Blue soft covered book with an image of the Ballarat Teachers' College class of 1949.The book is 235 pages and includes a biography of each member of the class of 1949, the schools graduates taught at, home towns, families, statisticsnon-fictionballarat teachers' college, margaret bennett, david collins, don evans, peter fryar, wilma gardy, jack gervasoni, isobel mcmahon, mavis miller, margaret reynolds, catherine o'shannessy, wal wall, john hogan gervasoni, family history, genealogy, education, alumni

Eleven copies of the University of Ballarat Alumni newsletter called The Flag. .1) David James, Gwenda McManus, Kerrie Edwards, Steve Bracks, Cordell Kent, Australian Native Gold, Koori Education Unit, Pat Hope, Rozeena Begum, Lidcha Mul. .2) Gwenda McManus, Wilhelmus, David James, University Mace, Trefor Prest, Steve Moneghetti, Shaun Creighton, Peter Blackburn, David Waite, Sandy Blythe, Kim Ross, Michael Wilson, Betty Gill, Betty Fish, Tom Hill, Bill Pryor . .3) David James. Sandy Blythe, Geoffrey Blainey,Jamie Shaw, Kiran Mazumdar, Stuart Pursell, Tony Singh, Ballarat Teachers' College, Frank Nolan, Carolyn Blackman. .4) David James, Malini Chitaranjan, Chandker Varadhan, Lola Montez, Regina Molloy, Bert Labont'e, Jayne Reynolds, Amanda Sandwith, Roger Short, Stephen Kemmis, Barney Glover, Thomas O'Donnell, Sandy Blythe, Laurier Prosser, John Sharpham, Jack Barker, Xiaoli Jiang, Catherine Pearce, Nepal, Ballarat Teachers' College, John Culvenor, Richards Medal, Karl McCann. .5) Gwenda McManus, David James, Ron Wild, Merger, Wimmera Institute of TAFE, Katherine Birkin. .6) David Caro, Chancellor appointment, David James, Ellen Sellers, Ballarat Teachers' College Reunion, Briana Folkes, Lorri Coburn, Paul O'Donohue, Graeme Kelly, Tracy Plunkett, Julie Kellett, Unisports rehabilitation, Hong Kong graduation, China, koalas. .7) Hong Kong graduation, David Janes, Argentina, Richard Alder, threatened animals, reconciliation, Leoda Atkinson, mural, Jodie Lowe, indigenous Australians, Sue Turale, nursing, Hong Kong, Geoffrey Richards, Janice Edwards, Laura Chibnall, Franky Christiano, Nessa Jenkins, Kerrie Powell. .8) David James, Graduate Centre, Greenhill Enterprise Centre, Warren Young, Parks Victoria, Maxitrans, netball, John Magrath, maths, Catering for the Olympics, Eddie Turker, Maryanne Coutts, Sonia Colville, Daryl Wisely, Laura Wakeling. .9) Camp Street Redevelopment, Arts Academy, David James, Gwenda McManus, Doug Lloyd, Ian Gordon, University Appeal, Hong Kong, Sue Turale, Edward Wong, Hakodate University, Paris, nursing, Malaysia, Yuri Tanabe, Amanda Mead, Mary Modeen, Barry Judd. .10) Kerry Cox, Gwenda McManus, wildlife, MartinWestbrooke Brian McLennan Art Scholarship. Anne Saunders, Shenzhen, Hong Kong. .11) CFA, Kerry Cox, Wayne Robinson appointment, Terry Lloyd, Empire Rubber, Churchill Fellowship, Russell Rees, bus mural, Janice Croggon, John McDonald, Imogen Schwarz, Andrew Dark, Jacqueline Dark, building, Jeff Goodiesonmcmanus, kent, bracks, vermeend, university games, greenhill, netball, magrath, coutts, turker, colville, wisely, wakeling, moneghetti, alder, atkinson, lowe, tirale, richards, blackburn, pryor, blainey, shaw, pursell, singh, blackman, wild, ballarat school of mines, wimmera, wimmera institute of tafe, merger, birkin, caro, sellers, folkes, coburn, o'donogue, kelly, plunkett, kellett, unisports, hong kong, alumni, koala, muzumdar-shaw, arts academy, camp street precinct, camp street

The university of Ballarat Town and Gown was held on 26 October 2000 at the Ballarat North Football Club.Twenty three coloured photographs of the University of Ballarat Town and Gown Dinner, 2000. .11 - Three men wearing suits and ties stand holding glasses. L-R: ? , Doug McKnight, Bruce Clark.university of ballarat, town and gown, bruce clark, doug mcknight, richard king, david nicholson, philip candy, peter fryar, fryar, sue trelair, claire bell, jack barker, e.j. barker, martin westbrooke, stafford mcknight, paul jenkins, anne fennell, bill gribble, andrew berryman, garry taylor, fiona caro, david caro, weston bate, peter blackmore, peter morey, alistair heighway, val d'angri, darren cheesman, liz sheedy, jeannie king, val runyan, wayne muir, graeme beanland, louise hargreaves, rupert bowd, anne fry, margaret stewart, peter mansfield, clare gervasoni, anne beggs sunter, university women

William Smerdon Holmes married Violet Mary Macfie (1859 – 1942) on 9 April 1890 at Geelong. William and Violet lived at "Sauchieburn", Ascot on the 291 ha (720 acre) property that William inherited from his aunt Catherine Coghill (nee Holmes). William and Violet Holmes had four children: • Violet Catherine (1891- 1949) married Samuel Gordon Spittle 11 August 1920; Mary Coghill (1892 - 1979); • William Edward (1894 - 1964) married Charlotte Anne Alexander 20 June 1933; • Henry Smerdon (1897 - 1954) married Edith Sarah Pickford 28/2/1922. William Smerdon Holmes was the grandfather of Henry John (Jack) Holmes (1922-1972) William Smerdon Holmes (1927-1993), David Coghill Holmes (1929-1950) and Mary Elizabeth Chatham (Elizabeth) (nee Holmes) (1932 - 2006). William Smerdon Holmes died in June 1914 and is buried at the Ballarat New Cemetery. A black and white photograph glued into card. It shows a moustached man in coat, collar, tie and tie-pin. It is William Smerdon Holmeschatham family archive, chatham, holmes, william holmes, william smerdon holmes, ascot, sauchieburn

David Coghill Holmes (1929- 1950) of Ascot was the youngest brother of Henry John (Jack), William Smerdon (Bill) and Mary Elizabeth Holmes (m M. E. Chatham 1932 - 2006) and son of Henry (Harry} Smerdon and Edith Holmes (nee Pickford)Black and white photograph of a man in coat, collar and tie. He is David Coghill Holmes as a young man. The Holmes family lived at Ascot, Victoria.harry holmes, ascot, holmes family collection, chatham-holmes collection

