Until the closure 40 years ago, the Myrtlebank Guesthouse near Halls Gap in the Grampians was a thriving family - run business. In 1962, all that changed when the government of the day purchased the land on which the guesthouse stood and some neighbouring farms and houses. For almost 40 Years, the remains of the buildings have been submered under the man made reservoir known as Lake Bellfield. Due to drought, the eater levels have dropped steadily and, in the past month, the memories underneath Lake Bellfield have come to the surface. Local resident Don warren 70, has been to have a look. His grandmother Anne Flower Warren, was 56 when she opened the guesthouse in 1916. Widowed, the year before after a horse kicked her farmer husband, Mrs Flower needed to provide for their large family. "She had 13 children - seven daughters. I think she built it to look after the girls," Mr Warren says, "The whole think was built on a 500 acre farm." With the guesthouse sited in the centre of the farm, the land was divided between two of her sons- Mr Warren's uncle working one side and his father taking the other. For Mr Warren, the grounds of the two-storey guesthouse were an extension of a huge rural playground in what he remembers as an idyllic childhood. "I used to get taken over there and I'd sit there and watch her make all the toast for the guests. It was quite full all the time - maybe 40 or 50 people. It was a great big place - very grand. In the bedrooms I can remember the great big bowls full of water to wash your face in. There was a big dining room, too. My grandmother was a great cook." By the time of Mrs Warren's death in 1936, her eldest daughter also Anne, had officially taken over the running of the business. "It was in the family right until the last bit. The youngest daughter, Auntie Hilda, took it over right at the end. they got a notice to say that's it - it's over There was no way out of that one." Mrs Ida Stanton, 78, is the historian for the Halls Gap and Grampians Historical Society. Can she remember it when it all happened? "Of course" she says "It's only 40 years ago" Her memories of Myrtlebank are of a place popular with honeymooners, who would often return year after year, bringing their families with them. "There was a lovely ballroom where they used to invite the Gap people and the tourists in to have balls. During the war it was one means of making money to send stuff over to the soldiers." Seeing just the stumps of the guesthouse and what had been his family home, Mr Warren says the bitterness is still there. "The hardest part was poor old dad. He was 70 years old when he got turfed out. Dad had been a farmer all his life - 214 acres, he had, and he got 22,000 quid. Had to move into town" Also showing beneath the drying lake is the concrete slab of the new home Mr Warren planned after his marriage to wife Anne in 1955. Another lost dream. " I was the only child, I was going to take over the farm, but that all changed. You can't take it over when it's full of water.Newspaper clipping of history of Myrtlebank by Don Warren and photo of Don at old site of pooland guest House photo Article by Claire Halliday from newspaper 2002accommodation, guesthouses, myrtlebank

The SECV constructed the Kiewa Hydro Electric SchemePhotos showing the development and history of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme8 small b & w photos. All with titles including "Kiewa Hydro Electric Project". They are in an envelope titled "Valentine's / Snapshots / Eight Real Photographs / Kiewa Valley / Published by /The Valentine Publishing Co. Pty. Ltd / Melbourne and Sydney 1. Kiewa Valley Panorama 2.The East Kiewa River 3. Road to Bogong High Plains 4. Mt Beauty Village 5. Snowfall Bogong Village 6. Bogong Village 7. Junction Dam Spillway, Lake Guy Bogong 8. No 3 Power Station mt beauty, bogong village, bogong high plains, junction dam, power station

