On a piece of paper subsequently glued near one end of its curved upper face, this length of planed and polished hardwood timber bears the inscription: “A [p]iece of w[r]ec[k] of the Loch Ard wrecked near Sherbroke River”. The timber is carefully worked with rich dark colouring and a uniformly moulded design, suggesting that it was part of a fitting or furnishing that was publicly visible and prominent. If the artefact is what it is declared to be, then it is possible that it formed part of the ship’s railings or companionway stairs. The LOCH ARD was a 1,693 ton, 3 masted barque, built on the Clyde in 1873. In an age of increasing competition for the emigrant passenger trade from steam-driven vessels, special attention was paid to her wooden furnishings and fittings. The Loch Line owners prided themselves on their attractive, distinctively painted, sailing ships. Below decks, where cargo and third class passengers were stowed, was made of iron. But everything above deck, and on show to the saloon and second class passengers, was carved and varnished timber. Captain Daish’s 1878 report for the ship’s underwriters notes “a quantity of general Cargo washed up in a confused mass” in the cove and “a number of Cases, Casks and Bales; also deals and boards floating about in some of the gorges” further west of the shipwreck. Contemporary newspaper accounts also reported a large quantity of cargo and timber washed ashore in the days following the LOCH ARD shipwreck, adding “but those were speedily removed by persons who came down from Port Campbell, Scott’s Creek and other places with carts and pack horses”. The appearance and good condition of this wood artefact, and the aged patina and dated hand-writing style of its pasted on inscription, support the suggestion that it was ‘souvenired’ from the floating debris of the LOCH ARD at or near the 1878 date of its foundering off Mutton Bird Island. HISTORY OF THE LOCH ARD The LOCH ARD belonged to the famous Loch Line which sailed many ships from England to Australia. Built in Glasgow by Barclay, Curdle and Co. in 1873, the LOCH ARD was a three-masted square rigged iron sailing ship. The ship measured 262ft 7" (79.87m) in length, 38ft (11.58m) in width, 23ft (7m) in depth and had a gross tonnage of 1693 tons. The LOCH ARD's main mast measured a massive 150ft (45.7m) in height. LOCH ARD made three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its final voyage. LOCH ARD left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of Captain Gibbs, a newly married, 29 year old. She was bound for Melbourne with a crew of 37, plus 17 passengers and a load of cargo. The general cargo reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. On board were straw hats, umbrella, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionary, linen and candles, as well as a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead and copper. There were items included that intended for display in the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. The voyage to Port Phillip was long but uneventful. At 3am on June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs was expecting to see land and the passengers were becoming excited as they prepared to view their new homeland in the early morning. But LOCH ARD was running into a fog which greatly reduced visibility. Captain Gibbs was becoming anxious as there was no sign of land or the Cape Otway lighthouse. At 4am the fog lifted. A man aloft announced that he could see breakers. The sheer cliffs of Victoria's west coast came into view, and Captain Gibbs realised that the ship was much closer to them than expected. He ordered as much sail to be set as time would permit and then attempted to steer the vessel out to sea. On coming head on into the wind, the ship lost momentum, the sails fell limp and LOCH ARD's bow swung back. Gibbs then ordered the anchors to be released in an attempt to hold its position. The anchors sank some 50 fathoms - but did not hold. By this time LOCH ARD was among the breakers and the tall cliffs of Mutton Bird Island rose behind the ship. Just half a mile from the coast, the ship's bow was suddenly pulled around by the anchor. The captain tried to tack out to sea, but the ship struck a reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Waves broke over the ship and the top deck was loosened from the hull. The masts and rigging came crashing down knocking passengers and crew overboard. When a lifeboat was finally launched, it crashed into the side of LOCH ARD and capsized. Tom Pearce, who had launched the boat, managed to cling to its overturned hull and shelter beneath it. He drifted out to sea and then on the flood tide came into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. He swam to shore, bruised and dazed, and found a cave in which to shelter. Some of the crew stayed below deck to shelter