Set of personal papers - carbon copies of original documents involved with the "Consolidation of Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramway Acts" 1 - List of documents prepared by the Board for the Director of Statutory Consolidation 2 - Statement regarding tramways authorised by tramway construction acts passed since 1928 3 - ditto by National Security Regulations passed since 1928 4 - ditto authorised by Order in Council pursuant to Section 42(3) of Act 3732 since 1928.trams, tramways, mmtb, tramways, parliament, order in council, world war 2, acts of parliament

Set of personal papers - placed in a file marked "Tramway Development M&MTB" Carbon copies of typed documents titled "Lists showing existing tramways" obtained under 1920's Acts, including Orders In Council, lists lines opened or converted by the MMTB with dates. Second set of documents - provides comments on the proposed amendment to Act including definitions, schedules, relationships with councils and notices. Third set of documents provides an listing of street, municipality, extent of tramway, and details authorisation's - updated to 8/1928. Various hand written documents with notes, calculations on curves etc. The final document - a folded ruled double foolscap sheet, gives details between 1935 and 1939 for distances of track, both cable and electric in the Cities of Melbourne, Fitzroy and Collingwood.trams, tramways, mmtb, tramways, parliament, order in council, acts of parliament, cable trams

Set of six reports from the "The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways" .1 - Report - 12 pages + plan printed stapled titled "Report - Darling - Glen Waverley" - includes connexion between Camberwell to Ferntree Gully and Oakleigh. Dated 30/6/1926 .2 - Report - 16 pages - "Report - Outer Eastern Suburbs Connecting Railway or Tramway (Doncaster, Templestowe and Warrandyte)"- 8/7/1925. .3 - Report - 24 pages - "Doncaster and Warrandyte Districts Connecting Railway" - 13/12/1928 - 2 copies held. .4 - Report - 12 pages - Proposed Kew to Doncaster Electric Railway Extension" - 4/12/1930 - 3 copies held - see also Reg Item 414. .5 - Report - 16 pages including plan - "Keilor and Bulla Districts Connecting Railway" - 1926. .6 - Progress Report - 12 pages including plans - "Proposed Expenditure under railway loan application Act - provision of connecting lines between Glenroy and Albion and Melbourne Goods Yard" - 30/6/1926. Includes a circular letter dated 24/7/1926, enclosing reports 5 and 6 from the Secretary of the Metropolitan Town Planning Commission. Note: All these documents are available as a pdf on the Parliament of Victoria website..2 - has "Manager" stamped and "Mr. Murdoch" and a date in the top right hand corner.. .3 - copy 2 - has "Mr. Lormer" as for .4trams, tramways, railways, parliament, darling, glen waverley, doncaster, templestowe, warrandyte, keilor, essendon

Book - dark green card stippled cover, bound with 9 Acts of the Victorian Parliament that involved the MMTB and other tramways. Acts have been sewn into the book with glued end papers. Contains the following Acts: 1. - Act 2920 - Purchase of Goods and Machinery of Materials for Works undertaken or on behalf of certain local authorities - 22/10/1917 - bound all the Trusts and other authorities to purchase items made in the Commonwealth over 250 pounds unless certified by the Minister. 2 - Act 2995 - Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Act 1918 - set up the MMTB - 7/1/1919 3 - Act 3074 - Act to amend the above Act - 28/9/1920 4 - Act 3023 - ditto - 16/12/1919 5 - Act 3243 - construction by the MMTB of an electric tramway from Melbourne to West Brunswick - 21/12/1922. 6 - Act 3247 - relating to the works and undertakings of The North Melbourne Electric Tramways and Lighting Company Limited in the Municipal District of the City of Melbourne and the City of Essendon - 21/12/1922 7 - Act 3308 - Act to amend the MMTB Act - 18/12/1923 8 - Act 3367 - ditto - 15/12/1924 9 - Act 3583 - authorise the construction by the MMTB of an Electric Tramway in Racecourse Road, Melbourne - 21/8/1928 Unknown who made the book - made for an MMTB officer. Binds the original Act's printed by the various Government Printers at the time. See also Reg Item 2121 for other Acts associated with the MMTB.Inside front cover on first page in ink "Mr. J. Cass" and in other locations as well.trams, tramways, tramways, acts of parliament, mmtb, nmetl, west coburg, construction, racecourse rd

