Illustrated report on the launch of "Pioneers & Painters". In the accompanying illustration, L to R: The editor of the book, Mr Alan Marshall, is congratulated by the Shire President, Cr. G. C. Dreverman; Cr. C. M. Pelling, Chairman of the Eltham Centenary Publication Committee and president of Eltham Historical Society; Mr. P. Stansfield, chief librarian of the Heidelberg Regional Library; and Mr. M. B. Watson, shire secretary and vice-president of the Historical Society, who researched much of the material for the book.pioneers and painters, "alan marshall"

Formal photograph of group of men and women employed by the Shire of Eltham, to commemorate the Shire Centenary April 1971. Photograph taken at the rear of the Council Offices, Main Road, Eltham Includes Eltham Shire Council Staff List and Phone Numbers, 1971 1971 Eltham Shire Council Staff Photo (SEPP_4050 and SEPP_4051) L-R Back Row: N. Stuart (Engineering), N. Campbell (Engineering), W. Oakley (Engineering), R. McIldowie (Engineering), D. Welch (Engineering), G. Pullen (Accounts), J. Bleazby (Rates), P. Sturtevent (Engineering), B. Hill (Engineering), F. Harrington (Engineering) Third Row: C. Harris (Building), M. Van Ewijk (Accounts), Miss C. Casella (Administration), Miss D. Curran (Rates), M. Howard (Administration), Dennis McKay (Engineering), Mrs L. Crockett (Accounts), A. Liepa (Engineering), G. Newton (Building), Mrs N. Davis (Administration), I. Leach (Health), Mrs F. Conyers (Rates), B. Wright (ranger), I. Caig (Traffic By-Laws Officer) Second Row: J. Constable (Accounts), J. Parsons (Health), Mrs J. Baker (Health), P. Hoare (Engineering), Miss R. Spearman (Rates), D. Golder (Engineering), Mrs R. Cox (Administration), H. Masefield (Fire Proper Officer), A. Birch (Engineering), Sister L. Cameron (Health), Russell Yeoman (Engineering), T. Phyland (Engineering) Front Row (seated): Miss D. Vreulink (Administration), D. Lovatt (Health), Mrs H. Dixson (Accounts), M. Fowler (Rates), Mrs L. Harris (Administration), C. Gaudion (Health), M. Watson (Shire Secretary), A. Roberts (Administration), Miss J. Featherby (Engineering), M. Verhoeven (Engineering), Mrs M. Lethlean (Engineering), I. McDonald (Rate Collector), Mrs W. Klooster (Engineering), Mrs C. Bell (Engineering) Absent: John McDonald (Shire Engineer) This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image Print Foolscap page typedInscribed A2207A (SEPP_4050) 2nd version inscribed A2207B (SEPP_4051)a. birch, a. liepa, a. roberts, b. hill, b. wright, c. gaudion, c. harris, council, council staff, council-staff, d. golder, d. lovatt, d. welch, dennis mckay, eltham-shire-council, f. harrington, g. newton, g. pullen, h. masefield, i. caig, i. leach, i. mcdonald, j. bleazby, j. constable, j. parsons, john mcdonald, m. fowler, m. howard, m. van ewijk, m. verhoeven, m. watson, miss c. casella, miss d. curran, miss d. vreulink, miss j. featherby, miss r. spearman, mrs c. bell, mrs f. conyers, mrs h. dixson, mrs j. baker, mrs l. crockett, mrs l. harris, mrs m. lethlean, mrs n. davis, mrs r. cox, mrs w. klooster, n. campbell, n. stuart, p. hoare, p. sturtevent, r. mcildowie, russell yeoman, shire of eltham centenary, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, sister l. cameron, t. phyland, w. oakley

Formal photograph of group of men and women employed by the Shire of Eltham, to commemorate the Shire Centenary 6 April 1971. Photograph taken at the rear of the Council Offices, Main Road, Eltham 1971 Eltham Shire Council Staff Photo (SEPP_4050 and SEPP_40511) L-R Back Row: N. Stuart (Engineering), N. Campbell (Engineering), W. Oakley (Engineering), R. McIldowie (Engineering), D. Welch (Engineering), G. Pullen (Accounts), J. Bleazby (Rates), P. Sturtevent (Engineering), B. Hill (Engineering), F. Harrington (Engineering) Third Row: C. Harris (Building), M. Van Ewijk (Accounts), Miss C. Casella (Administration), Miss D. Curran (Rates), M. Howard (Administration), Dennis McKay (Engineering), Mrs L. Crockett (Accounts), A. Liepa (Engineering), G. Newton (Building), Mrs N. Davis (Administration), I. Leach (Health), Mrs F. Conyers (Rates), B. Wright (ranger), I. Caig (Traffic By-Laws Officer) Second Row: J. Constable (Accounts), J. Parsons (Health), Mrs J. Baker (Health), P. Hoare (Engineering), Miss R. Spearman (Rates), D. Golder (Engineering), Mrs R. Cox (Administration), H. Masefield (Fire Proper Officer), A. Birch (Engineering), Sister L. Cameron (Health), Russell Yeoman (Engineering), T. Phyland (Engineering) Front Row (seated): Miss D. Vreulink (Administration), D. Lovatt (Health), Mrs H. Dixson (Accounts), M. Fowler (Rates), Mrs L. Harris (Administration), C. Gaudion (Health), M. Watson (Shire Secretary), A. Roberts (Administration), Miss J. Featherby (Engineering), M. Verhoeven (Engineering), Mrs M. Lethlean (Engineering), I. McDonald (Rate Collector), Mrs W. Klooster (Engineering), Mrs C. Bell (Engineering) Absent: John McDonald (Shire Engineer) This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book, "Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image Print 20 x 25 cmInscribed A2207A (SEPP_4050) 2nd version inscribed A2207B (SEPP_4051)a. birch, a. liepa, a. roberts, b. hill, b. wright, c. gaudion, c. harris, council, council staff, council-staff, d. golder, d. lovatt, d. welch, dennis mckay, eltham-shire-council, f. harrington, g. newton, g. pullen, h. masefield, i. caig, i. leach, i. mcdonald, j. bleazby, j. constable, j. parsons, john mcdonald, m. fowler, m. howard, m. van ewijk, m. verhoeven, m. watson, miss c. casella, miss d. curran, miss d. vreulink, miss j. featherby, miss r. spearman, mrs c. bell, mrs f. conyers, mrs h. dixson, mrs j. baker, mrs l. crockett, mrs l. harris, mrs m. lethlean, mrs n. davis, mrs r. cox, mrs w. klooster, n. campbell, n. stuart, p. hoare, p. sturtevent, r. mcildowie, russell yeoman, shire of eltham centenary, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, sister l. cameron, t. phyland, w. oakley

Black and white photograph (5 copies)Typed below photograph, "Ringwood Bowling Club - 1947". On back of photograph: Newspaper cutting titled "Bowls in the Early Days" with list of names. Front Row: (L to R). J. Archbold, M. Flowers, R. Anderson, A. Long (Town Clerk), J.K. McCaskill (Mayor), S. Hunt (Pres.), E. Tann, Sec., A. Ibbotson, C. Merry (Building Inspector). 2nd Row: C. Wedge, G. Wood, G. Devenish, J. Proundley, R. Wilkins, B. Hubbard, C. Ward, H. Watson, E. Purser, J. Bray (Engineer).Back Row: T. Williams, F. Caterer, A. Burgess, R. Ramsey, T. Roberts, E. McKibbon, G. Hood, T. Hall, H. Martin, J. Smith, J. Knox, Rev. Leewin, F. Moore, - Evans: J. Grenville (Dep. Town Clerk), G. Young, E. Moran".

