoria's history. The peacock, resplendent in polychrome glaze, stands perched on a rocky plinth decorated with vines, leaves, flowers, blackberries and wild mushrooms. The peacock’s breast is cobalt blue; the wings and legs are in naturalistic colours. The tail is a mass of feathers coloured in green, ochre blue and brown — a fantastic display of artistry and Minton expertise. Inscribed at the base :P Comolera, and a Minton & Co. design number: 2045.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, loch ard, loch ard gorge, peacock, paul comolera, victorian heritage register, minton peacock, minton & co., stoke upon trent, bird figures, mintons, ceramics, international expositions, majolica, naturalistic, staffordshire