.1) Dated 28-4-16; .2) Dated 22.5.16; .3) Dated16.4.16; . 4) No date; .5) Dated Nov. 23rd; .6) Photo of brothers Harold Ernest, Richard Godfrey & Walter Leslie Smith. The cards .1) - .5) Relate to the 3 Smith brothers and Oliver and Walter Somerville. Walter Smith and the 2 Somervilles all enlisted on the same day 14.7.1915 in the 11th reinforcements 7th Batt AIF. Their No's were 3486, 3487 and 3488. Walter Smith DOW's on 31.7.1916, the Somervilles both returned to Australia on 28.3.1919. Harold and Richard Smith both Officers were KIA on the same day 26.8.1916. Refer 51 Plaque..1) - .5) 5 embroidered silk greeting cards. .5) Has a separate small card inside with a Christmas greeting printed on it. .6) Photo on cardboard of the 3 Smith brothers.documents - cards, handcrafts - embroidery, greetings, military history

HCA Morrison (Henry Charles Alexander No 2684 57th Bn) This is the only person listed as “HCA” 57th Bn. Joe Fawcett, there are two Regimental numbers re, 1643 & 7981..1) Letter dated 28.2.18 to Master Gordon Schilling from Joe Fawcet. .2) Christmas card, folding with ribbon, central logo 57th Bn AIF..1) Handwritten on front: “On Active Service, Master Gordon Schilling "Burswood" Chisholm Street Wangaratta Vic Aust” .2) “From H C A Morrison (57th Battalion AIF) to Silas & Lil 1918”letters, cards, 57th bn

Troops Menu for Christmas Day. Details Breakfast 7.30 am, Dinner 12.00 noon, Tea 5.00 pm. Put on by the YMCA & Christmas parcels from the AIF Comforts Fund. Card is fawn coloured light cardboard with ornate edging, printing in black.Printed at top: “CHRISTMAS DAY 1918 DESERT MOUNTED CORPS REST CAMP PORT SAID, TROOPS MENU”cards, menu, xmas, 1918

Card relates to George Ross FREEMAN No 2485, 57th Battalion AIF. Refer Cat No's 2057P & 2058.3P.Christmas card, folding, white background with black printing. Front has cartoon characters in uniform re Christmas & 57th Battalion Signals. Printed on front cover: "With sincerest wishes for a Merry Xmas and a Bright New Year" Handwritten inside: "From Ross To Mother"xmas, new year, 57th, cards

N Graham No 551, refer Cat No 266 for his service details..1) Brown post card of lady holding flowers. .2) Cream greeting card with red & blue border with gold coloured Rising Sun. .3) Cream greeting card with coloured illustration of a man on a horse..1) Printing: "Souvenir from France" Handwriting: "To Maude form N Graham" .2) Printing: "Wish Best Wishes for a Bright & Happy Christmas" Handwriting: "To all at Minmindie with best Xmas wishes" .3) Handwriting: "To Maude with sincere good wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Bright & Happy New Year From her old teacher N Graham"cards, letters, 38th

Both letters are to “Lena” from Tom WATT, Regt No 3670 5th DAC. Refer Cat No 3996P re “Lena” and other cards. Cat No 3999.2P for other letters re “Tom” and his details.(.1) Post card, silk, colour showing 2 buildings, a tree and a bird with “Merry Christmas” at the bottom. On the rear a letter written in black pen addressed to “Lena”. (.2) Post card, colour with 2 scenes of “Malta” with scroll arrangement behind. On rear a brief note in purple addressed “From Tom to Lena”.souvenir, postcards

