Showing 2306 items
matching 1860
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Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, MURRAY, Rev. Thos. Boyles, Pitcairn : the island, the people, and the pastor : to which is added a short notice of the original settlement and present condition of Norfolk Island, 1860?
Inscribed 'C.H. Cresswell'. -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, BARTHOLOMEW, John, Black's general atlas of the world, 1860
Book from the Cleeland Bequest - a comprehensive collection of books relating to the History of England, Civil & Military, Religious, Intellectual & Social. Labelled 'Cowes Free Public Library', 'Phillip Island Historical Society, Cleeland Bequest'. Inscribed 'Jno Cleeland'.cleeland bequest -
Landsborough & District Historical Group
School Books, Register of Common School at Landsborough No. 710, C. 1860
Compiled by Teachers of Landsborough Common School 1864-1868. Includes childrens names, parents name, childs date of birth entrance date to school parents occupation. List of names, dates etc. of Landborough's inhabitants over the early years of its settlement. Shows trades and occupations of early goldmining townshipLeather Bound Book retangular shaped, beige cardboard cover, with label in center. Containing Paper PagesRegister of The Common School at Landborough No 710school register -
Greensborough Historical Society
Map, Pioneer children's graves precinct, 1848-1860
Map showing the location and surrounds of Pioneer Children's Cemetery on the Plenty River in Greensborough. Children from pioneer families are buried here.Official government planning map for the Pioneer Children's Graves Precinct.Printed coloured copy of map of Plenty River areapioneer childrens cemetery, greensborough, partington, whatmough -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Painting, Thomas Clark, Portland Bay, c. 1860
Port of Portland AuthorityView of Portland Bay with a bluff in foreground left. On top of bluff is a lighthouse and a white cottage. Lighthouse is white with a red roof. Cottage has a tall flagpole flying a red flag. Two figures stand in front of cottage. Below bluff are two further figures looking out to see. In background right is a town and harbour. Further figures can be seen on the beach. Framed in ornate gilded frame.Front: (no inscriptions) Plaque on frame read: "PRESENTED BY MRS. J.E. GRICE GRAND DAUGHTER OF STEPHEN GEORGE AND JANE HENTY." Back: (unknown)portland bay, thomas clark -
Greensborough Historical Society
Photograph - Photograph (copy), Partington and Price family photographs, 1860-1915
Four studio portraits of members of the Partington and Price family: 1] Grandma Gibbs of Kew who was the Grandma of Sarah Jane Gibbs (William Partington's first wife) who in turn was the Grandmother of Eva Partington. 2] Grandma Ellen Partington. Ellen was one of 7 children of Benjamin and Sarah Whatmough. She married Charles Partington and they migrated to Australia in 1857, living at Point Lookout, the Watsonia Toll Gates and Willis Vale. Their children include Prudence, Maria, Charles [Junior]; Ben, Tom, Joe, and Will. 3] Archibald Price of Williamstown and Doris and Ivy Partington. [The Funeral notice for Archibald Price appears in the Williamstown Chronicle Saturday 22 January 1876, page 2]Copy of 4 photographs, sepia studio portraits.partington family, ellen partington, archibald price -
Greensborough Historical Society
Plaque, Rotary Club of Greensborough, Rotary Club of Greensborough Memorial Plaque: Pioneer Children's Cemetery, 1848-1860
Memorial plaque erected by Rotary Club of Greensborough at the request of the Diamond Valley Shire Council and the Nillumbik Historical Society. A new plaque, with updated details, replaced it in 2015.Commemorates the deceased children of some early pioneering families (Whatmough and Partington) in the Greensborough district.Bronze plaque with Rotary logo, inscription and names of children buried engraved in blackpioneer childrens cemetery, rotary club of greensborough, nillumbik historical society inc., whatmough family, robert partington -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Functional object - Key for clock, 1860