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

This book provides in chronological order the development of the Kiewa Hydro-electricity scheme from the first concept (1911) to final construction work (1961). It covers the first attempt to utilise the power of the Victorian Alps water system. It started from a private syndicate and developed to the current State Electricity Commission of Victoria. The incentive for the Hydro scheme was to make money and not as an alternative to the carbon producing coal fired power plants. These coal fired power plants were increasing in numbers to service an ever increasing demand made by population expansion, especially in cities and large rural settlements. This demand spiraled up after World War II when there was a tremendous spike in immigration numbers due to refugees and displaced persons in Europe. The ability to utilise the untapped water provided by the winter snow fields, for a higher yield in electricity, was a powerful incentive to overcome the physical hardships in this remote Alpine region. Future power requirements may initiate the re-installation of the other two power stations(Pretty Valley and Big Hill) covered in original Scheme. This publication not only covers the development of the Kiewa Valley region with respect to population (within a socio-economical framework) but also the subtle but yet strong physical changes of a relatively pristine alpine region. The demands that an ever growing regional population places on the environment is clearly documented in print and black and white photographs. The working and living conditions of those who constructed and gave life to this hydro scheme is well documented in this book. It may be viewed as spartan now but was relevantly good at that moment in time, especially for those workers fleeing a devastated European environment. The successful planning and consideration to minimising any intrusion upon the natural alpine forests and high plains can viewed as an example (compared to the Tasmanian Hydro schemes) of how future hydro schemes (an inevitable requirement) will proceed. Most rural towns (in the early 1900s) were built by unencumbered rural based citizens, with the exception of Mount Beauty and Falls Creek. These two settlements were brought into life by a State (Victorian) Authority for a specific function and program. They were a gated community, that is, only open to construction workers involved with the hydro scheme. All facilities within these communities were provided by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria. The impact on the social, financial and individual independency of the community, by the transition from the S.E.C .environment to one of local government (Shire of Bright), had in some cases a severe impact.This hard covered book has a green cover with pictures on the front and back covers. The front cover has a coloured picture of a snow covered Mount Bogong taken from the opposite mountain range. The valley between both ranges has a whisk of mist over it. At the bottom of this picture are three black and white photographs covering the construction of the Kiewa Hydro - Electricity Scheme. On the back cover is a photograph, (black and white) detailing the Bogong village and Junction dam containing lake Guy. The inside front cover is a black and white photograph which details the construction of the West Kiewa tailrace tunnel during April 1951. The inside back cover is a black and white photograph of the concrete pour at the Clover Dam circa 1952. All photographs and sketches are in black and white. The pages are approximately 160 g/m2 and those which have photographs are on gloss paper.Book spine: "The Kiewa Story Graham Napier Geoff Easdown" alongside this is a white framed circle with white spokes radiating out and underneath in white lettering SECkiewa valley, hydro scheme, victorian alpine region, electricity generators, graham napier, geoff easdown

This book gives information on the history of Terang Primary School which opened as a National School in 1858. It then became Terang Common School No. 617. It was destroyed by fire in 1871 and rebuilt, becoming, after 1872, Terang State School. Peter Carmichael was the Head Teacher from 1859 to 1884. The book was written to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the school’s foundation. The school is now part of a dual campus P-12 school known as Terang CollegeThis book is of some interest as a record of the Terang Primary School up to 1983. Terang is one of the towns in the Western District that has some connection to Warrnambool because of its relative closeness to the latter city. This is a soft cover book of 56 pages. It has a buff-coloured cover with a sketch of Terang Primary School in brown tonings. The sketch encompasses both the front and the back covers. The book has Acknowledgements, a Foreword, a list of Head Masters, printed information on Terang Primary School and a Bibliography. It contains black and white photographs, plans and sketches. The book is bound with metal staples.Front Cover: ‘The School by the Lake, 1858-1983, by J.H.Linehan.’terang primary school, history of terang, warrnambool history

