The early settlers of Victoria depended on horse drawn vehicles to farm, make roads and railways, deliver produce and transport people. Horse harnesses were an important requisite for all drivers and could be found wherever there were working horses. Horse Harnesses have played an essential role in different cultures throughout history. Simple, utilitarian horse harnesses made of leather straps and iron rings were being used in early China before AD 500 as well as ancient Greece and Rome, allowing horses to pull chariots and ploughs. The Greeks and Romans were the first to use a "horse collar" which distributed the weight of the harness evenly across the horse's chest rather than relying on a "throat harness" that could damage a horse's throat or choke them. During the medieval period, European horse harnesses became more elaborate and decorative. Variations of different horse harnesses were also found in Native American and Middle Eastern cultures. Horse Harnesses usually have four basic components which include - 1. Communication - the bridle, bit and reins allows the driver to communicate instructions and commands to the horse, guiding its movement and direction. 2. Draft - the collar, hame straps, hames, traces and chains enables the horse to draw and pull the load efficiently by distributing the weight and transferring the pulling force to the vehicle. 3. Stopping - the breeching band, pole straps and breast strap helps to control or stabilise the horse and vehicle when moving downhill or stopping. 4. Support - the back pad, backband, belly band and back saddle keep the harness in the correct position and proper alignment. This show harness was used by Mr. Andy Bourke when showing his Clydesdales at shows or demonstrations. Although a more modern example with decorative embellishments, it still has many essential components traditionally found in an everyday working horse harness. The original purpose of the "housen" for example, was to run rain or drizzle off the horse's neck when they had to work in wet conditions - it was laid flat for this purpose on the top of the collar. Nowadays it is purely for show and is often used to advertise a business or stud. Horse brasses and fly terrets were fastened to various parts of a horse's harness. In the early days they probably began as amulets to ward off evil and to bring good luck and continued to be used as a festive decoration. The heyday of horse brasses was between the years 1851 and 1900. Horse brasses are fastened to various parts of the harness with many of their designs being symbolic. The ornamentation on this harness (although not authentic horse brasses) are based on the horse brasses that were popular in the 19th century. This horse harness is a significant example of the equipment that was needed wherever heavy horses were being used - particularly in the early years of Victoria's settlement by white settlers. Harnesses such as this example were used with stage coaches, drays, farming equipment, delivery carts and personal transportation.A leather and metal horse harness used when showing a Clydesdale (or other breed of heavy horse). It is made up of a number of components. 1. Decorative leather cart saddle with two large cloth pads underneath (which have a scalloped leather and stud border), a raised leather pommel and a silver and red coloured metal back strap holder across the top. It has two symmetrical sets of ornamentation (silver hearts and circles) in the front and a wide strap or girth (with a maker's stamp reading "R. Mitchell Saddler") and buckle which attaches the saddle to the horse. 2. Pair of steel hames which are gently curved (to fit on a horse collar) and are topped with steel knobs. They have several steel rings and lugs (to hold straps and chains) and a "Made in England Warranted Steel" stamp. 3. Breeching harness which consists of a number of leather straps, chains and metal rings including a wide padded leather strap with a scalloped edge that sits on the back of the horse and a thick leather strap that goes around the hind quarters of a horse which is joined to the back strap with four shorter vertical straps and buckles. These straps feature silver and red patent leather trim and silver heart shaped ornamentation. The strap also features the maker's stamp of "R. Mitchell". 4. Decorative leather bridle with blinkers featuring the same silver and red patent leather trim on the cheek piece, brow band and throatlatch. It has a stainless steel "Liverpool Driving Bit" with a curb chain, a variety of decorative silver ornaments (rosettes, diamonds plus a heart and two circles) on each end of the forehead band, dropper and strap as well as a silver metal bell (sometimes known as a "fly terret" or "swinger") that sits on the headpiece of the bridle. 5. Leather "violin shaped" dropper (or hanger) with two silver rosette shaped ornaments and a stainless steel clip on the top 6. Stainless steel "Liverpool Driving Bit" with a straight mouthpiece which is ribbed on one side. It has three rein spots (spaces) and a curb chain. 7. Leather arch shaped "Housen" covered in black and red patent leather and decorated with silver studs (some spelling out F H) and bordered with a red fringe. It has a leather strap at the back and two leather loops on the front. 8. Leather padded backband (Australian style "Stallion Draught Roller") decorated with two groups of nine metal "horse brasses" or harness ornaments displaying horseshoe, starburst and horse head designs on blue, red and white striped webbing. The backband has three notched straps at each end, a buckle near the centre and the initial B stamped in two places underneath. 9. Bellyband made of leather and red, white and blue striped webbing. It has a set of three buckles at each end (which correspond with the notched straps of the backband). 10. Wide, thick leather strap which has a buckle and notches at each end. It also has the maker's stamp of "R. Mitchell Saddler". 11.One pair of long leather traces - each with a buckle and notched loop at one end, decorated with a small silver diamond shaped harness ornament. 12. Length of stainless steel heavy duty chain with two swivel connectors.Saddle - "R.MITCHELL / SADDLER" Hames - "MADE IN ENGLAND / WARRANTED / STEEL" "MADE IN ENGLAND / WARRANTED / unclear" Breeching Straps - "R. MITCHELL / MAKER / R. MITCHELL MAKER" Housen - "F H" Backband "B / B' Wide leather strap - "R. MITCHELL / SADDLER"flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, harness, horse harness, show harness, clydesdale horses, andy bourke, horse drawn cart, housen, bridle, hames, breeching straps, dropper, bit, liverpool bit, backband, harness ornamentation, bellyband, back saddle, fly terret

