Black and white photograph (2 copies)Written on back of one copy- "Ringwood Rifle Club. 'Mail' photo, 13/5/1954. L. to R. Vic Beveridge, Constable Bill Hall team captain, Frank Corr, Frank Phillips, Jim Walker and J. Wood". Written on back of second copy- "Ringwood Rifle Club met at corner Main St. and Warrandyte Rd. to proceed to range Jumping Creek Road, South Warrandyte. Const. W. Hall, Capt. 2nd from left."

Black and white photograph of eight people. (2 copies).Written on back of photograph- "Ringwood Horticultural Society. Ap. 1949. N. West, G. Burns Pres., Mrs. West, Miss Covalador(?), J. W. Gillespie Sec., Mrs. Polson Asst. Treas, F. Caterer, R. Webber, Treasurer."

Black and white photographs (5 copies)Written on back of photograph: Names of Show Committee members- Front Row- L to R: A.W.M. Chalmers, J.B. McAlpin, T. Hamilton, W. Everard, Jack Hann. Middle Row- L to R: Tilley, Cr H. Hughes, Taylor, J. Aird, Charlie Lang, H. Brewer, H. Wilkins, D. Broben (Head Teacher), F. Wright, F. Rowlinson, H. Pump. Back Row- L to R: White, Bessie McKinley, W. McKinley, ?, ?. Show Committee about 1919. Front lower right corner states, "Sutcliffe, Pty. Ltd. Cromwell Bldgs. 366A Bourke St. Melbourne." Back of image states the photo was taken "At Mech. Institute, RWD."

Written on backing of original, 'Opening of clock tower by Mayor W. MacKinlay, 4.8.1928'. Typed below black and white copy, 'Mayor MacKinlay dedicating Ringwood clocktower in original position at end of Warrandyte Rd. Maroondah Hwy on right. 1928.' The second black and white copy states the date as 1924.

The publication, VicRoads Centenary: Keeping Victorians Connected for 100 Years, looks at the people and projects that define VicRoads’ history. Written by current and former VicRoads’ employees, the publication details the organisation’s portfolio of major projects, which includes the Great Ocean Road, Hume Highway and Eastern Freeway. Other sections report on Victoria’s world-first road safety initiatives, VicRoads’ use of technology and sustainability measures. (ref VicRoads) This item is one of several books donated by David Jellie at a presentation to Orbost Historical Society. He was a contributor to the book and was the engineer for the Snowy River Bridge (Princes Highway) at Orbost 1974-1976.This book is a useful reference tool on the history of road construction in Victoria including East Gippsland.A thick, bound paperback book, titled "VicRoads Centenary Keeping Victorians Connected for 100 Years". On the front cover is a black/white photograph of two men working on a road. One has a pick. The book contains the history of VicRoads, photographs, maps and advertisements. Some are b/w. Others are coloured.vicroads book roads snowy-river-bridge jellie-david

Located near the NSW border in the far east of Victoria, the Bendoc school served the needs of a rural population which opened the land to grazing at the turn of the century. It opened on September 8 1896. In December 1956 falling attendances forced the Education Department to close it. It is interesting to note that children here sought their secondary education in NSW. The first head teacher) was John M. Cass and the last R R King. In 1953-54 Lower Bendoc operated part-time with Goongerah. In 1955 it regained full-time status, but in 1956 worked part-time with Tubbut. Author, Dorothy Hepburn, attended Bendoc State School.This is a useful reference tool on the history of Bendoc.A spiral bound book with a plastic sheet front. The cover is white with black print and a b/w photo of a man sitting on a wooden chair outside a log building . Underneath is written "FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO FINAL CLOSURE".bendoc-state-school

Snowy River Shipping Company formed in 1880. They were soon shipping produce (mainly vegetables) from the area to Melbourne. The Snowy River Shipping Company was formed by Mr Henry James during the 1880s, with Captain McNeil as master. Captain Hegarty was the shipping agent at Marlo. Towing a line of small barges these paddle steamers plied their trade between the port of Marlo, and the farms along the river banks, churning their way almost twenty miles upstream to a landing beside what is now Frank Richardson’s property. On these trips, the barges carried mail and supplies to the townspeople and farmers, loading their produce, mostly maize, on the return trip to the coast. The coming of the railway in 1915 spelt the end for the little river boats. ( ref. F. W. RODWELL in the “Snowy Review”) Frank Richardson 1877-1950 was a sawmiller at Tabbara and helped build and run paddle steamer "Curlip"as engineer.This item is associated with an early transport business of the local district. The Snowy River once had its own paddle steamers. This item is reminiscent of that time.A light blue and white blank cheque for the Snowy River Shipping Company. The cheque is for The National Bank of Australasia and is numbered 01,491 in bold black print. It has a one penny stamp duty imprint.snowy-river-shipping-company james-harry

This photograph was taken inside the Orbost Butter Factory. The person standing near the large piece of equipment might be Ray Holmes. The Orbost Butter and Produce Co. Ltd was registered on June 1st 1893 and was an important source of income to the Orbost district for many years.A b/w photograph of a man in white overalls and black boots with white soles. He is standing to the right of a large butter churn.