Book - brown card cover, stapled with a set of 9 Acts of the Victorian Parliament that involved the MMTB and other tramways. Contains the following Acts: 1 - Act 3367 - Act to amend the MMTB Act - 15/12/1924 2 - Act 3308 - Act to amend the MMTB Act - 18/12/1923 3 - Act 3247 - relating to the works and undertakings of The North Melbourne Electric Tramways and Lighting Company Limited in the Municipal District of the City of Melbourne and the City of Essendon - 21/12/1922 4 - Act 3023 - to amend the MMTB Act - 16/12/1919 5 - Act 2995 - Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Act 1918 - set up the MMTB - 7/1/1919 - document has been trimmed on the right hand side to enable the various parts to be opened up - has many hand written notes on changes to the Act, underlining. With in the covers are many hand written notes on the various Acts and questions and comments - pencil on plain paper. See Also Reg Item 2108 for these and other Acts bound into a book.The various Acts have "H. S. McComb" written on the top right hand corner in ink or pencil.trams, tramways, tramways, acts of parliament, mmtb, nmetl

Book - 6 sections sewn into heavy light brown card covers with full end papers with a red coloured cloth edge strip with ruled pages and an A to Z index on the right hand side - The Pencraft Faint Indexed Account Book", with the title "M&MT Act - Sections" written on the front cover. Provides a full list or index of every word in the MMTB Act and the section it is used in. Has been maintained for changes in red ink and green coloured pencil.trams, tramways, tramways, acts of parliament, mmtb, lists, index

Book - 6 sections sewn into heavy grey card covers with full end papers with a blue coloured cloth tape edge strip with ruled pages and an A to Z index on the right hand side - printed by "Feint", with the title "M&MT Act - Schedules" written on the front cover. Provides a full list or index of every word in the Schedules to MMTB 1958 Act and the section it is used in. Has been maintained for changes in red ink and green coloured pencil. Has a supplementary sheet taped and glued inside of the front cover.trams, tramways, tramways, acts of parliament, mmtb, lists, index

Book - 6 sections sewn into heavy grey card covers with full end papers with a blue coloured cloth tape edge strip with ruled pages and an A to Z index on the right hand side - printed by "Feint", with the title "Index to Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Act 1958 No. 6311 as amended by MMTB (Amendment) Act 1959, No. 6555. Compiled by H. S. McComb LS" Provides a full list or index of every word, except for words like, a, an, and, as etc in the MMTB 1958 Act and the 1959 amending Act. and the section it is used in. Some changes or corrections made in blue ink.. Inside the front cover is a type alphabetical list of the major headings or principal parts of the Act and the Schedules - 6 pages. Also within the book (which has resulted in some damage) are many half quarto sheets with hand written notes.trams, tramways, tramways, acts of parliament, mmtb, lists, index

