A hand driven echo roller reader.echo sounding, hydrography

The light was powered by a kerosene lantern that had to be kept alight by the keepers until the introduction of bottled acetylene gas in 1925. The light operated for 111 years until 1985 when it was turned off for a trial period. It was never turned back on. A sun valve is a flow control activated by sunlight heat which automatically shuts off gas during daylight hours. Relic from the Hovell light run on acetylene from 1925 to 1985Sun valve from the Hovell Pile Lighthovell pile light, south channel, port phillip

A round hand held navigational engineer compassEngineer Compassnavigation, compass

A conical timing mechanism with Shell Timing Mechanism and cone cover.ordnance, shell timing mechanism

Navigational equipmentNavigational equipment A timber and brass parallel ruler and brass dividersparallel ruler, dividers, navigation, chart reading

Marlin Depth recorder DIR 110A paper type recorder fishing, depth recorder, instruments

Coin and other metal objects retrieved from the ocean floorMultiple coin and other metal objects collected by a diver from local waters.A collection of various coin and other metal objects retrieved from the ocean floor showing corrosion and encrustation.salvage, diving, ship relics

Various artifacts from the steamship 'Wattle'. The Steam Tug Wattle, a steel ship, was built as a harbor tug in 1933. Steam is supplied from a two-furnace Scotch Marine wet-back boiler which was originally fired with dewatered and filtered waste oil but has recently been converted to burn distillate for environmental and maintenance reasons. It was launched at Cockatoo Island on 27 June 1933 by Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Co. Ltd. (CODECO) on order from the Commonwealth Shipping Board. Now fully restored it operates excursions in Port Phillip and the Yarra. One of a very few still operating steam tugs.Brass inclinator mounted on timber plate.steam tug wattle, harbour tugs

Various artifacts from the steamship 'Wattle'. The Steam Tug Wattle, a steel ship, was built as a harbor tug in 1933. Steam is supplied from a two-furnace Scotch Marine wet-back boiler which was originally fired with dewatered and filtered waste oil but has recently been converted to burn distillate for environmental and maintenance reasons. It was launched at Cockatoo Island on 27 June 1933 by Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Co. Ltd. (CODECO) on order from the Commonwealth Shipping Board. Now fully restored it operates excursions in Port Phillip and the Yarra.Solar Reflector with spirit level in wooden boxst wattle, navigational intruments

William Withers and Edward Ryan drowned near Point Lonsdale on 19 October 1954 when they tried to enter the Rip at Port Phillip Heads against an ebb tide with a strong south-west wind blowing. They were sailing a large crayfishing boat, the 'Robert John', returning with a load of crayfish from King Island.Photograph shows William (Bill) Withers and Edward Ryan who worked in the local Queenscliff and Victorian fishing industry. The commercial fishing industry developed in Queenscliff from the 1860s, with early fishing developing around the couta boat and barracouta fishing. Crayfishing and shark fishing also became important, especially as the supplies and popularity of barracouta as a commercial species waned. Local Queenscliff fishermen often fished outside Port Phillip into Bass Strait and had to navigate the dangerous entry to Port Phillip, known as 'The Rip', with its turbulent and variable water and weather conditions. This added to the everyday dangers of sailing faced by fishermen in their industry. The local fishermen often had the local knowledge of these waters, but the fishing community in Queenscliff also lived with the threat or fear that the Rip could rob them of one of their own. The entrance to Port Phillip with this Rip is the scene of many shipwrecks,often resulting in tragic loss of life or injuries, including passenger and cargo ships travelling to/from Melbourne and Geelong as well as accidents to local Queenscliff and Port Phillip sailors such as the fishermen or sea pilots. A B/W photograph of two Queenscliff fishermen, William (Bill) Withers and Edward Ryaninformation about photo and donation handwrittten on backfishermen, queenscliff fishermen, withers, william withers, ryan, edward ryan, robert john crayfish boat, shipwreck, port phillip

First ocean going vessel in world built of mild steel. Was known as the "Greyhound of the Pacific". Laid up December 1920 and hull sunk in Bass Strait in 1928.RealismMounted sepia photograph of a painting by A V Gregory of the steam ship S S RotomahanaS S Rotomahana and A V Gregorysepia photograph, a v gregory, ss rotomahana, steam ship

The 'Rescue' was one of the first metal hulled tugboats. The 'Ballarat' became a troop carrier & was sunk by a submarine's torpedoe.RealismBlack & white photograph of the tug "Rescue" moving the bow of "SS Ballarat" at Melbourne's Railway Pier 1893'Rescue' and 'SS Ballarat'steel tugboat, ss ballarat, railway pier melbourne

Undated black & white photo of fishermen running on a wharf to a practice session or 'cruise' in full wet weather gear.RealismBlack & white photograph of the Queenscliffe life boat crew running on a wharf to a practice sessionOn the reverse "Fishermen members of the life boat crew running out for practice cruise" and " W Mouchmore's father Daniel?"rescue crew, practice readiness, wet weather gear, life boat crew, wharf

