Around 100 men were welcomed on the grounds of Riversdale bu Mr and Mrs Edward Duckett for Boxing Day 1920. The party went to the house by boat on the Yarra.Small black and white photograph with thin white border depicting 3 ladies standing and handing over some glasses to men sitting on the ground.Handwritten on verson in pencil: Handing lemon drinks - Boxing Day 1920 and the number "893"picnic, wwi, first world war, great war, lhlg, picnics, social events, entertainments, boxing day, 1920, edward duckett, riversdale

Typical outdoor photo of group of seafarers benefitting from a mission excursion out to one of the larger properties, in this case Orchard House, Malvern.Group o 21 seamen standing or sitting on the grass, with Reverend Gurney Goldsmith standing on the right.orchard house, 1907, malvern, george higgins, picnic, cup day, beatrice elizabeth higgins (nee shuter), charles shuter, picnics, entertainments, social events, goldsmith album, bowler hat, boater hat, sailor cap

Typical light-hearted festivities on a picnic out of town organised by the mission, in this case Cup Day, 1907 Small monochrome outdoor photograph, depicting a fencing competition between a child and a seafarer. To even up the game the seafarer has taken to his knees cup day, 1907, sword, fencing, child, orchard house, malvern, george higgins, beatrice elizabeth higgins (nee shuter), charles shuter, goldsmith album, picnics, entertainments, social events