Book - dark green card stippled cover, originally bound it would appear for Act 3732. See Reg Item 2120 for the reprint. Remains of the Act in the book, with an index, with well used pages, red pen marks noting changes and the following loose 39 Acts or documents. Also has some hand written notes. 1. - Act No. 3243 - 1922 - Construction of West Brunswick tramway 2 - Extract of Govt. Gazette - 22/10/1958, extension in Park St Kilda 3 - 3515 - 1927 - Spencer St Bridge 4 - 6516 - 1957 - King St Bridge 5 - 3824 - 1929 - changes to the MMTB Consolidation Act of 1928 6 - 3902 - 1930 - ditto 7 - 3941 - 1930 - ditto 8 - 3943 - 1930 - Revision of Statute Law - minor change to the MMTB Act 9 - 3994 - 1931 - changes to the MMTB Consolidation Act of 1928 10 - 4179 - 1933 - ditto 11 - 4255 - 1934 - ditto 12 - 4288 - 1935 - appointment of a public works committee and its powers. 13 - 4445 - 1936 - conveyance of land at Port Melbourne 14 - 4546 - 1938 - construction of Doncaster Road, Camberwell 15 - 4598 - 1938 - changes to the MMTB Consolidation Act of 1928 16 - 4710 - 1939 - ditto 17 - 4806 - 1941 - ditto 18 - 4898 - 1942 - ditto 19 - 4978 - 1943 - Hanna St to Market St tramway, South Melbourne 20 - 5106 - 1945 - changes to the MMTB Consolidation Act of 1928 21 - 5140 - 1946 - Nicholson St East Brunswick tramway 22 - 5141 - 1946 - tramway for Burke Road from Whitehorse Road to Doncaster Rd. 23 - 5160 - 1946 - changes to the MMTB Consolidation Act of 1928 24 - 5206 - 1947 - ditto 25 - 5233 - 1947 - ditto 26 - 5322 - 1948 - Latrobe St to Victoria St tramway 27 - 5342 - 1948 - changes to the MMTB Consolidation Act of 1928 28 - 5367 - 1949 - changes to the MMTB Consolidation Act of 1928 29 - 5615 - 1951 - relating to the salaries of Judges and certain Public Officers 30 - 5645 - 1952 - relating to payments to Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board 31 - 5695 - 1953 - joining of the Footscray and Maribyrnong Tramways 32 - 5756 - 1953 - changes to the MMTB Consolidation Act of 1928 33 - 5757 - 1953 - Revision of Statute Law - minor change to the MMTB Act 34 - 5784 - 1954 - changes to the constitution and powers of the MMTB 35 - 5814 - 1954 - relating to the Infectious Diseases Hospitals 36 - 5914 - 1955 - changes to the Law relating to Limitation of Time for commencing Actions and Arbitrations 37 - 5970 - 1956 - relating to the salaries of certain Public Officers Unknown who made the book - made for an MMTB officer. Binds the original Act's printed by the various Government Printers at the time. Some multiple copies of the various Acts included.Inside front cover on first page in ink "Mr. J. Cass" and in other locations as well.trams, tramways, tramways, acts of parliament, mmtb, park st, spencer st, bridges, king st, port melbourne, doncaster rd, burke rd, nicholson st, latrobe st, hanna st, mfbb, hospital, finances, east brunswick, footscray, maribyrnong

Set of six folio or double foolscap sheets, typed with ruled lines in red, titled "List of Orders-In-Council & Acts", listing electric lines authorised to be built as at 8/5/1923. Provides information on the Act, Schedule, date of Order in Council, Grantee, Routes and whether built.trams, tramways, tramways, acts of parliament, plans, order in council

Set of Quarto and Foolscap hand made papers, listing various Acts through to Act 2921 and the tramways authorised. Set of hand made sketches and notes of cable tram junctions and terminals, with reference to plans and their dates.trams, tramways, tramways, acts of parliament, plans, cable trams

Printed document - 3 sheets - stapled and partly glued on left hand side, titled "Index to Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Act, 1928 - No. 3732".. Gives a detailed index to the various sections of the MMTB 1928 Consolidate Act. Has been well used.Has "H. S. McComb" in pencil in the top left hand ctrams, tramways, acts of parliament, mmtb, legal agreements

Report - 16 pages - "Report from the Committee of Public Accounts of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board", dated 6/11/1958, centre stapled. Gives an outline history of the Board, Commonwealth Grants, Northcote Tramway, earnings invested, the board's submissions, expenditure on cable trams prior to being vested in the Board, accounting practices and the Act, balance sheets, the 1928 Act and suggested changes, conclusions and recommendations. Note: This document is available as a pdf on the Parliament of Victoria website.trams, tramways, tramways, cable trams, finances, conversion, costs

