The ship building company E. & A. Sewall, from Bath, Maine, USA, built many ships that had wheels with the same decorative, starburst pattern on them as this particular wheel segment, including the Eric the Red. The wheel was manufactured by their local Bath foundry, Geo. Moulton & Co. and sold to the Sewall yard for $100, according to the construction accounts of the vessel. Eric the Red was a wooden, three masted clipper ship. She had 1,580 tons register and was the largest full-rigged ship built at Bath, Maine, USA in 1871. She was built and registered by Arthur Sewall, later to become the partnership E. & A. Sewall, and was the 51st ship built by this company. The annually-published List of Merchant Vessels of the U.S. shows that Bath was still the home port of Eric the Red in 1880. The vessel was named after the Viking discoverer, Eric the Red, who was the first European to reach the shores of North America (in 980AD). The ship Eric the Red at first traded in coal between America and Britain, and later traded in guano nitrates from South America. In 1879 she was re-metalled and was in first class condition. On 10th June 1880 (some records say 12th June) Eric the Red departed New York for Melbourne and then Sydney. She had been commissioned by American trade representatives to carry a special cargo of 500 exhibits (1400 tons) - about a quarter to a third of America’s total exhibits - from America for the U.S.A. pavilion at Melbourne’s first International Exhibition. The exhibits included furniture, ironmongery, wines, chemicals, dental and surgical instruments, paper, cages, bronze lamp trimmings, axles, stamped ware, astronomical and time globes, samples of corn and the choicest of leaf tobacco. Other general cargo included merchandise such as cases of kerosene and turpentine, brooms, Bristol's Sarsaparilla, Wheeler and Wilson sewing machines, Wheeler’s thresher machine, axe handles and tools, cases of silver plate, toys, pianos and organs, carriages and Yankee notions. The Eric the Red left New York under the command of Captain Z. Allen (or some records say Captain Jacques Allen) and 24 other crew including the owner’s son third mate Ned Sewall. There were 2 saloon passengers also. On 4th September 1880 the ship had been sailing for an uneventful 85 days and the voyage was almost at its end. Eric the Red approached Cape Otway in a moderate north-west wind and hazy and overcast atmosphere. Around 1:30am Captain Allen sighted the Cape Otway light and was keeping the ship 5-6 miles offshore to stay clear of the hazardous Otway Reef. However he had badly misjudged his position. The ship hit the Otway Reef about 2 miles out to sea, south west of the Cape Otway light station. Captain Allen ordered the wheel to be put ‘hard up’ thinking that she might float off the reef. A heavy sea knocked the man away from the wheel, broke the wheel ropes and carried away the rudder. The sea swamped the lifeboats, the mizzenmast fell, with all of its rigging, then the mainmast fell and the ship broke in two. Some said that the passenger Vaughan, who was travelling for his health and not very strong, was washed overboard and never seen again. The ship started breaking up. The forward house came adrift with three of the crew on it as well as a longboat, which the men succeeded in launching and keeping afloat by continually bailing with their sea boots. The captain, the third mate (the owner’s son) and others clung to the mizzenmast in the sea. Then the owner’s son was washed away off the mast. Within 10 minutes the rest of the ship was in pieces, completely wrecked, with cargo and wreckage floating in the sea. The captain encouraged the second mate to swim with him to the deckhouse where there were other crew but the second mate wouldn’t go with him. Eventually the Captain made it to the deckhouse and the men pulled him up. At about 4:30am the group of men on the deckhouse saw the lights of a steamer and called for help. At the same time they noticed the second mate and the other man had drifted nearby, still on the spur, and pulled them both onto the wreck. The coastal steamer Dawn was returning to Warrnambool from Melbourne, its sailing time different to its usual schedule. Cries were heard coming from out of the darkness. Captain Jones sent out two life boats, and fired off rockets and blue lights to illuminate the area. They picked up the three survivors who were in the long boat from Eric the Red. Two men were picked up out of the water, one being the owner’s son who was clinging to floating kerosene boxes. At daylight the Dawn then rescued the 18 men from the floating portion of the deckhouse, which had drifted about 4 miles from where they’d struck the reef. Shortly after the rescue the deckhouse drifted onto breakers and was thrown onto rocks at Point Franklin, about 2 miles east of Cape Otway. Captain Jones had signalled to Cape Otway lighthouse the number of the Eric the Red and later signalled that there was a wreck at Otway Reef but there was no response from the lighthouse. The captain and crew of the Dawn spent several more hours searching unsuccessfully for more survivors, even going back as far as Apollo Bay. On board the Dawn the exhausted men received care and attention to their needs and wants, including much needed clothing. Captain Allen was amongst the 23 battered and injured men who were rescued and later taken to Warrnambool for care. Warrnambool’s mayor and town clerk offered them all hospitality, the three badly injured men going to the hospital and others to the Olive Branch Hotel, then on to Melbourne. Captain Allen’s leg injury prevented him from going ashore so he and three other men travelled on the Dawn to Portland. They were met by the mayor who also treated them all with great kindness. Captain Allen took the train back to Melbourne then returned to America. Those saved were Captain Z. Allen (or Jacques Allen), J. Darcy chief mate, James F. Lawrence second mate, Ned Sewall third mate and owner’s son, John French the cook, C. Nelson sail maker, Clarence W. New passenger, and the able seamen Dickenson, J. Black, Denis White, C. Herbert, C. Thompson, A. Brooks, D. Wilson, J. Ellis, Q. Thompson, C. Newman, W. Paul, J. Davis, M. Horenleng, J. Ogduff, T. W. Drew, R. Richardson. Four men had lost their lives; three of them were crew (Gus Dahlgreen ship’s carpenter, H. Ackman steward, who drowned in his cabin, and George Silver seaman) and one a passenger (J. B. Vaughan). The body of one of them had been found washed up at Cape Otway and was later buried in the lighthouse cemetery; another body was seen on an inaccessible ledge. Twelve months later the second mate James F. Lawrence, from Nova Scotia, passed away in the Warrnambool district; an obituary was displayed in the local paper. The captain and crew of the Dawn were recognised by the United States Government in July 1881 for their humane efforts and bravery, being thanked and presented with substantial monetary rewards, medals and gifts. Neither the ship, nor its cargo, was insured. The ship was worth about £15,000 and the cargo was reportedly worth £40,000; only about £2,000 worth had been recovered. Cargo and wreckage washed up at Apollo Bay, Peterborough, Port Campbell, Western Port and according to some reports, even as far away as the beaches of New Zealand. The day after the wreck the government steam ship Pharos was sent from Queenscliff to clear the shipping lanes of debris that could be a danger to ships. The large midship deckhouse of the ship was found floating in a calm sea near Henty Reef. Items such as an American chair, a ladder and a nest of boxes were all on top of the deckhouse. As it was so large and could cause danger to passing ships, Captain Payne had the deckhouse towed towards the shore just beyond Apollo Bay. Between Apollo Bay and Blanket Bay the captain and crew of Pharos collected Wheeler and Wilson sewing machines, nests of boxes, bottles of Bristol’s sarsaparilla, pieces of common American chairs, axe handles, a Wheelers’ Patent thresher and a sailor’s trunk with the words “A. James” on the front. A ship’s flag-board bearing the words “Eric the Red” was found on the deckhouse; finally those on board the Pharos had the name of the wrecked vessel. During this operation Pharos came across the government steamer Victoria and also a steamer S.S. Otway, both of which were picking up flotsam and wreckage. A whole side of the hull and three large pieces of the other side of the hull, with some of the copper sheathing stripped off, had floated on to Point Franklin. Some of the vessels yards and portions of her masts were on shore. The pieces of canvas attached to the yards and masts confirmed that the vessel had been under sail. The beach there was piled with debris several feet high. There were many cases of Diamond Oil kerosene, labelled R. W. Cameron and Company, New York. There were also many large planks of red pine, portions of a small white boat and a large, well-used oar. Other items found ashore included sewing machines (some consigned to ‘Long and Co.”) and notions, axe and scythe handles, hay forks, wooden pegs, rolls of wire (some branded “T.S” and Co, Melbourne”), kegs of nails branded “A.T. and Co.” from the factory of A. Field and Son, Taunton, Massachusetts, croquet balls and mallets, buggy fittings, rat traps, perfumery, cutlery and Douay Bibles, clocks, bicycles, chairs, a fly wheel, a cooking stove, timber, boxes, pianos, organs and a ladder. (Wooden clothes pegs drifted in for many years). There seemed to be no personal luggage or clothing. The Pharos encountered a long line, about one and a half miles, of floating wreckage about 10 miles off land, south east of Cape Otway, and in some places about 40 feet wide. It seemed that more than half of it was from Eric the Red. The ship’s crew rescued 3 cases that were for the Melbourne Exhibition and other items from amongst the debris. There were also chairs, doors, musical instruments, washing boards, nests of trunks and fly catchers floating in the sea. Most of the goods were saturated and smelt of kerosene. A section of the hull lies buried in the sand at Parker River Beach. An anchor with chain is embedded in the rocks east of Point Franklin and a second anchor, thought to be from Eric the Red, is on display at the Cape Otway light station. (There is a photograph of a life belt on the verandah of Rivernook Guest House in Princetown with the words “ERIC THE RED / BOSTON”. This is rather a mystery as the ship was registered in Bath, Maine, USA.) Parts of the ship are on display at Bimbi Park Caravan Park and at Apollo Bay Museum. Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village also has part of the helm (steering wheel), a carved wooden sword (said to be the only remaining portion of the ship’s figurehead; further research is currently being carried out), a door, a metal rod, samples of wood and a medal for bravery. Much of the wreckage was recovered by the local residents before police and other authorities arrived at the scene. Looters went to great effort to salvage goods, being lowered down the high cliff faces to areas with little or no beach to collect items from the wreckage, their mates above watching out for dangerous waves. A Tasmanian newspaper reports on a court case in Stawell, Victoria, noting a man who was caught 2 months later selling tobacco from the wreckage of Eric the Red. Some of the silverware is still treasured by descendants of Mr Mackenzie who was given these items by officials for his help in securing the cargo. The gifts included silver coffee and tea pots, half a dozen silver serviette rings and two sewing machines. The wreck and cargo were sold to a Melbourne man who salvaged a quantity of high quality tobacco and dental and surgical instruments. Timbers from the ship were salvaged and used in the construction of houses and sheds around Apollo Bay, including a guest house, Milford House (since burnt down in bushfires), which had furniture, fittings and timber on the dining room floor from the ship. A 39.7 foot long trading ketch, the Apollo, was also built from its timbers by Mr Burgess in 1883 and subsequently used in Tasmanian waters. It was the first attempt at ship building in Apollo bay. In 1881 a red light was installed about 300 feet above sea level at the base of the Cape Otway lighthouse to warn ships when they were too close to shore; It would not be visible unless a ship came within 3 miles from it. This has proved to be an effective warning. The State Library of Victoria has a lithograph in its collection depicting the steamer Dawn and the shipwrecked men, titled. "Wreck of the ship Eric the Red, Cape Otway: rescue of the crew by the Dawn". “The Eric the Red is historically significant as one of Victoria's major 19th century shipwrecks. (Heritage Victoria Eric the Red; HV ID 239) The wreck led to the provision of an additional warning light placed below the Cape Otway lighthouse to alert mariners to the location of Otway Reef. The site is archaeologically significant for its remains of a large and varied cargo and ship's fittings being scattered over a wide area. The site is recreationally and aesthetically significant as it is one of the few sites along this coast where tourists can visit identifiable remains of a large wooden shipwreck, and for its location set against the background of Cape Otway, Bass Strait, and the Cape Otway lighthouse.“ (Victorian Heritage Database Registration Number S239, Official Number 8745 USA) Segment of a ship's wheel, or helm, from the wreck of the sailing ship Eric the Red. The wheel part is an arc shape from the outer rim of the wheel and is made up of three layers of timber. The centre layer is a dark, dense timber and is wider than the two outer layers, which are less dense and lighter in colour. The wheel segment has a vertically symmetrical, decorative copper plate inlaid on the front. The plate has a starburst pattern; six stars decorate it, each at a point where there is a metal fitting going through the three layers of timber to the rear side of the wheel. On the rear each of the six fittings has an individual copper star around it. The edges of the helm are rounded and bevelled, polished to a shine in a dark stain. Around each of the stars, front and back, the wood is a lighter colour, as though the metal in that area being polished frequently. The length of the segment suggests that it has probably come from a wheel or helm that had ten spokes. (Ref: F.H.M.M. 16th March 1994, 239.6.610.3.7. Artefact Reg No ER/1.)flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, ship's-wheel, eric-the-red, helm, shei's wheel, ship's steering wheel