Small soft covered booklet with black and red ink on the cover. The contents include details for the Ballarat School of Mines Revue for 1961 called 'Off the Beat'. Performers included Danny Taylor, Eric Mcgrath, David Bell, Bob Coutts, Noel Murphy, Noel Whitcher, Anne Moorhouse, Sue Mole, Noel Delosa, Jill Norton, Mary Wettenhall, Barry Lonsdale, David Kirton, Don Yates, Baldwin Eng, Suresh Chand, Teddy Gan, Francis Kwong, Daniel Yung, jenny Milbourne, Jenny trahar, Anita Bitans, Janis ermanis, Kevin Rogers, Kevin Sculley, David Kirton, Noelene Ahpee, Ruth Nelson, Gersina Prox, Peter Agrums, Sue Davies, Balswin Eng, Edward Scull, John Kavanagh, Val Baker, Sue Mole, Val Driffen, Jill Norton, Graeme Williams, Malcolm Peel, Geoffrey Simmonds, David Kirton, George Leishman, Barry Lonsdale, William Roodenburg, Ian Weir, Jack tay, W. McDonald, L. Hillman, J. McCullock, Miss Catford, Beverley Howlett, Edith Lawn, Mr Dixon, B. Nolan.ballarat school of mines, review, theatre, poster

The Ballarat Technical Art School was a division of the Ballarat School of Mines. Typed foolscap class list for the Ballarat Technical Art School Manual Arts Class. ballarat technical art school, ballarat school of mines, manual arts, education department, victoria, victorian education department, w.t. williamson, ernest morshead, eulalie perry, lindsay ross, ronland j. ferguson, jack j. blaikie, edith bishop, greorge fricker, robert allan, janet whyte, rex l. cutter, nelson ferguson, m. spencer, s. ainsworth, david g. stratton, aubrey simmons, edward huggett, j. bolwell, frederick j. martell, hamilton

Photograph taken at the launch of the Geoffrey Blainey Research Centre at the University of Ballarat Library (now Federation University). L-R: E.J. (Jack) Barker, Vice-Chancellor David Battersby, Professor Geoffrey Blaineygeoffrey blainey research centre, e.j. barker library, federation university mt helen library, david battersby, geoffrey blainey, e.j. barker, jack barker

The editorial committee for the 1965 Ballarat School of Mines Student Magazine was Trevor Barnett, Gary Bunn, Roger Donaldson, Fred Evans, Ralph Fenney, Greg Hunter, Jon McDonald, Malcolm Park, Geoff Pollard, Gary Roberts, Peter Smith and John Thorne. In 1965 Morgan B. John was President of the Ballarat School of Mines, and the Principal was E.J. (Jack) Barker.White soft covered magazine of 91 pages with black line drawings and caricatures on the cover designed by Trevor Barnett. Articles include: The importance of Library Services, a list of Diplomas conferred and prizes presented, Camping Daze, The Civilising Influences of Mining, Jigging in Beds (bed race), Art School, Sed Education, War, Man's Neurotic flaw, National Service, In Man A Brute?, Journey into the Unknown, Philosophy of Games; Roll Call 1965. Snippits include: Trevor Barnett announced as the winner of the Eric Mcgrath Award for 1965; Wayne Johnson was awarded the Honour Blazer. The deaths of Noel Hooper, David Bell and Shane Carroll were recorded. Numerous black and white images but no name captions. Advertisements by Ronaldson and Tippett, Electrolytic Zinc Company of Australasia, BHP, Mount Isa Mines, Australuco Aluminium, Owen's of Ballarat. Alexandria Tea Rooms, Roy Bracks Mens Wear, A.J. Williams Electrical Equipment, Young Squire, H.B. Selby & Co., The Wattle, T.J. Coutts, H.A. Davis Motor Service, Henderson-Palmer, Philips Electrical, Myers, M.B. John & Hattersley Limited, Andrew Gault, Tait Book Company, BHAS, Morsheads, Commonwealth Aircrafts Corporation, J.J. Mortimer, Ewins, B. and G. Myers ballarat school of mines, roger donaldson, gary bunn, trevor barnett, noel hooper, david bell, shane carroll, vietnam war, national service, bracks slacks, fred evans, ralph fenney, greg hunter, jon mcdonald, malcolm park, geoff pollard, gary roberts, peter smith, john thorne

Edith Sarah Pickford was born and raised in Clunes, Victoria. She is the only daughter of John Pickford and Betsey (Robbins) Pickford and sister of Henry Pickford, John Pickford, William Harold Pickford, Horace Pickford DCM, Arthur Pickford and Charles Alexander Pickford. Edith's maternal grandmother was a descendent of Donald Cameron, the first recorded European settler in the Clunes area.The Pickford family's pioneer settler legacy in the Clunes- Glendaruel district is commemorated with a Pickford Road and displays in the Clunes Museum. A collection of Edith's song music was donated to the Clunes Museum by her great grand-daughter in 2023. Edith married a local farmer, Henry Smerdon Holmes from "Sauchieburn" Ascot, Victoria. Henry was a descendant of the family who had inherited their maternal ancestor's, Catherine Coghill (nee Holmes), Ascot - Coghills Creek property. This branch of the Coghill Family descended from the district's pioneer settler, Captain Coghill. Edith and Henry spent all their married life, and raised 4 children Jack [John], Bill [William], [Mary] Elizabeth and David, at Ascot. She was buried in the Coghills Creek Cemetery with her husband, Henry Smerdon Holmes, and their son, David, in 1967. Her children, Bill Holmes and Elizabeth Chatham, and their spouses are buried nearby.Social and historicalMounted black and white photo of a young girl wearing a white dress and ribbon.chatham holmes collection, holmes, pickford

