HISTORY OF THE LOCH ARD The LOCH ARD belonged to the famous Loch Line which sailed many ships from England to Australia. Built in Glasgow by Barclay, Curdle and Co. in 1873, the LOCH ARD was a three-masted square rigged iron sailing ship. The ship measured 262ft 7" (79.87m) in length, 38ft (11.58m) in width, 23ft (7m) in depth and had a gross tonnage of 1693 tons. The LOCH ARD's main mast measured a massive 150ft (45.7m) in height. LOCH ARD made three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its final voyage. LOCH ARD left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of Captain Gibbs, a newly married, 29 year old. She was bound for Melbourne with a crew of 37, plus 17 passengers and a load of cargo. The general cargo reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. On board were straw hats, umbrella, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionary, linen and candles, as well as a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead and copper. There were items included that intended for display in the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. The voyage to Port Phillip was long but uneventful. At 3am on June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs was expecting to see land and the passengers were becoming excited as they prepared to view their new homeland in the early morning. But LOCH ARD was running into a fog which greatly reduced visibility. Captain Gibbs was becoming anxious as there was no sign of land or the Cape Otway lighthouse. At 4am the fog lifted. A man aloft announced that he could see breakers. The sheer cliffs of Victoria's west coast came into view, and Captain Gibbs realised that the ship was much closer to them than expected. He ordered as much sail to be set as time would permit and then attempted to steer the vessel out to sea. On coming head on into the wind, the ship lost momentum, the sails fell limp and LOCH ARD's bow swung back. Gibbs then ordered the anchors to be released in an attempt to hold its position. The anchors sank some 50 fathoms - but did not hold. By this time LOCH ARD was among the breakers and the tall cliffs of Mutton Bird Island rose behind the ship. Just half a mile from the coast, the ship's bow was suddenly pulled around by the anchor. The captain tried to tack out to sea, but the ship struck a reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Waves broke over the ship and the top deck was loosened from the hull. The masts and rigging came crashing down knocking passengers and crew overboard. When a lifeboat was finally launched, it crashed into the side of LOCH ARD and capsized. Tom Pearce, who had launched the boat, managed to cling to its overturned hull and shelter beneath it. He drifted out to sea and then on the flood tide came into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. He swam to shore, bruised and dazed, and found a cave in which to shelter. Some of the crew stayed below deck to shelter from the falling rigging but drowned when the ship slipped off the reef into deeper water. Eva Carmichael had raced onto deck to find out what was happening only to be confronted by towering cliffs looming above the stricken ship. In all the chaos, Captain Gibbs grabbed Eva and said, "If you are saved Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a sailor". That was the last Eva Carmichael saw of the captain. She was swept off the ship by a huge wave. Eva saw Tom Pearce on a small rocky beach and yelled to attract his attention. He dived in and swam to the exhausted woman and dragged her to shore. He took her to the cave and broke open case of brandy which had washed up on the beach. He opened a bottle to revive the unconscious woman. A few hours later Tom scaled a cliff in search of help. He followed hoof prints and came by chance upon two men from nearby Glenample Station three and a half miles away. In a state of exhaustion, he told the men of the tragedy. Tom returned to the gorge while the two men rode back to the station to get help. By the time they reached LOCH ARD Gorge, it was cold and dark. The two shipwreck survivors were taken to Glenample Station to recover. Eva stayed at the station for six weeks before returning to Ireland, this time by steamship. In Melbourne, Tom Pearce received a hero's welcome. He was presented with the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria and a £1000 cheque from the Victorian Government. Concerts were performed to honour the young man's bravery and to raise money for those who lost family in the LOCH ARD disaster. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: the apprentice, Tom Pearce and the young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. Ten days after the LOCH ARD tragedy, salvage rights to the wreck were sold at auction for £2,120. Cargo valued at £3,000 was salvaged and placed on the beach, but most washed back into the sea when another storm developed. The wreck of LOCH ARD still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island. Much of the cargo has now been salvaged and some was washed up into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. One of the most unlikely pieces of cargo to have survived the shipwreck was a Minton porcelain peacock - one of only nine in the world. The peacock was destined for the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. It had been well packed, which gave it adequate protection during the violent storm. Today, the Minton peacock can be seen at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in Warrnambool. From Australia's most dramatic shipwreck it has now become Australia's most valuable shipwreck artefact and is one of very few 'objects' on the Victorian State Heritage Register. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from LOCH ARD is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S417). The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the LOCH ARD. The LOCH ARD collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The LOCH ARD collection is historically significant for representing 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 collection is also historically significant for its association with the LOCH ARD, which was one of the worst and best known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history. Plaque to commemorate the centenary of the wreck of the Loch Ard. Circular piece of bronze depicting a scene of the wreck set in a rectangular piece of varnished wood. Plaque is 9/50. Artist Michael Meszarosflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, plaque, loch ard, michael meszaros