Portland Free Library clockLarge metal key for clock. Painted black.Back: (no inscriptions visible) -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Medal - Medal - Board of Trade Award for Gallantry in Saving Life, c. 1860
Bronze medal presented to James Kean for his part in the rescue of the survivors from the wreck of the Admella on Carpenter's Rock, August 1859. Inverse: Profile portrait of a young woman with har in a Grecian bun, wearing a wreath of laurel leaves. Text around the edge. Obverse: relief depiction of five figures on surface of a ship deck. Man at the top of the image waving a cloth to attract the attention of a lifeboat in the background left.Front: AWARDED BY THE BOARD OF TRADE FOR GALLANTRY IN SAVING LIFE/ V.R. (around edge) B. Wyon SC (under portrait) Back: (no inscriptions) -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Functional object - Barometer, c. 1860
Rectangular ship's barometer made of wood, with brass pointers. Glass mercury reservoir & tube. Bottom section has glass cover, top section glass missing. Scale & other information printed on paper attached to barometer. Bottom section, right is a thermometer.barometer, maritime, weather, meteorological instrument -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Clothing - Ladies Night Bonnet, 1830-1860
Belonged to Marianna Trangmar, b.1820/1821 - later Mrs George Crouch.Ladies night bonnet. Crown made of fine cotton, edged with lace. Ruffles of embroidered cotton and lace. Ties cotton edged with lace. Worn by Marianna Trangmar/Crouch. -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Functional object - Compass, Compass from ex-wreck of S.S. Barwon, 1860-1870
S.S. Barwon was built in 1868, 419 tons gross. 376 tons nett, length 172.3 feet, beam 21.6 ft depth 14 feet. Bound from Adelaide to Sydney when total wrecked in Bridgewater Bay 3 April 1871. Owned by the Henty's. No loss of life. The Master Captain Shoobert and the second mate were found guilty of faulty navigation.Compass - ex-wreck of S.S. Barwon, lost of Cape Bridgewater 1871. Gimballed in timber box, no lid, compass arm and glass missing.Front: (no inscriptions) Back: (no inscriptions)ss barwon ship -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Book, Victorian Government Gazette 2, 1859. 1 July - 31 December, 1860
Dark blue marbled cloth cover over hard cardboard. Red leather spine corners. Gold lettering on black band on spine. Gold crown and lettering on spine.local courts, local government, government administration, gazette, victorian government -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Book - Book - Victorian Government Gazette 2, 1859, John Ferres, Government Printer, Melbourne, Victorian Government Gazette 2, 1859. 1 July - 31 December, 1860
Dark green marbled fabric over hard cardboard. Red leather corners and spine. Gold lettering on black band on spine. Gold crown and lettering on spine. -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Book, Dante, Alighieri et al, Inferno, c. 1860
The epic poem follows Dante's journey through hell.Green cloth-covered spine and cardboard covers. Dark green and gold pattern around border of cover. Text on cover in gold.The epic poem follows Dante's journey through hell.religion, 14th century, italy, poetry, epic poem -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Weapon - Police Truncheon, c. 1860
Alexander Carroll Dempster was born in Tipperary in 1834 and arrived in Australia in 1853. He joined the Police Force in 1857 and served until 1882 when he was discharged with failing eyesight. He died 14/11/1897Police truncheon, wooden, lead 'cage' around top 10cm, bottom 5 cm bound with cord - leather loop/strap. Belonged to Alexander Carroll Dempster.police, truncheon -
Halls Gap & Grampians Historical Society
Photograph - B/W, C 1860
George and Anne Warren inherited the house, later to be known as Myrtlebank, from Robert and Sarah Graham. George and Anne Warren had thirteen children, so they had to extend the Graham's home to accommodate the large family.The photo shows a house made with corrugated iron. A child is standing to the left of the photo. Smoke is coming out of two of the chimneys."Myrtle Bank, Grampians" inscribed on bottom of photo.buildings, myrtlebank -