This photograph was taken inside the Orbost Butter Factory.The Orbost Butter and Produce Co. Ltd was registered on June 1st 1893 and was an important source of income to the Orbost district.A b/w photograph of a man in a white short-sleevedoverall standing behind vats of butter inside the Orbost Butter Factory.

This booklet was the result of a class project at Orbost Primary School. It was created by the year 6 students assisted by Terry Hooper, teacher, and Debbie Hall, a local historian. 2227.1 was owned by Ruth Legge and 2227.2 by Jean RalstonThis booklet is a useful research tool.Two copies of a 100 pp light green paper covered magazine/booklet titled "Yesterday's Memories are Tomorrow's Treasures". The print on the front cover is black and has a black/white photograph of the Slab Hut (Orbost Visitor Information Centre) below the title which is inside a scroll border, The booklet contains b/w photographs and details of the history of Orbost.2227.1 : on contents page - "Ruth 1992" 2227.2 has autographs inside the back cover. book orbost-history orbost-primary-school

Councilor W.Powell,(J.P.),was elected to council in 1935 serving till 1963.He was Shire President in 1939-40,1948-49,1958-59. This photo was taken to form a composite photo, of all councilors, to commemorate the opening of the Wendouree Municiple Centre on 20th November 1959. Original Historic photo of Councilors for the year 1959.Photo of Councilor W.Powell(J.P.) 1959. Sepia on white mount,top left hand corner of composite photo of councilors for the year 1959.Collection of potos of councilors for 1959. Commemorating opening Wendouree Municiple Centre 20th November 1959.shire, ballarat, councilor, 1959, powell, w j p, wendouree municiple centre, opening, 20th, november 1959

Councilor W.A.Walton (J.P.),was elected Ballarat Shire council in 1955,serving till 1979. He was Shire Preident in 1962-63,1966-67,1978-79. This was part of a collection of photos taken to Commemorate the Opening of the Wendouree Municiple Centre on 20th November 1959. Original Historical photo of councilors for 1959. Councilor W.A.Walton,(J.P.).Sepia photo on white mount,situated second from left, top row of composite photo of all councilors for the year 1959.Collection of photos of Councilors for 1959. walton w a j p, ballarat shire council 1959, wendouree municiple centre opening 20th november 1959

Councilor W.MacG.Troup,(J.P.), was elected as a member of council in 1953 serving till 1970.He was shire President in 1960-61.Section of Original Historic photo of councilors for the year 1959, taken to commemorate the Wendouree Municiple Opening 20th November of that year.Councilor W. MacG.Troup,(J.P.).Sepia photo,(rectangular),on white mount, Situated Middle of bottom row of composite photo of all coucilors for the year 1959.Presented to Ballarat Shire Council, by Shire President Charles Edward "Ted" Brown, to Commemorate the opening of Wendouree Municiple Centre, 20th November 1959.wendouree municiple centre opening 20th november 1959, ballarat shire council, troup w macg j p, councilor 1959

Councilor T.W.Ford was elected as a member of council in 1955 and served till 1975. He served a term as Shire President in 1964-65.Section of Original Historic photo of all Councilors for the year 1959.Councilor T.W.Ford,sepia photo,(rectangular),on white mount,situated right hand side,bottom row of composite photo of councilors for 1959Presented to Ballarat Shire Council, by Shire President Charles Edward "Ted" Brown to commemorate the opening of the Wendouree Municiple Centre on 20th November 1959.ballarat shire council 1959, wendouree municiple centre opening 20th november 1959, ford t w

This photos shows Shire President R.T.White (J.P.) and councilors /staff H.J.Wheeler,J.P.Slattery,(J.P.),S.G.Spittle,M.J.Ryan,(J.P.),D.Baird,(J.P.),J.C.Walton,R.W.Crosthwaite,(J.P.),Mr A Graham,(Pres.Cor.),A.Pickford,W.A.Rain,(Secretary and Engineer, and W. Powell for the Presidential year 1942-43.Original Historic Photo of all Councilors and Staff for the year 1942-43.Sepia photo in dark brown frame and brown mount,with shaped white mount around central photo of Shire President R.T.White(rectangular),depicts all councilors for the year 1942-43.Presented to the Ballarat Shire Council by Couincilor R.T.White,(J.P.).President 1942-1943.president, white, r t j p, ballarat shire council 1942 1943