This wooden sword is said to “possibly be the only remaining part of the figurehead from the sailing ship Eric the Red.” It was previously part of the collection of the old Warrnambool Museum and the entry in its inventory says “Wooden sword, portion of the figurehead, held by “Eric the Red” at the bow.” A large part of the ship’s hull was found on the rocks and a figurehead may have been attached or washed up on the shore. The shipping records for E. & A. Sewall, the builders, owners and managers of Eric the Red, are now preserved in the Maine Maritime Museum. There is no photograph on record of Eric the Red but photographs of other ships built around that time by the same company show that these did not have figureheads, and there is no record found of a figurehead for Eric the Red being ordered or paid for. Further research is being carried out. The ship building company E. & A. Sewall, from Bath, Maine, USA, built Eric the Red, a wooden, three masted clipper ship. She had 1,580 tons register and was the largest full-rigged ship built at Bath, Maine, USA in 1871. She was built and registered by Arthur Sewall, later to become the partnership E. & A. Sewall, and was the 51st ship built by this company. The annually-published List of Merchant Vessels of the U.S. shows that Bath was still the home port of Eric the Red in 1880. The vessel was named after the Viking discoverer, Eric the Red, who was the first European to reach the shores of North America (in 980AD). The ship Eric the Red at first traded in coal between America and Britain, and later traded in guano nitrates from South America. In 1879 she was re-metalled and was in first class condition. On 10th June 1880 (some records say 12th June) Eric the Red departed New York for Melbourne and then Sydney. She had been commissioned by American trade representatives to carry a special cargo of 500 exhibits (1400 tons) - about a quarter to a third of America’s total exhibits - from America for the U.S.A. pavilion at Melbourne’s first International Exhibition. The exhibits included furniture, ironmongery, wines, chemicals, dental and surgical instruments, paper, cages, bronze lamp trimmings, axles, stamped ware, astronomical and time globes, samples of corn and the choicest of leaf tobacco. Other general cargo included merchandise such as cases of kerosene and turpentine, brooms, Bristol's Sarsaparilla, Wheeler and Wilson sewing machines, Wheeler’s thresher machine, axe handles and tools, cases of silver plate, toys, pianos and organs, carriages and Yankee notions. The Eric the Red left New York under the command of Captain Z. Allen (or some records say Captain Jacques Allen) and 24 other crew including the owner’s son third mate Ned Sewall. There were 2 saloon passengers also. On 4th September 1880 the ship had been sailing for an uneventful 85 days and the voyage was almost at its end. Eric the Red approached Cape Otway in a moderate north-west wind and hazy and overcast atmosphere. Around 1:30am Captain Allen sighted the Cape Otway light and was keeping the ship 5-6 miles offshore to stay clear of the hazardous Otway Reef. However he had badly misjudged his position. The ship hit the Otway Reef about 2 miles out to sea, south west of the Cape Otway light station. Captain Allen ordered the wheel to be put ‘hard up’ thinking that she might float off the reef. A heavy sea knocked the man away from the wheel, broke the wheel ropes and carried away the rudder. The sea swamped the lifeboats, the mizzenmast fell, with all of its rigging, then the mainmast fell and the ship broke in two. Some said that the passenger Vaughan, who was travelling for his health and not very strong, was washed overboard and never seen again. The ship started breaking up. The forward house came adrift with three of the crew on it as well as a longboat, which the men succeeded in launching and keeping afloat by continually bailing with their sea boots. The captain, the third mate (the owner’s son) and others clung to the mizzenmast in the sea. Then the owner’s son was washed away off the mast. Within 10 minutes the rest of the ship was in pieces, completely wrecked, with cargo and wreckage floating in the sea. The captain encouraged the second mate to swim with him to the deckhouse where there were other crew but the second mate wouldn’t go with him. Eventually the Captain made it to the deckhouse and the men pulled him up. At about 4:30am the group of men on the deckhouse saw the lights of a steamer and called for help. At the same time they noticed the second mate and the other man had drifted nearby, still on the spur, and pulled them both onto the wreck. The coastal steamer Dawn was returning to Warrnambool from Melbourne, its sailing time different to its usual schedule. Cries were heard coming from out of the darkness. Captain Jones sent out two life boats, and fired off rockets and blue lights to illuminate the area. They picked up the three survivors who were in the long boat from Eric the Red. Two men were picked up out of the water, one being the owner’s son who was clinging to floating kerosene boxes. At daylight the Dawn then rescued the 18 men from the floating portion of the deckhouse, which had drifted about 4 miles from where they’d struck the reef. Shortly after the rescue the deckhouse drifted onto breakers and was thrown onto rocks at Point Franklin, about 2 miles east of Cape Otway. Captain Jones had signalled to Cape Otway lighthouse the number of the Eric the Red and later signalled that there was a wreck at Otway Reef but there was no response from the lighthouse. The captain and crew of the Dawn spent several more hours searching unsuccessfully for more survivors, even going back as far as Apollo Bay. On board the Dawn the exhausted men received care and attention to their needs and wants, including much needed clothing. Captain Allen was amongst the 23 battered and injured men who were rescued and later taken to Warrnambool for care. Warrnambool’s mayor and town clerk offered them all hospitality, the three badly injured men going to the hospital and others to the Olive Branch Hotel, then on to Melbourne. Captain Allen’s leg injury prevented him from going ashore so he and three other men travelled on the Dawn to Portland. They were met by the mayor who also treated them all with great kindness. Captain Allen took the train back to Melbourne then returned to America. Those saved were Captain Z. Allen (or Jacques Allen), J. Darcy chief mate, James F. Lawrence second mate, Ned Sewall third mate and owner’s son, John French the cook, C. Nelson sail maker, Clarence W. New passenger, and the able seamen Dickenson, J. Black, Denis White, C. Herbert, C. Thompson, A. Brooks, D. Wilson, J. Ellis, Q. Thompson, C. Newman, W. Paul, J. Davis, M. Horenleng, J. Ogduff, T. W. Drew, R. Richardson. Four men had lost their lives; three of them were crew (Gus Dahlgreen ship’s carpenter, H. Ackman steward, who drowned in his cabin, and George Silver seaman) and one a passenger (J. B. Vaughan). The body of one of them had been found washed up at Cape Otway and was later buried in the lighthouse cemetery; another body was seen on an inaccessible ledge. Twelve months later the second mate James F. Lawrence, from Nova Scotia, passed away in the Warrnambool district; an obituary was displayed in the local paper. The captain and crew of the Dawn were recognised by the United States Government in July 1881 for their humane efforts and bravery, being thanked and presented with substantial monetary rewards, medals and gifts. Neither the ship, nor its cargo, was insured. The ship was worth about £15,000 and the cargo