Rochelle salts, or potassium sodium tartrate, are a type of tartaric acid which was used medically as a laxative similar to sena and tartar Emetic.The right one of two marching small sized wood drawers. Each drawer features one sliding lid on their top face which has a corresponding paper label depending on its contents as well as a small semi-circle notch, these lids slide vertically in one direction. These drawers are found in the front storage location of the parent item and bellow a row of medium sized drawers.Rochelle Saltsvolum collection, medicine

Military Manual, Royal Air Force, Medical, Dental.Published for the Air Ministry446p., . hard cover, illus.Inscribed: A M Poulton f/ltworld war ii, military manuals, military medicine, military dental, royal air force

Listerine is a brand of antiseptic mouthwash product named after Sir Joseph Lister, Bt. FRS (1827 – 1912), who was a British surgeon and a pioneer of antiseptic surgery. By applying Louis Pasteur's advances in microbiology, he promoted the idea of sterile surgery while working at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. 1865 Lister successfully introduced carbolic acid (now known as phenol) to sterilise surgical instruments, clean wounds, and for washing surgeons hands before and after operations. These measures led to a reduction in post-operative infections and made surgery safer for patients. “Listerine” was formulated by Dr. Joseph Lawrence and Jordan Wheat Lambert in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1879 as surgical antiseptic, it was given to dentists for oral care in 1895 It was later sold, in distilled form, as both a floor cleaner and a cure for gonorrhoea. But it wasn't a runaway success until the 1920s, when it was advertised as a solution for "chronic halitosis"— a then obscure medical term for bad breath.. In just seven years, the company's revenues rose from $115,000 to more than $8 million.. In 1885, Lawrence sold his share to the Lambert Pharmacal Company. Listerine was packaged in a glass bottle inside a corrugated cardboard tube for nearly 80 years before the first revamps were made to the brand. In 1992, Cool Mint Listerine was introduced in addition to the original Listerine Antiseptic formula and, in 1994, both brands were introduced in plastic bottles for the first time. . From 1921 until the mid-1970s, Listerine was also marketed as a preventive and remedy for colds and sore throats. In 1976, the Federal Trade Commission ruled that these claims were misleading, Originally marketed by the Lambert Pharmacal Company (which later became Warner-Lambert), since 2006 it is manufactured and distributed by Johnson & Johnson In 2009, Johnson and Johnson launched a new alcohol-free version of the product called Listerine Zero. The screw top indicates that the bottle was manufactured post-1920sA clear glass bottle, with a rubber stopper, wrapped in corrugated cardboard containing 'Listerine' mouth rinse .Front Label: LISTERINE / TRADE MARK REGISTERED / ANTISEPTIC / PROOF SPIRIT 50% / LAMBERT / a star / PHARMACAL COMPANY (AUST.) PTY LTD / SYDNEY Back Label : Instructions for use .......... on bottle : LISTERINE ANTISEPTIC / LAMBERT on cardboard wrapper ; 7 FLUID OZ. / LISTERINE / PROOF SPIRIT 50% / ANTISEPTIC, DEODORANT, / PROPHYLACTICpharmacy, listerine, lister joseph, lawrence dr. joseph, lambert jordan wheat, missouri, glasgow royal infirmary, infectious diseases, johnson & johnson ltd., surgery, antiseptics, medicine, pasteur louis, france

These unusual china cups with elongated spouts were created in the days before drinking straws were common. Liquids and broth were fed through the spout to adults who were sick and could not take solid food, or to infants. The alternate name for these cups is “pap feeder.” Recipes for pap usually called for bread, flour and water. A more nourishing mixture “panada” was a pap base with added butter and milk, or cooked in broth as a milk substitute. Variations on the ingredients included Lisbon sugar, beer, wine, raw meat juices. These cups were apparently offered as accessory pieces to many regular china patterns.A white porcelain invalid or baby feeding cup decorated with a blue floral ( onion ) pattern. The cup has a spout , strainer, side handle and ‘spill-proof’ guard c19thCBase : m 8.pharmacy, medicine, melbourne, early settlers, market gardeners, moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham, nursing, invalid feeding, invalid cookery, porcelain

