Showing 919 items matching "shipwreck cargo"
-
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Functional object - Trunk, late-19th to mid-20th century
Trunk is made strong for long journeys and rough use. Tray compartments would have been fitted inside the lid for storage of smaller items such as hats, umbrellas and underclothing. The illustration pasted inside the lid is similar to those shown in women's fashion journals of the 1880s and 1890s. A similar trunk was found in the catalogue of Anthony Hordern & Sons, a large and famous late 19th to mid 20th century retailer in Sydney,.This trunk is an example of the typical travel luggage of people migrating to the Colony of Australia in the late 19th century.Wooden cabin trunk, rectangular, brown in colour. Lid has arched top, front has a strong padlock, sides have leather strap handles. Corners and edges are reinforced with iron, iron bands and extra wooden slats. Lid is divided into tray compartments. A print of a female in 19th century costume is attached to the inside the lid in one compartment. flagstaff hil, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, trunk, cabin trunk, travel trunk, cargo, storage, women's fashion, late 19th century fashion, travel luggage, travel goods -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Equipment - Rope Block, After 1950
A block and tackle is a simple but highly effective lifting device, thought to have been invented by Archimedes. These systems were used extensively for construction in the ancient world, and continue to be used today for various applications, especially at sea, where non-motorised lifting systems are highly useful. A basic block and tackle includes a single fixed pulley or block, and at least one additional pulley, linked with rope, to form a complete set. Depending on the size of the load being lifted, additional sets may be used to further distribute the weight.A mid-twentieth example of a wooden block that shows advances in the design of the marine block compared to late 19th century blocks, with hook and pin and its compliance plate meeting the marine standards of the time.Two sheave rope block; two metal sheaves in polished wooden block with a metal inner pin with a ring on top and a bucket on the bottom. Rectangle carved into one cheek with inscriptions on the attached compliance plate with inscriptions. Stamped within a lozenge: "2 ↑ CS"flagstaff hill museum, flagstaff hill village, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, block & tackle, rope, lifting heavy weights, ship rigging, cargo lifiting, two sheave block, compliance plate, marine technology -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Equipment - Block, After 1950
A block and tackle is a simple but highly effective lifting device, thought to have been invented by Archimedes. These systems were used extensively for construction in the ancient world, and continue to be used today for various applications, especially at sea, where non-motorized lifting systems are highly useful. A basic block and tackle includes a single fixed pulley or block, and at least one additional pulley, linked with rope, to form a complete set. Depending on the size of the load being lifted, additional sets may be used to further distribute the weight.A mid-twentieth example of a wooden block that shows advances in the design of the marine block compared to late 19th century blocks, with hook and pin and its compliance plate meeting the marine standards of the time.Block, three-sheave rope block, wooden with metal sheaves. Metal ring and connecting tab, painted blue-grey. A brass compliance plate is on one cheek. One one side there are eight nails. flagstaff hill museum, flagstaff hill village, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, block & tackle, rope, lifting heavy weights, ship rigging, cargo lifiting, marine technology, marine block, three sheave block -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Equipment - Rope Block, Early-to-mid 20th century
A block and tackle is a simple but highly effective lifting device, thought to have been invented by Archimedes. These systems were used extensively for construction in the ancient world, and continue to be used today for a variety of applications, especially at sea, where non-motorized lifting systems are highly useful. A basic block and tackle includes a single fixed pulley or block, and at least one additional pulley, linked with rope, to form a complete set. Depending on the size of the load being lifted, additional sets may be used to further distribute the weight.This wooden two-sheave block is part of a ship's rigging. Its an example of rigging equipment in use from the early-to-mid 20th century and an example of the evolution of rigging equipment since the 17th century.Block; two sheave wooden tackle block with metal rollers and a large metal hook. It has a compliance plate on the side with an inscription. Stamped inside a lozenge; "2 ↑ CS" flagstaff hill museum, flagstaff hill village, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, block & tackle, rope, lifting heavy weights, ship rigging, cargo lifiting, rope block, marine technology, ship equipment, rigging, two sheave block -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Equipment - Rope Block, Mid-20th century