This photo was in the collection of Frank Wright. Frank Wright was a renown resident of Smeaton, where he was born. He lived at Laura Villa, and attended Smeaton State School. His father William was a gold miner and his mother's name was Sarah. Their family won many singing and instrumental awards. Frank was tutored by Percy Code and was awarded a gold medal for the highest marks in the ALCM examinations in the British Colonies at the age of seventeen years. He became the Australian Open Cornet Champion by the age of eighteen. A year later, Frank conducted the City of Ballarat Band, and later the Ballarat Soldiers’ Memorial Band. He formed the Frank Wright Frisco Band and Frank Wright and his Coliseum Orchestra. These bands won many South Street awards, and Frank as conductor won many awards in the Australian Band Championship contest. In 1933 Frank Wright sailed to England to conduct the famous St Hilda’s Band and was later appointed Musical Director of the London County Council, where he organized many amazing concerts in parks, in and around the London district. He was made Professor of Brass and Military Band Scoring and conducted at the Guildhall of Music and Drama. Frank was often invited to adjudicate Brass Band Championships around Europe, in Australia, including South Street and in New Zealand. The Frank Wright Medal at the Royal South Street competition is awarded to an individual recognized as making an outstanding contribution to brass music in AustraliaBlack and white photograph of a man ploughing a field with a team of three horses. In the background is a large cypress and a house can be seen behind a hedge and fence.frank wright, ballarat, cornet, conductor, smeaton, plough, team of horses

Framed black and white photograph of Sturt Street Ballarat showing the Ballarat Town Hall on the right hand side. ballarat, ballarat townscape, ballarat streetscape, ballarat town hall, architecture, tower, carriage, horse, lamp, bluestone, william bardwell, fotobiennale, mount warrenheip

The book was presented to the Ballarat School of Mines by Allan Bernaldo. Allan Thomas Bernaldo (b. 1900, Creswick. d. 1988, Melbourne) was a former student at the Ballarat School of Mines Technical Art School. In 1917 he was presented a medal 'for the most meritorious Art student'. He was known for his watercolours, and subjects such as horses and flowers. Bernaldo's popularity was at its height during the 1930s and 1940s. Brown hard covered book of 59 pages, with a black dustjacket that includes a painting of a vase of white flowers. The book is the recollections of Alan Bernaldo. Written on title page "memento of many happy years at the School of Mines, Allan T. Bernaldo. 1981allan bernaldo, bernaldo, ballarat school of mines, ballarat technical art school. watercolour, art, alumni