This Cresolene vapouriser is an "American" product when "home" based remedial products were of a high demand due to lack of specialised medical facilities such as a hospital in rural communities. "An apparatus for reducing medicated liquids to a state of vapor suitable for inhalation or application to accessible mucous membrane A device for volatising liquid anesthetics." The only criteria used by Health authorities in the decision to provide a community with hospitals was and still is the size of the population it feeds. The introduction of the SEC Victorian Hydro Electricity Scheme started in the 1940's, was the impetus for health planners to build a hospital in the Kiewa Valley. Rural regions especially those considered semi or fully remote locations had to rely on farm based remedial health "alternative medical treatment". This product is such a remedy.This vapouriser is very significant to a rural area such as the Kiewa Valley as it demonstrates the "home" remedies that were available to rural communities such as the cattle and sheep stations before the Kiewa Valley had a hospital(1949). The influx of workers employed by the SEC Vic. Hydro Electricity Scheme(circa 1940's onward) changed dramatically the need for a hospital and specialised medical treatment. The reliance of "health products" such as this vaporiser were still in high demand especially when on the box of this product was printed "Guaranteed under the Food and Drugs Act, June 30, 1906, Serial no. 436". Also on the packaging is printed "A remedy Whooping Cough also Asthma, Catarrh, Colds Diptheria, Croup, Coughs Hay Fever, Sore Throat, Influenza, Etc." An additional benefit of this product "Is obnoxious to Moths, Flies, Mosquitos, Ants, Cock Roaches, Hen Lice, and other Troublesome insects." This advertising is dated before a tightening in the "advertising" legislation of post mid 1900's. However it was a good attraction for rural communities wanting relief of "rural" pests. This vaporiser stand with its cradle and dish is made from cast iron (stand) and tin (dish). At the bottom of the "dish" is a flame diffusion port with eight heat directional holes. The stand upright is painted gold in colour.See KVHS 0342 (B) for markings and advertising material printed on the box which contains this item.home based vaporisers, first aid, home nursing, over-the-counter medicines

This packaging/box containing a home based health product was in use well before the Federal Department of Health legislation tightened up the permissible advertising for "health" products. The strict Occupation and Health Legislation of the later 1900's would not have allowed the grandiose statements printed on this container. It was only later in the 1900's that stricter laws covering medical or quasi medical products came into Australian legislation.This box is very significant (in the time period of pre 1940's), to a semi isolated region as the Kiewa Valley, especially before the valley had a hospital, pre 1949. The reliance of "health products" such as what is stored in this box, were still in high demand, especially when on the box of this product was printed "Guaranteed under the Food and Drugs Act, June 30, 1906, Serial no. 436", a quasi legitimising statement. Also on the packaging is printed "A remedy Whooping Cough also Asthma, Catarrh, Colds Diptheria, Croup, Coughs Hay Fever, Sore Throat, Influenza, Etc." An additional benefit of this product "Is obnoxious to Moths, Flies, Mosquitos, Ants, Cock Roaches, Hen Lice, and other Troublesome insects." This advertising is dated before a tightening in the "advertising" legislation of post mid 1900's. However it was a good "purchase" for rural communities wanting relief of "rural" pests.home based vaporisers, first aid, home nursing, over-the-counter medicines