from the falling rigging but drowned when the ship slipped off the reef into deeper water. Eva Carmichael had raced onto deck to find out what was happening only to be confronted by towering cliffs looming above the stricken ship. In all the chaos, Captain Gibbs grabbed Eva and said, "If you are saved Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a sailor". That was the last Eva Carmichael saw of the captain. She was swept off the ship by a huge wave. Eva saw Tom Pearce on a small rocky beach and yelled to attract his attention. He dived in and swam to the exhausted woman and dragged her to shore. He took her to the cave and broke open case of brandy which had washed up on the beach. He opened a bottle to revive the unconscious woman. A few hours later Tom scaled a cliff in search of help. He followed hoof prints and came by chance upon two men from nearby Glenample Station three and a half miles away. In a state of exhaustion, he told the men of the tragedy. Tom returned to the gorge while the two men rode back to the station to get help. By the time they reached LOCH ARD Gorge, it was cold and dark. The two shipwreck survivors were taken to Glenample Station to recover. Eva stayed at the station for six weeks before returning to Ireland, this time by steamship. In Melbourne, Tom Pearce received a hero's welcome. He was presented with the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria and a £1000 cheque from the Victorian Government. Concerts were performed to honour the young man's bravery and to raise money for those who lost family in the LOCH ARD disaster. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: the apprentice, Tom Pearce and the young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. Ten days after the LOCH ARD tragedy, salvage rights to the wreck were sold at auction for £2,120. Cargo valued at £3,000 was salvaged and placed on the beach, but most washed back into the sea when another storm developed. The wreck of LOCH ARD still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island. Much of the cargo has now been salvaged and some was washed up into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. One of the most unlikely pieces of cargo to have survived the shipwreck was a Minton porcelain peacock - one of only nine in the world. The peacock was destined for the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. It had been well packed, which gave it adequate protection during the violent storm. Today, the Minton peacock can be seen at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in Warrnambool. From Australia's most dramatic shipwreck it has now become Australia's most valuable shipwreck artefact and is one of very few 'objects' on the Victorian State Heritage Register. The Loch Ard wreck is of state significance – Victorian Heritage Register S417. However there is a lack of documented provenance that limits the interpretive value of this piece of timber (for example, its potential to interpret nineteenth century souveniring and scavenging from shipwrecks along the south west coast of Victoria). Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from LOCH ARD is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S417). The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the LOCH ARD. The LOCH ARD collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The LOCH ARD collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes). The collection is also historically significant for its association with the LOCH ARD, which was one of the worst and best known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history. A length of hardwood timber, planed and varnished to smooth finish on three sides, with two unfinished tongues protruding from each end (one broken off), possibly from the wreck of the LOCH ARD. The front or upper face is moulded and routed to a regular, linear (skirting board type) design along its entire length, the two sides flat planed. One side contains two inserted dowel rods that have been broken off. The bottom face has not been finished to the same standard. The sample is good quality wood that has retained its density and weight and shows no evidence of having been submerged in seawater for any length of time. Glued on to the upper face of the length of timber near the right hand end is a deteriorated square of paper bearing an inscription. The paper, peeling back and with torn edges, is stuck over an original wood stain but under a subsequent layer of varnish. The faded ink words are indecipherable where paper is missing, but written carefully in an old fashioned cursive script.The inscription on the paper reads: “A [p]iece of w[r]ec[k] of the Loch Ard wrecked near Sherbroke River”. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, nineteenth-century souveniring, shipwreck scavenging, loch line sailing ships, wood sample