This photo depicts Shire President J.Dickie Esq.J.P.1911-12,and councilors J.Baird,(J.P),J.Feery (J.P),D.Walton,(J.P),J.Mitchell,(J.P.)M.Ryan,(J.P.).H.W.Symons (J.P.),J.Troup,T.Jones,(Secretary and Engineer)H.T.Hughes,(Rate Collector) and R.L.Medwell.It was presented to the Ballarat Shire Council by President J.Dickie.Esq.J.P. Original Historic Photo or 1911-12.Photo depicting President J.Dickie and councilors.Set in light brown frame with decorative sculpture on inner edge, mount is a light pinkish tan and decorated with white/blue/brown decorative features. Presented to the Ballarat Shire Council.J.Dickie Esq. J.P. President, 1911-12.ballarat shire council, medwell r l, ryan m, mitchell j, symons h w, dickie j esq j p, 1911 12, feery j, walton d, troup j, jones t secretary engineer, hughes h t rate collector, baird j

Mr W.R.Sara was a member of the Learmonth ANA Branch no 75 in 1912Original photo of all Learmonth ANA Branch No 75 members 1912.Black and white photo (oval) Is of Mr. W.R.Sara,set in a brown woodgrain mount with decorative features above in white, his name is encribed at the bottom.It is placed on the top row, fourth from left, and forms part of a collection of photos of all Learmonth ANA Branch No 75 members in 1912. LEARMONTH ANA BRANCH NO 75,PRESENTED TO C.MEDWELL ESQ. BY HIS FELLOW MEMBERS AS A MARK OF ESTEEM AORECIATION OF VALUABLE SERVICES RENDERED TO THE BRANCH AS SECRETARY. LEARMONTH 1912.learmonth ana branch no 75, w r sara 1912

In 1912 W.McCubbin was a member of the Learmonth ANA Branch No 75.Photo is part of original collection of photos showing all members of the Learmonth ANA Branch No75 in 1912.Black and white photo is of W.McCubbin. It is oval and set in a brown woodgrain look mount.Around the photo are decorative features painted in white with his name inscribed at the base.It is at the left of the bottom row in a collection of photos showing all members of the Learmonth ANA Branch No 75 in 1912.LEARMONTH ANA BRANCH NO 75,PRSENTED TO C. MEDWELL ESQ. BY HIS FELLOW MEMBERS AS A MARK OF ESTEEM & APPRECIATION OF VALUABLE SERVICES RENDERED TO THE BRANCH AS SECRETARY. LEARMONTH 1912.w mccubbin 1912, learmonth ana branch no75

In 1912 Mr. W.H,Lang served as a member of the Learmonth ANA Branch No75.This photo is part of the original set which shows all members of Learmonth ANA Branch No 75 in 1912.Black and white photo is of Mr.W.H.Lang.Oval in shape it is set in a brown woodgrain look mount with decorative features in white/black around cutout.His name is inscribed in white at the base of photo.It is in the third row and second from right and is part of a collection of photos depicting all 1912 members of Learmonth ANA Branch No 75.LEARMONTH ANA BRANCH NO 75,PRESENTED TO C.MEDWELL ESQ. BY HIS FELLOW MEMBERS AS A MARK OF ESTEEM & APPRECIATION OF VALUABLE SERVICES RENDERED TO THE BRANCH AS SECRETARY. LEARMONTH 1912.w h lang 1912, learmonth ana branch no 75

In 1912 Mr W.D.Sara was the Auditor and a member of the Learmonth ANA Branch No 75. This photo is part of the original collection of photos showing all members of Learmonth ANA Branch No 75 in 1912.Black and white photo of Mr. W.D.Sara,(oval),set in a brown woodgrain look mount.It is surounded by decorative features painted in white and his name and position is inscribed at the base in white. It is fourth from the right in the fourth row and is part of a collection of photos showing all members of the Learmonth ANA Branch No 75 in 1912.LEARMONTH ANA BRANCH NO 75. PRESENTED TO C.MEDWELL ESQ.BY HIS FELLOW MEMBERS AS A MARK OF ESTEEM & APPRCIATION OF VALUABLE SERVICES RENDERED TO THE BRANCH AS SECRETARY. LEARMONTH 1912.w d sara auditor 1912, learmonth ana branch no 75