Bound volume of the Ballarat School of Mines Students' Magazine for 1907-1909. Articles include the location and pegging of a tramway Route, the transmission of Power by Rope Driving by A.E.C. Kerr, A visit to the Briseis Mine, and New Brothers' Home, Mining Engineers in Tasmania, Obituaries for David Ham and Matthew Lyndsay, Pioneer Mining at Leichhardt, Automatic Ore Feeders and Chacedony Park by J.H. Adams. Images include the Ballarat School of Mines Football Team and the Ballarat School of Mines Sports Committee. 1907 * Hubert Krause 1908 * The location and Pegging of a Tramway Route by Yamba * The Unity of things by John Brittain * The transmission of power by Rope Driving, by A.E.C. Kerr * A visit to the Briseis Mine, and New Brothers' Home (includes photographs) * Mining Engineers in Tasmania * Limericks Sluiced at Snake Valley * David Ham Obituary * Matthew Lyndsay Obituary * Some Bunsen Memories by Professor Alfred Mica Smith * Geological Camp to Daylesford * Practical Mathematics by Hubert F. Hall * Pioneer Mining - Leickhardt * Automatic Ore Feeders * A Unique Ore Deposit (Lucknow Goldfield, NSW) * A country Ramble * The Alkaline Titration for Zinc * Chalcedony Park, Arizona, United States of America by J.H. Adams * Notetaking at Lectures * Smelter Cost-Keeping by Oliver E. Jaeger * Benefits of Physical Culture * Mineral Tasmania and its Wonderful Resources by F.F. Bradford * A holiday Trip to Queensland * The Compression of Air as Applied to Mining * Machine V Hand Drilling * The mining in the Malay States * William Thomas Grownow Obituary (includes image) * Timbering Stopes (Includes images) * Trip to Melbourne * Two Problems of Alluvial Mining by Richard Hain * The Berry Leads (includes plan of mines) * Black Pudding Supper * Observations for Meridian * NOtes on Coking Plants (includes plan) * How Old is the Earth * Conglomerations * A Pat Formula * The making of a Suitable Muffle for General Assay Work * Reduction of Gold Chloride by Charcoal * Chemical Definitions * Old Boys (R.J. Allen, W.B. Blyth, F. Brinsden, Lindsay D. Cameron, George W. Cornwell, John M. Currie, C.M. Harris, T. Wighton-Hood, W. Lakeland, W.S. Macartney, Fred A. Marriott, Karl B. Moore, G.E. Sander, Sherb. H. Sheppard, Norman S. Stuckby, John Sutherland, Lewis A. Westcott, Walter White, O.C. Witherden, Gerald Young) 1909 * The Graduates Problem * An Interesting Nevada Cyanide Plant (Bamberger De Lamar Gold Mines) * Easter Geological Camp to Ingliston * New Methods for the Volumetric Estimation of Lead * William Charles Kernott Obituary * Mount Morgan Mine by G.W. Williams * Tin Dredging at Tingha, New South Wales * Notes on the Iodide estimation of Copper * Photograph of the Ballarat School of Mines Students' Association Committee * The Importance of Mine Ventilation to the Students by F. Howells * Life in Mining Camp * Wise Words to Mining School Students * Military Search Lights * Gleaning s on resistance * Ministerial Visit to the Ballarat School of Mines by the Hon. A.A. Billson, Minister of Education , accompanied by Frank Tate, Director of Education. * Picture Making in Photography Composition * Mountains of Fire * A Walking Engine - New Military Machine - Guns into Action - Caterpillar No. 1. (Tank) * Fireless Locomotives * Elmore Concentrating Process (includes plan of Elmore Concentrator) * Mount Pani Limited * Surveying for Irrigation * Weights and Measures * Carbon Monoxide * Joseph Francis Usher obituary * The Problem of the Metalliferous Veins * Ballarat School of Mines Ambulance Class * Treatment of Gold in a battery Without the Use of Copper Plates by E.C. Hurdsfield * Meteorites * Werribee Gorge * Dredging in the Ovens Valley * Electrical Chatter - Electrocution by an Imaginary Eye-Witness * The Electric Furnace in Iron Metallurgy ballarat school of mines, ballarat school of mines football team, football, sports, tramway, mining engineers, david ham, matthew lyndsay, jack adams, berry lead, hepburn consuls, madame berry, west ristori, ristori no 1, allendale, dyke's co, charleson's mill, australian extended, mining, r.j. allen,, w.b. blyth, f. brinsden, lindsay d. cameron, george w. cornwell, john m. currie, c.m. harris, t. wighton-hood, w. lakeland, w.s. macartney, fred a. marriott, karl b. moore, g.e. sander, sherb. h. sheppard, norman s. stuckby, john sutherland, lewis a. westcott, walter white, o.c. witherden, gerald young, ballarat school of mines students' association, hubert krause, krause, vfl, afl

In 1991 Premier of Victoria Joan Kirner visited her former workplace (Ballarat Girls' Technical School, a division of the Ballarat School of Mines), to officially open and name four new facilities, marking stage 2 of the school's State Works and Services Development Project. Honoured in the naming ceremony was the late Albert Steane, the late Kenneth Flecknoe and Mr Jack Barker, President of the Ballarat School of Mines. The fourth facility was the recently opened carpentry and joinery complex. Mrs Kirner said naming the building in honour of the three men would act as a continual reminder of their contribution to education in Australia and what they have passed on to future generations. She said the Government and the State Training Board saw the college as not only one that was most important to Victoria but also nationally and internationally. Black and white photograph of a group of people in the Ballarat School of Mines E.J. Tippett Library. Bill Gribble is speaking behind a lecturn, with six people seated behind. They are (from left to right) Frank Sheehan (M.L.A. for Ballarat South; Peter Shiells (Director of the Ballarat School of Mines), Premier Joan Kirner; E.J. (Jack) Barker; Eric Steane. and David Flecknoe. joan kirner, frank sheehan, bill gribble, peter shiells, jack barker, david flecknoe, ken flecknoe, flecknoe, eric steane, albert steane, steane, kenneth flecknoe

