On a piece of paper subsequently glued near one end of its curved upper face, this length of planed and polished hardwood timber bears the inscription: “A [p]iece of w[r]ec[k] of the Loch Ard wrecked near Sherbroke River”. The timber is carefully worked with rich dark colouring and a uniformly moulded design, suggesting that it was part of a fitting or furnishing that was publicly visible and prominent. If the artefact is what it is declared to be, then it is possible that it formed part of the ship’s railings or companionway stairs. The LOCH ARD was a 1,693 ton, 3 masted barque, built on the Clyde in 1873. In an age of increasing competition for the emigrant passenger trade from steam-driven vessels, special attention was paid to her wooden furnishings and fittings. The Loch Line owners prided themselves on their attractive, distinctively painted, sailing ships. Below decks, where cargo and third class passengers were stowed, was made of iron. But everything above deck, and on show to the saloon and second class passengers, was carved and varnished timber. Captain Daish’s 1878 report for the ship’s underwriters notes “a quantity of general Cargo washed up in a confused mass” in the cove and “a number of Cases, Casks and Bales; also deals and boards floating about in some of the gorges” further west of the shipwreck. Contemporary newspaper accounts also reported a large quantity of cargo and timber washed ashore in the days following the LOCH ARD shipwreck, adding “but those were speedily removed by persons who came down from Port Campbell, Scott’s Creek and other places with carts and pack horses”. The appearance and good condition of this wood artefact, and the aged patina and dated hand-writing style of its pasted on inscription, support the suggestion that it was ‘souvenired’ from the floating debris of the LOCH ARD at or near the 1878 date of its foundering off Mutton Bird Island. HISTORY OF THE LOCH ARD The LOCH ARD belonged to the famous Loch Line which sailed many ships from England to Australia. Built in Glasgow by Barclay, Curdle and Co. in 1873, the LOCH ARD was a three-masted square rigged iron sailing ship. The ship measured 262ft 7" (79.87m) in length, 38ft (11.58m) in width, 23ft (7m) in depth and had a gross tonnage of 1693 tons. The LOCH ARD's main mast measured a massive 150ft (45.7m) in height. LOCH ARD made three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its final voyage. LOCH ARD left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of Captain Gibbs, a newly married, 29 year old. She was bound for Melbourne with a crew of 37, plus 17 passengers and a load of cargo. The general cargo reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. On board were straw hats, umbrella, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionary, linen and candles, as well as a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead and copper. There were items included that intended for display in the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. The voyage to Port Phillip was long but uneventful. At 3am on June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs was expecting to see land and the passengers were becoming excited as they prepared to view their new homeland in the early morning. But LOCH ARD was running into a fog which greatly reduced visibility. Captain Gibbs was becoming anxious as there was no sign of land or the Cape Otway lighthouse. At 4am the fog lifted. A man aloft announced that he could see breakers. The sheer cliffs of Victoria's west coast came into view, and Captain Gibbs realised that the ship was much closer to them than expected. He ordered as much sail to be set as time would permit and then attempted to steer the vessel out to sea. On coming head on into the wind, the ship lost momentum, the sails fell limp and LOCH ARD's bow swung back. Gibbs then ordered the anchors to be released in an attempt to hold its position. The anchors sank some 50 fathoms - but did not hold. By this time LOCH ARD was among the breakers and the tall cliffs of Mutton Bird Island rose behind the ship. Just half a mile from the coast, the ship's bow was suddenly pulled around by the anchor. The captain tried to tack out to sea, but the ship struck a reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Waves broke over the ship and the top deck was loosened from the hull. The masts and rigging came crashing down knocking passengers and crew overboard. When a lifeboat was finally launched, it crashed into the side of LOCH ARD and capsized. Tom Pearce, who had launched the boat, managed to cling to its overturned hull and shelter beneath it. He drifted out to sea and then on the flood tide came into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. He swam to shore, bruised and dazed, and found a cave in which to shelter. Some of the crew stayed below deck to shelter from the falling rigging