Hamilton Pastoral Museum
Font, 1860's approx
Used In St. Luke's Lutheran Church Hamilton, from 1861 till 1966.Part of Church furniture until time of closure in 1966. Christening Font, made of timber. "Suffer The Little Children To Come Unto Me"lutheran church -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Jar/ Demi John Stone Ware, Circa 1860
This kiln glazed container for liquid's, was the type used in the 1700's to mid 1900's to contain fluids mainly for human consumption which needed to retain liquid that could be affected by sunlight and or required to be maintained at a cooler temperatures. Ginger beer and other "brews" for human consumption were the prime target. The ability to refill these vessels were of the utmost importance to the consumer. Over time these containers were reduced in size and produced for "special" liquids e.g. alcoholic Port. This Demi John stone ware was manufactured in Tamworth (England) and imported into Australia during a period when the majority of "quality" domestic items were sourced from "the Mother Country" and the ties between the still "colonial" outpost were very strong. This bondage remained longer in rural communities than in the cities. The "multi-culturalism of the post World War II era resulted in the lessening of the earlier ties. The growing of nationalism, the Aussie evolution, was brought about by the increased social and business/commercial interactions between Australia and the United States of America, post World War II.This container(jug) is very significant to the Kiewa Valley, a rural region that required these type of liquid storage vessels, especially in the late 1800's to the mid 1900's. These were times when household refrigeration, if available, would be from the "block ice" coolers or "cool" storage nooks and crannies within farmhouse locations.This large "stone ware" glazed Demi John, alias Carboy has a capacity of over 20 litres. It has a conical smooth lipped neck top with a wide, flat(three to four finger) carry and poring handle. The top third portion of the jug is caramel in colour and the bottom a darker cream. It has a manufacturer's seal stamped into the surface before glazing. This item would have been corked and then sealed (air tight) with wax.manufacturer's seal "GEORGE SKEY WILNECOTE TAMWORTH"household liquid jar container, 1800's food storage, kiln fired glazed pottery -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Dispenser Mustard, 1860's
This item would have been used as a salt container and would have been part of a dinner set. This would have been used for special occasions . It is in good condition and is a good example of this type salt storage jar. As this has a brown willow pattern instead of the usual blue it makes this make this salt despenser rare item.This has social and historical significance as it shows what items families used for special dinner occasions. It is the only one our collection and therefore will have good interpretation value for exhibitions . Small Ceramic jar with brown willow Chinese pattern. Copper hinged lid with recess for spoon. The spoon is required to dispense the mustard.ceramic, copper, chinese, table items, kitchen, domestic, mustard, willow pattern -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Folder, Falkiner, 1840-1860
Folder of information on Frederick Falkiner, Eltham, 1840s and 1850sfrederick falkiner, alexander richard falkiner, eltham cemetery, evelyn falkiner, falkiner cottage, frederick edward falkiner, gravestones, harriet agrita falkiner -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Folder, William Foster, 1860-1880
Folder of information on William Foster, Miner, Queenstorwn, 1860s/70swilliam foster -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Folder, Charlotte and James Goodwin, 1860-1880
Folder of information on Charlotte and James Goodwin, Panton Hill, 1860s and 1870scharlotte goodwin, james goodwin -
Orbost & District Historical Society
Painting - framed, second half 19th century 1860's?
