Hollis Brothers were first recorded trading from 11 Weaman Row in 1840 but appear to have started trading a little earlier. The firm later became Isaac Hollis & Sons and claimed establishment from 1814. Richard & William Hollis were recorded trading in Bath Street Birmingham from 1814 to 1818 so it may be that the Hollis brothers were descended from them. The brothers were Isaac Hollis (1815) and Frederick Hollis (birth date unknown), but Frederick died 20 December 1839. Isaac was recorded in the 1841 census living in Weaman Row. He was a 25-year-old gun and pistol maker, married to Emma 1821. They had two children, Isaac (1837), and Henry (1839). After Frederick died, Isaac carried on trading under the name of Hollis Brothers until 1845 when he re-named the business Hollis Brothers & Co who traded up to 1848. In 1844 Isaac entered into a short term partnership with William Tranter at 10 & 11 Weaman Row, presumably to complete a particular contract or supply certain parts, this partnership lasted until 1849. In 1848 Isaac took in Isaac Brentnall Sheath as a partner, and the firm of Hollis & Sheath was established, expanding into 10 Weaman Row. Hollis & Sheath were licensed makers of percussion breech-loading guns. in 1861 the firm changed its name to Isaac Hollis & Sons on the departure of Isaac Brentnall Sheath. Isaac Sheath died in July 1875 By about 1870 Isaac Hollis and Henry Hollis had taken over the day to day running of the business. Isaac Hollis was responsible for the overall management and the marketing of the firm's products. Henry was responsible for manufacturing. The firm became volume producers of inexpensive trade guns and sporting guns for the South African and the British colonies. In 1870 the firm opened a shop at 44a Cannon Street in London; in 1871 this moved to 83 Cheapside. Isaac Hollis Jnr died October 1875 in Birmingham aged 37. He was never married and in 1876/1877 Henry registered a limited liability company, Isaac Hollis & Sons Ltd, but by 1879 they were again trading as Isaac Hollis & Sons. From 1879 the London shop was at 6 Great Winchester Street. From 1932 to 1933 the London business traded as Hollis, Bentley & Playfair Hollis, Bentley & Playfair finally closed in Birmingham in 1953.The shotgun is not in pristine condition and is not very significant historically or valuable, although made by a well known and respected manufacturer of firearms there are many better examples of Issac Hollis and Sons shotguns in collections and for sale. This particular example is of a standard pattern for utilitarian use of which many were made.Shotgun, double barrel, 12 gauge, with cleaning rod. Right barrel has been cut shorter and has sharp edges on the muzzle. Metal stock extension, cleaning rod comprising 3 pieces that screw together. Gun is stored in a black painted, wooden case with hinged lid. Inscribed "I. HOLLIS & SONS", SN 84245. "I. HOLLIS & SONS". SN on stock “84245”. Badge on both sides “Crown [symbol] / BV”. “Crown [symbol] / NP”, “12G inside Diamond [symbol]”, “NITRO PROOF”, “STEEL 84245” Paper note included with gun, written in felt tip pen “ENTERPRISE”. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shotgun, double barrel shotgun, isaac hollis and son, birmingham, i hollis and sons, gun makers, sporting firearm, south african firearm market, rifles for british government, hollis, bentlely and playfair

Port of Portland AuthorityFront: (no inscriptions) Back: Firts wool sale and buyer (top left, blue pen). 1 copy 8 x 6, 1 copy 10 x 8 (top left, blue pen). C (top right, red felt tip pen).port of portland archives

View of bluestone building with false columns decorating front of central structure. The building is situated on the side of a road, with red sand/gravel in front and low-lying greenery behind. Mounted in cream matt and framed in a wooden frame.Front: Old Town Hall, Portland (1863) Pauling Grayling 1983 (Black Ink) Back: Old Town Hall/Portland - $100 (Pauline Grayling/42 Greenwood Ave/Ringwood 870 7649 (black felt tip pen on sticker, upper right).