but drowned when the ship slipped off the reef into deeper water. Eva Carmichael had raced onto deck to find out what was happening only to be confronted by towering cliffs looming above the stricken ship. In all the chaos, Captain Gibbs grabbed Eva and said, "If you are saved Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a sailor". That was the last Eva Carmichael saw of the captain. She was swept off the ship by a huge wave. Eva saw Tom Pearce on a small rocky beach and yelled to attract his attention. He dived in and swam to the exhausted woman and dragged her to shore. He took her to the cave and broke open case of brandy which had washed up on the beach. He opened a bottle to revive the unconscious woman. A few hours later Tom scaled a cliff in search of help. He followed hoof prints and came by chance upon two men from nearby Glenample Station three and a half miles away. In a state of exhaustion, he told the men of the tragedy. Tom returned to the gorge while the two men rode back to the station to get help. By the time they reached LOCH ARD Gorge, it was cold and dark. The two shipwreck survivors were taken to Glenample Station to recover. Eva stayed at the station for six weeks before returning to Ireland, this time by steamship. In Melbourne, Tom Pearce received a hero's welcome. He was presented with the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria and a £1000 cheque from the Victorian Government. Concerts were performed to honour the young man's bravery and to raise money for those who lost family in the LOCH ARD disaster. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: the apprentice, Tom Pearce and the young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. Ten days after the LOCH ARD tragedy, salvage rights to the wreck were sold at auction for £2,120. Cargo valued at £3,000 was salvaged and placed on the beach, but most washed back into the sea when another storm developed. The wreck of LOCH ARD still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island. Much of the cargo has now been salvaged and some was washed up into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. One of the most unlikely pieces of cargo to have survived the shipwreck was a Minton porcelain peacock - one of only nine in the world. The peacock was destined for the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. It had been well packed, which gave it adequate protection during the violent storm. Today, the Minton peacock can be seen at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in Warrnambool. From Australia's most dramatic shipwreck it has now become Australia's most valuable shipwreck artefact and is one of very few 'objects' on the Victorian State Heritage Register. The Loch Ard wreck is of state significance – Victorian Heritage Register S417. However there is a lack of documented provenance that limits the interpretive value of this piece of timber (for example, its potential to interpret nineteenth century souveniring and scavenging from shipwrecks along the south west coast of Victoria). Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from LOCH ARD is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S417). The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the LOCH ARD. The LOCH ARD collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The LOCH ARD collection is historically significant for representing 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 collection is also historically significant for its association with the LOCH ARD, which was one of the worst and best known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history. A length of hardwood timber, planed and varnished to smooth finish on three sides, with two unfinished tongues protruding from each end (one broken off), possibly from the wreck of the LOCH ARD. The front or upper face is moulded and routed to a regular, linear (skirting board type) design along its entire length, the two sides flat planed. One side contains two inserted dowel rods that have been broken off. The bottom face has not been finished to the same standard. The sample is good quality wood that has retained its density and weight and shows no evidence of having been submerged in seawater for any length of time. Glued on to the upper face of the length of timber near the right hand end is a deteriorated square of paper bearing an inscription. The paper, peeling back and with torn edges, is stuck over an original wood stain but under a subsequent layer of varnish. The faded ink words are indecipherable where paper is missing, but written carefully in an old fashioned cursive script.The inscription on the paper reads: “A [p]iece of w[r]ec[k] of the Loch Ard wrecked near Sherbroke River”. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, nineteenth-century souveniring, shipwreck scavenging, loch line sailing ships, wood sample