Stanley Arthur BARRIE No 3176 enlisted in the AIF in Section A 6th Field Ambulance on 7.1.1915 age 23 years 8 months. Embarked for Egypt 4.6.1915, embark for Gallipoli 30.8.1915, hospital 8.10.1915 (unclear) rejoin unit 20.10.1915, embark for France 19.3.1916, hospital 12.11.1916 with Blistered Feet, rejoin unit 5.12.1916, detached to 2nd Div Engineers 6.7.1917, rejoin unit 29.12.1917. After getting himself into trouble AWOL twice then threatening an Officer he transfers to the 23rd Batt on 20.8.1918, KIA 1.9.1918.Xmas /New year card from Pte S BARRIE. The outer cover is yellowish cardboard with a light paper on the inside. A string tassel runs up through the spine with a faded purple tassel on the end.Front cover; Australian Engineers badge with a spring of wattle under then the words “One King, One Flag, One Empire” with a crown and flag. Under the words “On Active Service 1915-1918”. Inside has; “Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Private S.A.Barrie A.A.M.C, 5th Field Coy Australian Engineers France” A.A.M.C meaning Australian Army Medical Corp.documents - cards, military history - souvenirs, xmas, engineers

.1) Christmas greeting card beige card, red, blue, white, flag & sailor in uniform with black ink print greeting hand written letter, black inside card. .2) Beige card, black, blue, grey, pink, graphic party picture with black ink printed Season's Greetings & Christmas verse hand written information on back of card..1) Hand written letter to Joan dated 7/11/16 inside card. .2) Hand written information on back of card.military history, xmas, greetings

The card was with the collection of Rupert Exon No 408, 9th L.H.Regt. Refer 15P, 486P, 482.3.Christmas card, rectangular, Sepia colour, front at the bottom has "The 9th LIGHT HORSE REGIMENT ON THE ROAD TO JERUSALEM 1918". Card opens out with large "Greetings" in green. on rear "Best wishes for Xmas and the new year from Brigadier and Mrs W.H.Scott"documents - cards, military history, 9th light horse

Leslie Alfred TENNANT VX55621 enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 12.5.41. On discharge from the AIF 30.10.45 he was a Craftsman in 2/4th Base Work Shops. Cat No 520 is another card from Les to A McLURE. Refer Cat No 536 for more information re Miss A McLURE.Christmas card made from cardboard, folds in half, has red and blue cord where it folds in half, front has drawing of a town with a mosque , card is yellowish with blue coloured drawing. Inside card in pen " Dear Mrs. McClure I wish you and all your family a Merry Xmas and a happy new year, from Your sincere friend Les Tennant VX55621 PTE L.A. Tennant."documents - cards, greetings, xmas, middle east

Leslie Alfred TENNANT VX55621 enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 12.5.41. On discharged from the AIF on 30.10.45 he was a Craftsman in 2/4th Base Work Shops. Refer Cat No 519 for another card to A McLURE. Refer Cat No 536 for more information re Miss A McLURE.Christmas card made of cardboard, folds in two. Blueish colour faded to brown. Front has a rising sun badge over "2nd Aust. Adv. Ord. Workshops, Middle East, Xmas 1942" Inside has cartoon description of an Army truck, "Leaping Lena."To Mrs Mclure, 40 York St Prahran S.I Victoria Australia." From VX 55621 Pte L.A Tennant.documents-cards, greeting, xmas, middle east

John Guskett NOTT VX6434 enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 21.10.39. On discharge from the AIF 4.3.47 he was a Sergeant in HQ 1 Aust Corps Signals. Miss McLURE. Refer Cat No 536 for her main details..1) Envelope for Xmas card, yellow, red, blue. Front has cutout section to show card inside. Front has "Greetings from the Holy Land." Rear has recipient's address, stamped 12-11-1941. .2) Card for envelope, front has "Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a happy new year, from John." Rear has 4 depictions of scenes in the Holy Land.1) "Miss Addie McClure, 40 York St Prahran Victoria" .2) "VX6434 Cpl J. Nott 1st AUS (L of C) Provost Coy AIF"cards, xmas, holy land

The card relates to a collection re John EDWARDS VX3857 2nd AIF. It was possibly sent to Miss A McLURE. Refer Cat No 536 for his service details and Miss McLURE.Australian Comforts Fund Xmas card made from one sheet of parchment paper, folds into four. Front has drawing of the "Bell tower Bethlehem" and "Greetings for Christmas and New Year." Inside "Desert scene with mosque" and "With the Australian Imperial Force in the Middle East." On the rear " from VX3857 J.Edwards.cards xmas, comforts fund, bethlehem