This clock was made by Charles Frederick Falck who was a watchmaker and jeweller in Beechworth from 1863-1908. Falck was born in Körlin, Prussia on May 22nd in 1833 and died at the age of 75 in 1908. Ovens and Murray Advertiser, Beechworth: edition June 13, 1908 OBITUARY: Falck was brought up to the business of watch-making, in which he developed exceptional mechanical ingenuity. Attracted by the favourable prospects held out by the Australian discoveries of gold he, like many other young adventurous spirits, left his native land to seek his fortune in the great southern Eldorado, arriving in Adelaide in 1854, and shortly after came to Melbourne where he worked as a journeyman, and subsequently started in business on his own account. Feeling inclined to test his fortune on the goldfields, he went to Blackwood but, meeting with little success, he returned to Melbourne where he was married. In 1862, he moved to Beechworth, where he commenced business as watchmaker and gold-buyer. He then embarked in vine-growing on the Sydney road, but eventually resumed his business avocations. His skill in practical horology was evinced in a clock of his own design and manufacture, surmounted by a golden eagle, which was exhibited at the first Melbourne Exhibition in 1856, and which afterwards formed a pre-eminent attraction in the window of his business premises in Ford Street. For many years, he filled the position of timekeeper to the Beechworth Racing Club, with complete satisfaction also at various sports meetings. He leaves a family of six sons and one daughter (Mrs. Jas. Broadfoot) all arrived at maturity. The funeral, which was well attended by a number of residents, took place at the Beechworth Cemetery on Sunday, the burial service being performed by the Ven. Archdeacon Potter. The cortege was capably supervised by Mr. D. Wilson, undertaker. The clock was returned to Beechworth in 2020 through the generous support of the Copland Foundation and the Friends of the Burke. Given that Mr. C. F. Falck traded as a watchmaker and jeweller in Beechworth for 45 years and traded with the 1855 clock mounted in his front window, there is a direct link between the clocks and the social, cultural and economic life of nineteenth century Beechworth at time when the town was developing and expanding in response to gold mining. This clock represent the significant skill and expertise of Charles Falck as an horologist. Large swinging clock featuring a carved gilt wood eagle with its wings outstretched (abaisé - expanded with wing-tips lowered) and perched above a pendulum rod that holds a silvered dial clock face within a reeded sunburst surround. (Similar to #2019.056.01) The clock has an eight-day fuse movement with dead beat escapement wound from the clock face. C. F. FALCK / WATCHMAKERburke museum, copland foundation, beechworth, leonard joel, auction, purchase, clock, pendulum, eagle, eagle clock, charles frederick falck, c. f. falck, falck, horology, pendulum clock, melbourne

Small watercolour painting by George Rowe in a golden wooden frame. Under a red sunset the tipical Australian bush and several tents. The main part of the painting shows the Falcon Inn pub in Peg Leg Eaglehawk, four men are standing at the entrance and two aborigines are walking on the dirt road away from the pub. It is believed to have been painted around 1857.artwork, water colour, landscape, from dudley house. stored at the bendigo art gallery from 2000. returned to bhs 03/02/2023

This instrument was used by Dr Fritz Duras (1896-1965), who moved to Australia from Germany in 1937. As his father was Jewish, Duras was forced to leave Germany, and came to Australia to take up a post as director of physical education at Melbourne University. Jetter and Scheerer were a surgical instrument maker founded in Germany in 1867. Their company symbol is that of a serpent curled around a rod, surmounted by a coronet/crown. This instrument was part of a collection of instruments given to his son-in-law, Dr Michael Kloss, who was an obstetrician. Dr Kloss subsequently had it engraved and used it in his own practice, before donating the item to the College. Metal instrument used for cervical sutures. Instrument consists of a handle and shaft. The end of the shaft is curved so as the tip of the instrument is almost perpendicular to the handle. The end of the shaft is in the shape of a loop to allow for sutures to be passed through it. The handle of the instrument is engraved with the word 'KLOSS'. The shaft of the needle is engraved with an image of the Rod of Asclepius, featuring a serpent wrapped around a staff, topped by a crown.'KLOSS' obstetrics

Matte sepia toned head and shoulders studio portrait of Rev. F. H. Williams who is looking directly at the camera with his body facing to his right. He is wearing his clerical collar. The photograph is tipped on beige textured card which has been mounted on tan textured paper. The Rev Williams' name is written on the front of the photograph in script."Rev. F. H. Williams"rev f h williams methodist minister, prince of wales park methodist circuit, northcote (prince of wales park)

Pamphlet "Now you've got the tickets how are you going to get there?" published jointly by The Met and Sport and Recreation Victoria with a map of the major sporting venues in the city area and the Victorian Arts Centre. Published before the diversion of the Batman Ave tram line via Flinders St. Gives tips on parking, train/tram travel, and the MCG footbridge. The line was diverted via Flinders St on 6/6/1999 - see reference. yields information about the travelling to the major Melbourne sports venues.Pamphlet - 2 fold DL printed in colour with map.trams, tramways, the met, sporting venues, public transport, maps, batman ave, batman avenue