In 1912 Mr. W.T.Hamilton was a serving member of the Learmonth ANA Branch No 75,and held the position of Auditor.This photo is a section of the original collection of photos showing all 1912 members of the Learmonth ANA Branch No75.Black and white photo,(oval),is of Mr. W.T. Hamilton.It is set in a brown woodgrain look mount and is surounded by decorative features painted in white. His name and position held is inscribed at the base of photo.It is in the fourth row and third from right and is part of a collection of photos showing all 1912 members of the Learmonth ANA Branch No 75.LEARMONTH ANA BRANCH NO 75.PRESENTED TO C.MEDWELL ESQ.BY HIS FELLOW MEMBERS AS A MARK OF ESTEEM & APPRECIATION OF VALUABLE SERVICES RENDERED TO THE BRANCH AS SECRETARY. LEARMONTH 1912.w t hamilton, auditor learmonth ana branch no 75 1912

The Percy Uebergang family lived at Tooram Park, Allansford from 1912 until 1992. Percy and Myrtle Uebergang's children were twins, Ray and Joyce born in 1926 who lived at Tooram Park until their deaths, Ray in 1986 and Joyce in 1992. Neither Ray nor Joyce married and following the death of her brother Joyce set up the Ray and Joyce Uebergang Foundation which supports the local community. This letter book is part of the collection of items given into the care of the Cheese World Museum. It relates to his farm at Briarwood, Cudgee. Blue hard covered exercise book with bone-coloured binding and a white label on the front. The pages have blue lines.Copy of Letters/P W Uebergangpercy uebergang, tooram park, allansford, cudgee, letter books

In 1912 Mr. W.W.Walker was a member of the Learmonth ANA Branch No 75. This photo is part of the original collection of photos showing all 1912 Learmonth ANA Branch No 75.Black and white photo is of Mr. W.W.Walker.It is set in a brown woodgrain look mount rectangular with a shaped top.Third from right in bottom row ,it is part of a collection of photos showing all 1912 members of the Learmonth ANA B ranch No 75.LEARMONTH BRANCH NO 75.PRESENTED TO C.MEDWELL,ESQ.BY HIS FELLOW MEMBERS AS A MARK OF ESTEEM & APPRECIATION OF VALUABLE SERVICES RENDERED TO THE BRANCH AS SECRETARY.LEARMONTH 1912.w w walker 1912, learmonth ana branch no 75

This is a photograph of the Marlo Primary School in its original location in Argyle Street, approximately opposite the Marlo Hotel. This small school was opened in 1902 to provide education to local children. A b/w photo of 8 children standing in front of a fence and timber building with a brick chimney on the right hand side. A sign in black lettering on to a white background can be seen on the building. This reads STATE SCHOOL No. 3433.On back of photo are the words; Marlo Schooleducation, marlo

Orbost has had a croquet club since early 20th Century, but this photo does not appear to be of Orbost. It could be an event attended by Orbost croquet club players in another location. A b/w photograph of ladies with croquet sticks on a grass rink. Two white lines across the photo indicating a rink. Some buildings in the background.On back of photo: 'Croquet Club'recreation, sports, croquet

This photograph is of a group of Orbost children and a Catholic Priest, Fr. Spiteri, taken in association with a ceremony of confirmation at St Josephs Catholic Church, Orbost. The building in the background is the nunnery/priest's residence in Browning Street, Orbost. This building is still in existence (2023) though now privately owned. It is located adjacent to the Catholic Church. Indicated the continuing significance of the Catholic Church in Orbost. A b/w photograph of 12 children and one man. This group of people is posted in front of tree and a two-story building in the background. The man is dressed in black with a white collar and the children have white dresses and white shirts and black trousers. Many of the girls are wearing white veils over their hair.On back of photo: Back row L-R Cheryl Fourter, Tony Fourter, Sharon Barr, Father Spiteri, Fred Jonkers, Catherine Murphy, Tom Robinson. Front row L-R Josephine McMahon, Michael Young, Louise Shanahan, John Sanna, Geoffrey Fourterst josephs catholic church, orbost

Orbost Primary School was established in 1886 in Ruskin Street and functioned on a half-time basis with Jarrahmond Primary School.an original photograph of this schoolA b/w photograph of a weather-board building, with the words STATE SCHOOL No. 2744 printed in black onto a white board located near the top of the building. Three children in foreground. The photograph has been pasted onto a card which has the words Wishing You a Merry Christmas in gold lettering below the photograph.as aboveorbost, education, orbost primary school