This bottle of castor oil was used during the mid to late 1900's when there was a Hospital in the Kiewa Valley, but regarded as only for serious injuries and near death situation. For this reason many households had a "first aid" box full of items such as this bottle of castor oil. Home based remedies for non life threatening injuries and illnesses were a part of life in a semi remote rural region. True and trusted family "health" remedies were passed from generation to generation.This Castor Oil bottle is very significant to the Kiewa Valley as it demonstrates the self reliance of the early farming and grazing pioneer families. Knowledge of "first aid" was uppermost to the survival of families before the late 1900's. Naturopathic remedies such as connected with the castor oil contained in this bottle, although may not be sanctioned by medical research, does not take into account of the positive "self healing" of the human mind (if you think it is doing you good it creates a positive action). Such preservation techniques were handed down through the generations.Medical Reference material was limited to books available and read and not not from "the internet" in the latter part of the 1900's. The availability of General Practitioners increased because of the boost in the population growth (SEC Vic Hydro Electricity Scheme) in the Kiewa Valley from 1940's onward. This small indigo coloured glass bottle has a narrow neck and a screw on lid.It has an embossed manufacturer's name and contents (Castor Oil) on one side and identification marks embossed on the underside base.medicine bottles, home first aid remedies, indigo glass medicine bottles

This bottle was bought at the local chemist or a chemist in a larger city on a shopping expedition. The shape of the bottles changed as did the stopper used to seal it. History of Rawleigh's.Historical: Change of bottles - shape, glass, stopper, embossing, use Aesthetic: Display showing embossing and shape.Clear glass bottle with rectangular base and straight sides three quarters of the way up tapering into the neck and then the screw top opening. The front face is heavily embossed with maker's name signed across the face. The back and side faces are flat while the front is indented and framed with a curved top. The base is embossed and slightly indented.Front side: "I Rawleigh's I" Base: Common seal 'A' with 'G' on top and 'M' underneath inside the 'A', 'G437' and an 'O'chemist, rawleigh's, medicine, glass bottle

This bottle was bought at a chemist either locally or in a large city on a shopping expedition. The embossing pattern indicates that the contents are poisonous. Bottles changed - shape, size, seal, use and embossingHistorical: Change in bottles - colour of glass, embossing, shape, size and use Aesthetic: Display showing embossing, shape, size, sealOpaque brown glass bottle with 6 sides. The front is wide, the 2 end sides and back side are short with the 2 adjoining longer sides coming out at 45 degrees. The sides at 45 degrees have heavy embossing of rows of crosses and the back side has heavily embossed print in capital letters read sideways from the top of the bottle to the bottom. The sides taper quickly to a short neck and then opening. The bottle has a brown screw top lid with embossed sides. The bottle is empty. A label has been sticky taped onto the front.Back: "Not to be Taken" Base: 'F 1158' and '856' along the edge Label: "Caution / Not to be Taken / Gentian Violet Solution / 2 % / For external Use - Onlyopaque brown glass bottle, chemist, poison, medicine, irregular hexagonal bottle

This bottle containing antiseptic and germicide was used by the State Electricity Commission workers on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme for applying first aid as they worked in remote country. Historical: Shows the development of medicine used in first aid. Provenance: Used by the S.E.C. workers in remote areas of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme.Small brown glass bottle sealed with a broken cork and has a yellow label with red writing on the front. On the back is embossed 'Poison' with each side embossed with small crosses in 3 rows - to indicate / emphasise it's poison. The bottle has 3 sides of a rectangle with the fourth side including 3 more sides. Two sides on an angle and attached to the back. Embossing on the base.Front - label: Includes - State Electricity Commission / of Victoria / 'Proflavine Lotion / 1 - 1000 / A Powerul Antiseptic / and Germicide / Poison' / - an effective First Aid Dressing / apply freely on gauze, cover with / absorbent cotton and bandage.' Back: 'Poison' with 3 rows of 'x' on either side. Base: 'Common Seal 4 / M452 / M' medical, state electricity commission of victoria, first aid, proflavine lotion, poison

This bottle was used in the Tawonga District General Hospital which was built in the 1950's specifically for the increase in population due to the Kiewa Hydro Scheme.Clear brown glass bottle with rectangular base with curved edges. Straight edges and almost horizontal shoulder to short neck. Front is heavily embossed as are the two sides and base.Front: From top to bottom 'Not to be Taken' with 4 vertical lines from top to bottom. Both sides have 4 vertical lines down them. Base: 'A 10 oZ?'medical, hospital, poison, medicine