Black and white photograph - Grade 5-6, 1920"Attached to photograph" Back Row - L to R: D.Pickett, E.Tait, E.Clarke, E.Peacock, G.Evans, L.Greenwood, H.Pickett, E.Franks, ?, G.Barber, E.Martin. 2nd Row - L to R: R.Joseph, M.Flowers, ?, L.Pratt, ?, M.Pratt, C.Stock, ?, J.Madden, E.Luscombe, (?).Ellis, (?) Madden. 3rd Row - L to R: R.Bonsack, E.Hamilton, E.Wigley, R.Bradshaw, A.Dickson, J.Davidson, A.Pickett, L.Hunt, D.Skurrie, E.Thomas, T.Watson, (?) Luscombe, E.Black, S.Kay. 4th Row - L Maggs, J.Barry, W.Allen, W.Kraefft, W.Pump, A.White, A.Blood, W.Ginn, S.Clarke, C.Nelson. Front Row - H.FrankW.O'Brien, A.Holmes, H.Hunt, J.Stock, T.Murray, ? Von Horn, G.Eastwood, C.Whitechurch, E.Lane, G.Dickson, L.Pratt, W.Meyland, C.Burns, J.Pratt, W.Fisher, T.Rymers, ?, N.Bonsack, H.Little. ---- And Written on backing sheet of one of the enlargements, "Ringwood S. School 5th & 6th Grade, approx. 1918. Back row - D. Pickett, E. Tait, E. Clarke, E. Peacock, G. Evans, L. Greenswood, H. Pickett, E. Frank, x, G. Barvber, E. Martin. 4th row - R. Josephs, M. Flowers, x, L. Pratt, x, M. Pratt, C. Sto??, x, F. Madden, E. Luscombe, x, Ellis, Madden. 3rd row - R. Bensack, E. Hamilton, Evan Wigley, R. Bradshaw, A. Dickson, F. Davidson, A. Pickett, L. Hunt, D. Skurrie, E. Thomas, V. Watson (Wigley), Luscombe, E. Black, S. Kay. 2nd row - L. Maggs, F. Barry, W. Allen, W. Kraefft, W. Pump, A. White, A. Blood, W. Ginn, S. Clarke, C. Nelson. 1st row - H. Franks, W. O'Brien, A. Holmes, H. Hunt, J. Stock, T. Murray, x, Von Horan, G. Eastwood, C. Whitechurch, E. Lane, G. Dickson, L. Pratt, W. Mayland, C. Burns, J. Pratt, W. Fisher, F. Rymers, x, V. Bonsack, H. Little". 4th Row - L to R: L.Maggs, J.Barry, W.Allen, W.Kraefft, W.Pump, A.White, A.Blood, W.Ginn, S.Clarke, C.Nelson. Front Row - L to R: H.Franks, W.O'Brien, A.Holmes, H.Hunt, J.Stock, T.Murray, (?) VonHorn, G.Eastwood, C.Whitechurch, E.Lane, G.Dickson, L.Pratt, W.Meyland, C.Burns, J.Pratt, W.Fisher, T.Rymers, ?, N.Bonsack, H.Little. Teacher:

Black and white photograph - Teachers, 1971."Attached to photograph" Back Row- L to R: Leslie Emerson, Joy Leslie, Amy Douglas, Martha Celnar, Gwen Whitney, Ann Jacobs, Joan Mathey, Isobel Marshall, Maureen Keogh, Jennifer Molders. Front Row- L to R: Baden Chadwick, Bernadette Martyn, Rae Jacobsen, Jeanette Parks, Alex Enterkin, Miss O'Toole, Randall Smith, Jean Watson, Joan Hallett, Anne Schneider, John Roach.

Black and white photograph of group of men. Appears to be reproduced from a newspaper photograph.Printed below photograph, "Present Trustees of the Church - Messrs. T. Grant, S. J. Kennedy, T. S. Falconer, R. P. Somerville, A. O. Clark, Treasurer, A. J. Lang, A. J. Henman, Secretary, J. A. Williams, R. L. Lane, J. Paull, A. F. B. Long, and H. E. Watson." Written on backing sheet, "From the Jubilee History of the Ringwood Methodist Church 1929."

This photograph was taken in 1945, as WW2 was ending. It shows Orbost men who are members of the Orbost Football Club, their Club trainer, and Club President. Football has always been a strong and well-supported sport in the Orbost district, with two teams in Orbost, another at Newmerella and outlying localities. These days (2023), there is only one club still existing in Orbost with a clubhouse and football field at Lochiel Park.Evidence of Orbost Football Club, 1945A b/w photograph of a group of 20 men wearing jumpers with a logo OFC and two other men in suits. This is a posed photograph with men at the back standing, and men at the front kneeling. It has been taken on a sportsfield. On back of photo: Orbost Football Club 1945. Back row L-R Artie Young (trainer), Alex McDonald, Mac Lock, Rick Railey, Tom Wehner, Bill Murphy, Clarrie Stevens, Ray Smith, Alan Hammond, -------------, Clyde Lynn, Maurice Marshall, John Stoddard (President) Front row L-R ----------------, ----------------, Reg Kettyle, Ray Cooney, George Watson, --------------, Sam Lynn, Jim Lynn, ...Parsonssport, football, orbost football club

This file contains five items: 1/An official programme for the Glenhuntly Traders Association’s Annual Christmas Festivals on 22/11/1986. 2/A handwritten letter from Vice President Kaye Georgiades of the Glenhuntly Traders Association to Mr. Balentine thanking him for photos lent. The letter is undated. 3/A typed letter from the Glenhuntly Traders Association to Mr. R. Ballantyne of the Caulfield Historical Society thanking him for helping and supporting the Festival and Payment Art Competition. Dated 30/10/1986. 4/Two typed letters from the Glenhuntly Traders Association to Mr. Ballantyne of the Caulfield Historical Society regarding planned activities for the 1986 and 1987 Christmas Festivals. 5/A black-and-white photograph of members of the Glenhuntly Traders Association, including Gus Theobold pictured on the left. The photo is undated and was published in the Caulfield Contact newspaper.glenhuntly traders, glenhuntly traders associations, caulfield festival, glenhuntly road, booran road, grange road, caulfield, watsons grove, glenhuntly newsagency, royal avenue, campbell j., farey j. mr., manchester grover, mayors, ryall m., caulfield historical society, glenhuntly bowling club, caulfield grammar band, caulfield baton twirlers, glenhuntly christmas festival, glenhuntly festival, truscott v., balentine mr., ballantyne r. mr., truscott v. mrs., neville street, carnegie, georgiades kaye, ford p., glenhuntly, glen huntly, glenhuntly pavement art festival, truscott vanessa, georgiades k., caulfield contact, theobold gus, glenhuntly shopping centre, local government, local officials and employees, associations, historical societies, bowling clubs, festivals and celebrations, festivities, musical ensembles, educational and research establishments, schools, business people, competitions, art competitions, commercial events and activities, officer workers, shows and exhibitions

The Ballarat University College became the University of Ballarat in 1994, and Federation Univeristy Australia on 01 January 2014.Colour photographed framed in a blond timber frame of 20 men and three women who made up the Ballarat University College Council in 1990. The 1990 Council was made up of J.D. McClure, Bob Morrell (Secretary), David Fisken, M.J. Lee, Dr D. Hamilton, Stafford McKnight; Dr Frank Hurley; J.A. Parkin, Professor J.R. Poynter, Dr R.K. Watson, J. Malone, Walter M. Lonie, T.J. Harrison, Associate Professor K.W. Ogden, J.V. Thomas, J.E. Pollock, Liz Sheedy, Dr Bill Pryor, Professor John Sharpham (Director), E. T. Oppy (President), Shirley Falkinder (Vice President), Ian Gordon (Immediate Past President), Mary Akers, M.W. Boyce, Professor I.S. Ferguson, Ms. A.V. Primus. Inset within the mount - "Ballarat University College Council - August, 1990" " Standing [L-R] Mr. J.D. McClure, Mr R.T. Morell (Secretary), Cr. A.C.D. Fisken, Mr. M.J. Lee, Dr. D. Hamilton, Mr. S.W. McKnight; Dr F.T. Hurley; Mr. J.A. Parkin, Professor J.R. Poynter, Dr. R.K. Watson, Mr. J. Malone, Mr. W.M. Lonie, Mr. T.J. Harrison, Associate Professor K.W. Ogden, Mr. J.V. Thomas, Mr. J.E. Pollock. Sitting: [L-R] Ms. E.E. Sheedy, Dr W.J. Pryor, Professor J.R. Sharpham (Director), Mr. E. T. Oppy (President), Mrs. M.S. Falkinder (Vice President), Mr. I.A. Gordon (Immediate Past President), Mrs M.T. Akers. Absent: Mr M.W. Boyce, Professor I.S. Ferguson, Ms. A.V. Primus. ballarat university college, j.d. mcclure, bob morrell (secretary), david fisken, m.j. lee, d. hamilton, j.r. poynter, r.k. watson, j. malone, w.m. lonie, t.j. harrison, k.w. ogden, j.v. thomas, j.e. pollock, liz sheedy, bill pryor, john sharpham, e. t. oppy, shirley falkinder, ian gordon, mary akers, m.w. boyce, i.s. ferguson, a.v. primus., lonie, walter lonie, university women, stafford mcknight, frank hurley, j.a. parkin