.2) The 8 pointed central star could represent the 8 countries linked to the Maltese Cross. Items in the collection re John D Gardiner No 2832, refer Cat No 5892.2 for his service details..1) Possible belt buckle part, brass with section for belt to pass through, face has a Maltese Cross in curved shape, nothing on rear. .2) Maltese Cross style cast metal with centre 8 pointed star, nothing on rear.accessory, belts, maltese

This lantern would have been attached to a horse-drawn coach for lighting purposes and local coaches and other large-size horse-drawn vehicles would have had similar lights. It is a heavy object and may also have been used on early model automobiles or other motorised vehicles.This item has no known local provenance and is retained for display and research purposes.This is cylindrical metal lantern painted black. It has a glass covering on the rounded face and glass inserts on the back and the side. It has a metal-covered candle that is inserted into the lantern through an opening at the base. There are hinged clips to open the main glass and the back glass.vintage coach lighting, candle-lit lanterns

This item appears to be a World War One gas mask of the type known as the British small box respirator. Gas masks were produced and issued to members of the Allied defence forces in World War One in response to the German Army use of poison gas. The small box respirator was first issued in April 1916. This gas mask is of interest as a memento of World War One.This is a gas mask with a canvas hood for covering the face and with transparent mica eyepieces and cloth straps that fit around the head. A round perforated metal piece is attached to the bottom of the head piece and a hose is attached to the head piece and to an oval-shaped tin can. 757213 5613 (?) 18 world war one, history of warrnambool, gas mask

Fawn-coloured setting was donated to the school by Mr Robert Murray in 2005. The setting was hand painted by Lucy Shaw, (principal of Clarendon PLC 1927-1934) in 1934. The sets were sold to raise money for the school. Cup, saucer and plate with Clarendon PLC crest hand-painted on face; fawn coloured china with tan edge to plates and handle of cup; second cup, saucer and plate with off-white china and light brown edge to plates and handle of cup.On base of cup: L. SHAW On base of saucer: L SHAW / 1934 On base of plate: L. S. / 1934lucy-shaw, hand-painted-china

A.C. Voltmeter, 150-600 volts non liner, semicircular scale ventilation holes. One termnal post on each side panel. Maker's name plate on top face below scale windo. Adjacent: spring-loaded contact button. Model 155. Serial Number 42339scientific instrument, ballarat school of mines, weston electrical instrument co

Small antique German porcelain doll from the late 1800's with porcelain face & hands, body of leather. Dressed in a cotton floral print frock with lace collar, blue waistband, undergarments include, pantaloons, petticoat, stockings, shoes of leather.AM.4/0.DEP.3200toys, dolls, porcelain

Gillies Pies was started by three brothers from Charlton, in central Victoria, Les, Alan and Norm Gillies who left their farm after the 1940s drought and headed to Bendigo to start anew. From their first small bakery in Mitchell Street, the brothers eventually went on to employ about 200 people with wholesale and retail locations spreading across the state and distribution including Melbourne.A double-sided sign, both sides are identical. A yellow sign with red writing, GILLES curved above the face of a boy eating a pie. GB. In blue writing, PIES & PASTIES. Baked Fresh Daily. There are three holes on each side for mounting.gilles pies, signs

Item from an Italian POW held in Camp 13, 1942 to 1946A profile of a monkey sitting with its knees bent and arms resting on the knees Hand painted in brown with ochre face, red lips, ears and fingernails. Inscriptions in White 28-4-42 in front and PARINELLO N. on one side and PRISONER.OF.WAR on the other28-4-42, PARINELLO N., PRISONER OF WARitalian pow's, camp 13 murchison, hand made objects

Purchased in 1973 with a group of fellow office workers. Used by Ted Arrowsmith for 33 years as a bedside alarm and later as a clock in our back room.1973 Clock Radio FM - AM. Cream attached casing - black face - electrical - Peak DC 12|It worked through a ratchet arrangement which enabled the time disc to drop after each minute and then hourly. It was a 24 hour clock.'Peak DC 12'audio-visual technology, audio appliances

Worn by donor Rob Innes in year 2000, Millennium YearDark blue men's tie with computer depicted on face, with tower monitor and keyboard. M Bug on screen of monitor, referring to the suspected Y2K millennium bug in the tear 2000, also depicted on the tie are computer parts and a supposed worm in lighter blue.costume, male uniform, civilian

