Removing Church of England Church building from Ringwood East to near Post OfficeWritten on front of photograph, "Removing C. of E. from Ringwood East to near P. Office"

St. Paul's Church of England from Town Hall in 1962Written on back of photographs, "Town Hall roof 12/62. St. Paul's C. of E."

Written on back of photograph, "C of E jambed on bridge over Mullum Creek, W'dyte Rd. 1924." Typed below another copy: "Moving Church of England, Ringwood. Stuck on bridge over Mullum Creek in Warrandyte Rd. 1924". Written on backing sheet, "Church of England being moved from C/r Pratt Street and Maroondah H'way to rear post office via Warrandyte Rd., Reynolds Av. and Ringwood Street."

Black and white photograph of church.Written on backing sheet, "1963 - Old C of E. S.E. corner of Ringwood Street, Civic Place"

Black and white photograph of raised building with team of horses in front. People also standing outside.Typed below photograph, "Church of England being shifted from Cnr. Pratt & Main Streets, 1924" Written on backing sheet, "C of E being shifted from C/R Pratt & Main Sts. 1924"

Black and white photograph of building being moved along street.Typed below photograph, "Church of England being hauled into new position, Ringwood Street, 1924" There is a duplicate copy that has the following written on backing sheet, "Shifting C of E to Ringwood St. 1924 (using winching pulleys)"

Black and white photographInscriptions on back of photograph SE0041 read, "'Mail' 12/1/56" and "John Gallagher, photography". On back of SE0047: Mail 12/1/56 (Page 18). Ambulance and "John Gallagher, photography". Caption for SE0047 in newspaper clipping reads: "Looking over one of the vehicles after the opening of Ringwood's Ambulance Station are L. to R. Cr. F Corr, Station Officer J. Byrne, The Premier of Victoria Mr H. Bolte, Mr E. Baker, Pres. Victorian Ambulance Service.

Photograph missing from archives after having been scanned and catalogued as follows, however no clear information on location or date:Written on mounting sheet above the photograph, "R.B. Lord, Dolly Lord, Eileen Mitchell, Dot Mitchell, Ethel Mao, James Mitchell??? (Scotty) (around tree), Mrs. Chris Russell, Mrs. Ruby Lydster and child and lady unknown, (Thos Tuadion?) Jean Mitchell". Written on back of mounting sheet, "Please return to Mrs. A. Cooke, Smith Street, Healesville. Tree planted for Harry Lord, Main Road, Wandin North, near E. Reads present home".

Written on backing sheet, "C of E 1965 Ringwood St. Site fronting Ringwood St. now shops"

Black and white photograph of fibro building with sign above entrance reading, "Metropolitan Fire Brigade".Typed below photograph, "The old Ringwood Fire Station 1930. Was behind old Town Hall in Maroondah Highway. Later used as infant welfare centre. Civic Place on right with old schoolmasters house in background. Looking along Civic Place towards Ringwood St. Note old telephone wires and insulators." Written on backing sheet, "Engine 1912 Hotchkins. C of E Ministers house on right in Ringwood Street".

This book belonged to Nancye Wallace (nee Warren) as a child. it was probably a book used by Girl Guides This book is an example of one of the early books for children which could be didactic and meant to improve the child's moral and spiritual life.A blue covered book of 95 pp, titled In Thought Word and Deed Addresses to Girls. It is written by R. & E. Tyacke. Inside the frontispiece is a sticker of a clown playing a trumpet."Keith Murray" - stamped "Nancye Warren" =- handwritten in pencilbook-in-thought-word-and-deed religious-publications

Buff coloured telegram form with blue printing and black ink writing.Ballarat. E J Kinnerseley. Spring Vale. Learmonth. Meet Mother and Lil North Learmonth arrival today's Train. Chas A Barklay. Learmonth Post Office Stamp dated My 10 06. Oval stamp, 6 black lines and "176".telegram, learmonth post office, kinnersely, e j kinnersely, telegraphic communication, communication form

Photo of Councilor E. Butler,elected to council in1892 until 1901.He was Shire President 1896-97. Part of composite photo of Councilors for the year 1893-1894.Section of Original Historic Photo of Councilors conering the financial year 1893 - 1894Sepia photo on blue background of Councilor Butler, 3rd row right hand side of composite photo of Councilors for the year 1893 - 1894. Shire President and Councilors for the year 1893 - 1894.shire, ballarat, council, bulter, 1893, 1894