In 1980 M.B.John was Council President. In 1980 the School of Arts moved into their new building, 1870 Founders Hall was financed - at a cost of $800,000 - from the proceeds of the SMB Centenary Appeal, and was completed late in 1980. Extensive work was carried out on the Student Residences and the former Education Department Hostel in Victorian Street. The amphitheatre adjacent to the eastern side of the Education Buildings was constructed, together with the nearby disabled ramp. Negotiations with the Shire of Buninyong were continued for access to the campus from the Green Hill Road. Following the creation by Act of Parliament in 1978 of the Victorian Post-Secondary Education Commission (VPSEC) amendments to the same Act early in 1980 made provision for the repeal of the VIC and SCV Acts. From mid-December 1980 these latter two bodies ceased to exist when the provisions for repeal of their Acts were proclaimed. The Victorian Institute of Colleges had been set up in 1965 to aid in the co-ordination and development of a number of non-university tertiary institutions that affiliated with it from 1965 on to become Colleges of Advanced Education. In taking up this role which had been spelt out in 1964 by the martin Committee, the VIC broke new ground in a whole range of operations. It became responsible for the physical development of new building programmes and new campuses from many of its colleges, for the procurement of operating funds from the Commonwealth, for the accreditation of new courses of study, for the first non-university degrees to be awarded in Australia and so on. The Former Ballarat Institute of Advanced Education (the tertiary division of the School of Mines) was affiliated with the VIC from the outset and its progress towards a new status, rapid growth and vastly improved physical resources was closely linked to and dependent upon the efforts of the VIC. The similar co-ordinating authority - The State College of Victoria - was established in 1973 to similarly foster the autonomous development of the former teachers colleges. its early work was highly influential in the transition of the Ballarat Teachers' College into the State College of Victoria at Ballarat. On the merging of the BIAE and the SCVB in 1976, the new college continued under the co-ordination of the Victorian Institute of Colleges. The major contribution made to the progress and stature of became the Ballarat College of advanced Education by both the VIC and SCV, and their Councils and officers, over the formative years of rapid change and evolution is acknowledged and recorded with appreciation. Such efforts by the two central authorities have markedly assisted in bringing the College to the present point where its accumulated experiences and traditions provide a sound basis on which it can confidently and responsibly exercise the greater autonomy gradually passing it. Purple soft covered book of 47 pages. Contents include: development of a Nurse education course, College organisational Structure, Role of Head of School, resignation of Norman Baggaley, appointment of R. Macgowan, opening of Business Resource Centre, Librarianship, resignation of M.J. Sandow-Quirk, E.A. Widdop, J. Leeuwenburg, Thelma Rungkat, Erica Myers, former Acting Head of School John Mildren elected to the Federal seat of Ballarat, Ray Watson, Resignation of A.C. Burrow, return of W.J. Vermeend, P.L. McCarthy, P.R. Calder, J.A. Fulcher, L.E. Taylor, L.J. McGrath, Teaching Resource Centreballarat college of advanced education, bcae, mt helen, mount helen, sandow-quirk, widdop, leeuwenburg, rungkat, myers, burrow, vermeend, mccarthy, calder, fulcher, taylor, victoria street

The letter book related to outward letters from the Ballarat School of Mines.A bound leatherbound book with marble endpapers. The contents are copies of outward letters from the Ballarat School of Mines from July 1915 to May 1916. Page 807 relates to the Ballarat Eight Hours' Anniversary Committee (J. Kean) Page 906 - Letter from L. Austin (Ballarat School of Mines Registrar) concerning the appointment of Winifred Joy and Hestor Darby as assistants to Miss Abrams to the Ballarat School of Mines Senior Commercial Classes. ballarat school of mines, correspondence, murphy, vaughan, victor greenhalgh, irvine coulter, lancelot austin, l.s.g.p. austin, adcock, james bickett, bickett, tunbridge, tucker, desnoy, phillips, edgar mcconnon, revill tinworth, r.o. buchanan, john dulfer, stanley westcott, wolfram, assay, anzac medallion, beaufort house, ballarat eight hours' anniversary, last chance mine, evan walker, norman carmichael, doney, thomas doolan, harold wakeling, bowman, james early, garry eason, abrams, bennett, duthie, harry fern, hetherington, hutchinson, collyeer, colom, carew-smyth, ponsonby carew-smyth, donald clark, george swinburne, bev syliva, hestor darby, joy winifred, barry judd, c.c. campbell, cathcart centrel gold mining co, adcockbawden, benevolent asylum, ditchburn, doctor spring, doepel and chandler, eureka tile company, pitfield, edwads pyrites works, embling, fleay, c.e. fenner, mount rowan, gower, greenhalgh, c. hosking, murtoa, c.a. hoadley, harold herbert, jolly, kenny, kelsall, kerr, architect, a.m. lilburne, lemmon, andrew land, leipson, h.s. lawson, a. levy, scarsdale gold mines, w.k. moss, fred martell, e.j. mcconnen, read murphy, h. morris, leongatha, maurice claude, j. middleton, j.c. molley, e. merlin, e.f. pitman, p. pringle, rumble, dr robin, edgar richard, g. remfry, g. robertson, james rich, a. ross, d. l. stirling, s. stretch, c. skilbeck, r. strachan, w.k. thomson, grant taylor, j.h. tundbury, v.e. reeves, tin mining co. hobart, vernon, hilda wardle, daylesford, waller, whitloa, w. watson, b. whitington, j.b. robinson, k. hamilton, photography, j.m. sutherland, j.h. scullin, scholarship, w.h. wesley, gundagai, a.t. o'meara, associated smelters port pirrie, assayer, telegraphy, t. williams, d.l. stirling, edward finnis, norman tinworth, j.y. mcdonald, h.s. summers, geology, homeward bound bon accord gmc, e.t. vane, a.d. dunstan, maughan, cox, g.s. richards, westcott, w.l. carroll, turnbull, l. vernon, s. nightingale, cathcart central gold mining company cathcart, a.j. moffit, v.e. reevesr. mcmillan, w. nankervis, w.h. clutterbuck, j.m. wesley, e. dooley, olive mckillop, dana street primary school shelter shed, ballarat junior technical school, british nationality and aliens act, war relief fund, s. hylton bravo, queensland molasses co, ethel merlin, a.e. poulton, commercial, winifred joy, c. adcock, lancelot st.g.p. austin, herbert p. bennett, a. bray, fonald clark, walter collyer, o.f. colom, g.e. desnoy, f.w.r. doney, brian h. duthie, a. gordon, g.m. hetherington, kath hutchinson, baryr judd, j. kean, john y. mcdonald, j. murray, a.f. phillips, c.c. phillips, john mck. sutherland, bev sylvia, r.e. tunbridge, miachel vaughan, p. vawdey, h.j. vernon, harold g. wakeling, pharmacy board, pharmacy, r. cutter, ballarat technical art school building, dalgety & co., h.s.w. lawson, a.h. powell, australian institute of engineers, eight hours' anniversary committee, silberberg, beckman's thermometer, miss abrams business college