Undated black & white photo of the Lifeboat "Queenscliffe", moored, with flags.RealismPhoto of the Lifeboat "Queenscliffe", moored, with flags.On the reverse McCowan & Mann 15-17 Spring St Geelong West 3218 Ph 9 1253, also, 85-12N, Q'cliffe w/ flags flying, Given H H for selection photos for book WRECK & RESCUE by Jack Loney, June 1986.wharf, lifeboat, moored, flags

Undated colour photo of the Lifeboat "Queenscliffe" under way in Port MelbourneRealismPhoto of the Lifeboat "Queenscliffe", under way in Port MelbourneOn the reverse "Queenscliffe Lifeboat Preservation Society Resource & Research Committeelifeboat

Undated photo of the original Customs House building at Queenscliffe, with the adjacent steps that lead up the hill to the 'Black' high-light lighthouse.RealismBlack & white photo of the original Queenscliffe Customs House building, with the adjacent steps that lead up the hill to the 'Black' high-light lighthouse.On the reverse - NILcustoms house building, steps, lighthouse

Undated black & white photo of the original Customs House building at Queenscliffe, with the adjacent steps that lead up the hill to the 'Black' high-light lighthouse & Flag pole.RealismBlack & white photo of the original Queenscliffe Customs House building, with the adjacent steps that lead up the hill to the 'Black' high-light lighthouse.On the reverse - "date?", "present lighthouse 1863", "Mrs Campbell(?)"customs house building, steps, lighthouse

Undated black & white photo of the launching of the lifeboat Queenscliffe from its boathouse.RealismBlack & white photo of the original Queenscliffe lifeboat being launched at its Queenscliffe boathouse.On the reverse - NILlifeboat, launching boat, boat crew

Undated black & white photo of the launching of the lifeboat Queenscliffe from its boathouse.RealismBlack & white photo of the original Queenscliffe lifeboat being launched at its Queenscliffe boathouse.On the reverse - NILlifeboat, launching boat, boat crew

Undated black & white photo of the lifeboat Queenscliffe with its sailors about to step the sail mast.RealismBlack & white photo of the original Queenscliffe lifeboat, being at sea in Port Phillip, showing its sailors about to step the sail mast. There is a steamship in the background and is similar to the Akuna.On the reverse - Photo 1 - "stepping the mast on the "Queenscliffe"' and 'from Tom & Eunice April 21st 1962', '4' and 'original'.lifeboat, boat crew, stepping the sail mast

Undated black & white photo of the lifeboat sailor in Scotland.RealismMrs D BeavisBlack & white photo of a lifeboat sailor from ScotlandOn the reverse - 'year 1890?', 'one of the lifeboat crew', 'duplicate may be had any time' - Wm McLeod, 20 Keith St Stornoway'.lifeboat, boat crew, sailor, uniform

Undated black & white photo of HMVS Childers torpedo boatRealismMr T ArnottBlack & white phot of HMVS Childers torpedo boat, with a moored lifeboat in the foreground and tri-masted square-rigged boat and steamship in the background .On the reverse - Childers Torpedo Boat, RAN 1911, 1st Class, Gift MAAV T. Arnottlifeboat, torpedo boat

Undated black & white photo of a painting of the Shortland's Bluff timber 'high' lighthouse at QueenscliffeRealismBlack & white phot of HMVS Childers torpedo boat, with a moored lifeboat in the foreground and tri-masted square-rigged boat and steamship in the background .On the reverse - Childers Torpedo Boat, RAN 1911, 1st Class, Gift MAAV T. Arnottqueenscliffe, shortland's bluff, timber construction, lighthouse

Postcard showing the BASP lifeboat under sailRealismPostcard photograph in sepia of the BASP being a Watson Class lifeboat.On the reverse - National Lifeboat Museum - Bristol with a full description [refer notes for full details]lifeboat, watson class, sails

Postcard showing the BASP lifeboat under sailRealismOver exposed black & white photograph of the Captain Preston's private lighthouse at Pt Lonsdale, taken from below on the beach.On the reverse - "Capt. Preston's original private lighthouse built 1854" and "on left is wooden lighthouse from Q'cliff 1963"lighthouse, wooden lighthouse, private lighthouse

A black & white photograph of the "low light" lighthouse and Obelisk, Queenscliffe. Also two old coloured postcard pictures of the other beacons. Realism, historicalA black & white photograph of the lower lighthouse and Obelisk, Queenscliffe. Also two old coloured postcard pictures of the other beacons. On the reverse - "The brick tower known as the Obelisk was replaced in the mid 1970's by Murray Tower, an iron framework tower showing a green light. There is a second iron framework tower on the other side of the Low Light, the Hume Tower, built in 1924 and shows a red light. The Low Light lighthouse was built in 1863."lighthouse, obelisk, towers

A colour photo of life at Queenscliffe for local fishermen, sailors and crew.Realism, historicalA colour photograph of 4 men, 2 fishing, 1 watching & 1 on the bow of a yacht moored at the wharf. Name of the yacht is not clear. Background shows the Swan Island bridge On the reverse - "NIL."wharf, bridge, sailing boat, fishermen