Councilor E.Edwards was elected to council in1951 until 1970.He served two terms as Shire President 1957-58 and 1965-66.This photo, which is part of a composite collection of photos, was taken to commemorate the 1954 visit of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11,and was presented by the Shire President,G.A.Fraser, to mark the occaision.Section of The Original Historical Photo of Councilors for the year 1954.Sepia/brown photo of Councilor E.Edwards. Situated second from left,middle row of composite photos of Councilors for the year 1954.PRESENTED TO BALLARAT SHIRE COUNCIL BY SHIRE PRESIDENT TO COMMEMORATE THE VISIT OF HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH 11. 1954..ballarat shire council, e edwards, visit of her majesty queen elizabeth 11 1954

Councilor C.E.Brown was elected to council in 1946 and served til 1973.He was Shire President in 1952-53,1955-56,1959-60,1963-64,1971-72. This photo forms part of a collection of photos of all Councilors for the year 1959-60.Orininal Historical Photo of all Councilors for the Financial year 1959.Sepia photo, on white mount, of Shire President C.E.Brown,(J.P.).Situated middle of second row of composite collection of photos of councilors in the year 1959.Shire President C.E.Brown and councilors, to commemorate the opening of the Wendouree Municiple Centre 20th November 1959.president, 1959 60, brown, c e, 1959, wendouree municiple centre opening 1959, ballarat shire council

Councilor E.Edwards (J.P), was elected to council in1951 and served till 1970. He was Shire President in 1957-58 and 1965-66.Original Historic Photo of all councilors for the year 1959.Councilor E. Edwards,(J.P.).Sepia photo, on white mount,situated second from right,top row of composite photo of all Councilors for the year 1959.Photo of all councilors 1959, commemorating opening of Wendouree Municiple Centre 20th November 1959ballarat shire council 1959, wendouree municiple centre opening 20th november 1959, e edwards j p

This babies dress was possibly worn by Mrs Cuthbertson nee Hooper, after her birth in 1881,( Mother of Joan Charles) and is approximately 150 years old.It is hand made cream silk with smocking to the front and back of the bodice.and the wrists of the full length sleeves. It was donated by the children of Joan M Charles- Melville J Charles,Joell E Stern, Beth Z Charles and Rhonnie M Dryne.Hand made Baby's dress, depicting the craftmanship and style of dress for the late 19th century.It is only one of two Silk baby's dresses in the Learmonth and District HIstorical Society Inc.collection.Baby's dress hand made of cream silk , with smocking across front, back,and wrists.clothing, babys dress, smocking, family of joan charles, haberdashery, mrs cuthbertson hooper

This collection of photos depicts Councilor Charles Edward "Ted" Brown, and Councilors W.Powell(J.P.),W.A.Walton (J.P.),D.I.White,E.Edwards,(J.P.),H.A.Patterson,A.McDonald,Mr K.S. Lane, (Shire secretary),A.C.Martin,A.Doug.Moverly,Mr. Rex Hollioake,(Shire Engineer),W.MacG.Troup,(J.P.)T.W.Ford, D.Baird.It was presented to the Ballarat Shire Council by Councilor C.E.Brown (J.P.),President 1959-60 (History of these Councilors and staff can be found under catalogue number 014/11 to 014.14 / 11,except for Councilor A.McDonald.) Original Historic Photo of all Councilors and staff for the year 1959-60Sepia photo of Shire President Charles Edward "Ted", Brown (J.P.), and all councilors and staff,set in a plain brown frame with white mount.Presented to the Ballarat Shire Council by Councilor C.E.Brown,(J.P.).President 1959-1960.ballarat shire council, shire president 1959 60, c e ted brown

In 1912 Mr. A.E.Medwell served as a member of the Learmonth ANA Branch No 75.Part of collection of original photos showing all members of the 1912 Learmonth ANA Branch No 75 .Photo,in black and white, of Mr A.E.Medwell.It is oval in shape.The mount is brown woodgrain look.to the left top and bottom is painted decorative features with his name inscribed in white at the base.It forms part of a collection of photos of all members of the 1912 Learmonth ANA Branch no 75. LEARMONTH ANA BRANCH NO 75. PRESENTED TO C.MEDWELL ESQ. BY HIS FELLOW MEMBERS AS A MARK OF ESTEEM & APRECIATION OF VALUABLE SERVICES RENDERED TO THE BRANCH AS SECRETARY. LEARMONTH 1912.learmonth ana branch no 75, a e medwell 1912