was reportedly worth £40,000; only about £2,000 worth had been recovered. Cargo and wreckage washed up at Apollo Bay, Peterborough, Port Campbell, Western Port and according to some reports, even as far away as the beaches of New Zealand. The day after the wreck the government steam ship Pharos was sent from Queenscliff to clear the shipping lanes of debris that could be a danger to ships. The large midship deckhouse of the ship was found floating in a calm sea near Henty Reef. Items such as an American chair, a ladder and a nest of boxes were all on top of the deckhouse. As it was so large and could cause danger to passing ships, Captain Payne had the deckhouse towed towards the shore just beyond Apollo Bay. Between Apollo Bay and Blanket Bay the captain and crew of Pharos collected Wheeler and Wilson sewing machines, nests of boxes, bottles of Bristol’s sarsaparilla, pieces of common American chairs, axe handles, a Wheelers’ Patent thresher and a sailor’s trunk with the words “A. James” on the front. A ship’s flag-board bearing the words “Eric the Red” was found on the deckhouse; finally those on board the Pharos had the name of the wrecked vessel. During this operation Pharos came across the government steamer Victoria and also a steamer S.S. Otway, both of which were picking up flotsam and wreckage. A whole side of the hull and three large pieces of the other side of the hull, with some of the copper sheathing stripped off, had floated on to Point Franklin. Some of the vessels yards and portions of her masts were on shore. The pieces of canvas attached to the yards and masts confirmed that the vessel had been under sail. The beach there was piled with debris several feet high. There were many cases of Diamond Oil kerosene, labelled R. W. Cameron and Company, New York. There were also many large planks of red pine, portions of a small white boat and a large, well-used oar. Other items found ashore included sewing machines (some consigned to ‘Long and Co.”) and notions, axe and scythe handles, hay forks, wooden pegs, rolls of wire (some branded “T.S” and Co, Melbourne”), kegs of nails branded “A.T. and Co.” from the factory of A. Field and Son, Taunton, Massachusetts, croquet balls and mallets, buggy fittings, rat traps, perfumery, cutlery and Douay Bibles, clocks, bicycles, chairs, a fly wheel, a cooking stove, timber, boxes, pianos, organs and a ladder. (Wooden clothes pegs drifted in for many years). There seemed to be no personal luggage or clothing. The Pharos encountered a long line, about one and a half miles, of floating wreckage about 10 miles off land, south east of Cape Otway, and in some places about 40 feet wide. It seemed that more than half of it was from Eric the Red. The ship’s crew rescued 3 cases that were for the Melbourne Exhibition and other items from amongst the debris. There were also chairs, doors, musical instruments, washing boards, nests of trunks and fly catchers floating in the sea. Most of the goods were saturated and smelt of kerosene. A section of the hull lies buried in the sand at Parker River Beach. An anchor with chain is embedded in the rocks east of Point Franklin and a second anchor, thought to be from Eric the Red, is on display at the Cape Otway light station. (There is a photograph of a life belt on the verandah of Rivernook Guest House in Princetown with the words “ERIC THE RED / BOSTON”. This is rather a mystery as the ship was registered in Bath, Maine, USA.) Parts of the ship are on display at Bimbi Park Caravan Park and at Apollo Bay Museum. Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village also has part of the helm (steering wheel), a carved wooden sword (said to be the only remaining portion of the ship’s figurehead; further research is currently being carried out), a door, a metal rod, samples of wood and a medal for bravery. Much of the wreckage was recovered by the local residents before police and other authorities arrived at the scene. Looters went to great effort to salvage goods, being lowered down the high cliff faces to areas with little or no beach to collect items from the wreckage, their mates above watching out for dangerous waves. A Tasmanian newspaper reports on a court case in Stawell, Victoria, noting a man who was caught 2 months later selling tobacco from the wreckage of Eric the Red. Some of the silverware is still treasured by descendants of Mr Mackenzie who was given these items by officials for his help in securing the cargo. The gifts included silver coffee and tea pots, half a dozen silver serviette rings and two sewing machines. The wreck and cargo were sold to a Melbourne man who salvaged a quantity of high quality tobacco and dental and surgical instruments. Timbers from the ship were salvaged and used in the construction of houses and sheds around Apollo Bay, including a guest house, Milford House (since burnt down in bushfires), which had furniture, fittings and timber on the dining room floor from the ship. A 39.7 foot long trading ketch, the Apollo, was also built from its timbers by Mr Burgess in 1883 and subsequently used in Tasmanian waters. It was the first attempt at ship building in Apollo bay. In 1881 a red light was installed about 300 feet above sea level at the base of the Cape Otway lighthouse to warn ships when they were too close to shore; It would not be visible unless a ship came within 3 miles from it. This has proved to be an effective warning. The State Library of Victoria has a lithograph in its collection depicting the steamer Dawn and the shipwrecked men, titled. "Wreck of the ship Eric the Red, Cape Otway: rescue of the crew by the Dawn".The Eric the Red is historically significant as one of Victoria's major 19th century shipwrecks. (Heritage Victoria Eric the Red; HV ID 239) The wreck led to the provision of an additional warning light placed below the Cape Otway lighthouse to alert mariners to the location of Otway Reef. The site is archaeologically significant for its remains of a large and varied cargo and ship's fittings being scattered over a wide area. The site is recreationally and aesthetically significant as it is one of the few sites along this coast where tourists can visit identifiable remains of a large wooden shipwreck, and for its location set against the background of Cape Otway, Bass Strait, and the Cape Otway lighthouse. (Victorian Heritage Database Registration Number S239, Official Number 8745 USA)This carved wooden sword, recovered from the Eric the Red, is possibly the only portion of the figurehead recovered after the wreck. There are spirals carved from the base of the handle to the top of the sword. The hilt of the sword is a lion’s head holding its tail in its mouth, the tail forming the handle. The blade of the sword has engraved patterns on it. Tiny particles of gold leaf and dark blue paint fragments can be seen between the carving marks. There are remnants of yellowish-orange and crimson paint on the handle. At some time after the sword was salvaged the name of the ship was hand painted on the blade in black paint. The tip of the sword has broken or split and the remaining part is charcoal in appearance. On both the tip and the base of the handle are parts made where the sword could have been joined onto the figurehead There is a white coating over some areas of the sword, similar to white lead putty used in traditional shipbuilding. The words “ERIC the RED” have been hand painted on the blade of the sword in black paint sometime after it was salvaged.flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, sword, wooden sword, eric the red, carved sword, figurehead, snake head on sword