Set of two drawings used by Mr McComb in his work to identify the various tramways, cable tram closure dates and authorisation's for the consolidation and revision of the 1958 MMTB Act. Based on MMTB Drawing P11819, titled "MMTB Tramway System", signed by Mr. Eakins in March 1952. .1 - sub-titled - "MMTB Cable Tramway System" with hand written dates of closure alongside the various cable tram lines and references to Acts. .2 - sub-titled - "MMTB Electric Tramway System" with hand written notes and references to Acts or Orders in Council and dates. Has the various numbers alongside each line that was used in the 1958 Act Schedules.have a date stamp of "3 July 1950" on rear.trams, tramways, cable trams, maps, closure, authority, acts of parliament, order in council

Set of 33 Notice Paper or Meeting Agendas - sent to Trust Members and others for The Melbourne Tramways Trust for period March 1884 to Feb. 1885. Printed by Ferguson and Moore for the Trust. Signed by the Secretary. Covers construction arrangements, appointments, financial, loans, debentures, legislation, arrangements with the Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Company and other organisations including banks. Notes are the principal items shown in the Orders of the Day. Printed by Fergusson and Moore Meeting No. Date Notes 1 14/3/1884 Appointment of Solicitor, E. G. Fitz Gibbon interim Secretary 2 21/3/1884 Appointment of Solicitors and Bankers 4 4/4/1884 Confer with MTOC and appointment of an Engineer. Signed by Hugh T. Jordan as clerk. 6 18/4/1884 Consider different routes, elect a Works Committee 7 25/4/1884 Confer with Mr. G. Duncan. 8 2/5/1884 Report from Legislative Committee, appointment of Mr. Duncan as Engineer to the Trust. 2nd copy has handwritten note regarding confirmation of the appointment. 9 9/5/1884 Consideration of amendments to the Act. 10 16/5/1884 Authorisation of borrowing of #500,00 and appointment of a Secretary. 11 23/5/1884 Finance report. 12 30/5/1884 Meet with deputation to have Lygon St line extended to Brunswick and payment of accounts. 13 6/6/1884 Applications for Secretary, and petition for Lygon St extension. 14 13/6/1884 Legislative committee report 15 20/6/1884 Advance to MTOC and assist bill through Parliament 16 27/6/1884 Works committee report. Signed by T. Hamilton as Secretary. 17 4/7/1884 Payment of accounts, including G. Duncan and office accounts. 18 11/7/1884 Construction of one line of tramway and another attempt for the Lygon St tramway again. 19 16/7/1884 Reduction of debenture interest rate to 4% and paying for cutting down of Swanston St. 20 1/8/1884 Interest fixed at 4.5%, accounts, construction of Richmond line, and meeting dates. 21 15/8/1884 Payments to MTCo re cost of original Acts. 22 29/8/1884 Sealing of Debentures to England, and accounts 23 5/9/1884 Re amendments to Bill for Tramway Act and payment for patents. 24 19/9/1884 Accounts, overhang of tramcars, completion of tramways. 25 26/9/1884 Tenders for works, finance report, payment of MTT expenses by MTOC. 26 10/10/1884 Works committee Report – copy in file – payments of accounts and recommend acceptance of Duncan’s plans and Richmond line by public tender. 27 Special 20/10/1884 Letter from MTOC re possible delays in the Bill – additional Branches bill. 28 24/10/1884 Finance – debentures now in England, appointment of H. Jordan as Treasurer and accounts. 29 7/11/1884 Works committee and accounts, purchase of cement, letter from Mr. Pyman re rejection of petition. 30 21/11/1884 Shows chairman’s name – Thomas O’Grady, approval of plans etc for the Richmond line. 31 5/12/1884 Works committee, accounts, payment to Mr. Pyman, purchase of equipment and engines for the Northern lines and appointment of an inspecting Engineer in England. Queries from England re sufficiency of the guarantee on the debentures. 32 19/12/1884 Finance Committee report – accounts. 33 9/1/1885 Finance and works – accounts, tenders for cement etc, appoint of an inspector of works, authorise plans for Brunswick, Fitzroy and Spencer St and Collingwood and Nicholson St. 34 23/1/1885 Finance and works – accounts, report on tenders. 35 6/2/1885 Committee reports, accounts, land purchase, appoint of Mr. Carruthers as inspecting Engineer in England – 1% of value of work. For a word version - see: \dbtext\hawthtramcoll\images\htd2001doc.doctrams, tramways, mtt, cable trams, melbourne tramways trust, construction, finances, mto co