In 1912 Mr R.E.Sara was the Assistant Secretary of the Learmonth ANA Branch No 75.Section of original collection of photos showing all members of the Learmonth ANA Branch No 75 in1912.This black and white photo is of Mr.R.E. Sara. It is rectangular in shape with a curved cutout top,set in a brown woodgrain mount and is in the second row and fourth from left.Mr Sara's name is inscribed in white at the botom of photo.LEARMONTH ANA BRANCH NO 75. PRESENTED TO C.MEDWELL ESQ. BY HIS FELLOW MEMBERS AS A MARK OF ESTEEM & APPRECIATION OF VALUABLE SERVICES RENDERED TO THE BRANCH AS SECRETARY. LEARMONTH 1912.learmonth ana branch no 75, r e sara assistant secrtary 1912

In the year 1912, Mr T.E.Connelly was a Committee member of the Learmonth ANA Branch No 75.This photo is a section of the original group of photos showing all members of the Learmonth ANA No 75 in 1912 Black and white photo of Mr. T.E.Connelly, oval in shape and set in a brown woodgrain finish mount. On the mount around the photo are painted decorative features. His name is inscribed in white at the base. It is in the fourth row and fourth from the left.LEARMONTH ANA BRANCH NO 75.PRESENTED TO C.MEDWELL ESQ. BY HIS FELLOW MEMBERS AS A MARK OF ESTEEM & APPRECIATION OF VALUABLE SERVICES RENDERED TO THE BRANCH AS SECRETARY. LARMONTH 1912.learmonth ana branch no 75, t e connelly committee member 1912

In the year 1912 Mr. E.C.Kinnersley was a member of the Learmonth ANA Branch No 75.This photo is part of a the original collection of photos which show all members of the 1912 Learmonth ANA Branch No 75 Black and white photo is of E.C.Kinnersley and is rectangular with a shaped top and set in a brown woodgrain look mount. His name is inscribed in white at the base,and it is fourth from left on bottom row of a collection photos depicting all Learmonth ANA Branch No 75 members in 1912.LEARMONTH ANA BRANCH NO 75. PRESENTED TO C.MEDWELL ESQ. BY HIS FELLOW MEMBERS AS A MARK OF ESTEEM & APPRECIATION OF VALUABLE SERVICES RENDERED TO THE BRANCH AS SECRETARY.LEARMONTH 1912.learmonth ana branch no 75, e c kinnersley 1912

In 1912 Dr. C.A.Courtney was the Medical Officer for the Learmonth ANA Branch No 75.He also had his Medical Practice in High Street Learmonth.This photo is part of the original set of photos depicting all 1912 members of the Learmonth ANA Branch No 75.Black and white photo is of Dr. C.A.Courtney. Rectangular with a curved top and set in a brown woodgrain look mount,his name is inscribed in white at the base.It is at the bottom right of the centre section of collection of photos showing all members of the 1912 Learmonth ANA branch No 75.LEARMONTH ANA BRANCH NO 75. PRESENTED TO C.MEDWELL ESQ. BY HIS FELLOW MEMBERS AS A MARK OF ESTEEM & APPRECIATION OF VALUABL;E SERVICES RENDERED TO THE BRANCH AS SECRETARY.LEARMONTH 1912.dr c a courtney medical officer, learmonth ana branch no 75 1912

In1912 Mr.A.E.Stewart was a valuable member of the Learmonth ANA Branch No75.Photo is part of original set of photos depicting all ANA Branch No 75 members in 1912.Black and white photo of Mr. A.E. Stewart.Oval in shape and set in a brown woodgrain look mount with his name inscribed in white ink at the base.It is at the right in second row in a collection of photos showing all 1912 members of the 1912 Learmonth ANA BranchNo 75.LEARMONTH ANA BRANCH NO 75. PRESENTED TO C.MEDWELL ESQ. BY HIS FELLOW MEMBERS AS A MARK OF ESTEEM & APPRECIATION OF VALUABLE SERVICES RENDERED TO THE BRANCH AS SECRETARY. LEARMONTH 1912.stewart a e 1912, learmonth ana branch no 75

Written in the Melbourne "ARGUS" newspaper on the 17th February 1941 under "COUNTRY SPORTS - TENNIS". In the B Grade contests for the Norman Grills Cup Learmonth No. 2 (E. Blain, J. Blain), W. McIntyre, L. Hucker, The Misses M. Ryan, D. Grills, J. Thomas and D. Dean d. Garibaldi. These players were all from the Learmonth and Weatherboard districts.A sepia photo on cardboard backing 12 x 9 1/2 inches. The photo itself is 7 1/2 x 5 3/4 inches in a landscape shape. There are 5 men and four women tennis players, all holding tennis rackets with a Premiership Cup at their feet.Learmonth No. 2 Country Week Tennis Team. Winners Season 1941. Names L-R Back row. L. Hucker (Vic, Capt.), W. McIntyre (Weatherboard), L. Rasdell, E. Blain. L-R Front row. Miss D. Dean (Mrs Toleman), Miss J. Thomas (Mrs Lyttle. Weatherboard), J. Blain (Capt.), Miss D. Grills (Mrs David Baird), Miss M. Ryan (Mrs Harrison. Weatherboard). Photographer - Thornton, Richards & Co, Ballarat.learmonth. tennis team, 1941, hucker, mcintyre, rasdell. blain, dean, thomas, grills, ryan