This six-postcard group is the third in a series of records of items in the collection of Edgar Dawson DCM. Dawson was the Regimental Sergeant Major of 57th Battalion, AIF. The 57th had a company of men largely from Bendigo and Eaglehawk. These postcards are from his personal album. Many are annotated in Dawson's hand with explanatory notes on the subject. Refer to Cat No 893 for his service details. Items originally in album cat. no. 207P Service details available through the NAA. Physical description Collection of six photo postcards B+W 1. Portrait of Richards, John 3593 57th Btn 2. Portrait of Moore, Charles 4593 57th Btn 3. Portrait of Mitchell, Leslie Fenen 4854 57th Btn 4. Portrait of Hutson, Herbert Spence 3540 57th Btn 5. Portrait of Steele, Leslie William 2737 57th Btn 6. Portrait of Spinks, William Edward 2239 57 Btn1. On verso "L.Cpl J Richards, St Killians Road, White Hills Bendigo Victoria 6-10-17" 2. On verso, "Chas Moore, 9-9-17" 3. On verso "Pt L.F. Mitchell, No 4854, 13th reinforcements, 29th Battalion, AIF Abroad" 4. On verso "This is one of our gallant runners France 1917" "Herbert S. Hutson, Lemon Grove, Heathcote Victoria" 5. On verso "With best wishes L Steele 10-2-18", "L. Steele, Balmoral Street, Essendon, Melbourne Australia" 6. On verso "W.E.Spinks, Templeton Street, Euroa, Victoria, Australia"postcards, 57th battalion, edgar dawson dcm