The Ballarat School of Mines was the first school of mines in Australasia. It is a predecessor institution of Federation University Australia. Black and white photograph of Ballarat School of Mines Staff. The photograph is taken at the back of the Administration Building (formerly called new Classrooms). Back left to right: F.L. Collins, A.W. Bridson, J.J. Hanrahan, Harry Brew, G.W. Cornell Second left to right: J.T. Collings, R.W. Whitla, S. Mayo, Neville Bunning Third left to right: L.O. Brown, G.V. Bergin, R.R. Watson, T. Kellock, A.J. Murdoch, R.W. Richards Fourth left to right: A.C. Miller, A.V. Gilpin. T. R. Gordon, R.P. Flowers, H. Yates, D. Mullins, T. Trengove, W. Wilkinson, Lindsay Hillman, C. Fairbank Fifth left to right: A. Johnson, Annie Jones. M. Fogarty, Hester Darby, J. Allsop, William J. Paterson, A. Lambert, H. Goldsmith; M. McTaggart, C. King, M. Harland, F. Gladstone Procter Front left to right: N.W. Penrose, R.R. Calder, S. Williams, Dr Pound, C.F. Jeffrey (Head of Ballarat Junior Technical School, A.F. Heseltine (Principal), D.I. Johnson (Head of Art), J. Sutherland, Ruby H. Lonie, F.W. Ferguson, B. Law, J. Lochead. ballarat school of mines, dick richards, patterson, gladstone procter, university women

The Ballarat Tachers' College is a predecessor institution of Federation Universoty Australia.1) Folded printed cream card with a message from the Ballarat Teachers' College principal W.H. Ellwood, and a balance sheet. Hon. A copy of a circular by Secretary W. Ian Young relates to the abandonment of the 1937 reunion due to the exceptional circumstances under which Infantile Paralysis rapidly spread throughout Melbourne, and the public opinion in Ballarat. .2) Foolscap typed circular re subscription payment .3) Blue printed document of 1937 Ballarat Teachers' College Ex-Students Association Office bearers and committee of year representatives, and a circular ot ex-studentsballarat teachers' college, reunion, ballarat teachers college ex-students, ballarat teachers' college exies, mcnaughton, john mcnaughton, ellwood, polio, infantile paralysis, r.r. watson, w. ian young, d.m. millman, t.j. ryan, j.c. creer, f.j. fiscalini, r.j. gowan, a.h. hatfield, t.a. taylor, e.m. crimmins, w.j.braden, s.c. hender, c.n. wishart, m.i. connolly, k.s. clarke, h. barton, m.c. campbell, j.m. tomlinson, a.m. kerr, d. millman, j.c. warrick, c.v. merlin, l.e. krause, p.g. law, law, g.g. mitchell, a.h. bryant, h.j. parker, r.p. warriner, e.o. jones, m. skene, j.h. mcnaughton, j. heard, e. mcinerney, w.i. young, l. merlin, n.v. cocks, g.c. ingpen, ingpen, r, mclean, t.m. stuart, r.s. southwell, g.c. mcleod, a.g.walter, v.t. bellingham, bellingham, r. row, a.m. giles, n. parkan

Crimson covered programme for the Ballarat Teachers' College Dramatic Club Production of Peg O' My Heart at the Britannia Theatre Ballarat on 23 September 1929. The actors included Edna Jones, Ronald Moosman, Ina Dickman, W. Ian Young, Francis B. Hickey, Olive Van Berkel, John H. McNaughton, Queenie Kerby and Sydney Hender. The play was produced by A.B. Jones and the business manager was R.R. Watson. .2) Newspaper review of the play from the Ballarat Courier of 24 September 1929.The following autographs are written onto the first page: O. Van Berkel, Chas. Hender, F.B. Hickey, R. Moosman, I Dickman, Enda O. Jones, W. Ian Young, Z. Kerby, R.R. Watson, C. Goltz, R. Warriner, A.B. Jones.ballarat teachers' college, drama, mcnaughton, john mcnaughton, britannia theatre, theatre

The School Endowment Plantation Scheme was established in 1922 as a joint venture between the Education Department and the FCV. It was administered by the Education Department with technical supervision by the Commission. While some plantations were established on private land donated or leased for the purpose, most were established on Crown Lands or Reserved Forest made available, without cost, by the State. (https://www.victoriasforestryheritage.org.au/community/schools.html, accessed 26 September 2020) Throughout the Nerrina district numerous areas of public land were set aside as school endowment plantations as part of various schools’ educational resources. The plantations were initially established to instil through community involvement a love of forests and an appreciation of their value, and in fact many of them are well suited for regular use as a teaching resource of this nature. It was expected that this use will increase as courses embracing various aspects of environmental science are developed. Many school plantations have been planted to radiata pine, and revenue from the sale of produce used to provide amenities required by the schools. In some cases, however, these plantations have not been very successful in providing revenue, as the sites are unsuitable for economic growth or the plantations are too small or the location too far from processing centres to allow economic harvesting. In some instances, radiata pine plantations have failed due to poor management. In 1982 the Land Conservation Council believed that all the existing plantations should be assessed in order to establish their value as a teaching resource. Those not needed or that are unsuitable for teaching purposes for some reason, such as their location, should be terminated. Those planted to radiata pine that have limited value as a teaching resource although satisfactory for wood production may continue to be used for such production, but should be reviewed when the pines are harvested. (http://www.veac.vic.gov.au/reports/354-Ballarat-Study-Area.pdf, acccessed 30/03/2017) Three A3 page covenant outlining the 35 acres of Crown Land in the Parish Of Ballarat, County of Grenville, to be granted under permissive occupancy for the establishment of a school plantation to be known as the Ballarat Technical School Endowment Plantation, and two letters relating to same, one on green paper. The Ballarat Technical School Endowment Plantation was at Vale Park, Ballarat. Vale Park is near Norman Street, Ballarat. pine plantation, ballarat junior technical school, alumni, ballarat technical school, ballarat technical school endowment plantation, harry s. gill, augustine f. hesiltine, william h. middleton, frederick brawn, william brazenor, a.w. steane, j.b. robinson, vale park, lindsay hillman, a.j. sutherland, oliver r. roberts, w.a. richardson, w.i. watson, j.g. hopwood, g.f. rumpff, e.j. dalker, john b. colbourn, jack r. collins