This photograph was taken on the occasion of the retirement of Jack Barker, Foundation Director of the Ballarat College of Advanced Education. It was a tribute to mark his outstanding services to the Ballarat School of Mines and Ballarat College of Advanced Education from 1949-1987. * 1949-1960 Lecturer/Head of Department * 1960-1964 Vice-Principal * 1964-1976 Principal * 1976-1987 Foundation Director of Ballarat College of Advanced Education The staff of the Ballarat College of Advanced Education stand in the 'shadow' of the 'Tree of Knowledge'. The photograph was taken at 3.55 pm on 27 August 1987.jack barker, e.j. barker, retirement, tree of knowledge, thelma rungkat, frank martin, jack harvey, gerry anderson, martin westbrooke, stafford mcknight, graeme ambrose, roy schrieke, barbarat crump, loris button, arch mackinnon, henry moritz, geoff wallis, helmut stenzel, michael gustus, trevor hastings, ian hemingway, george fong, george fong wah, greg binns, dave jelbart, arthur burros, alison lanigan, zig plavina, i. lepp, pat hope, derek woolley, peter fryar, david addenbrooke, robert morrell, alan webb, richard croggon, anne beggs-sunter, thelma runghat, denis shanahan, frank harrap

Numerous letters of different sizes relating to the Ballarat School of Mines in 1943. .16) Education Department Correspondence requesting registration of all male teachers for military service. List of those registered are Heseltine, Allsop, Yates, Pound, Lambert, Richards, Cornell, Sutherland, Goldsmith, Mein, Hillman, Gordon, Mullins, Wilkinson, Ferguson, Jeffrey, Paterson, Mayo, Whitla, Cotton, Warson, Bergin, Gilpin, Johnston, Trengrove, Proctor, Brew, Rowlands, Gardiner .31) Special Leave arrangements for defence Training instructors and staff on Education Training Branch letterhead. The leave relates to the Ballarat SChool of Mines' A. J. Murdock .32) Ballarat School of Mines COuncil Members, statistics, student numbers, Staff Members and salary, etc .33) R.H. Parsons of Footscray nominated as the representative of Technical School Councils .34) Edward James Quick, Maxwell Donald Gilbert and John Alexander McBride qualify for the Young Patriotic Guild .35) Ballarat School of Mines recommending increase in rates of pay for female Clerical Workers (Ruby H. Lonie, Annie A. Jones) .37) Ballarat School of Mines requesting authority for part-time appointments (William J. Meinhardt, Alan J. Murdoch, D. Metcalfe) .38) Cromwell George Bray is recommended for the Young Workers Patriotic Guild Certificate. He raised 1 pound, 2 shillings, 4 pence by selling oilcloth scraps, catching mice and doing odd jobs, cleaning drains and taps. .39) Stanley Robert Marshall is recommended for the Young Workers Patriotic Guild Certificate. He raised 1 pound by running messages and doing odd jobs. .40) Extension of J.M. Sutherland's appointment at the Ballarat School of Mines .41) Pre-Nursing Education Course for Girls' School .42) Douglas Philip Campbell and Raymond George Colbourne are recommended for the Young Workers Patriotic Guild Certificate. .43) Report on holders of Senior Technical Scholarships attending the Ballarat School of Mines (Geoffrey Biddington, Bill Carroll, Douglas George Dean, Robert James Egginton, Percival David Fisher, Norman Ludbrook, Maxwell Pescott, Ernest J. Poppins, Lindsay Wallis, Joy Martin) .44) Visit to the Ballarat School of Mines concerning proposed new workshop units .45) Promotion of G.W. Cornelleducation department defence training branch, world war two, a.j. murdoch, fred l. gray, william baragwanath, t.a.l. farr, h.b. george, b.a. john, a.w. lynch, f. middleton, a.w. nicholson, g.k. sutton, m.g. beanland, v.c. jones, m.b. john, d. maxwell, n. mchutchison, j. smail, l.j. wilson, technical education, ballarat school of mines, george m. downing, geoffrey w. crouch, douglas e. hale, amel r. gordon, alan h. gilpin, jack w. sandall, harold j. hassell, andrew j.e. campbell, dressmaking, ballarat junior technical school, art courses, edward james quick, maxwell donald gilbert, john alexander mcbride, young patriotic guild, f.w. ferguson, ruby h. lonie, annie a. jones, william j. meinhardt, alan j. murdoch, d. metcalfe, cromwell george bray, stanley robert marshall, young workers patriotic guild certificate, j.m. sutherland, nursing, douglas philip campbell, raymond george colbourne, g.w. cornell, geoffrey biddington, bill carroll, douglas george dean, robert james egginton, percival david fisher, norman ludbrook, maxwell pescott, ernest j. poppins, lindsay wallis, joy martin, heseltine, allsop, yates, pound, lambert, richards, cornell, sutherland, goldsmith, mein, hillman, gordon, mullins, wilkinson, ferguson, jeffrey, paterson, mayo, whitla, cotton, warson, bergin, gilpin, johnston, trengrove, proctor, brew, rowlands, gardiner, airforce, ballarat school of mines, f.g. procter, gladstone procter, military service, annie jones