In the foreword the Chairman and General Manager, W.H. Connolly, wrote: "Australia's progress since the Second World War has been remarkable - and nowhere more so than in Victoria. Although the smallest pf the mainland States, Victoria is today the most highly industrialised, the second most populous and the most rapidly developing State in the Commonwealth. Many factors have contributed to this growth, bu the one of greatest importance is the vast wealth of easily extractable brown coal in the Latrobe Valley which is the source of Victoria's electricity and a major part of its solid fuel. ... "White and green soft covered book of 34 pages with black & white and coloured illustrations. The book includes starts with an historical section, and includes information the open cut, Yallourn Power Station, Yallourn Briquette Works, the town, Morwell Open Cut, and includes a map of the Latrobe Valley Brown Coal resources.yallourn, connolly, open cut, power station, kernot, coal, briquette, lyle, monash, yallourn open cut, yallourn power station, yallourn briquette works, morwell open cut, hazelwood, brown coal, gippsland, horses, turning sod

Alfred G Johnston was a former Ballarat School of Mines student who was killed in action at Rhenosterkop, Middleburg district, Transvaal, South Africa, on 7 May 1901, aged 29 years. A letter of condolence was sent to his parents (see S.M.B. Council Meeting 31-5-1901).An image from the original black and white photograph showing the torso of a man in military uniform - Alfred G Johnston who served in the 5th Regiment of the Victorian Mounted Rifles. The uniform (the forerunner of the uniform of the Australian Light Horse) includes a slouch hat. Also see: Photograph of Alfred G. Johnston as S.M.B. student, 1899. Catalogue number 00414. A photograph of the memorial that Ballarat School of Mines put up in his honour is Catalogue number 00531.Verso: AUTHENTICATION REQUESTED Photographic portrait of LIEUTENANT ALFRED GRESHAM JOHNSTON (with handwritten note - or Gersham) 5th Regiment V.M.R. (late student of S.M.B.) Killed in action at Rhenoster Kop. South Africa, May 7, 1901 S.M.B. Council Meeting (31-5-1901) - - - letter of condolence to parents. Please return to W.T. Ryan, c/- School of Mines, Ballarat. 3350boer, boer war, south african war, south africa, volunteer regiments, alfred johnston, a g johnston, johnston, ballarat school of mines, victorian mounted rifles

Black and White image of a donkey and cart covered with fabric and featuring the Red Cross Symble. It is an Indian Ambulance, Suez Canal.Verso: "An Indian Ambulance Cart with myself (Harry Holmes) at the donkey's head."8.7 x 14.0 cmchatham family archive, chatham, holmes, world war, world war 1, world war i, world war one, france, ambulance, harry holmes, horse drawn waggon, egypt

Verso "Our horse lines at [censored in blue pencil - probably Serapeum]. Notice the camp in the background also the fine plantation."chatham family archive, chatham, holmes, world war, world war 1, world war i, world war one, france, harry holmes

Black and white image of Australian soldiers, horses, supplies, and tents at an Australian Army Depot.chatham family archive, chatham, holmes, world war, world war 1, world war i, world war one, harry holmes

Frank Wright was a renown resident of Smeaton, where he was born. He lived at Laura Villa, and attended Smeaton State School. His father William was a gold miner and his mother's name was Sarah. Their family won many singing and instrumental awards. Frank was tutored by Percy Code and was awarded a gold medal for the highest marks in the ALCM examinations in the British Colonies at the age of seventeen years. He became the Australian Open Cornet Champion by the age of eighteen. A year later, Frank conducted the City of Ballarat Band, and later the Ballarat Soldiers’ Memorial Band. He formed the Frank Wright Frisco Band and Frank Wright and his Coliseum Orchestra. These bands won many South Street awards, and Frank as conductor won many awards in the Australian Band Championship contest. In 1933 Frank Wright sailed to England to conduct the famous St Hilda’s Band and was later appointed Musical Director of the London County Council, where he organized many amazing concerts in parks, in and around the London district. He was made Professor of Brass and Military Band Scoring and conducted at the Guildhall of Music and Drama. Frank was often invited to adjudicate Brass Band Championships around Europe, in Australia, including South Street and in New Zealand. The Frank Wright Medal at the Royal South Street competition is awarded to an individual recognized as making an outstanding contribution to brass music in Australia.Black and white photograph of a man dressed in a band uniform holding a cornet. He is standing in a park, with people, a large tent and a horse drawn buggy in the backgroundWritten in pen on the back - Frank Wright, Toowoomba (Queensland), Taken by Vernon Holt, Easter 1922frank wright, cornet, conductor, ballarat, st hilda's band