A sailing or rope block has single or multiple pulleys with one or more sheaves enclosed in an assembly between cheeks or chocks. In use, a block is fixed to the end of the line, spar or load to be lifted such as at a transport dock. A rope line is reeved through the sheaves, and through one or more matching blocks at the far end, to make up what's known as a tackle. Generally, the more sheaves in the blocks that make up a tackle, the higher its mechanical advantage. Various types of blocks are used in sailing. Some blocks are used to increase mechanical advantage and others to change the direction of a line. A ratchet block turns freely when a line is pulled in one direction but does not turn in the other direction, although the line may slip past the sheave. This kind of block makes a loaded line easier to hold by hand.This rope block is an example of rope and tackle systems used in maritime settings to lift and move cargo and machinery, often with the help of a crane. It is also used on sailing vessels as part of the rigging, help to raise and lower the ropes and sails.Block; two sheave wooden rope block with ring and becket. It features a Closed Spelter Socket (CSS). Rings are galvanised metal. There is a compliance plate attached with an inscription. It was once owned by a government body, as indicated by the 'up-arrow" symbol.Compliance plate: stamped twice "CS" [Closed Spelter] and "↑"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, lifting equipment, stevedoring, rope block, rigging block, sailing equipment, css, closed spelter socket -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Plan - Vessel, Public Works Department (P.W.D.), Matthew Flinders I, 8-11-1911
These plans are line drawings by the State of Victoria for a Suction Hopper Dredge, which used a suction pump to bring up material from the bottom of a body of water. The plans are contained in a box from the Public Works Department, Ports and Harbours Division in Melbourne, which in the year 1910 was responsible for the dredging operations of coastal ports and harbours, and inland waterways. The stamped signature is that of Arthur Edward Cutler, Chief Engineer, Public Works Department of New South Wales. The steel steamer Matthew Flinders was constructed by Morts Dock & Engineering Co Ltd in Sydney, New South Wales. Identified as Ship No. 40 by the ship builders, this dredge, had twin screw engines that were made in Sydney. Its gross tonnage was 1180. It was launched on July 15th, 1916, and registered by the owner, Department of Public Works in Victoria, at the Port of Melbourne in 1917. Unlike bucket dredges, the Matthew Flinders did not use permanent moorings but instead had bow and stern anchors. It travelled forward on the bow anchor, taking up a strip of even-depth wilt from the bed below. A local newspaper noted that the Matthew Flinders has many advantages that were especially useful for its work at Warrnambool. Warrnambool Harbour had been experiencing silting and sanding for many years. The problem continued even after the construction of the Breakwater in 1890, which was overseen by New Zealand engineer Arthur Dudley Dobson. Melbourne’s Department of Ports and Harbours sent the new Matthew Flinders to dredge the heavy silting in the Warrnambool Harbour in May 1919. This work was previously done by the smaller dredge, the Pioneer. However, after a month of work, the Matthew Flinders was returned to Melbourne for alterations to make it suitable for work in the heavy seas it experienced at Warrnambool. Both dredges were sent up from Melbourne when required over the years to periodically attend to the silting in the Harbour, but the Matthew Flinders was preferred because of its efficiency. It was still dredging the Harbour even in July 1938. The ship’s original master was J G Rosney. In 1923 the master in charge was Captain Dunbar. In 1930 the dredges were no longer required as the Harbour was no longer suitable as port.These plans are significant for their close association with the suction hopper dredge, the Matthew Flinders I, which was call upon often to remove the silting of Warrnambool Harbour and allow shipping to continue in the Port of Warrnambool until 1930, when the Port of Warrnambool ceased to be suitable as a port. The work done by the Matthew Flinders is significant for its association with the Warrnambool Breakwater and the on-going issues with the silting of the Harbour. Plans with line drawings for the suction hopper dredge Matthew Flinders, rolled, in open-top wooden box. Created for the Public Works Department, Melbourne, Victoria. Stamped with signature and dated November I, 1911. Inscriptions: label on box, handwriting on box, drawings and outer layer of paper. Freighted by 1 Star, New Zealand Express Cargo.Signature stamp “A E Cutler” Date stamp “NOV 8 – 1911” Printed on one page “STATE OF VICTORIA / SUCTION HOPPER DREDGE / GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS OF MAIN ENGINE ROOM / SCALE 1/2 IN = 1 FT.” Label on box "1 [star symbol] / THE NEW ZEALA- - - / EXPRESS CAR - –“ Handwritten on base “PUBLIC WORKS / DEPARTMENT / - - LBOURNE” Handwritten in pencil on cover paper “MATTHEW Flinders”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, plan, line drawing, dredge, pioneer, steel steam ship, twin screw engines, a e cutler, arthur edward cutler, chief engineer, public works department, new south wales, nsw, 1911, state of victoria, suction hopper, main engine room, public works melbourne, warrnambool harbour, lady bay, sanding, silting, breakwater, morts dock & engineering co ltd, j g rosney, captain dunbar, ship no. 40, matthew flinders i, matthew flinders, 1 star, new zealand express cargo -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Equipment - Marine diver's boots, 20th century
