Sepia photograph of eleven people on sandy beach beside Lake Tyers Victoriaboats and boating, waterways, fashion

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

12 photographs from a collection of 33 donated by Leonie Brennan. Photographs belonged to Edward (Ted) Sands, hairdresser.Photograph 215-22. Penguins coming home after a day of fishing at the nightly parade Summerland Beach. Photograph 215-23. Pyramid Rock, Phillip Island. Photograph 215-24. Cowes beach with a large group of people gathered together and others under beach umbrellas. Beach west side of the Cowes Pier. Photograph 215-25. Large group of Seals at Seal Rocks, Phillip Island. Photograph 215-26. The Killara Ferry at Cowes pier with chimney smoking. Photograph 215-27. The Pinnacles at Cape Woolamai, Phillip Island. Photograph 215-28. Looking towards the Isle of Wight Hotel at Cowes and the Jetty Shed at the end of the Cowes Pier. Photograph 215-29. The Cowes Pier with the Killara Ferry docked. Photograph 215-30. The Killara Ferry heavily laden with passengers. A close-up showing the back entrance for vehicles. Photograph 215-31. The War Memorial at Cowes looking towards the pier. Shows the pier and the Jetty Shed on the pier. Photograph 215-32. View from inside Forrest Caves, Phillip Island, with two people standing in front. Photograph 215-33. The Nobbies, Phillip Island, with waves crashing onto the rocks.215-22 "Penguins at Phillip Island" 215-23 "Pyramid Rock, Phillip Island" 215-24 "The Beach, Cowes" 215-25 "Seals at Cowes, Phillip Island" 215-26 "The Killara at Cowes" 215-27 "Cape Woolamai, Phillip Island" 215-28 "The Pier, Cowes" 215-29 "The Pier, Cowes" 215-30 "The Killara at Cowes" 215-31 "War Memorial, Cowes" 215-32 "Forest Caves, Phillip Island" 215-33 "Rough seas at The Nobbies, Cowes"penguins coming ashore, penguins, wildlife - penguins, pyramid rock, phillip island, pyramid rock, coastline - rock formation - pyramid rock, cowes beach, phillip island, seals on seal rocks phillip island, wildlife - seals, the killara ferry, killara ferry, the pinnacles, the pinnacles cape woolamai, the pinnacles, phillip island, the isle of wight hotel cowes phillip island, cowes pier, phillip island, cowes jetty, phillip island, war memorial, cowes, phillip island, forrest caves, phillip island, the nobbies, phillip island, mr edward (ted) sands, leonie brennan