Ballarat School of Mines was established in 1870 making it Australia's first School of Mines. It is now Federation University Australia SMB Campus.Ballarat School of Mines from Lydiard Street. The former Wesley Church is on the left of the photo. Beside it is the New Classrooms (now Administration Building), and the former Ballarat Circuit Court which was demolished in 1912 and replaced the the Ballarat Technical Art School building. .1) Sepia print .2) Black and white print showing all the Lydiard Street streetscape with people in the doorway and a horse and buggy in the street. .3) Black and white copy .4) Line drawing taken from the photo.ballarat school of mines, lydiard street, ballarat, administration buildings, former circuit court, former wesley church, administration building, a building, former methodist church

The Ballarat Brewing Company was once known as Coglan and Tulloch Limited, and was later purchased by Carlton and United BreweriesExterior view of the west of the Ballarat Brewery building with loaded horses and carts in Armstrong Street South, Ballaratballarat brewery, ballarat brewing company, brewing, brewing tower, brew tower

Two black and white postcards of Birmingham. .1) Bull Ring, Birmingham featuring a church and steeple in the mid background and people waling in the streets. .2) Colmore Row, Birmingham featuring three storey buildings on either side of a road. People walk on the footpath and a horse and carriage are parked on the left.

Frank Wright was a renown resident of Smeaton, where he was born. He lived at Laura Villa, and attended Smeaton State School. His father William was a gold miner and his mother's name was Sarah. Their family won many singing and instrumental awards. Frank was tutored by Percy Code and was awarded a gold medal for the highest marks in the ALCM examinations in the British Colonies at the age of seventeen years. He became the Australian Open Cornet Champion by the age of eighteen. A year later, Frank conducted the City of Ballarat Band, and later the Ballarat Soldiers’ Memorial Band. He formed the Frank Wright Frisco Band and Frank Wright and his Coliseum Orchestra. These bands won many South Street awards, and Frank as conductor won many awards in the Australian Band Championship contest. In 1933 Frank Wright sailed to England to conduct the famous St Hilda’s Band and was appointed in 1934 as the Musical Director of the London County Council (the GLC or Greater London Council), where he organized many amazing concerts in most of the 150 parks, in and around the London district. He was also responsible for some of London’s major concerts at Kenwood, the Crystal Palace and Holland Park. He was made Professor of Brass and Military Band Scoring and Conducting and was a Fellow of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Frank was often invited to adjudicate Brass Band Championships around Europe, in Australia, including South Street and in New Zealand. Frank was awarded an M.B.E. in 1967. The Frank Wright Medal at the Royal South Street competition is awarded to an individual recognized as making an outstanding contribution to brass music in Australia.Printed 20 page booklet with black type and with some coloured and some black and white photographs. The cover photograph shows Queen Elizabeth II leaving Buckingham Palace on her horse at the head of the Royal Procession. On page 18 is the Programme of Music showing a piece written by Frank Wright, "Whitehall". The booklet is for the Queen's Birthday Parade of 1960 and the Trooping of the Colour.queen elizabeth ii, queens birthday parade, trooping the colour, frank wright, whitehall, royalty