Notice - printed on foolscap paper, titled "Extracts from Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Act 1918", eleventh (11th) and Thirteenth (13th) schedules about behaviour of passengers, or people interfering with Tramway property or equipment. Has a note regarding the penalty, Two copies held.trams, tramways, mmtb, notices and information, acts of parliament, behaviour, by laws

Notice - printed sheet titled "Extracts from the MMTB Act 1918 - Eleventh Schedule", detailing clauses 12 and 13 in regard to damaging any equipment, offences for tramway vehicle, buses and ferry boats and the resultant fine. Also details passenger behaviour, tickets etc and that a person may be detained and / or fined. 2 copies held.trams, tramways, mmtb, by laws, acts of parliament, behaviour, police, officers, ferry ride stop

Notice - printed foolscap sheet titled MMTB Act 1918 - By-Law No. 1" detailing the sections of cable tram routes that a cash fare of 1d would be charged for - details 14 such points. Dated 13/2/1920, to come into effect on 15/3/1920 2 copies held.trams, tramways, mmtb, by laws, acts of parliament, fares, cable trams

Report - 3 foolscap duplicated sheets, titled "Amendments of the MMTB Act 1918 (No. 2995) suggested by the MMTB". Suggests changes such as a fire and public risk insurance fund, payment of gratuities in event of accidents to employees or the public, payment to a Mutual benefit or sick fund for its employees, make donations to hospitals etc, a "welfare movement" fund, construct five tramways, road maintenance, change section 37 and change Board attendance fees. Document undated. Sought authorisation for East Brunswick, West Brunswick and Coburg, along Church St connecting Clifton Hill and Prahran, along Bell St connecting Preston to Coburg and East Northcote and Heidelberg districts. 2 copies held.trams, tramways, mmtb, acts of parliament, board members, insurance, road works, new tramway, east brunswick, west brunswick electric tramway, coburg, clifton hill, prahran, bell st, east northcote, heidelberg

Drawing - hand coloured titled "Footscray and Maribyrnong Tramway Construction - Act 1953 - Showing the type of track for the electric tramway jointing the Footscray and Maribyrnong Tramways", dated 13/11/53. Details the streets, land types, road crossings, track types and has a reference to the Order in Council for the tramway construction.Has a ink note along the bottom edge "13/11/53 Sample copy"trams, tramways, footscray, maribyrnong, new tramway, order in council, acts of parliament

Folder with papers - Manila Folder titled in ink "Motor Omnibus Acts" containing copies of the relevant Acts of Parliaments, memos and type extracts regarding the use of buses in Melbourne. Inside front cover - typed list of four Acts Bound with a brass clip: Act 3742 - "Motor Omnibus Acts" - 1928 with amendments Act 3851 - "An Act relating to Motor Omnibuses" Act 4032 - Amending of Section 35 of the 1928 Act] Act 4352 - "Provision with to the Control of Traffic on Roads" - 1935 - allowed State Govt to set regulations to control traffic in various Melbourne and Geelong Municipalities. Loose sheets "Extract from Victoria Gazette - 21/11/1945 - addition to the Metropolitan Motor Omnibus Regulations - re the interiors - seats and bulkheads. Various letters and memo to the Rolling stock Engineer, including a letter from Leyland's 1950 regarding Motor bus weights. Notes on "Motor Omnibus Acts" 3378 - Points to be observed, UK Metropolitan Stage (Motor) Carriages, Three page copy of a memo (last page loose) dated 26/11/1935 - Tenders for the supply of 10 additional motor buses - Leyland Cub buses - issues with the vehicles. See image i2.pdftrams, tramways, buses, leyland, acts of parliament, tenders, preston workshops

