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Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Photograph - Shipwreck rescue, c. 1890's
The photograph taken on Sunday September 6, 1891, shows the Port Campbell Rocket Rescue Crew and Equipment at Wreck Beach, Moonlight Head, preparing to save the stranded men on the wreck of the barque Fiji. The man standing in the middle, front of the photograph, facing the ocean, is Herbert Maxwell Morris, a farmer at Barruppa near Princetown, also a member of the Rocket Rescue Crew. The Rocket Rescue lifesaving method used an explosive rocket to shoot a light line from shore across to the distressed vessel. The line was then secured to the ship’s mast and a heavy, continuous line was then sent out with a ‘breaches buoy’ attached (a buoy similar to the seat of a pair of trousers). The stranded seafarers would sit in the seat and be pulled along the line to safety. A lot of skill was needed to set up the line to reach its target and the Crew trained regularly to keep up their skills. The three-masted iron barque Fiji was built in Belfast, Ireland, in 1875 by Harland and Wolfe for a Liverpool based shipping company. The ship departed Hamburg on May 22, 1891, bound for Melbourne under the command of Captain William Vickers with a crew of 25. The Cape Otway light was sighted on September 5, 1891. However, the bearing was different from Captain Vickers’ calculations. At about 2:30am the next morning land was reported only 4-5 miles away. The captain tried to redirect the ship in the rough weather without success and the Fiji struck rock only 300 yards (274 metres) from shore. The crew burned blue lights fired rockets to signal distress. The lifeboats either capsized or were swamped and smashed to pieces. Two younger crewmen volunteered to swim for the shore with a line. One, a Russian named Daniel Carkland, drowned after he was swept away when the line broke. The other, Julius Gebauhr, a 17 year old German able seaman, reached shore safely on his second attempt but had cut the line lose with his sheath-knife when it tangled in kelp. He climbed the steep cliffs in search of help. Later that morning a young man, William (Willie) Ward, saw the wreck of the ship close to shore near Moonlight Head from the cliffs and the alarm sent for help from Princetown, six miles away. At around the same time a Mott’s party of land selectors, including F. J. Stansmore, Leslie Dickson, was travelling on horseback from Princetown towards Moonlight Head. They were near Ryans Den when they found Gebauhr in the scrub, bleeding and dressed only in singlet, socks and a belt with his sheath-knife. They thought the man may be an escaped lunatic, due to his wild and shaggy looking state and what seemed to be gibberish speech. After Gebauhr threw his knife away they realised that he was speaking half-English, half-German as he talked about the wreck. They gave him food, brandy and clothing, and he was taken to a nearby guest house Rivernook, owned by John Evans, where he was cared for. Most of the party went off to the wreck site. Stanmore and Dickson rode for help from both Port Campbell for the two Rocket Rescue Crew buggies, and Warrnambool for the lifeboat. The vessel S.S. Casino sailed from Portland towards the scene. Half of the Port Campbell Rocket Crew and equipment arrived after a 25 mile journey and set up the rocket tripod on the beach below the cliffs. By this time the weary crew of the Fiji had been clinging to the jib-boom for almost 15 hours, calling frantically for help. The Office in Charge of the Rocket Crew, W. Tregear, ordered the rocket to be fired but the light line broke and the rocket was carried away. A second line, successfully set up by Herbert Morris, crossed the ship and was secured. The anxious sailors tried to come ashore along the line but some were washed off as the line sagged with too many on it at one time. Other nearly exhausted crewmen made their way through masses of seaweed and were often smothered by waves. Only 14 of the 24 who had remained on the ship made it to shore. Rocket Crew members and onlookers on the beach took it in turns to go into the surf and drag the half-drowned seamen to safety. These rescuers included Bill (William James) Robe, Herbert Morris, Edwin Vinge, Hugh Cameron, Fenelon Mott, Arthur Wilkinson and Peter Carmody, who was also involved in the rescue of men from the Newfield. Arthur Wilkinson, a 29 year old land selector, swam out to help one of the ship’s crewmen, a carpenter named John Plunken who was trying to swim from the Fiji to the shore. Two or three times both men almost reached the shore but were washed back to the wreck where