In 1858 a tramway was constructed to move goods between Warrnambool township and jetty on Lady Bay which was over a mile away The terminus was established on the southern side of Merri Street. and the track went around the edge of Lake Pertobe reserve. Large stores were also built near where the present railway station is situated to hold produce and carriages. These documents relate to contracts between Marion Gauley ,contractor of Warrnambool and the borough of Warrnambool for the operation of horse work with the tramway. John McDermid sadler,and William Stevens farmer of Russell's Creek are acting as surety for the contract.The tramway was an important part of Warrnambool's infrastructure and history and the documents also include names of local people. Of particular interest is the fact that the contract in this case was given to a woman which would have been a little uncommon at that time.001259.1 Pale blue lined paper with red lined outline.Hand written in black pen with names and some other words underlined in red. Two signatures on bottom right with red seal beside each. Witness signature below on left hand side. One page only 001259.2 Pale blue lined paper with red lined outline.Hand written in black pen with names and some other words underlined in red. Two signatures on bottom right with red seal beside each. Witness signature below on left hand side. Of the four pages of the document , only the first page is used. 001259.1 Signed Roady Carew and Moses Daly. Richard Daly is crossed out in the document and Marion Gauley is inserted in greylead. September 1878 001259.2 John McDermid saddler William Stevens, Marion Gauley. Ninth of December 1878. warrnambool, warrnambool tramway, marion gauley, john mcdermid, william stevens

In 1858 a tramway was constructed to move goods between Warrnambool township and jetty on Lady Bay which was over a mile away The terminus was established on the southern side of Merri Street. and the track went around the edge of Lake Pertobe reserve. Large stores were also built near where the present railway station is situated to hold produce and carriages. These documents relate to the contract to perform the horse work for the tramway for a period of one year. The horse work involved the transporting of goods by horse drawn tram trucks, all repairs to the tracks , shunting and delivery duties. The tramway operated from 7 am to 6 pm six days a week and a team of six horses was required to perform the work.The tramway was an important part of Warrnambool's infrastructure and history and the documents also include names of local people.001261.1 Pale blue lined paper with red lined outline.Hand written in black pen with names and some other words underlined in red. Two signatures on bottom right with red seal beside each. Witness signature below on left hand side. Of the four pages of the document , only the first page is used. 001261.2 Cream paper lined in blue with heavy black ink writing. A red seal attached beside the tenderer's mark and name. on right side of page. Witness's signature at bottom centre of page.001261.1 James Roberts hay and corn dealer ,Fairy Street Warrnambool, Martin Callaghanfarmer and contractor Raglan Parade Warrnambool. Daniel Gallagher, contractor of Warrnambool. September 1881. 001261.1 Daniel Gallagher .James Roberts Martin Callaghan September 12, 1881.warrnambool, warrnambool history, daniel gallagher, james roberts

This book is an 1810 third edition copy of Walter Scott’s poem, ‘The Lady of the Lake’. It is notable for its illustrations of the drawings of Richard Westall (1765-1836), an English painter and illustrator and Queen Victoria’s drawing master. Westall is best-known for his portraits of Lord Byron. There is no information available on the original owner, the Reverend Matthew West. Tis book is important because: 1. It is an 1810 edition and of antiquarian interest 2. It belonged to Louie Mack, the cousin of Sir Ronald Mack, an important Warrnambool Parliamentarian. Miss Mack was well-known in the Warrnambool area as the Secretary of the Warrnambool Technical School in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. The Macks were prominent early settlers in the Warrnambool area. This is a hard cover leather bound book of 433 pages (poem, ‘The Lady of the Lake’ by Walter Scott). The cover is brown leather with a gold ornamental border. The inside cover has a tan and blue mottled pattern. The book has illustrations with engravings from the designs of Richard Westall. The illustrations have a piece of tissue paper in front of them. The first page has a stamp of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society and there is a loose sheet indicating that the book was published in 1810 and that it belonged to Miss L.A. Mack.‘The Revd. Matthew West, Vicar’s Hall, Clane’. sir walter scott, richard westall, louie mack, history of warrnambool, rev. matthew west