This painting of the “La Bella” is associated with Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from the wreck of the “La Bella”. It was painted around the 1980s by maritime artist Philip J. Gray. Some 15 – 17 ships are believed to have sunk in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the seafloor; the “La Bella” and the “Edinburgh Castle”. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. The Kosnar Picture Framing and Mirrors Shop identified the "GRAY 3135, Y04/111" as their job number for the framing and said that the label "ANOTHER KOSNAR FEATURE" was last used before about 1990. About artist Philip J. Gray “Philip is one of Australia’s leading maritime artists and his meticulous research and social commentary paintings of ships, such as, the Loch Ard and Schomberg form an important part of Warrnambool’s Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum.” [Dr Marion Manifold, Artist and Art Historian, 2014] Philip James Gray was born in London but has lived most of his life in Australia. He graduated from a London school of art as an illustrator, specialising in technical and scientific illustration as well as other commercial and applied art. He was also a student for a time of Fyffe Christie - British figurative artist, mural painter and humanitarian – who had a great influence on his career. Philip has always worked as a professional artist and illustrator. Many publications on maritime history have featured his work. His paintings have been released and sold all over the world as limited edition prints. The State Library of Victoria’s ‘Latrobe Collection’ holds two of his paintings. His street painting of ‘The Ashes Contest’ decorates the brick wall of Old Bakery Laneway in Sunbury and a Sunbury café owner commissioned him to paint the ‘Sunbury Pop Festival’ as a remembrance of local history. Philip has been an active member of the Sunbury Art Society in Victoria for several years, serving on the committee for some of that time and being involved in exhibitions. He enjoys helping new artists and sharing his skills and experience. About the “La Bella” The wreck of the La Bella lies at the bottom of the Warrnambool Harbour in Lady Bay. Some 15 ships are believed to have been wrecked there but only two have been discovered on the sea floor; the La Bella and the Edinburgh Castle. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. The story of the final voyage of the La Bella is summarised as follows … The ship from which the sailors were rescued was the three-masted, iron and steel barquentine the La Bella, built in Norway in 1893. She was one of two iron and steel ships by Johan Smith, the company being one of the leading shipping families in Tvedestrand, Norway. She was significant to Norwegian shipping, being one of only 27 iron and steel ships ever built in Norway. La Bella was registered in New Zealand and engaged from 1902 in inter-colonial trading of timber in the pacific, between New Zealand and Australia and was often in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. On 5th October 1905 the twelve year old La Bella left Lyttleton, New Zealand carrying a cargo of timber bound for Warrnambool, Australia . She was manned by a crew of twelve: the Master, (Captain Mylius, previously 1st Mate of La Bella, appointed Captain to La Bella on 6th February 1903) 2 Mates, Cook, six able seamen, one ordinary seaman and a boy. Bad weather en-route caused her to shelter at Burnie on Tasmania's North West coast. On November 10th, the 37th day of her journey, La Bella approached Warrnambool. Captain Mylius steered her towards Lady Bay Channel in heavy south-west seas and evening mist. He ordered the helmsman to steer for the light. As the ship came round, a tremendous sea struck her on the port quarter, causing her to breach broadside in a north-westerly direction into breakers. The helm was brought round twice more, but each time heavy seas broke over her, the third time throwing the La Bella on to a submerged reef in Lady Bay now known as La Bella Reef (about 100 yards from the Warrnambool breakwater). The sea was so rough that it even wrenched a one-and-a-half ton anchor from its fastenings and into the sea. As Captain Mylius headed to the steel wheelhouse, intending to send up a rocket flare, a huge sea slammed the steel door into him (resulting in massive bruising front and back) Despite his injuries he still managed to set off a blue light, which he held up in his hands. La Bella’s lifeboats were filled with sea water and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on shore that there was a ship in distress. The Harbour Master, Captain Roe (who lived in the Harbour Master’s House opposite Flagstaff Hill), organised a group of volunteers to crew the lifeboat because the trained crew was unavailable; the crewmen were working on a steamer in Port Fairy at the time. He then poured oil onto the water to try and smooth the sea. At around 11pm three of the crew took shelter in the steel forecastle but the sea crashed into it and broke it up. While the rest of the crew and onlookers watched helplessly in the moonlight the bodies were washed away into the sea, never to be seen again. Some of the crew lashed themselves to the weather rail to keep from being washed away. Watson, the ordinary seaman, became tangled in the rigging lines and was too weak to move, so the 2nd Mate, Robertson, put a line onto him so that he wouldn’t wash off. Around 11pm three of the crew were unconscious from exhaustion. The situation on La Bella was becoming dangerous. The 2nd Mate moved to the ‘house’ and soon afterwards the ship slipped in the heavy sea. The lashings of the 1st Mate and the ‘boy’ Denham had kept them safe until about 2am when they were washed overboard; no one was able to help. One by one, the exhausted crew were being washed overboard, too weak to hold on any longer. During the night the La Bella had broken into two and the deckhouse ran out towards the sea. Two more men drowned when trying to reach the lifeboat. By sunrise the only survivors of the twelve were the Master, 2nd Mate and three seamen. Early in the morning Captain Roe used the rocket apparatus on shore to try and shoot a line to the ship for a safer rescue but each attempt fell short of the target. Several attempts were made by the lifeboat to rescue the stricken sailors, but the rough conditions made this difficult for the boat to get close enough to the ship and the lifeboat had to return to shore. During a final attempt to reach the ship Captain Mylius ordered his men to jump into the sea. Leonard Robertson, 2nd mate, jumped and swam towards the lifeboat, taking hold of the boat hook offered to him. Oscar Rosenholme managed to reach the boat floating on a piece of timber from the ship’s load and a third survivor, Noake, also made the boat. Along with the lifeboat rescue crew, 25 year old William Ferrier rowed his small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain, whom he landed on the breakwater. Ferrier then returned to the ship to attempt a final rescue, losing his oars and rowlocks into the high sea. Using just a spare paddle he skulled towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the lashing that held him to the ship; the terrified sailor dropped from the ship and into the dingy. Shortly after the last man was rescued, the La Bella was lifted by a huge wave and crashed back down on the reef; she broke up and sank. The ordeal had lasted ten hours. The survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. In the following days an unidentified body of a young person was washed ashore; it was either Watson or Denham. The body was buried in the Warrnambool cemetery with an appropriate gravestone and inscription. William Ferrier became a national hero as news of the daring rescue spread. In recognition of his bravery in the two daring rescues he was awarded the Silver Medal for Bravery by the Royal Humane Society and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams and a cheque for £20 from the Governor General, over £150 subscribed by the public, including Warrnambool and district and readers of The Argus, and a gold medal from the Glenelg Dinghy Club of South Australia. Ferrier’s rescue efforts are one of the most heroic in Victoria’s shipwreck history. (William Ferrier’s son, Frank, received a similar award almost fifty years later, when he helped rescue four members of the crew on the yacht Merlan, after it ran on to a reef near the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. ) The wreck of La Bella now lies on her port side in 13 metres of sheltered water inside the reef she struck. The bow section is relatively intact and part of the stern has drifted north-easterly towards the mouth of the Hopkins River. The reef the La Bella struck now bears its name. Those five rescued from the La Bella were Captain George Mylius, Leonard Robertson (2nd Mate, 21 years old), R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. Those seven who lost their lives were Mr Coulson (1st mate), Charles Jackman (cook) Gustave Johnson, Pierre Johann and Robert Gent (all able seamen), Harry Watson (ordinary seaman) and Jack Denham (ship’s boy). Captain Mylius was found guilty of careless navigation; he had sailed into the bay without the services of a pilot. His Master Certificate was suspended for twelve months. Later he was also charged with manslaughter of one of the crew who had died when the La Bella was wrecked, but found not guilty. The event’s adverse publicity and damage to his career took a toll on his health and he died of a heart attack six months after the wreck; he was only thirty-seven. His body was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. The La Bella was “the best documented of all sailing ships owned in New Zealand”. Her record books, ship logs, correspondence and supporting papers are still available. At the time of the tragedy she was owned by Messers David C.Turnbull and Co. of Timaru, New Zealand timber merchants and shipping agents, who had purchased her on 13th December 1901. A detailed account of the last journey of La Bella can be read in “Leonard Robertson, the Whangaroa & La Bella” written by Jack Churchouse, published in 1982 by Millwood Press Ltd, Wellington, NZ.This painting of the La Bella by Philip J. Gray is part of the La Bella Collection and is significant at both a local and state level. Its connection to the La Bella shipwreck and the rescue of five survivors highlights the dangers of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast. The painting connects with other objects and artefacts associated with the wreck of the La Bella. This painting is significant because of its association with the sailing ship “La Bella” . the “La Bella” is of local and state and national significance. It is one of the only two shipwrecks discovered in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, out of the 15-17 shipwrecks in the bay. Large framed painting of the three masted barquentine "La Bella" fully rigged. Painted by Phillip J Gray. A fine printed line squares off the painting. Beneath painting and line is a gold plate with black copper plate designating "La Bella" is encased in glass, surrounded by a silver-metal frame. Yellow and brown paper label is adhered to back of painting. Picture framed by Kosnar in Melbourne."The La Bella" on gold plaque Logo of "K" inside a brown square. "GRAY 3135, Y04/111", "ANOTHER KOSNAR FEATURE" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, painting, la bella, artist phillip j gray, maritime painting, lady bay warrnambool