Captain Charles Ferguson was born in Scotland in 1813. He was the Master of the "Rajah" from 1838 to 1850 on voyages from England to Australia and vice versa. He became the First Chief Harbour Master for the port of Melbourne in 1852 after being the first Harbour Master and Water Police Officer in Geelong for 12 months. On the 5th of April 1841, the Rajah sailed with James Donovan M.D. as Surgeon Superintendent, and the Rajah sailed from Woolwich with 180 female convicts. The Rajah arrived on the 19th of July in Hobart, with 179 females (one died during the voyage) and 10 children. Miss Kezia Elizabeth Hayter was the matron on board. On page 28 of the "Sailing directions for Port Phillip, in the colony of Victoria including the ports of Melbourne and Geelong", a mention is made of the Mariner's Hospital and Floating Church soon to be established. There were discussions to built the hospital in Williamstown but instead the Government decided to build it in Melbourne. The Harbour Master and a commiittee decided to use the water police hulk, Emily, left unsold in 1856, to create a floating church: the Bethel was open in July 1857 with Reverend Kerr Johnston as Chaplain. Latrobe wrote a letter to Captain Cole in 1869, a few months after learning his death : "To Captain George Ward Cole † [from a draft in another’s hand] Clapham House, Lewes, Sussex, January 28th, 1869. My dear Captain Cole, Last mail will have taken out the sad intelligence of the death of our excellent old friend, Captain Ferguson. This will have been a terrible blow to his children and to his friends in the colony, who may have held reason to expect his early return to his home, with a not unreasonable prospect of ultimate restoration to health and activity. In the course of last October I went up to town with one of my children, mainly with the purpose of finding my way to Pinner, where he and Mrs. Ferguson were staying with an intimate friend. I found him in excellent health and spirits, and enjoying the prospect of a speeding resumption of the service to which he had devoted his best days, and upon the furtherance of which his entire energy was still directed. A week or two later Captain and Mrs. Ferguson went to Dover for change of air, and being still under the impression received from the advisers by whom they had been guided during their residence at a hydropathic establishment at Matlock, felt encouraged to plan almost immediate return to the colony by the Jerusalem early in December. However, certain misgivings in the mind of a medical gentleman, then in England, under whose care Captain Ferguson had at one time placed himself in Williamtown, led them to consider it judicious before departure to take the advice of some surgeon of eminence in London. Accordingly they came up to town at the close of November. The first London practitioners they consulted shook their heads, and advised consultation with Sir Wm. Ferguson. The result was that amputation, without loss of time, was pronounced necessary. The rest is soon told. He received the painful intelligence with calmness and full resignation to God's will, and underwent the operation at King's College Hospital with exemplary firmness and Courage on the 28th of November. Perfect success seemingly attended it, and there seemed, humanly speaking, to be every prospect of a prompt cure and early convalescence; everything seemed in his favour. A few days later, however, all was clouded by symptoms of hospital fever (pyoe æm ia). This resisted all control, and finally carried him off on the 27th of December, just one month after the operation. He had lived a Christian life, and his death was the peaceful and resigned death of a Christian. It was a melancholy satisfaction to me to be able to join a few friends in following his remains to their resting place in one of the outlying London cemeteries on the last day of the year. You know Mrs Ferguson well, and will be prepared to hear me say that her whole conduct and demeanour throughout this period of suspense and bitter trial has been worthy of her high character and steadfast principle. Come what will, and happen what may, I have the fullest conviction that neither the widow nor the children will be forsaken, however doubtful and clouded the future may appear, in consequence of the irreparable loss which, they have sustained. And now, dear Captain Cole, it is possible that you may already have heard all this from other sources, but I have dictated it to you under strong impulse, for I feel assured that there is no member of the community in which you live who will more sincerely deplore the loss of Captain Ferguson on private grounds; at the same time that there is no one who, from long acquaintance with his official character and services, will be in a better position to estimate their real value or the loss which the colony has sustained. The circumstances in which Captain Ferguson's family are left not only demands the utmost display of sympathy and interest on the part of friends, but may call for decided and prompt action; therefore I cannot rest satisfied without discharging what I consider my duty, and seeking to strengthen your hands as far as I may in bringing the character of his long services before the existing colonial authorities. Of his private career previous to his entering the service of the Colonial Government in 1851 nothing need be said. Captain Ferguson was appointed as the Harbour Master at Geelong in April, 1851 – a few months before the separation of the colony from New South Wales. He there did excellent service in a variety of ways calculated to advance the interests of the port, and to introduce www.latrobesociety.org.au 27 order, where, from circumstances, but little order had hitherto prevailed. His was the first appointment of this class in that locality. The separation of the colony from New South Wales took place in the month of July following. Shortly after, the late Captain Bunbury resigned the Harbour Mastership of Port Phillip. Captain Ferguson was at once (February, 1852) appointed to succeed him, and from that time performed all duties of Chief Harbour Master of the colony. The previous year (May 1851) the first gold discoveries in New South Wales had taken place, and in the month of August those of our colony followed. At the time of Captain Ferguson’s taking charge of the Port of Melbourne their influence had begun to be fully felt, and in no department more seriously than in that of the Harbour Master. This is no place for statistical details, but they must bear me out in reminding you of a few facts connected with our late friend’s career. At the time of separation that department comprised only 30 individuals of all ranks, and when he took