These marine diver's boots are made to weigh down the diver's feet to the bottom of the seabed, at the same time protecting his feet. The different pieces are joined with nuts, bots and washers. The boots are part of the protective clothing worn by marine divers to enable them to go to depths where others had not been. The Great Ocean Road along the southwest coast of Victoria is renown for its treacherous seas and tragic shipwrecks. Decades after the occurred divers began to explore the wreck sites and discovered hundreds of lost ships. The ships' skeletons and sprawled wreckage tell many stories of the type of ships used, the cargo and luggage carried onboard. They are valuable source of primary history. Many artefacts were recovered from local shipwrecks by the Flagstaff Hill divers and they have been preserved for historical records. Since that time many historic shipwrecks have become protected by Australian law. However, divers are able to still visit the sites.The boots are an example of diver's apparel in the 20th century and show the process of evolving protective and safety wear for underwater divers today.A pair of marine diver's boots. Boots are made of brass alloy and leather. The toes are metal and the metal soles are rippled. The sides have a short bar along the inner and outer sides of the foot, designed to fit a leather strap across the boot to hold it in place. A leather piece is attached to the back of each boot and extends around the ankle area to fasten with a buckle. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, diver's boots, marine diving, underwater diving, deep sea diving, diving equipment, diving accessory, shipwreck exploring -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Geological specimen - Slate Roof Tiles
These rectangular slates of 'beautiful, unusual, expensive, green' American roof tiles were recovered from the wreck of the Falls of Halladale. Salvaging began in 1974 by volunteer divers, using local cray-fishing boats. An efficient system was devised to recover up to 4,000 of the still neatly packed slates a day. Many of the 22,000 salvaged slates can be seen on the roofs of eight Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village buildings. The iron-hulled, four-masted barque, the Falls of Halladale (1886 - 1908), was a bulk carrier of general cargo. She left New York in August 1908 on her way to Melbourne and Sydney. In her hold, along with 56,763 tiles of unusual beautiful green American slates (roof tiles), 5,673 coils of barbed wire, 600 stoves, 500 sewing machines, 6500 gallons of oil, 14400 gallons of benzene, and many other manufactured items, were 117 cases of crockery and glassware. Three months later and close to her destination, a navigational error caused the Falls of Halladale to be wrecked, grounded on a reef at Wreck Point, midway between Peterborough and the Bay of Islands, during the night of 14th November 1908. The captain and 29 crew members all survived, but her valuable cargo was largely lost, despite two salvage attempts in 1908-09 and 1910. The ship stayed in full sail on the rocky shelf for nearly two months, attracting hundreds of sightseers who watched her slowly disintegrate until the pounding seas and dynamiting by salvagers finally broke her back, and her remains disappeared back into deeper water. The shipwreck is a popular site for divers, about 300m offshore and in 3 – 15m of water. Some of the original cargo can be seen at the site, including pieces of roof slate and coils of barbed wire.The American slate tiles are significant as an example of cargo imported for use as building materials in Australia. The Falls of Halladale shipwreck is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register (No. S255). She was one of the last ships to sail the Trade Routes. She is one of the first vessels to have fore and aft lifting bridges. She is an example of the remains of an International Cargo Ship and also represents aspects of Victoria’s shipping industry The wreck is protected as a Historic Shipwreck under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act (1976).Bundle of slate roof tiles (18); rectangular, green American slate roof tiles, some with red-brown stains. Two tiles both have two holes drilled through them. Two different tiles are thicker than the others. The tiles were salvaged from the wreck of Falls of Halladale. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, cargo, slate, slate tile, green american slates, building material, wreck point, peterborough, bay of islands, russell & co., 1908 shipwreck, salvage, recover -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Functional object - Porthole Frame, Russell & Co, Ca. 1886
This restored porthole frame was recovered from the wreck of the Falls of Halladale at Peterborough Victoria. The Falls of Halladale- The ship was an iron-hulled, four-masted barque, used as a bulk carrier of general cargo. She left New York in August 1908 bound for Melbourne and Sydney. In her hold was general cargo consisting of roofing tiles, barbed wire, stoves, oil, benzene, and many other manufactured items. After three months at sea and close to her destination, a navigational error caused the Falls of Halladale to be wrecked on a reef off the Peterborough headland on the 15th of November, 1908. The captain and 29 crew members survived, but her cargo was largely lost, despite two salvage attempts in 1908-09 and 1910. The Court of Marine Inquiry in Melbourne ruled that the foundering of the ship was entirely due to Captain David Wood Thomson's navigational error, not too technical failure of the Clyde-built ship. The Falls of Halladale was built in1886 by Russell & Co., at Greenock shipyards on the River Clyde, Scotland for Wright, Breakenridge & Co of Glasgow. She was one of several designs of the Falls Line of ships named after waterfalls in Scotland. The company was founded between 1870- 1873 as a partnership between Joseph Russell, Anderson Rodger, and William Todd Lithgow. During 1882-92 Russell & Co. standardised designs sped up their building process so much that they could build 271 ships during that time. The Falls of Halladale had a sturdy construction built to carry maximum cargo and was able to maintain full sail in heavy gales, one of the last of the 'windjammers' that sailed the Trade Route. She and her sister ship, the Falls of