Albert (Abby) Trewin (b.21.03.1876 d. 01.07.1970) was part of the Trewin family who were early settlers at Jarrahmond near Orbost. Albert was born at Kingston near Ballarat, shifted to Jarrahmond where the house was called "Hillview", located 3 miles from Orbost on the B Road. The Trewin selection at Jarrahmond had many big trees on it and because these looked a bit like Jarrah trees from Western Australia, they names their property Jarrahmond (which became the district location and the name of Jarrahmond School). He cleared the land with bullocks, horses, crosscut saws, burned the stumps, burying some logs which were too big to burn. Then they milked cows, planted maize, had pigs, drove the pigs to Bairnsdale or to Waygara (c. 1915 when the train reached Waygara) on a buggy track through the bush. Pigs went to Dandenong Bacon Factory where they were processed into Dandy Ham. This photograph appears to be c.1950s - 1960s.A photograph of one of Jarrahmond's earliest settlers.B/W photograph of a man walking along a footpath. He is wearing a hat and has a walking stick in his right hand. He is wearing braces, white long-sleeved shirt, striped tie, glasses, polished black shoes. Behind him are vehicles and buildings (shops). jarrahmond, farming

This medal for bravery, for rescue of the crew from the shipwreck “Eric the Red” on 4th September 1880, was awarded to one of the crew of the steamer S.S. Dawn by the President of the United States in July 1881. The medal is engraved with the name “Nelson Johnson” (the anglicised version of his Swedish name Neils Frederick Yohnson). It was donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in 2013 by Nelson’s granddaughter. Nelson had migrated from Sweden to Sydney in 1879. The next year in 1880, aged 24, he was a seaman on the steamship Dawn and involved in the rescue of the survivors of the Eric the Red. Nelson Johnson was a crew member of the S.S. Dawn and was one of the rescue team in the dinghy in the early morning of September 4th 1880. Medals were awarded to the Captain and crew of the S.S. Dawn by the President of the United States, through the Consul-general (Mr Oliver M. Spencer), in July 1881 “ … in recognition of their humane efforts in rescuing the 23 survivors of the American built wooden sailing ship, the Eric the Red, on 4th September 1880.” The men were also presented with substantial monetary rewards and gifts. The city of Warrnambool’s care of the survivors was also mentioned by the President at the presentation, saying that “the city hosted and supported the crew ‘most graciously’. Previously, a week after the shipwreck, the Australian Government had also conveyed its thanks to the Captain and crew of the S.S. Dawn “Captain Griffith Jones, S.S. Dawn, The Hon. Mr Clark desires that the thanks of the Government should be conveyed to you for the prompt, persevering and seamanlike qualities displayed by you, your officers and crew in saving the number of lives you did on the occasion referred to. The hon. The Commissioner has also been pleased to award you a souvenir in commemoration of the occasion, and a sum of 65 pounds to be awarded to your officers and crew according to annexed scale. I am, &c, W Collins Rees, for and in the absence of the Chief Harbour Master.” The Awards are as follows: - Crew of DAWN'S lifeboat-Chief Officer, Mr G. Peat, 15 pounds; boat's crew-G. Sterge, A.B., 5 pounds; T. Hammond, A.B., 5 pounds; J. Black, A.B., 5 pounds; H. Edwards, A.B., 5 pounds. Dinghy's Crew-Second Officer, Mr Christie, 10 pounds; boat's crew -F. Lafer, A.B., 5 pounds; W. Johnstone, A.B., 5 pounds; Mr Lear, provedore, 5 pounds; Mr Dove, purser, 5 pounds. Captain Jones receives a piece of plate. (from “Wreck of the ship Eric the Red” by Jack Loney) The medal’s history, according to the Editor of ‘E-Sylum’ (the newsletter of The Numismatic Bibliomania Society “… appears to be an example of an 1880 State Department medal, catalogued as LS-3 (page 322 of R. W. Julian's book, Medals of the United States Mint: The First Century 1792-1892). The reverse is mostly blank for engraving, surrounded by a thin wreath. It was designed by George Morgan, chief engraver for the Philadelphia Mint, and struck in gold, silver and bronze. The one pictured here (in The Standard newspaper, 2nd July 2013) appears to be silver.” The following is an account of the events which led to the awarding of this medal. The American ship Eric the Red was a wooden, three-masted clipper ship. She had 1,580 tons register and was the largest full-rigged ship built at Bath, Maine, USA in 1871. She was built and registered by Arthur Sewall, later to become the partnership E. & A. Sewall, the 51st ship built by this company. The annually-published List of Merchant Vessels of the U.S. shows Bath was still the home port of Eric the Red in 1880. The vessel was named after the Viking discoverer, Eric ‘the Red-haired’ Thorvaldsson, who was the first European to reach the shores of North America (in 980AD). The ship Eric the Red at first traded in coal between America and Britain, and later traded in guano nitrates from South America. In 1879 she was re-metalled and was in first-class condition. On 10th June 1880 (some records say 12th June) Eric the Red departed New York for Melbourne and then Sydney. She had been commissioned by American trade representatives to carry a special cargo of 500 exhibits (1400 tons) – about a quarter to a third of America’s total