Dame Nellie Melba, born Helen Porter Mitchell (1861-1931), was the first Australian to gain international fame as an opera singer and one of the best-known singers in late Victorian times. She took the name ‘Melba’ from her home town, Melbourne. She sang in Warrnambool on at least two occasions, staying at local homes, including ‘Summer Hill’, belonging to the Murray family and ‘Lyndoch’ as the guest of Florence Lake. In 1927 she sang at the Warrnambool Town Hall with three other assisting artists and this programme records that event. The Warnambool and District Historical Society has an evening bag that was given by Nellie Melba to Miss O’Donnell, a maid at ‘Lyndoch’ at that time. This programme is of considerable significance as it is a memento of the occasion in 1927 when the famous Australian opera singer sang at the Warrnambool Town Hall during her farewell tour. This is a cream-coloured sheet of paper folded into two to make four pages. The front cover has a decorative border and blue printing and a Warrnambool & District Historical Society stamp and the back cover has an advertisement. The middle pages contain blue printing. The folds are torn in parts.Dame Nellie Melba's Farewell Tourdame nellie melba, history of warrnambool, lyndoch, melba farewell tour

Soft card cover with photograph of the Portuguese Padrao and Lake Pertobe surrounded by gold navy blue text. Back cover has photo of birds flying across the sea in cloudy sky. 36 Pages with text and coloured photographs.non-fictionA photographic history of Warrnambool and surrounds.warrnambool, shipwreck coast, portuguese padrao, southern right whale, lady bay

This is the 1979 Annual Report for Lyndoch Home and Hospital for the Aged, Warrnambool. It contains lists of Board Members, a President’s Report, a sketch of a proposed new building, financial reports, photographs and a list of Life Governors. Lyndoch Home for the Aged was established in 1952 and has developed with a wide range of facilities for the aged since that date. The original Lyndoch property near the mouth of the river Hopkins was owned by a Melbourne tea merchant, George Rolfe, who bought the land when there were only on the site a couple of cottages and a larger building which had been a school, Warrnambool Grammar, run by Henry Kemmis. Rolfe acquired the land in the 1870s and named the property Lyndoch after the town in the Barossa Valley where he had lived. He owned Lyndoch for 44 years and it was his stepdaughter, Florence Lake who built in the 1920s the bungalow known as Lyndoch which forms the original building of the Lyndoch Home for the Aged. Today the facility is called Lyndoch Living.This report is kept for the benefit of researchers wanting details of the history of Lyndoch over the past thirty or forty years.This is a booklet with a cardboard buff-coloured cover. There are six double-sided pages with printed material on white paper with a yellow and orange stripe across the top of the pages.On front cover: Lyndoch Warrnambool, Annual Report 1979 In brown circle on front cover: Lyndoch, Comfort and Security for Aged Folk Two library stamps on front cover (Warrnambool Library) lyndoch, aged care facility, warrnambool, hopkins, warrnambool grammar

This is the 1982 Annual Report for Lyndoch Home and Hospital for the Aged, Warrnambool. It contains lists of Board Members, a President’s Report, Lyndoch’s Aims, financial reports, photographs and a list of Life Governors. Lyndoch Home for the Aged was established in 1952 and has developed with a wide range of facilities for the aged since that date. The original Lyndoch property near the mouth of the Hopkins River was owned by a Melbourne tea merchant, George Rolfe, who bought the land when there were on the site only a couple of cottages and a larger building which had been a school, Warrnambool Grammar, run by Henry Kemmis. Rolfe acquired the land in the 1870s and named the property Lyndoch after the town in the Barossa Valley where he had lived. He owned Lyndoch for 44 years and it was his stepdaughter, Florence Lake who built in the 1920s the bungalow known as Lyndoch which forms the original building of the Lyndoch Home for the Aged, Today the facility is called Lyndoch Living. This 1982 report is kept for the benefit of researchers wanting details of the history of Lyndoch over the past 30 or 40 years. This is a booklet with a plasticized cover with a white back and a multi-coloured front cover. The front cover has a photograph of a Lyndoch building. There are six double-sided pages with printed material and photographs on white paper and a yellow and orange strip across the top of the pages. The pages are stapled.On front cover: Lyndoch Warrnambool Annual Report 1982 Stamp of Warrnambool Library On back cover: A red circle with the words ‘Lyndoch, Comfort and Security for Aged Folk’ lyndoch aged care facility, warrnambool, lyndoch warrnambool