Detailed records of his service with all his postings, oaths, medicals, casualty and demob. Re; "John Arthur Remington Alexander", No. 2237 AFC, 3rd Squadron. Also a number of items relating to the death of the Red Baron. Refer Cat No 7820.Blue folder of various records and documents of J>A>R> Alexander Np. 2237. Includes detailed history of his service and time in service. Also various documentation of his service records, enlistmebnt and demobilisation and some information on the Red Baron.ww1, service records, john arthur remington alexander, red baron

The topic of the notes is 'Dumping'. Dumping is the placing on the ground of stocks over and above those normally held. The term 'dumping' usually applies to combat zones. Part of the Kevin John Herdman, No. 397661, Collection. See Catalogue No. 5942P for details of his service record.Cream coloured foolscap sized manila folder containing pages of notes in black type. Title and name of author on front cover. Each is printed on brown dymo tape. Pages secured to folder with an adjustable metal fastener.On front cover in brown dymo tape: “BRIEF FOR 3 DIV STAFF OFFICERS COURSE, 3 MAR 73” On bottom RH corner of cover in dymo tape: “CAPT. K. J. HERDMAN”.dumping, training notes, kevin john herdman

Letters of condolence written to parents of "M.C. Townsend" KIA on sinking of HMAS SYDDNEY on 15/11/41. Refer to Cat No. 2313P for Townsends service.1. Handwritten letter of Sympathy from John Lemmon, Parliament House, Victoria. Stamp of Legislation Assembly, Victoria on top. 2. Handwritten letter from Electoral office, Bendigo to parents, on folded over white piece of paper.1. Signed “John Lemmon”, Headed - Parliament House, Melbourne C1, and dated 11/12/41. 2. Signed “Tilbert J. Boyle”, Headed Electoral Office Bendigo and dated 2/12/41.hmas sydney, kia, ww2, mervyn clive townsend

Part of the Kevin John Herdman, No. 397661, Collection. See catalogue No. 5942P for details of his service record.Blue coloured soft card covered book with pages secured with staples. 91 pages with cut edges. Text in black type. Title on front cover in black type below an insignia for the RACT.Handwritten in blue ink on top RH corner of front cover: “K J HERDMAN”royal australian corps of transport, ract officers, kevin john herdman

Messages in relation to the death of "Mervyn Clive Townsend" KIA on sinking of the HMAS SYDNEY by the HSK Kormoran on 15 Nov 1941. Refer Cat No. 2313P for Townsends service.Folded white Sympathy cards for Mervyn Townsend. Sizes ranging from 13 x 8 to 10 x 8 cm. 1. Folded three sheets with message in middle. Cover says sent in Heartfelt Sympathy. 2. Folded 3 sheets with message in middle and cover saying "With Deepest Sympathy". 3. Folded 2 sheets with message in middle and cover sheet saying "With Sincere Sympathy". 4. Folded 2 pieces with inside message and cover sheet saying "With Sincerest Sympathy". 5. Double folded sheet with message "Peace, perfect peace and dove flying over a sun and picture of Lilies all in black." 1. From Mr. & Mrs. John Owen, East Melbourne. 2. From Norma D. Young, Bendigo. 3. From Mr. & Mrs. J. L. Horne. 4. From E. Casey & sisters, Murrumbeena. 5. From Mr. & Mrs D.J. Treage, Balwyn. hmas sydney, hsk kormoran, ww2, mervyn clive townsend

The records from "J - Z" are missing. The records are Department of Labour ones used in the re establishment of returning Service personal from WW2 in the Bendigo area. The card shown in the photos is John Edward Widdison - Fay. Jack as he was known was the longest serving Volunteer in the Bendigo RSL with 57 years service. Refer also Cat No 8129P for RSL involvement.Wooden tray with enlistment card records, brownish colour, all text and typed entries in black. They are in alphabetical order from A - I. At the end are two "W" names and 4 miscellaneous names with pen entry. Each card has No, name, rank, address, next of kin and enlistment date.On front of box in green Dymo tape, "ENLISTMENTS"brsl, smirsl, enlistments

This is a collection of five photographs taken at the Army Headquarters Survey Regiment, Fortuna Villa, Bendigo, circa 1950s to 1960s. Appearing in photo .3P is MAJ Edward Anderson MBE, who served from 1942 to 1977 and reached the rank of LTCOL. LT Frank Thorogood SB St J. served from 1960 to 1981. He reached the rank of LTCOL and was the CO of the Army Survey Regiment from 1980 to 1981. CAPT W. Greer’s service history is unknown. Appearing in photo .5P is MAJ Nolan, who served from 1939 to 1975. He was promoted to LTCOL and was the CO of the Army Headquarters Survey Regiment from 1965 to 1969. He was subsequently promoted to COL and was the Director of Military Survey from 1972 to 1975.This is a collection of five photographs taken at the Army Headquarters Survey Regiment, Fortuna Villa, Bendigo, circa 1950s to 1960s. The photographs were printed on photographic paper and are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. They were scanned at 300 dpi. .1) - Photo, black and white, 1950s. Regiment briefings by Fortuna’s lake. .2) - Photo, black and white, 1960s. Unidentified officer and civilian visitors in the Officers Mess. .3) - Photo, black and white, 1960s. L to R: MAJ Edward Anderson MBE, CAPT W. Greer and LT Frank Thorogood SB St J; in the Officers Mess. .4) - Photo, black and white, 1962. Regiment parade held in Fortuna’s grounds where the tennis and basketball courts were later developed. .5) - Photo, black and white, 1960s. MAJ John Nolan (centre) with unidentified civilian visitors.Personnel were identified in photos .3P and .5P. The date is annotated on photo .4P.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr

Part of the Kevin John Herdman, No. 397661, Collection. See Catalogue No. 5942P for details of his service record.Silver coloured metal tankard in Georgian style. Engraved details on one side.Engraved on side: “Presented To, MAJ. K. J. HERDMAN, from, HQ 3 TRG GP OFFICERS MESS, Aug 80”memorabilia, tankard, kevin john herdman

Training notes developed by Major K. J. Herdman for Exercise “New Look”conducted during 1977. Part of the Kevin John Herdman, No. 397661, Collection. See Catalogue No. 5942P for details of his service record.Light blue coloured foolscap sized manila folder containing pages of text printed in black type. Pages are secured with a metal adjustable clasp. Title on front cover in black type.Printed on front cover: “EX "NEW LOOK", Maj HERDMAN”.training noted, exercise new look, kevin john herdman, tactics