Book -black card stippled cover, bound with end papers containing Act 3732 - Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Act 1928 No. 3732 with a gold block title of "Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Acts" Has an index at the front of the book. Also has loose copies of 1 - No. 3824 - An Act relating to the MMTB - 24 Dec. 1929 (has been bound into the rear of the book) 2 - No. 3851 - An Act relating to Motor Omnibuses - 30 Dec 1929 3 - No. 3742 - An Act to consolidate the Law making further provision with respect to Motor Omnibuses and for other purposes - 12 Feb. 1929 4 - No. 3941 - An Act relating to the MMTB - 31 Dec. 1930 5 - No. 4080 - An Act relating to the MMTB - 29 Dec. 1932 6 - No. 4179 - An Act relating to the MMTB - 29 Dec. 1933 7 - No. 4989 - An Act Relating to Preference in Employment for Discharged Members of the Defence Forces and for other purposes - 23 Dec. 1943 No. 7 has a number of pencil notes, including the name R J Lormer on the top right hand corner an other notes and a letter from Moule Hamilton & Derham dated 6/7/1944 to Mr S M Richardson regarding the Act and its implications. Signed Frank P Derham.See notes on item 7 in penciltrams, tramways, tramways, acts of parliament, mmtb, world war 2, employment

Taken 21 October 1993Black and white photograph of Swan Reach Primary School senior students and five adults on steps of Parliament House Canberra. East Gippsland member of parliament, Peter McGauran standing right hand side top step. Canberra ACTschools, students