James came to Australia from Plymouth on the ship "Mobile" arriving 16/11/1853 aged 22. he married Alice Roberts on November 27, 1861. With a large young family he moved from Central Victoria to Glengarry in Gippsland where he farmed and set up sawmills at Glengarry and Rosedale. After hearing of land grants at Orbost and investigating the possibilities with Elizabeth, his eldest daughter he selected land at Pumpkin Point, Bete Bolong. The whole family (ten children from 23years - 2years) eventually moved to Orbost around 1885. ( read "From White Knowle to Pumpkin Point" by Hon Peter Nixon A.O.) He had the first saw mill. He convened the meeting that established butter factory foundation and shares and was the first Agricultural Show president,James Nixon was a significant and influential citizen of Orbost's early years.Portrait done in oils of Nixon, James Mr. The portrait is of the bust of Nixon in a tuxedo with blue to grey background. Timber finish frame.nixon-james orbost-bete-bolong pumpkin-point -
Orbost & District Historical Society
dentist's chair, approx. 1860's - 1890's
Until the arrival of 'specialist' dentists in the mid-nineteenth century, dental care was provided by the medical profession and druggists, who were eventually registered under two British Acts, the Colonial Medical Act (1858) and the Colonial Dentists Act (1878). Many isolated communities had problems gaining access to dentists, and were often served by dentists on a part-time basis, mainly providing extraction and denture servicesThis item is an example of early dentistry equipment.Portable dentist's chair from around 1900's. Leather headrest and seat, wood frame, with metal bolts to allow chair to recline.chair furniture-commercial dentistry -
Orbost & District Historical Society
sewing machine, late 1860's - 1870's
The early settlers of Orbost had to be self sufficient making their own clothes, tableware, bed coverings, furnishings and equipment. Many women were skilled dressmakers and craft workers. This item reflects that time.A small black hand-cranked lockstitch sewing machine. It has a backwards C-shaped body. The wheel and base are decorated with a gold pattern. On the end above the needle assembly is a brass plate The balance wheel has a handle. The pattern on the wheel is a gold border with two gold, red and green stars formed by interwoven triangles. On the cloth plate is stamped "Patent March 1867 Heron Gresham" with some indecipherable marks.sewing-machine needlework -
Learmonth and District Historical Society Inc.
pistol, Weapon, 1860 (estimated); Nil
rusty remains of small pistol,minus handle.Nilgun, revolver, pistol, weapon, handgun, learmonth -
Learmonth and District Historical Society Inc.
Stereopticon Card Viewer, Circa 1860 to 1900
The Stereopticon Card viewer enabled the viewer to see photos which gave a "3D" imageHand held viewer for viewing 19th century "3D" cards..Made of aluminium and wood,the face piece is ingraved with decorative scrolls and the brand KEVUKO is in the centre surrounded by a circle and wheat leaves. The card holder,which slides along an aluminium arm, is wood with wire brackets to hold the picture cards. The handle is a wooden "spindle"which can fold flat."KEVUKO" -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Doll's leg, Bisque dolls were being made from the 1860’s
This doll’s leg was part of the cargo from the Fiji and was part of the articles salvaged from the wreck. The three-masted iron barque Fiji had been built in Belfast, Ireland, in 1875 by Harland and Wolfe for a Liverpool based shipping company. The ship departed Hamburg on 22nd May 1891 bound for Melbourne, under the command of Captain William Vickers with a crew of 25. The ship’s manifest shows that she was loaded with a cargo of 260 cases of dynamite, pig iron, steel goods, spirits (whisky, schnapps, gin, brandy), sailcloth, tobacco, coiled fencing wire, concrete, 400 German pianos (Sweet Hapsburg), concertinas and other musical instruments, artists supplies including brushes, porcelain, furniture, china, and general cargo including candles. There were also toys in anticipation for Christmas, including wooden rocking horses, miniature ships, dolls with china limbs and rubber balls. On September 5th, one hundred days out from Hamburg in squally and boisterous south west winds the Cape Otway light was sighted on a bearing differing from Captain Vickers’ calculation of his position. At about 2:30am, Sunday 6th September 1891 land was reported 4-5 miles off the port bow. The captain tried to put the ship on the other tack, but she would not respond. He then tried to turn her the other way but just as the manoeuvre was being completed the Fiji struck rock only 300 yards (274 metres) from shore. The place is known as Wreck Bay, Moonlight Head. Blue lights were burned and rockets fired whilst an effort was made to lower boats but all capsized or swamped and smashed to pieces. Two