This is the 1985-6 Annual Report for Lyndoch Home and Hospital for the Aged, Warrnambool. It contains lists of Board Members, a President’s Report, photographs, Lyndoch’s Aims, financial reports and a list of Life Governors. Lyndoch Home for the Aged was established in 1952 and has developed with a wide range of facilities for the aged since that date. The original Lyndoch property near the mouth of the River Hopkins was owned by a Melbourne tea merchant, George Rolfe, who bought the land when there were on the site only a couple of cottages and a larger building which had been a school, Warrnambool Grammar, run by Henry Kemmis. Rolfe acquired the land in the 1870s and named the property Lyndoch after the town in the Barossa Valley where he had lived. He owned Lyndoch for 44 years ad it was his stepdaughter Florence Lake who built in the 1920s the bungalow known as Lyndoch which forms the original building of Lyndoch Home for the Aged. Today the facility is called Lyndoch Living. This 1985-6 report is kept for the benefit of researchers wanting details of the history of Lyndoch over the past 30 or 40 years.This is a booklet with a plasticized white cover with a black and white photograph of a Lyndoch building on the front cover. There are eight double-sided pages with printed material and photographs. The pages are stapled.On front cover: ‘Lyndoch, Warrnambool, Annual Report, 1985-1986 On back cover: A black circle with the words: ‘Lyndoch, Comfort and Security for Aged Folk’. lyndoch aged care facility, warrnambool

This book was intended as a tourist guide to East Gippsland.This item is a useful research tool.A 104 pp tattered book with a dark purple cover, gold print writing and illustrations. It is titled, "The Guide to Buchan Cvaes and Gippsland Lakes; Written by F. Whitcombe, Illustrated H,D, Bulmer & N.J. Caire". It contains an index and advertisements.gippsland-lakes-history-description-travel buchan-caves-history-national-park

Orbost and East Gippsland Railway League had proposed a railway extension through East Gippsland in 1908, which aimed to develop an isolated part of the country. At the time, construction of a railway could be considered a beneficial investment for the country as it could increase the population in the region. The proposed railway length in 1908 was about 140 miles and the cost was estimated £800,000. The line was proposed to proceed from Bairnsdale by way of the Lower Nicholson to Bruthen. “After crossing the Tambo River, it would be carried to near Nowa Nowa; the head of Lake Tyers, forward to Orbost. From Orbost it would proceed in a north-easterly way to the New South Wales border. There were different suggested routes between Orbost and the New South Wales border, the first was through Bendoc, another by the Cann River and another which is located between these two. This item is associated with the history of the Orbost-Bairnsdale railway line and therefore reflects the role that the rail line played in the social and economic history of Orbost. The Bairnsdale-Orbost railway was opened in 1916 to serve the agricultural and timber industry. Because of the decline in traffic and heavy operating costs, the line was finally closed in August, 1987. Two small magazines showing the railway extension through East Gippsland. 678.1 has a dark maroon cover with gold print writing. It contains b/w photographs. 678.2 has a red cover with black print writing. Both are bound. 678.1 - inside front cover - M. Beattie ???????? Newmerella 678.2 - inside front cover - Gordon Fisher Orbosteast-gippsland-railway-league railway

This is a local history of the Tambo Shire in East Gippsland. Tambo Shire (1882-1994) was created on 6 January 1882, by severance from Bairnsdale shire with Bruthen as the head . It was named after the Tambo River. Orbost Shire was originally a part of this shire as was Lakes Entrance. In 1994 Tambo shire was united with Bairnsdale city, Orbost and Omeo shires, most of Bairnsdale shire and part of Rosedale shire to form East Gippsland Shire.This book is a useful reference book on the history of the Tambo district.A 448 pp book with a gold coloured dust jacket with black print and an illustration of the Tambo Shire emblem 1882. It is titled " The Tambo Shire Centenary History".tambo-shire-history