charge the number was much reduced. There were at that time, according to the returns, no fewer than 54 vessels, registering 26,785 tons, in Hobson’s Bay alone. The crews on arrival numbered 1,235 men. Of this number only 463 remained on board, 500 having deserted, and the rest having been discharged by arrangement or pure necessity. For the first six months after Captain Ferguson’s assumption of office as Harbour Master the duties of Police Magistrate and Chief of the Water Police were superadded, and how much labour they involved may be surmised from the fact that from 1st of April to the 31st July, 1852, four months only, no less than 236 marine cases were brought before the bench at Williamstown - sometimes as many as 30 in a day. A year later (March 1853) the returns show that the number of vessels in the harbour in Hobson’s Bay alone were 91, tonnage 43,754; and passing on to the still later returns of May, 1853, two years after Captain Ferguson’s assumption of office, we find from the records that the number of ships in port had increased to 129; tonnage, 63,292; crew on board on arrival, 2872, and at the date of report, 1628; the amount of desertions at that time having, however, proportionally diminished, in consequence of the abatement of the gold fever, caused by the non-success attendant upon the labours of thousands at the goldfields. The above numbers take no account of the large number of vessels and amount of tonnage lying at the wharves at Melbourne or elsewhere. From these figures alone it may be judged what must have been a struggle in which the Chief Harbour Master was engaged from the very outset to secure order, and answer the innumerable calls on every branch of his department, at the same time that there was for many months an almost complete impossibility of securing subordinate agency, such as boatmen, pilots, and police, at any price. But I may bear witness to the untiring diligence, energy, and self-devotion with which Captain Ferguson grappled with the difficulties of his position, and the seemingly insurmountable obstacles which stood in his way. Ashore and afloat he was always ready, showing the same directness of purpose, intelligence, and forgetfulness of self. He shunned no responsibility, and turned his hand from no work, whether within or beyond the ordinary scope of his duty, which the hard necessity of the times forced the Government to bring under his notice. Already in 1852, when the overflowing of our gaol and stockade rendered the adoption of other methods of restraint absolutely necessary, and addition to the existing buildings could not be thought of, it was Captain Ferguson who first suggested the employment of hulks; and it was with his personal assistance and supervision, and under his unflagging energy, that the three first of these – the Success, the President, and the Sacramento – were purchased, fitted up, and made available for the purpose in view, and the rules and regulations for the employment and safety of the men afloat and ashore prescribed and carried out. He carried the same energy into every branch of his department, and his influence was soon apparent. His subordinates of every class became actuated by his spirit. As time moved on, the range of his duties, both ordinary and extraordinary, increased. In the formation of the quarantine station at the heads, in the management if not the erection of lighthouses, sailing directions, port and wharf regulations, buoys, signal stations, www.latrobesociety.org.au 28 steam dredging &c., he was the main and most active agent. The whole pilot establishment and regulations, men, and vessels, were under his charge; and when I left the colony in May, 1854, the entire range of ports outside Port Phillip Heads from Point Lonsdale to Portland, as well as that of Geelong had felt the influence of his intelligent supervision and care. The entire department of Chief Harbour Master, which I have numbered at the period of separation about thirty individuals, then numbered 230. The character of Captain Ferguson’s unbroken service during the fourteen years which have elapsed since I left the colony must be well known to the Government and the people he has served so long and so faithfully. I confine myself to recalling to mind those earlier, and what must have been the hardest and most difficult, period – none can know how difficult but those who were in that fierce struggle for the maintenance of order under so many disadvantages; and on this subject I have spoken advisedly and with reason, for I may truly say he worked under my own eye. I had sincere regard for the man, and just pride in the qualities of his heart, head, and hand. Whatever mistakes may have been made by the Government of the colony in those hard and difficult times (and I am quite ready to admit that there were many, especially if the past is to be judged by the light of the present), I never have hesitated in believing that, in appointing Captain Ferguson to the office he has so long filled, it was the right man in the right place. I shall be heartily rejoiced to find that the Government and inhabitants of the colony admit that this has been the case, and to learn that they have not forgotten the strong claims of one who has served them so long and so faithfully, and who, removed by God’s providence, so to say, in the maturity of his powers, has left a widow and young family behind him. I have done, I leave you to make use of this communication, or any portion of it, which you may think judicious and called for. There may be among Ferguson’s friends those who may not be sorry to be reminded of facts. By-the-bye, I may mention as a proof how completely Captain Ferguson’s mind was engrossed by devotion to his public duty, that while in Dover, only ten days before the operation, he took an opportunity to drag himself up into the lantern of the S. Foreland Lighthouse, and made a most careful scrutiny of the whole apparatus and arrangement, with a view of the adoption of any hint for the perfection of those under his charge in the colony. And now, goodbye. I trust this will find you in good health, and in comparative vigour. Believe me ever, dear Captain Cole, Yours very truly, C. J. La Trobe"The attempt for a floating church was made as early as 1853 following similar examples in London like the Seamen's Hospital. Captain Ferguson was instrumental in the foundation of the Bethel Church.Digital copies of the 37 pages ; 22 cm.1854, hobsons bay, geelong, melbourne, williamstown, sandridge, mariner's hospital, floating church, seamen's hospital, captain charles ferguson (1813-1868), kezia elizabeth hayter (1818-1885), rajah quilt, prison hulks, water police, harbour master, harbor master, gaols