This design of ink bottle was commonly referred to as a ‘penny ink well’ because it was very inexpensive to produce. It is also known as a dwarf ink bottle. Pen and ink has been in use for hand writing from about the seventh century up until the mid-20th century up until around the mid-19th century a quill pen made from a bird’s feather was used. In the 1850s the steel point pen was invented and could be manufactured on machines in large quantities. In the 1880s a successful portable fountain pen was designed, giving a smooth flowing ink and ease of use replacing the quill or dip pen. History of the Loch Ard: The Loch Ard got its name from "Loch Ard" a loch that lies to the west of Aberfoyle, and the east of Loch Lomond. It means "high lake" in Scottish Gaelic. The vessel belonged to the famous Loch Line which sailed many vessels from England to Australia. The Loch Ard was built in Glasgow by Barclay, Curle & Co. in 1873, the vessel was a three-masted square-rigged iron sailing ship that measured 79.87 meters in length, 11.58 m in width, and 7 m in depth with a gross tonnage of 1693 tons with a mainmast that measured a massive 45.7 m in height. Loch Ard made three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its fateful voyage. Loch Ard left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of 29-year-old Captain Gibbs, who was newly married. The ship was bound for Melbourne with a crew of 37, plus 17 passengers. The general cargo reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. Onboard were straw hats, umbrellas, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionery, linen, and candles, as well as a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead, and copper. There were other items included that were intended for display in the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880. The voyage to Port Phillip was long but uneventful. Then at 3 am on June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs was expecting to see land. But the Loch Ard was running into a fog which greatly reduced visibility. Captain Gibbs was becoming anxious as there was no sign of land or the Cape Otway lighthouse. At 4 am the fog lifted and a lookout aloft announced that he could see breakers. The sheer cliffs of Victoria's west coast came into view, and Captain Gibbs realised that the ship was much closer to them than expected. He ordered as much sail to be set as time would permit and then attempted to steer the vessel out to sea. On coming head-on into the wind, the ship lost momentum, the sails fell limp and Loch Ard's bow swung back towards land. Gibbs then ordered the anchors to be released in an attempt to hold their position. The anchors sank some 50 fathoms - but did not hold. By this time the ship was among the breakers and the tall cliffs of Mutton Bird Island rose behind. Just half a mile from the coast, the ship's bow was suddenly pulled around by the anchor. The captain tried to tack out to sea, but the ship struck a reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Waves subsequently broke over the ship and the top deck became loosened from the hull. The masts and rigging came crashing down knocking passengers and crew overboard. When a lifeboat was finally launched, it crashed into the side of Loch Ard and capsized. Tom Pearce, who had launched the boat, managed to cling to its overturned hull and shelter beneath it. He drifted out to sea and then on the flood tide came into what is now known as Lochard Gorge. He swam to shore, bruised and dazed, and found a cave in which to shelter. Some of the crew stayed below deck to shelter from the falling rigging but drowned when the ship slipped off the reef into deeper water. Eva Carmichael a passenger had raced onto the deck to find out what was happening only to be confronted by towering cliffs looming above the stricken ship. In all the chaos, Captain Gibbs grabbed Eva and said, "If you are saved Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a sailor". That was the last Eva Carmichael saw of the captain. She was swept off the ship by a huge wave. Eva saw Tom Pearce on a small rocky beach and yelled to attract his attention. He dived in and swam to the exhausted woman and dragged her to shore. He took her to the cave and broke the open case of brandy that had washed up on the beach. He opened a bottle to revive the unconscious woman. A few hours later Tom scaled a cliff in search of help. He followed hoof prints and came by chance upon two men from nearby Glenample Station three and a half miles away. In a complete state of exhaustion, he told the men of the tragedy. Tom then returned to the gorge while the two men rode back to the station to get help. By the time they reached Loch Ard Gorge, it was cold and dark. The two shipwreck survivors were taken to Glenample Station to recover. Eva stayed at the station for six weeks before returning to Ireland by steamship. In Melbourne, Tom Pearce received a hero's welcome. He was presented with the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria and a £1000 cheque from the Victorian Government. Concerts were performed to honour the young man's bravery and to raise money for those who lost families in the disaster. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: the apprentice, Tom Pearce, and the young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost her family in the tragedy. Ten days after the Lochard tragedy, salvage rights to the wreck were sold at auction for £2,120. Cargo valued at £3,000 was salvaged and placed on the beach, but most washed back into the sea when another storm developed. The wreck of Lochard still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island. Much of the cargo has now been salvaged and some items were washed up into Lochard Gorge. Cargo and artefact's have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced in March 1982. One of the most unlikely pieces of cargo to have survived the shipwreck was a Minton majolica peacock- one of only nine in the world. The peacock was destined for the Melbourne 1880 International Exhibition. It had been well packed, which gave it adequate protection during the violent storm. Today the Minton peacock can be seen at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in Warrnambool. From Australia's most dramatic shipwreck it has now become Australia's most valuable shipwreck artifact and is one of very few 'objects' on the Victorian State Heritage Register.This ink well is historically significant as it represents methods of hand written communication that were still common up until the mid-20th century, when fountain pens and ballpoint pens took over in popularity and convenience. The shipwreck of the Loch Ard is of significance for Victoria and is registered on the Victorian Heritage Register ( S 417). Flagstaff Hill has a varied collection of artefact's from Loch Ard and its collection is significant for being one of the largest accumulation of artefact's from this notable Victorian shipwreck of which the subject items are a small part. The collection's objects give us a snapshot of how 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 social and historical themes of the time. Through is associated with the worst and best-known shipwreck in Victoria's history.Stoneware penny Ink bottle ironstone salt-glazed, stoneware cylindrical shape with small mouth and squat neck, broad shoulders brown colour, . with light coloured encrustation spots.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, penny ink well, writing equipment, domestic, stoneware, clay, ceramic, pottery, ink well, inkwell, ink bottle, dip pen, ink, hand writing, business, vintage, dwarf ink