This pocket First Aid kit is small and compact which became available to those venturing out in the outback and required an easily managed first aid kit. It was manufactured in the mid 1900s well before vinyl and or plastic pouches or bags where used. It was in an era where valuable items were stored in durable containers due to the harsh and rugged conditions of the Australian bush. Cheaper and less durable containers from Asian manufacturers had been kept out by the heavy Tariff imposed on their goods. This changed in the 1980's when the Tariff Board was dismantled by a then Labour Government. The Australian manufacturing industry was severely reduced by the Influx of cheaper goods. This item was made by an Australian company when the motto "true blue" was the catch cry for quality Australian made goods. This was in the period where the isolation of many rural communities required the basic first aid kits to be of a tougher quality than those offered in large cities and towns.This pocket first aid kit was very compact and would have been easy to carry without taking up too much space for bush walkers, camping scouts, drovers and independent miners and cattlemen. The Kiewa Valley and surrounding rural settlements did not have the medical backup that the larger cities and towns had up until the mid 1900s when the Hydro Electricity Schemes were built and the additional influx of workers made it feasible to have a hospital and better local health facilities. This influx of the construction workers associated with the Hydro Scheme. also brought European workers who where more inclined to go bush walking and climbing the Victorian alps than the average Australian rural worker. This item is a Sanax pocket first aid round tin, gold in colour with red and white print. It's contents are: one small tube of Sanax antiseptic cream, one small one inch x six yards of gauze bandages, rubber band type ligatures with a cast iron tightener., one small tweezers three safety pins, and one lancet.On the lid there are: are outlined white cross on a blue circular background. underneath is a whiite circle encased with a red line with the following printed "Sanax pocket first aid case" (in red print underneath this is a small curved blue background and in black print "No. 26"medicine, first aid tin, camping medical supplies, personal first aid, sanax

Large wicker woven wheelchair with a curved back. Large metal wheels and wood frame with foot stand. S.L.C.L.nursing medicine wheelchair

The Thomas splint is still used in war zones today. It was invented in the late 19th Century by pioneering surgeon Hugh Owen Thomas, often described as the father of British orthopaedics, born in Anglesey to a family of "bone setters". He created the so-called 'Thomas Splint', which would stabilise a fractured femur and prevent infection. This item was used for a child with a broken thigh bone.This item is an example of an early piece of medical equipment.Thomas splint is a leg splint consisting of two rigid rods attached to an ovoid padded ring that fits around the thigh.splint-thomas orbost-hospital medicine-nursing

Walking calliper for use with a plaster of paris leg castThis item is an example of an early medical aid used at Orbost Hospital.Walking calliper - small metal frameBottom-underneath - Dunlop, Aust 1 7/8-1 7/8calliper medicine-nursing orbost-hospital

Many Orbost babies were weighed on these scales in the early 1920's.The Orbost Hospital has always been a significant part of local history and present. This item reflects that.Large metal baby scales and weights with attached white cane baby basket.Back- Approved 17 serial Hscales medicine-nursing baby-scales wicker-basket orbost-hospital

. White china slipper bed pan shaped like a giant baby's shoe with a squashed toe. Has pear-shaped base and flat sides, sloping top with large round opening which narrows with a covered end. There is a half-heart-shaped handle in the centre of the body. Weighs 8 pounds 6 1/2 ounces.Underneath - Fowler Limited Australiabedpan medicine-nursing fowler orbost-hospital