This is the 2nd set of 6 pages from Scrap book Cat No 8225. Page 7a. Photo and article re Sam Ryan receiving a Life Membership of the RSL. Refer Cat No 8225. Page 7b. Photo and Article of Sam Ryan President Bendigo RSL receiving a cheque from Mr W.P. Casey Chairman of Directors of the Bendigo Easter Fair. Page 8. Phot and article 1969 re the planting of an Aleppo Pine tree from the original on Gallipoli. On the Left is Jack Plant President Bendigo RSL, the other two persons unknown as section of the text is missing. Page 9a. Anzac Appeal 1969, Mr John Ogden pins an Anzac token on the coat of Phillip Rice. Page 9b. From the "Mufti" RSL Magazine showing Delegates to the RSL State Conference 1969. Three of the six are known, W.B. Nicholls, D.J. Osborn, J. Hipworth State Councillor. Page 9c & d. Jack PLant in both photos on the left, other man unknown as well as place. Page 10. From the bendigo Advertiser relating to the Bendigo RSL Annual Dinner held on Saturday 10th 1971. From the left is G. Garth President Kangaroo Flat RSL, Lt Col W. Howarth Commanding Officer AHQ Survey Regiment, T. Shaw State Executive of the RSL, J Plant President Bendigo RSL, T Stephens Deputy Commissioner Repatriation Department and Cr N.J. Oliver the Mayor of Bendigo. Page 11a. Photo from a Bendigo RSL Annual Dinner year unknown, 2nd from the left is Bruce Ruxton State President of the Victorian RSL, 2nd from the right is possibly W.B. Nicholls, others onknown. Page 11b. This is a photo of RSL Annual Dinner 1971, same as per Page 10 for details. Page 12. Photograph of Bendigo RSL Annual Dinner year unknown. 2nd from the left is Jack Plant, the man to the left of man standing is possibly W. Howarth CO Survey Regiment.Six articles and Spiroflex sketch book. Page 7. Photo and article re the award of a Life Membership. Page 8. Photo and article re planting a Lone Pine tree. Page 9. Two articles and two photos re Appeals and State Conference. Page 10. Photo and article re RSL Annual Dinner. Page 11. Two photos re RSL Annual Dinners. Page 12. One photo re RSL Annual Dinner. Page 8 hand written, "1969". Page 9, hand written names as per "Context"brsl, smirsl, scrapbook

Item relates to John D Gardiner No 2832, refer Cat No 5892.2 for his service details.Membership card light fawn colour rectangular shape rounded corners, on left is the 5th BN AIF Colour patch followed by the details of the member, card signed in black by the member and stamped in purple re the date, small hole in LH corner with string attached, rear is blank."116 J. D. Gardiner 24 Apr 1950"cards, membership, 5th bn

"Terry Toone" is actually Frederick John Toone NX55874 J Section Workshops, 9th Div Supply Column. Enlisted 2.7.1940 age 36 years 6 months, appointed L/Cpl 12.8.1940, embark for the Middle East 27.8.1940, serves in Seige of Tobruk, he spends time in Hospital, embarks for Australia 2.4.1942 and is discharged Medically unfit on 29.9.1942. Item in the collection re Ron Bollard VX14150, refer Cat No 5919P for his service details.Sketch on card, B & W drawing of a soldier on left, heading is "Men of Tobruk" followed by a central scroll with a poem hand written in pencil, behind main cartoon shows a town "Tobruk" with aeroplanes, at bottom shows a town with civilians. On rear in black pen are details re copyright and who item returned to, either direct to him (T Toone) or his wife in East St Kilda Melbourne.On front at bottom in pencil, "Terry Toone Tobruk 15.9.41", On rear signed in black pen, "F.J. (terry) Toone 15.9.41"sovenir, tobruk

Part of the Kevin John Herdman, No. 397661, Collection. See Catalogue No. 5942P for details of his service record.Brown coloured wooden name plaque on an attached wooden stand. Felt covering on base of stand. Owner's name in gold coloured lettering. RACT unit badge in gold preceding name.In gold coloured lettering: “Maj K. J. Herdman”name plaque, kevin john herdman

Tait collection: item 62 of 62 This 1912 document is an agreement made between John Brennan, a farmer from Laang and Thomas Goodall, a law clerk from Warrnambool. The document shows that Thomas Goodall has given John Brennan £5 and Brennan has agreed to pass over to Goodall a 218 acre property in Laang. Brennan also agreed to pay a debt of £10-19-4 to Thomas Goodall by monthly instalments. Thomas Goodall was the law clerk for several lawyers in Warrnambool at the beginning of the 20th century and he was also the manager of the Warrnambool office of the lawyer, Ernest Chambers who had legal offices in Koroit and Port Fairy at the same time (end of 19th century and beginning of the 20th century). This document was in the possession of Ernest Chambers and it has been passed down to successive lawyers occupying the legal premises in Kepler Street where it was located in 2014 (former premises of the law firm of Mackay Taylor). This document is of some interest as it gives details of a business transaction between Thomas Goodall and John Brennan, both residing in the Warrnambool area early in the 20th century. This is a piece of buff-coloured paper folded in two to make four pages. There is typed and handwritten material on two sides of the paper. This is a 1912 document called an Assignment of Interest Under Contract with John Brennan agreeing to pay his financial debts to Thomas Goodall. The document contains the signatures of John Brennan and Thomas Goodall. Part of one page of the writing is in pencil. There is also a separate receipt sheet which is a receipt for £5 paid by Thomas Goodall to John Brennan. A yellow duty stamp is attached to this receipt. Dated 16 Jany 1912 Mr J E Brennan with Mr Thomas Goodall Assignment of Interest under Contractjohn brennan, thomas goodall, ernest chambers, warrnambool

This photograph was donated by the Bread and Cheese Club, Melbourne but it is not know to what group or institution it was originally given. It is a copy of a well-known photograph of John Feltham Archibald, taken about 1910 when he was obsessed with all things French and was known at the time as Jules Francois Archibald. John Archibald (1856-1919) was born at Kildare near Geelong (so is not a native of the Warrnambool district) but he lived for some time in Warrnambool with his family. He began his working life with the Warrnambool Examiner newspaper and its successor, the Warrnambool Standard before going to Melbourne. In N.S.W. in 1880, he established with John Haynes, the Sydney Bulletin , a journal that became the most influential one of its day, promoting nationalism and fostering Australian writers and poets. He left legacies to establish the Archibald Prize for artists and the Archibald Fountain in Sydney. This photograph of John Archibald is of some interest though it is a widely-known one and is not original. It is kept because John Archibald, a national figure in Australian History of some importance, spent his school years in Warrnambool in the 1860s and 70s where his father was a local policeman. He went to Henry Kemmis’ Warrnambool Grammar School and wrote about his time here in later years, He also commenced his career as a journalist with the Warrnambool Examiner newspaper and later the Warrnambool Standard newspaper before going to Melbourne. This is a black and white photograph of John Archibald, mounted on cardboard. It has been taken out of its original frame and the typed card with the original frame has been removed and attached to the back of the photograph.The typed card reads: ‘J.F.Archibald, A Native of Warrnambool District. Founder of the ‘Bulletin’ School of Australian Literature, Presented by the Bread and Cheese Club, Melbourne’ (note that this contains inaccurate information in that John Archibald was not a native of the Warrnambool district)warrnambool, archibald family, j f archibald, john archibald, john feltham archibald

This letter book (1910-1922) was found in the old Mackay Taylor building in Kepler Street. The Secretary of the Presbytery of Mortlake in the early 1900s was George Mackay who established his legal business in 1891 and merged with the business of James Fletcher in 1893 to form Fletcher and Mackay. In the 1920s J. Taylor joined the business which was known from then on as Mackay and Taylor and this firm existed until the 1990s. George Mackay was prominent in Warrnambool civic and community affairs and was Secretary of St. John’s Presbyterian Church for many years. The Presbytery of Mortlake was an administrative district committee established in 1862 and included the Presbyterian churches of Port Fairy, Tower Hill, Wangoom, Allansford, Warrnambool, Woodford, Hexham, Caramut, Mortlake and Terang. The committee consisted of the local ministers, some elders and other church representatives and met monthly or quarterly to discuss church business that affected the region.This letter book is of some significance as it indicates the type of business carried out by a district church council – properties, missions, individual church problems etc. It also shows the community work of George Mackay, a prominent Warrnambool resident at the time, and the book contains his signature many times over. The book will be of interest to researchers. This is a ledger with dark blue binding and binding reinforcements on the spine and corners. The inside covers are lined with thick paper in a mottled blue, black and white coloured pattern. There are 249 pages of copies of letters written, some typed, some handwritten. Front cover: Label with typed title ‘Presbytery of Mortlake’ Spine:’ Letter Book’, ‘Mortlake Presby’. presbytery of mortlake, george mackay, warrnambool