The letter to William Ferrier of South Warrnambool from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth recognised the significance of William’s brave and courageous lifesaving act to the people of Australia; “They all feel that your conduct was worthy of the best deeds done by British sailors in the past and they are proud to know that Australia can produce such as you.” The story of that brave rescue follows on below … The ship from which the sailors were rescued was the three-masted, iron and steel barquentine the La Bella, built in Norway in 1893. She was one of two iron and steel ships by Johan Smith, The company was one of the leading shipping families in Tvedestrand, Norway. She was significant to Norwegian shipping, being one of only 27 iron and steel ships ever built in Norway. She was registered in New Zealand and engaged from 1902 in inter-colonial trading of timber in the Pacific, between New Zealand and Australia and was often in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. On 5th October 1905, the twelve-year-old La Bella left Lyttleton, New Zealand carrying a cargo of timber bound for Warrnambool, Australia. She was manned by a crew of twelve: the Master, (Captain Mylius, previously 1st Mate of La Bella, appointed Captain to La Bella on 6th February 1903) 2 Mates, Cook, six able seamen, one ordinary seaman and a boy. Bad weather en route caused her to shelter at Burnie on Tasmania's North West coast. On November 10th, the 37th day of her journey, La Bella approached Warrnambool. Captain Mylius steered her towards Lady Bay Channel in heavy south-west seas and evening mist. He ordered the helmsman to steer for the light. As the ship came round, a tremendous sea struck her on the port quarter, causing her to breach broadside in a north-westerly direction into breakers. The helm was brought round twice more, but each time heavy seas broke over her, the third time throwing the La Bella on to a submerged reef in Lady Bay now known as La Bella Reef (about 100 yards from the Warrnambool breakwater). The sea was so rough that it even wrenched a one-and-a-half ton anchor from its fastenings and into the sea. As Captain Mylius headed to the steel wheelhouse, intending to send up a rocket flare, a huge sea slammed the steel door into him (resulting in massive bruising front and back) Despite his injuries he still managed to set off a blue light, which he held up in his hands. La Bella’s lifeboats were filled with seawater and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on the shore that there was a ship in distress. The Harbour Master, Captain Roe (who lived in the Harbour Master’s House opposite Flagstaff Hill), organised a group of volunteers to crew the lifeboat because the trained crew was unavailable; the crewmen were working on a steamer in Port Fairy at the time. He then poured oil onto the water to try and smooth the sea. At around 11 pm three of the crew took shelter in the steel forecastle but the sea crashed into it and broke it up. While the rest of the crew and onlookers watched helplessly in the moonlight the bodies were washed away into the sea, never to be seen again. Some of the crew lashed themselves to the weather rail to keep from being washed away. Watson, the ordinary seaman, became tangled in the rigging lines and was too weak to move, so the 2nd Mate, Robertson, put a line onto him so that he wouldn’t wash off. Around 11 pm three of the crew were unconscious from exhaustion. The situation on La Bella was becoming dangerous. The 2nd Mate moved to the ‘house’ and soon afterwards the ship slipped in the heavy sea. The lashings of the 1st Mate and the ‘boy’ Denham had kept them safe until about 2 am when they were washed overboard; no one was able to help. One by one, the exhausted crew were being washed overboard, too weak to hold on any longer. During the night the La Bella had broken into two and the deckhouse ran out towards the sea. Two more men drowned when trying to reach the lifeboat. By sunrise, the only survivors of the twelve were the Master, 2nd Mate and three seamen. Early in the morning, Captain Roe used the rocket apparatus on shore to try and shoot a line to the ship for a safer rescue but each attempt fell short of the target. Several attempts were made by the lifeboat to rescue the stricken sailors, but the rough conditions made this difficult for the boat to get close enough to the ship and the lifeboat had to return to shore. During a final attempt to reach the ship Captain Mylius ordered his men to jump into the sea. Leonard Robertson, 2nd mate, jumped and swam towards the lifeboat, taking hold of the boat hook offered to him. Oscar Rosenholme managed to reach the boat floating on a piece of timber from the ship’s load and a third survivor, Noake, also made the boat. Along with the lifeboat rescue crew, 25-year-old William Ferrier rowed his small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain, whom he landed on the breakwater. Ferrier then returned to the ship to attempt a final rescue, losing his oars and rowlocks into the high sea. Using just a spare paddle he skulled towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the lashing that held him to the ship; the terrified sailor dropped from the ship and into the dingy. Shortly after the last man was rescued, the La Bella was lifted by a huge wave and crashed back down on the reef; she broke up and sank. The ordeal had lasted ten hours. The survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. In the following days, an unidentified body of a young person has washed ashore; it was either Watson or Denham. The body was buried in the Warrnambool cemetery with an appropriate gravestone and inscription. William Ferrier became a national hero as news of the daring rescue spread. In recognition of his bravery in the two daring rescues, he was awarded the Silver Medal for Bravery by the Royal Humane Society and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams and a cheque for £20 from the Governor-General, over £150 subscribed by the public, including Warrnambool and district and readers of The Argus, and a gold medal from the Glenelg Dinghy Club of South Australia. Ferrier’s rescue efforts are one of the most heroic in Victoria’s shipwreck history. (William Ferrier’s son, Frank, received a similar award almost fifty years later when he helped rescue four members of the crew on the yacht Merlan after it ran on to a reef near the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. ) The wreck of La Bella now lies on her port side in 13 metres of sheltered water inside the reef she struck. The bow section is relatively intact and part of the stern has drifted north-easterly towards the mouth of the Hopkins River. The reef the La Bella struck now bears its name. Those five rescued from the La Bella were Captain George Mylius, Leonard Robertson (2nd Mate, 21 years old), R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. Those seven who lost their lives were Mr Coulson (1st mate), Charles Jackman (cook) Gustave Johnson, Pierre Johann and Robert Gent (all able seamen), Harry Watson (ordinary seaman) and Jack Denham (ship’s boy), Captain Mylius was found guilty of careless navigation; he had sailed into the bay without the services of a pilot. His Master Certificate was suspended for twelve months. Later he was also charged with the manslaughter of one of the crew who had died when the La Bella was wrecked but found not guilty. The event’s adverse publicity and damage to his career took a toll on his health and he died of a heart attack six months after the wreck; he was only thirty-seven. His body was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. The La Bella was “the best documented of all sailing ships owned in New Zealand”. Her record books, ship logs, correspondence and supporting papers are still available. At the time of the tragedy, she was owned by Messers David C.Turnbull and Co. of Timaru, New Zealand timber merchants and shipping agents, who had purchased her on 13th December 1901. A detailed account of the last journey of La Bella can be read in “Leonard Robertson, the Whangaroa & La Bella” written by Jack Churchouse, published in 1982 by Millwood Press Ltd, Wellington, NZ. As well as this letter, Flagstaff Hill’s La Bella Collection includes a photograph of the wrecked La Bella, a brass rail holder and a postcard of William Ferrier with four of the survivors. Some 15 – 17 ships are believed to have sunk in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the seafloor; the “La Bella” and the “Edinburgh Castle”. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. This original congratulatory letter sent to William Ferrier by the Prime Minister and Government of Australia demonstrates the importance attached to his efforts for Victoria and to Australia. The letter is part of the La Bella Collection and is significant at both a local and state level. Its connection to the La Bella shipwreck and the rescue of five survivors highlights the dangers of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast. The letter to William Ferrier from the Australian Government acknowledges the bravery of ordinary Australians who risked their lives to save victims of shipwrecks along the coast. The letter is significant to the history of Warrnambool as it honours William Ferrier, a local fisherman whose descendants continue to live in the area. It highlights the way of life of people who lived in coastal towns in 19th century Victoria and the effects of shipwrecks upon them. The letter connects to the postcard of William Ferrier with four of the five rescued crew, the photograph of the wreck of the La Bella and the artefact from the wreck, the rail holder. This letter is significant because of its association with the sailing ship “La Bella”. The “La Bella” is of local and state and national significance. It is one of the only two shipwrecks discovered in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, out of the 15-17 shipwrecks in the bay. Letter to William Ferrier of South Warrnambool from the Prime Minister and Members of Parliament commending him on his bravery. The printed letterhead includes a coat of arms in the top centre and the official address. The letter is very neatly hand written in black pen and includes 4 signatures of Members of Parliament. The rectangular paper is cream coloured with some yellow/brown discolouring. It has the letterhead on the right hand side of it and the written letter begins below the letterhead. The paper has been folded so that the right side becomes the cover page of the letter. The writing is continued onto the inside right hand page of the folded paper and the writing ends here. There is more recent writing on the bottom right hand corner of the back page. The paper has been officially folded in half a total 3 times and there is heavy discolouration on the sections that form the front and back of the folded letter. There is a 4th fold line that is less pronounced that the other folds and would make the paper the size to fit into a pocket. At several fold creases the paper has worn through. The edges of the paper have minor tears. The printed coat of arms is that of the House of Representatives. Underneath is printed “The Parliament of the Commonwealth, / Parliament House / Melbourne”. The hand written, letter is dated “14th November, 1905” and addressed to “Mr. William Ferrier / South Warrnambool” The letter begins “The Speaker, the Prime Minister and Members of the Ministry and its supporters, the Leader and Members of the Opposition, the Leader and Members of the Labour Party, being all the Members of the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Australia” … It continues “desire to express to you their appreciation of your bravery in skulling out to the wreck of the “La Bella” at Warrnambool on Saturday, 11th November, 1905, and recovering therefrom two of the crew who were in imminent danger of their lives. They all feel that your conduct was worthy of the best deeds done by British sailors in the past and they are proud to know that Australia can produce such as you.” The letter is “Signed on behalf of the Members – Speaker (Frederick Holder ), Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Joseph Cook ), Prime Minister (Alfred Deakin), Leader of the Labour Party ( J.C. Watson)” On the back of the letter is blue ink handwriting “OWNER / G. FERRIER / TO. BE. PHOTOGRAPHED / 27-4-76”la bella, william ferrier, bill ferrier, lady bay, 1905, 10th november 1905, 11th november 1905, parliament of the commonwealth, prime minister, australian government, new zealand, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village