Black folder of clippings, photos, newsletters, Extra Muros, history, relating the the Ballarat Teachers' College class of 1949. It includes a short biography on Frank Lord: Teacher and Soldier by Wal Wallballarat teachers' college, william ellwood, dana street primary school, monica miller, reunions, anniversary, meph mcewan, joe scarlett, john hogan gervasoni, john gervasoni, jack gervasoni, margaret bennett, queen elizabeth ii, buckingham palace letterhead, forty-niner rose, mattee hayes, peter fryar, tom turner, cynthia silver lewin, margaret reynolds bennett, harry cumming, peg aloreo harris, verna lees kaye, lesley latch frank, gladys white hogg, lindsay campbell, joan cool read, maureen godfrey fithall, grahame fithall, david collins, ron edmonds, a gladness found, graham bartle, frank lord, allan sonsee, cecil allan sonsee, john neville stewart obituary, john hogan gervasoni obituary, richard stowell obituary, rita butt campbell obituary, john blackie obituary, jack dridan obituary, wilma gardy byrne obituary, joan johnson binns obituary, lesley latch frank obituary, mattee hayes ilton obituary, margaret panther leask obituary, moyra ahern smith obituary, margaret blaby gledhill obituary, dana street primary school letterhead

This painting of the “La Bella” is associated with Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from the wreck of the “La Bella”. It was painted around the 1980s by maritime artist Philip J. Gray. Some 15 – 17 ships are believed to have sunk in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the seafloor; the “La Bella” and the “Edinburgh Castle”. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. The Kosnar Picture Framing and Mirrors Shop identified the "GRAY 3135, Y04/111" as their job number for the framing and said that the label "ANOTHER KOSNAR FEATURE" was last used before about 1990. About artist Philip J. Gray “Philip is one of Australia’s leading maritime artists and his meticulous research and social commentary paintings of ships, such as, the Loch Ard and Schomberg form an important part of Warrnambool’s Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum.” [Dr Marion Manifold, Artist and Art Historian, 2014] Philip James Gray was born in London but has lived most of his life in Australia. He graduated from a London school of art as an illustrator, specialising in technical and scientific illustration as well as other commercial and applied art. He was also a student for a time of Fyffe Christie - British figurative artist, mural painter and humanitarian – who had a great influence on his career. Philip has always worked as a professional artist and illustrator. Many publications on maritime history have featured his work. His paintings have been released and sold all over the world as limited edition prints. The State Library of Victoria’s ‘Latrobe Collection’ holds two of his paintings. His street painting of ‘The Ashes Contest’ decorates the brick wall of Old Bakery Laneway in Sunbury and a Sunbury café owner commissioned him to paint the ‘Sunbury Pop Festival’ as a remembrance of local history. Philip has been an active member of the Sunbury Art Society in Victoria for several years, serving on the committee for some of that time and being involved in exhibitions. He enjoys helping new artists and sharing his skills and experience. About the “La Bella” The wreck of the La Bella lies at the bottom of the Warrnambool Harbour in Lady Bay. Some 15 ships are believed to have been wrecked there but only two have been discovered on the sea floor; the La Bella and the Edinburgh Castle. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. The story of the final voyage of the La Bella is summarised as follows … The ship from which the sailors were rescued was the three-masted, iron and steel barquentine the La Bella, built in Norway in 1893. She was one of two iron and steel ships by Johan Smith, the company being one of the leading shipping families in Tvedestrand, Norway. She was significant to Norwegian shipping, being one of only 27 iron and steel ships ever built in Norway. La Bella was registered in New Zealand and engaged from 1902 in inter-colonial trading of timber in the pacific, between New Zealand and Australia and was often in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. On 5th October 1905 the twelve year old La Bella left Lyttleton, New Zealand carrying a cargo of timber bound for Warrnambool, Australia . She was manned by a crew of twelve: the Master, (Captain Mylius, previously 1st Mate of La Bella, appointed Captain to La Bella on 6th February 1903) 2 Mates, Cook, six able seamen, one ordinary seaman and a boy. Bad weather en-route caused her to shelter at Burnie on Tasmania's North West coast. On November 10th, the 37th day of her journey, La Bella approached Warrnambool. Captain Mylius steered her towards Lady Bay Channel in heavy south-west seas and evening mist. He ordered the helmsman to steer for the light. As the ship came round, a tremendous sea struck her on the port quarter, causing her to breach broadside in a north-westerly direction into breakers. The helm was brought round twice more, but each time heavy seas broke over her, the third time throwing the La Bella on to a submerged reef in Lady Bay now known as La Bella Reef (about 100 yards from the Warrnambool breakwater). The sea was so rough that it even wrenched a one-and-a-half ton anchor from its fastenings and into the sea. As Captain Mylius headed to the steel wheelhouse, intending to send up a rocket flare, a huge sea slammed the steel door into him (resulting in massive bruising front and back) Despite his injuries he still managed to set off a blue light, which he held up in his hands. La Bella’s lifeboats were filled with sea water and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on shore that there was a ship in distress. The Harbour Master, Captain Roe (who lived in the Harbour Master’s House opposite Flagstaff Hill), organised a group of volunteers to crew the lifeboat because the trained crew was unavailable; the crewmen were working on a steamer in Port Fairy at the time. He then poured oil onto the water to try and smooth the sea. At around 11pm three of the crew took shelter in the steel forecastle but the sea crashed into it and broke it up. While the rest of the crew and onlookers watched helplessly in the moonlight the bodies were washed away into the sea, never to be seen again. Some of the crew lashed themselves to the weather rail to keep from being washed away. Watson, the ordinary seaman, became tangled in the rigging lines and was too weak to move, so the 2nd Mate, Robertson, put a line onto him so that he wouldn’t wash off. Around 11pm three of the crew were unconscious from exhaustion. The situation on La Bella was becoming dangerous. The 2nd Mate moved to the ‘house’ and soon afterwards the ship slipped in the heavy sea. The lashings of the 1st Mate and the ‘boy’ Denham had kept them safe until about 2am when they were washed overboard; no one was able to help. One by one, the exhausted crew were being washed overboard, too weak to hold on any longer. During the night the La Bella had broken into two and the deckhouse ran out towards the sea. Two more men drowned when trying to reach the lifeboat. By sunrise the only survivors of the twelve were the Master, 2nd Mate and three seamen. Early in the morning Captain Roe used the rocket apparatus on shore to try and shoot a line to the ship for a safer rescue but each attempt fell short of the target. Several attempts were made by the lifeboat to rescue the stricken sailors, but the rough conditions made this difficult for the boat to get close enough to the ship and the lifeboat had to return to shore. During a final attempt to reach the ship Captain Mylius ordered his men to jump into the sea. Leonard Robertson, 2nd mate, jumped and swam towards the lifeboat, taking hold of the boat hook offered to him. Oscar Rosenholme managed to reach the boat floating on a piece of timber from the ship’s load and a third survivor, Noake, also made the boat. Along with the lifeboat rescue crew, 25 year old William Ferrier rowed his small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain, whom he landed on the breakwater. Ferrier then returned to the ship to attempt a final rescue, losing his oars and rowlocks into the high sea. Using just a spare paddle he skulled towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the lashing that held him to the ship; the terrified sailor dropped from the ship and into the dingy. Shortly after the last man was rescued, the La Bella was lifted by a huge wave and crashed back down on the reef; she broke up and sank. The ordeal had lasted ten hours. The survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. In the following days an unidentified body of a young person was washed ashore; it was either Watson or Denham. The body was buried in the Warrnambool cemetery with an appropriate gravestone and inscription. William Ferrier became a national hero as news of the daring rescue spread. In recognition of his bravery in the two daring rescues he was awarded the Silver Medal for Bravery by the Royal Humane Society and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams and a cheque for £20 from the Governor General, over £150 subscribed by the public, including Warrnambool and district and readers of The Argus, and a gold medal from the Glenelg Dinghy Club of South Australia. Ferrier’s rescue efforts are one of the most heroic in Victoria’s shipwreck history. (William Ferrier’s son, Frank, received a similar award almost fifty years later, when he helped rescue four members of the crew on the yacht Merlan, after it ran on to a reef near the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. ) The wreck of La Bella now lies on her port side in 13 metres of sheltered water inside the reef she struck. The bow section is relatively intact and part of the stern has drifted north-easterly towards the mouth of the Hopkins River. The reef the La Bella struck now bears its name. Those five rescued from the La Bella were Captain George Mylius, Leonard Robertson (2nd Mate, 21 years old), R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. Those seven who lost their lives were Mr Coulson (1st mate), Charles Jackman (cook) Gustave Johnson, Pierre Johann and Robert Gent (all able seamen), Harry Watson (ordinary seaman) and Jack Denham (ship’s boy). Captain Mylius was found guilty of careless navigation; he had sailed into the bay without the services of a pilot. His Master Certificate was suspended for twelve months. Later he was also charged with manslaughter of one of the crew who had died when the La Bella was wrecked, but found not guilty. The event’s adverse publicity and damage to his career took a toll on his health and he died of a heart attack six months after the wreck; he was only thirty-seven. His body was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. The La Bella was “the best documented of all sailing ships owned in New Zealand”. Her record books, ship logs, correspondence and supporting papers are still available. At the time of the tragedy she was owned by Messers David C.Turnbull and Co. of Timaru, New Zealand timber merchants and shipping agents, who had purchased her on 13th December 1901. A detailed account of the last journey of La Bella can be read in “Leonard Robertson, the Whangaroa & La Bella” written by Jack Churchouse, published in 1982 by Millwood Press Ltd, Wellington, NZ.This painting of the La Bella by Philip J. Gray is part of the La Bella Collection and is significant at both a local and state level. Its connection to the La Bella shipwreck and the rescue of five survivors highlights the dangers of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast. The painting connects with other objects and artefacts associated with the wreck of the La Bella. This painting is significant because of its association with the sailing ship “La Bella” . the “La Bella” is of local and state and national significance. It is one of the only two shipwrecks discovered in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, out of the 15-17 shipwrecks in the bay. Large framed painting of the three masted barquentine "La Bella" fully rigged. Painted by Phillip J Gray. A fine printed line squares off the painting. Beneath painting and line is a gold plate with black copper plate designating "La Bella" is encased in glass, surrounded by a silver-metal frame. Yellow and brown paper label is adhered to back of painting. Picture framed by Kosnar in Melbourne."The La Bella" on gold plaque Logo of "K" inside a brown square. "GRAY 3135, Y04/111", "ANOTHER KOSNAR FEATURE" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, painting, la bella, artist phillip j gray, maritime painting, lady bay warrnambool