The beach cart was hand drawn by a team of six people; two in front, one on each side and two behind. The wide iron tyres on the the wheels helped prevent the cart from sinking into the sand. The load of heavy beach apparatus equipment was held in place by the hand worked rope net cover. It would be stored in the Rocket House packed and ready to use for practice or rescue. Beach apparatus equipment - In the mid-1800s the equipment could include a line throwing set, coiled line in wooden carrying case, rockets, cartridges, breeches buoy, hawser and traveller block, line-throwing pistol, beach cart, hand barrow, sand anchor, crotch pole, and tools such as spade, pick, mallet and hawser cutter. Around the 1860s Warrnambool had a Rocket House installed beside the Harbour. Saving lives in Warrnambool – The coastline of South West Victoria is the site of over 600 shipwrecks and many lost lives; even in Warrnambool’s Lady Bay there were around 16 known shipwrecks between 1850 and 1905, with eight lives lost. Victoria’s Government responded to the need for lifesaving equipment and, in 1858, the provision of rocket and mortar apparatus was approved for the lifeboat stations. In 1859 the first Government-built lifeboat arrived at Warrnambool Harbour and a shed was soon built for it on the Tramway Jetty, followed by a rocket house in 1864 to safely store the rocket rescue equipment. In 1878 the buildings were moved to the Breakwater (constructed from 1874-1890), and in 1910 the new Lifeboat Warrnambool arrived with its ‘self-righting’ design. For almost a hundred years the lifesaving and rescue crews, mostly local volunteers, trained regularly to rehearse and maintain their rescue skills. They were summoned when needed by alarms, gunshots, ringing bells and foghorns. In July 1873 a brass bell was erected at Flagstaff Hill specifically to call the rescue crew upon news of a shipwreck. Some crew members became local heroes but all served an important role. Rocket apparatus was used as recently as the 1950s. This cart and cover set is significant for its connection with local history, maritime history and marine technology. Lifesaving has been an important part of the services performed from Warrnambool's very early days, supported by State and Local Government, and based on the methods and experience of Great Britain. Hundreds of shipwrecks along the coast are evidence of the rough weather and rugged coastline. Ordinary citizens, the Harbour employees, and the volunteer boat and rescue crew, saved lives in adverse circumstances. Some were recognised as heroes, others went unrecognised. In Lady Bay, Warrnambool, there were around 16 known shipwrecks between 1850 and 1905. Many lives were saved but tragically, eight lives were lost.Beach cart; a blue and white painted, wooden cart with two, red coloured metal wheels. The wheels have twelve spokes and wide iron tyres. The cart has a long draw bar with T- handles at the end. It was pulled by two people, usually steered by another two and pushed by a further two. It was supplied by the Government of Victoria. There is an inscription on the front end panel. The cart has a removable hand worked rope cover. Stencilled in white paint “G of V” flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, lady bay, warrnambool harbour, port of warrnambool, shipwreck, life-saving, lifesaving, rescue crew, rescue, rocket rescue, rocket crew, beach rescue, rescue equipment, rocket rescue equipment, rocket equipment, marine technology, lifeboat, volunteer lifesavers, volunteer crew, lifesaving rescue crew, rocket apparatus, shore to ship, stranded vessel, rocket rescue apparatus, line thrower, beach apparatus, breeches buoy, life jacket, rocket house, rocket shed, rocket machine, rocket head, rocket launcher, rocket line, beach rescue set, rocket set, beach cart, hand barrow, welsh hand barrow, harbour board, government of victoria, harbour master, l.s.r.c., lsrc

CEMA Art CollectionThe painting depicts the shoreline of a beach with green foliage in the background. Various shades of sand make up the foreground, with a black object in the centre edge of the foreground. To the right of the sand is the blue ocean with the white wash of a broken wave seperating the sand from the water. The background features foliage in various shades of green which meets a blue/purple sky. The work has a painted white wooden frame with material mount and exposed canvas.Front: I.G. HILL 1967 (black painted, lower right corner) Back: White chalk:- ARTIST (underlined) MISS I.G.HILL 42 BOWEN ST. CAMBERWELL(underlined) Price $63 IRENE HILL "BEACH AT DUTTON WAY" (1967) (typed label) Yellow Sticker: 1967 -cema, portland artists society

A finalist in the Shire of Eltham Art Awards in 1985. Born in Harrow, England, Graham Fransella studied at the Bradford School of Art, Yorkshire. He came to Australia in 1975. Graham Fransella lives and works in Melbourne and is represented by galleries across Australia.Fransella is an artist (printmaker) of national significance. “A feature of Fransella’s art is that it has an immediate visual simplicity, sometimes possessing the lucidity of graffiti-like directness, but this is attained through the most complex and intricate means. The surface on which he works is the arena in which he performs with an endless layering of marks, surfaces and signs. It seems that he surrenders to an intuitive process, one in which chance serves as an active collaborator. Ultimately his practice engages with the theory of the artist’s subconscious being allowed unbridled freedom of expression.” Sasha Grishin AM FAHA, in 'Gorgeous simplicity in signature themes: Graham Fransella', Sydney Morning Herald, April 5, 2014This etching depicts a busy and carefree day at the beach in bright colours of red and blue. The figures are drawn with spontaneity and simplicity, which is characteristic of Fransella's style. Figures are positioned in states of relaxation or bounce around beach scenes in joyful exuberance. eltham art award, etching, print, beach, figures