they were both hauled back on board. Wilkinson was unconscious, possibly from hitting his head on the anchor before they were brought up. Plunken survived but Wilkinson later died and his body was washed up the next day. The 26 year old Bill Robe hauled out the last man; it was the captain and he’d been tangled in the kelp. Only 20 minutes later the wreck of the Fiji was smashed apart and it settled in about 6m of water. Of the 26 men on the Fiji, 11 in total lost their lives. The remains of 7 bodies were washed onto the beach. Their coffins were made from timbers from the wrecked Fiji and they were buried on the cliff top above the wreck. The survivors were taken to Rivernook and cared for over the next few days. Funds were raised by locals soon after the wreck in aid of the sufferers of the Fiji disaster. Captain Vickers was severely reprimanded for his mishandling of the ship. His Masters Certificate was suspended for 12 months. There was public criticism of the rescue. The important canvas ‘breeches buoy’ and heavy line for the Rocket Rescue was in the half of the rocket outfit that didn’t make it in time for the rescue as they had been delayed at the Gellibrand River ferry. The communications to Warrnambool were down so the call for help didn’t get through on time. The boat that had been notified of the wreck failed to reach it in time. Much cargo looting occurred. One looter was caught with a small load of red and white rubber balls. Essence of peppermint mysteriously turned up in many settlers homes. Sailcloth was salvaged and used for horse rugs and tent flies. Soon after the wreck “Fiji tobacco” was being advertised around Victoria. A Customs officer, trying to prevent some of the looting, was assaulted by looters and thrown over a steep cliff. He managed to cling to a bush lower down until rescued. In 1894 some coiled fencing wire was salvaged from the wreck. Hundreds of coils are still strewn over the site of the wreck, encrusted and solidified. The hull is broken but the vessel’s iron ribs can be seen along with some of the cargo of concrete and pig iron. Captain Vickers presented Bill Robe with his silver-cased pocket watch, the only possession that he still had, as a token for having saved his life and the lives of some of the crew. Years later Bill used the pocket watch to pay a debt, and it was handed down through that family. Seaman Julius Gebauhr later gave his knife, in its hand crafted leather sheath, to F. J. Stansmore for caring for him when he came ashore. The knife handle had a personal inscription on it. A marble headstone on the cliffs overlooking Wreck Beach pays 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. Captain Vickers’ pocket watch and Julius Gebauhr’s sheath knife are amongst the artefacts salvaged from the Fiji that are now part of the Fiji collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The man identified in the photograph, Herbert Maxwell Morris, was the nephew of the Victorian era artist, William Morris. Herbert had sailed from England to Australia and was about 25 years old when he joined the Rocket Rescue Crew at Port Campbell. His successful rocket line firing at the Fiji wreck site was noted by author Jack Loney in one of his historic shipwreck books. Later Morris moved from his property at Baruppa to Laver’s Hill to run a more profitable enterprise. This photograph is significant as an image of a historical event, being the willingness of local volunteers to aid in the saving of lives of stranded seafarers. It gives a clear picture of the use of Rocket Rescue Equipment in shore-to-ship rescues. Flagstaff Hill’s Fiji collection is of historical significance at a State level because of its association with the wreck Fiji, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register VHR S259. 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 evident. It also represents aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes. The Fiji collection meets the following criteria for assessment; Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history, possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history, and potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria’s cultural history. Black and white photograph. Subject is the Rocket Rescue Crew from Pt Campbell on Wreck Beach, Moonlight Head, at the wreck site of the barque 'Fiji'. September 6, 1891.warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, shipwrecked artefact, pocket watch, fob watch fiji, william vickers, william robe, bill robe, gebauhr, stansmore, carmody, wreck bay, moonlight head, fiji shipwreck 1891, rocket crew, port campbell rocket crew, lifesaving crew, photograph of rocket crew, herbert morris, warrnambool, shipwreck artefact, mott, william ward, rocket rescue, breeches buoy, rivernook guest house -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - Post Card