The cards relate to a collection re John EDWARDS VX3857 2nd AIF. Refer Cat No 536 for his service details and Miss McLURE..1) Envelope, faded blueish colour, stamped by censor in top left corner and signed. Stamped by P.O appears to be 16 Dec 42. Envelope addressed to "Miss A.E McClure 40 York St Prahran TI Victoria Australia." .2) Christmas card, folds in half, yellow ribbon at fold, front has colour patch at top, under "Second Australian General hospital AIF, Middle East Christmas 1941." Inside, photo of lake and boats. Printed with "Season's Greetings," handwritten message included..2) "WIshing you a Merry Christmas & a Bright & Happy New Year 1941, from John to Addie."cards, xmas, 2nd agh

John EDWARDS VX3857. John enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 24.10.1939 age 33 years. Posted to 2/6th BN on 10.11.1939 and then to Provost Corp 6th Aust Div on 2.12.1939. Embarked to the Middle East 11.1.1940, embarked for Greece 1.4.1941 and disembarked back in Egypt in May 1941, embarked for Aust and arrived 27.2.1943. Embarked for Milne Bay NG on 28.7.1943, embarked from Finschafen and arrived in Australia 10.3.1944. He was hospitalised twice in the Middle East with Conjunctivitis then Varicose veins, Malaria in Australia after return from NG. Discharged from the 2nd AIF on 22.10.1945. His records state he married and was date entered 5.4.1944, Wife Mrs A.E.Edwards of 40 York St Prahran. The collection re EDWARDS has cards etc from two other soldier friends of the then Miss McLURE.Christmas stocking, canvas, both sides printed with numerous cartoons and decorative stitching around edge - red white and blue wool.To,"VX3857 L/Cpl J.Edwards 26 Coy AIT B MEF AIF Abroad". From "A McLure 40 York St Prahran Vic".handcrafts - sewing, stocking, xmas

Hand written inside. "Murray, I will never forget you, how are you? I hope you are always well! My regards to your mother. I hope to one day see you again in V.Nam. Sister Augustine". The card relates to Geoff Murray No 3411521, 3 Cav Regt Vietnam 27.11.67 to 22.10.68, Survey Corp Vietnam 15.10.69 to 15.10.70. On his 2nd tour with Survey Corp Geoff procured a lot of food etc for the Baria Orphanage. Refer 610.2P, 611.8, 1866.3 re the Orphanage and Sister Augustine also 638P.Christmas card with river scene painted on front. .1) Heavy card outer pages. .2) Fine tissue paper inner pages..1) "Greetings" .2) "Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a Happy New Year"cards, xmas, vietnam

The cards were sent to Geoff Murray by Sister Augustine from the Baria Orphanage South Vietnam. On Geoff's 2nd tour of Vietnam with Survey Corp 15.10.69 to 15.10.70 he was a great supporter of the Orphanage with food and rations. Refer 594.2, 610.2P, 611.8 re Geoff and the Orphanage. His first tour was with 3 Cav Regt 27.11.67 to 22.10.68, refer 638P..1) Christmas card with scene of Vietnamese village. .2) New Year's card with paper cutout birds and pressed flowers. .3) Christmas card with painting of birds and nativity scene on cover and pop-up nativity scene.documents-cards, natural history specimens-botany, vietnam

Henry Victor Evans No 418655 RAAF. Refer Cat No 1760.4.Paper or cardboard Christmas card issued by RAAF. Centre has a bird with outstretched wings with crown above stamped in blue ink. "Royal Australian Air Force No 4 Initial Training School Victor Harbour" Inside "Mr Evans/Best Wishes/from Lyle Cootes"cards, military, numismatics, raaf, xmas

Robert John Suggett No 378, 38th Batt & 3rd Div HQ AIF. Refer Cat No1647.4 for his service historyNew Year's card with Christmas greetings from Louis J Fouillet in France to Mr Sugget. Handpainted scene on front of cream coloured card.“My dear Mr Suggett”documents-cards, xmas

