Before modern design aids, half boat models were made to scale to the boat's hull being built . In later times these scale models were also made by first year apprentices in timber boat building. Now they are mostly prized as a decorative object.Several timber boat builders operated in the Queenscliff area over time.Timber half model of an unknown yachtboat building, boat design, model boats

William Thomson described a new "Marine Azimuth Mirror" at the 1877 meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, and patented the design in Britain and the U.S. This instrument is an example of the improved design, with a reflecting prism in place of the original mirror. Thomson introduced this form in the early 1880s. The signature indicates that it was made during the period 1900-1913. A child prodigy, William Thomson went to university at the age of eleven. At twenty-two he was appointed Professor of Natural Philosophy in Glasgow where he set up the first physics laboratory in Great Britain and proved an inspiring teacher. He primarily researched thermodynamics and electricity. On the practical side he was involved in the laying of the Atlantic telegraph cable. He was also the partner of a Glasgow firm that made measuring instruments from his own patents.An instrument of significant importance which made marine navigation easier and more accurate in the early twentieth century.An Azimuth mirror with wooden box.Kelvin & Hughs Ltd Serial No - illegible Made in Great Britainazimuth mirror, william thompson, lord kelvin, naviagtion, marine instruments

Pall Mall Gazette, 6 April 1866 One day early in December between the hours of 5.44 and 6.15 A.M., four first-class ships, the Roxburgh Castle, the Sarah Grice, the Kosciusko, and the Omar Pasha, laden with wool and gold, left Port Phillip on a race for England. There was heavy betting on the result, the Omar Pasha being favourite. These vessels have now reached their destination, and it is interesting to note the respective length of their passages. The Omar Pasha arrived in the Downs on the 14th of February, seventy-two days; the Kosciusko on the 23rd, eighty-one days; the Roxburgh Castle on the 7th of March, one hundred and eleven days. The first and second vessels are Aberdeen built vessels, and belong to Messrs. George Thompson, junr., and Co.One of several clippers trading from Port PhillipFramed print of Aberdeen Clipper Ship 'Kosciusko', 1,300 tonsAberdeen Clipper Ship 'Kosciusko' 1300 tons, Charles Stuart Commander Messrs. Geo. Thompson, Jun and Co. ownersaberdeen clippers, trade from port phillip

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. The Australian Red Ensign is the official flag to be flown at sea by Australian registered merchant ships. The S.S. Time was a land mark vessel in Queenscliff and surrounding areas from August 23rd, 1949, when it was wrecked on Corsair Rock in the entrance of Port Philip Bay until the early 60s when it broke up in a storm. Australian Red Ensign from the salvage done on the wreck of the S.S.TimeSS Time hand written on calico edge of flagflag, red ensign, s.s.time, corsair rock, rip, port phillip

These bale measuring rulers were used to calculate bale sizes when loading in ships hold.Obsolete tool is of historical significance to explain past practicesTimber measuring ruler for measuring dimensions of bales being loaded and stacked in ships hold. Outer arms are extendable to suit bale widthsIllegibleinstrument, bale measuring ruler, cargo handling

Military communications and signaling equipment used from 19421942 portable morse code set with a day signaling light and spare globes. All fitted in timber carry case with webbing strap.Plate "Lamp Signaling Daylight. Short Range Case MK IIPMG MELM1942" S/N 10356. Operating instructions on spare globes box lidmorse code, wwii, signaling

A morse Key mounted on a Bakelite plate with cable attachedmorse key, communication, wwii

American Practical Navigator, Bowditch, United States Hydrographic Office, Washington, D.C., 1918, Second Reprint Edition, This reference was found written on the inside cover of this volume. Nathanial Bowditch wrote the first edition in the 1802 and the book still bears his name.The MV Townsville Trader was a container roll-on/roll-off vessel between 1970 to 1984 and was broken up in 1986.Framed copy of the Mariners Creed; a safety reminder notice.safety at sea, signs, mariners creed

Framed Illuminated Address under glassilluminated address, captain p w bull, ss westralia

HMS Nelson was a 126-gun ship of the line of the Royal Navy. Launched on 4 July 1814 at Woolwich Dockyard she was later converted into a screw ship in 1860, and was cut down to a two-decker and fitted with an engine of 2,102 indicated horsepower. In 1865, HMVS Nelson was given to the colony of Victoria as a training ship. She was outfitted and rigged for £42,000 and sailed for Australia in October 1867. Travelling via the Cape of Good Hope, she arrived in February 1868. She was the first ship to dock in the newly constructed Alfred Graving Dock in Williamstown, Victoria.Possibly the first training ship of the Victorian Navy which had a base in Swan Island in Queenscliffe.A black and white photograph of the sailing ship HMS later HMVS Nelson docked at the Alfred Graving Dock, Williamstown, 1872"Nelson" in Alfred Graving Dock Williamstown, Victoria 1872hms nelson, hmvs nelson, alfred graving dock, williamstown

Common home made example of a dip net used by fishermenRound shaped dip net used to hold caught fish.fishing, leisure activity