These bottles were used at the pharmacies in Orbost. Chemists who worked in Orbost included Henry Cottman; James Alfred Dubois Williams; Harry Arthur Murray; Miss P.E .Mason (Phyllis Estelle?); Miss Sybil Monica Buzza; Thomas James Frayer; Australia Shaw; James David Torley; John William Zimmer; Dalkeith William Steele; William Thomas Hollingsworth; E.E. Cohen; R.S. Anderson; Frances John Perry Faith Everard Pardew and Charles Anthony Wurf.Medicinal bottles are probably the largest and most diverse group of bottles. The practices of early pharmacists are revealed through these glass bottles. The items have a clear association with Orbost.Six large glass bottles - four clear and two green. All have narrow necks with glass stoppers and are clearly labelled with black print on a white background. Each of the the two coloured glass bottles have a fluted surface. These apothecary bottles were used to dispense medications and also for show or display purposes. The labels under glass bottles had a recessed section that the label was placed into. The label was then covered with a thin piece of glass to prevent the label from becoming damaged by the bottles contents. 3210.1 - "MIST ; OXYMELLIS : CONC : 1 TO 4" 3210.2 - " OL : CARBOL : 1 IN 10" 3210.3 - "SPT. CAMPHOR" 3210.4 - "MIST : CASCARA: CONC: 1 - 4" 3210.5 - "MIST : STRYCH: c. AC : PHOSPH CONC : 1 - 4" 3210.6 - "PIG : MANDL : ": bottles-pharmaceutical chemists-orbost medicine

These items were used or were available for sale by chemists in Orbost. Chemists who worked in Orbost included Henry Cottman; James Alfred Dubois Williams; Harry Arthur Murray; Miss P.E .Mason (Phyllis Estelle?); Miss Sybil Monica Buzza; Thomas James Frayer; Australia Shaw; James David Torley; John William Zimmer; Dalkeith William Steele; William Thomas Hollingsworth; E.E. Cohen; R.S. Anderson; Frances John Perry Faith Everard Pardew and Charles Anthony Wurf.Medicinal bottles are probably the largest and most diverse group of bottles. The practices of early pharmacists are revealed through these glass bottles. The items have a clear association with Orbost.Two clear glass bottles with stoppers. 3210.13 has a paper label taped on. 3210.14 has an under glass white label framed in black and with black print.3210.13 - on paper label - "Ephedrine HCL Solution 200 gm / 10 ml" 3210.14 - on label - "AQUA : ANIS I: CONC 1 IN 80"medicine zimmer-john pharmacies-orbost apothecary-bottles

These items were used or were available for sale by chemists in Orbost. Chemists who worked in Orbost included Henry Cottman; James Alfred Dubois Williams; Harry Arthur Murray; Miss P.E .Mason (Phyllis Estelle?); Miss Sybil Monica Buzza; Thomas James Frayer; Australia Shaw; James David Torley; John William Zimmer; Dalkeith William Steele; William Thomas Hollingsworth; E.E. Cohen; R.S. Anderson; Frances John Perry Faith Everard Pardew and Charles Anthony Wurf.The practices of early pharmacists are revealed through these glass bottles. The items have a clear association with Orbost. A Nestle's Milk Chocolate Scorched Almonds box used as a container. 3219.2 is a brown cylindrical container with a red lid and a grey and white label, "ATROPINE SULPHATE". 3219.3 is a small clear glass container with cork stopper and paper labels, in red and black print, "SIGMA POISON HYOSCIN HYDROBORON BP" and stamped in purple "5 GRAINS". 3219.4 is a clear glass cylinder with a cork stopper and a white paper label with "SIGMA POISON 5 GRS PILOCARPIN. HCL " in red and black print. 3219.5 is a small stained plastic cylinder with a red lid. The brown contents have stained the inside. It has a paper label of red print on white, and white print on green, "PHYSOSTIGMINE SALICYCLATE BP".3210.6 is a clear gloss narrow plastic container containing powder. It is labelled, "POISON HOMATROPINE HYDROBROMIDE BP".There are six thin glass cylindrical phials with cork stoppers and paper labels, two clear glass stoppers and two glass cylindrical containers with cork stoppers.medicine, chemicals, pharmacy, orbost, phial