This wooden condom former has no defined manufacture date and was used in the production of rubber condoms in Melbourne by the rubber goods manufacturer Ansell. Wooden formers of this type were used from 1905 till 1945. The condom former would be dipped tip first into liquid rubber and the covering left to dry, and then the resulting condom packaged and sold. This object was acquired by the Richmond and Burnley Historical Society in the 1970’s on the closing of the Ansell factory located on River St, Richmond. This object has historical significance at a national level, as it is associated with the use and manufacture of sexual health devices within the broader Australian context. It also holds local historical significance as a marker of local manufacturing and industry in Victoria. Alongside these points it is also a large part of the story that surrounds the creation of Ansell Industries as we know them in a modern context. Wooden condom former/ mold. Frame consists of 11 individual upright moulds. Used by the Ansell Rubber Co. Pty Ltd in the production of condoms. Obtained in 1970's from an old factory site occupied by Ansell. None visibleansell, condom machinery, richmond industry, moulds, rubber products, sexual health, contraception, condom

This is a two part brass cylindrical object. The two pieces slide apart a small distance. This mechanism when operated removes a cap from the wick. On the side is a square, long section that holds a flint & string. On the tip of this section is a circular wheel with a serrated edge. When the inner section is slid down a little, the flame is shielded from the wind by the holes in the outer section. There is a ring mounted in the bottom., Engraved on one side are the letters CFA. Engraved on side of square section is "Patent 91 105107". On other side of square section are the words "Made in Austria". Pat 105107cigarette lighter, souvenir, smoking

The origins of the brass candlestick holders are unknown. However, they both are on display in the memorial Chapel of St Peter aka the Mariners' chapel. Given the style of the candlesticks it is possible that they were initially in use at either the original Port Melbourne chapel operating in the late 19thC. or possibly used at the 1907 building, Siddeley st where an improvised chapel was established. The Memorial Chapel of St Peter is a crucial part of the Mission to Seafarers Melbourne building complex, underscoring the relationship between the organisation and the Anglican Church, as well as being a site of continuous usage since the building was opened.This brass candle stand or floor candlestick holder is one of a pair. The candle holder is shaped like an open flower. There is elaborate brass ornamentation, floral in nature. Below is an angel figure holding a sword with both hands with the tip pointing toward its feet. The base of the candlestick is a tripod with three winged dogs, forming the feet. There is elaborate ornamentation that in turn connect each of the dogs together.candelabra, st peter chapel, flinders street, mission to seafarers, seamen's mission

The Bocian is a versatile training sailplane that first flew in 1952. The type has been modified in several respects over the course of production by SZD (tailplane and rudder in particular). About 600 have been built; many for export to 27 countries (including Australia). The aerobatic capability and fine performance (best glide ratio of 26) has enabled the Bocian to be used to train competition pilots as well as those of lesser experience. Many world gliding records were set in the 1950s and 1960s in Bocian gliders. The Museum’s example is a type D test flown in Poland on 3 and 4 April 1963. It was imported into Australia in September 1963 by Austerserve Pty Ltd. The first owner was the Alice Springs Gliding Club and the glider had name “Cumulus” painted on the side of the fuselage (since removed). The glider had recorded 726 hours 46 minutes flying time from 2138 launches as at July 1967 when it was transferred to the Darwin Gliding Club. It appears that the glider was damaged in June 1968. The substantial repairs to the fuselage, both wings and tailplane and other minor repairs were completed on 13 October 1968. The glider continued flying with the Darwin Gliding Club until August 1969 at which time the service to that club amounted to 59 hours 7 minutes flying time from 348 flights. Between August 1969 and August 1976 no flights are recorded in the logbook. It is understood that on its last flight at Bachelor, south of Darwin in the Northern Territory (August 1969) it was severely damaged when it crashed after spinning while being auto-tow launched (although this is not expressly mentioned in the logbook). Reg Hancock purchased the damaged glider and rebuilt the port wing and restored it to airworthy condition (September 1976). It was then transferred to Colac, Victoria, and used by the Colac Gliding Group at the Yeo airfield until February 1981, adding another 153 hours from 403 flights to the glider’s record. After airworthy inspection in September 1982 the glider was used by the Geelong Gliding Club until 1983 (logbook details not held). The 20 year survey was then due and the glider fell out of service. In the course of the most recent restoration attempt it was discovered that the glue used in construction had deteriorated and that it was no longer feasible to bring it back to an airworthy condition. Subject to restoration, this exhibit may be representative of the 1950s - 1960s Bocian two seat sailplane typeThis exhibit is a large two seat glider /sailplane of wood and fabric construction. All components are present with the exception of instruments. However, at the time that the aircraft was transferred to the Museum it had been taken apart for major restoration work. As received it is stripped of the top coats of paint and a number of components (including, amongst others, tip fairings, nose cone and cockpit elements) that were removed for facilitating the repair process. The glider, serial number 803, was registered as VH-GNLaustralian gliding, glider, sailplane, bocian, cumulus, alice springs gliding club, darwin gliding club, colac gliding group, geelong gliding club, hancock

