The Orungal was originally built in Glasgow in 1923 for the Khedival Mail Steamship & Graving Dock Company of Egypt and named the S.S. Fezara. Due to the effects on steamship companies of the Great Depression including the steep costs of building new ships and increases in running costs and port charges, no new passenger ships had been ordered in Australia since before World War One. To meet demand for passenger berths, the Fezara (5826 tons) along with its sister ship the Famaka (5856 tons, renamed Ormiston), were chartered by the Australasian United Steam Navigation Company Ltd (A.U.S.N.Co.) in 1927. Both the A.U.S.N.Co and the Khedival Mail Steamship Co. were part of the P&O Group. The Orungal operated in this role as an interstate passenger and mail steamer between 1927 and 1940, being used mainly on the Melbourne to Queensland and Western Australian runs, with 240 single class berths. Following the outbreak of World War Two six of the nine large passenger liners servicing mainland Australian passenger and mail trades were requisitioned by the Government to ferry equipment, troops and supplies. Some of them were converted to armed merchant cruisers and used for patrol work and escort duties in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The Orungal had originally been requisitioned by the government along with the Zealandia on 25 June 1940, to transport troops to Darwin, but was returned to commercial service because "of her unsuitability", perhaps too slow for the demands of the work. Despite being rejected for patrol and convoy duties the Orungal still had a vital role as one of only three passenger liners left to service the mainland Australian trade. Following its requisitioning by the Government shortly after war broke out, it had been fitted out with defensive armament. On its final voyage arriving at Port Phillip Heads from Sydney, Captain Gilling was attempting to enter the Heads ahead of a worsening south-westerly storm and, with a minefield known to have been laid in the area, had been warned by the Navy not to deviate from the swept channel. The captain and crew held fears that in the stormy seas a mine may have been carried away. In the worsening weather a blur of lights at Barwon Heads was mistaken for Port Lonsdale, and the Orungal steamed ashore onto Formby Reef, just east of the entrance of the Barwon River - instead of passing safely through the middle of the Rip. At the Marine Board Inquiry Capt. Gilling - who had been master of the Orungal since 1926 - stated that after becoming uneasy about his position and changing course to starboard one point: " At 10.21 pm I ordered the engine room to stand by and gave instructions for the patent log to be hauled in and for the sounding-gear to be got ready. Approximately two minutes later, in a flash of lightning, I saw land off the port beam. I immediately recognised it as Barwon Heads, and ordered the helm to be put hard to starboard, but the vessel struck before she had time to answer the helm" Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove residents were startled to hear the shrill blast of the ship's whistle, followed by the bright flares and explosions of signal rockets. The Queenscliff lifeboat crew, who had responded to the tragic collision between the Goorangai and another passenger liner the Duntroon in Port Phillip Bay less than 24 hours earlier, were later praised for their efforts in safely taking off all the passengers and crew. Most of the passengers were asleep at the time of the wreck, and were woken up by the commotion, the ship shaking "from stem to stern" and stewards ordering them to lifeboat stations in driving rain. It was a dramatic time with the ship siren wailing and distress rockets being fired. It was reported that "When it was found the ship was safe, the passengers all went to the music room. There they sang and danced for several hours. The ship's orchestra played merrily, and amateur performers among the passengers clowned, danced and sang to keep the laughter going. In the early hours of the morning passengers went to their cabins, most of them to sleep soundly while the keel grated on the rocks". At dawn the Queenscliff lifeboat arrived at the scene having been launched at 2.30am, and cautiously approached the ship which was being "battered by mountainous seas". By 5am oil from a burst oil line was helping to calm seas around the Orungal sufficiently enough for the lifeboat to approach, and all the passengers and crew were taken off in several trips by the lifeboat. A Court of Inquiry later found that the wreck was caused by an abnormal set of current to the north-west and cleared the officers and crew of neglect of duty. The sight of a huge liner almost on the beach saw an unprecedented amount of traffic as people drove an estimated 10,000 cars, using some 60,000 gallons of fuel in a time of strict petrol rationing, to see the spectacle. Salvage operations began in an attempt to refloat the vessel, scheduled for the high tide on 15 December 1940. However, during these operations, at 2.30 am on 13 December 1940, a major fire broke out, believed to have been caused by spontaneous combustion in the boiler room. The ship was soon ablaze, with smoke pouring from its hatches and ventilators, and at mid-morning the magazine exploded fiercely. Of the 60 men working aboard the vessel two were severely burned and had to be taken to Geelong Hospital. The gathered spectators witnessed the eerie sight of the ship's hull glowing red when night fell. The well-known building demolition contractor Whelan the Wrecker bought the salvage rights, and methodically proceeded to dismantle the ship and its fittings. The drama was not yet over for the wreckers when - without warning - the burnt-out hulk was 'attacked' by RAAF for strafing practice. Salvage rights were transferred to another private owner in 1963. By 1945 the combined effects of the exposed location, fire and salvage had seen what was left of the wreck disappear beneath the waves. The site today is marked by two of the four Scotch type boilers sitting upright and exposed at low tide, just north-east of the small boats channel at the entrance to Barwon Heads. Large sections of steel hull plating and framing, and impressively large pieces of ships structure and machinery including masts, booms, deck winches, propeller shaft, flywheel, and a thrust block lie scattered about and make the site an interesting shallow dive. It is interesting to compare the site of the Orungal with the intact remains of similar large passenger ships scuttled in deep water in the Ships' Graveyard, such as the Milora and Malaita. The site is subject to waves and surge, and is best dived on flat calm days The teacup originated from the SS Orungal and was likely used heavily in the ship's life as a passenger, mail and cargo carrier around Australia. The teacup is significant for its connections to SS Orungal and of this ships connected story of being sunk in extraordinary circumstances in the local region. A.U.S.N. Co. Ltd. Teacup salvaged from SS Orungal ss orungal, fezara, world war two, barwon heads, ocean grove