This brass rail holder fixture would have been used to hold the end of a rail in place. There is no information as to where the fitting or rail would have been placed on the ship; sailing ships had many brass fittings. It was recovered from the wreck of the La Bella, which lies at the bottom of the Warrnambool Harbour. Some 15 ships are believed to have been wrecked in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the sea floor; the La Bella and the Edinburgh Castle. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. The story of the final voyage of the La Bella is summarised as follows … The ship from which the sailors were rescued was the three-masted, iron and steel barquentine the La Bella, built in Norway in 1893. She was one of two iron and steel ships by Johan Smith, the company being one of the leading shipping families in Tvedestrand, Norway. She was significant to Norwegian shipping, being one of only 27 iron and steel ships ever built in Norway. She was registered in New Zealand and engaged from 1902 in inter-colonial trading of timber in the pacific, between New Zealand and Australia and was often in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. On 5th October, 1905, the twelve year old La Bella left Lyttleton, New Zealand carrying a cargo of timber bound for Warrnambool, Australia . She was manned by a crew of twelve: the Master, (Captain Mylius, previously 1st Mate of La Bella, appointed Captain to La Bella on 6th February 1903) 2 Mates, Cook, six able seamen, one ordinary seaman and a boy. . Bad weather en route caused her to shelter at Burnie on Tasmania's North West coast. On November 10th, the 37th day of her journey, La Bella approached Warrnambool. Captain Mylius steered her towards Lady Bay Channel in heavy south-west seas and evening mist. He ordered the helmsman to steer for the light. As the ship came round, a tremendous sea struck her on the port quarter, causing her to breach broadside in a north-westerly direction into breakers. The helm was brought round twice more, but each time heavy seas broke over her, the third time throwing the La Bella on to a submerged reef in Lady Bay now known as La Bella Reef (about 100 yards from the Warrnambool breakwater). The sea was so rough that it even wrenched a one-and-a-half ton anchor from its fastenings and into the sea. As Captain Mylius headed to the steel wheelhouse, intending to send up a rocket flare, a huge sea slammed the steel door into him (resulting in massive bruising front and back) Despite his injuries he still managed to set off a blue light, which he held up in his hands. La Bella’s lifeboats were filled with sea water and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on shore that there was a ship in distress. The Harbour Master, Captain Roe (who lived in the Harbour Master’s House opposite Flagstaff Hill), organised a group of volunteers to crew the lifeboat because the trained crew was unavailable; the crewmen were working on a steamer in Port Fairy at the time. He then poured oil onto the water to try and smooth the sea. At around 11pm three of the crew took shelter in the steel forecastle but the sea crashed into it and broke it up. While the rest of the crew and onlookers watched helplessly in the moonlight the bodies were washed away into the sea, never to be seen again. Some of the crew lashed themselves to the weather rail to keep from being washed away. Watson, the ordinary seaman, became tangled in the rigging lines and was too weak to move, so the 2nd Mate, Robertson, put a line onto him so that he wouldn’t wash off. Around 11pm three of the crew were unconscious from exhaustion. The situation on La Bella was becoming dangerous. The 2nd Mate moved to the ‘house’ and soon afterwards the ship slipped in the heavy sea. The lashings of the 1st Mate and the ‘boy’ Denham had kept them safe until about 2am when they were washed overboard; no one was able to help. One by one, the exhausted crew were being washed overboard, too weak to hold on any longer. During the night the La Bella had broken into two and the deckhouse ran out towards the sea. Two more men drowned when trying to reach the lifeboat. By sunrise the only survivors of the twelve were the Master, 2nd Mate and three seamen. Early in the morning Captain Roe used the rocket apparatus on shore to try and shoot a line to the ship for a safer rescue but each attempt fell short of the target. Several attempts were made by the lifeboat to rescue the stricken sailors, but the rough conditions made this difficult for the boat to get close enough to the ship and the lifeboat had to return to shore. During a final attempt to reach the ship Captain Mylius ordered his men to jump into the sea. Leonard Robertson, 2nd mate, jumped and swam towards the lifeboat, taking hold of the boat hook offered to him. Oscar Rosenholme managed to reach the boat floating on a piece of timber from the ship’s load and a third survivor, Noake, also made the boat. Along with the lifeboat rescue crew, 25 year old William Ferrier rowed his small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain, whom he landed on the breakwater. Ferrier then returned to the ship to attempt a final rescue, losing his oars and rowlocks into the high sea. Using just a spare paddle he skulled towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the lashing that held him to the ship; the terrified sailor dropped from the ship and into the dingy. Shortly after the last man was rescued, the La Bella was lifted by a huge wave and crashed back down on the reef; she broke up and sank. The ordeal had lasted ten hours. The survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. In the following days an unidentified body of a young person was washed ashore; it was either Watson or Denham. The body was buried in the Warrnambool cemetery with an appropriate gravestone and inscription. William Ferrier became a national hero as news of the daring rescue spread. In recognition of his bravery in the two daring rescues he was awarded the Silver Medal for Bravery by the Royal Humane Society and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams and a cheque for £20 from the Governor General, over £150 subscribed by the public, including Warrnambool and district and readers of The Argus, and a gold medal from the Glenelg Dinghy Club of South Australia. Ferrier’s rescue efforts are one of the most heroic in Victoria’s shipwreck history. (William Ferrier’s son, Frank, received a similar award almost fifty years later, when he helped rescue four members of the crew on the yacht Merlan, after it ran on to a reef near the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. ) The wreck of La Bella now lies on her port side in 13 metres of sheltered water inside the reef she struck. The bow section is relatively intact and part of the stern has drifted north-easterly towards the mouth of the Hopkins River. The reef the La Bella struck now bears its name. Those five rescued from the La Bella were Captain George Mylius, Leonard Robertson (2nd Mate, 21 years old), R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. Those seven who lost their lives were Mr Coulson (1st mate), Charles Jackman (cook) Gustave Johnson, Pierre Johann and Robert Gent (all able seamen), Harry Watson (ordinary seaman) and Jack Denham (ship’s boy), Captain Mylius was found guilty of careless navigation; he had sailed into the bay without the services of a pilot. His Master Certificate was suspended for twelve months. Later he was also charged with manslaughter of one of the crew who had died when the La Bella was wrecked, but found not guilty. The event’s adverse publicity and damage to his career took a toll on his health and he died of a heart attack six months after the wreck; he was only thirty-seven. His body was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. The La Bella was “the best documented of all sailing ships owned in New Zealand”. Her record books, ship logs, correspondence and supporting papers are still available. At the time of the tragedy, she was owned by Messers David C.Turnbull and Co. of Timaru, New Zealand timber merchants and shipping agents, who had purchased her on 13th December 1901. A detailed account of the last journey of La Bella can be read in “Leonard Robertson, the Whangaroa & La Bella” written by Jack Churchouse, published in 1982 by Millwood Press Ltd, Wellington, NZ. Some 15 – 17 ships are believed to have sunk in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the seafloor; the “La Bella” and the “Edinburgh Castle”. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. As well as this letter, Flagstaff Hill’s La Bella Collection includes a photograph of the wrecked La Bella, a brass rail holder and a postcard of William Ferrier with four of the survivors. This original congratulatory letter sent to William Ferrier by the Prime Minister and Government of Australia demonstrates the importance attached to his efforts for Victoria and to Australia. The letter is part of the La Bella Collection and is significant at both a local and state level. Its connection to the La Bella shipwreck and the rescue of five survivors highlights the dangers of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast. The letter to William Ferrier from the Australian Government acknowledges the bravery of ordinary Australians who risked their lives to save victims of shipwrecks along the coast. The letter is significant to the history of Warrnambool as it honours William Ferrier, a local fisherman whose descendants continue to live in the area. It highlights the way of life of people who lived in coastal towns in 19th century Victoria and the effects of shipwrecks upon them. The letter connects to the postcard of William Ferrier with four of the five rescued crew, the photograph of the wreck of the La Bella and the artefact from the wreck, the rail holder. This item is significant because of its association with the sailing ship “La Bella” . the “La Bella” is of local and state and national significance. It is one of the only two shipwrecks discovered in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, out of the 15-17 shipwrecks in the bay. Brass rail holder from the wreck "La Bella". This rail holder would have been used as a fitting for the end of a rail. It is made up of two parts and looks a little like a goblet in shape. The top is a hollow spherical shape with a circular hole cut out on one side, into which the end of a round rail would fit. There are two gouge marks close to each other on one side of the hole, about one centimetre apart, at 1 and 2 o’clock position. The sphere has a hollow pipe-like stem with a screw thread turned into the outside of the lower section and the bottom of the stem has been flared out after having the base fitted. The base is round and has a mound in the centre. The edge has four evenly spaced fixture holes around its edge. The metal shows signs of pitting and has mild encrustation. The fitting of the base is loose, allowing it to swivel in a complete circle. The top of the sphere is rough and has a dent in it. Underneath the base there is verdigris; some has flaked off and reveals a bright golden colour underneath. rail holder, brass rail holder, la bella, lady bay, norway, 1893, new zealand, captain mylius, william ferrier, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village