This item is from the private collection of George Shirling of Red Onion, Falls Creek. The card was sent by Zali Steggal OAM, a four time Olympian and Australia’s most successful alpine skier. She competed in Winter Olympics at Albertville 1992, Lillehammer 1994, Nagano 1998, Salt Lake City 2002. After retiring from competitive sport in 2002, Zali studied Law as well as Community Media and Communication. She entered politics as a Federal Government MP in 2019. George Shirling arrived in Falls Creek in 1962. He engaged Phil Nowell to build the original Koki Alpine Lodge which opened in 1965 with 14 beds. George operated the lodge with Michael “Baldy” Blackwell as manager. He also graduated in sport psychology in 1981 and was invited to become team psychologist for the Australian Winter Olympic team which went to Albertville, France, in 1992. He later owned the Red Onion Chalet. George credited the success of Koki to “Baldy” Blackwell. “Baldy” and Phil Nowell started the Trackers Mountain Lodge in partnership during the 1980s. In 1971 George sold Koki Lodge to Sigi Doerr. In 2024 the renamed Koki Alpine resort remains a highly popular destination in Falls Creek. George Shirling passed away on 27th February 2023. He had remained actively involved in Falls Creek and was generous with his time and knowledge, always an amazing supporter of The Falls Creek Museum and Falls Creek Village.This card is significant because it was sent to George Shirling by Australia's most successful alpine skier.A coloured card for the Festive Season sent to George Shirling by Zali Steggal in 2020. The front page includes the text "From piste to Parliament" acknowledging her former ski career. The centre page contains suggestions for activities to "stay local" over the holiday season as a way to assist local recovery after COVID. The back page suggests 10 tips for "being green this Christmas."george shirling, zali steggal, australian winter olympians

B&W photograph of the area which was to become the Darebin Parklands. Shows tip site and makeshift toilet probably from the days of the former bluestone quarry. Darebin Enterprise Centre is in the distance. This item and all other Darebin Parklands Association archival material is now held by State Library Victoria (Accession No: YMS 13746). Please contact State Library Victoria if access is required.

Green plastic binder with a metal clip containing five plastic sheet folders, with notes for "Public Transport Challenge - Final - Friday 2 June 2006", commencing at the Town Hall. Produced by Environment Victoria and Metlink. Contains instructions, how the challenge works, rules, tips, safety, how to use the Metcard and First Aid. Has a map with checkpoint information and questions to be answered while participating.trams, tramways, metlink, public transport, events, competition

Also enlargement 17 x 23 cmBlack and white photograph showing view from Jemmys Point of the entrance to the Gippsland Lakes from Bass Strait. Pioneer dredge in centre foreground, and steamer JCD. Cottages and works buildings including Rocket shed on eastern dunes, Schnapper Cottage on far right western dune. Rock groynes and tip of Bullock Island centre left. Vegetation in foreground. Lakes Entrance VictoriaLAKES ENTRANCE Segerberg and Bulmerships and shipping, topography, jetties, houses

Hat, yellow coloured with brim, cotton & polyester fabric with black / blue / white / green emblem printed on front. Emblem has black print, white dove over the top of a green island shape and has a blue round background. Handwritten black felt tip pen: “TJM” Printed label inside brim: “The Hat Belongs To ...... Phone No ...... 65% Polyester 35% Cotton” Size L Made in China Washing Instructions Gentle Hand Wash in Luke Warm Water Air Dry Lying Flat on a Toweluniforms - military - army, costume - male, headwear, passchendaele barracks trust, peace monitoring

This item belonged to Dr Cyrus Jones, who performed a lot of circumcisions. There is a section on the tape made in the museum in c. June 1997 where Dr Jones talks about this. These devices were possibly made in Melbourne, perhaps by Surgical Manufacturers. The method of use for this item is as follows. Unscrew large screw to release bell. Bell sits on tip of penis inside prepuce. Pull prepuce up & through hole to trap prepuce skin. Reassemble, & tighten screw to prepuce and cut foreskin loose.A chrome metal medical device for performing circumcisions. Consists of a metal key/foot section, and a metal screw for tightening.surgery