Sandhurst is the early name for the Victorian goldfield town of Bendigo. The original was published by Melbourne's Sands and Kenny Melbourne in 1857, and the plate from "Victoria Illustrated" by S.T. Gill. Balck and white steel engraving of a work by Samuel Thomas Gill showing a scene in early Bendigo. In the foreground a woman sits on a fallen tree holding a baby and talking to a small girl, while two men stand nearby discussing words on a paper. A sign on the fence declares 'Gov Sale Land'. In the mid ground a fledgling townscape is evident whole a man rides a horse along a thoroughfare, along with a small bullock team, and a man pushing a wheelbarrow. The scenefeatures a large number of flagpoles, and tents are visible along the horizon line. The image is engraved "S.T.Gill, del." in the lower left; "J. Tingle sc" in the lower right, and the title is engraved below image. bendigo, sandhurst, samuel thomas gill, s.t. gill, j. tingle, goldfield, bullock team, horse and rider

The Boer War was fought from 1899 to 1901.Black and white printed photo montage of Officers who served in the South African Forces during the Boer War. Portraits are supplemented with views of: Modder River, Ladysmith, Railway Bridge of Tugela, 4.7 naval gun, Royal Horse Artillery, Johannesburg Fort, Howitzer Gun, Field Artillery. The poster produced as an advertising medium for Wills Tobacco and Cigarettes using the Transvaal Series of cards.boer war, south african war, armed services, lord roberts, weapons, alfred milner, cecil rhodes, w.p. schreiner, w. hely hutchinson, w.p. symons, general mildyard, a. hunter, holled smith, dick-cunnynghame, f. roberts, charles warren, brabazon, a.g. wauchope, kelly-kenny, hector mcdonald, baden-powell, lord methuen, f. carrington, n.g. lyttleton, f. howard, j.d.f. french, w.f. gatacre, h.s. rawlinson, eyre crabbe, alderson, kekewich, a. fitzroy hart, g. white, lord kitchener, lord dundonald, plumer, h.m.l. rundle, w.h. mackinnon, h.e. colville, f. forestier walker, r. clements, redvers buller, h. chermside, g. lyttelton

This item most probably dates from the World War One era. Boulevard de Bonne Nouvelle in the 9th district of the city of Paris.Buses and cars travel along a Paris street lined with buildings.chatham-holmes family collection, paris, bus, car, horse, world war one, paris, france

Charleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. Heavy fighting took place during World War I due to the city's strategic location on the Sambre. This postcard was most probably purchased during an australian soldier during World War One.Black and white postcard depicting a cobbled street with horse drawn carriage and people gathered around a flag. charleroi, belgium, world war i, world war, henry smerdon holmes

Saint-Omer is a commune and sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department 68 km west-northwest of Lille on the railway to Calais. The town is named after Saint Audomar, who brought Christianity to the area. (Wikipedia) During World War I on 8 October 1914, the British Royal Flying Corps (RFC) arrived in Saint-Omer and a headquarters was established at the aerodrome next to the local race course. For the following four years, Saint-Omer was a focal point for all RFC operations in the field. Although most squadrons only used Saint-Omer as a transit camp before moving on to other locations, the base grew in importance as it increased its logistic support to the RFC. Many Royal Air Force squadrons can trace their roots to formation at Saint-Omer during this period. Among which are No. IX Squadron RAF which was formed at Saint-Omer, 14 December 1914 and No. 16 Squadron RAF which was formed on 10 February 1915. (Wikipedia)Black and white postcard showing a group of children and some adults surrounding a horse drawn cart. The cobble stone street is lined with double story buildings. chatham-holmes family collection, saint-omer, world war, world war 1, postcard

According to the donor these image copies were used in an exhibition, and distributed at the conclusion. The originals are thought to be in the collection of Snake Valley HIstorical Society.Framed black and white photograph showing Eddie Nunn and Les Burt going off to mow hay on Nunn's property, Chepstowe. agriculture, chepstowe, eddie nunn, les burt, harvest, horses, farming

The original of this image is held by the State Library of Victoria.Copy of a black and white photograph of Bridge Street Ballarat from the corner of Grenville Street and Sturt Street. The photo shows a street lamp in the middle of the intersection, fire hydrant, Yeoman's flag, tram tracks, and horse drawn vehicles.bridge street ballarat, sturt street ballarat, grenville street ballarat,, f.b. wilson, buck's head hotel