Items are in the collection re Edwin James Jones No 3511 AIF. .3) envelope to Tom Jones will be Edwin’s brother Thomas Robert Jones No 1982 AIF who was WIA on Gallipoli. Date on the envelope appears to be June/July 1917 after he was discharged from the AIF. “AG” means Australian General Hospital. Refer 1367.5 and 1377 for their service history..1) - Card, folds in half re Xmas Day 1918, No, Command depot Sutlon Veny re Xmas menu etc. LT COL W.O Mansbridge DSO Commandant. .2) - Small letter "YMCA." heading writing in pencil dated 2/2/1918 To Bell from E Jones. .3) - Letter card folds in half "on Active service." writing in pencil to Tom Jones ward 10 A.G Hospital Caulfeild.documents - cards, letters, military history, jones

Interfet Christmas card. Blue background with flag border. Map of East Timor with peace dove.“INTERFET -International Force East Timor Peace” Postmarked Melbourne City Mail Centre November 2000documents-cards, maps, interfet, east timor

These items were held in Album (207P). They all belonged to RSM Edgar Frederick Dawson DCM, No 4472. Refer Cat No 893 for his service history.Items relating to E.F.Dawson DCM. .1) Menu card "Dinner on HMT Orsova". Monday February 17th 1919. .2) "Christmas and New Year Greetings" card, folded, 1917-1918. .3) Christmas card 1917, folded with red & black ribbon, 57th Batt AIF. .4) Card, folded with red ribbon "Greetings". .5) Same as .3) .6) Letter to Jack Dawson from Audrey Tilcock re newspaper cutting .7) .7) Newspaper cutting re award of the "DCM" to Edgar Dawson.documents - cards - newspapers - letters - menus, military history, souvenirs

Cards collected by Alan Telford VX146055 2nd AIF. Refer 357.3 also 332.2, 358.3, 359.3, 360.4P..1) in colour, soldier peeling peas. .2) in colour, soldier blowing trumpet in bed. .3) in colour, group of seven soldiers playing two up. .4) in colour, soldier leaning, officer walking. .5) in colour, soldier, airman & sailor in bar .6) in colour, Japanese women & two children with flag. .7) in colour, scene with Japanese soldiers & civilians. .8) in colour, before and after Christmas dinner. .6, .7) Japanese writing on front and rear. .8) "This is dad after his xmas dinner"cartoon postcards, military, japanese

Sent home to Australia by Pte Paul Johinke from France 1916- 1917 WW 1Set of four Cards 1916-1917. 1. Gumleaf -Kangaroo center Circle 2. French & British Flags leaves center 3. Center red flower buds To my dear daughter in blue 4. Purple & yellow flowers To my dear wife a Merry Christmas in blue

The Mt Beauty Wine and Dine club existed during the construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme as part of the social life. These cards were owned by Nesta Drew nee Cooper. The Celebrity Concert dated 20th April 1956 was held at the Community Centre Mt Beauty during the construction of the KHES.A good example of social activities partaken during the 1950s in the Upper Kiewa Valley during the construction of the KHES. Nesta Drew lived on a farm in the Kiewa Valley.1. Buff coloured cardboard hand-made Christmas card sent to Richard Nicholson from the Mt Beauty Wine and Dine Club. Xmas 1954. and 2. Pale purple cardboard cover with cream paper centre. It includes sponsors advertisements and has the programme in the centre. Celebrity Concert run by the Lodge of Beauty Masonic Lodge No. 658.nesta drew, beauty maonic lodge, mt beauty wine and dine club

A collection of photographs depicting numerous people. Some have been taken by studios such as Lovewell & Co, Hider, Jordan and Daniel Clarke of Warrnambool. Most of the photos are unnamed but of those that are there is a Thom Wickham, E. M. Fleming, Henry and Stanly Frisch. There are also a number of photographs depicting land clearing and wood cutting also a couple of cards, one happy New year and Glaedelig Jul( Danish Merry Christmas)An album typical of the era with local family connections as well as work by local photographersBrown leather cover with gold figure work over embossing on the front with possibly the letter,”C”. The back cover is entirely embossed. Edges of metal clasp are on front and back cover but clasp part is missing. Gold edges to pages, which are all heavy card. Front inside page has pink briar roses with “Album” on card inserted through it.Jan 17th 1888. To Morris from H Bambrick?warrnambool, warrnambool photographers, lovewell & co, jordan photographers, daniel clarke, thom wickham, e m fleming, henry frisch, stanley frisch