The White Flat Sports Reserve was officially opened on 18 March 1925 at which time Sir Alexander Peacock said that "a wonderful change had been brought about at White Flat , and those who had brought it about would have the gratification of knowing that they were providing inestimable pleasure for the children and young people." The site of the reserve had originally been abandoned mining ground and subsequently a municipal rubbish tip. See http://bih.ballarat.edu.au/index.php/White_FlatThree colour photographs in digital format White Flat Sport Ground, Ballarat. The oval is used for football and cricket, and includes a small grandstand. ballarat, white flat, white flat sports ground, hickman street, south street, armstong street, oval, cricket, football

Set of two photos of the interiors of two different types of Birney trams in Bendigo. 1 - Bendigo 15, longitudinal seating and the drivers cabin. Also shows the tramway control equipment that was located under the seats. Photo - Keith Kings No. D(i)(4), dated 10/4/1950 2 - Bendigo 29 with tip over seating, the open driver's position and night curtain. Photo - Keith Kings No. D(i)(3), dated 10/4/1950.Yields information about the interior seating arrangments of Birney type tramcars.Set of two black and white photographs of the interior of Bendigo Birney trams.Details the image on the rear of the print in ink.birney tramcars, bendigo, tramcars, interiors, tram 15, tram 29

Falls Creek Resort Management produce a range of marketing materials for each season. This publication titled "HERE IT IS!" aims to include everything you need to know about skiing at Falls Creek in one guide. It also included a Ski Trail map. Sections included are:- What's new in Falls Creek for 1995 A little bit of History/fast facts Trail map and skiing tips Falls Creek Ski School Village map and directory A - Z Resort facilitiesThis item is significant because it illustrates how Falls Creek has been marketed and promoted over time.A coloured publication including images, maps and text covering all aspects of Falls Creek for the 1996 season. The cover features an image of a skier in the air. Seven sections are colour coded on the right hand edge of At bottom of page logos are included Left to right;- Alpine Resorts Commission Victoria; Falls Creek: Falls Creek Ski Guaranteefalls creek facilities, falls creek activities, falls creek marketing

Black and white photo copy: image shows mining landscape, large chimney in front right hand side, slab timber buildings on individual shaft sites, mining cottages, very sparse landscape. Whims in centre. Horse and carts . Two men tipping an ore bin on right hand side near chimney. Landscape could be looking to either New Chum Hill or Hustler's Hill, Bendigo.Batchelderplace, bendigo, mining landscape, bendigo, sandhurst, goldmining, gold, new chum hill, hustlers hill

This hat was probably used in both China and Australia during the 1940s as a procession garment. It is linked to the Young Chinese League.This hat is significant for its links to the Chinese Young League. The League was formally established on 4 October 1932 to to promote free social intercourse and goodwill among its members and their mutual improvement. Membership was open to all persons, with one or both parents or grandparents born in China. Wives of Chinese members were permitted as members with the same privileges. It was a significant social organisation for Chinese-Australians in Melbourne in the mid to late twentieth century.A red, purple and blue silk, six paneled hat embroidered with gold braid and adorned with mirrors. Tip of hat has red, silk bobble sewn into place. Each panel is embroidered with gold and orange thread. Among the threads are eight circles of metal around one central, circle. There is a blue band around the bottom and a ribbon tie attached to one panel and it is lined with pale blue cotton fabric.There is a black stamp of a Chinese character on the inside of the hat.young chinese league, processions, melbourne, victoria, china

White catalogue with green printing for a sale on the 10th September, '96 on account of The Shire of Campaspe, A. H. Plant & Others. For sale were tip trucks, grader, tractors, cabin cruiser, welder, garden equipment, scrap, tools, surveyors equipment, office furniture, computer equipment, safe, fuel tanks, concrete drains & pipes and sheds. J. H. Curnow & Son P/L were the auctioneers.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - auction catalogue - the shire of campaspe a h plant & others, ian dyett, j h curnow & son p/l, noel dyett, fred dyett

A wooden miner's cradle with metal sieve used to separate gold or other heavy minerals from soil and water. Washdirt and water were tipped into the sieve at the top while the cradle was rocked. The oscillating motion washed away sand and fine particles, leaving the gold trapped behind ridges across the bottom. Large rocks and gravel caught by the sieve were discarded by hand. The metal sieve is slightly damaged.gold minning, gold washing cradle