Colour photograph of the opening of the Hepburn Springs Swiss/Italian Festa at the Sound Shell in the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve. Ian Tinetti is at the microphone and Mayor Michael Chesire stands beside him.hepburn springs sound shell, hepburn springs mineral springs reserve, brutalist architecture, ian tinettie, michael chesire, hepburn springs swiss italian festa, brutalism

Black and white photograph of home that Michael McDonnell built in Mitcham Road before he died in 1939.House number was 292 but changed to 462 when numbering consolidated Original on CDROMmcdonnell, michael, mitcham road, mitcham

L-R: Eric Staff, Michael Sinclair, Marie (Mary) Staff, Mrs Rigby, Eileen Rigby, Mr Rigby (partly hidden); Michael Sinclaiur in foreground. On back of photo: "I had this taken to show you Lyon's Garage. You can see the foundations and the filling in. Like our lawn. The Xmas tree we had for Michael with X" Black and white photographeltham, main road, lyon's garage, michael sinclair, eric staff, marie (mary) staff, mrs rigby, mr rigby, eileen rigby

Photographs from the Australian War Memorial's collection selected by Peter Stanley & Michael McKernan. Quotations in the book come from personal diaries, letters & papers. The introduction was written by Michael McKernan.Pale green, buckram, hard cover with title on spine in white letters. Illustrated dust cover with title on front & spine in black letters. Illustrated end papers. 259 cut edge pages. Contains black & white illustrations.books, military, history

Sponsored by the Shaw Family Grey St 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 St Michael's 2010

Gramophone record, black bakelite with cream and green "Decca" label. Side A: Never Never Land, Side B: The little Shoemaker. Frank Weir & his Saxophone and Orchestra. Vocal by the Michael Twins.Reference Number Y6605

Collection of approx 30 Letters (to Michael Kelly, Sharebroker Bendigo (Allsop & Co. - Stock & Sharebrokers - Allsop & Kelly). Correspondence from R J Flowerday; J H Butler; Smith & Thompsonorganization, business, bendigo businesses

Used by the donors grandchildren Xanthe and Michael.A blue truck with a yellow man with red hat on the top. A separate trailer with 'Toyland' written on side with pictures of toys. The trailer has red wheels.Toyland Atoys, general

Used by the donors grandchildren Xanthe and Michael.Wooden base with five uprights down centre painted yellow to hold coloured counting rings in five colours. A total of 16 items including the base.toys, general

Used by the donors grandchildren Xanthe and Michael.Square wood base with sixteen holes to hold sixteen coloured pegs - 4 red, 4 blue, 4 yellow and 4 green. A total of 17 pieces including the base.toys, general

A 'Bay' boat owner Michael Walker?Colour photograph of scallop fishing boat Neoartaky in Cunninghame Arm, Carnival Ferris wheel in background and memorial cypress trees along Esplanade. Lakes Entrance Victoriafishing industry, celebrations, ships and shipping, waterways

Dr Margaret Alison Mackie (1910-1991) was in active practice between 1936 and 1970. She was a Fellow of the College, and was appointed a Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for services to medicine in 1975. Citation. Single page document sent from Government House, Melbourne, notifying Dr Margaret Alison Mackie of her appointment to the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George. Citation reads 'HONOURS AND AWARDS/1ST JANUARY 1975/APPOINTED ACOMPANION OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED ORDER OF/SAINT MICHAEL AND SAINT GEORGE/DOCTOR MARGARET ALISON MACKIE, M.B.,B.S.,D.G.O.,F.R.C.O.G./CITATION/In recognition of her long and distinguished services/as Chairman of the Board of St. Andrew's Presbyterian/Hospital and to the medical profession.'

ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH OWNED BY MR. MICHAEL KIERCE.PHOTOCOPY OF MILL DANCE - NEW HALL 3/6/1920. POSSIBLE FIRE BRIGADE HALL?local history, photography, photographs, events and celebrations, mill dance

Major Annett later commanded 4/19 Prince of Wales's Light Horse and later again 4th Brigade, 2nd Division.Three colour photographs of Major Michael Annett, Officer Commanding VMR Squadron 4/19 Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment at Australia Day Parade, Corowa NSW 23 January 1994.military, parade, light horse, sword, corowa, australia day