Garry, were the first ships in the world to include fore and aft lifting bridges. Previously, heavily loaded vessels could have heavy seas break along the full length of the deck, causing serious injury or even death to those on deck. The new, raised catwalk-type decking allowed the crew to move above the deck in stormy conditions. This artefact is important as it is an example of the materials and design of late-19th century ship’s rigging equipment. The object is also significant for its association with the historic sailing ship Falls of Halladale, wrecked in local waters in the early 20th century. The clipper ship Falls of Halladale shipwreck is of historical significance and is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, No. S255. She was one of the last ships to sail the Trade Routes. She was one of the first vessels to have fore and aft lifting bridges. The vessel is an example of an International Cargo Ship's remains and represents aspects of Victoria’s shipping industry. Porthole frame; cast brass circular frame with several fixing holes, and hinged frame for holding the glass window. The frame has two screw dogs and a solid hinge. The porthole frame has been recondition and the layer of concretion has been removed. The porthole frame was recovered from the wrecked FALLS OF HALLADALE.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, falls of halladale, shippwreck, shipwreck artefact, porthole, pprthole frame, ship's window, ship construction, shipwreck, peterborough, 1908 shipwreck, peterborough shipwreck, russell & co., greenock, wright breakenridge & co. glasgow, clipper ship -
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Equipment - Tap, brass
Along with the wrecks of the Light of the Age (1868 - American-built wooden clipper ship) and Sussex (1871 - Blackwall frigate) nearby these vessels represent the three major design classes, and span the evolution of commercial and immigrant sailing ships used by the British in the colonial Australian trade in the last half of the nineteenth century. Taken as a group, it can be seen that the Great Ocean Road area wrecks constitute an extremely rich resource of historical and archaeological information.The Victoria Tower is archaeologically significant as the wreck of an international inward-bound passenger and cargo vessel. It is educationally and recreationally significant as a coherently intact example of a British built iron clipper Brass tap with key (handle)shipwrecks, victoria tower, tap with key -
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Equipment - Engine room telegraph
Court of Marine Inquiry found that steering gear had failed as vessel entered Heads. Fault lay with Lloyd's surveyor for not detecting fault. Vessel had been classified Al. No blame attachable to master. Two Queenscliff fishermen purchased wreck for 950 pounds (insured value 30,000 pounds)and its timber cargo - handsome profit. Cargo and most fittings of value recovered. Wreck visible until early 1960s, until during a storm it slid off northern side of Nepean reef and broke up in 20 feet of water. The most noteworthy shipwreck to date at the heads.Ship's engine room telegraph from bridge of SS TimeChadburns ship's telegraph manufacturersss time, wrecks, marine telegraph -
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Functional object - Doors
There are only seven shipwrecks in Victoria that have had more than 100 objects recovered from them reported as a result of the Commonwealth Amnesty held in 1993-94. These are the Loch Ard (1878), Schomberg (1855) and Fiji (1891) - all situated along the western district 'Shipwreck Coast' - and the George Roper (1883), Light of the Age (1868), Joseph H. Scammell (1891) and Victoria Tower - all situated along the short section of the 'Surf Coast' between Point Lonsdale and Torquay.The Victoria Tower is archaeologically significant as the wreck of an international inward-bound passenger and cargo vessel. It is educationally and recreationally significant as a coherently intact example of a British built iron clipper ie: representative of a class or type. Along with the wrecks of the Light of the Age (1868 - American-built wooden clipper ship) and Sussex (1871 - Blackwall frigate) nearby these vessels represent the three major design classes, and span the evolution of commercial and immigrant sailing ships used by the British in the colonial Australian trade in the last half of the nineteenth century.2 Doors from the 'Victoria Tower' made from teak and mahoganydoors, salvage, shipwreck, torquay, victoria tower -
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Functional object - Rudder, Alexander Brown
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 -
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Functional object - Sounding Lead and bottle
Collected by person in the 1960s before amnesty. Recovered from the wreck of the William SalthouseWilliam Salthouse was the first merchant vessel to sail with a cargo of merchandise from the British Dominion of Canada to British Colonies of Australia. The ship was lost on 28 November 1841 while attempting to enter Port Phillip Heads en-route to Melbourne Harbour. The wreck of William Salthouse has been the site of several maritime archaeological investigations as well as experimental in situ conservation efforts.Large sounding lead and handmade bottle recovered from the wreck of the William Salthouse [lost on 28 November 1841]'No.2' on bottleshipwrecks, salvaged items, william salthouse, sounding lead, hand made bottle -
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Geological specimen - Copper ore