Moves to begin an Orbost Agricultural Show was started in 1891 and a Committee was formed. The Society's first Show was held on Tuesday 15 March 1892. The Orbost Agricultural Show continues to the present day (2023) as an annual event held in March. The Committee shown in this photograph are known to be President: John Johnstone; Vice Presidents: F Nixon, M Lynch, A E Rodwell; Secretary: Geo Perry Committee: S Lynn, Geo Answer, C Drevermann, J Bird, J Draffin, J Cummings, R Mosley, H James, A Saunders, P Morris, G Carter, A Pardew, Jas Nixon, J Gilbert, S Grenville, W Scharleman, G Nixon, H Richardson, J Hocking, J Fisher, J Hossack This photograph shows an early Orbost Show Committee which consists entirely of men. A badly yellowed and damaged b/w photograph onto cardboard. Both the image and the cardboard are damaged. The photograph is of a group of men, some sitting on the ground, some standing behind. Written onto the back of the photograph are these words: 1902 Orbost Agricultural Society Committeeagricultural show, orbost

This MEZON brand button accordion was made specifically for Lyons, Musical Instrument Importer, 207 Bourke Street Melbourne, as can be seen on the embossed lettering on the top of the accordion. The hand inscribed nameplate indicates that the owner was T H Betts. On August 19th, 1903, Michael Edward Lyons applied to the Trade Mark’s Office of Sydney for registration of “The Invented word “MEZON” to be applied to musical instruments. In 1908 he was advertising himself as sole agents for MEZON accordions. He had been at that address for 15 years (since 1893) and was moving to larger premises at 256 Bourke Street, Melbourne. Still at this address in 1925, Lyons advertises MEZON accordions as “The ideal Xmas present, Maker your friends happy, This Xmas let the Present be a MEZON”. There was a choice of three styles: The Organ, The Wonder and The Grand Organ. They came with a Fibre Case with Lock and Key and a Leather Handle. The promise was “They Give Satisfaction”. They were obtainable at all stores or from Sole Distributors in Australia. In 1927 the MEZON was sold by Albert & Sons in Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland as well as by Lyons in Melbourne. The favoured German accordion brands were Monarch and Sterling, which were made by the International Accordion Company in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany. The company was founded in 1871 by Ernest Deines and made a variety of musical instruments. The company closed business in 1834. The International Accordion Company’s accordion range made the International brand and others such as MEZON, Globe, and Dienst. Australia imported the MEZON brand. American companies imported a range of the popular German branded accordions until World War II, when they were no longer available. In general, accordions produced after the war were not as high a quality and not loud enough to be heard over the electronic guitars and the drum kit of the bands. This accordion represents the type of musical instruments used in the late 19h and early 20th century, locally and Australia wide. In colonial Australia musical instruments like this one were imported from Germany as well as other countries. At that time, German made instruments represented good quality. This accordion is significant for being especially imported into Australia by a Melbourne retailer. Music was a part of family and social life, associated with dances, song and general fun.Button accordion with case. Accordion with steel reeds, three bass valves and ten treble valves. It is coloured black with very dark green trim, decorative silver metal reinforcing on main corners, gold reinforcing on corners of the bellows and delicate printed, gold printed patterned trims. Hand support for buttons is made of fabric. Folds of the bellows are light coloured with fine dark pattern. It has a nameplate on the front. Black wooden case has red lining, two brass hinges, two brass hook and eye catches and a swivel brass lock. The base of the case has a loose brass fitting. The top has a thin metal handle. Inscription on hand inscribed name on front, label inside case lid, silver reinforcing, leather on bellows top, and frame of accordion. Manufactured with the brand MEZON in Saxony, Germany, for Lyons of Melbourne. Once the property of T H Betts.Printed on label “MEZON ACCORDEONS.” Impressed in metal corners and reinforcing “MEZON” with logo [circle enclosing entwined capital D and E] “MADE IN SAXONY” Embossed in gold on frame “Made in Saxony”, “MEZON Accordion/ manufactured for LYONS / MELBOURNE, Bourke Street” Name inscribed by hand “T H Betts”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, mezon accordion, lyons, made in saxony, t h betts, betts, mezon, squeeze box, musical instrument, button accordion, germany, michael lyons, international accordion company, ernest deines, circle enclosing d e, d e, e d, german accordion