of the younger crewmen volunteered to swim for the shore, taking a line. One, a Russian named Daniel Carkland, drowned after he was swept away when the line broke. The other, 17 year old able seaman Julius Gebauhr, a German, reached shore safely on his second attempt but without the line, which he had cut lose with his sheath-knife when it become tangled in kelp. He rested on the beach a while then climbed the steep cliffs in search of help. At about 10am on the Sunday morning a party of land selectors - including F. J. Stansmore, Leslie Dickson (or Dixon) and Mott - found Gebauhr. They were near Ryans Den, on their travels on horseback from Princetown towards Moonlight Head, and about 5km from the wreck. Gebauhr was lying in the scrub in a poor state, bleeding and dressed only in singlet, socks and a belt with his sheath-knife, ready for all emergencies. At first they were concerned about his wild and shaggy looking state and what seemed to be gibberish speech, taking him to be an escaped lunatic. They were reassured after he threw his knife away and realised that he was speaking half-English, half-German. They gave him food and brandy and some clothing and were then able to gain information about the wreck. Some of the men took him to Rivernook, a nearby guest house owned by John Evans, where he was cared for. Stansmore and Dickson rode off to try and summon help. Others went down to the site of the wreck. Messages for rescuing the rest of the crew were sent both to Port Campbell for the rocket rescue crew and to Warrnambool for the lifeboat. The S.S. Casino sailed from Portland towards the scene. After travelling the 25 miles to the scene, half of the Port Campbell rocket crew and equipment arrived and set up the rocket tripod on the beach below the cliffs. By this time the crew of the Fiji had been clinging to the jib-boom for almost 15 hours, calling frantically for help. Mr Tregear from the Rocket Crew fired the line. The light line broke and the rocket was carried away. A second line was successfully fired across the ship and made fast. The anxious sailors then attempted to come ashore along the line but, with as many as five at a time, the line sagged considerably and some were washed off. Others, nearly exhausted, had to then make 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. Many onlookers on the beach took it in turns to go into the surf and drag half-drowned seamen to safety. These rescuers included Bill (William James) Robe, Edwin Vinge, Hugh Cameron, Fenelon Mott, Arthur Wilkinson and Peter Carmody. (Peter Carmody was also involved in the rescue of men from the Newfield.) Arthur Wilkinson, a 29 year old land selector, swam out to the aid of one of the ship’s crewmen, a carpenter named John Plunken. Plunken was attempting 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. A line was thrown to them and they were both hauled aboard. It was thought that Wilkinson struck his head on the anchor before s they were brought up. He remained unconscious. The carpenter survived this ordeal but Wilkinson later died and his body was washed up the next day. It was 26 year old Bill Robe who hauled out the last man, the captain, who had become tangled in the kelp. The wreck of the Fiji was smashed apart within 20 minutes of the captain being brought ashore, 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 and their coffins were made from timbers from the wrecked Fiji. They were buried on the cliff top above the wreck. The survivors were warmed by fires on the beach then taken to Rivernook and cared for over the next few days. Funds were raised by local communities 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. At the time there was also a great deal of public criticism at the slow and disorganised rescue attempt to save those on board. The important canvas ‘breech buoy’ or ‘bucket chair’ and the heavy line from the Rocket Rescue was in the half of the rocket outfit that didn’t make it in time for the rescue: they had been delayed at the Gellibrand River ferry. Communications to Warrnambool were down so the call for help didn’t get through on time and the two or three boats that had been notified of the wreck failed to reach it in time. Much looting occurred of the cargo that washed up on the shore, with nearly every visitor leaving the beach with bulky pockets. One looter was caught with a small load of red and white rubber balls, which were duly confiscated and he was ‘detained’ for 14 days. 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. (The pocket watch came with 2 winding keys, one to wind it and one to change the hands.) Years later Bill passed the watch to his brother-in-law Gib (Gilbert) Hulands as payment of a debt and it has been passed down the family to Gilbert Hulands’ grandson, John Hulands. 