This meticulously hand crafted ship model is one of the most intricate and challenging projects for a ship modeller to create. Jim Williams took up the challenge, choosing to make all of the components by hand, following a plan of the ship rather than purchasing a pre-made kit. He even made his own tools specifically for working with this model. The “Sovereign of the Seas” 1637-1697 - The magnificent ship “Sovereign of the Seas” was ordered by Charles I of England, who desired a giant Great Ship to be built. It was built by Peter Pett under the guidance of his father Phineas, the King's master shipwright, and launched with 102-guns at Woolwich Dockyard on 13th October 1637, as the Navy’s second three-decker first-rate ship. It was the most extravagantly decorated warship in the Royal Navy, bought with the help of a special 'Ship Money' tax imposed by the King. Soon afterwards the ship was remodelled and cut down to a safer and faster ship. Over the ship’s lifetime it was renamed “Commonwealth”, then in 1650 it became simply “Sovereign” then again after a rebuild in 1660 it was named “Royal Sovereign”. By 1642 the ship’s armament had been reduced to 90 guns. In 1651 Sovereign was made more manoeuvrable by reducing the upper works. It served throughout the wars of the Commonwealth and became the flagship of General Robert Blake. It was involved in all of the great English naval conflicts fought against the United Provinces and France and was referred to as 'The Golden Devil' by the Dutch. By 1660 the armament was changed attain to 100 guns. After the English Restoration, it was rebuilt as a first-rate ship of the line, with flatter gun decks and 100 guns, and most of the carvings were removed. During the First Anglo-Dutch War, in a secret session on 21 October 1652, the States-General of the Netherlands announced reward money for the crews of fire ships that succeeded in destroying enemy vessels; the Sovereign was singled out with an extra prize of 3000 guilders to sink or ruin it. Although repeatedly occupied by the Dutch, the Sovereign was retaken every time by the British and remained in service for nearly sixty years as the best ship in the English fleet. The Sovereign was in regular service during the three Anglo-Dutch Wars, surviving the Raid on the Medway in 1667. After a second rebuild in 1685 the Sovereign was relaunched as a first-rate ship of 100 guns, before taking part in the outset of the War of the Grand Alliance against Louis XIV of France, venturing into the Irish Sea, and later participating in the Battle of Beachy Head in 1690 and the Battle of La Hougue. At this time she was more than fifty years old. It was the first ship in history to fly ‘royals’ above the topgallant sails and a top gallant sail on the jigger-mast. The Sovereign eventually became leaky and defective with age and was laid up at Chatham when, on 27th January 1697, the famous ship caught fire, burning to the waterline. Jim Williams, the model’s maker - Jim (James Bernard) Williams was born in 1888 at The Forth in Scotland. He lived in Tasmania for some time and enlisted to fight in France in WW1. After the war he moved to Warrnambool, Victoria, where he worked at the Cramond & Dickson clothing store until the Great Depression in the 1930’s. He was later employed at Fletcher Jones Menswear, where he worked for 27 years until just before his death in 1959. Jim was a passionate ship model builder. He worked on his model ships between 1930 and 1955, including The Endeavour and The Sovereign of the Seas, which was one of the most intricate historic ship models to build. He had a table set up in a bay window and worked on them on and off using a jeweller's eye glass on the finer pieces. Jim’s long-time employer, Fletcher Jones, knew of Jim’s hobby and skill as a ship model builder and requested Jim to describe the model, Sovereign of the Seas, with the view of putting it on display. When the model was finished there was a full article and photo in The Standard newspaper. Jim described his work on the ship mode “Sovereign of the Seas” in correspondence to his then employer, Fletcher Jones. The document gives us an insight into his skill, patience, and regard for replicating the details of the original ship. Some of the details are: "In making the model the time taken to make certain items might be of interest. For instance "The Great Lantern" on the stern, four weeks, a similar time for the figurehead of St George & the Dragon. "The lower shrouds three to each side about six weeks & the rigging as whole several months. There are nearly 300 blocks and pulleys ranging from nearly 1 / 16 inch in diameter. Dead eyes were bored with 3 to 5 holes. To do this needles of different sizes, set in handles & ground to wedge ends were used. Glass cut and ground to shape were used windows. All gun-port covers (74) hinged. "All guns and anchors made of wood. Nothing for the model was purchased ready-made; everything hand made." Jim’s family donated the ship model along with many associated tools, accessories and papers. The model represents the Sovereign of the Seas. The Royal Navy ship of the line launched in 1637 has a significant British maritime heritage. These days the Sovereign of the Seas still remains one of the most intricate historic ship models to build, representing to the model enthusiast a true challenge to the art of model shipbuilding. The model of Sovereign of the Seas in Flagstaff Hill's collection is an exemplary example of a ship model built and hand crafted from a plan with the making of every item on the model, not a model kit with prefabricated parts. It was made by a local Warrnambool man Jim Williams as a leisure activity in the mid 20th century. The hobby and craft of ship model making has resulted in visual representations of the changes in maritime technology and advances in world-wide navigation. Ship model of HMS Sovereign of the Seas, a 17th century British warship. The handmade model is in wooden framed, airtight glass case. All components were hand crafted. Many of the tools used were made by the model maker, Jim Williams. An inscribed plaque is within the case. Inscribed on plaque "SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS / 102 GUNS - 1634"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, model ship, vessel sovereign of the seas, jim williams, james bernard williams, the forth tasmania, freda williams, heather williams, phyllis bowditch, fletcher jones staff 1936, 17th century sailing ship, cramond and dickson, sovereign of the seas, royal sovereign, sovereign, charles 1