Donated by S Serpell of Serpell & Reid Families, Sandringham.Black & White postcard of a view of the beach with scattered houses in the background. Boats in the water.The RoseSeries P 3420. View of Rhyll, Phillip Island, Victoria Letter on back from Elizabeth to her aunt while holidaying in Cowes.rhyll foreshore phillip island, rhyll phillip island, s serpell -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, Early 20th Century
One of a collection of 13 photographs donated by Ralph Correy.Sepia photograph of groups of people on the sand and rocks at the beach. Two boats in the sea.phillip island beaches, fishing boats phillip island, ralph correy -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, Early 20th Century
One of a collection of photographs donated by Bruce BennettSepia photograph of a pier and beach with a mother and two children sitting in a dinghy on the sand. On back: "Cowes - Albie Smith collection"phillip island beach, phillip island pier, dinghy, bruce bennett -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, Early 20th Century
One of a collection of photographs donated by Bruce BennettColoured copy of a postcard showing a man and dog on beach near McHaffie's Reef."Scene McCaffey's Reef, Cowes"mchaffie's reef phillip island, coastline phillip island, bruce bennett -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, 1940's - 1950's
One of a collection of 9 photographs donated by the former Shire of Phillip Island. Seven of the collection are a series of photographs sold as apack of 7 postcards for tourists/visitors to Phillip Island.Black & White photograph of a group of about 24 penguins arriving on the Summerland Beach"Penguins, Phillip Island"penguins coming ashore, wildlife - penguins, phillip island wildlife, shire of phillip island -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, 1954
One of a collection of photographs donated by Daryl JohnsBlack & White Photograph of Woolamai Bight - water breaking through the channel to the beach.woolamai bight, phillip island, daryl johns -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Newspaper Clipping, 20/10/1968
Newspaper clipping 1968Article on damage to beach at Penguin Reserve Phillip Island by a stormand repair by bulldozer.phillip island, penguin reserve, penguin parade, storm damaged beach -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, The Lovers Walk, Cowes
Part of a collection of Rose & Valentine Postcards. Copied by John Jansson 1984Black & White Postcard. view of Lovers Walk, Cowes. Family group on beach.H. Malouf Cowes "The Lovers Walk" Coweslocal history, photography, photographs, postcards, view of cowes, phillip island, black & white postcard copy, cowes beach, lover's walk, cowes -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, 1978/79
Timber house with verandah and metal valence, built probably in the early 1900s.Coloured photograph of the home of Capt. Leonard McFee of the 'Genista', in Beach Road, Rhyll.local history, photographs, buildings - historical, coloured photograph, john cook, phillip island, l mcfee homestead -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph
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 looking eastwards along Cowes beach. Rocks in foreground and bathers on the sand.local history, photography, cowes beach, black & white photograph, phillip island coastline, john jenner, bryant west -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Photograph - Photograph - Nun's Beach, Portland, n.d
Con Kroker CollectionBlack & white photograph of Nun's Beach. Looking towards Whalers' Bluff & LighthouseBack: 9-H pencil -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Slide - Agfacolour Slide - Henty Beach Portland Bay, 1960s
Taken by Mr P.G.W. (Wal) Whitelaw in the early to mid 1960'sAgfacolor slide of Henty Beach. Portland Bay lookings towards Fisherman's Breakwater. -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Postcard - Postcard - Memorial to Pioneer Women of Victoria at Portland, Victoria, n.d
Black and white photograph of a memorial, surrounded by a post and chain barricade. Beach in background.Front: (no inscriptions) Back: Memorial to Pioneer Women of Victoria at Portland, Victoriamemorial, womens history, pioneer women -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Photograph - Photograph - Marine Discovery Centre Portland, Victoria, 09/07/2000