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 200m high cliffs overlooking Wreck Beach, west of Moonlight Head, paying 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. Amongst the artefacts salvaged from the Fiji are bisque (or china) toys, (including miniature animals, limbs from small bisque dolls), rubber balls, a slate pencil, a glass bottle, sample of rope from the distress rocket and a candlestick holder. These items are now part of the Fiji collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum, along with Captain Vickers’ pocket watch and Julius Gebauhr’s sheath knife.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 (living with natural processes). The Fiji collection meets the following criteria for assessment: Criterion A: Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion B: Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history Criterion C: Potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria’s cultural history. Doll’s leg salvaged from the wreck of the Fiji. This moulded leg, made of bisque (sometimes described as china or porcelain) is for a small doll. The leg is solid rather than jointed, and goes from the lower thigh down to the foot, which has a shoe-shaped heel. The white coloured leg is finished with glazed paint and the shoe of the foot is painted black. The leg is discoloured in places with a tan colour. There is a groove around the top of the leg, which would enable the leg to be attached to the cloth body of a doll.1891, china, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwrecked artefact, flagstaff hill maritime village, shipwreck coast, warrnambool, porcelain, doll, moonlight head, wreck bay, cargo, bisque, dolls limb, dolls leg, toys, doll's leg, doll's limb -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Doll's arm, Bisque dolls were being made from the 1860’s
This doll’s arm was part of the cargo from the Fiji and was part of the articles salvaged from the wreck. The three-masted iron barque Fiji had been built in Belfast, Ireland, in 1875 by Harland and Wolfe for a Liverpool based shipping company. The ship departed Hamburg on 22nd May 1891 bound for Melbourne, under the command of Captain William Vickers with a crew of 25. The ship’s manifest shows that she was loaded with a cargo of 260 cases of dynamite, pig iron, steel goods, spirits (whisky, schnapps, gin, brandy), sailcloth, tobacco, coiled fencing wire, concrete, 400 German pianos (Sweet Hapsburg), concertinas and other musical instruments, artists supplies including brushes, porcelain, furniture, china, and general cargo including candles. There were also toys in anticipation for Christmas, including wooden rocking horses, miniature ships, dolls with china limbs and rubber balls. On September 5th, one hundred days out from Hamburg in squally and boisterous south west winds the Cape Otway light was sighted on a bearing differing from Captain Vickers’ calculation of his position. At about 2:30am, Sunday 6th September 1891 land was reported 4-5 miles off the port bow. The captain tried to put the ship on the other tack, but she would not respond. He then tried to turn her the other way but just as the manoeuvre was being completed the Fiji struck rock only 300 yards (274 metres) from shore. The place is known as Wreck Bay, Moonlight Head. Blue lights were burned and rockets fired whilst an effort was made to lower boats but all capsized or swamped and smashed to pieces. Two of the younger crewmen volunteered to swim for the shore, taking a line. One, a Russian named Daniel Carkland, drowned after he was swept away when the line broke. The other, 17 year old able seaman Julius Gebauhr, a German, reached shore safely on his second attempt but without the line, which he had cut lose with his sheath-knife when it become tangled in kelp. He rested on the beach a while then climbed the steep cliffs in search of help. At about 10am on the Sunday morning a party of land selectors - including F. J. Stansmore, Leslie Dickson (or Dixon) and Mott - found Gebauhr. They were near Ryans Den, on their travels on horseback from Princetown towards Moonlight Head, and about 5km from the wreck. Gebauhr was lying in the scrub in a poor state, bleeding and dressed only in singlet, socks and a belt with his sheath-knife, ready for all emergencies. At first they were concerned about his wild and shaggy looking state and what seemed to be gibberish speech, taking him to be an escaped lunatic. They were reassured after he threw his knife away and realised that he was speaking half-English, half-German. They gave him food and brandy and some clothing and were then able to gain information about the wreck. Some of the men took him to Rivernook, a nearby guest house owned by John Evans, where he was cared for. Stansmore and Dickson rode off to try and summon help. Others went down to the site of the wreck. Messages for rescuing the rest of the crew were sent both to Port Campbell for the rocket rescue crew and to Warrnambool for the lifeboat. The S.S. Casino sailed from Portland