The Empress of the Sea was a magnificent three masted, square rigged, wooden sailing clipper ship built in Boston, USA. The Empress of the Sea is historically and archaeologically significant as it was one of Donald Mackay's famous wooden clipper ships, i.e. representative of a particular design or type. It was also associated with both the Black Ball and White Star Lines of Australian Packets, which carried thousands of immigrants from Britain to Australia. The Empress of the Sea caught fire at Queenscliff at 4 am on 19 December 1861. When the officer of the watch attempted to extinguish the fire they found fire pump handles missing and buckets ineffective. Fire became out of control and the ship was sailed from anchorage and ran ashore at Point Nepean. Ship rolled over onto starboard side by force of the tide and the shifting ballast. The port side was burnt to the copper. The Empress of the Sea lies in 5 metres (16 feet) to 7 metres (23 feet) of water, 700 metres (2,297 feet) offshore from Nepean Bay, Port Phillip. The site covers an area 150 metres (492 feet) long and 50 metres (164 feet) wide. The bow lies towards the south-west. Piece of copper ore, possibly part of ships cargo, recovered from the site of the Empress of the Sea shipwrecked in Nepean Bay 1861shipwrecks, nepean bay, empress of the sea -
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Domestic object - China crockery recovered from wreck of Light of the age
Subsequent to the wrecking of the Light of the Age marine concretions and corrosion products formed a cement capping over the cargo, stabilising and protecting it. The site of the Light of the Age was found by divers in late 1960s, and soon became a popular diving site. Huge amounts of intact crockery were removed from the wreck by boatloads of divers, including distinctive brown glazed teapots with legs (one diving author named it 'the Teapot Wreck' (Denmead, 1973: 78-82), 'Greek Key' patterned transferware, Cooper & Wood Portobello black glass three piece bottles, and sauce, preserve and condiment bottles often with contents (gooseberries, raspberries, olives) and seals intact. Larger items including a signal cannon and an anchor were removed from the site, while divers seeking souvenirs commonly used cold chisels to chip objects free of the concretion 'cap' which had stabilised and protected the remaining cargo for so long. In 1982 this situation was drastically changed when someone used explosives to further break concretions. However the charge was too powerful resulting in the site's complete destruction and the remaining items to become scattered and broken. Abraded and worn ceramic objects washed up on the beach are invariably collected by beachgoers, including fragments of crockery, figurines and animal figures used for 19th century household decoration and toys. The Light of the Age is archaeologically significant as the wreck of an international immigrant ship with an inward bound cargo. It is historically significant for its association with both the Black Ball and White Star Lines which carried thousands of immigrants to Australia. Built in 1855 and lost on 16 January 1868 now lies at Point Lonsdale Beach, half a mile west from Point Lonsdale, Port Phillip Heads.01- 1 shallow bowl, 02- 1 sweet bowl, 03- 1 willow pattern service dish, 04- 2 ladle cups [no handles], 05 06- 2 egg cups, 07- 2 bread and butter plates, 08- 1 condiment bowl lidWedgwood deep saucer; Pearl stone china, Ribbon, Wedgewood Willow Pattern service dish, Staffordshire Stone China, Fenton, No10shipwrecks, salvage, crockery, light of the age, clippers -
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Furniture - Captain's Desk
On August 23rd, 1949, S. S. TIME was on voyage from Sydney to Melbourne with a cargo of sugar (3,000 tons), timber, general cargo and coal, when she was wrecked on Corsair Rock, entrance of Port Philip Bay. Read more at wreck site: https://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?57395The remnants of the Time remained as a landmark for over 10 years before a storm sent her remains to the bottom. http://home.vicnet.net.au/~maav/diary3.htmCaptain's desk from the SSW Timess tme, shipwrecks, salvage, furniture -
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Functional object - Bottle, earthenware
CAMBRIDGESHIRE (J. Marshall) was on voyage from Gravesend UK to Sydney, New South Wales with a cargo of general and a crew of 40, when she was lost off Cambridgeshire Reef Tasmania. Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?54312Earthenware bottle from the wreck of the Cambridgeshireshipwrecks, cabridgeshire, salvage, bottle -
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Functional object - Bottle
The Victoria Tower was lost on her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Melbourne on 17 October 1869/10/1869 after 85 days at sea. It was wrecked on Lonsdale Reef while approaching Port Phillip Heads. The 2,300 tons cargo contained general cargo, bottled beer, slates, iron pipes and hardware. It was owned by the White Star Line, T. Ismay. The Master of the vessel was Captain Kerr. The weather conditions were hazy, squally, thick and clearing at times. The cause was attributed to running ashore in thick weather and careless navigation. There were 34 passengers and 16 crew members on board all of whom survivied.A beer bottle with an attached sticker Victoria TowerMB, CV, Property of the Manufacturers Bottle Co of Victoria Pty Ltd. Underneath F 40shipwrecks, victoria tower, bottle -
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Functional object - Tankard
tankards from the wreck of the Loch ArdThe Loch Ard is historically significant as one of Victoria and Australia's worst shipwreck tragedies. It is archaeologically significant for its remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. It is highly educationally and recreationally significant as one of Victoria's most spectacular diving sites, and popular tourist sites in Port Campbell National Park.Pewter tankard with glass basetankard, loch ard, shipwrecks -
