This photograph shows the steam dredge Pioneer working to remove silt in Lady Bay, Port of Warrnambool. The dredge belonged to the Ports and Harbours department in Melbourne. Also in the photograph are two moored vessels, and the Warrnambool Lifeboat shed and Rocket house built on the Warrnambool Breakwater. The Warrnambool Harbour had been experiencing heavy silting and sanding for many years. The problem continued even after the construction of the Breakwater in 1890. The Ports and Harbours' new, larger suction hopper dredge, the Matthew Flinders, was also employed in May 1919 to remove the heavy silting in the Harbour. Both dredges were sent up from Melbourne when required over the years to periodically attend to the silting. The Matthew Flinders was still dredging the Harbour even in the 1930s. (The ship’s original master was J G Rosney. In February 1922 Percy Taylor from Ports and Harbours joined the Matthew Flinders as a Mate. 1923 the master in charge was Captain Dunbar. In August 1926 Percy Taylor was appointed as her Master and was later transferred to the Pioneer as Master in 1933.) 1930 the dredges were no longer required as the Harbour was no longer suitable as a port. However, one source notes that the Matthew Flinders was still dredging the Harbour in 1938.This photograph is significant for its association with the Port of Warrnambool, the Warrnambool Breakwater, and the issue of the silting in Lady Bay. The photograph is significant historically as it shows a point in time when efforts were employed to keep the Port of Warrnambool functioning, allowing shipping activities to continue operating. The need for dredging in the Warrnambool Harbour was a serious and ongoing problem, as silting continued to happen after a series of measures were taken to try and resolve the issue. Eventually, the Harbour could no longer function successfully as a port.Photograph, black and white, showing two similar images and printed together. Images of Lady Bay, Warrnambool, the dredge 'Pioneer' on the left, ships and the Warrnambool Lifeboat and Rocket House on the right, beside the Breakwater. Ca. 1900 to 1930."BL016"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, dredge, mathew flinders i, warrnambool harbour, lady bay, sanding, silting, breakwater, captain dunbar, ports & harbours, marine technology, percy taylor, matthew flinders, pioneer, dredge pioneer, lifeboat house, rocket house

Two-tiered brown wooden perpetual shield with metal banner and 45 metal shield-shaped tags engraved with annual award winners' name.Inscriptions include Y. Vitins - 1966-67 R. Hall - 1967-68 R. Hall - 1968-69 L. Gray - 1969-70 R. Burke - 1970-71 J. Nicks - 1971-72 L. Gray - 1972-73 J. Dick - 1973-74 D. Brine - 1974-75 D. Brine - 1975-76 A. Willoughby - 1976-77 I. Winneke - 1977-78 A. Willoughby - 1978-79 J. Norton - 1979-80 P. Marsh - 1980-81 J. Norton - 1981-82 P. Marsh - 1982-83 S. Kennaway - 1983-84 S. Kennaway - 1984-85 S. Kennaway - 1985-86 A. Taylor - 1986-87 D. Griffin - 1987-88 M. Griffin - 1988-89 L. Bradbury - 1989-90 S. Nichol & R. Shepherd - 1990-91 D. Carratelli - 1991-92 M. Buzaglo - 1992-93 H. Nichol - 1993-94 G. Stock - 1994-95 G. Stock - 1995-96 N. Stewart - 1996-97 N. Stewart - 1997-98 E. Withnell - 1998-99 C. Crozier - 1999-2000 R. Cavill - 2000-01 T. Cook - 2001-02 L. Fitzgerald - 2002-03 P. Flynn - 2003-04 J. Price - 2004-05 J. Creber - 2005-06 B. Gorfine - 2006-07 Brenton Hansen - 2007-08 James Potter - 2008-09 Edward Thwaites - 2009-10 Taylor Gibson - 2010-11.

An early colour postcard of the Watts River at Fernshaw. The original photograph was taken by Nicholas John Caire. This is one of a series of postcards of photographs taken by socialite photographer Nicholas John Caire. N.J. Caire had a great love for the area and in the late 1800's took many photographs of Marysville and its surrounds. N.J. Caire was born in 1837 in Guernsey. He arrived in Adelaide about 1860 along with his parents who encouraged his early interest in photography. He opened a studio in Adelaide in 1867 after traveling extensively throughout the Gippsland taking photographs. After marrying in 1870 he moved to Talbot in Victoria until 1876 when he opened a studio in the Royal Arcade in Melbourne. After 1885 N.J. Caire gave up his city work and made his home in South Yarra and devoted the rest of his life to outdoor photography, specializing in the bush, the gullies and the mountains of south-eastern Victoria. An early colour postcard of the Watts River at Fernshaw. The original photograph was taken by Nicholas John Caire.POST CARD This Space may be used for Correspondence. The Address only to be written he (rest obscured by postage stamp) Date stamp / MAR 4 Orange postage stamp with portrait depicting Queen Victoria 95686 To Bessie/ Hope you are enjoying yourself/ I see there was some excitement/ at the Marysville Races/ Kind regards and/ best wishes/ & love from all of/ us at 384/ Punt Road/ & William Miss Bessie Taylor/ The Chestnuts/ Marysville Vicmarysville, victoria, nicholas john caire, watts river, fernshaw, 95686, postcard, souvenir

An early colour postcard of the Watts River at Fernshaw. The original photograph was taken by Nicholas John Caire. This is one of a series of postcards of photographs taken by socialite photographer Nicholas John Caire. N.J. Caire had a great love for the area and in the late 1800's took many photographs of Marysville and its surrounds. N.J. Caire was born in 1837 in Guernsey. He arrived in Adelaide about 1860 along with his parents who encouraged his early interest in photography. He opened a studio in Adelaide in 1867 after traveling extensively throughout the Gippsland taking photographs. After marrying in 1870 he moved to Talbot in Victoria until 1876 when he opened a studio in the Royal Arcade in Melbourne. After 1885 N.J. Caire gave up his city work and made his home in South Yarra and devoted the rest of his life to outdoor photography, specializing in the bush, the gullies and the mountains of south-eastern Victoria. An early colour postcard of the Watts River at Fernshaw. The original photograph was taken by Nicholas John Caire.POST CARD This Space may be used for Correspondence. The Address only to be written he (rest obscured by postage stamp) Date stamp / MAR 4 Orange postage stamp with portrait depicting Queen Victoria 95686 To Bessie/ Hope you are enjoying yourself/ I see there was some excitement/ at the Marysville Races/ Kind regards and/ best wishes/ & love from all of/ us at 384/ Punt Road/ & William Miss Bessie Taylor/ The Chestnuts/ Marysville Vicmarysville, victoria, nicholas john caire, watts river, fernshaw, 95686, postcard, souvenir