The Company of Master Mariners of Australia is an association established to promote the interests and status of the Merchant Navy generally and of Master Mariners in particular. The Company was founded in 1938 by Capt. A.N. Boulton, MBE, VRD, BCom, ExC and became an incorporated body in 1988. The Company of Master Mariners of Australia Limited is a not for profit professional association that is limited by guarantee. The Company has five Branches based in Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.Captain John Noble is a former sea pilot and authorPlaque of the Company of Master Mariners of AustraliaCompany of Master Mariners of Australiaport phillip sea pilots, captain john noble, the company of master mariners

In the early 1920s Australia was gifted six J class submarines from the Royal Navy. These were the latest and largest submarines built by the RN for service in World War I. They were competent but were in service with the Royal Navy for only a short time before the end of the war. Once in Australia they were placed into service but there was little appetite for submarines or in fact any other military endeavour in the early ‘twenties’. The world was exhausted from a long and dirty war followed by a devastating Influenza Epidemic. The J class boats were soon retired and sunk as breakwaters or scuttled in the ship graveyard area off the mouth of Port Phillip Bay.Popular diving sites in Ships Graveyard outside the rip between Point Lonsdale and Barwon HeadsCircular brass plaque inscribed with J5 North Sea 1917 1918 made from a piece of navigational equipment used on the submarine J5 mounted on woodSubmarine J5 North Sea 1917 - 1918j class submarines, j5, ships graveyard, port phillip

Gun Sighting Telescope purported to be from J5 submarineGun Sighting TelescopeG.S.Telescope x 8 - 2179gun sighting telescope, g.s.telescope, j5

Thought to be from the SS Time as donor's relative was part of the salvage group in 1949As the salvage group was made up of fishermen form Queenscliff the wreck of the SS Time at Port Phillip Heads as well as its salvaged items are still of great significance to the community at Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale. Timber chair with arm rests and canvas seat and backchair, ss time, salvage

Used by local fishermenUsed by local fishermenCane basket with long line and hookslong line, fishing

Plate was originally fixed on the engine of the lifeboat 'Queenscliffe'Brass circular Identification plate mounted on round timber base.Royal National Lifeboat Institution, London. Built by Weyburn Eng Co Ld. Eustead Surrey Englandlifeboat queenscliffe, engine plate, weyburn engine no.12

Part of PA system on HMAS Canberra used to broadcast commands aboard shipHMAS Canberra II was an Adelaide Class guided missile frigate launched in the USA on 1 December 1978. It was the first Adelaide Class Guided Missile Frigate (FFG) to be decommissioned and was scuttled at 14:00 on Sunday 4 October 2009 in 28 metres of water off Ocean Grove, Victoria to create an artificial reef and diving site. PA Speaker ex HMAS Canberra

HMS J3 (later HMAS J3) was a J-class submarine operated by the Royal Navy and later the Royal Australian Navy. After the war, the British Admiralty decided that the best way to protect the Pacific region was with a force of submarines and cruisers. To this end, they offered the six surviving submarines of the J-class to the Royal Australian Navy as gifts. J1 and her sisters were commissioned into the RAN in April 1919, and sailed for Australia on 9 April, in the company of the cruisers Sydney and Brisbane, and the tender Platypus. The flotilla reached Thursday Island on 29 June, and Sydney on 10 July. Because of the submarines' condition after the long voyage, they were immediately taken out of service for refits. Apart from local exercises and a 1921 visit to Tasmania, the submarines saw little use, and by June 1922, the cost of maintaining the boats and deteriorating economic conditions saw the six submarines decommissioned and marked for disposal.The wreck of JR can still be seen off Swan Bay2 propellers from the J3 submarine 'HMAS Reaper'j3, j class submarines, hmas reaper

In 1960 seventy-four commandos from 2 Commando Company left Point Lonsdale at 6pm on February 17 to cross The Rip in an exercise raid on the Portsea officer school. Shortly after departing, a strong tide caught the raiding party and pushed them out to sea through The Rip, where 10-metre waves capsized many of the kayaks and amphibious vehicles. Many of the men were picked up by larger rescue boats, only to be overturned once again in the heavy seas. Warrant Officer George Drakopolous and the driver of his amphibious DUKW, Private Eddie Meyer, both drowned as their vehicle sank. Eight of the commandos were rescued in Bass Strait after being picked up by an Italian ship, the Toscana. Commando Roger Wood helped others board the Toscana safely but was washed off a rope ladder by a monster wave and into the sea. His body was never found. It remains one of Australia's least-known peacetime military tragedies.One of the later disasters around the Rip between Points Nepean and Lonsdale. The 'Queenscliffe' lifeboat turned out to search for survivors without success Paddles from a Mk3 foldaboat used in ill fated commando training exercise in 1960the rip disaster, kayaks, oars