Diggers & Mining. Diggers and miners. Walhalla - Gold Town. Some idea of the difficulties which faced the early inhabitants may be gauged by the following pictures, which show the nature of the surrounding country. Markings: 15 995 WAL. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields

Small, square, original colour positive photograph of 'Mandalay', Molesworth Street, Kew, taken in 1979 by Elizabeth Mackie. Side view showing double-storey colonnade faced with cement pilasters on first floor and projecting bay window on both floors.Annotated in ink on reverse: " Mandalay, 3 Molesworth St. / once Morrissey family home / Donated by E Mackie 1979"mandalay, historic houses -- kew (vic.), mansions -- kew (vic.), morrissey family

The Melbourne artist Alma Agnes Marion Figuerola, was the daughter of Juan Pedro Narciso Figuerola (1869-1919) and Alice Lucinda Walker Hanson (1889-1969). Each of their three daughters grew up to be involved in the arts: Alma as a painter; Carmen Irene (1906-1993) as a short story writer, poet and teacher of dancing; and Sylvia (also Silvia) Lyla Alice (1911-1992) as a composer and cellist. The first art lessons Alma Figuerola received were with Oscar Binder. Later she attended the art school established by the Melbourne 'tonalist' [Duncan] Max Meldrum (1875-1955). She graduated from his school in 1920, participating in her first group exhibition in the same year. Solo exhibitions of her work were to be held in 1933 at the Meldrum Gallery in Elizabeth Street, in 1937 and 1945 at the Athenaeum Gallery at 188 Collins Street, and in 1951 at Georges Gallery in Collins Street. Throughout her extensive career she participated in group exhibitions, usually with artists of the Meldrum School, and as a member of the Twenty Melbourne Painters, of which she was invited to become an associate in 1935. In 1953, her portrait of Professor ES Hills was entered in the Archibald Prize Competition of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. A resident of Kew from the 1930s - 51 Studley Park Road, often with her mother, her sister Carmen, or both - from c.1942 until her death she lived at 'D’Estaville', 7 Barry Street. From the late 1930s she is recorded as actively contributing to the arts at a local level. In 1939 and 1940 she participated in art exhibitions at the Hawthorn Municipal Library organised by Jessie Carbines. From 1944 to 1951 she co-organised successive Kew Arts Festivals, initially in the Presbyterian Church Hall in Highbury Grove and later at the Recreation Hall in Wellington Street. A foundation member of the Kew Historical Society in 1958, Alma Figuerola remained an active member of the Society until her death on 8 December 1970. She predeceased her two sisters who both died in the 1990s and who are buried at Andersons' Creek Cemetery in Warrandyte.Part of a photographic series which is historically and aesthetically significant. The photographs record the interiors and exteriors of D'Estaville, an historic Kew mansion in the 1960s, and also its owner, Alma Figuerola, a pupil of Max Meldrum, and a notable Melbourne artist who lived in Kew.D'Estaville, Barry Street, Kew. The facade facing Barry Street. The original front of the property faced Studley Park Road where the front door is still located. Alma Figuerola was a foundation member of the Kew Historical Society. She died in 1970.australian artists, d'estaville -- 7 barry street -- kew (vic), alma figuerola -- melbourne artists

Newspaper clipping from The Age. Unknown page. About the YWCA Victoria new direction. Colour photograph of fourwomen and a baby. 'The new face of the YWCA (from left) Kate Dunn, Erin Dolan, Brodie Woodland with baby Isaac, and Kitty Billings.charitable organisations, committees of management, women professionals

Wooden stereoscopic viewer with wire clips to hold double photograph of two men seated outside a tent. Photo-stand slides forwards and backwards. Screws hold face viewer to base. Includes an additional 14 Stereoscopic Views' cards/photographs.On side of photograph: "Rose's Stereoscopic Views Copyright" On bottom of photograph: "2243 The Bushman's Contingent, Colonel Otter and Captain Patterson" On other side of photograph: "Sold only by George Rose Publisher Melbourne"stereoscopes, stereo photographs