This photograph was taken at the "old station" at Corringle near Orbost. It was a popular picnic spot. Late in 1857 Mr Thomas T. Stirling took over Corringle Run ("Corringle" means "shallow water"). Mr Stirling and his family came from the wester district - Winchelsea. He settled at the Old Station. A few people were employed at the Orbost Stationb and there was settlement on the Orbost flats, Mr T. T. Stirling held the land from Lake Tyrers to Bemm River as a cattle run. About 1888 he became Secretary of the new Tambo Shire. In the photograph L-R are; Hilda Kerr; Myra Malcolm; Marion Nixon; Bess Goudie (teacher); Mary Gilbert; Gwen Hobson (teacher); Pen GilbertOrbost High School / Orbost Secondary College has played a significant part in the education of senior students in the Orbost district . It is the sole senior educational institution. This item is representative of its history. It is a useful reference tool.A black / white photograph of a group of young women sitting on a log in a clearing in a bush setting. Five are in school uniform. On the left is a horseeducation-orbost orbost-higher-elementary-school recreation old-station-corringle

This book is a social history collected orally and from the private records of residents of the Wairewa Valley, Victoria, Australia. It includes a brief history of the old primary school. Appended is a performance piece 'Waltz for Wairewa", a dialogue with poems and songs. It was sponsored by the Hospital Creek Bush Band and Dance Group. The book was partly the result of two song writing courses, one run on-line for six weeksby Sheffield University, U.K., and another year-long course at U3A in Lakes Entrance, East Gippsland. The bridge pictured on the front cover is O'Grady's railway bridge which was severely damaged in the bushfires of January 2020.This item is a useful reference on the history of the Wairewa Valley, East Gippsland.A soft covered book, titled "Stories From Wairewa". On the front cover is a tall wooden rail bridge. the book contains stories, photographs, scanned documents, shet music, drawings and poetry. book-wairewa blakeman-elizabeth school-wairewa

This story was written by Brenda Johnson and details her time in Orbost from 1959 -1966 settling on land at Lake Road in Newmerella.This book is a useful and interesting reference tool on life in Newmerella in the mid 20th century.A thin stapled paperback book of 31 pp. It is titled "The Orbost Story 1959 to 1966 Lake Road Newmerella Victoria". The cover is shiny silver with black print. In the centre is a black/white photograph of the block with numbers ( 2 3 ?) carved into a tree. There is a Land Rover in the background.Stapled inside back cover - "Bob Johnson" with telephone details and email address.newmerella-history johnson-brenda rural farming

This disc was a project supported by the Festival of the Dreaming, a festival leading up to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.This disc is a significant research tool as it contains contemporary film of the early indigenous people of Australia.A video disc titled, The Dreaming Reels. it is a compilation of scenes from the Hadden expedition to the Torres Strait in 1898, Lake Tyers settlement, Northwest Scientific Exploration in the Kimberleys, the aboriginal camp at Orbost in 1921, the Douglas Wylie Expedition in 1926, Princess Charlotte Bay 1926-1927 and McRobertson's Expedition. It also contains footage from several Australian films depicting Aborigines. aboriginal-history dreaming

The history of Marlo dates back to the days when ships voyaged between Melbourne and Lakes Entrance. Attempts were made to use the Snowy River for trading purposes but the bar at Marlo proved too dangerous. The school opened on 3rd of July 1903 with the HT Walter Scott. At present Marlo is noted for fishing and tourism. The fete, held each Easter, is a major fundraiser for the school and all money goes towards sustaining the schools Music ProgramThe Marlo Fete is a significant yearly event in the local community. This book celebrates that. It is a useful research tool.A stapled 31 pp A4 sized booklet produced to celebrate 40 years of the Marlo Fete which is held annually at Easter at Marlo Primary School. It contains photographs, history and recipes. On the white front cover below the title (black text) is a coloured photograph of two young boys with faces painted and holding fairy floss.marlo marlo-primary-school celebrations fetes