This wooden sword is said to “possibly be the only remaining part of the figurehead from the sailing ship Eric the Red.” It was previously part of the collection of the old Warrnambool Museum and the entry in its inventory says “Wooden sword, portion of the figurehead, held by “Eric the Red” at the bow.” A large part of the ship’s hull was found on the rocks and a figurehead may have been attached or washed up on the shore. The shipping records for E. & A. Sewall, the builders, owners and managers of Eric the Red, are now preserved in the Maine Maritime Museum. There is no photograph on record of Eric the Red but photographs of other ships built around that time by the same company show that these did not have figureheads, and there is no record found of a figurehead for Eric the Red being ordered or paid for. Further research is being carried out. The ship building company E. & A. Sewall, from Bath, Maine, USA, built Eric the Red, a wooden, three masted clipper ship. She had 1,580 tons register and was the largest full-rigged ship built at Bath, Maine, USA in 1871. She was built and registered by Arthur Sewall, later to become the partnership E. & A. Sewall, and was the 51st ship built by this company. The annually-published List of Merchant Vessels of the U.S. shows that Bath was still the home port of Eric the Red in 1880. The vessel was named after the Viking discoverer, Eric the Red, who was the first European to reach the shores of North America (in 980AD). The ship Eric the Red at first traded in coal between America and Britain, and later traded in guano nitrates from South America. In 1879 she was re-metalled and was in first class condition. On 10th June 1880 (some records say 12th June) Eric the Red departed New York for Melbourne and then Sydney. She had been commissioned by American trade representatives to carry a special cargo of 500 exhibits (1400 tons) - about a quarter to a third of America’s total exhibits - from America for the U.S.A. pavilion at Melbourne’s first International Exhibition. The exhibits included furniture, ironmongery, wines, chemicals, dental and surgical instruments, paper, cages, bronze lamp trimmings, axles, stamped ware, astronomical and time globes, samples of corn and the choicest of leaf tobacco. Other general cargo included merchandise such as cases of kerosene and turpentine, brooms, Bristol's Sarsaparilla, Wheeler and Wilson sewing machines, Wheeler’s thresher machine, axe handles and tools, cases of silver plate, toys, pianos and organs, carriages and Yankee notions. The Eric the Red left New York under the command of Captain Z. Allen (or some records say Captain Jacques Allen) and 24 other crew including the owner’s son third mate Ned Sewall. There were 2 saloon passengers also. On 4th September 1880 the ship had been sailing for an uneventful 85 days and the voyage was almost at its end. Eric the Red approached Cape Otway in a moderate north-west wind and hazy and overcast atmosphere. Around 1:30am Captain Allen sighted the Cape Otway light and was keeping the ship 5-6 miles offshore to stay clear of the hazardous Otway Reef. However he had badly misjudged his position. The ship hit the Otway Reef about 2 miles out to sea, south west of the Cape Otway light station. Captain Allen ordered the wheel to be put ‘hard up’ thinking that she might float off the reef. A heavy sea knocked the man away from the wheel, broke the wheel ropes and carried away the rudder. The sea swamped the lifeboats, the mizzenmast fell, with all of its rigging, then the mainmast fell and the ship broke in two. Some said that the passenger Vaughan, who was travelling for his health and not very strong, was washed overboard and never seen again. The ship started breaking up. The forward house came adrift with three of the crew on it as well as a longboat, which the men succeeded in launching and keeping afloat by continually bailing with their sea boots. The captain, the third mate (the owner’s son) and others clung to the mizzenmast in the sea. Then the owner’s son was washed away off the mast. Within 10 minutes the rest of the ship was in pieces, completely wrecked, with cargo and wreckage floating in the sea. The captain encouraged the second mate to swim with him to the deckhouse where there were other crew but the second mate wouldn’t go with him. Eventually the Captain made it to the deckhouse and the men pulled him up. At about 4:30am the group of men on the deckhouse saw the lights of a steamer and called for help. At the same time they noticed the second mate and the other man had drifted nearby, still on the spur, and pulled them both onto the wreck. The coastal steamer Dawn was returning to Warrnambool from Melbourne, its sailing time different to its usual schedule. Cries were heard coming from out of the darkness. Captain Jones sent out two life boats, and fired off rockets and blue lights to illuminate the area. They picked up the three survivors who were in the long boat from Eric the Red. Two men were picked up out of the water, one being the owner’s son who was clinging to floating kerosene