When scrimshaw is mentioned, most people think of carving on sperm whale teeth only. But scrimshaw also includes engravings on skeletal whale bone–such as the jaw bone, called pan bone and ivory from other marine mammals such as walrus. Although scrimshaw is widely associated with nautical themes and designs of the 19th century whaling industry, vintage scrimshaw was also produced as tribal art in many cultures. Today, scrimshaw is recognized as a unique medium in which present-day artists have developed their own modern themes. Scrimshaw reproductions may take several forms. There are - New carvings on genuine ivory or bone with the deliberate intent to create an "antique” - New carvings on genuine ivory or bone sold as signed and dated contemporary art - Clearly marked synthetic museum reproductions and mass marketed - Unmarked synthetic replicas This scrimshaw work is done on a sperm whale's tooth. It is one of two pieces by artist Gary Tonkin in Flagstaff Hill’s collection. Sperm whales can live for 60 or even 70 years, so the tooth could be quite old. It came from the whaling station in Albany, Western Australia, which ceased processing whales in 1978 and is now a whaling museum. The two works were commissioned by Flagstaff Hill in the 1980s. Tonkin could spend from a few days to a few months in intensive work on each piece of scrimshaw. He is a world-renowned Master Scrimshander and a Fellow of the Australian Society of Marine Artists (FASMA), and lives in Albany, Western Australia. Gary Tonkin, FASMA – Tonkin was born in 1949 in Portland, Victoria, and grew up there with a history of whaling and related industries. He moved to Albany in southwest WA in 1971 and worked as an Export Meat inspector for the Federal Government. This small town also had a historical connection to whaling. The Cheynes Beach Whaling Station was still operating, and there were even three whaling ‘chaser’ vessels at the old jetty. In 1975, his employment now permanent, Tonkin bought an old cottage near the bay, purchased some whales’ teeth, and began learning the sailors’ art of scrimshaw, combining this with his artistic skills and knowledge of history. His job gave him access to buy as many whale teeth as he could afford, straight from the whaling station. Tonkin gained further marine knowledge as he sailed on the schooner ‘Esperance’ from Fremantle to Mauritius in 1988. He watched the sailors at work and experienced the rough and stormy sea conditions first-hand. Tonkin later visited whaling museums, galleries and libraries in England and America to gather reference materials and information on all aspects of whaling and scrimshaw. In 1993 he was Commissioned to engrave six large whale teeth, from the Albany whaling station, for the USA Gallery at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney. This work is now in the museum’s permanent collection. From that time, Tonkin began working full-time as a Scrimshander. Tonkin’s work is now in galleries and museums in America and Australia, as well as in private collections. He is the founder of the Albany Maritime Heritage Association and was the inaugural President. In the 1990s he actively and successfully campaigned for the preservation of the Cheynes Beach Whaling Station in Albany, which is now Whale World, an open-air whaling museum. His continuing work as a Scrimshander contributes to the preservation of the art of scrimshaw and the history of whaling. This scrimshaw represents the ancient craft of scrimshaw, associated with mariners in the whaling trade in the early 19th century. The work is also Nationally significant for being created by world-renowned Scrimshander, Gary Tonkin, from Albany, Western Australia. Scrimshaw; whale tooth carved with an image of two whaleboats hauling a dead whale back to the mother ship. Inscribed Title and signature of artist Gary Tonkin.Inscribed "Bringing in the whale". Signature "G Tonkin"flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, maritime museum, flagstaff hill, perth, whaling, whales, australia, scrimshaw, scrimshander, gary tonkin, g tonkin, bone, tooth, craft, albany, western australia, cheynes beach whaling station, whale world, portland, engraving, maritime art, sperm whale's tooth, albany whaling station, albany whaling museum

NilScene of Portland Harbour. View includes people walking on beaches, jetties, moored boats (some with sails, some without). Upper centre of image shows a town, with a church to the right. To the left centre is a planned garden with people promenading. In foreground is empty land with a few seagulls. A train track enters the image on bottom centre. Print is predominantly in shades of blue, grey and brown. Mounted in dark cream matt, in wooden frame with glass.Front: A. Hy Fullwood (lower left, grey paint) "Portland Victoria" A. H. Fullwood 1836-1930 (printed below image) Back: (no inscriptions)

Black and white photo - 2 photos joined together. Ship on left. Ship at Pier. Fishermans wharf. Railway pier. Long pier. 3rd baths in foreground. Van on road below cliff. 2 cypress trees in foreground. 2 people on beach.fishermens wharf, portland baths, railway pier, portland harbour