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of Diggers cover their face and turn their bodies away from the "rotor wash" as a helicopter delivers "packs: (people) and other supplies into the field. Some of the diggers were reinforcements, whilst others were returning from sickness or leave.photograph, helicopter, gibbons collection catalogue, diggers, reinforcements, denis gibbons

Presumed worn by Mrs C.V Schooling as noted written on the piece of paper underneath the burgundy mount inside the case.A ladies watch with a purple patterned enamel surround, a white face and black roman numerals surrounded by tiny gold dots around the edge of the face. It has a metal grooved winder on the right of the face which moves the hands but the watch doesn't keep time. The wristband is brown leather with a Reg. No on the back and has a gold coloured buckle. Is is in its original lidded case - CYMA brand, although the brand is not written on the watch itself. The case has a purple label on the top lid with an illustration of a black and gold watch with gold roman numerals behind it. CYMA - on time all the time is written below. Inside the lid is the brand and a statement about the guarantee. It sits on a burgundy velvet mount. Underneath the mount is a handwritten message from the wearer stating that the watch doesn't keep time. On the bottom of the box is writing in grey pencil with many words indecipherable. Some ink words are seen.CYMA - on time all the time is written on the top of the case lid. Inside the lid is written - CYMA - This Cyma watch is free from any defect of construction and is guaranteed to keep accurate time if not misused. On the small piece of paper under the burgundy mount is written - The watch was gaining 4 or 5 hours a day - then stopped, I do hope it can be made to go again - CVS, From Mrs C.V Schooling, Penshurst. On the back of the leather band is imprinted Reg No Victor 2watches, timepieces, watchbands, watchcases

Newspaper advertisement: Leader Associated Newspapers, Eltham Centenary Supplement, March 30, 1971, p2 Country Art Store Newspaper advertisement: Diamond Valley News, 27 May 1980, Meet the Potters. Newspaper article (photocopy): Changing face of craft shops by Linley Hartley, Diamond Valley News, February 8, 1993 - Newspaper article (photocopy): Changing face of craft shops by Linley Hartley, Diamond Valley News, February 8, 1993 Newspaper article: Open mic launchpad at Platform 3095, Christian Kuhlmann, Copperline, September 2023, Edition 8main road, eltham, property, houses, shops, businesses, country art store, joan armfield, malcolm cooke, cheryl dutoit, john eagle, trevor hanby, alan letts, garry letts, fritz massee, mary pancoast, peter petruccelli, betty rose, peter watson, robert waterson, redbyme potteries, david williams, chris witteveen, caroline shenton, country art store (eltham), pam robinson, 965 main road, cafes, platform 3095, restaurants

This rope was part of a German Parachute cord from the Second World War. German paratroopers, or Fallschirmjager, were often at the forefront of German military actions. Australian soldiers faced a Fallschirmjager assault during the invasion of Crete in 1941.German paratrooopers, or Fallschirmjager, were an elite unit within the German military. Australian forces faced the Fallschirmjager during the airborne invasion of Crete in 1941. This object has the capacity to tell the story of that engagement.A length of frayed rope taken from a Second World War German Parachute. Coiled, with black and red threads running through the structure.german, paratrooper, parachute, fallschirmjager, crete, 1941

A paper showbag. The design is in red and blue colours over a white background. On one side the words: Your Baby Loves Heinz Baby Foods, there is a drawing of a baby face and two cans o food, one Heinz junior foods the other Heinz strained foods. The number 57 in blue at bottom right. On the other side the faces of two youths a boy and a girl and the words: Easy as winking! mix yourself a beaut drink of Heinz-Ade, 1 small packet makes 4 big pints of refreshing drink! Orange, Lemon, Raspberry, Lime, Fruit Cup, Ginger Beer.business, retail, advertising, business advertising usually found at agricultural shows and other promotional activities.