The historic Victorian ‘couta boat “Viator” was built by renowned boat builder J.R. Jones of Williamstown in Melbourne, between 1890 and 1920. He was one of the early builders of this design. The features of Viator - carvel planked, open cockpit, vertical stem and straight keel, single mast and a pivoting centreboard - are all characteristics of an early Bass Strait ‘couta boat. This has been confirmed by experienced Victorian ‘couta boat restorer Tim Phillips. Viator served as a ‘couta fishing boat in the Warrnambool area until the mid-1930s, then some say she served as a mail ferry across to Portland. Later it was used as a fishing and recreation boat for local families. For years Viator sat in a paddock in East Warrnambool until purchased in 1975 and donated to Flagstaff Hill. ‘COUTA BOATS - The ‘couta design for vessels is believed to have originated at Port Phillip, Victoria, for the purpose of the Barracouta (‘couta) fishing industry, being both fast and seaworthy. , The 'couta fish was an important food fish in Australian waters, supplying Melbourne with plenty of inexpensive fish. VIATORY’S OWNERS - Some of Viator’s history is known: - 1940, registered Port Fairy and owned by G.J. Richards. - 1941-1945, registered in Port Fairy and owned by Jens “Peter” Petersen. - 1950’s “Brusher” Richards of Warrnambool and Port Fairy used it for fishing. - Peter Watson and his son also went fishing in Viator. - Frank Ferrier, boat builder, was an owner (son of ‘La Bella’ hero, William Ferrier) - Arthur Rogers owned Viator too, then sold it to Terry Pridmore and Wayne Moorefield - The Viator was stored in a paddock, unused for years, in Fairmont Avenue, Warrnambool, where it was gradually deteriorating. - 1975 Viator was purchase at a very reasonable price from Pridmore, then donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. RESTORATION - Shipwright Erik Mikkelsen soon started restoration on the Viator after it arrived at Flagstaff Hill in 1975. In 2006 the Maritime Museums of Australia awarded a grant to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village to assist with the restoration and renovation of the Viator. Its restoration continues today in the care of Flagstaff Hill’s boat builder. J R. JONES - boat builder The photograph of the EVA MYRL shows the builder J R Jones with his team of workers. The other photograph shows a vessel built by J R Jones' son, J B Jones of Footscray, and his team of boat boulders. The photograph of the EVA MYRL was taken by E. A. Dond---. The other photograph is of the Sturrock Coot, taken a Albert Park Lake in St Kilda.The Viator is the most significant boat in the Flagstaff Hill's fleet, being the last remaining local 'couta boat and one of few existing examples of this craft. Viator received Heritage status with the Australian Maritime Museums Council and is listed on the Australian Register of Historical Vessels in 2006 (ARHV Number: HV000561). Viator was built in Victoria in the early days by renowned boat builder J.R. Jones, and sailed by fishermen for many years, both local and on the coastal waters of Victoria, and was possibly used for the mail service. It is significant for being used for the fishing trade, for government service, perhaps as a mail boat, and for recreation by local families.Vessel, the ‘Viator’, an historic Victorian ‘couta boat, handmade by renowned boat builder This J.R. Jones 'couta boat, the Viator, was built in Williamstown, c.1890-1920. The single mast vessel has a Caravel hull built from New Zealand Kauri, blackwood, with a red gum keel and a jarrah stem and stern. It has a pivoting centreboard. Two photographs are included; one of the builder with his team, the other is of his son J B Jones, with his team. Marked "Viator" Photograph 1759.2: "E. A. Dond---" (indecipherable". Handwritten on back "Grandfather / J R Jones / Built" Photograph 1759.3; sign within photograph "J B JONES / BUILDER / FOOTSCRAY", stamped in the card, bottom right " ----- / MELBOURNE" and handwritten on the back "I think this is Mr Abel Sturrock Coot Albert Park Lake"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, arhv hv000561, arthur rogers, bass strait ‘couta boat, “brusher” richards of warrnambool and port fairy, clinker hull boat, ‘couta crafted boat c 1890-1905, ‘couta fishing boat, erik mikkelsen shipwright, g.j. richards of port fairy, jens “peter” petersen, john lindsay, old mail boat, pivoting centerboard boat, peter watson, single-masted ketch, terry prodmore and wayne moorefield, vessel viator, viator a historical vessel, victorian ‘couta boat, victorian barracoota boat, warrnambool ‘couta boat, western victoria fishing boat, western victoria mail boat, hv000561, australian register of historical vessels, erik mikkelsen, j b jones, j b jones boat builder, footscray, sturrock coot, sturrock, j r jones, j r jones boat builder, williamstown, eva myrl

Postcard from Jack Jenner CollectionSepia Postcard of Tankerton pier at French Island with rail tracks for loading. Small boat moored to right of pier and ferry to left of pier.Front: "Tankerton - French Island" Letter written to Jack Jenner on back. Dated 12/9/27 tankerton french island, french island, jack jenner collection, piers

Article in Sun News Pictorial on Monday April 18th 1938.Article on a storm which caused the Cowes ferry ramp to break away from its mooring and also washed a fishing boat ashore.local history, documents, newspapers, cowes ferry ramp, phillip island, black & white newspaper clipping

Black and white photographic copy from slide of Short Road Ferry laying at south side of Yarra, prior to being broken uptransport - ferries

Black and white photographic copy from slide of Short Road Ferry laying at south side of Yarra, prior to being broken uptransport - ferries

Framed black and white photograph of HMAS Sydney at sea. HMAS Sydney (A214) known as the Vung Tau Ferry enroute to Vietnam in 1968.photograph, hmas sydney, vung tau ferry, ran