Signed copy; Donated by C. McFee.natural history, victoria, phillip island, geology, nature, effect of human beings, conservation, natural resources

Subjects had a long standing connection with the Mission Visual Record of Mission staff. The Oliver family played a significant and long term role as a family in the leadership, maintenance and publicising the services and role of the Mission from 1930-1960. Articles, a film and regular lectures and canvassing were used to generate funding and awareness of the importance and significance of the Mission to Shipping services for Australia. The Oliver's son Rodney also served on the board in later years and daughter Barb Kent also provided support for many years.Black and white gloss print photograph depicting Padre Frank Oliver with his wife Moira in the courtyard garden of the MTSV circa late 1950s.Hand written in black texta; Frank Oliver and Mrs Oliver in the garden at the Missionfrank oliver, moira oliver, chaplain, mission to seafarers victoria, moira bird, garden, flinders street

Moira Bird Oliver (nee Good) daughter of Rev Good of St Jude's Carlton first met Frank Oliver circa 1915. They were engaged for some 7 years while Frank did wartime service and then on return to Melbourne completed a Theology degree at Trinity College and was then ordained. They married on the 18th of July 1925 at St Jude's Church in Carlton. Frank Oliver was then naval chaplain on the HMAS Platypus. After various postings the married couple eventually arrived and were appointed to the Chaplaincy to the Mission to Seamen based at 717 Flinders St from 1930-1960. The Olivers weathered many significant issues between 1930 and 1960, a depression, WW2, strikes and waterfront unrest in the 1950s and financial struggles resulting from changed shipping patterns. This photograph was gifted by a descendant who told us that Mrs Oliver was a very enthusiastic photographer. Mrs Oliver was a well loved and respected woman and is memorialised by a window in the Mission Chapel. It is possible she is one of the many anonymous photographers who contributed various photographs especially of the 1930s and forties that make up a substantial part of the Mission Heritage Collection. Mrs Oliver died in 1969 see elsewhere this database for memorial plaque and window.Mounted studio b & w photograph portrait of a bride in white dress and trainpadre oliver, reverend good, st. jude's church, reverend frank leslie oliver, moira bird good, moira oliver, hmas platypus, royal australian navy, r.a.n. chaplain

Small monochrome photograph of birds, mainly chicken, on the deck of a shipWritten in pencil "12"food, fowl yard, chicken, ships, cooking

Padre Oliver served at the Seafarers Mission from 1930 to 1960.One of the longest serving Padre's at the Mission in MelbourneSmall rectangular (landscape orientation) black and white photograph depicting Padre Oliver and his wife, Moirapadre oliver, frank oliver, moira bird

frank oliver, moira bird oliver, andrew kent

A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE Before the increase of air transport, everything that arrived or departed from Australia did so via the ports and wharves. The Mission to Seafarersis not a Victorian initiative, but rather a global network that currently operates in over 260 ports worldwide, assisting over 1.3 million seafaring men and women each year. The importance of the Mission’s role is demonstrated in the Chaplain’s Report 1947, which notes that ships and their crews are: “...inextricably linked with the well-being of Australian industrial and economic life... This, in turn, means that you cannot escape some share in responsibility for their welfare.” This window, titled ‘Noli Me Tangere’, was installed in memoriam of Moira Oliver, the wife of the Reverend Frank Oliver, chaplain at the Mission 1930-60, and whose dedication in life and service to the welfare of seafarers was inspirational to many.Reflections of the Sea was an exhibition of 10 framed montage of photographs from the mission's archive collection showcasing 10 stained glass windows from the St Peter chapel. This exhibition curated by Georgia Melville and Catherine McLay, and funded by PROV and Creative Victoria, was displayed in the World Trade Centre Wharf Gallery in June July 2013 and toured to Queenscliff Maritime Museum. The photographs of the windows were taken by scientific photographer Justine M. Philip. This frame is showcasing the memorial window to Moira Bird Oliver, wife of Padre Oliver , a photograph of Padre Oliver listing a ship and a photograph of sailors playing tug-of-war during a picnic.Framed and mounted on black cardboard of black and white and colour reproductions from the MTSV collection for the exhibition Reflections of the Sea with brief label signageon label: ABOVE: Mission to Seafarers' chaplain Frank L Oliver, visiting a ship whilst in port, c1950s BELOW: The crew of the motor ship Nyhaugin a tug-of-war with the crew of the SS Madgeburg at the 1926 Boxing Day picnicreflections of the sea, georgia melville, exhibition, 2013, world trade centre, wtc, creative victoria, prov, mission to seafarers, stained glass windows, justine m. philip, moira bird oliver, moira bird oliver (nee good), padre frank leslie oliver, picnic, tug-of-war, flinders street, catherine mclay, arthouse