This book was written by Gordon,V.Dean to document the history of his world war 11 experiences, from 1939 till the end of the war and his return to his hometown of Learmonth and finally back into the workforce.Detailing the experiences of our fighting men and the traumas they suffered.Paperback book,light beige in colour.Has photo of Lake Learmonth with Mount Saddleback in left background, in purple with imediately above a photo of Gordon Dean.The title is inscribed in an arch above photoand authors name is at the bottom.(the price of $12.00 is in the top right corner.)"One Day The Sun Will Shine". by Gordon Dean.gordon dean, world war 11 1939 45, wartime experiences

The toy soldier is a relic from the shipwreck of the LOCH ARD in 1878. It has a companion piece in the Flagstaff Hill collection. The toy soldier is unpainted, but the style of uniform, and the weapons carried (a musket and a basket-handled cutlass), indicate it is a representation of the Napoleonic Wars period from the beginning of the nineteenth century. Mass-produced toy soldiers made of cast metal (lead or tin) became popular during the 1800s. Heyde of Germany manufactured silhouette-shaped flat toy soldiers early in the century. Mignot of France released three-dimensional solid figures and later around 1893 W. Britain, a toy company became known for its die-cast lead toy soldiers. These innovations were designed to make sets of toy soldiers more affordable for middle and lower-class children, extending the market beyond the intricately made and hand-crafted replicas that were the preserve of the rich in the eighteenth century. Wooden military figures, specially carved and unpainted ones, were therefore not particularly common at the time when the Loch Ard foundered on Victoria’s southwest coast. Mignot was the first to sell unpainted soldiers, leaving their customers to fill in the colours according to their own patriotic preferences. It is, therefore, possible the two figures in the Flagstaff Hill collection were part of a new set intended for sale, rather than part of a passenger’s existing collection. Loch Ard History: The Loch Ard got its name from ”Loch Ard” a loch that lies to the west of Aberfoyle, and the east of Loch Lomond. It means "high lake" in Scottish Gaelic. The vessel belonged to the famous Loch Line which sailed many vessels from England to Australia. The Loch Ard was built in Glasgow by Barclay, Curle & Co. in 1873, the vessel was a three-masted square-rigged iron sailing ship that measured 79.87 meters in length, 11.58 m in width, and 7 m in depth with a gross tonnage of 1693 tons with a mainmast that measured a massive 45.7 m in height. Loch Ard made three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its fateful voyage. Loch Ard left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of 29-year-old Captain Gibbs, who was newly married. The ship was bound for Melbourne with a crew of 37, plus 17 passengers. The general cargo reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. Onboard were straw hats, umbrellas, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionery, linen and candles, as well as a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead and copper. There were other items included that were intended for display in the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880. The voyage to Port Phillip was long but uneventful. Then at 3 am on June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs was expecting to see land. But the Loch Ard was running into a fog which greatly reduced visibility. Captain Gibbs was becoming anxious as there was no sign of land or the Cape Otway lighthouse. At 4 am the fog lifted and a lookout aloft announced that he could see breakers. The sheer cliffs of Victoria's west coast came into view, and Captain Gibbs realised that the ship was much closer to them than expected. He ordered as much sail to be set as time would permit and then attempted to steer the vessel out to sea. On coming head-on into the wind, the ship lost momentum, the sails fell limp and Loch Ard's bow swung back towards land. Gibbs then ordered the anchors to be released in an attempt to hold their position. The anchors sank some 50 fathoms - but did not hold. By this time the ship was among the breakers and the tall cliffs of Mutton Bird Island rose behind. Just half a mile from the coast, the ship's bow was suddenly pulled around by the anchor. The captain tried to tack out to sea, but the ship struck a reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Waves subsequently broke over the ship and the top deck became loosened from the hull. The masts and rigging came crashing down knocking passengers and crew overboard. When a lifeboat was finally launched, it crashed into the side of Loch Ard and capsized. Tom Pearce, who had