James Hossack and his wife, Penuel, arrived from Scotland to Geelong on Christmas Day 1852. "Granny" Hossack was born in 1821 and died in 1921 within two months of a century. James and Penuel had one daughter, Penuel who married Robert Pullar Cameron at Orbost. They had two sons, James(1858) and George(1860). James Hossack and his wife, Penuel, arrived from Scotland to Geelong on Christmas Day 1852. The Hossacks travelled to Australia on the "Ann Thompson"The Hossack family was a prominent Orbost family with strong ties to the Presbyterian Church in Orbost. This item is a part of the Hossack family history.A brown rectangular shaped photo album On front is a print of three large pink/red dahlia flowers. It has a pasted on label - GRANNY HOSSACKS CARDS. It has plastic sheets inside with a collection of cards sent to Granny Hossack -Christmas, funeral, New Year. On first page is a hand-written history of James Hossack and his wife Penuel.album "granny"-hossack hossack

Zilles Printers was begun by Lewis Zilles in the early 1930s. It was in McKenzie Street Ballarat. His son Jeffrey also became a printer - letterpress, offset and screen printer. The business became Zilles Printers/Graphics and was in Armstrong Street and later Bell Street Ballarat. Items are work done for the Australian Defence Force bases at Portsea and Queenscliff. They were training bases - Officer Cadet School and Australian Staff College. Originally the base at Portsea was the Quarantine Station established in the late 1800s. International protocols required captains of arriving ships to provide a clean bill of health from the last port of call. If this was not possible all on board would be transferred to the Quarantine Station by boat for observations. This was to stop the spread of diseases such as cholera, small pox, typhoid fever, influenza and the plague. In 1952 it became a military training base - Officer Cadet School. The quarantine station still operated and the Army had to be prepared to evacuated in an emergency. This occurred in 1954 when 113 passengers on board the Strathaird were quarantined with smallpox. Cadets and staff came with their families and was a small township. Training for the Vietnam War was here, Now gone the remnants of the quarantine station and army activites can be seen. Under Point Nepean Community Trust. Fort Queenscliff dates from 1860 when it was an open battery known as Shortlands Bluff. The Garrison included volunteer artillery, engineers and infantry. It was a Coastal Defence Installation from 1883-1946. The base on Swan Island was part of this and soldiers from the Fort would go on detail to the Island each day. A permanent group with their families were housed there. The children would attend the local school in Queenscliff. It eventually became and still is a restricted area. In 1946 the Fort became home of the Army Command and Staff College. Officers came from overseas to train. Families would come with them and be accommodated in the main officers residence "Maytone" or private housing rented by the Army. Their children would attend local schools. Staff Colleges were all moved to Canberra. The Fort is now the Army Soldiers Career Management Agency and houses all historical documents related to the Army. .1 Off-white card with gold badge and black writing. .2 White card with separate page held together with blue and red ribbon. Badge in gold on front. Two Officer Cadet School flags - crossed and Christmas Greeting in blue inside card. .3 Off-white paper with Australian Staff College emblem. Blue print.2 Officer Cadet School emblem - lion and crown in centre. Flags - British and Australian .3 Emblem - crossed swords, owl and crownzilles printers, australian defence force, quarantine station portsea, officer cadet school, fort queenscliff, open battery, swan island, staff college, army command, zilles collection