The letter to William Ferrier of South Warrnambool from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth recognised the significance of William’s brave and courageous lifesaving act to the people of Australia; “They all feel that your conduct was worthy of the best deeds done by British sailors in the past and they are proud to know that Australia can produce such as you.” The story of that brave rescue follows on below … The ship from which the sailors were rescued was the three-masted, iron and steel barquentine the La Bella, built in Norway in 1893. She was one of two iron and steel ships by Johan Smith, The company was one of the leading shipping families in Tvedestrand, Norway. She was significant to Norwegian shipping, being one of only 27 iron and steel ships ever built in Norway. She was registered in New Zealand and engaged from 1902 in inter-colonial trading of timber in the Pacific, between New Zealand and Australia and was often in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. On 5th October 1905, the twelve-year-old La Bella left Lyttleton, New Zealand carrying a cargo of timber bound for Warrnambool, Australia. She was manned by a crew of twelve: the Master, (Captain Mylius, previously 1st Mate of La Bella, appointed Captain to La Bella on 6th February 1903) 2 Mates, Cook, six able seamen, one ordinary seaman and a boy. Bad weather en route caused her to shelter at Burnie on Tasmania's North West coast. On November 10th, the 37th day of her journey, La Bella approached Warrnambool. Captain Mylius steered her towards Lady Bay Channel in heavy south-west seas and evening mist. He ordered the helmsman to steer for the light. As the ship came round, a tremendous sea struck her on the port quarter, causing her to breach broadside in a north-westerly direction into breakers. The helm was brought round twice more, but each time heavy seas broke over her, the third time throwing the La Bella on to a submerged reef in Lady Bay now known as La Bella Reef (about 100 yards from the Warrnambool breakwater). The sea was so rough that it even wrenched a one-and-a-half ton anchor from its fastenings and into the sea. As Captain Mylius headed to the steel wheelhouse, intending to send up a rocket flare, a huge sea slammed the steel door into him (resulting in massive bruising front and back) Despite his injuries he still managed to set off a blue light, which he held up in his hands. La Bella’s lifeboats were filled with seawater and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on the shore that there was a ship in distress. The Harbour Master, Captain Roe (who lived in the Harbour Master’s House opposite Flagstaff Hill), organised a group of volunteers to crew the lifeboat because the trained crew was unavailable; the crewmen were working on a steamer in Port Fairy at the time. He then poured oil onto the water to try and smooth the sea. At around 11 pm three of the crew took shelter in the steel forecastle but the sea crashed into it and broke it up. While the rest of the crew and onlookers watched helplessly in the moonlight the bodies were washed away into the sea, never to be seen again. Some of the crew lashed themselves to the weather rail to keep from being washed away. Watson, the ordinary seaman, became tangled in the rigging lines and was too weak to move, so the 2nd Mate, Robertson, put a line onto him so that he wouldn’t wash off. Around 11 pm three of the crew were unconscious from exhaustion. The situation on La Bella was becoming dangerous. The 2nd Mate moved to the ‘house’ and soon afterwards the ship slipped in the heavy sea. The lashings of the 1st Mate and the ‘boy’ Denham had kept them safe until about 2 am when they were washed overboard; no one was able to help. One by one, the exhausted crew were being washed overboard, too weak to hold on any longer. During the night the La Bella had broken into two and the deckhouse ran out towards the sea. Two more men drowned when trying to reach the lifeboat. By sunrise, the only survivors of the twelve were the Master, 2nd Mate and three seamen. Early in the morning, Captain Roe used the rocket apparatus on shore to try and shoot a line to the ship for a safer rescue but each attempt fell short of the target. Several attempts were made by the lifeboat to rescue the stricken sailors, but the rough conditions made this difficult for the boat to get close enough to the ship and the lifeboat had to return to shore. During a final attempt to reach the ship Captain Mylius ordered his men to jump into the sea. Leonard Robertson, 2nd mate, jumped and swam towards the lifeboat, taking hold of the boat hook offered to him. Oscar Rosenholme managed to reach the boat floating on a piece of timber from the ship’s load and a third survivor, Noake, also made the boat. Along with the lifeboat rescue crew, 25-year-old William Ferrier rowed his small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain, whom he landed on the breakwater. Ferrier then returned to the ship to attempt a final rescue, losing his oars and rowlocks into the high sea. Using just a spare paddle he skulled towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the lashing that held him to the ship; the terrified sailor dropped from the ship and into the dingy. Shortly after the last man was rescued, the La Bella was lifted by a huge wave and crashed back down on the reef; she broke up and sank. The ordeal had lasted ten hours. The survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. In the following days, an unidentified body of a young person has washed ashore; it was either Watson or Denham. The body was buried in the Warrnambool cemetery with an appropriate gravestone and inscription. William Ferrier became a national hero as news of the daring rescue spread. In recognition of his bravery in the two daring rescues, he was awarded the Silver Medal for Bravery by the Royal Humane Society and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams and a cheque for £20 from the Governor-General, over £150 subscribed by the public, including Warrnambool and district and readers of The Argus, and a gold medal from the Glenelg Dinghy Club of South Australia. Ferrier’s rescue efforts are one of the most heroic in Victoria’s shipwreck history. (William Ferrier’s son, Frank, received a similar award almost fifty years later when he helped rescue four members of the crew on the yacht Merlan after it ran on to a reef near the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. ) The wreck of La Bella now lies on her port side in 13 metres of sheltered water inside the reef she struck. The bow section is relatively intact and part of the stern has drifted north-easterly towards the mouth of the Hopkins River. The reef the La Bella struck now bears its name. Those five rescued from the La Bella were Captain George Mylius, Leonard Robertson (2nd Mate, 21 years old), R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. Those seven who lost their lives were Mr Coulson (1st mate), Charles Jackman (cook) Gustave Johnson, Pierre Johann and Robert Gent (all able seamen), Harry Watson (ordinary seaman) and Jack Denham (ship’s boy), Captain Mylius was found guilty of careless navigation; he had sailed into the bay without the services of a pilot. His Master Certificate was suspended for twelve months. Later he was also charged with the manslaughter of one of the crew who had died when the La Bella was wrecked but found not guilty. The event’s adverse publicity and damage to his career took a toll on his health and he died of a heart attack six months after the wreck; he was only thirty-seven. His body was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. The La Bella was “the best documented of all sailing ships owned in New Zealand”. Her record books, ship logs, correspondence and supporting papers are still available. At the time of the tragedy, she was owned by Messers David C.Turnbull and Co. of Timaru, New Zealand timber merchants and shipping agents, who had purchased her on 13th December 1901. A detailed account of the last journey of La Bella can be read in “Leonard Robertson, the Whangaroa & La Bella” written by Jack Churchouse, published in 1982 by Millwood Press Ltd, Wellington, NZ. As well as this letter, Flagstaff Hill’s La Bella Collection includes a photograph of the wrecked La Bella, a brass rail holder and a postcard of William Ferrier with four of the survivors. Some 15 – 17 ships are believed to have sunk in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the seafloor; the “La Bella” and the “Edinburgh Castle”. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. This original congratulatory letter sent to William Ferrier by the Prime Minister and Government of Australia demonstrates the importance attached to his efforts for Victoria and to Australia. The letter is part of the La Bella Collection and is significant at both a local and state level. Its connection to the La Bella shipwreck and the rescue of five survivors highlights the dangers of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast. The letter to William Ferrier from the Australian Government acknowledges the bravery of ordinary Australians who risked their lives to save victims of shipwrecks along the coast. The letter is significant to the history of Warrnambool as it honours William Ferrier, a local fisherman whose descendants continue to live in the area. It highlights the way of life of people who lived in coastal towns in 19th century Victoria and the effects of shipwrecks upon them. The letter connects to the postcard of William Ferrier with four of the five rescued crew, the photograph of the wreck of the La Bella and the artefact from the wreck, the rail holder. This letter is significant because of its association with the sailing ship “La Bella”. The “La Bella” is of local and state and national significance. It is one of the only two shipwrecks discovered in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, out of the 15-17 shipwrecks in the bay. Letter to William Ferrier of South Warrnambool from the Prime Minister and Members of Parliament commending him on his bravery. The printed letterhead includes a coat of arms in the top centre and the official address. The letter is very neatly hand written in black pen and includes 4 signatures of Members of Parliament. The rectangular paper is cream coloured with some yellow/brown discolouring. It has the letterhead on the right hand side of it and the written letter begins below the letterhead. The paper has been folded so that the right side becomes the cover page of the letter. The writing is continued onto the inside right hand page of the folded paper and the writing ends here. There is more recent writing on the bottom right hand corner of the back page. The paper has been officially folded in half a total 3 times and there is heavy discolouration on the sections that form the front and back of the folded letter. There is a 4th fold line that is less pronounced that the other folds and would make the paper the size to fit into a pocket. At several fold creases the paper has worn through. The edges of the paper have minor tears. The printed coat of arms is that of the House of Representatives. Underneath is printed “The Parliament of the Commonwealth, / Parliament House / Melbourne”. The hand written, letter is dated “14th November, 1905” and addressed to “Mr. William Ferrier / South Warrnambool” The letter begins “The Speaker, the Prime Minister and Members of the Ministry and its supporters, the Leader and Members of the Opposition, the Leader and Members of the Labour Party, being all the Members of the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Australia” … It continues “desire to express to you their appreciation of your bravery in skulling out to the wreck of the “La Bella” at Warrnambool on Saturday, 11th November, 1905, and recovering therefrom two of the crew who were in imminent danger of their lives. They all feel that your conduct was worthy of the best deeds done by British sailors in the past and they are proud to know that Australia can produce such as you.” The letter is “Signed on behalf of the Members – Speaker (Frederick Holder ), Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Joseph Cook ), Prime Minister (Alfred Deakin), Leader of the Labour Party ( J.C. Watson)” On the back of the letter is blue ink handwriting “OWNER / G. FERRIER / TO. BE. PHOTOGRAPHED / 27-4-76”la bella, william ferrier, bill ferrier, lady bay, 1905, 10th november 1905, 11th november 1905, parliament of the commonwealth, prime minister, australian government, new zealand, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village