The historic Victorian ‘couta boat “Viator” was built by renowned boat builder J.R. Jones of Williamstown in Melbourne, between 1890 and 1920. He was one of the early builders of this design. The features of Viator - carvel planked, open cockpit, vertical stem and straight keel, single mast and a pivoting centreboard - are all characteristics of an early Bass Strait ‘couta boat. This has been confirmed by experienced Victorian ‘couta boat restorer Tim Phillips. Viator served as a ‘couta fishing boat in the Warrnambool area until the mid-1930s, then some say she served as a mail ferry across to Portland. Later it was used as a fishing and recreation boat for local families. For years Viator sat in a paddock in East Warrnambool until purchased in 1975 and donated to Flagstaff Hill. ‘COUTA BOATS - The ‘couta design for vessels is believed to have originated at Port Phillip, Victoria, for the purpose of the Barracouta (‘couta) fishing industry, being both fast and seaworthy. , The 'couta fish was an important food fish in Australian waters, supplying Melbourne with plenty of inexpensive fish. VIATORY’S OWNERS - Some of Viator’s history is known: - 1940, registered Port Fairy and owned by G.J. Richards. - 1941-1945, registered in Port Fairy and owned by Jens “Peter” Petersen. - 1950’s “Brusher” Richards of Warrnambool and Port Fairy used it for fishing. - Peter Watson and his son also went fishing in Viator. - Frank Ferrier, boat builder, was an owner (son of ‘La Bella’ hero, William Ferrier) - Arthur Rogers owned Viator too, then sold it to Terry Pridmore and Wayne Moorefield - The Viator was stored in a paddock, unused for years, in Fairmont Avenue, Warrnambool, where it was gradually deteriorating. - 1975 Viator was purchase at a very reasonable price from Pridmore, then donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. RESTORATION - Shipwright Erik Mikkelsen soon started restoration on the Viator after it arrived at Flagstaff Hill in 1975. In 2006 the Maritime Museums of Australia awarded a grant to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village to assist with the restoration and renovation of the Viator. Its restoration continues today in the care of Flagstaff Hill’s boat builder. J R. JONES - boat builder The photograph of the EVA MYRL shows the builder J R Jones with his team of workers. The other photograph shows a vessel built by J R Jones' son, J B Jones of Footscray, and his team of boat boulders. The photograph of the EVA MYRL was taken by E. A. Dond---. The other photograph is of the Sturrock Coot, taken a Albert Park Lake in St Kilda.The Viator is the most significant boat in the Flagstaff Hill's fleet, being the last remaining local 'couta boat and one of few existing examples of this craft. Viator received Heritage status with the Australian Maritime Museums Council and is listed on the Australian Register of Historical Vessels in 2006 (ARHV Number: HV000561). Viator was built in Victoria in the early days by renowned boat builder J.R. Jones, and sailed by fishermen for many years, both local and on the coastal waters of Victoria, and was possibly used for the mail service. It is significant for being used for the fishing trade, for government service, perhaps as a mail boat, and for recreation by local families.Vessel, the ‘Viator’, an historic Victorian ‘couta boat, handmade by renowned boat builder This J.R. Jones 'couta boat, the Viator, was built in Williamstown, c.1890-1920. The single mast vessel has a Caravel hull built from New Zealand Kauri, blackwood, with a red gum keel and a jarrah stem and stern. It has a pivoting centreboard. Two photographs are included; one of the builder with his team, the other is of his son J B Jones, with his team. Marked "Viator" Photograph 1759.2: "E. A. Dond---" (indecipherable". Handwritten on back "Grandfather / J R Jones / Built" Photograph 1759.3; sign within photograph "J B JONES / BUILDER / FOOTSCRAY", stamped in the card, bottom right " ----- / MELBOURNE" and handwritten on the back "I think this is Mr Abel Sturrock Coot Albert Park Lake"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, arhv hv000561, arthur rogers, bass strait ‘couta boat, “brusher” richards of warrnambool and port fairy, clinker hull boat, ‘couta crafted boat c 1890-1905, ‘couta fishing boat, erik mikkelsen shipwright, g.j. richards of port fairy, jens “peter” petersen, john lindsay, old mail boat, pivoting centerboard boat, peter watson, single-masted ketch, terry prodmore and wayne moorefield, vessel viator, viator a historical vessel, victorian ‘couta boat, victorian barracoota boat, warrnambool ‘couta boat, western victoria fishing boat, western victoria mail boat, hv000561, australian register of historical vessels, erik mikkelsen, j b jones, j b jones boat builder, footscray, sturrock coot, sturrock, j r jones, j r jones boat builder, williamstown, eva myrl