The ceramic insulators were used by the PMG to insulate telephone lines connecting to the lightstation accommodation. The installation of a single galvanised wire telegraph line in 1873 provided the lightstation with a vital link to the outside world via Morse code. In 1875, the Australasian Sketcher reported on the new facility, writing that ‘the lighthouse on the extreme point of the promontory is connected with Melbourne by a line of telegraph, and as a large number of vessels pass in sight of the lighthouse, useful information is gained respecting their movements’.The system was immobilised in 1885 when a thunderstorm caused some of the poles to explode and connection wires to fuse and turn into molten metal. During WWII the lighthouse line was upgraded to four copper wires, and in 1971 a radio link replaced the line. The lines required constant maintenance. Some poles remain along the length of the promontory’s Telegraph Track as reminders of this former communication link. Insulators can also be found in the collections at Cape Schanck; Cape Otway and Gabo Island. Comprises a white ceramic insulator attached to a rectangular metal plate.

Invoice for flex Wire and Pulley for school. Sent to Mrs. I. Warren, PO Box 30, Halls Gap. Paid on 22/5/33. Amount 2 12". See additional image for envelope.Invoice for work completed May 22, 1933 from Anthony & Co., Timber Merchants, Ironmongers, Grocers and Furniture Dealers sent to Halls Gap School Committee. original envelope.education, schools, halls gap

The pendulum weight was used to define a vertical line. Being so large and heavy it was possibly used from a tower or a dam. It was held by one end of a wire and measured any tilt of the structure in any direction.Possibly used on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme during the construction of the dam walls and Electric Powerline towers.Cone shiny brass pendulum weight with cylinder shape that i hollow at one end. The hollow is threaded inside. The part that fits the hollow end is missing.pendulum weight, measurement, kiewa hydro electric scheme

The creator was Vera Neale,1901 - 1990. Married with three children, Vera knitted with one and two ply wool, often using piano wire or bicycle spokes as needles, entering the garments in agricultural shows.Quilt crocheted by Vera Neale in the 1950s.crochet handicrafts, neale, mrs vera, crochet, handicrafts

The knitter was Vera Neale,1901 - 1990. Married with three children, Vera knitted with one and two ply wool, often using piano wire or bicycle spokes as needles, entering the garments in agricultural shows.Child's cardigan knitted by Vera Neale in the 1950s.knitting handicrafts, neale, mrs vera, knitting, handicrafts

The knitter was Vera Neale, 1901 - 1990. Married with three children, Vera knitted with one and two ply wool, often using piano wire or bicycle spokes as needles, entering the garments in agricultural shows.Gloves knitted by Vera Neale in the 1950s.knitting handicrafts, neale, mrs vera, knitting, handicrafts

The knitter was Vera Neale,1901 - 1990. Married with three children, Vera knitted with one and two ply wool, often using piano wire or bicycle spokes as needles, entering the garments in agricultural shows.Child's cardigan with cables knitted by Vera Neale in the 1950s.knitting handicrafts, neale, mrs vera, knitting, handicrafts

The black nylon blind cricket ball was in use since 1974 until the end of the 2002/2003 season. It was hand woven around a wire frame, with lead for weight and bottle tops for sound placed inside.1 black nylon cricket ball with metal bellsrecreation, victorian blind cricket association

Tilly Aston was also a talented crafts person. This open-weave evening purse was made by her in the 1920s, and features delicate, milky-white beads threaded on wire with green and pink glass beaded flowers.Beaded bag with red flowers on green stemsassociation for the blind, tilly aston

This bean slicer was made about the 1920s by the British firm of Spong & Co. This firm was founded by James Osborn Spong in 1856 in London. James Spong invented over 100 labour-saving devices during his lifetime and his firm became well-known for its production of domestic labour-saving and safety devices, especially its grinding machine and its bean slicer. These domestic items were to be found in most households from the 1880s to the 1950s prior to the advent of electrical items that carried out similar labour-saving processes. This bean slicer is of interest as a reminder of the many labour -saving devices that were available to most women early in the 20th century, even those in the rural and more remote areas in AustraliaThis a heavy metal bean slicer with a circular piece with a rounded cut-out at the top for the insertion of the bean and an attached bolted handle with a wooden top. Attached to the circular top is a circular revolving piece with three cutters. Welded on to the top piece is a metal clamp with a large screw for attaching the slicer to a table or bench. The slicer is painted green and has the name of the manufacturer etched on the top piece.Spong & Co Ltd Made In England No 632 Bean Slicervintage bean slicers, spong & co london, vintage household items

Black and white photograph of MMTB X2 675 at the Point Ormond terminus, late 1950's or early 1960's. Tram has destination of "Elsternwick Rly Stn". Driver/Conductor standing in doorway with cash bag. Pan in the trolley wire to assist drivers to locate the wire at night can be seen in the photograph. On Ilford paper. See Page 30 of Destination City, 5th Edition, advises that X2 675 withdrawn and stored in July 1961.Stamped on rear "Photo by C. Jeffrey Quote ....." in purple ink - words in triangular form.trams, tramways, point ormond, x2 class, mmtb, elsternwick, tram 675