Cream crocheted pantaloons made for a doll. Cream satin ribbon threaded through waist and ankles.dolls clothes, doll, toy, children, clothing, pantaloon

Part of Graham Collection, donated by the Family of Misses Mary and Edith Maude Graham, of 4 Blair Street, Portland.Cream silk child's dress. Elbow-length gathered sleeves with smocking at wrists. 2-panels of hand crocheted lace forming a 3-panel yoke with central insert of cream embroidery. Full-length dress in silk with two rows of smocking on bodice. At base of dress are two panels of 6 rows of pin-tucking, separated panel of lace over silk backing. Lace at neck. Opening in centre back with 7 button holes and 5 mother-of-pearl buttons with striution carved design. Cream satin ribbon runs under smocking at back and sewn into side seams.clothing, costume, dress, 1900s

Part of Graham Collection, donated by the Family of Misses Mary and Edith Maude Graham, of 4 Blair Street, Portland.Brown lace evening gown (possibly belonging to Miss Crosbie). Sleeveless, buttoned opening at back. Long skirt with numerous darts for fullness. Matching bolero jacket (3794.2) and likely to have been worn with brown satin heels (3800.1 and 3800.2).clothing, womens clothing, costume, evening wear, graham collection

Part of Birmingham Collection, donated by the Family of Misses Mary and Edith Maude Graham, of 4 Blair Street, Portland. Bed caps were worn in the 1800s to keep the head warm. However, in the early 1900s silk caps became popular to protect hairstyles . They were though to improve the health of hair.Cream silk cap, edged with cream lace with green embroidery. Gathered at crown.clothing, night cap, 1900s, headwear, women's headwear, women, female clothing

Displayed at History House.Cream crochet baby singlet, full body length. Satin (cream) ribbon threaded through neck of garment. No sleeves.birmingham collection, dolls clothes, toys, domestic, children, childhood

CEMA Art Collection. Part of "A Community View" 150 years in Portland Screenprint Exhibition. Part of Angela Gee Residency 1983 and 1984.Laminated screenprint of Bentinck Street from foreshore with a female face and top of vehicle in the foreground. The female has red hair and lips, yellow face and blue clothing. The vehicle is red and blue. An extensive patch of grass separates the woman and vehicle from Bentinck Street. The buildings have patches of green, yellow, white and red added. Behind the buildings is a clear light blue sky.Front: 10/14 Kingsley, Gordon & Catherine signature '83 Back: 44