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Functional object - Tankard
The Loch Ard is historically significant as one of Victoria and Australia's worst shipwreck tragedies. It is archaeologically significant for its remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. It is highly educationally and recreationally significant as one of Victoria's most spectacular diving sites, and popular tourist sites in Port Campbell National Park.Pewter tankard with glass basetankard, loch ard, shipwrecks -
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Functional object - Lamp saddle
The Loch Ard is historically significant as one of Victoria and Australia's worst shipwreck tragedies. It is archaeologically significant for its remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. It is highly educationally and recreationally significant as one of Victoria's most spectacular diving sites, and popular tourist sites in Port Campbell National Park.Round stem base glass saddle glass light saddle, shipwrecks, loch ard -
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Photograph - Photograph of two Queenscliff fishermen
William Withers and Edward Ryan drowned near Point Lonsdale on 19 October 1954 when they tried to enter the Rip at Port Phillip Heads against an ebb tide with a strong south-west wind blowing. They were sailing a large crayfishing boat, the 'Robert John', returning with a load of crayfish from King Island.Photograph shows William (Bill) Withers and Edward Ryan who worked in the local Queenscliff and Victorian fishing industry. The commercial fishing industry developed in Queenscliff from the 1860s, with early fishing developing around the couta boat and barracouta fishing. Crayfishing and shark fishing also became important, especially as the supplies and popularity of barracouta as a commercial species waned. Local Queenscliff fishermen often fished outside Port Phillip into Bass Strait and had to navigate the dangerous entry to Port Phillip, known as 'The Rip', with its turbulent and variable water and weather conditions. This added to the everyday dangers of sailing faced by fishermen in their industry. The local fishermen often had the local knowledge of these waters, but the fishing community in Queenscliff also lived with the threat or fear that the Rip could rob them of one of their own. The entrance to Port Phillip with this Rip is the scene of many shipwrecks,often resulting in tragic loss of life or injuries, including passenger and cargo ships travelling to/from Melbourne and Geelong as well as accidents to local Queenscliff and Port Phillip sailors such as the fishermen or sea pilots. A B/W photograph of two Queenscliff fishermen, William (Bill) Withers and Edward Ryaninformation about photo and donation handwrittten on backfishermen, queenscliff fishermen, withers, william withers, ryan, edward ryan, robert john crayfish boat, shipwreck, port phillip -
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Document - Form, Boat Station List
The Court of Marine Inquiry found that the steering gear had failed as the SS Time entered Port Phillip Heads. It was established that the fault lay with the Lloyd's surveyor for not detecting the fault when the Time had been classified Al. No blame was attached to the master. Two Queenscliff fishermen purchased weck for 950 pounds (insured value 30,000 pounds)and its timber cargo - handsome profit. Cargo and most fittings of value recovered. Wreck visible until early 1960s, until during a storm it slid off northern side of Nepean reef and broke up in 20 feet of water. The most noteworthy shipwreck to date at the heads.Two Queenscliff fishermen purchased the weck for 950 pounds (insured value 30,000 pounds) and its timber cargo - handsome profit. The cargo and most of the fittings of value were recovered. The wreck was visible until the early 1960s, until during a storm, it slid off the northern side of Nepean Reef and broke up in 20 feet of water. The most noteworthy shipwreck to date at the heads.A Commonwealth of Australia Navigation Act, Boat Station List form, showing the names of crew assigned to each of 4 lifeboats on the Port [P] and Starboard [S] sides of the SS Time dated 1 August 1949.Form C.B.D.F 3 for 4 lifeboats; Boat Station List navigation act, ss time, port phillip, shipwrecks, lifeboat rules -
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Functional object - Boot spur
The SS Schomberg was a clipper built in Aberdeen by Alexander Hall & Co. for "the Black Ball line" which was a subsidiary of James Baines & Co., for carrying large cargoes and steerage passengers. When built, she was regarded as the most luxurious and well-built clipper of the period. She was sunk on her maiden voyage in 1855 on the Shipwreck Coast of Victoria, Australia.Baines & Co were the owners of the SS Great Britain, and Alexander Hall & Co. was the leading clipper shipbuilder in Britain. She was named after Captain Charles Frederick Schomberg R N., the Emigration Commissioner for Liverpool, an influential man when it came to securing government contracts for the carriage of emigrants. The Black Ball Line’s owners clearly sought his favour. She was launched in Aberdeen, Scotland, on 7 April 1855 and sank on her maiden voyage in 1855 on the Shipwreck Coast of Victoria, Australia.A cast brass boot spurschomberg, salvage, diving, shipwreck coast -
The Celtic Club
Book, Compton Mackenzie, Whisky galore, 1963
... intolerable until fate delivers them a shipwreck with a cargo ...The inhabitants of Great and Little Toddy think they can cope with WW2 - but then the whisky runs out. Life becomes intolerable until fate delivers them a shipwreck with a cargo of whisky.p.251.fictionThe inhabitants of Great and Little Toddy think they can cope with WW2 - but then the whisky runs out. Life becomes intolerable until fate delivers them a shipwreck with a cargo of whisky.hebrides (scotland) - fiction, irish fiction -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Book - Reference - history, Terang Express, Loch Ard Gorge, 1954