This model of the ship H.M.S. Lady Nelson was researched and built as the vessel Lady Nelson by David Lumsden, a professional ship model builder. His Majesty's Armed Survey Vessel Lady Nelson was commissioned in 1799 to survey the coast of Australia. This vessel was purpose-built before the British Admiralty requested plans for a Schooner for Port Jackson. At the time large parts of the Australian coast were unmapped and Britain had claimed only part of the continent. The British Government were concerned that, in the event of settlers of another European power becoming established in Australia, any future conflict in Europe would lead to a widening of the conflict into the southern hemisphere to the detriment of the trade that Britain sought to develop. Against this background, Lady Nelson was chosen to survey and establish sovereignty over strategic parts of the continent. Lady Nelson left Portsmouth on 18 March 1800 and arrived at Sydney on 16th December 1800 after having been the first vessel to reach the east coast of Australia via the Bass Strait. Before that date, all vessels had sailed around the southern tip of Tasmania to reach their destination. Lady Nelson's survey work commenced shortly after she arrived in Sydney, initially in the Bass Strait area. She was involved in the discovery of Port Phillip, on the coast of Victoria, in establishing settlements on the River Derwent and at Port Dalrymple in Tasmania. She also successfully chartered much of the Victorian coastline and was heavily involved with the exploration of the Queensland coast with Matthew Flinders; investigated the Hunter River; made numerous visits to New Zealand and Norfolk Island and was involved in the founding of numerous settlements. In comparison to most colonial vessels, the Lady Nelson was technically unique she was fitted with sliding keels, or centreboards, and water-tight trunks reaching to the deck. Captain Schank invented these sliding keels that, when raised, reduced her draught to less than six feet. Her life as an exploration vessel ended while accompanying HMS 'Tamar' to Melville Island in 1825, the 'Lady Nelson' was captured and later abandoned by pirates off the island of Babar (Indonesia). This brought the vessel's 25 years of coastal exploration and navigation to a close.The Lady Nelson made was the first British ship to survey of the southern or south-western coast of Australia and traverse the Bass Strait. The vessel holds a special place in Australia's history of exploration as the first to explore and establish settlements in the then-new British colony of Van Diemans Land. The model gives an insight into what life must have been like onboard sailing vessels of the time and Australia's early history of establishment and exploration. This model acts as an important legacy of the full-scale ship which no longer survives. Ship model of the 60 ton British brig HMS Lady Nelson. Timber model of a two-masted brig with rigging but no sails, displaying the British Union Jack flag. The ship is in a glass exhibition display case on metal stand. HMS Lady Nelsonflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, by captain john schanck, sliding keels or centreboards, lady nelson, british brig hms lady nelson, david lumsden ship model builder, lieutennant james grant, bass strait discovery, surveying king island and port phillip bay, philip gidley king