Hung in CEO's Office 5/9/2003Scene depicting a beach. On the right are sand dunes with grass covering them. On the left is the ocean. The beach runs from foreground left to the upper centre of image, diminishing in size. In centre left of image three standing adult figures and one child stand to the left of a seated figure wearing a red hat. A fishing pole is braced in the sand beside the figure's chair.Front: J Kent (blue paint, lower right) Back: (unknown)

CEMA Art Collection. Part of "A Community View" 150 years in Portland Screenprint Exhibition. Part of Angela Gee Residency 1983 and 1984. Work used as cover for A Community View Catalogue.Laminated screenprint of Portland Bay focusing on Portland Baths. The image depicts the beach, several piers and the Bath House. The image is predominately red, orange, blue and grey.Front: 3/12 (lower left) Umbrellas at the Beach (lower centre left) Angela Gee '84 (lower left) (pencil) Back: 13

Con Kroker Private CollectionBlack & white Photograph of a long stretch of beach, possibly Discovery Bay. Rock formations & cliff with spinafix and other grasses, in backgroundcon kroker, kroker, photography

Scene of Portland Harbour. View includes people walking on beaches, jetties, morred boats (some with sails, some without). Upper centre of image shows a town, with a church to the right. To the left centre is a planned garden with people promenading. In foreground is empty land with a few seagulls. A train track enters the image on bottom centre. Print is predominantly in shades of blue, grey and brown. Framed, no glass.Front: A. H. Fullwood Back: (no insciptions)print, portland harbour

Commissioned by State Bank to produce 5 copper bas-reliefs for 73 Percy Street, Portland. Spoke with Miss Betty Vivian (Member of the Portland Historical Society) re Portland's history. Commonwealth Bank stored objects in Melbourne (c.1991). Negotiations between Portland Historical Society and Commonwealth Bank of Australia led to gift of works to People of Portland. Stored at Council depot c.1998, retrieved for Maritime Discovery Centre display.Copper bas-relief. Depicting of port with 14 large silos and a large domed shed in background. On horizon line is a wharf with a ship berthed. In foreground left is a pier stump with wood nailed to it, and leaning on it is a large anchor with a rope tied to it. In foreground left is a beach area, diminishing rapidly toward port in background.Front: (no inscriptions) Back: (unknown)sculpture, bas-relief, copper, port of portland, portland harbour

Whaler's Bluff lighthouse in Portland was originally located on Battery Point. It was erected there in 1859. In 1889 it was relocated, stone by stone to Whaler's Bluff. The reasoning given was that the space on what is now known as Battery Point was needed for guns and it was also thought that the lighthouse was less open to attack at Whaler's Point.Black and white photo. Lighthouse on Battery Point. Baths in foreground. People on Beach. Sail boats in bay. Pier in Centre.Front: Portland Wharves before 1890. Back: Port of Portland Authority.portland lighthouse, whalers bluff, battery point

Con Kroker CollectionBlack & White photo of a young woman in bathers & sandals, holding a posy of flowers & a trophy cup. She is wearing two sashes. One with Miss Dutton Beach 1953 on it, the other one ----of the ...1953

Con Kroker CollectionBlack & White photograph of Nan Kroker & a flock of seagulls on Nun's Beach. Photo taken looking towards Whalers' Bluff & Lighthouse

Con Kroker CollectionBlack & white photo of Railway Pier, taken from henty Beach. Flock of seagulls in foreground

Con Kroker CollectionBlack & white photo of Railway Pier, taken from Henty Beach. Flock of seagulls in foreground. NB Same subject matter as 5005, but a bit closer to subject.

Black & white photo of the Nun's Beach looking toward Whaler's Bluff & lighthouse. Photo mounted on grey cardFront: Pencil - APR Competition Open class - Senior September " Tide rim and Shadow" 2c Kodak Series iii Panasonic Film Kodal. Colour Filter O.O.Kroker "Kia Ora P.B. Horsham Vic (No 2)

Con Kroker CollectionBlack & white photograph of a narrow pathway winding down a grassy slope to the beach. There is a simple stool on the right, and a wooden table & stools on a flat area just above the bench. A woman is sitting on the wooden seat to the right of the table & stoolsBack: 843 stamp Attached to the back by tape, is a photographic competition entry form, for C. O. Kroker