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. 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. Book, Loch Ard Gorge: The Story of a Shipwreck by Alice Goldstraw. First published 1948, Third printing November 1954. Inscription inside front cover in blue pen, signed by the author. Soft covered book containing the story of the wreck of the Loch Ard, written in poetry. Each page has a decorative border. One page has photographs, black and white, of people and the Loch Ard Gorge cavesInside front cover, script in blue ink "To Mrs Slade, with kind regards, from Alice Goldstraw"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, the story of a shipwreck, book, alice goldstraw, terang express press, loch ard gorge whipwreck, ship loch ard -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Furniture - Decorative Mount, ca. 1873
This hand carved wooden pediment may have originated from a mirror, cabinet, desk or similar piece of furniture. The LOCH ARD: - The Loch Ard got its name from ”Loch Ard” a loch which 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, Curdle and 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, umbrella, 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 its 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 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 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 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 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 family 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 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 items were washed up into Loch Ard Gorge. Cargo and artefacts 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 in. 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. Ref: LA 6 64 264 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 artefacts from Loch Ard and its collection is significant for being one of the largest accumulation of artefacts from this notable Victorian shipwreck. The collections object is to also give us a snapshot into history so 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. The collections historically significance is that it is associated unfortunately with the worst and best-known shipwreck in Victoria's history. Carved wooden furniture pediment or mount, recovered from the wreck of the Loch Ard. Inscribed plaque on underside. Handwriting on round sticker on edge.Plaque inscription "From Loch Ard wreck Port Campbell 1878 given by Haworth Bros to James Martin Snr Scarsdale" Diagonally on round sticker in pen "R 222A" 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, carved headpiece, furniture, haworth bros, james martin snr, scarsdale, pediment, decorative mount -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Document - Poster, Warrnambool Steam Navigation Co, ca.1938
This poster is typical of posters displayed by steam packet companies of the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. It advertises the passage and freight available on a local coastal trader. The steamships operated between the major ports along the western coast of Victoria between Melbourne and Portland. The traveller was not guaranteed the passage times due to possible weather changes. Discounts were offered for return trips within a month of the ticket's issue. The price of freight included 'lighterage', which was the service of a smaller vessel called a 'lighter' expressly designed to transport goods between ship and shore. This particular poster has been recreated; it advertises the services of the screw steamer SS Edina. The information on the poster applies to the years between 1871 and 1873. During that period the Master of the Edina was Captain John Thompson, the Edina was owned by the Warrnambool Steam Navigation Company and the secretary of the firm was Thos. Mackay. The passenger fares are in line with fares from that period, as seen in a display advertisement published in the Hamilton Spectator on January 17th, 1872. The 1853 Glasgow-built Screw Ship Edina had a long life. The ship served in both the Crimean War and the American Civil War. The Edina also traded in UK and European waters. The Henty family of Portland, Victoria, purchased Edina in 1863 for use as a coastal trader. The Edina had several owners and spent many years of service along the South West Coast of Victoria between Melbourne and Portland. The vessel transported passengers and freight in Port Phillip Bay, between Melbourne and Geelong, between 1880 and 1938. After 84 years of service, the Edina was renamed ‘Dinah’ and was stripped down for use as a lighter. The vessel was broken up in 1957 at Footscray, Melbourne. The remains of Edina’s hull can be found in the Maribyrnong River, Port Phillip Bay. The poster was owned by the donor's grandfather, Bruce Duff (1922-2003) who was an avid sailor and a lover of nautical history. He and his wife Mona (1924-2014) were buried in Portarlington Cemetery, Victoria. Duff would have been about 13 years old when the Edina was finally retired from service in 1938. His interest in the Edina could have come from a trip on the vessel or from watching it in operation in the ports along the coast. Duff has collected this poster as a memento of the Edina and is likely to have preserved it at a much later date when the lamination process was readily available. [Flagstaff Hill's collection includes a photograph of the Edina at the Moorabool Street Wharf, Geelong, which was in Duff's locality. The References for this poster include a link to