The illustration published in the Illustrated Australian News (Melbourne, Vic. : 1876 - 1889), p. 144, on 2 September 1885, depicts Sandridge now Port Melbourne in 1885 from a seamen's point of view on board a ship.This engraving is a rare depiction fo the Bethel church as there is no early photograph. The Sailors' Rest is located at the back. In 1887, the church was demolished to erect the building still standing on the corner of Nott Street and Beach Road.Copy of an engraving depicting a sailor sitting on the mast of the ship and looking at the shore from the sea. A Bird's-eye View Of Melbourne From Sandridge.nott street, sandridge, melbourne, port melbourne, beach road, seamen, ships, sails, sailing ships, customs house, bethel church

In November 2019, Peter Sharkey from England visited the Mission . In January 2020, he emailed scans of 3 letters from seaman Peter Donovan, a relative, written from Melbourne. The letters were written using printed paper from the Mission to Seamen.In total, there are 13 letters, written from various ports between 1920 and 1922; in many respects, they offer a glimpse of economic and social history. Although wages were higher in Australasia, the threat of unemployment appears as constant as it was in Liverpool, to where the correspondence was sent and from where the sender almost certainly hailed.Scan of letter written by seamen Peter Donovan to his sister peter donovan, peter sharkey, mission to seamen, seamen, sailors, ships, england, mission to seafarers, strikes, ss sealark, patrick steamship company, patrick s.s. co

In November 2019, Peter Sharkey from England visited the Mission . In January 2020, he emailed scans of 3 letters from seaman Peter Donovan, a relative, written from Melbourne. The letters were written using printed paper from the Mission to Seamen.In total, there are 13 letters, written from various ports between 1920 and 1922; in many respects, they offer a glimpse of economic and social history. Although wages were higher in Australasia, the threat of unemployment appears as constant as it was in Liverpool, to where the correspondence was sent and from where the sender almost certainly hailed.Scan of letter written by seamen Peter Donovan to his sister peter donovan, peter sharkey, mission to seamen, seamen, sailors, ships, england, mission to seafarers, strikes, ss sealark, patrick steamship company, patrick s.s. co

In November 2019, Peter Sharkey from England visited the Mission . In January 2020, he emailed scans of 3 letters from seaman Peter Donovan, a relative, written from Melbourne. The letters were written using printed paper from the Mission to Seamen.In total, there are 13 letters, written from various ports between 1920 and 1922; in many respects, they offer a glimpse of economic and social history. Although wages were higher in Australasia, the threat of unemployment appears as constant as it was in Liverpool, to where the correspondence was sent and from where the sender almost certainly hailed.Scan of letter written by seamen Peter Donovan to his sister peter donovan, peter sharkey, mission to seamen, seamen, sailors, ships, england, mission to seafarers, strikes, ss sealark, patrick steamship company, patrick s.s. co

This plaque was erected in the Williamstown Sailors' Rest, the former skating ring in Thompson Street. It's one the three memorials to Ethel Godfrey with the stained glass window in the St Peter chapel in the Central Institute (See 0064.2) ) and the optus sectile plaque in the 1888 Port Melbourne Institute (See 2053) . This plaque was moved to the Nelson Place building when the Mission purchased the E,S&A Bank in 1943. In 1982, the plaque ws removed from the Williamstown mission along with 4 other plaques, objects and furniture to furnish the chapel of the new Flagstaff Maritime Museum. The transfer of the 5 plaques was requested in 2020 and they returned to the Mission's collection in 2022.The plaque along with the two other memoriels erected in the memory of Ethel Godfrey demonstrates the gratitude for the her 30 years of work.Rectangular plaque for Ethel Augusta Godfrey ethel augusta godfrey 1861-1935, williamstown, thompson street, seamen's mission, sailors' rest, flasgstaff maritime museum, lhlg