This 1891 document contains the information on the Will and Probate of John Gould, an engineer from Russells Creek. No information has been found on John Gould except that he died in October 1890 at the age of 67. The solicitor, William Ardlie was a well-known Warrnambool lawyer, commencing a practice in 1865 and continuing well into the 20th century making him at the time one of the longest-serving lawyers in the British Empire. Tait collection: item 10 of 62This document is of interest in that it includes information on a resident of Russells Creek in the Warrnambool area, and also the lawyer concerned is William Ardlie, one of the best-known identities in Warrnambool in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.This is an 1891 piece of parchment folded in half to give four pages of written material. This material is handwritten in black ink. A seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria is attached with a green ribbon. The document is somewhat discoloured. ‘In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria in the probate jurisdiction in the Will of John Gould, late of Russells Creek near Warrnambool in the Colony of Victoria, Engineer, deceased, Probate. I certify that there is no duty payable. J. F. Poole, Officer under Section 96, Act 1060, June 23rd 1891. Extracted by William Ardlie, Solicitor, Warrnambool’. john gould, william ardlie, warrnambool

Tait collection: item 19 of 62 This is an 1899 document giving Will and Probate details of William Cox who died in Warrnambool in March 1899. He was a farmer residing in Moore Street Warrnambool at the time of his death at the age of 83. He left real estate to the value of £425 and personal estate to the value of £412 to Gwenllian Williams who may have been his sister or niece. A Mr and Mrs Williams were also living in the Moore Street house at the time of Cox’s death. His executors were Thomas Goodall, a law clerk who managed the office of the lawyer Ernest Chambers in Warrnambool and John Ward, a pioneer settler in Warrnambool and a shopkeeper in Jamieson Street in 1899. No other details are available on William Cox. This is an interesting document as it gives details of the Will and Probate belonging to a local Warrnambool person, William Cox. The lawyer dealing with the document was Ernest Chambers who had legal offices in Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Koroit at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. This document has been passed on to successive lawyers occupying legal chambers in the Kepler Street building and that is where the document was held until passed on to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society in 2014.This is an 1899 piece of parchment paper folded in two with handwritten material on three sides of the paper. The seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria is attached with blue ribbon and there are two stamps, one blue one of the Colonial Bank in Warrnambool and the other a red one of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court in Melbourne. Two of the pages have ruled black lines. The writing is very clear but the pages are a little stained.In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria In its Probate Jurisdiction In the Will of William Cox late of Warrnambool in the Colony of Victoria farmer deceased; Probate; I certify there is no duty payable on this probate (signature) Officer under Section 96 of act No 106; E J W Chambers Warrnambool Proctors for the Executorswilliam cox, ernest chambers, john ward, thomas goodall, tait collection

Tait collection: item 23 of 62 This paper contains details of the Will and Probate papers of John Joseph Flahavin who died in December 1902. He was a farmer at Kirkstall but no further details on him have been found. He left real estate to the value of £100 and personal estate to the value of £5 to his wife Margaret Flahavin. She died in the June of the following year before her husband’s will had been finalized. The lawyer in the case, Ernest Chambers, had legal offices in Warrnambool. Port Fairy and Koroit at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. This document in his possession passed to successive lawyers occupying the legal premises in Kepler Street and were located there in 2014 and passed on to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. This document is of some interest as it concerns a Kirkstall resident in the early 1900s. It will be useful to researchers.This is a cream-coloured piece of parchment paper folded in two (1903). It has handwritten material on three sides of the paper. There is a seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria attached with a green ribbon and there are three purple stamps of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The paper is somewhat stained and the writing is faded but legible. In the Supreme Court of Victoria; Probate Jurisdiction; In the Will of John Joseph Flahavin late of Kirkstall in the State of Victoria Farmer deceasedjohn flahavin, ernest chambers, warrnambool, kirkstall, tait collection

Tait collection: item 25 of 62 This document contains details on the will and probate of Joseph Kelson, a farmer from Kirkstall who died in April 1906. He was a contractor who died at the age of 46 leaving a widow, Margaret (nee Flahavin) and eight children. The two oldest boys took over the contracting business and Joseph’s brother, David, supported the family during their time of need. Joseph Kelson left personal estate to the value of £460 with the chief beneficiary being his widow Margaret. Ernest Chambers, the lawyer who drew up this document had a legal practice in Warrnambool, Koroit and Port Fairy at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. He had possession of this document and it passed down to successive lawyers who occupied the Kepler Street legal premises and it was located in this building in 2014 and passed on to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. This document is of interest as it gives details of the will and probate of Joseph Kelson who lived in the Warrnambool area during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It will be useful to researchers. This is 1906 cream-coloured piece of parchment folded in two with handwritten material on three sides. It contains the will and probate details of Joseph Kelson, a farmer from Kirkstall, Victoria. There is a seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria and four red stamps of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The material is written in black ink. In the Supreme Court of Victoria; In the Probate Jurisdiction; In the Will of John James Kelson late of Kirkstall in the State of Victoria Contractor deceasedernest chambers, joseph kelson, kirkstall, tait collection

Tait collection: item 31 of 62 This document contains details of the Will and Probate of Frederick John Jones, a farmer of Nirranda who died in October 1910. He left real estate to the value of £200 and personal estate to the value of £43. The beneficiaries were his daughter Harriet Jones, his son Frederick Augustus Jones and his grandson, Claude Eagle. No other information has been found on Frederick Jones, Senior. This document was in the possession of Ernest Chambers who had legal offices in Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Koroit at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. It was then passed down to successive lawyers occupying the legal premises in Kepler Street and located in 2014 in the same building, the former offices of Mackay Taylor. It was then passed on to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. This is a cream-coloured piece of parchment folded in two containing handwritten material on the Probate of Frederick Jones of Nirranda, 1911. Two of the pages have ruled black lines. The seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with green ribbon and there are four red stamps of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The document is somewhat discoloured.In the Supreme Court of Victoria in the Probate Jurisdiction in the Will of Frederick John Jones late of Nirranda in the County of Heytesbury in the State of Victoria farmer deceased frederick jones, ernest chambers, warrnambool, tait collection