launched the boat, managed to cling to its overturned hull and shelter beneath it. He drifted out to sea and then on the flood tide came into what is now known as Lochard Gorge. He swam to shore, bruised and dazed, and found a cave in which to shelter. Some of the crew stayed below deck to shelter from the falling rigging but drowned when the ship slipped off the reef into deeper water. Eva Carmichael a passenger had raced onto the deck to find out what was happening only to be confronted by towering cliffs looming above the stricken ship. In all the chaos, Captain Gibbs grabbed Eva and said, "If you are saved Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a sailor". That was the last Eva Carmichael saw of the captain. She was swept off the ship by a huge wave. Eva saw Tom Pearce on a small rocky beach and yelled to attract his attention. He dived in and swam to the exhausted woman and dragged her to shore. He took her to the cave and broke the open case of brandy which had washed up on the beach. He opened a bottle to revive the unconscious woman. A few hours later Tom scaled a cliff in search of help. He followed hoof prints and came by chance upon two men from nearby Glenample Station three and a half miles away. In a complete state of exhaustion, he told the men of the tragedy. Tom then returned to the gorge while the two men rode back to the station to get help. By the time they reached Loch Ard Gorge, it was cold and dark. The two shipwreck survivors were taken to Glenample Station to recover. Eva stayed at the station for six weeks before returning to Ireland by steamship. In Melbourne, Tom Pearce received a hero's welcome. He was presented with the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria and a £1000 cheque from the Victorian Government. Concerts were performed to honour the young man's bravery and to raise money for those who lost family in the disaster. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: the apprentice, Tom Pearce and the young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost her family in the tragedy. Ten days after the Lochard tragedy, salvage rights to the wreck were sold at auction for £2,120. Cargo valued at £3,000 was salvaged and placed on the beach, but most washed back into the sea when another storm developed. The wreck of Lochard still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island. Much of the cargo has now been salvaged and some items were washed up into Lochard Gorge. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced in March 1982. One of the most unlikely pieces of cargo to have survived the shipwreck was a Minton majolica peacock- one of only nine in the world. The peacock was destined for the Melbourne 1880 International Exhibition. It had been well packed, which gave it adequate protection during the violent storm. Today the Minton peacock can be seen at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in Warrnambool. From Australia's most dramatic shipwreck, it has now become Australia's most valuable shipwreck artifact and is one of very few 'objects' on the Victorian State Heritage Register.The toy soldier represents a 19th-century child's interest in military history. The item is one of two toy soldiers recovered from the Loch Ard in Flagstaff Hill's collection. The shipwreck of the Loch Ard is of significance for Victoria and is registered on the Victorian Heritage Register ( S 417). Flagstaff Hill has a varied collection of artefacts from Loch Ard and its collection is significant for being one of the largest accumulations of artefacts from this notable Victorian shipwreck of which the subject items are a small part. The collections of objects give us a snapshot of how we can interpret the story of this tragic event. The collection is also archaeologically significant as it represents aspects of Victoria's shipping history, allowing us to interpret Victoria's social and historical themes. Through is associated with the worst and best-known shipwreck in Victoria's history.An unpainted, cream-coloured toy soldier, recovered from the Loch Ard. The figure wears a Napoleonic Wars-era uniform, a plumed helmet, a short jacket with tails, bib-front trousers with button closure, straps crossed at the front and back, and epaulettes. The figure is in marching posture with one foot extended forward, and is bearing a musket at the slope-arms position, with a sabre or cutlass slung behind. It is unable to stand on its own. There are reddish-brown and orange-brown stains on the head and body. The body has seams along both sides that are uneven at the lower leg. There is a hole in the back and the inside is hollow. The material has a rough texture.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch ard, toy soldier, napoleonic uniforms, military toy, moulded soldier