John Davies ran the bakery until 1923, at which time his son, Fred “F.T.” Davies, became proprietor. The business continued to grow under Fred, who turned it into one of the most successful industries in Ballarat. Fred fitted the bakery with a Perkins Continuous Oven, which was quite revolutionary for the time. The bakery was also fitted with Scotch ovens, which were used for ordinary bread-baking, and were worked manually. (https://bih.federation.edu.au/index.php/Davies_Bread)A number of horse drawn carriages, and motor vans in front of a building at 47 Eureka Street known as Davies the Baker. The three men standing together are Frederick Talbot Davies, John Davies and Hector Godfrey Smith (foreman). davies, davies bread, davies the baker, eureka street, horse, horse drawn carriage, confectioner

WW1 Holmes Family souvenirAustralian soldier's WW1 souvenirBlack and white postcard showing an aerial view of Donegall Square in Belfast. Trams, horses and people are evident on the streetschatham-holmes family collection, belfast, ireland

WW1 Holmes Family souvenirAustralian soldier's WW1 souvenirBlack and white postcard showing a street in Dublin with trams, horse drawn carriages, people, monuments and multi-storey buildingschatham-holmes family collection, dublin, ireland, world war 1

The photograph taken on Sunday September 6, 1891, shows the Port Campbell Rocket Rescue Crew and Equipment at Wreck Beach, Moonlight Head, preparing to save the stranded men on the wreck of the barque Fiji. The man standing in the middle, front of the photograph, facing the ocean, is Herbert Maxwell Morris, a farmer at Barruppa near Princetown, also a member of the Rocket Rescue Crew. The Rocket Rescue lifesaving method used an explosive rocket to shoot a light line from shore across to the distressed vessel. The line was then secured to the ship’s mast and a heavy, continuous line was then sent out with a ‘breaches buoy’ attached (a buoy similar to the seat of a pair of trousers). The stranded seafarers would sit in the seat and be pulled along the line to safety. A lot of skill was needed to set up the line to reach its target and the Crew trained regularly to keep up their skills. The three-masted iron barque Fiji was built in Belfast, Ireland, in 1875 by Harland and Wolfe for a Liverpool based shipping company. The ship departed Hamburg on May 22, 1891, bound for Melbourne under the command of Captain William Vickers with a crew of 25. The Cape Otway light was sighted on September 5, 1891. However, the bearing was different from Captain Vickers’ calculations. At about 2:30am the next morning land was reported only 4-5 miles away. The captain tried to redirect the ship in the rough weather without success and the Fiji struck rock only 300 yards (274 metres) from shore. The crew burned blue lights fired rockets to signal distress. The lifeboats either capsized or were swamped and smashed to pieces. Two younger crewmen volunteered to swim for the shore with a line. One, a Russian named Daniel Carkland, drowned after he was swept away when the line broke. The other, Julius Gebauhr, a 17 year old German able seaman, reached shore safely on his second attempt but had cut the line lose with his sheath-knife when it tangled in kelp. He climbed the steep cliffs in search of help. Later that morning a young man, William (Willie) Ward, saw the wreck of the ship close to shore near Moonlight Head from the cliffs and the alarm sent for help from Princetown, six miles away. At around the same time a Mott’s party of land selectors, including F. J. Stansmore, Leslie Dickson, was travelling on horseback from Princetown towards Moonlight Head. They were near Ryans Den when they found Gebauhr in the scrub, bleeding and dressed only in singlet, socks and a belt with his sheath-knife. They thought the man may be an escaped lunatic, due to his wild and shaggy looking state and what seemed to be gibberish speech. After Gebauhr threw his knife away they realised that he was speaking half-English, half-German as he talked about the wreck. They gave him food, brandy and clothing, and he was taken to a nearby guest house Rivernook, owned by John Evans, where he was cared for. Most of the party went off to the wreck site. Stanmore and Dickson rode for help from both Port Campbell for the two Rocket Rescue Crew buggies, and Warrnambool for the lifeboat. The vessel S.S. Casino sailed from Portland towards the scene. Half of the Port Campbell Rocket Crew and equipment arrived after a 25 mile journey and set up the rocket tripod on the beach below the cliffs. By this time the weary crew of the Fiji had been clinging to the jib-boom for almost 15 hours, calling frantically for help. The Office in Charge of the Rocket Crew, W. Tregear, ordered the rocket to be fired but the light line broke and the rocket was carried away. A second line, successfully set up by Herbert Morris, crossed the ship and was secured. The anxious sailors tried to come ashore along the line but some were washed off as the line sagged with too many on it at one time. Other nearly exhausted crewmen made their way through masses of seaweed and were often smothered by waves. Only 14 of the 24 who had remained on the ship made it to shore. Rocket Crew members and onlookers on the beach took it in turns to go into the surf and drag the half-drowned seamen to safety. These rescuers included Bill (William James) Robe, Herbert Morris, Edwin Vinge, Hugh Cameron, Fenelon Mott, Arthur Wilkinson and Peter