Museum Victoria's photograph of two boys watching the Edina from a jetty.] Flagstaff Hill's Village has its own 'Examiner' Office where volunteers demonstrate the historic printing press in that building. They use original letter-type to create posters, print labels onto lolly bags and designs on fabrics. One of the volunteer printers has produced a poster closely resembling the donated poster. His replication includes a woodcut of the ship, which he skilfully crafted himself.This poster advertises the sailing of the steamer SS Edina and the information has local and State significance for its association with the trading ports of the Edina, and the associated names on the poster; Warrnambool Steam Navigation Company, Captain John Thompson and Thos. Mackay. This poster's message has a strong connection to the history of the businesses and community of Warrnambool and the people of Port Phillip Bay, where it was a passenger ferry for many years. The poster is an example of advertising used by shipping agents in the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. Its information includes the accurate costs to passengers and freighters and the type of timetable the vessels were likely to follow. The poster's connection with the Screw Steamship Edina is historically significant, as the vessel was the longest serving screw steamer in the world. The ship spent its first nine years overseas then arrived in Melbourne. The vessel's work included running the essential service of transporting cargo and passengers between Melbourne and the western Victoria ports of Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Portland. The Edina is listed on the Victorian Heritage Database VHR S199. Poster, A3 size, brown text on cream paper, laminated. Re-created poster of the Warrnambool Steam Navigation Company (Limited) advertising passage and freight on its Screw Steamship, SS Edina. It states days, times and fees for passage and freight from Warrnambool to Melbourne, and return. It names the ship's Master, Captain John Thompson and the Company's Secretary, Tho. Mackay. It displays a line drawing of a 3-masted ship with full sails.Printed image [side profile of a 3 masted vessel, bow facing left] Printed text includes "The Warrnambool Steam Navigation Company (Limited). The Company's Steam Ship "EDINA", Captain John Thompson, Will leave Melbourne for Warrnambool on Tuesdays, returning from Warrnambool every Thursday, At Five o'clock p.m. (weather permitting). FARES: Saloon £2 0 0 Steerage £1 0 0 Saloon return £3 0 0 Saloon return £1 10 00 - Children under 13 years half fares - Refreshments supplied onboard at a moderate scale of charge. Freight, including lighterage, - From Melbourne to Warrnambool - 12s per ton; from Warrnambool to Melbourne, 15s per ton. Passengers are requested to obtain their tickets at the offers, and shippers to make early application for space. Return tickets available for one month from date of issue. - THO. MACKAY, secretary. "warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, fair maid of judea, steam navigation, pleasure steamer, ss edina a, trade 19th century, travel 19th century, warrnambool to melbourne, warrnambool to geelong, warrnambool to port fairy, warrnambool to portland, screw steamer, coastal trader, crimean war, american civil war, gold export, h r h duke of edinburgh, warrnambool steam packet company, stephen henty, captain john thompson, chief engineer john davies, lady bay, lighter edina, port phillip bay steamers, vhr s199, dinah, warrnambool steam navigation company, advertising poster, shipping agent, flier, maritime village, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, great ocean road, block printing, woodblock printing, relief printing, moorabool st wharf, western steam navigation company, tho. mackay, re-created poster -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Painting - Lithograph, Iron S.S. Champion Frank Helpmann Esq. Comr, 1853 or later
Captain Benjamin Francis (Frank) Helpmann was once the owner of the S.S. CHAMPOIN, then owned it in partnership with S. G. Henty. S.S. CHAMPION was an early steamship and one of the first coastal traders to operate between Melbourne and Portland in Victoria from December 1853 until August 1857, when she collided with the S.S. LIRDY BIRD in the open sea off Cape Otway. CHAMPION was returning from Melbourne, and sank with thirty-two people still on board. The thirty others were saved by the LIRDY BIRD (ref. The Story of a Port : Portland, Victoria, by Noel F. Learmonth)This picture Lithograph) is associated with the S.S. Champion, which is listed on the Victorian Heritage Database VHR S110. The wreck of the SS Champion is significant historically as one of Victoria's worst shipwrecks. As an early steamship it played an important part in the development of and communications between the Western district and Melbourne . Although the site has not yet been located it is predicted to be highly significant archaeologically with the potential to yield information about early coastal shipping and the western district passenger and cargo trade. It is significant technically as an example of an early iron screw steamship, and is part of the western district steamship resource including the SS Casino, SS Coramba and SS Julia Percy.Painting. Lithograph of the schooner S S Champion, hand coloured watercolour, in a cedar frame behind glass. Unusual cross member bracing on the corners of the frame (one missing). Title "Iron S.S. Champion Frank Helpmann Esq. Comr" (in script) on bottom of picture.On the bottom of the painting "Iron S.S. Champion" (in printing), "Frank Helpmann Esq. Comr" (in script) shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwrecked artefact, flagstaff hill maritime village, shipwreck coast, warrnambool, lithograph, frank helpmann, henty