When the Schomberg was launched in 1855, she was considered the "Noblest” ship that ever floated on the water. Schomberg's owners, the Black Ball Line had commissioned the ship for their fleet of passenger liners. She was built by Alexander Hall of Aberdeen for £43,103 and constructed with 3 skins. One planked fore and aft and two diagonally planked, fastened together with screw-threaded trunnels (wooden rails). Her First Class accommodation was simply luxurious with velvet pile carpets, large mirrors, rosewood, birds-eye maple and mahogany timbers throughout, soft furnishings of satin damask, and oak-lined library with a piano. Overall she had accommodation for 1000 passengers. At the launch, the Schomberg's 34-year-old master, Captain 'Bully' Forbes, had promised to reach Melbourne in sixty days stating, "with or without the help of God." Captain James Nicol Forbes was born in Aberdeen in 1821 and rose to fame with his record-breaking voyages on the famous Black Ball Line ships; Marco Polo and Lightning. In 1852 in the Marco Polo, he made the record passage from London to Melbourne in 68 days. Unfortunately, there were 53 deaths on the voyage, but the great news was off the record passage by Captain Forbes. In 1854 he took the clipper “Lighting” to Melbourne in 76 days and back in 63 days, this record was never beaten by a sailing ship. He often drove his crew and ship to breaking point to beat his previous records. He cared little for the comfort of the passengers. On this, the Schomberg's maiden voyage, he was determined to break existing records. Schomberg departed Liverpool on her maiden voyage on 6th October 1855 flying a sign that read "Sixty Days to Melbourne". She departed with 430 passengers and 3000 tons cargo including iron rails and equipment intended to build the Melbourne to Geelong Railway and a bridge over the Yarra from Melbourne to Hawthorn. She also carried a cow for fresh milk, pens for fowls and pigs, 90,000 gallons of water for washing and drinking. She also carried 17,000 letters and 31,800 newspapers. The ship and cargo were insured for $300,000 a fortune for the time. The winds were poor as she sailed across the equator, slowing Schomberg's journey considerably. The land was first sighted on Christmas Day, at Cape Bridgewater near Portland, Captain Forbes followed the coastline towards Melbourne. Forbes was said to be playing cards when called by the third mate Henry Keen, who reported land about 3 miles off. Due in large part to the captain's regarding a card game as more important than his ship, it eventually ran aground on a sand spit near Curdie's Inlet (about 56 km west of Cape Otway) on 26th December 1855, 78 days after leaving Liverpool. The sand spit and the currents were not marked on Forbes's map. Overnight, the crew launched a lifeboat to find a safe place to land the ship’s passengers. The scouting party returned to Schomberg and advised Forbes that it was best to wait until morning because the rough seas could easily overturn the small lifeboats. The ship’s Chief Officer spotted the SS Queen at dawn and signalled the steamer. The master of the Queen approached the stranded vessel and all of Schomberg’s passengers and crew disembarked safely. The Black Ball Line's Melbourne agent sent a steamer to retrieve the passengers' baggage from the Schomberg. Other steamers helped unload her cargo until the weather changed and prevented the salvage teams from accessing the ship. Later one plunderer found a case of Wellington boots, but alas, all were for the left foot. Local merchants Manifold & Bostock bought the wreck and cargo but did not attempt to salvage the cargo still on board the ship. They eventually sold it on to a Melbourne businessman and two seafarers. In 1864 after two of the men drowned when they tried to reach Schomberg, salvage efforts were abandoned. In 1870, nearly 15 years after the wreck parts of the Schomberg had washed ashore on the south island of New Zealand. The wreck now lies in 825 metres of water and although the woodwork is mostly disintegrated the shape of the ship can still be determined due to the remaining railway irons, girders and the ship’s frame. A variety of goods and materials can be seen scattered about nearby. There have been many other artefacts salvaged from the wreck include ship fittings and equipment, personal effects, a lithograph, tickets and photographs from the Schomberg. This ceramic container was retrieved from the shipwreck site during early salvage efforts on the vessel. And was donated to the Flagstaff Hill collection of Schomberg shipwreck artefacts.The ceramic container is particularly significant in that along with other items from the wreck have helped in part to having legislation changed to protect shipwrecks, with far tighter controls being employed to oversee the salvaging of wreck sites. This item forms part of the Schomberg collection at Flagstaff Hill maritime museum. The collection as a whole is of historical and archaeological significance at a State level. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from the Schomberg is also significant for its association with the Victorian Heritage Registered Schomberg shipwreck (VHR S 612). The collection is of additional significance because of the relationship between the objects salvaged, as together they help us to interpret the story of the Schomberg. The collection as a whole is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria's maritime history and its potential to interpret social and historical themes from society at the time of the wreck.Stoneware Container with lid, white in colour,Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, container, shipwrecked-artefact, schomberg, clipper ship, black ball line, 1855 shipwreck, aberdeen clipper ship, captain forbes, peterborough shipwreck, ss queen