CEMA Art Collection Part of "A Community View" 150 years in Portland Screenprint Exhibition Part of Angela Gee Residency 1983 and 1984Three indigenous women stand before trees and grass trees. The fgiure on the far left is wearing traditional clothing, and the two figures on the right wear Victorian period dresses. The background depicts abstract patterning. At the top of the print are the words "Portland is for Everyone". The bottom of the image includes the words "Thanks to the Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Heywood, and the Portland Historical Society." Background is mauve and colours include green, blue, yellow, orange and tan. Mounted in dark cream matt in an ornate gold-detailed wooden frame.Front: 41/60 (lower left) Angela Gee '83 (lower right) (pencil) Back: (no inscriptions)

Windcheater presented to Rosie Bray by classmates at Watsonia High, 1989 Australian History class. Students have painted their names on the garment and included an unofficial 'class photo' with the windcheater. Rosie was a mature age student in this class.A token of friendship from Rosie's classmates at Watsonia High.Blue windcheater, size M, accompanied by photograph of students.Painted in white letters on front of windcheater 'Australian History '89'. Scattered on garment are the names of class members.rosalie bray, watsonia high school

Made for son of Portland Lighthouse Keeper, Matthew Edward Mabbitt.Child's bonnet made in fine cream cotton fabric. 2 gathered frills at front. 2 rows of fine thread threaded through head piece to pull up for gathering. Fabric gathered into circular insert at back. 2 hemmed ties.childs clothing, child, bonnet, headwear, hat, portland lighthouse

Photographs taken by Esther Winifred Hall (nee Smallpage) - great grand-daughter of Stephen George Henty. Taken in 1934 Centenary Celebrations in Portland. Donated by Ms. Mary Robinson, acting on behalf of Mrs. W.G. Hutchinson "Tellong", Blackwood River Drive, Balingup, W.A. 6253Black and white photograph of people in C19 clothing. In foreground, 2 men and 2 women are posed in a line. The men are carrying shotguns, the women are holding parasols - one open, one closed. Women are wearing bonnets and man on right wears a dark hat.Front: (no inscriptions) Back: (no inscriptions)

Displayed in History House.Cotton camisole. Bands of lace edging at neckline and wrists. Cloth-covered buttons down centre front.

Part of Graham Collection, donated by the Family of Misses Mary and Edith Maude Graham, of 4 Blair Street, Portland.White half apron.clothing, domestic item, apron, needlework, womens history

Displayed at History House with the Birmingham Collection.Plain white cotton curved collar. Machine sewn edging.

Cream silk child's cape. Hand-crocheted lace edging around side and bottom edges. Hand-crocheted lace insert between two sections of pintucking, edged with embroidery. Main body of cape gathered onto plain yoke. Silk binding around neck. Garment Measures: Width at yoke: 30, Width at hem: 215, H: 50

Black cotton lace stole. Central leaf pattern is surrounded by border of squares and flowers. Outside border is leaf and flower motif.

Scalloped edged white maid's apron, bib attached. Checked fine lawn. Cotton backing on edge.

Part of Graham Collection, donated by the Family of Misses Mary and Edith Maude Graham, of 4 Blair Street, Portland.Black fringed stole. Silk Georgette. Large fringe at both ends.

Scalloped-edge maids apron (white) with attached bib. Patterned (striped) fine lawn with white cotton binding with machine eyelet embroidery.

Displayed in History House. Laundered and starched by Anne Grant in 1993.White cotton and lace gown with long sleeves, lacework at waist, bib, collar, cuffs and hem, as well as embroidery edging the lacework.

Made for John Matthew Mabbit, son of Lighthouse Keeper Matthew Edward Mabbitt.Fine cream crochet bonnet. Circular pattern on rear with pichot edge. Eyelet holes for ribbon. Gold ribbon at front.clothing, childs clothing, headwear

Scalloped edged maid's apron, white with attached bib. Checked patterned fine lawn with white cotton binding with machine eyelet embroidery.