This book belonged to John Cowtan. He was a purchaser of land near Cassady’s Bridge in Warrnambool and an important and early settler in Port Fairy. The land that John Cowtan selected was bought by Williaam Cassady whose sister, Ann, was married to John Cowtan. Cassady established the property, Boughton where Cassady’s Bridge is today. This book came from a Cassady estate sale early in the 21st century. Between 1839 and 1844 John Cowtan was a ship’s captain for John Griffiths, a shipowner and entrepreneur. In 1844 Cowtan established a merchant trading and produce business in Port Fairy with John Bland. In the 1860 John Cowtan went to live in Melbourne.This book is of great interest because of its early date (one year after the founding of Warrnambool) and because of its association with John Cowtan, a pioneer settler of Port Fairy with connections to Warrnambool.This is a brown leather cover book of 385 pages. The spine has gold lettering. The binding has come apart and has been mended with white cotton material on the inside of the cover. The insides of the cover have a brown, white, blue and yellow mottled pattern. The cover is stained and torn at the edges and has a deep gouging on the front. The first page has been torn and mended with tape and some of the pages are stained. There are two pressed fern fronds, one loose newspaper cutting and a bookmark with a sepia-coloured image, lace paper edges and coloured embroidery contained within the pages. The book has a preface and 58 chapters. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘J. Cowtan 1848’ john cowtan, port fairy history, william cassady

This Bible was owned by John Glasgow, a Wangoom farmer. His father, Robert, settled in Blackwood Hill near Wangoom in the 1850s. John Glasgow was a celebrated cheesemaker who won many prizes locally and overseas and a Warrnambool Shire Councillor from 1880 to 1886 and from 1892 to 1906. He was a Sunday School teacher at the Wangoom Presbyterian Church for 50 years and an Elder for 42 years. The book contains the names and birth dates of the extended Glasgow family and the names include Linnett, Glasgow, Coulstock and Anderson.This Bible is of considerable interest because of its connection to the John Glasgow and other members of his family. This is a leather-covered book with gold lettering on the spine. The cover overlaps the pages for extra protection. The pages are gilt-edged. One page has come apart from the binding and several other pages are partly detached from the spine. All the inscriptions are hand-written in black ink. One is a religious verse which has been pasted on to the inside of the front cover and on another page are listed the names and birth dates of 18 members of the Glasgow extended family. The book and cover are very tatty and stained. ‘Mr J. Glasgow, Wangoom, 26.7.99’ john glasgow, wangoom presbyterian church, history of warrnambool, cheesemaking in the warrnambool district

This book has been given to John Ardlie by Lewis Gilles in 1866. John Martin Ardlie came to Warrnambool in 1852 as the Clerk of Courts and remained in this position until 1868. He died in 1872. He was a leading figure in community affairs for twenty years and Ardlie Street in Warrnambool is named after him. His family home was Wyton, site of the old convent at Emmanuel College today. Lewis Gilles, important in the early history of Tasmania as a bank owner and breeder of cattle, came to Warrnambool in 1854 as the first resident Police Magistrate. He remained until 1866 when he went to England (the occasion of his presentation of this book to John Ardlie). He died in 1884 in South Australia. Gilles Street in Warrnambool is named after him.This book is of high significance because of its connection to two very important early residents of Warrnambool – John Ardlie and Lewis Gilles. This is a hard cover book of 336 pages. The cover is brown with gold ornamentation and lettering on the front cover and spine. The pages are gilt-edged. The first letter of each hymn is ornamented and there is an illustration covered with tissue paper on the first page. One page shows silverfish damage and the cover is partly detached from the binding. The cover is frayed in places and a little stained. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Presented to J. M. Ardlie by his friend and comrade L.W. Gilles 1864 Worthing Sussex on departing from Warrnambool 4 May 1866’. john ardlie, lewis gilles, history of warrambool

This letter book (1922-6) was found in the old Mackay Taylor building in Kepler Street. The Secretary of the Presbytery of Mortlake in the early 1900s was George Mackay who established his legal business in 1891 and merged with the business of James Fletcher in 1893 to form Fletcher and Mackay. In the 1920s J. Taylor joined the business which was known from then on as Mackay and Taylor and this firm existed until the 1990s. George Mackay was prominent in Warrnambool civic and community affairs and was Secretary of St. John’s Presbyterian Church for many years. The Presbytery of Mortlake was an administrative district committee established in 1862 and included the Presbyterian churches of Port Fairy, Tower Hill, Wangoom, Allansford, Warrnambool, Woodford, Hexham, Caramut, Mortlake and Terang. The committee consisted of the local ministers, some elders and other church representatives and met monthly or quarterly to discuss church business that affected the region. This letter book is of some significance as it indicates the type of business carried out by a district church council – properties, missions, individual church problems etc. It also shows the community work of George Mackay, a prominent Warrnambool resident at the time, and the book contains his signature, many times over. The book will be of interest to researchers. This is a ledger with dark blue binding and binding reinforcements on the spine and corners. The inside covers are lined with thick paper in a mottled blue and black coloured pattern. There are 250 pages with entries up to page 54. The letter copies are typed with an alphabetical listing at the front.Front Cover: Label with typed title ‘Presbytery of Mortlake’ Spine: ‘Letter Book’ presbytery of mortlake, george mackay

Alexander Black was a painter and decorator who operated a business in Timor St below Swinton’s. Some of the customers in this book are town council baths, Mr Fritz Landmann, St John’s Church, Thomas Redford, Thomas Robinson, Public Works Department, J W Crawley, Jas McLeod, W J Jackman among many more.Listing many local people and being associated with a local business, it has social and historical significance.Large rectangular hard card cover. Maroon, blue and cream patterned card cover with dark green spine binding. Hand written entries listing details of work completed at front and tenders for work at the back of the book. Paper label pasted to front cover “Working account book from 5th December 1899 to August 1918 Tenders at back of book 1900.” Purple oval stamp Alexr Black Painter Importer of paper hangings Warrnambool. Handwritten inside front cover: Mr Alex Black Timor Street Warrnambool. warrnambool, alexander black, alex black painter, black painterwarrnambool,

Augustus Bostock was the 9th child of Robert & Rachael Bostock of Vaucluse Epping Forest, Van Diemen’s Land. He was only 4 years old when his mother died. He was inspired by his father to seek his fortune in the Western District of Victoria. He arrived around 1850. He married Margaret Aitkin in July 1865. Augustus owned several properties in the district and leased others. He sat on the court of Warrnambool, Mortlake or Hexham as required. He resided at Marramook in Hawkesdale and later moved to Vaucluse in Hopetoun Road Warrnambool, where he died in 1920 at the age of 87. He was involved in many aspects of life in the Western District, racing, cricket, and social activities to name a few. This lease relates to the lease of Coomete from J Kershaw of Brooke Street Hawthorn This is one of a number of documents which relate to the Bostock family who were one of the most important pioneering families of the Western District. They owned and leased various properties around Warrnambool and were involved in many aspects of social and business life. The document itself is indicative of its time and provides an insight into the details and terms of such documents at the time.Four page lease, beige coloured document. The form is printed and if completed in black ink.Signed by J Kershaw and Augustus Bostock.warrnambool, augustus bostock, bostock, coomete, 1894, john kershaw,