Carmody, who was also involved in the rescue of men from the Newfield. Arthur Wilkinson, a 29 year old land selector, swam out to help one of the ship’s crewmen, a carpenter named John Plunken who was trying to swim from the Fiji to the shore. Two or three times both men almost reached the shore but were washed back to the wreck where they were both hauled back on board. Wilkinson was unconscious, possibly from hitting his head on the anchor before they were brought up. Plunken survived but Wilkinson later died and his body was washed up the next day. The 26 year old Bill Robe hauled out the last man; it was the captain and he’d been tangled in the kelp. Only 20 minutes later the wreck of the Fiji was smashed apart and it settled in about 6m of water. Of the 26 men on the Fiji, 11 in total lost their lives. The remains of 7 bodies were washed onto the beach. Their coffins were made from timbers from the wrecked Fiji and they were buried on the cliff top above the wreck. The survivors were taken to Rivernook and cared for over the next few days. Funds were raised by locals soon after the wreck in aid of the sufferers of the Fiji disaster. Captain Vickers was severely reprimanded for his mishandling of the ship. His Masters Certificate was suspended for 12 months. There was public criticism of the rescue. The important canvas ‘breeches buoy’ and heavy line for the Rocket Rescue was in the half of the rocket outfit that didn’t make it in time for the rescue as they had been delayed at the Gellibrand River ferry. The communications to Warrnambool were down so the call for help didn’t get through on time. The boat that had been notified of the wreck failed to reach it in time. Much cargo looting occurred. One looter was caught with a small load of red and white rubber balls. Essence of peppermint mysteriously turned up in many settlers homes. Sailcloth was salvaged and used for horse rugs and tent flies. Soon after the wreck “Fiji tobacco” was being advertised around Victoria. A Customs officer, trying to prevent some of the looting, was assaulted by looters and thrown over a steep cliff. He managed to cling to a bush lower down until rescued. In 1894 some coiled fencing wire was salvaged from the wreck. Hundreds of coils are still strewn over the site of the wreck, encrusted and solidified. The hull is broken but the vessel’s iron ribs can be seen along with some of the cargo of concrete and pig iron. Captain Vickers presented Bill Robe with his silver-cased pocket watch, the only possession that he still had, as a token for having saved his life and the lives of some of the crew. Years later Bill used the pocket watch to pay a debt, and it was handed down through that family. Seaman Julius Gebauhr later gave his knife, in its hand crafted leather sheath, to F. J. Stansmore for caring for him when he came ashore. The knife handle had a personal inscription on it. A marble headstone on the cliffs overlooking Wreck Beach pays tribute to the men who lost their lives when Fiji ran aground. The scene of the wreck is marked by the anchor from the Fiji, erected by Warrnambool skin divers in 1967. Captain Vickers’ pocket watch and Julius Gebauhr’s sheath knife are amongst the artefacts salvaged from the Fiji that are now part of the Fiji collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The man identified in the photograph, Herbert Maxwell Morris, was the nephew of the Victorian era artist, William Morris. Herbert had sailed from England to Australia and was about 25 years old when he joined the Rocket Rescue Crew at Port Campbell. His successful rocket line firing at the Fiji wreck site was noted by author Jack Loney in one of his historic shipwreck books. Later Morris moved from his property at Baruppa to Laver’s Hill to run a more profitable enterprise. This photograph is significant as an image of a historical event, being the willingness of local volunteers to aid in the saving of lives of stranded seafarers. It gives a clear picture of the use of Rocket Rescue Equipment in shore-to-ship rescues. Flagstaff Hill’s Fiji collection is of historical significance at a State level because of its association with the wreck Fiji, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register VHR S259. The Fiji is archaeologically significant as the wreck of a typical 19th century international sailing ship with cargo. It is educationally and recreationally significant as one of Victoria's most spectacular historic shipwreck dive sites with structural features and remains of the cargo evident. It also represents aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes. The Fiji collection meets the following criteria for assessment; Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history, possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history, and potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria’s cultural history. Black and white photograph. Subject is the Rocket Rescue Crew from Pt Campbell on Wreck Beach, Moonlight Head, at the wreck site of the barque 'Fiji'. September 6, 1891.warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, shipwrecked artefact, pocket watch, fob watch fiji, william vickers, william robe, bill robe, gebauhr, stansmore, carmody, wreck bay, moonlight head, fiji shipwreck 1891, rocket crew, port campbell rocket crew, lifesaving crew, photograph of rocket crew, herbert morris, warrnambool, shipwreck artefact, mott, william ward, rocket rescue, breeches buoy, rivernook guest house