This photograph, one of set of six, shows Ken Donchi, the youngest family member (at the time of photograph) at work as a sleeper cutter in the Orbost area since the 1890s. The photograph was used in an article for the Victorian Railways Magazine 1975. . It contains photographs and an article about Orbost as "Timber Country" and a detailed article titled, " Cutting Sleepers is a Family Business" which tells about the Donchi family.This item is associated with the timber and sleeper-cutting industry in the Orbost Region. Timber sleepers were superceded by concrete sleepers in c. 1970s. Orbost has historically been based on the timber industry, but that industry has declined considerably over the last 20 years. .The number of locals involved in the timber industry has declined and many of the mills have closed. This item reflects a time when that industry was a significant contributor to the economy of the district.A black / white photograph of Ken Donchi driving a bulldozer in bushland outside of Orbost.on back - Pr 8769donchi-pat sleeper-cutting timber-industry-orbost-railway

The insulator factory and ovens were located on the SW corner of Velma Grove and Mount Dandenong Road approx. Quarrying for clay was done in the nearby area. Refer photographs of the factory.Two ceramic insulators made in East Ringwood from local clay. Colour grey. Conical with indentation in middle for wires. There is a second 'skirt' inside to enhance insulating performance. The inner hole is threaded.

Edwin James Jones No 3511 AIF. Refer Cat N0 1367.5 for his service history. B/W photo of Pte E J Jones in uniform. Soldier is standing at ease in a studio holding a swagger stick with cartridge ends. Frame is wooden, hanging wire attached by eye hooks.photography-photographs, portrait, ww1, jones

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 seven 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 shipwreck artefact and is one of very few 'objects' on the Victorian State Heritage Register most valuable. The LOCH ARD shipwreck is of State significance – Victorian Heritage Register S 417 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. Silver plated copper alloy table fork from the wreck of the Loch Ard. Some very little verdigriSSilver oxide present. Fork is bent. Evidence of fine wire wrapped around handle.flagstaff 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, electroplated cutlery, fork

Bottle, Large, Whisky or Wine bottle, clear glass, handmade 3 piece mould, cork and wire seal (missing), c mid 1800's. H 29cm x Dia 7.5.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, bottle

Frank Wright was a renown resident of Smeaton, where he was born on 2 August 1901. He lived at Laura Villa, and attended Smeaton State School. His father William was a gold miner and his mother's name was Sarah. Their family won many singing and instrumental awards. Frank was tutored by Percy Code and was awarded a gold medal for the highest marks in the ALCM examinations in the British Colonies at the age of seventeen years. He became the Australian Open Cornet Champion by the age of eighteen. A year later, Frank conducted the City of Ballarat Band, and later the Ballarat Soldiers’ Memorial Band. He formed the Frank Wright Frisco Band and Frank Wright and his Coliseum Orchestra. These bands won many South Street awards, and Frank as conductor won many awards in the Australian Band Championship contest. In 1933 Frank Wright sailed to England to conduct the famous St Hilda’s Band and was later appointed Musical Director of the London County Council, where he organized many amazing concerts in parks, in and around the London district. He was made Professor of Brass and Military Band Scoring and conducted at the Guildhall of Music and Drama. Frank was often invited to adjudicate Brass Band Championships around Europe, in Australia, including South Street and in New Zealand. The Frank Wright Medal at the Royal South Street competition is awarded to an individual recognized as making an outstanding contribution to brass music in Australia.Black and white photograph of two men dressed in suits and hats, sitting on rocks beside water. The background is a grassy paddock with a post and wire fence in the far distance. The man on the left is Frank Wright.Written in pencil on back - F.W. & Charlie, Smeaton, March 1940frank wright, brass band, conductor, smeaton

A hand cranked pedestal drill press, embossed "Union" and "IH276", wooden handle on the fly wheel, handle has copper wire wrapped around it, 845 mm high, 475 mm wideflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Draw knife wooden 2 handles with circular blade. Blade attached by rivets. Handles attached. One has wire wrapped around it. 880mm long Blade length 590mm Width 75mmflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Green glass wine bottle with partial contents, silver foil around top and wire holding cork in. White paper label reads Champagne, Devonshire Cider, Grown & Bottled by Ferris Ellis.Ferris Ellisorganisation, industry, vineyard

Document; Manilla folder contains loose documents: correspondence, tribute agreement, wire rope test reports,, certificate of inspection of boiler, certificate of inspection of air receiver, transfer of claim, share receipts.MCCOLL RANKIN & STANISTREETorganization, business, gold mining, mccoll rankin & stanistreet

8472.1 - Truncated conical though nearly cylindrical tin with domed lip with brass handle knob shaped very much like an acorn and a curve of wire for a carry handle attached by riveted eyes.

Black and white portrait photograph of Basil Watson. Timber frame, glass front and wire stand on back. ''Basil'' is handwritten in ink on lower RHS; imprint on backing sheet: '' Sears Studios, Melbourne''Sears Studios, Melbourneperson, individual, basil watson

Reading spectacles found in hut belonging to Georgie Ah Ling, who operated a market garden for about 70 years on the edge of the township of Donald. Round glass, gold coloured wire framed spectacles in a hard covered case lined with dark blue material. Gold and dark blue suppliers sticker, partly torn, on inside lid of case.Sticker on inside of case partly torn, but probably reads "W. R. Swaby F.V.O.A. Jeweller Donald". reading spectacles, hut, georgie ah ling, market garden, donald