The letter to William Ferrier of South Warrnambool from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth recognised the significance of William’s brave and courageous lifesaving act to the people of Australia; “They all feel that your conduct was worthy of the best deeds done by British sailors in the past and they are proud to know that Australia can produce such as you.” The story of that brave rescue follows on below … The ship from which the sailors were rescued was the three-masted, iron and steel barquentine the La Bella, built in Norway in 1893. She was one of two iron and steel ships by Johan Smith, The company was one of the leading shipping families in Tvedestrand, Norway. She was significant to Norwegian shipping, being one of only 27 iron and steel ships ever built in Norway. She was registered in New Zealand and engaged from 1902 in inter-colonial trading of timber in the Pacific, between New Zealand and Australia and was often in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. On 5th October 1905, the twelve-year-old La Bella left Lyttleton, New Zealand carrying a cargo of timber bound for Warrnambool, Australia. She was manned by a crew of twelve: the Master, (Captain Mylius, previously 1st Mate of La Bella, appointed Captain to La Bella on 6th February 1903) 2 Mates, Cook, six able seamen, one ordinary seaman and a boy. Bad weather en route caused her to shelter at Burnie on Tasmania's North West coast. On November 10th, the 37th day of her journey, La Bella approached Warrnambool. Captain Mylius steered her towards Lady Bay Channel in heavy south-west seas and evening mist. He ordered the helmsman to steer for the light. As the ship came round, a tremendous sea struck her on the port quarter, causing her to breach broadside in a north-westerly direction into breakers. The helm was brought round twice more, but each time heavy seas broke over her, the third time throwing the La Bella on to a submerged reef in Lady Bay now known as La Bella Reef (about 100 yards from the Warrnambool breakwater). The sea was so rough that it even wrenched a one-and-a-half ton anchor from its fastenings and into the sea. As Captain Mylius headed to the steel wheelhouse, intending to send up a rocket flare, a huge sea slammed the steel door into him (resulting in massive bruising front and back) Despite his injuries he still managed to set off a blue light, which he held up in his hands. La Bella’s lifeboats were filled with seawater and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on the shore that there was a ship in distress. The Harbour Master, Captain Roe (who lived in the Harbour Master’s House opposite Flagstaff Hill), organised a group of volunteers to crew the lifeboat because the trained crew was unavailable; the crewmen were working on a steamer in Port Fairy at the time. He then poured oil onto the water to try and smooth the sea. At around 11 pm three of the crew took shelter in the steel forecastle but the sea crashed into it and broke it up. While the rest of the crew and onlookers watched helplessly in the moonlight the bodies were washed away into the sea, never to be seen again. Some of the crew lashed themselves to the weather rail to keep from being washed away. Watson, the ordinary seaman, became tangled in the rigging lines and was too weak to move, so the 2nd Mate, Robertson, put a line onto him so that he wouldn’t wash off. Around 11 pm three of the crew were unconscious from exhaustion. The situation on La Bella was becoming dangerous. The 2nd Mate moved to the ‘house’ and soon afterwards the ship slipped in the heavy sea. The lashings of the 1st Mate and the ‘boy’ Denham had kept them safe until about 2 am when they were washed overboard; no one was able to help. One by one, the exhausted crew were being washed overboard, too weak to hold on any longer. During the night the La Bella had broken into two and the deckhouse ran out towards the sea. Two more men drowned when trying to reach the lifeboat. By sunrise, the only survivors of the twelve were the Master, 2nd Mate and three seamen. Early in the morning, Captain Roe used the rocket apparatus on shore to try and shoot a line to the ship for a safer rescue but each attempt fell short of the target. Several attempts were made by the lifeboat to rescue the stricken sailors, but the rough conditions made this difficult for the boat to get close enough to the ship and the lifeboat had to return to shore. During a final attempt to reach the ship Captain Mylius ordered his men to jump into the sea. Leonard Robertson, 2nd mate, jumped and swam towards the lifeboat, taking hold of the boat hook offered to him. Oscar Rosenholme managed to reach the boat floating on a piece of timber from the ship’s load and a third survivor, Noake, also made the boat. Along with the lifeboat rescue crew, 25-year-old William Ferrier rowed his small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain, whom he landed on the breakwater. Ferrier then returned to the ship to attempt a final rescue, losing his oars and rowlocks into the high sea. Using just a spare paddle he skulled towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the lashing that held him to the ship; the terrified sailor dropped from the ship and into the dingy. Shortly after the last man was rescued, the La Bella was lifted by a huge wave and crashed back down on the reef; she broke up and sank. The ordeal had lasted ten hours. The survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. In the following days, an unidentified body of a young person has washed ashore; it was either Watson or Denham. The body was buried in the Warrnambool cemetery with an appropriate gravestone and inscription. William Ferrier became a national hero as news of the daring rescue spread. In recognition of his bravery in the two daring rescues, he was awarded the Silver Medal for Bravery by the Royal Humane Society and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams and a cheque for £20 from the Governor-General, over £150 subscribed by the public, including Warrnambool and district and readers of The Argus, and a gold medal from the Glenelg Dinghy Club of South Australia. Ferrier’s rescue efforts are one of the most heroic in Victoria’s shipwreck history. (William Ferrier’s son, Frank, received a similar award almost fifty years later when he helped rescue four members of the crew on the yacht Merlan after it ran on to a reef near the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. ) The wreck of La Bella now lies on her port side in 13 metres of sheltered water inside the reef she struck. The