Built in 1914 by Fleming and Ferguson in Paisley Scotland as Sir William Matthews for the Ceylon Government, she was a twin screwed steam bucket dredge. She was purchased from the Western Australian Government by the Melbourne Harbour Trust on 10 October 1941. After an extensive overhaul, the vessel was renamed the George Kermode and commenced operation in Victorian waters on 22 June 1942. The George Kermode was scuttled by the Department of Conservation, Forests and Land off Phillip Island on the 1 April 1976 as part of an artificial reef program. This vessel was used to dredge the Port Phillip channels from 1942 and is of cultural significance to Queenscliffe.Binnacle compass from the 'George Kermode'Compass No. 3127N Sestrel Type 89098bucket dredge, port phillip, melbourne harbour trust

Brought to Australia by English Captain William Parsons during the 1830s.Donated by Robert Nissen in memory of Gaye Marie Nissen, daughter of Robert Nissen and Mary Wentworth, a descendant of William Charles Wentworth.Mahogany lap writing desk with roll top, ink wells, writing slope, drawer and other compartments.Copper plate on top panel is inscribed with "M.A."writing desks, william charles wentworth

Black portable writing desk with writing pad, ink wells and other compartmentsportable writing desk, domestic item

Example of aquatic safety at sea equipmentHand held aquatic emergency lightemergency light, safety at sea

Pains Wessex Mini Resqsat RB3 Personal 121.5 / 243 MHz EPIRBKinetic Technology Int Pty Ltdepirb, safety at sea

A battery operated emergency life buoy light4.88emergency light, safety at sea

Photograph of young Harry Greenberg in silver framephotographs, harry greebberg

Harpoon belonged to Cappy Felman, one of several fishermen from Barwon Heads post WWIIMetal Harpoon tip missing handlefishing, harpoon

McIlwraith McEacharn Line Pty.Ltd., reg. Melbourne. 1918: Commandeered as a troopship. 1919: Returned to owners. 1920: Resumed Australian coastal service. 1941: Commandeered as a troopship. 1942 Aug 4: Fired upon in the Great Australian Bight (WA) by a Japanese submarine. 1946: Returned to owners & sold to Compania Maritima del Este, reg. Panama. Refitted at Genoa and sailed under Greek Line flag. 1947: Chartered to French Line for Caribbean service. 1949: Refitted at Genoa & placed on Europe-Canada run. 1954: Neptunia Shipping Co. 1957: Laid up at Bremerhaven. 1958: Laid up at Piraeus. 1959 Sept.29: Arrived at Nagasaki, Japan having been sold to shipbreakers.Served with SS Duntroon leaving Melbourne on 12 February 1942, to join convoy MS5 to Colombo escorted by aircraft carrier HMS Enterprise. She then embarked 640 Second AIF troops to be redeployed to the South West Pacific after serving in the middle east.Brass name plate 'SS Katoomba'SS KATOOMBAwwi, wwii, passenger steamships, ss katoomba

A hand held tool used for vigorously shaping timber with a blade horizontal to users grip2 Gill Pin....gis? Mill Warranted FAI 27tools, adze, boat building

Two brass fire hose nozzles and a fire hydrant lever.fire fighting, fire hose fittings

A telescope in its own timber box.Turn this to change powertelescope, navigation

The binnacle was originally from a lifeboat of the tug 'Melbourne' previously 'Howard Smith'. When the vessel sank at Gellibrand [Williamstown], the binnacle was under water for about one month. The lifeboat was later cut loose from the wreck by a salvage crew [as told by the donor].A good example of a small binnacle and compass as used on a lifeboat from the 1950s.Binnacle, brass with wick light mounted on timberbinnacle, compass, tug boat, 'melbourne', 'howard smith'

Acquired by the donor while sailing in Melbourne on the 'New Endeavour'Standard belaying pin made from jarrah woodbelaying pin, sailing ships

Flashlights where a vital tool for night time map reading, signaling with coloured lenses and many other uses. The blackout during the war also meant for a extended popularity of flashlights. Many carried them onto the streets to see as the streetlights where very rare and to top that of mostly blacked out. Most flashlights where fitted with blinds or coloured lenses to hide the bright light they produced. These coloured lenses where also used to signal between individual soldiers. Mostly used in the 1940s by the military and civilians alike. A small metal light signal box or flashlight.Petrix No. 678signal box, flashlight, petrix 678

This sextant was used by Captain J Menzies, Harbour Master in Warrnambool who testified in the Victorian Royal Commission of 1925 on the development of Warrnambool Harbour.A maritime instrument with links to Victorian Harbour Development history of the early twentieth century.A brass sextant in wooden box'J Menzies' hand written on box lid.sextant, capt. j. menzies

As the White Ensign was reserved entirely for the use of the Royal Navy, the Admiral decided to approve of a new ensign for the Victorian Navy and this was flown for the first time from Nelson on 9th March 1870. The new ensign was very similar to the present day national flag and incorporated the Union flag with five white stars on a blue field.Following upon a series of ‘Russian scares’ in the 1870s, Nelson presumably by permission of the Admiralty, was converted into a fighting ship for the Victorian Navy; she was cut down to a single- decker, the fore and mizzen masts were removed, and the armament modified by the landing of several of the old muzzle-loaders and the addition of a number of new breech-loading guns. This conversion was carried out in the new drydock in 1881.A framed copy of an engraving entitled: 'Opening of the Graving Dock, Williamstown'.Opening of the Graving Dock, Williamstownhmvs nelson, alfred graving dock, williamstown