A “Bill of Fare” is a menu or list of food offered for a meal. This Bill of Fare from the sailing ship Schomberg is handwritten in pen in hard-to-read script on the printed pages specifically for the Schomberg ship, of the Black Ball Line of Australian Packets. (‘Packets’ were vessels that had a regular trade run of cargo, passengers and mail; the sailing ship Schomberg was designed for long voyages between England and Australia.) These menus posed a puzzle as they have the handwritten dates of, May 10 and 12, 1856, by which time the Schomberg had sunk (she sunk on December 26, 1855). The donor of these pages of Bill of Fare is a stamp collector from Melbourne. He came across the menus in a package that he bought in 1980 at a stamp auction in Tasmania. He decided to give the menus to Flagstaff Hill this year during his annual family holiday in Warrnambool. A 1981 newspaper article about this donation included an interview with Flagstaff Hill’s curator Mr Peter Ronald, who said that the stationery of these menus is genuine. He went on to say that there would have been much stationery printed for use on the Schomberg although she sank on her maiden voyage. These menus could have been written at a dated late because the surplus Schomberg stationery could have been used for menus on other ships. We will probably never be sure of the answer but none-the-less the pages are still connected to the Schomberg. Below is what we believe the menu consists of although some of the writing is indecipherable - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (first menu) Roast Mutton Boiled Mutton? Ox Tail Mulligatawny? Or possibly Ox Tail Vegetables? Mutton Pies? ------------------------------- Vegetables Potatoes ---------------------------------- Dessert Fruit Puddings? Saturday May 10, 1856 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - AND - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (second menu) Boiled Mutton Roast Mutton? Roast Geese? Ox Tail?? Calves Head Broth? ------------------------------- Vegetables Potatoes ------------------------------- Dessert Tarts? Rice Pudding? ?...Maids?? Monday May 12, 1856 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Background of “SCHOMBERG” When SCHOMBERG was launched in July, 1855, she was considered the “Noblest ship that ever floated on water.” SCHOMBERG’s owners, the Black Ball Line (one of three companies by that name), commissioned the ship for their fleet of passenger liners. She was built by Alexander Hall of Aberdeen, UK at a cost of £43,103. She was constructed with 3 skins: one planked fore and aft, and two diagonally planked, fastened together with screw threaded trunnels (wooden rails). Her first class accommodation was luxurious: velvet pile carpets; large mirrors; rosewood; birds-eye maple; mahogany; soft furnishings of gold satin damask; an oak-lined library; and a piano. Overall she had accommodation for 1000 passengers. SCHOMBERG’s 34 year old master, Captain James ‘Bully’ Forbes, had promised Melbourne in 60 days at the launch, "with or without the help of God." James Nicol Forbes was born in Aberdeen in 1821 and rose to fame with his record-breaking voyages on the famous Black Ball Line ships MARCO POLO and LIGHTNING. In 1852 in the MARCO POLO he made the record passage from London to Melbourne in 68 days. There were 53 deaths on the voyage but the great news was of the record passage by the master. In 1954 Captain Forbes took the clipper LIGHTNING to Melbourne in 76 days and back in 63 days, this was never beaten by a sailing ship. He often drove his crew and ship to breaking point to beat his own records. He cared little for the comfort of the passengers. On this, the SCHOMBERG’s maiden voyage, he was going to break records. SCHOMBERG departed Liverpool on her maiden voyage on 6 October 1855 flying the sign “Sixty Days to Melbourne”. She departed with 430 passengers and 3000 tons cargo including iron rails and equipment intended to build the Melbourne to Geelong Railway as well as a bridge over the Yarra from Melbourne to Hawthorn. She also carried a cow for fresh milk, pens for fowls and pigs, and 90,000 gallons of water for washing and drinking. SCHOMBERG also carried 17,000 letters and 31,800 newspapers. The ship and cargo was insured for $300,000, a fortune for the