These items were used or were available for sale by chemists in Orbost. Chemists who worked in Orbost included Henry Cottman; James Alfred Dubois Williams; Harry Arthur Murray; Miss P.E .Mason (Phyllis Estelle?); Miss Sybil Monica Buzza; Thomas James Frayer; Australia Shaw; James David Torley; John William Zimmer; Dalkeith William Steele; William Thomas Hollingsworth; E.E. Cohen; R.S. Anderson; Frances John Perry Faith Everard Pardew and Charles Anthony Wurf.Medicinal bottles are probably the largest and most diverse group of bottles. The practices of early pharmacists are revealed through these glass bottles. The items have a clear association with Orbost. Eleven glass containers - some with contents. All have labels and lids. More details are in catalogue folder.pharmacies-orbost medications drugs chemist medicine containers-medications

The glass phial contained liquid ethyl chloride. By directing the nozzle downwards at the skin a stream of liquid squirts out, vaporising on contact.. Ether's unpleasant smell agitated patients. Ethyl chloride's pleasant odour reduced agitation. It was used for controlling pain associated with injections and in minor surgical procedures. This item was used at Orbost Hospital.This item reflects the changes and development in medicine over the last century.A blue cardboard box containing a glass phial with metal lid that forms a spray nozzle. The lid of the box has a white manufacturer's label with blue writing. The phial has a discoloured white label with red writing.Ethyl chloride (pure) 100cc Woolwich for local anaestheticethyl-chloride chemical woolwich-eliott anaesthesia medical health orbost-hospital

The glass phial contained liquid ethyl chloride. By directing the nozzle downwards at the skin a stream of liquid squirts out, vaporising on contact.. Ether's unpleasant smell agitated patients. Ethyl chloride's pleasant odour reduced agitation. It was used for controlling pain associated with injections and in minor surgical procedures. This item was used at Orbost Hospital. This item reflects the changes and development in medicine over the last century.A blue cardboard box containing a glass phial with metal lid that forms a spray nozzle. The phial has a discoloured white label with red writing.ethyl-chloride chemical woolwich-eliott anaesthesia medical health orbost-hospital

This item was used at Orbost Hospital.This item reflects the changes and development in medicine over the last century.A first aid kit in a metal carry case. It contains bottles, containers a thermometer, cotton bandages and iodine ampoules.TRAFALGAR (in red) FIRST AID KIT ( in green) Inside a green circle is a white cross. medical health orbost-hospital trafalgar-first-aid

This bottle was found in the pine plantation in Orbost. De Witt’s Kidney and Bladder Pills were intended to ease backache, aches and pains in the muscles, and kidney problems. They are typical of a huge range of treatments that were available ‘over the counter’ at pharmacists for many years.This item reflects the changes and development in public health and medicine over the last century.An empty rectangular clear glass bottle that contained De Witts Pills. On bottom - DE WITTde-witt bottle medical health

This eye bath cup is an aid to help flush / wipe out foreign bodies from the eye. Until eye drops were developed, eye cups were used. Although eye wash cups are still used, eye drops are more common. This item reflects the changes and development in medicine over the last century.A clear glass eye glass cup which is on a pedestal.eye-wash medical health

Originally registered in 1911, Nyal initially comprised an extensive portfolio of products ranging from perfumed soap to toiletries. Since 1911 Nyal has been a popular medicinal brand in Australian homes. This item reflects the changes and development in medicine over the last century. The bottle is an example of a glass container used for holding medicines in the mid 20th century.A brown glass bottle with a moulded rim on the neck."This bottle always remains the property of NYAL CO. RD 23669" NYAL inside a horizontal oval.pharmaceutical-manufacturers pharmacy medicines nyal-pty-ltd

The veterinary items would have been used in a domestic situation for the care of family pets.These items are examples of domestic veterinary items used in the early 20th century.An old Pascall tin containing six items - Goddards Mercurial Plate Powder; Krect Condition Powders; Krect Worm Tablets; Forbes Phosferrine Tonic for the nerves; Tibbs Cat Powders; Piperazine citrate for tapeworms. The tin has boating scenes on the sides and top.Pascall Claremont TASMANIAveterinary pascall