exhibits - for the U.S.A. pavilion at Melbourne’s first International Exhibition. The exhibits included furniture, ironmongery, wines, chemicals, dental and surgical instruments, paper, cages, bronze lamp trimmings, axles, stamped ware, astronomical and time globes, samples of corn and the choicest of leaf tobacco. Other general cargo included merchandise such as cases of kerosene and turpentine, brooms, Bristol's Sarsaparilla, Wheeler and Wilson sewing machines, Wheeler’s thresher machine, axe handles and tools, cases of silver plate, toys, pianos and organs, carriages and Yankee notions. The Eric the Red left New York under the command of Captain Zaccheus Allen (or some records say Captain Jacques Allen) and 24 other crew including the owner’s son third mate Ned Sewall. There were also 2 saloon passengers on board. The ship had been sailing for an uneventful 85 days and the voyage was almost at its end. As Eric the Red approached Cape Otway there was a moderate north-west wind and a hazy and overcast atmosphere. On 4th September 1880 at about 1:30 am Captain Allen sighted the Cape Otway light and was keeping the ship 5-6 miles offshore to stay clear of the hazardous Otway Reef. However, he had badly misjudged his position. The ship hit the Otway Reef about 2 miles out to sea, southwest of the Cape Otway light station. Captain Allen ordered the wheel to be put ‘hard up’ thinking that she might float off the reef. The sea knocked the helmsman away from the wheel, broke the wheel ropes and carried away the rudder. The lifeboats were swamped, the mizzenmast fell, with all of its riggings, then the mainmast also fell and the ship broke in two. Some said that the passenger Vaughan, who was travelling for his health and not very strong, was washed overboard and never seen again. The ship started breaking up. The forward house came adrift with three of the crew on it as well as a longboat, which the men succeeded in launching and keeping afloat by continually bailing with their sea boots. The captain, the third mate (the owner’s son) and others clung to the mizzenmast in the sea. Then the owner’s son was washed away off the mast. Within 10 minutes the rest of the ship was in pieces, completely wrecked, with cargo and wreckage floating in the sea. The captain encouraged the second mate to swim with him to the deckhouse where there were other crew but the second mate wouldn’t go with him. Eventually, the Captain made it to the deckhouse and the men pulled him up. At about 4:30 am the group of men on the deckhouse saw the lights of a steamer and called for help. At the same time, they noticed the second mate and the other man had drifted nearby, still on the spur, and pulled them both onto the wreck. The coastal steamer SS Dawn was returning to Warrnambool from Melbourne, and its sailing time was different to its usual schedule. She was built in 1876 and bought by the Portland and Belfast Steam Navigation Co. in 1877. At the time of this journey, she was commanded by Captain Jones and was sailing between Melbourne and Portland via Warrnambool. The provedore the Dawn, Benjamin Lear, heard cries of distress coming through the portholes of the saloon. He gave the alarm and the engines were stopped. Cries could be heard clearly, coming from the land. Captain Jones sent out crew in two boats and fired off rockets and blue lights to illuminate the area. They picked up the three survivors who were in the long boat from Eric the Red. Two men were picked up out of the water, one being the owner’s son who was clinging to floating kerosene boxes. At daylight, the Dawn then rescued the 18 men from the floating portion of the deckhouse, which had drifted about 4 miles from where they’d struck the reef. Shortly after the rescue the deckhouse drifted onto breakers and was thrown onto rocks at Point Franklin, about 2 miles east of Cape Otway. Captain Jones had signalled to Cape Otway lighthouse the number of the Eric the Red and later signalled that there was a wreck at Otway Reef but there was no response from the lighthouse. The captain and crew of the Dawn spent several more hours searching unsuccessfully for more survivors, even going back as far as Apollo Bay. On board the Dawn the exhausted men received care and attention to their needs and wants, including much-needed clothing. Captain Allen was amongst the 23 battered and injured men who were rescued and later taken to Warrnambool for care. Warrnambool’s mayor and town clerk offered them all hospitality, the three badly injured men going to the hospital for care and others to the Olive Branch Hotel, then on to Melbourne. Captain Allen’s leg injury prevented him from going ashore so he and three other men travelled on the Dawn to Portland. They were met by the mayor who also treated them all with great kindness. Captain Allen took the train back to Melbourne then returned to America. Those saved were Captain Zaccheus Allen (or Jacques Allen), J. Darcy chief mate, James F. Lawrence second mate, Ned Sewall third mate and owner’s son, John French the cook, C. Nelson sail maker, Clarence W. New passenger, and able seamen Dickenson, J. Black, Denis White, C. Herbert, C. Thompson, A. Brooks, D. Wilson, J. Ellis, Q. Thompson, C. Newman, W. Paul, J. Davis, M. Horenleng, J. Ogduff, T. W. Drew, R. Richardson. Four men had lost their lives; three of them were crew (Gus Dahlgreen ship’s carpenter, H. Ackman steward, who drowned in his cabin, and George