Black and white photograph in light brown card slip case. The slip case has an image on the front cover of a head and shoulder bust. The photograph was taken about 1900 from the tower of the Grand Hotel looking down upon the Victoria Hall and the railway crossing. In the lower left corner is W.J.Dawborn's General Store. In front of the store is a horse and spring dray and another horse hitched to a veranda post. Next to the store is the Victoria Hall and beyond that a water trough. The railway crossing is in the centre of the picture with two railway cattle trucks next to the cattle yards. Beyond the railway on the left hand side is the property later known as 'River View'. Beyond the river lined with trees are the Yering flats across which can be seen the long trestle railway bridge. In the foreground of the picture is Bell Street lined with trees in wooden tree guards.yarra glen, victoria hall, railway crossing, river view, general store, w j dawborn, horse and cart, horse and dray, spring dray, horse hitched, hitching post, water trough, railway truck, cattle truck, cattle yards, stock yards, yering flats, trestle railway bridge, trestle bridge

Photograph taken from the junction of Bell and King Streets looking north up Bell Street early 20th century. On the eastern side of Bell Street (left hand side of photograph) is the Victoria Hall. Behind the hall is a newsagency and behind that is the bakery. The pine trees at the top of the hill are at 'Point Pleasant', home of the Herbert family. On the western side of Bell Street can be seen the Grand Hotel and the Colonial Bank. The street trees are in wooden tree guards. In the middle foreground are two men in a buggy drawn by two horses.On back of the postcard at the top "POST CARD". Under those words are "CORRESPONDENCE" on the left and "ADDRESS ONLY" on the right.yarra glen, point pleasant, victoria hall, horse drawn vehicle, bell street, bakery, herbert, newsagency, newsagent, bakers shop, horse buggy, buggy

Photograph of Bell Street taken from junction with King Street. In the foreground is a horse and buggy with a male driver and passenger. To their right is a man on horseback. To the western side of Bell Street (left side of photograph) is A.H.Scott's General Store, next to which is the bootmaker. Further north along Bell Street is the house of Charles Bath, the Grand Hotel and the Colonial Bank. Bell Street is lined with trees surrounded by wooden tree guards.yarra glen, grand hotel, bell street, charles bath, street trees, general store, horse and rider, colonial bank, bootmaker, buggy, horse and buggy, horseman, a h scott, scott, wooden tree guards