PPSP operating licence was granted to founder George Tobin by Governor Gipps of New South Wales (pre Federation) on condition that “the appointment must not bring any expense on the Government”. The service is unique in that it is fully Australian- owned and operated by its pilots in keeping with the terms of the original appointment.A set of 7 postcards from the Port Phillip Sea Pilots showing Pilot Stations in Queenscliff and Westernport, 3 pilot launches; Hawk II, Petrel, Thorsen and launches welcoming square rigger 'Dar Mlodziezy' in 1988postcards, pilot station building, pilot launches

Allan 'Jim Wells was born in Queenscliff in 1919 and fished between 1933 and 1990 on a 28 foot couta boat 'Lillian'Allan Wells was one of the founding fathers of the QMMFramed pencil drawing of prominent Queenscliff fisherman Alan 'Jim' Wells. One of a series of 10 drawings entitled 'The Old Salts'lillian, allan wells, queenscliff, couta boats, fishing

Robert 'Curley' Wood was born in Yarram in 1949 and fished from 1962 to 1990 on a 23 foot huon pine boat 'Whykickamoocow'Framed pencil drawing of prominent Queenscliff fisherman Robert 'Curley' Wood. One of a series of 10 drawings entitled 'The Old Salts''whykickamoocow', robert 'curley wood', queenscliff, couta fishing

Charlie 'The Coach' Zanoni was born in Queenscliff in 1909 and fished from 1924 to 1989 on a 67 foot iron bark boat 'The Olympic'Framed pencil drawing of prominent Queenscliff fisherman Charlie 'The Coach' Zanonni. One of a series of 10 drawings entitled 'The Old Salts'charlie zanoni, the olympic, queenscliff, fishermen

Colin 'Steak' Shapter was born in Queenscliff in 1913 and fished from 1927 to 1953 on a 20 foot clinker boat 'JWC'Framed pencil drawing of prominent Queenscliff fisherman Colin 'Steak' Shapter. One of a series of 10 drawings entitled 'The Old Salts'queenscliff, fishermen, jwc

Ian 'Sam' Culliver was a fisherman in Queenscliffe from 1930 to 1992 using a 26 foot Couta boat called 'Phyllis'One of a series of 10 pencil drawings entitles 'The Old Salts' of prominent Queenscliffe fishermen Framed pencil drawing of prominent Queenscliff fisherman Ian 'Sam' Culliver signed by artist Dr Mike Birrell 1996. One of a series of 10 drawings entitled 'The Old Salts'dr mike birell, ian 'sam' culliver, phyllis

Ron 'Bluey' Welch was a fisherman in Queenscliffe from 1938 to 1987 using a 24 foot Couta boat called 'Claire Sans'One of a series of 10 pencil drawings entitles 'The Old Salts' of prominent Queenscliffe fishermen Framed pencil drawing of prominent Queenscliff fisherman Ron 'Bluey' Welch signed by artist Dr Mike Birrell 1996. One of a series of 10 drawings entitled 'The Old Salts'dr mike birrell, ron 'bluey' welch, 'claire sans

'Young' Les Wright was a fisherman in Queenscliffe from 1945 to 1991 using a 36 foot flush-deck well boat called 'Sea Hunter'One of a series of 10 pencil drawings entitles 'The Old Salts' of prominent Queenscliffe fishermen Framed pencil drawing of prominent Queenscliff fisherman 'Young' Les Wright signed by artist Dr Mike Birrell 1996. One of a series of 10 drawings entitled 'The Old Salts'dr mike birrell, 'young' les wright, 'sea hunter'