bow section is relatively intact and part of the stern has drifted north-easterly towards the mouth of the Hopkins River. The reef the La Bella struck now bears its name. Those five rescued from the La Bella were Captain George Mylius, Leonard Robertson (2nd Mate, 21 years old), R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. Those seven who lost their lives were Mr Coulson (1st mate), Charles Jackman (cook) Gustave Johnson, Pierre Johann and Robert Gent (all able seamen), Harry Watson (ordinary seaman) and Jack Denham (ship’s boy), Captain Mylius was found guilty of careless navigation; he had sailed into the bay without the services of a pilot. His Master Certificate was suspended for twelve months. Later he was also charged with the manslaughter of one of the crew who had died when the La Bella was wrecked but found not guilty. The event’s adverse publicity and damage to his career took a toll on his health and he died of a heart attack six months after the wreck; he was only thirty-seven. His body was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. The La Bella was “the best documented of all sailing ships owned in New Zealand”. Her record books, ship logs, correspondence and supporting papers are still available. At the time of the tragedy, she was owned by Messers David C.Turnbull and Co. of Timaru, New Zealand timber merchants and shipping agents, who had purchased her on 13th December 1901. A detailed account of the last journey of La Bella can be read in “Leonard Robertson, the Whangaroa & La Bella” written by Jack Churchouse, published in 1982 by Millwood Press Ltd, Wellington, NZ. As well as this letter, Flagstaff Hill’s La Bella Collection includes a photograph of the wrecked La Bella, a brass rail holder and a postcard of William Ferrier with four of the survivors. Some 15 – 17 ships are believed to have sunk in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the seafloor; the “La Bella” and the “Edinburgh Castle”. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. This original congratulatory letter sent to William Ferrier by the Prime Minister and Government of Australia demonstrates the importance attached to his efforts for Victoria and to Australia. The letter is part of the La Bella Collection and is significant at both a local and state level. Its connection to the La Bella shipwreck and the rescue of five survivors highlights the dangers of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast. The letter to William Ferrier from the Australian Government acknowledges the bravery of ordinary Australians who risked their lives to save victims of shipwrecks along the coast. The letter is significant to the history of Warrnambool as it honours William Ferrier, a local fisherman whose descendants continue to live in the area. It highlights the way of life of people who lived in coastal towns in 19th century Victoria and the effects of shipwrecks upon them. The letter connects to the postcard of William Ferrier with four of the five rescued crew, the photograph of the wreck of the La Bella and the artefact from the wreck, the rail holder. This letter is significant because of its association with the sailing ship “La Bella”. The “La Bella” is of local and state and national significance. It is one of the only two shipwrecks discovered in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, out of the 15-17 shipwrecks in the bay. Letter to William Ferrier of South Warrnambool from the Prime Minister and Members of Parliament commending him on his bravery. The printed letterhead includes a coat of arms in the top centre and the official address. The letter is very neatly hand written in black pen and includes 4 signatures of Members of Parliament. The rectangular paper is cream coloured with some yellow/brown discolouring. It has the letterhead on the right hand side of it and the written letter begins below the letterhead. The paper has been folded so that the right side becomes the cover page of the letter. The writing is continued onto the inside right hand page of the folded paper and the writing ends here. There is more recent writing on the bottom right hand corner of the back page. The paper has been officially folded in half a total 3 times and there is heavy discolouration on the sections that form the front and back of the folded letter. There is a 4th fold line that is less pronounced that the other folds and would make the paper the size to fit into a pocket. At several fold creases the paper has worn through. The edges of the paper have minor tears. The printed coat of arms is that of the House of Representatives. Underneath is printed “The Parliament of the Commonwealth, / Parliament House / Melbourne”. The hand written, letter is dated “14th November, 1905” and addressed to “Mr. William Ferrier / South Warrnambool” The letter begins “The Speaker, the Prime Minister and Members of the Ministry and its supporters, the Leader and Members of the Opposition, the Leader and Members of the Labour Party, being all the Members of the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Australia” … It continues “desire to express to you their appreciation of your bravery in skulling out to the wreck of the “La Bella” at Warrnambool on Saturday, 11th November, 1905, and recovering therefrom two of the crew who were in imminent danger of their lives. They all feel that your conduct was worthy of the best deeds done by British sailors in the past and they are proud to know that Australia can produce such as you.” The letter is “Signed on behalf of the Members – Speaker (Frederick Holder ), Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Joseph Cook ), Prime Minister (Alfred Deakin), Leader of the Labour Party ( J.C. Watson)” On the back of the letter is blue ink handwriting “OWNER / G. FERRIER / TO. BE. PHOTOGRAPHED / 27-4-76”la bella, william ferrier, bill ferrier, lady bay, 1905, 10th november 1905, 11th november 1905, parliament of the commonwealth, prime minister, australian government, new zealand, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village

Contains a copy of the Transport Act of 1983 which combined the various transport authorities into The Met, the State Transport Act, VicRoads and other bodies. Presented by the Hon Steve Crabb Minister of Transport. Assented to 23/6/1983.Yields information about the change to the various state transport authorities in 1983, in particular the formation of The Met.Book - 188 pages, bound with heavy blue card covers, gold blocked titles.tramways, trams, acts, acts of parliament, mmtb, the met, vicrail, sta, crb, vicroads