time. The winds were poor as she sailed across the equator, slowing SCHOMBERG’s journey considerably. Land was first sighted on Christmas Day, at Cape Bridgewater near Portland, and Captain Forbes followed the coastline towards Melbourne. Forbes was said to be playing cards when called by the Third Mate Henry Keen, who reported land about 3 miles off. Due in large part to Forbes regarding a card game as more important than his ship, SCHOMBERG eventually ran aground on a sand spit near Curdie's Inlet (about 56 km west of Cape Otway) on 26 December 1855, 78 days after leaving Liverpool. The sand spit and the currents were not marked on Forbes’s map. Overnight, the crew launched a lifeboat to find a safe place to land the ship’s passengers. The scouting party returned to SCHOMBERG and advised Forbes that it was best to wait until morning because the rough seas could easily overturn the small lifeboats. The ship’s Chief Officer spotted the steamer SS QUEEN at dawn and signalled it. The master of the SS QUEEN approached the stranded vessel and all of SCHOMBERG’s passengers and crew were able to disembark safely. The SCHOMBERG was lost and with her, Forbes’ reputation. The Black Ball Line’s Melbourne agent sent a steamer to retrieve the passengers’ baggage from the SCHOMBERG. Other steamers helped unload her cargo until the weather changed and prevented the salvage teams from accessing the ship. Later one plunderer found a case of Wellington boots, but alas, all were for the left foot! Local merchants Manifold & Bostock bought the wreck and cargo, but did not attempt to salvage the cargo still on board the ship. They eventually sold it on to a Melbourne businessman and two seafarers. In 1864 salvage efforts were abandoned after two men drowned when they tried to reach SCHOMBERG. Parts of the SCHOMBERG were washed ashore on the south island of New Zealand in 1870, nearly 15 years after the wreck. The wreck of the SCHOMBERG lies in 825 metres of water. Although the woodwork is mostly disintegrated, the shape of the ship can still be seen due to the remaining railway irons, girders and the ship’s frame. A variety of goods and materials can be seen surrounding the wreck, by divers. Flagstaff Hill holds many items salvaged from the SCHOMBERG including a ciborium (in which a diamond ring was concealed in concretion), communion set, ship fittings and equipment, personal effects, a lithograph, tickets and photograph from the SCHOMBERG. These Bills of Fare are significant due to their connection to Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from the Schomberg, which is significant for its association with the Victorian Heritage Registered shipwreck S612. The collection is primarily significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the Schomberg. The Schomberg collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of an international passenger ship. The shipwreck 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 shipwreck and the ship, which was designed to be fastest and most luxurious of its day. The Schomberg 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. Menu, or Bill of Fare, on cream coloured stationery from the sailing vessel “Schomberg”. Two rectangular pieces of paper, each bears the printed words “Black Ball Line of Australian Packets, Bill of Fare, Ship, Schomberg”, a printed symbol of the Black Ball line (a black ball on a red flag) and a decorative border. Both pages are handwritten, in similar but different sized writing, with a Bill of Fare and a date, Page (1) dated May 10th 1856 and (2) dated May 12th ’56, (Both dates are AFTER the Schomberg sank in December 26th 1855.) Both pages have three fold lines spaced across their width. To be used for the return voyage.Printed on the pages ““BLACK BALL LINE OF AUSTRALIAN PACKETS.” “Bill of Fare, / SHIP / “SCHOMBERG”.” Handwritten list of food, and on one page “Saturday May 10 1856” and on the other page “Monday May 12” warrnambool, peterborough, shipwrecked coast, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, maritime museum, great ocean road, flagstaff hill, sailing ship schomberg, shipwreck schomberg, black ball line of australian packets, bill of fare schomberg, menu schomberg 1856, food mid-1800’s, food on ships mid-1800’s, menu, may 10, 1856, may 12, 1856