Lewis Ferrier was a fisherman in Queenscliffe from 1938 to 2008 using a 26 foot Couta boat called 'Rosebud'One of a series of 10 pencil drawings entitles 'The Old Salts' of prominent Queenscliffe fishermen Framed pencil drawing of prominent Queenscliff fisherman Lewis Ferrier signed by artist Dr Mike Birrell 1996. One of a series of 9 drawings entitled 'The Old Salts'dr mike birrell, lewis ferrier, 'rosebud'

Adelaide Steamship Co. MV 'Manunda' built Glasgow 1927, commenced coastal passenger service in Australia 1929, converted to 2/1 Australian Hospital Ship (AHS) in 1940 for service to Middle East, New Guinea and New Zealand. Returned to coastal trade in 1948, sold to Japan 1956, broken up in 1957. 9 drawer timber desk with brass drawer pull handles. Several stamps on the inside of top middle draw - 'Radio Maintenance Store, Transmitting Station Essendon' and 'Paul.J.Barton, 33 Bellbird Cres, Vermont 3133''Manunda' stamped on back of deskship, furniture, manunda, doctor'sdesk, desk, steamship, ahs

A traditional term in the British Navy meaning to serve out an additional tot of grog to a ship's crew. The main brace itself was a purchase attached to the main lower yard of a square-rigged ship to brace the yard round to the wind. However, it probably has little to do with the saying beyond the fact that hauling on the main brace called for a maximum effort by the crew. In the days of sail the main brace was spliced (in terms of drink) in very bad weather or after a period of severe exertion by the crew, more as a pick-me-up than for any other purpose. But with the introduction of steam propulsion, with machines to take most of the harder labour out of seagoing, the main brace was spliced only on occasions of celebration or, occasionally, after battle. Now that rum is no longer issued aboard ship, splicing the main brace is a thing of the past.A small tap used to empty contents from a barrel containing rum or whisky aboard ships.Brass spigot or tap used for inserting into a barrel containing liquid such as rum, whisky or vinegar etctap, spigot, barrel, alcohol, liquid storage

An aneroid barometer is an instrument used for measuring air pressure as a method that does not involve liquid. Invented in 1844 by French scientist Lucien Vidi, the aneroid barometer uses a small, flexible metal box called an aneroid cell (capsule), which is made from an alloy of beryllium and copper. The evacuated capsule (or usually several capsules, stacked to add up their movements) is prevented from collapsing by a strong spring. Small changes in external air pressure cause the cell to expand or contract. This expansion and contraction drives mechanical levers such that the tiny movements of the capsule are amplified and displayed on the face of the aneroid barometer. Many models include a manually set needle which is used to mark the current measurement so a change can be seen. This type of barometer is common in homes and in recreational boats. It is also used in meteorology, mostly in barographs and as a pressure instrument in radiosondes.5 inch Aneroid barometer on wooden basebarometer, aneroid

An inclinometer measures the angle of inclination of a vessel or aircraft to the horizontalTimber and brass inclinometer from the M.V. Australian Explorer. Triangular timber shape with curved base. Brass measuring plate with measurements from 0-40 degrees on each side. Brass pointer indicates angle of inclination of vessel. 'EIWA' label on front. '87-156' inscribed in pen on back and underside. navigational instruments, australian explorer

Around the 60s and 70s the most popular catamaran sailing on Port Phillip was the Cunningham designed Quickcat. Popular marine ply catamarans mostly owner built and used extensively in Port PhillipQuick Cat 16 foot, timber catamaran with trailer, beach buggy and construction blueprint Y Wood Ya, RGYCquick cat, catamaran, marine ply cats

Returning from Manila in 1856 with a cargo of rice, sugar and rope. Mountain Maid was wrecked after colliding with the Victorian steamer, SS Queen. No lives were lost but the ship sank quickly and the crew was forced to swim for their lives. The pilot onboard Mountain Maid was dismissed from the Pilot service, as he'd already run two other ships aground before changing direction and causing the collision with SS Queen (Lomdahl 1992:Mountain Maid). Pintle and Gudgeon Type Ruddermountain maid, shipwrecks, rudder

This drum winch was used by the Pilot Service to haul dinghies into the work shed in Tobin Drive Queenscliff. It was situated on the slip way on the fishermen's pier.This drum winch was used by the Pilot Service when it was situated on the slip way on the fishermen's pier in Queenscliff.Drum winch used by the Port Phillip Pilotswinch, port phillip sea pilots