Silver seaman) and one a passenger (J. B. Vaughan). The body of one of them had been found washed up at Cape Otway and was later buried in the lighthouse cemetery; another body was seen on an inaccessible ledge. Twelve months later the second mate James F. Lawrence, from Nova Scotia passed away in the Warrnambool district; an obituary was displayed in the local paper. Neither the ship nor its cargo was insured. The ship was worth about £15,000 and the cargo was reportedly worth £40,000; only about £2,000 worth had been recovered. Cargo and wreckage washed up at Apollo Bay, Peterborough, Port Campbell, Western Port and according to some reports, even as far away as the beaches of New Zealand. The day after the wreck the government steamship Pharos was sent from Queenscliff to clear the shipping lanes of debris that could be a danger to ships. The large midship deckhouse of the ship was found floating in a calm sea near Henty Reef. Items such as an American chair, a ladder and a nest of boxes were all on top of the deckhouse. As it was so large and could cause danger to passing ships, Captain Payne had the deckhouse towed towards the shore just beyond Apollo Bay. Between Apollo Bay and Blanket Bay, the captain and crew of Pharos collected Wheeler and Wilson sewing machines, nests of boxes, bottles of Bristol’s sarsaparilla, pieces of common American chairs, axe handles, a Wheelers’ Patent thresher and a sailor’s trunk with the words “A. James” on the front. A ship’s flag-board bearing the words “Eric the Red” was found on the deckhouse; finally, those on board the Pharos had the name of the wrecked vessel. During this operation, Pharos came across the government steamer Victoria and also a steamer S.S. Otway, both of which were picking up flotsam and wreckage. A whole side of the hull and three large pieces of the other side of the hull, with some of the copper sheathing stripped off, had floated onto Point Franklin. Some of the vessels' yards and portions of her masts were on shore. The pieces of canvas attached to the yards and masts confirmed that the vessel had been under sail. The beach there was piled with debris several feet high. There were many cases of Diamond Oil kerosene, labelled R. W. Cameron and Company, New York. There were also many large planks of red pine, portions of a small white boat and a large, well-used oar. Other items found ashore included sewing machines (some consigned to ‘Long and Co.”) and notions, axe and scythe handles, hay forks, wooden pegs, rolls of wire (some branded “T.S” and Co, Melbourne”), kegs of nails branded “A.T. and Co.” from the factory of A. Field and Son, Taunton, Massachusetts, croquet balls and mallets, buggy fittings, rat traps, perfumery, cutlery and Douay Bibles, clocks, bicycles, chairs, a fly wheel, a cooking stove, timber, boxes, pianos, organs and a ladder. (Wooden clothes pegs drifted in for many years). There seemed to be no personal luggage or clothing. The Pharos encountered a long line, about one and a half miles, of f locating wreckage about 10 miles off land, southeast of Cape Otway, and in some places about 40 feet wide. It seemed that more than half of it was from Eric the Red. The ship’s crew rescued 3 cases that were for the Melbourne Exhibition and other items from amongst the debris. There were also chairs, doors, musical instruments, washing boards, nests of trunks and flycatchers floating in the sea. Most of the goods were saturated and smelt of kerosene. A section of the hull lies buried in the sand at Parker River Beach. An anchor with a chain is embedded in the rocks east of Point Franklin and a second anchor, thought to be from Eric the Red, is on display at the Cape Otway light station. (There is a photograph of a life belt on the verandah of Rivernook Guest House in Princetown with the words “ERIC THE RED / BOSTON”. This is rather a mystery as the ship was registered in Bath, Maine, USA.) Parts of the ship are on display at Bimbi Park Caravan Park and at Apollo Bay Museum. Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village also has part of the helm (steering wheel), a carved wooden sword (said to be the only remaining portion of the ship’s figurehead; further research is currently being carried out), a door, a metal rod, samples of wood and this medal awarded for the rescue of the crew. Much of the wreckage was recovered by the local residents before police and other authorities arrived at the scene. Looters went to great effort to salvage goods, being lowered down the high cliff faces to areas with little or no beach to collect items from the wreckage, their mates above watching out for dangerous waves. A Tasmanian newspaper reports on a court case in Stawell, Victoria, noting a man who was caught 2 months later selling tobacco from the wreckage of Eric the Red. Some of the silverware is still treasured by descendants of Mr Mackenzie who was given these items by officials for his help in securing the cargo. The gifts included silver coffee and teapots, half a dozen silver serviette rings and two sewing machines. A Mr G.W. Black has in his possession a medal and a purse that was awarded to his father, another Dawn crew member who was part of the rescue team. The medal is similarly inscribed and named “To John Black ….” (from “Shipwrecks” by Margaret E. Mackenzie, 3rd edition, published 1964). The wreck and cargo were sold to a Melbourne man who salvaged a quantity of high-quality