This bottle was one of the items salvaged from the wreck of the Fiji in 1891. Joseph Bosisto began manufacturing Eucalyptus Oil in Australia from 1854. This bottle is marked ‘J. BOSISTO”, which probably dates it from 1885 when the company J. Bosisto & Co. was formed. The marking on the bottom of the bottle “GERMAN/B_ _ E” could mean that the bottle was imported by J. Bosisto from Germany. In the early years bottles were imported from overseas countries including England and Germany. In 1872 the Melbourne Bottle Works was established to supply the bottles locally and more cheaply but had difficulty keeping up with the supply. From 1865 Australian-made Bosisto’s Eucalyptus Oil began to be exported to England then later to Germany and other countries. Bosisto’s Eucalyptus Oil won many prizes at exhibitions between 1854 – 1891. The three-masted iron barque Fiji had been built in Belfast, Ireland, in 1875 by Harland and Wolfe for a Liverpool based shipping company. The ship departed Hamburg on 22nd May 1891 bound for Melbourne, under the command of Captain William Vickers with a crew of 25. The ship’s manifest shows that she was loaded with a cargo of 260 cases of dynamite, pig iron, steel goods, spirits (whisky, schnapps, gin, brandy), sailcloth, tobacco, coiled fencing wire, concrete, 400 German pianos (Sweet Hapsburg), concertinas and other musical instruments, artists supplies including brushes, porcelain, furniture, china, and general cargo including candles. There were also toys in anticipation for Christmas, including wooden rocking horses, miniature ships, dolls with china limbs and rubber balls. On September 5th, one hundred days out from Hamburg in squally and boisterous south west winds the Cape Otway light was sighted on a bearing differing from Captain Vickers’ calculation of his position. At about 2:30am, Sunday 6th September 1891 land was reported 4-5 miles off the port bow. The captain tried to put the ship on the other tack, but she would not respond. He then tried to turn her the other way but just as the manoeuvre was being completed the Fiji struck rock only 300 yards (274 metres) from shore. The place is known as Wreck Bay, Moonlight Head. Blue lights were burned and rockets fired whilst an effort was made to lower boats but all capsized or swamped and smashed to pieces. Two of the younger crewmen volunteered to swim for the shore, taking a line. One, a Russian named Daniel Carkland, drowned after he was swept away when the line broke. The other, 17 year old able seaman Julius Gebauhr, a German, reached shore safely on his second attempt but without the line, which he had cut lose with his sheath-knife when it become tangled in kelp. He rested on the beach a while then climbed the steep cliffs in search of help. At about 10am on the Sunday morning a party of land selectors - including F. J. Stansmore, Leslie Dickson (or Dixon) and Mott - found Gebauhr. They were near Ryans Den, on their travels on horseback from Princetown towards Moonlight Head, and about 5km from the wreck. Gebauhr was lying in the scrub in a poor state, bleeding and dressed only in singlet, socks and a belt with his sheath-knife, ready for all emergencies. At first they were concerned about his wild and shaggy looking state and what seemed to be gibberish speech, taking him to be an escaped lunatic. They were reassured after he threw his knife away and realised that he was speaking half-English, half-German. They gave him food and brandy and some clothing and were then able to gain information about the wreck. Some of the men took him to Rivernook, a nearby guest house owned by John Evans, where he was cared for. Stansmore and Dickson rode off to try and summon help. Others went down to the site of the wreck. Messages for rescuing the rest of the crew were sent both to Port Campbell for the rocket rescue crew and to Warrnambool for the lifeboat. The S.S. Casino sailed from Portland towards the scene. After travelling the 25 miles to the scene, half of the Port Campbell rocket crew and equipment arrived and set up the rocket tripod on the beach below the cliffs. By this time the crew of the Fiji had been clinging to the jib-boom for almost 15 hours, calling frantically for help. Mr Tregear from the Rocket Crew fired the line. The light line broke and the rocket was carried away. A second line was successfully fired across the ship and made fast. The anxious sailors then attempted to come ashore along the line but, with as many as five at a time, the line sagged considerably and some were washed off. Others, nearly