E. R. Watts and Son, makers of theodolites and other surveying instruments, of 123 Camberwell Road, London. The company was established in 1856 by Edwin Watts at twenty-three he had saved £100 from his earnings to start the business with his staff consisting of one boy and later Alexander Clarkson as an apprentice with the workshop a small room over a Bemondsey stable. Watts' first order was from Negretti and Zambra for a mining dial Alexander Clarkson In the early days the firm worked mainly on marine compasses. Edwin Watts would go down to the Docks to adjust the compasses once they had been installed on the ships. In May 1873 the business moved to larger premises a house with a garden. The workshop was also the home of Mr and Mrs Watts and their five sons and three daughters. By now there were fifteen to twenty men employed by the firm. The company were commissioned to supply the Theodolites and Levels for the construction to the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1881. Towards the end of the century, the firm began to make heliographs continuing to produce them for the government until just before the Second World War when by agreement assigned their manufacture to another firm. 1904 The first dividing engine was completed by George William Watts. It was so remarkable an instrument at the time and for years afterwards, In 1907 Arthur Ames went to Canada and started an organisation in Winnipeg in 1909 this became a separate company called E. R. Watts and Son Ltd. of Ottawa. This firm developed considerably and was eventually with the co-operation of three other instrument companies (Cambridge Instrument Co, Ross, and Negretti and Zambra), were reconstituted as ”Instruments Ltd” of Ottawa and Toronto. During the next ten years, the firm expanded greatly to include glass grinding, leather work, dividing and engraving, testing, adjusting and packing. This expansion was continued during the First World War when workshops were completed and the machinery installed and running within eleven weeks from the start of construction. During the war, a Sergeant Coles, among the rats, lice and mud of the trenches, fitted various bits of scrap into his cocoa tin and made the first Flash Spotter for plotting the positions of enemy guns. Coles was rushed home to the firm's factory where he and George William Watts designed a spotter not made out of a cocoa tin and as a result, the Watts Vertical Force Variometer was developed during WWI. Other Watts instruments made in the First World War included the Light Mountain Theodolites which were taken on Mt Everest expeditions. In 1919 ER Watts and Sons was incorporated as a limited company and in 1939 G. A. Whipple joined the Board of Directors. Shortly afterwards, Frank Charles Watts died having been Chairman of the firm for over 37 years and seen it through the First World War with all its expansions and difficulties. He was succeeded by his brother George William Watts with the vacant post of Managing Director being filled by G. A. Whipple. During the Second World War, the company expanded further and the number of employees rose to well over 1,300. In 1946 Watts acquired 78% of Adam Hilger and the microscope maker James Swift and Son Who were Manufacturers of Theodolites, Levels, Alidades, Meteorological Instruments, Variometers, and many other types of scientific instruments Then in 1948 the company amalgamated with Adam Hilger as Hilger and Watts which was then incorporated as a public company.Naval Rangefinder with a vertical wooden handle, and an arrangement of optical lenses. Three reversible brass inserts calibrated on both sides in yards, correspond to various base heights, (20 and 25 feet, 30 and 35 feet and 40 and 50 feet). They are fitted along the axis of the instrument. When the scale for the appropriate base height is selected and inserted, the carriage can be slid for coincidence and the distance read at the index mark on the sliding carriage.inscribed "Rangefinder Cotton Type Mk II" Calibrated scale up to 5000 yds (50 ft), 5000 yds (35 ft), 4000 yds (25 ft) made by E. R. Watts & Son.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, rangefinder, cotton type, e r watts & sons, naval range finder, marine equipment

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

E B Browning: Elizabeth Barrett Browning was an English poet of the Victorian era, popular in Britain and the United States during her lifetime. Born in County Durham, the eldest of 11 children, Elizabeth Barrett wrote poetry from the age of eleven. J H Ingram: John Henry Ingram was an English biographer and editor with a special interest in Edgar Allan Poe. Ingram was born at 29 City Road, Finsbury Square, Middlesex, and died at Brighton, England. His family lived at Stoke Newington, recollections of which appear in Poe's works.Re publishing of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poems with a Memoir by John H. Ingram well known biography & editor, item is significant as it was a new edition published in 1887 of works by a famous poet with also the involvement of J H Ingram.Book with red cover with title of Mrs Browning in gold letteringTitled "The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning". From 1836 to 1844, edited with a Memoir by John H. Ingram. Published in London, New York and Melbourne, by Ward, Lock & co. Limited. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, the poetical works of elizabeth barrett browning, book, elizabeth barrett browning, poetry