tobacco and dental and surgical instruments. Timbers from the ship were salvaged and used in the construction of houses and shed around Apollo Bay, including a guest house, Milford House (since burnt down in bushfires), which had furniture, fittings and timber on the dining room floor from the ship. A 39.7-foot-long trading ketch, the Apollo, was also built from its timbers by Mr Burgess in 1883 and subsequently used in Tasmanian waters. It was the first attempt at shipbuilding in Apollo Bay. In 1881 a red light was installed about 300 feet above sea level at the base of the Cape Otway lighthouse to warn ships when they were too close to shore; It would not be visible unless a ship came within 3 miles from it. This has proved to be an effective warning. Nelson Johnson married Elizabeth Howard in 1881 and they had 10 children, the father of the medal’s donor being the youngest. They lived in 13 Tichbourne Place, South Melbourne, Victoria. Nelson died in 1922 in Fitzroy Victoria, age 66. In 1895 the owners of the S.S. Dawn, the Portland and Belfast Steam Navigation Co., wound up and sold out to the Belfast Company who took over the Dawn for one year before selling her to Howard Smith. She was condemned and sunk in Suva in 1928. The State Library of Victoria has a lithograph in its collection depicting the steamer Dawn and the shipwrecked men, titled. "Wreck of the ship Eric the Red, Cape Otway: rescue of the crew by the Dawn". The medal for bravery is associated with the ship the “The Eric the Red which is historically significant as one of Victoria's major 19th century shipwrecks. (Heritage Victoria Eric the Red; HV ID 239) The wreck led to the provision of an additional warning light placed below the Cape Otway lighthouse to alert mariners to the location of Otway Reef. The site is archaeologically significant for its remains of a large and varied cargo and ship's fittings being scattered over a wide area. The site is recreationally and aesthetically significant as it is one of the few sites along this coast where tourists can visit identifiable remains of a large wooden shipwreck, and for its location set against the background of Cape Otway, Bass Strait, and the Cape Otway lighthouse.“ (Victorian Heritage Database Registration Number S239, Official Number 8745 USA) This medal was awarded to Nelson Johnson by the U.S. President for bravery in the rescue of the Eric the Red crew. The obverse of the round, solid silver medal has an inscription around the rim. In the centre of the medal is the head of Liberty to the left, hair in a bun, with a sprig of leaves in the top left of a band around her head. There is a 6-pointed star below the portrait, between the start and end of the inscription. There are two raised areas on the rim, horizontally opposite each other, from the edge to just below the lettering and coinciding with the holes drilled in the edge. Slightly right of the top is a round indentation in the rim. The reverse has a wreath of leaves as a border, joined at the bottom by a ribbon bow. In the centre of the medal is an inscription, decorated with 3-pronged design and dots. The edge is plain with 2 small, rough and uneven holes horizontally opposite to each other, as though they had been used for mounting the medal at some stage. The medal has a matte finish on both sides and is slightly pitted and scratched.“PRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES” around the perimeter of the obverse of the medal. “TO / Nelson Johnson, / seaman of the British, / str “Dawn”, for bravery, / at risk of life, / in / rescuing the crew of / the American Ship / “Eric the Red.” “M” on obverse, truncation of the portraitwarrnambool, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime village, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, shipwreck artefact, eric the red, zaccheus allen, sewall, 1880, melbourne exhibition, cape otway, otway reef, victorian shipwreck, medal, nelson johnson, neils frederick yohnson, s.s. dawn, george morgan, hero

A mass produced utilitarian item believed to have been made for domestic use in the Stoke-on-Trent area of England, no history or manufacturing provenance currently available makers mark unable to be identified at this time. Over 1500 pottery firms have operated in Stoke-on-Trent since the early 1700's - Some lasted only a few years and some for well over 200 years. Some potters built and owned their own works. Many others were tenants in works built by others and a succession of potters occupied the same works. It was also a common practice for a works to be split between two different pottery companies or for a larger manufacturer to let out a smaller section of his works to a potter who would make wares which were not of interest to the pot works owner. Some potters purchased 'blanks' from other manufacturers and put their own decoration on them some items have two back stamps. All this adds to the confusion and frustration of trying to trace details of a particular manufacturer such as the subject item.Item at this time cannot be associated with an historical event, person or place, provenance is undetermined, item assessed as a collection asset given it was produced before 1950.Toilet article container base, porcelain with blue decoration on white backgroundRd No 58105 (year 1911) Orchid W.& W. on baseflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, toilet container base, toilet article, grooming article