Moira Bird Oliver (nee Good) was a the wife of Padre Frank Leslie Oliver. They lived in the Mission for about 30 years.Arched windows depicting a woman kneeling in front of JesusIn Living Memory Of Moira Bird Oliver / Wife of Rev. Frank Leslie Oliver . Chaplain of this Mission for 30 Years / - Erected by Friends . Inspired by her Life and Service.st peter chapel, flinders street, mission to seafarers, seamen's mission, mission to seamen, st peter, sailors, seamen, stained glass windows, win, memorial chapel, hlg, harbour lights guild, moira bird oliver (nee good)

Liardet, W. F. E. (Wilbraham Frederick Evelyn), 1799-1878 depicts the busy port of Melbourne showing many types of ships and the Bethel Church built in 1860 on the Custom House land. The church replaced the Bethel ship which sank in February 1860.This watercolour along with the Francois Cogne print from 1863, "Sandridge from Hobson's Bay, and the engraving "A Bird's-eye View Of Melbourne From Sandridge" dating from 1882, is a rare depiction fo the Bethel church. In 1887, the church was demolished to erect the building still standing on the corner of Nott Street and Beach Road.wilbraham liardet, sandridge, port, ships, port melbourne, hobsons bay, bethel church, reverend kerr johnston, 1812-1887, missions to seamen, 1862, customs house

This box was made for the Royal Dunkeld School in Scotland to participate in a flag exchange with with the Dunkeld State School No 183 in Victoria, Australia in 1910. It was made from the wood of one of three Larch trees planted in Dunkeld Scotland by the 2nd Duke of Athol from seeds which were brought from the Tyrol. The tree was struck by lightning in 1905 and died over the next few years. It was cut down and some of the timber was used to make the box.This box was sent to the Dunkeld State School from the Royal School of Dunkeld, Scotland and part of a state wide flag exchange in Victoria in 1910. Schools were encouraged to contact schools with a similar name. This box contained a Union Jack which was first flown at the Dunkeld, Victoria school on Empire Day 1910. A box made of Australian Ash was sent to Scotland with an Australian flag enclosed.Timber box made from larch wood. Silver shield on the lid and plaque on the front edge of the lid and crossed flags on the front of the box with a portrait of King George 5th and a banner engraved "God Save the King". Handles on the end are brass lions heads with rings through their mouth. Lock keeper is silver in the form of a Maltese Cross.. The lid has bevelled sides and ends and the interior has strengthening bars in the corners and inside the lid is the provenance of the timber.On top a shield with a bird and a thistle and the letters RDS. Below this a bannet with the words Forward with Honour. On the front bevel of the lid a plaque with "Presented to Dunkeld State School Victoria Australia from Dunkeld Royal H.G. School Scotland 24th may 1910. On the front. Banner with God save the King. Crossed flags representing either the Union Jack or the Scottish Saltair and the Australian Flag and a medallion with the head of King George 5th in relief.

Stevenson, Robert, Kangaroo Ground, was born in the County of Evelyn, Victoria in 1845, He is the son of the late Joseph Stevenson and retains the property purchased by his father, with 47 acres adjoining, making in all 127 acres, where he carries on farming, and also a vineyard, the grapes from which have taken a number of prizes at agricultural societies’ shows at Heidelberg and other places. He was married in 1872, and has a family of two sons and five daughters. From: Victoria and it’s Metropolis: Past and Present by Alexander Sutherland ; R. L. J. Ellery ...[et.al. Melbourne : McCarron, Bird, 1888]. Page. 414 This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital imagesepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, kangaroo ground, bankhead, robert stevenson, stevenson homestead