Mechanics Institute Main Street Stawell. Used for many years as the library. Colour photo c1970s. Built in 1875 after the previous institute was damaged by fire in 1874. Architect Mr. George Inskip. Previous wooden institute destroyed by fire in 1866. McKellar Building in background. Hairdresser and Grampians real estate signs visible.Angle on photograph of Mechanics Institute Building. Cars parked in street in Foreground. Hairdresser and Grampians real estate signs visible.Mechanics Institute 1875stawell streetscape

VRI located in Wakeham Street. Photo of building taken 60/6/1982 after fire. Hall was destroyed by fire Friday May 29th 1981.transport, railways

Old Fire Stationstawell buildings

Looking up Byrne Street toward fire Stationbuildings

Photo taken circa 1890 shows the building owned by the Torquay Improvement Association believed to have been used as Torquay's "Town Hall", and also as a school from 1899 until a new school was built in early 1900's. The building was destroyed by the devastating fire of 1940.Torquay's first "Town Hall", an early community initiative,Black and white copy photo

Photo sent to Mary Jack, Pittsburgh USA, by Charles Schwerkolt. Accompanying text by Charles - 'This is the end facing Ernie's old house which was burnt down last year. There is also the remains of the old well. The old smoke house used to be down there also. All these things have disappeared a long time ago. The house is the only thing that remains of the Schwerkolt property. The wine cellars and other buildings fell down years ago after the bush fires burnt the wooden supports. You will notice the toilet has about 3 boards off the top. The old water tank is hiding the back.Black and white photo of Schwerkolt Cottage showing Old Well, Toilet (with boards missing) and Old Water Tank. Thin Black Border.schwerkolt, charles clarence victor, whalen, rosalie, jackschowsky, mary elizabeth, schwerkolt cottage

Brick was made for ventilation of buildings by the Builder's Trading and Roofing Co (Formerly the Monarch Brick & Tile Co). Rooks Road, Mitcham.Dark glazed and fired terracotta ventilation brick with 15 holes moulded in the centre.ceramics, terracotta

No. 1 Parade, No. 2 Grahams Buildings, No. 3 Parade and Band, No. 4 Fire Brigade, No. 5 Fire Brigade, No. 6 Fire Brigade,6 black and white photographs on a page from an album. Taken at the "Back to Rutherglen" Easter 1948.back to rutherglen, parade, fire brigade, grahams buildings

One of a group of photographs salvaged from a fire, which took place in late 2007 or early 2008, at the cellars building that is now the home of the Rutherglen Estate tasting rooms and the Tuileries restaurant and accommodation. The building started as the cellars of D.G. Hamilton, and passed through the hands of Seppelts, before coming under its present ownership.Badly fire damaged black and white photograph of the front of a wine cellar.On front of building: "D. G. Hamiltons"d g hamilton, rutherglen estates, tuileries, wine cellars, fires

Believed to have been taken sometime in the 1920s. An enthusiast could probably date the photo by the fire engine.Black and white photographic postcard showing a parade in Main Street, Rutherglen. The building at the center of the photograph is the Victoria Hotel. The men near the front of the hotel, in white robes, are members of the Druid lodge. The firetruck is from the New South Wales Fire Brigade.main street rutherglen, parades, victoria hotel, druids

One of a group of photographs salvaged from a fire, which took place in late 2007 or early 2008, at the cellars building that is now the home of the Rutherglen Estate tasting rooms and the Tuileries restaurant and accommodation. The building started as the cellars of D.G. Hamilton, and passed through the hands of Seppelts, before coming under its present ownership.Fire damaged black and white photograph of the front of a wine cellar.On front of building: "D. G. Hamiltons"d g hamilton, rutherglen estates, tuileries, wine cellars, fires

One of a group of photographs salvaged from a fire, which took place in late 2007 or early 2008, at the cellars building that is now the home of the Rutherglen Estate tasting rooms and the Tuileries restaurant and accommodation. The building started as the cellars of D.G. Hamilton, and passed through the hands of Seppelts, before coming under its present ownership.Fire damaged black and white photograph of the front of a wine cellar.On front of building: "D. G. Hamiltons" At bottom of photo: "Hamilton & Sons, Clydeside Cellars"d g hamilton, rutherglen estates, tuileries, wine cellars, fires, clydeside cellars

One of a group of photographs salvaged from a fire, which took place in late 2007 or early 2008, at the cellars building that is now the home of the Rutherglen Estate tasting rooms and the Tuileries restaurant and accommodation. The building started as the cellars of D.G. Hamilton, and passed through the hands of Seppelts, before coming under its present ownership.Colour postcard photograph of the front of a wine cellar.On front of building: "Seppelts Rutherglen Winery" On back of card: "Rutherglen Victoria. One of the Seppelt chain of wineries, with its distinctive date palms" d g hamilton, rutherglen estates, tuileries, wine cellars, fires, clydeside cellars, seppelts

Newspaper article from the Border Mail of Wednesday, 14th February 2018, page 11. Article is about the heritage listed Vidal Cellars, now owned and being restored by Jim Kelty. Restorations are to be continued in spite of the plans having been destroyed in a fire.Newspaper article about restorations and fire at Vidal Cellars, with two colour photographsvidal cellars, jim kelty, fires