This brass rail holder fixture would have been used to hold the end of a rail in place. There is no information as to where the fitting or rail would have been placed on the ship; sailing ships had many brass fittings. It was recovered from the wreck of the La Bella, which lies at the bottom of the Warrnambool Harbour. Some 15 ships are believed to have been wrecked in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the sea floor; the La Bella and the Edinburgh Castle. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. The story of the final voyage of the La Bella is summarised as follows … The ship from which the sailors were rescued was the three-masted, iron and steel barquentine the La Bella, built in Norway in 1893. She was one of two iron and steel ships by Johan Smith, the company being one of the leading shipping families in Tvedestrand, Norway. She was significant to Norwegian shipping, being one of only 27 iron and steel ships ever built in Norway. She was registered in New Zealand and engaged from 1902 in inter-colonial trading of timber in the pacific, between New Zealand and Australia and was often in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. On 5th October, 1905, the twelve year old La Bella left Lyttleton, New Zealand carrying a cargo of timber bound for Warrnambool, Australia . She was manned by a crew of twelve: the Master, (Captain Mylius, previously 1st Mate of La Bella, appointed Captain to La Bella on 6th February 1903) 2 Mates, Cook, six able seamen, one ordinary seaman and a boy. . Bad weather en route caused her to shelter at Burnie on Tasmania's North West coast. On November 10th, the 37th day of her journey, La Bella approached Warrnambool. Captain Mylius steered her towards Lady Bay Channel in heavy south-west seas and evening mist. He ordered the helmsman to steer for the light. As the ship came round, a tremendous sea struck her on the port quarter, causing her to breach broadside in a north-westerly direction into breakers. The helm was brought round twice more, but each time heavy seas broke over her, the third time throwing the La Bella on to a submerged reef in Lady Bay now known as La Bella Reef (about 100 yards from the Warrnambool breakwater). The sea was so rough that it even wrenched a one-and-a-half ton anchor from its fastenings and into the sea. As Captain Mylius headed to the steel wheelhouse, intending to send up a rocket flare, a huge sea slammed the steel door into him (resulting in massive bruising front and back) Despite his injuries he still managed to set off a blue light, which he held up in his hands. La Bella’s lifeboats were filled with sea water and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on shore that there was a ship in distress. The Harbour Master, Captain Roe (who lived in the Harbour Master’s House opposite Flagstaff Hill), organised a group of volunteers to crew the lifeboat because the trained crew was unavailable; the crewmen were working on a steamer in Port Fairy at the time. He then poured oil onto the water to try and smooth the sea. At around 11pm three of the crew took shelter in the steel forecastle but the sea crashed into it and broke it up. While the rest of the crew and onlookers watched helplessly in the moonlight the bodies were washed away into the sea, never to be seen again. Some of the crew lashed themselves to the weather rail to keep from being washed away. Watson, the ordinary seaman, became tangled in the rigging lines and was too weak to move, so the 2nd Mate, Robertson, put a line onto him so that he wouldn’t wash off. Around 11pm three of the crew were unconscious from exhaustion. The situation on La Bella was becoming dangerous. The 2nd Mate moved to the ‘house’ and soon afterwards the ship slipped in the heavy sea. The lashings of the 1st Mate and the ‘boy’ Denham had kept them safe until about 2am when they were washed overboard; no one was able to help. One by one, the exhausted crew were being washed overboard, too weak to hold on any longer. During the night the La Bella had broken into two and the deckhouse ran out towards the sea. Two more men drowned when trying to reach the lifeboat. By sunrise the only survivors of the twelve were the Master, 2nd Mate and three seamen. Early in the morning Captain Roe used the rocket apparatus on shore to try and shoot a line to the ship for a safer rescue but each attempt fell short of the target. Several attempts were made by the lifeboat to rescue the stricken sailors, but the rough conditions made this difficult for the boat to get close enough to the ship and the lifeboat had to return to shore. During a final attempt to reach the ship Captain Mylius ordered his men to jump into the sea. Leonard Robertson, 2nd mate, jumped and swam towards the lifeboat, taking hold of the boat hook offered to him. Oscar Rosenholme managed to reach the boat floating on a piece of timber from the ship’s load and a third survivor, Noake, also made the boat. Along with the lifeboat rescue crew, 25 year old William Ferrier rowed his small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain, whom he landed on the breakwater. Ferrier then returned to the ship to attempt a final rescue, losing his oars and rowlocks into the high sea. Using just a spare paddle he skulled towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the lashing that held him to the ship; the terrified sailor dropped from the ship and into the dingy. Shortly after the last man was rescued, the La Bella was lifted by a huge wave and crashed back down on the reef; she broke up and sank. The ordeal had lasted ten hours. The survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. In the following days an unidentified body of a young person was washed ashore; it was either Watson or Denham. The body was buried in the Warrnambool cemetery with an appropriate gravestone and inscription. William Ferrier became a national hero as news of the daring rescue spread. In recognition of his bravery in the two daring rescues he was awarded the Silver Medal for Bravery by the Royal Humane Society and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams and a cheque for £20 from the Governor General, over £150 subscribed by the public, including Warrnambool and district and readers of The Argus, and a gold medal from the Glenelg Dinghy Club of South Australia. Ferrier’s rescue efforts are one of the most heroic in Victoria’s shipwreck history. (William Ferrier’s son, Frank, received a similar award almost fifty years later, when he helped rescue four members of the crew on the yacht Merlan, after it ran on to a reef near the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. ) The wreck of La Bella now lies on her port side in 13 metres of sheltered water inside the reef she struck. The bow section is relatively intact and part of the stern has drifted north-easterly towards the mouth of the Hopkins River. The reef the La Bella struck now bears its name. Those five rescued from the La Bella were Captain George Mylius, Leonard Robertson (2nd Mate, 21 years old), R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. Those seven who lost their lives were Mr Coulson (1st mate), Charles Jackman (cook) Gustave Johnson, Pierre Johann and Robert Gent (all able seamen), Harry Watson (ordinary seaman) and Jack Denham (ship’s boy), Captain Mylius was found guilty of careless navigation; he had sailed into the bay without the services of a pilot. His Master Certificate was suspended for twelve months. Later he was also charged with manslaughter of one of the crew who had died when the La Bella was wrecked, but found not guilty. The event’s adverse publicity and damage to his career took a toll on his health and he died of a heart attack six months after the wreck; he was only thirty-seven. His body was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. The La Bella was “the best documented of all sailing ships owned in New Zealand”. Her record books, ship logs, correspondence and supporting papers are still available. At the time of the tragedy, she was owned by Messers David C.Turnbull and Co. of Timaru, New Zealand timber merchants and shipping agents, who had purchased her on 13th December 1901. A detailed account of the last journey of La Bella can be read in “Leonard Robertson, the Whangaroa & La Bella” written by Jack Churchouse, published in 1982 by Millwood Press Ltd, Wellington, NZ. Some 15 – 17 ships are believed to have sunk in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the seafloor; the “La Bella” and the “Edinburgh Castle”. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. As well as this letter, Flagstaff Hill’s La Bella Collection includes a photograph of the wrecked La Bella, a brass rail holder and a postcard of William Ferrier with four of the survivors. This original congratulatory letter sent to William Ferrier by the Prime Minister and Government of Australia demonstrates the importance attached to his efforts for Victoria and to Australia. The letter is part of the La Bella Collection and is significant at both a local and state level. Its connection to the La Bella shipwreck and the rescue of five survivors highlights the dangers of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast. The letter to William Ferrier from the Australian Government acknowledges the bravery of ordinary Australians who risked their lives to save victims of shipwrecks along the coast. The letter is significant to the history of Warrnambool as it honours William Ferrier, a local fisherman whose descendants continue to live in the area. It highlights the way of life of people who lived in coastal towns in 19th century Victoria and the effects of shipwrecks upon them. The letter connects to the postcard of William Ferrier with four of the five rescued crew, the photograph of the wreck of the La Bella and the artefact from the wreck, the rail holder. This item is significant because of its association with the sailing ship “La Bella” . the “La Bella” is of local and state and national significance. It is one of the only two shipwrecks discovered in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, out of the 15-17 shipwrecks in the bay. Brass rail holder from the wreck "La Bella". This rail holder would have been used as a fitting for the end of a rail. It is made up of two parts and looks a little like a goblet in shape. The top is a hollow spherical shape with a circular hole cut out on one side, into which the end of a round rail would fit. There are two gouge marks close to each other on one side of the hole, about one centimetre apart, at 1 and 2 o’clock position. The sphere has a hollow pipe-like stem with a screw thread turned into the outside of the lower section and the bottom of the stem has been flared out after having the base fitted. The base is round and has a mound in the centre. The edge has four evenly spaced fixture holes around its edge. The metal shows signs of pitting and has mild encrustation. The fitting of the base is loose, allowing it to swivel in a complete circle. The top of the sphere is rough and has a dent in it. Underneath the base there is verdigris; some has flaked off and reveals a bright golden colour underneath. rail holder, brass rail holder, la bella, lady bay, norway, 1893, new zealand, captain mylius, william ferrier, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village

Photograph shows the members of the Ballarat College of Advanced Education Council and its Senior Officers for 1980. The Director of the College was E J Barker who is seated 5th from the left in the front row. Other notable people from Ballarat and SMB are shown to be on the Council.Coloured photograph of people posed for group photo. Arranged in three row, front row seated. Names of people are printed on mounting below photoballarat college of advanced education, council, director of college, e j barker, dr e phillips, s j harris, r m hook, m m walsh, l c yandell, dr p alcorn, n a crouch, g holmes, l a fryar, t d norwood, j crump, a k webb, crj a parkin, j c harley, n m gower, k l clements, rev g pell, r j dobell, d j woolley, m w boyce, b r rollins, dr b c fitzgerald, e t oppy, l f hillman, dr d a alexander, e j tippett, m b john, i a gordon, dr p j creed, mrs d e molloy, sir arthur nicholson, r t morrell, university women, ken clements, tom norwood, john crump, alan webb, robert hook, jack barker, robert morrell, david alexander, george pell

Ballarat identities - many associated with the Ballarat School of Mines, a predecessor institution of Federation University Australia.36 page newspaper supplement geoffrey blainey, albert coates, john curtin, james oddie, henry sutton, william withers, nathan spievogel, peter tobin, william yuillle, matilda thompson, tillie thompson, w.s. urquhart, william wills, professor alfred smith, alfred mica smith, henry seekamp, arthur nicholson, hugh mackay, percy beames, edgar bartrop, mother gonzaga barry, jack chisholm, bella guerin, david haymes, charles h. beanland, c. howard beanland