It seems to be from the 1900s due to the date on cover.HistoricalSmall tourist booklet with dark printing and photo of ferry on cover. Advertisements of businesses and descriptions of main towns including photos of old postcards.Souvenir of Phillip Island. From, To Jim Blake Copyright registered throughout the King's Dominions. Fraser & Jenkinson 5 Queen Street, Melbourne tourism, cowes general store, genesta house, will kennon, san remo hotel, aclimatisation society

Selection of 6 photographs and postcards of The Nobbies, A Seal and the SS Killara, donated by D Reid.A selection of postcards and photograph Black & White and Coloured of The Nobbies, a Seal and the SS Killara. Photo 1. View of the Nobbies with two people in the foreground. Photo 2. View of the Nobbies with a Horse and jinker in the foreground. Photo 3. A Seal resting on the rocks at Seal Rocks Phillip Island Photo 4. The Ferry steamer S. S. Killara arriving at Cowes Photo 5. Coloured view of the Nobbies looking across breakers on the rocks. Photo 6. Coloured coastal view looking towards the Nobbies in the distance.Inscriptions on the front of postcards Photo 2. The Rose Series. P 666. Looking to The Nobbies, Phillip Island, Victoria Photo 3. The Rose Series. P 747. A Seal on the rocks, Phillip Island, Victoria Photo 4. The Ferry Steamer S. S. "Killara" arrives at Cowes. Photo 5. The Nobbies, Cowes Photo 6. Coastal Scene Cowes. Nobbies in Distance.the nobbies phillip island, wildlife - seals, seal at seal rocks, ss killara, ferries

One of a collection of photographs purchased by the Society from Jack Day of Mornington.Black & White postcard of people walking down the Cowes pier to meet the ferry. Two yachts and one dingy anchored along side the pier.cowes pier, cowes jetty, phillip island, jack day collection

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph taken astern of Passenger Ferry "Estelle Star" leaving a crowded Cowes Jetty. Fishing Boat "Pasadena Star" partly visible to seaward.local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, ferries, passenger ferry "estelle star" and fishing boat "pasadena star", black & white photograph, shipping, fishing boats, cowes jetty, estelle star, pasadena star, john jenner, bryant west

Ferries operating at Cowes.Small sepia photograph of the Cowes pier with several vessels and a large crowd of people walking on the pier towards the town.The Alvina and Genista at the Pier, Cowesphotographs, cowes pier, ferries, alvina ferry, ferry "genista"

Early scenes of San Remo commercial development - approximately 1928 - 32. Hospitality and Fishing.Five photographs of an early Car Ferry, a camping ground with tents and trees, SS Genista at Pier, an early street scene and the Pier Hotel San Remolocal history, documents, newspapers, san remo, local area development by europeans, fishing, hospitality, black & white newspaper clipping, newspapers san remo, commercial activity

Part of a collection of 'Rose & Valentine' series of Post Cards. Copied by John Jansson 1984B&W postcard. Ferry arriving at San Remo all decked out in flags. Jetty crowded with people. Several other small craft around.Landing at San Remolocal history, photography, photographs, postcards, transport, shipping, black & white postcard copy, ferries, san remo, jetties, phillip island

Black and white photograph of Short Road ferry crossing the Yarra, taken from the west side. Roads on both sides with cars. Buildings on west side.piers and wharves, short road ferry, williamstown road

Sepia photograph taken from a boat on Mitchell River. Appears to be one of the ferries travelling between Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance. Boy on bow of boat. Victoriawaterways, boats and boating, tourism

A black and white photograph of a digger from 9 RAR is given a haircut during the "crossing of the line" ceremony on board the Vug Tau Ferry HMAS Sydney. photograph, 9 rar, vung tau ferry, hmas sydney, gibbons collection catalogue, digger

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograpf of two of the three Dunne brothers in service, one in the RAN and one in the Army meet on the deck of the Vung Tau Ferry HMAS Sydneygibbons collection catalogue, photographer, vietnam war, denis gibbons, dunne brothers, royal australian navy, australian army, vung tau ferry, hmas sydney

Local history of Raymond Island. Includes stories of Island identities, maps, photographsLocal significance Out of print publicationMonograph publication 291 pages Hardback Loose cover Maps Sunset picture of lake from Raymond Island on front cover Photographs of people, buildings, Raymond Island ferries, boats. Contents: Raymond Island early settlers, indigenous history, Island identities, Raymond Island State School, a'Beckett Park, Raymond Island Ferry, The Presbyterian Church, raymond Island Advancement League park, gippsland lakes, raymond island, raymond island state school, a beckett, raymond island ferry, early, settlers, raymond island advancement league

Mail/Passenger ferry, Bass Strait.Bass Strait Ferry serviceB & W photocopy of the LOONGANA & written details.Reverse " NIL "historical references

Date made 9 September 2000Colour photograph showing people on board Peels ferry, Thunderbird, at jetty during weight tests. Two other fishing boats in background. Lakes Entrance Victoriaships and shipping, waterways, houses

A coloured photograph of Officers & men on Landing Craft Vernon Sturdie look pensive as they observe the bank of the Mekong River whilst ferrying supplies to the ARVN at Long Binh. photograph, mekong river, arvn, long binh, gibbons collection catalogue, landing craft vernon sturdie

Postcard, coloured photo of 'Geneve et la Rade' translated as Geneva and the waterfront. Buildings of Geneva in the background and public gardens in the foreground. A ferry approaches a jetty at the gardens.postcard, photograph, postcard, geneva.