Coloured photograph: Head of breaching whale, Portland Harbour, near Nuns' BeachBack: ''9/7/00 (4)' - hand written blue biro -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Souvenir - China Boomerang - Portland souvenir, n.d
Olive green china boomerang shaped souvenir with beach scene and 'Return to Portland'Back: 'Harry Mermott, Australia, etched into base -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Negative - Negative - Portland Public Baths, c. 1934
NEGATIVE FOR BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH. Portland Baths, Nun's Beach, Whalers Bluffzillah maschmedt, portland public baths, portland harbour -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Photograph - Photograph - Barton's beach to Fisherman's breakwater, n.d
Black and white photo; from Barton's beach looking towards Fisherman's Breakwater. -
4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment Unit History Room
Photograph, Beach Recovery Vehicle
A photograph of a beach recovery vehicle that has Grant/Sherman type running gearphoto, recovery vehicle -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Photograph - Photograph - Portland Harbour, n.d
Port of Portland AuthorityBack: harb023- pencilport of portland archives, portland harbour, henty beach -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Photograph - Photograph - Portland Harbour Henty Beach, n.d
Port of Portland Authority Archivesport of portland archives, marina, henty beach, hobie cats -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Photograph - Photograph - Main Breakwater construction, Portland, n.d
Port of Portland Archives Authorityport of portland archives, construction, steel, metal, girders, harbour, portland -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Photograph - Tower, Missions to Seamen, Port Melbourne, 1995
Photo of tower, Port Melbourne Missions to Seamen building, 1 Beach Road1988missions to seamen -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Plan - Open drainage channel, cnr Beach Street and Railway Place, Port Melbourne, 1862
Plan for open drainage channel at corner of Beach Street and Railway Place, 1892."Open Channel at Foot of Railway Place":Signed by Frederick William Bull, Principal Surveyorengineering - canals and drainage, engineering department - borough of sandridge, frederick william bull, business and traders - hotels -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Photograph - Cannatelli family at Port Melbourne beach, 1950s
B&W photo of Cannatelli family at Port Melbourne beach late 1950s.sport - swimming, antonio cannatelli -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Plan - Concept, Boulevard upgrade at Sandridge Beach, landscape, 2003
Plans. Landscape concept for the Boulevard upgrade at Sandridge Beach. Dated October 2003local government - city of port phillip, engineering - roads streets lanes and footpaths -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Photograph - Women's Welcome Home Committee Rotunda, Beach Street, Port Melbourne, 1987
Used in "They Can Carry Me Out" and in Historic Port Melbourne calendar for 1998Small colour print of Women's Welcome Home Committee Rotunda, Beach Streetbuilt environment - civic, memorials, women's welcome home committee, women's welcoming committee, band rotunda -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Ceremonial object - Foundation stone, Missions to Seamen, Port Melbourne, 1937
During demolition of the 1937 Missions to Seamen building in October 1995, this stone was removed intact by developers Mirvac Victoria, and placed in the care of the PMH&PS.Cornerstone laid at the Missions to Seamen building, Beach Road and Swallow Street, in 1937.Engraved in black lettering on a granite background: To the glory of God and the welfare of all seafarers this foundation stone was laid by His Excellency the Governor of Victoria, the Lord Huntingfield K.C.M.G. May 18th 1937. This branch Institute of the Victorian Missions to Seamen was erected through the generosity of Alfred M Nicholas Esq. Office of Harry A Norris Architectsmissions to seamen, harry a norris, lord huntingfield -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Photograph - Cable tram, Beach Street, Port Melbourne, William Swift, 1920
Black and white photo by W. Swift, showing cable tram in Beach Streettransport - tramways, built environment, william swift -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Photograph - Port Melbourne Band, Band in front of bandstand c1942, c 1942
Bill Goudie is in the back row on left next to man in hat. Harold McLiesh is the shorter boy with cornet in back rowPhoto of Port Melbourne Band standing in front of band rotunda on Beach Rdarts and entertainment - community arts, bill goudie, harold mcliesh