boxes. At daylight the Dawn then rescued the 18 men from the floating portion of the deckhouse, which had drifted about 4 miles from where they’d struck the reef. Shortly after the rescue the deckhouse drifted onto breakers and was thrown onto rocks at Point Franklin, about 2 miles east of Cape Otway. Captain Jones had signalled to Cape Otway lighthouse the number of the Eric the Red and later signalled that there was a wreck at Otway Reef but there was no response from the lighthouse. The captain and crew of the Dawn spent several more hours searching unsuccessfully for more survivors, even going back as far as Apollo Bay. On board the Dawn the exhausted men received care and attention to their needs and wants, including much needed clothing. Captain Allen was amongst the 23 battered and injured men who were rescued and later taken to Warrnambool for care. Warrnambool’s mayor and town clerk offered them all hospitality, the three badly injured men going to the hospital and others to the Olive Branch Hotel, then on to Melbourne. Captain Allen’s leg injury prevented him from going ashore so he and three other men travelled on the Dawn to Portland. They were met by the mayor who also treated them all with great kindness. Captain Allen took the train back to Melbourne then returned to America. Those saved were Captain Z. Allen (or Jacques Allen), J. Darcy chief mate, James F. Lawrence second mate, Ned Sewall third mate and owner’s son, John French the cook, C. Nelson sail maker, Clarence W. New passenger, and the able seamen Dickenson, J. Black, Denis White, C. Herbert, C. Thompson, A. Brooks, D. Wilson, J. Ellis, Q. Thompson, C. Newman, W. Paul, J. Davis, M. Horenleng, J. Ogduff, T. W. Drew, R. Richardson. Four men had lost their lives; three of them were crew (Gus Dahlgreen ship’s carpenter, H. Ackman steward, who drowned in his cabin, and George Silver seaman) and one a passenger (J. B. Vaughan). The body of one of them had been found washed up at Cape Otway and was later buried in the lighthouse cemetery; another body was seen on an inaccessible ledge. Twelve months later the second mate James F. Lawrence, from Nova Scotia, passed away in the Warrnambool district; an obituary was displayed in the local paper. The captain and crew of the Dawn were recognised by the United States Government in July 1881 for their humane efforts and bravery, being thanked and presented with substantial monetary rewards, medals and gifts. Neither the ship, nor its cargo, was insured. The ship was worth about £15,000 and the cargo was reportedly worth £40,000; only about £2,000 worth had been recovered. Cargo and wreckage washed up at Apollo Bay, Peterborough, Port Campbell, Western Port and according to some reports, even as far away as the beaches of New Zealand. The day after the wreck the government steam ship Pharos was sent from Queenscliff to clear the shipping lanes of debris that could be a danger to ships. The large midship deckhouse of the ship was found floating in a calm sea near Henty Reef. Items such as an American chair, a ladder and a nest of boxes were all on top of the deckhouse. As it was so large and could cause danger to passing ships, Captain Payne had the deckhouse towed towards the shore just beyond Apollo Bay. Between Apollo Bay and Blanket Bay the captain and crew of Pharos collected Wheeler and Wilson sewing machines, nests of boxes, bottles of Bristol’s sarsaparilla, pieces of common American chairs, axe handles, a Wheelers’ Patent thresher and a sailor’s trunk with the words “A. James” on the front. A ship’s flag-board bearing the words “Eric the Red” was found on the deckhouse; finally those on board the Pharos had the name of the wrecked vessel. During this operation Pharos came across the government steamer Victoria and also a steamer S.S. Otway, both of which were picking up flotsam and wreckage. A whole side of the hull and three large pieces of the other side of the hull, with some of the copper sheathing stripped off, had floated on to Point Franklin. Some of the vessels yards and portions of her masts were on shore. The pieces of canvas attached to the yards and masts confirmed that the vessel had been under sail. The beach there was piled with debris several feet high. There were many cases of Diamond Oil kerosene, labelled R. W. Cameron and Company, New York. There were also many large planks of red pine, portions of a small white boat and a large, well-used oar. Other items found ashore included sewing machines (some consigned to ‘Long and Co.”) and notions, axe and scythe handles, hay forks, wooden pegs, rolls of wire (some branded “T.S” and Co, Melbourne”), kegs of nails branded “A.T. and Co.” from the factory of A. Field and Son, Taunton, Massachusetts, croquet balls and mallets, buggy fittings, rat traps, perfumery, cutlery and Douay Bibles, clocks, bicycles, chairs, a fly wheel, a cooking stove, timber, boxes, pianos, organs and a ladder. (Wooden clothes pegs drifted in for many years). There seemed to be no personal luggage or clothing. The Pharos encountered a long line, about one and a half