towards the scene. After travelling the 25 miles to the scene, half of the Port Campbell rocket crew and equipment arrived and set up the rocket tripod on the beach below the cliffs. By this time the crew of the Fiji had been clinging to the jib-boom for almost 15 hours, calling frantically for help. Mr Tregear from the Rocket Crew fired the line. The light line broke and the rocket was carried away. A second line was successfully fired across the ship and made fast. The anxious sailors then attempted to come ashore along the line but, with as many as five at a time, the line sagged considerably and some were washed off. Others, nearly exhausted, had to then make 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. Many onlookers on the beach took it in turns to go into the surf and drag half-drowned seamen to safety. These rescuers included Bill (William James) Robe, Edwin Vinge, Hugh Cameron, Fenelon Mott, Arthur Wilkinson and Peter Carmody. (Peter Carmody was also involved in the rescue of men from the Newfield.) Arthur Wilkinson, a 29 year old land selector, swam out to the aid of one of the ship’s crewmen, a carpenter named John Plunken. Plunken was attempting 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. A line was thrown to them and they were both hauled aboard. It was thought that Wilkinson struck his head on the anchor before s they were brought up. He remained unconscious. The carpenter survived this ordeal but Wilkinson later died and his body was washed up the next day. It was 26 year old Bill Robe who hauled out the last man, the captain, who had become tangled in the kelp. The wreck of the Fiji was smashed apart within 20 minutes of the captain being brought ashore, 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 and their coffins were made from timbers from the wrecked Fiji. They were buried on the cliff top above the wreck. The survivors were warmed by fires on the beach then taken to Rivernook and cared for over the next few days. Funds were raised by local communities 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. At the time there was also a great deal of public criticism at the slow and disorganised rescue attempt to save those on board. The important canvas ‘breech buoy’ or ‘bucket chair’ and the heavy line from the Rocket Rescue was in the half of the rocket outfit that didn’t make it in time for the rescue: they had been delayed at the Gellibrand River ferry. Communications to Warrnambool were down so the call for help didn’t get through on time and the two or three boats that had been notified of the wreck failed to reach it in time. Much looting occurred of the cargo that washed up on the shore, with nearly every visitor leaving the beach with bulky pockets. One looter was caught with a small load of red and white rubber balls, which were duly confiscated and he was ‘detained’ for 14 days. 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. (The pocket watch came with 2 winding keys, one to wind it and one to change the hands.) Years later Bill passed the watch to his brother-in-law Gib (Gilbert) Hulands as payment of a debt and it has been passed down the family to Gilbert Hulands’ grandson, John Hulands. 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 200m high cliffs overlooking Wreck Beach, west of Moonlight Head, paying 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. Amongst the artefacts salvaged from the Fiji are bisque (or china) toys, (including miniature animals, limbs from small bisque dolls), rubber balls, a slate pencil, a glass bottle, sample of rope from the distress rocket and a candlestick holder. These items are now part of the Fiji collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum, along with Captain Vickers’ pocket watch and Julius Gebauhr’s sheath knife. 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 (living with natural processes). The Fiji collection meets the following criteria for assessment: Criterion A: Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion B: Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history Criterion C: Potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria’s cultural history. Doll’s arm salvaged from the wreck of the Fiji. This moulded arm, made of bisque (sometimes described as china or porcelain) is for a small doll. Its hand has the fingers touching each other with the thumb tucked into the palm. The white coloured arm is finished with glazed paint. The arm is discoloured in places with a tan colour. The arm is solid rather than jointed and goes from hand to upper arm. There is a groove around the top of the arm, which would enable the arm to be attached to the cloth body of a doll.1891, china, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwrecked artefact, flagstaff hill maritime village, shipwreck coast, warrnambool, porcelain, doll, moonlight head, wreck bay, cargo, bisque, toys, doll's arm, doll's limb