Photograph of Port of Warrnambool lower lighthouse, with breakwater construction and beach light-becon in background.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, port of warrnambool, lower light

Photograph inscribed "Harbour Beach" - unknown location; W 19cm x H 14.5cm.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, photograph, harbour beach

Part of a collection of photograph reproductions donated by Bruce Bennett. Photographs 233-01 to 233-04 from the Betty Kuc Collection. 233-05 - 233-07 from the Arthur Woodly CollectionSeven photograph copies of George Cox and his shack on Cowes beach near the Pier.233-01 Rose Series P673 Near the pier Cowes, Phillip Island, Victoria 233-07 Real Photo Series M2385. Splicing the rope. Fisherman at Cowes.george cox, george cox's hut, george cox's shack on cowes beach, betty kuc collection, arthur woodly collection

Donated by Edith ElmsBlack & White Postcard of San Remo Hotel on foreshore with two small boats on the beach."San Remo Shore" 251 Letter on postcard to Mrs A W Elms to arrange a meeting. Signed E. B.san remo hotel, san remo foreshore, phillip island, edith elms

Donated by Stan McFee from the Keith McIlwraith Collection.Black & White postcard showing an aerial view of Cowes Town Centre, beach and pier."The Rose Series P. 1022" "Aerial view of Cowes, Phillip Island." "Airspy Photo".cowes phillip island, cowes foreshore and pier, phillip island, stan mcfee, keith mcilwraith collection

One of a collection of photographs purchased by the Society from Jack Day of Mornington.Black & White postcard of the sea crashing onto rocks at the ocean beach, San Remo."The Rose Series, P. 711" "The Rock Bound Coast, San Remo, Victoria".san remo coastline, coastline, phillip island, jack day collection

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 taken at night of a group of twenty-six penguins walking up the beach at Summerland.local history, photography, photographs, penguins coming ashore, black & white photograph, penguins, coastline, summerland beach, penguin parade, john jenner, bryant west, wildlife - penguins

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 completed Cowes Beach Breakwater. Bathers, Car Park and Jetty Shed in background.local history, photography, completed cowes breakwater, black & white photograph, cowes beach, coastline, breakwaters, 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 inter basaltic formations on basalt shore platform eastern end of Smith's Beachlocal history, photography, rock formations, black & white photograph, coastline, smith's beach, dr g baker, john jenner, bryant west

Harper factory buildings on Beach and Rouse Streets (black and white photo). Mid 1970sbuilt environment, built environment - commercial

Colour photogragh of the Williamstown High School senior wind orchestra, taken on Williamstown beach.williamstown high school, music, senior wind orchestra, 1996, williamstown beach

On 18th June 1853 the 839 ton ship 'Earl of Charlemont' was wrecked near Barwon Heads. Her 450 passengers and crew struggled ashore without loss of life. Among them were John and Anne Morton, their 3 sons and 5 daughters. Before leaving Ireland, their eldest son George Pickering Morton, had married Anne Eliza Burrowes. Their son, Thomas Richard Burrowes Morton, born in Melbourne on 12 March 1854, was usually known as ' T.R.B.' Aged 26 he married Louisa Mary Esther Morgan. In 1909 Louisa Morton had a cottage built at Points Lonsdale and named it 'Dorrington', surname of her Welsh Grandmother. During previous holidays the family stayed at the 'Terminus'. They travelled by train from Blackburn to Port Melbourne, paddle-steamer to Queenscliff and horse-bus to Point Lonsdale.Black and white copy, No. 24 of set of 27 - Dorothy as child at beach. No surname recordedmorton thomas richards burrowes

Digital Image of seaweed taken under water at the Port Fairy Beach 'Pea Soup".sea, ocean, seaweed, kelp, sand, underwater, beach, port fairy, pea soup