miles, of floating wreckage about 10 miles off land, south east of Cape Otway, and in some places about 40 feet wide. It seemed that more than half of it was from Eric the Red. The ship’s crew rescued 3 cases that were for the Melbourne Exhibition and other items from amongst the debris. There were also chairs, doors, musical instruments, washing boards, nests of trunks and fly catchers floating in the sea. Most of the goods were saturated and smelt of kerosene. A section of the hull lies buried in the sand at Parker River Beach. An anchor with chain is embedded in the rocks east of Point Franklin and a second anchor, thought to be from Eric the Red, is on display at the Cape Otway light station. (There is a photograph of a life belt on the verandah of Rivernook Guest House in Princetown with the words “ERIC THE RED / BOSTON”. This is rather a mystery as the ship was registered in Bath, Maine, USA.) Parts of the ship are on display at Bimbi Park Caravan Park and at Apollo Bay Museum. Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village also has part of the helm (steering wheel), a carved wooden sword (said to be the only remaining portion of the ship’s figurehead; further research is currently being carried out), a door, a metal rod, samples of wood and a medal for bravery. Much of the wreckage was recovered by the local residents before police and other authorities arrived at the scene. Looters went to great effort to salvage goods, being lowered down the high cliff faces to areas with little or no beach to collect items from the wreckage, their mates above watching out for dangerous waves. A Tasmanian newspaper reports on a court case in Stawell, Victoria, noting a man who was caught 2 months later selling tobacco from the wreckage of Eric the Red. Some of the silverware is still treasured by descendants of Mr Mackenzie who was given these items by officials for his help in securing the cargo. The gifts included silver coffee and tea pots, half a dozen silver serviette rings and two sewing machines. The wreck and cargo were sold to a Melbourne man who salvaged a quantity of high quality tobacco and dental and surgical instruments. Timbers from the ship were salvaged and used in the construction of houses and sheds around Apollo Bay, including a guest house, Milford House (since burnt down in bushfires), which had furniture, fittings and timber on the dining room floor from the ship. A 39.7 foot long trading ketch, the Apollo, was also built from its timbers by Mr Burgess in 1883 and subsequently used in Tasmanian waters. It was the first attempt at ship building in Apollo bay. In 1881 a red light was installed about 300 feet above sea level at the base of the Cape Otway lighthouse to warn ships when they were too close to shore; It would not be visible unless a ship came within 3 miles from it. This has proved to be an effective warning. The State Library of Victoria has a lithograph in its collection depicting the steamer Dawn and the shipwrecked men, titled. "Wreck of the ship Eric the Red, Cape Otway: rescue of the crew by the Dawn".The Eric the Red is historically significant as one of Victoria's major 19th century shipwrecks. (Heritage Victoria Eric the Red; HV ID 239) The wreck led to the provision of an additional warning light placed below the Cape Otway lighthouse to alert mariners to the location of Otway Reef. The site is archaeologically significant for its remains of a large and varied cargo and ship's fittings being scattered over a wide area. The site is recreationally and aesthetically significant as it is one of the few sites along this coast where tourists can visit identifiable remains of a large wooden shipwreck, and for its location set against the background of Cape Otway, Bass Strait, and the Cape Otway lighthouse. (Victorian Heritage Database Registration Number S239, Official Number 8745 USA)This carved wooden sword, recovered from the Eric the Red, is possibly the only portion of the figurehead recovered after the wreck. There are spirals carved from the base of the handle to the top of the sword. The hilt of the sword is a lion’s head holding its tail in its mouth, the tail forming the handle. The blade of the sword has engraved patterns on it. Tiny particles of gold leaf and dark blue paint fragments can be seen between the carving marks. There are remnants of yellowish-orange and crimson paint on the handle. At some time after the sword was salvaged the name of the ship was hand painted on the blade in black paint. The tip of the sword has broken or split and the remaining part is charcoal in appearance. On both the tip and the base of the handle are parts made where the sword could have been joined onto the figurehead There is a white coating over some areas of the sword, similar to white lead putty used in traditional shipbuilding. The words “ERIC the RED” have been hand painted on the blade of the sword in black paint sometime after it was salvaged.flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, sword, wooden sword, eric the red, carved sword, figurehead, snake head on sword