exhausted, had to then make 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. Many onlookers on the beach took it in turns to go into the surf and drag half-drowned seamen to safety. These rescuers included Bill (William James) Robe, Edwin Vinge, Hugh Cameron, Fenelon Mott, Arthur Wilkinson and Peter Carmody. (Peter Carmody was also involved in the rescue of men from the Newfield.) Arthur Wilkinson, a 29 year old land selector, swam out to the aid of one of the ship’s crewmen, a carpenter named John Plunken. Plunken was attempting 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. A line was thrown to them and they were both hauled aboard. It was thought that Wilkinson struck his head on the anchor before s they were brought up. He remained unconscious. The carpenter survived this ordeal but Wilkinson later died and his body was washed up the next day. It was 26 year old Bill Robe who hauled out the last man, the captain, who had become tangled in the kelp. The wreck of the Fiji was smashed apart within 20 minutes of the last man being brought ashore, 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 and their coffins were made from timbers from the wrecked Fiji. They were buried on the cliff top above the wreck. The survivors were warmed by fires on the beach then taken to Rivernook and cared for over the next few days. Funds were raised by local communities 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. At the time there was also a great deal of public criticism at the slow and disorganised rescue attempt to save those on board. The important canvas ‘breech buoy’ or ‘bucket chair’ and the heavy line from the Rocket Rescue was in the half of the rocket outfit that didn’t make it in time for the rescue: they had been delayed at the Gellibrand River ferry. Communications to Warrnambool were down so the call for help didn’t get through on time and the two or three boats that had been notified of the wreck failed to reach it in time. Much looting occurred of the cargo that washed up on the shore, with nearly every visitor leaving the beach with bulky pockets. One looter was caught with a small load of red and white rubber balls, which were duly confiscated and he was ‘detained’ for 14 days. 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. (The pocket watch came with 2 winding keys, one to wind it and one to change the hands.) Years later Bill passed the watch to his brother-in-law Gib (Gilbert) Hulands as payment of a debt and it has been passed down the family to Gilbert Hulands’ grandson, John Hulands. 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 200m high cliffs overlooking Wreck Beach, west of Moonlight Head, paying 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. Amongst the artefacts salvaged from the Fiji are china miniature animals, limbs from small china dolls, rubber balls, this glass bottle, sample of rope from the distress rocket and a candlestick holder. These items are now part of the Fiji collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum, along with Captain Vickers’ pocket watch and Julius Gebauhr’s sheath knife. The glass bottle is registered as “Artefact Reg No Fiji/1”. 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. 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 (living with natural processes). The Fiji collection meets the following criteria for assessment: Criterion A: Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion B: Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history Criterion C: Potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria’s cultural history. Clear glass oval medical bottle with rounded corners and flattened sides on front and back surfaces. Opening of bottle has a lip around it and could have been sealed with a stopper. There is a chip in the lip. One face of the bottle has a rectangular border with a name embossed vertically on it, “J. BOSISTO / RICHMOND”. The oval base of the bottle also has letters embossed on it “GE_ _AN” “B _ _ _ _ _”. There is also a large chip out of the base. The sides of the bottle have a vertical joining line. The bottle was recovered from the wreck of the Fiji.Flat side of bottle has rectangular border with “J BOSISTO / RICHMOND” embossed in the centre. The base of the bottle has “G E . . A N/B . . . . . .” embossed on it. Other letters have been removed with the chip. (probable wording was ‘GERMAN/BOTTLE)warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, shipwrecked artefact, fiji, 1891, glass bottle, medicine bottle, bosistos, j bosistos, german bottle