Commemorative Plaque for Alice Sibthrope Tracyalice sibthorpe tracy, 1933, williamstown, flagstaff maritime museum, lhlg

Louise Amy Breaks, also known as Lulu, died on the 8 May 1943. An error on the plaque mentions 1945 which was likeky erected later. In her obituary published on the Williamstown Chronicle, Friday 14 May 1943, page 1: A well-known and very highly respected resident of this city, Miss Louise Amy (Lulu) Breaks, of 4 Jackson Court, Ferguson St., died on Saturday morning, after a brief Illness. Deceased was born .ocally and was the eldest daughter of the late Engineer Commander James L. Breaks, R.N., and Alice Breaks. Deceased was a very prominent member and worker of Holy Trinity Church and actively identified with every caritable movement in this City. She leaves a sister, Miss Maude Breaks, to mourn her loss. The funeral took place on Monday afternioon, leaving Holy Trinity Church after a service conducted by the Rev. J. H. Raverty, assisted by the Revs. S. P. H. Martin and Oliver. The large congregation in the Church, lengthy cortege, and very large number of floral tributes received testified to the esteem in which deceased was held. Ernest W. Jackson. had charge of the funeral arrangements, and the Rev. J. H: Raverty officiated at the cemetery.Louise Breaks and her family were active members of the Mission. Her father James Lennox Breaks, aged 22 years, sailed from England on the Cerberus on her maiden voyage, and was associated with the ship for 34 years until he retired. Commemorative Plaque for Louise Amy Breakswilliamstown, seamen's institute, seamen's mission, mission to seamen, nelson place, st nicholas chapel, james l. breaks, engineering commander, alice breaks, maude breaks, alice breaks nee jobson, hms cerberus, lhlg, lightkeepers' auxiliary

A Williamstown local, Ethel Margaret Musther nee Barber (1872-1956) was the daughter of Captain John Henry Barber (1842-1924), a sea pilot and Janet Lidell (1846-1891) Her grandfather, Captain Lidell, was also a seaman. In 1900, she married Nathan George Musther,(18..-1933) a chemist, and dentist in the Navy. They had two daughters: Rosamund Janet Musther(born 1903) and Nanoya Gwendoline Musther (born 1906). She was the principal of the Ladies' College in Footscray. She was involved in many philantropic associations especially for sailors but also during WWI and WW2. She worked for the Anzac Club, the Red Cross, She formed: 1941: the R.A.N. Friendly Union of Sailor's Wives and Mothers. 1943: the Lightkeepers Auxiliary to help the Mission raised funds. The plaque was a gift of the Lightskeeper Auxiliaire and unveiled on 30 July 1959 at the St Nicholas Chapel, by her eldest daughter, Mrs Jean McDonald. It was originally on stained and polished hardwood mount made by Mrs Murdoch (AR1959, page 24). On the day, a desk service-book was also dedicated in memory of Dr John Thompson at the request of his daughter, Mrs Sparrow.In early 1943, Ethel Margaret Musther formed the Lightkeepers' Auxiliaire and raised funds for the third building purchased for the Williamstown branch of the Victorian Seamen's Mission, the former E,S & A Bank. Thanks to her philanthropic work, she was rewarded with a Medal of the British Empire in 1953 for all her charitable work. Large rectangular with decorative clover corner Engraved: "In affectionnante and grateful memory / of / Ethel Margaret Musther, M.B.E. / Founder of / The Williamstown Lightkeepers Auxiliary / Of the / Victoria Missions to Seamen / Remembered always for this and many other / Philantropic works / Died 17th of September 1956 / Her deeds live after her.1956, ethel margaret musther, m.b.e., medal of the british empire, 1953, lightkeepers' auxiliary, williamstown, seamen's mission

Helene Frances nee Tickell, daughter of William Tickell of Quarry Hill. She first married George Joshua Francis "Fred" Parkinson (27 January 1884 – 22 October 1913), a railway worker and AFL player. Fred died after a horrific railway accident leaving her with a three months old baby. She then married Patrick Thomas Burke in 1915. Patrick Burke was called up on 18 June, 1915, and placed in the 7th Reinforcements for the 8th Battalion, 2nd Brigade. He was made Acting Corporal for the duration of the voyage when the group left Melbourne on HMAT Demosthenes A64 on 16 JulyCommemorative Plaque for Helene Frances Burkehelene frances burke, 1958, williamstown, lightkeepers' auxiliary, treasurer, flagstaff maritime museum, mrs p. burke, mrs p.t. burke, patrick thomas burke, helene frances parkinson nee tickell, helene frances burke nee tickell

Small glass container with a square base and an octagonal rim surrounding the circular opening on the top. Found within the front storage location of the parent item.volum collection, medicine, chemist, apothecary

Small glass container with a square base and an broken octagonal rim surrounding the circular opening on the top. Found within the front storage location of the parent item.volum collection, medicine, apothecary, chemist

Small glass container with a square base and an octagonal rim surrounding the circular opening on the top. Found within the front storage location of the parent item.volum collection

Small glass container with a square base and an broken octagonal rim surrounding the circular opening on the top. Found within the front storage location of the parent item.volum collection

Small spherical piece of glass, likely a broken part of a lid for another glass container, similar to those which it is located near, i.e., within the front storage location of the parent item.volum collection

No dust jacketnon-fictionsea voyage, allan villiers (1903-1982), keith oliver, donation, windjammers

non-fictionsea voyage, allan villiers (1903-1982), keith oliver, donation

78 p., [30] p. of plates : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. (some col.)non-fictionaustralia, shipping, shipwrecks, jack loney (1925-1995)

non-fictionjack loney (1925-1995), shipwrecks, shipping, australia

Louise Hearman used the Norla Dome and painted a mural which had taken her around a year to complete. The exhibition called Elephant Room was shown from May 1988. The work was vandalised in June 1989 and subsequently demolished.Louise Hearman is a Melbourne born artist and Archibald Prize winner. Hearman first came to public notice in 1987/88 when she spent a year painting the mural in the Norla Dome. The premises of the Mission also served as her studio at that timeBlack and white flyer with dual lengthways ribbings on the back side, possibly indicative of an intent to fold the flyer in three.The Elephant Room You are invited into the dome at the “Mission to Seamen” building, no. 717 Flinders St (ext), painted by Louise Hearman. Opening night Thurs May 28th 6 pm - 9 pm Visiting hours 11am -6 pm Tues to Sun from May 29th to June 11th Or by appointment ph (03) 328 1400 a.h. Sponsored by: Australian Council, Crown Hire, Art Stretchers Oliver-Davey Glass and Box Archer Emery.cultural events, exhibitions, paintings, artists, norla dome, 1988, louise hearman, elephant room, flinders street, melbourne

Louise Hearman used the Norla Dome and painted a mural painted which had taken her around a year to complete. The exhibition called Elephant Room was shown from June 1988. The work was vandalised in 1989 and subsequently demolished.Louise Hearman is a Melbourne born artist and Archibald Prize winner. Hearman first came to public notice in 1987/88 when she spent a year painting the mural in the Norla Dome. The premises of the Mission also served as her studio at that timeBlack and white copy of a newspaper article, printed on A4 paper.The sky’s the limit for modern Michelangelo Because it was there . . . Melbourne artist Louise Hearman in the domed gymnasium of the Mission to Seamen - Picture: ROSS DUNCAN THE dilapidated pool halls of Melbourne’s Mission to Seamen are an unlikely setting for a budding Michelangelo. But when Louise Hearman came across the one-time mission gymnasium she could not resist the urge to create a fresco. It did, however, take a little persuading for the Anglican Church, which still owns and operates a mission in the 61-year-old building, to agreee to house a minor Sistine Chapel on their premises. A year of labour later, Hearman has had no complaints about the great swirling sky or huge oil paintings which now adorn the empty 11-sided room. Instead she is constantly visited by old sailors and passers-by who are thrilled to discover the unusual architecture and artwork. “When peoiple come here it’s a real discovery. It’s something they find for themselves,” she said. Her pictures are neither religious nor symbolic, merely outpourings to create an atmosphere. “THere are lots of things I’d like to say but I’m not saying them in my paintings. “There are no messages, they don’t have any political statement. Life was a little more comfortable for Hearman than her renaissance predecessors. After struggling with cumbersome scaffolding to reach her “canvas” she discovered the modern wonders of the scissor lift. She does not look on the work as a huge achievement. However, it may all be for nought. Unless money is spent to restore the building the paintings she has created will crumble and die - Deborah Stone The Australian Tuesday 10 May 1988louise hearman, elephant room, norla dome, exhibitions, 1988, melbourne, flinders street, ross duncan, cultural events

Louise Hearman used the Norla Dome and painted a mural painted which had taken her around a year to complete. The exhibition called Elephant Room was shown from June 1988. The work was vandalised in 1989 and subsequently demolished.Louise Hearman is a Melbourne born artist and Archibald Prize winner. Hearman first came to public notice in 1987/88 when she spent a year painting the mural in the Norla Dome. The premises of the Mission also served as her studio at that time.Black and white copy of a newspaper article, printed on A3 paper.louise hearman, exhibitions, 1988, norla dome, flinders street, cultural events, melbourne, elephant room, ian hunter

Louise Hearman used the Norla Dome and painted a mural painted which had taken her around a year to complete. The exhibition called Elephant Room was shown from June 1988. The work was vandalised in 1989 and subsequently demolished.Louise Hearman is a Melbourne born artist and Archibald Prize winner. Hearman first came to public notice in 1987/88 when she spent a year painting the mural in the Norla Dome. The premises of the Mission also served as her studio at that time.Black and white copy of a newspaper article, printed on A3 paper.It’s Louise’s masterpiece, come heaven, hell or high water Report: SARAH TURNER PICTURE: LEIGH HENNINGHAM When her Little Bourke St studio was pulled down to make way for a carpark, artist Louise Hearman, above, contacted The Seamen’s Mission in Flinders St to see whether she could use their cottage. They agree. But neither knew what it was going to lead to. When Hearman saw ‘the Elephant Room’ at the mission, a big domed room, she felt she “just had to do something with it”. She applied for and was granted a $3250 grant from the Australia Council, with which she was able to buy the necessary scaffold and paint, and then set about transforming the room. Now, a year later, her masterpiece is complete. Hearman emphasised the the mural doesn’t represent “heaven and hell”. Rather, she said, “people should make their own interpretations”. She said it was “not particularly heaven and hell, it’s not particularly anything”. And there is “no narrative” to the mural. It “just developed with the building”, out of whatever images and feeling Hearman had at the time. Sadly though, Hearman said the mural was likely to fall off the walls and domed ceiling unless the room was waterproofed - water damage is a serious problem at the mission. louise hearman, norla dome, exhibitions, 1988, elephant room, flinders street, melbourne, leigh henningham, cultural events

Foreword by Admiral Lionel Lockwood.non-fictionkeith oliver, donation, commodore dacre smyth, commodore dacre smyth (1923-2008)