The gold cross was discovered by Victorian scuba diver Julie Wilkins, who had already experienced more than 500 dives in Australia and overseas. She was holidaying in Peterborough, Victoria, and looking forward to discovering more about the famous Loch Ard ship, wrecked in June 1878 at Mutton Bird Island. The fast Glasgow-built clipper ship was only five years old when the tragedy occurred. There were 54 people on board the vessel and only two survived Julie's holiday photograph of Boat Bay reminds her of her most memorable dive. Submerged in the calm, flat sea, she was carefully scanning around the remains of the old wreck when, to her amazement, a gold coin and a small gold cross suddenly came up towards her. She excitedly cupped them in her hands, then stowed the treasures safely in her wetsuit and continued her dive. She soon discovered a group of brass carriage clock parts and some bottles of champagne. It was a day full of surprises. The items were easily recognisable, without any build-up of encrustations or concretion. Julie secretly enjoyed her treasures for twenty-four years then packed them up for the early morning train trip to Warrnambool. After a short walk to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village, her photograph was taken as she handed over her precious find. She told her story to a local newspaper reporter, lunched a café in town then took the late afternoon train home. Her generous donation is now part of a vast collection of Loch Ard shipwreck artefacts, including the gold watch and the Minton Majolica model peacock. The small decorative cross dates back to on or before 1878, when the Loch Ard had set sail. The loop and ring have been added, perhaps as a pendant, pocket watch accessory or similar purpose. It may have been worn for ‘good luck’ or a ‘blessing’ on the long journey to Australia, where ships had to carefully navigate the treacherous Bass’s Strait before arriving at their destination of Melbourne. Sadly, many met their fate on that short stretch of ocean aptly named the Shipwreck Coast. The cross is very recognisable even though it was exposed to the wrecking of the ship, its consequent movement, and the sea's turbulence. Its scratched, pitted and worn condition, and the damage near the loop, is part of its story. The red-brown-black discolouration is similar to that found on other gold coins, sometimes called the ‘corrosion phenomena’. Studies suggest the possible cause is contaminants in the minting process reacting to the coins’ environment. Three edges of the cross have slightly raised narrow ridges of gold which could have been cause by the gold being cast liquid gold into a mould.This gold cross pendant is significant as a symbol of Christianity, a sign of hope and safety, and a sample of the religious following on board the Loch Ard, although not everyone wears a cross for this reason. This cross is a sample of jewellery owned by people migrating to Australia in the late 19th century. The cross and the guinea recovered together from the wreck of the Loch Ard are made of gold and help interpret the financial status of some of those on board.Gold cross; yellow gold with decorative hand engraved foliage design on the front, fitted loop and ring on top. The simple Latin or Roman variation of the cross, with an elongated vertical arm, has no figure on it and the reverse has no decoration. The right, left and base edges have sections of narrow, long slightly raised ridges. The top edge has remnants of red-black colour. Victorian era cross, ca. 1878. The cross was recovered from the wreck of the ship Loch Ard.Engraved foliage design. Slightly raised long ridges on sides and base edges. flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, gold cross, religious cross, religious trinket, religious jewellery, engraved cross, cross pendant, cross with ring, victorian era, 1878, antique cross, crucifix, religious symbol, christian symbol, christian jewellery, contamination phenomena, gold corrosion, good luck, lucky charm, blessing, pendant, loch ard, wreck of the loch ard, mutton bird island, peterborough, scuba diver, 1980s, shipwreck artefact, relic, latin cross, roman cross, pectoral cross, julie wilkins

c.1924 Arnott's Family Assorted biscuits were popular as they are today. The tin would have been reused as a storage container for other household items.An antique metal ARNOTT'S Famous Family Assorted Biscuits tin, NETT 5LBS 645. Trademark Registered. It is square shaped with a hinged lid. It has a paper label with black, yellow, red and white lettering, on the front, top and sides. 'Please keep the lid closed to preserve contents'. On the left side of the tin's paper label is a parrot sitting on a wooden perch eating a biscuit. Wheat stalks and flowers decorate around the bird. It is very rare.On the top of the tin is a paper label in black the red saying ' 'This tin is the property of Arnott's Biscuits Pty Ltd., N.S.W. Division. Forty Cents Deposit paid on this tin will be refunded on return in returned in good order and condition with this label attached. Keep the lid closed down. In red lettering 'Arnott's FAMILY ASSORTED'. Stamped on the base is ' 'This tin is the property of William Arnott Pty. Ltd. Homebush 5037'. No. 6095 stamped onto base. biscuits, biscuit containers, foodstuffs

This is the definitive guide to the Box-Ironbark forests of Central and North-East Victoria First published in 1994 as The Forgotten Forests. By the Victorian National Parks Association Ltd.Cardboard cover with yellow band at top containing Title in green print, below which are 3 colour photographs one showing bushland, one showing closeup of a flower, the other showing a bird. Logo for the Victorian National ParksVictoria's Box-Ironbark Country. A Field Guide Autographed by Ian McCann (Photographer)stawell

This set of nine photographs was taken at an Army Survey Regiment Australian Rules Football social game at Golden Square Football Oval, Victoria in 1995. It is possible the game was between Product Construction Squadron and Data Acquisition Squadron, as it is apparent there are a mixture of Officers, WOs SGTs, CPLs and SPRs in each of the two teams. It is unlikely it was against another unit as it seems the CO LTCOL Duncan Burns and his counterpart are involved in the coin toss, and neither was wearing football boots. This set of nine photographs was taken at an Army Survey Regiment Australian Rules Football social game at Golden Square Football Oval, Victoria in 1995. The photographs were printed on photographic paper and are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photographs were scanned at 300 dpi. .1) - Photo, colour. 1995. All players unidentified. .2) - Photo, colour. 1995. L to R: Doug Willis, others unidentified. .3) - Photo, colour. 1995. L to R: unidentified (x2), Dough Willis, Rod Skidmore (yellow guernsey) .4) - Photo, colour. 1995. L to R: Bob Thrower, Rod Skidmore (yellow guernsey) others unidentified. .5) - Photo, colour. 1995. Greg Byers (Umpire) .6) - Photo, colour. 1995. L to R: Jim Ash (background), Rhys De Laine. .7) - Photo, colour. 1995. Jim Ash. .8) - Photo, colour. 1995. L to R: Rod Skidmore, Anthony Chamberlayne, unidentified (x3), Greg Byers (umpire), unidentified (x2), LTCOL Duncan Burns, unidentified, Rohan Hill, Bob Thrower, Doug Willis, Jim Ash, Mark Bird. .9) - Photo, colour. 1995. L to R: Jim Ash, Bob Thrower, Derek Percival, unidentified..1P to .9P – no annotationsroyal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr

The Australian magpie is a passerine native to Australia and southern New Guinea. Renowned for its black and white plumage and distinctive song, the Australian magpie has also established populations in New Zealand and on the Fijian island of Taveuni, where it was introduced during the 19th century. Previously classified as three distinct species, it is now recognized as a single species comprising nine subspecies. Belonging to the family Artamidae, the Australian magpie is the sole member of the genus Gymnorhina and shares its closest relation with the black butcherbird (Melloria quoyi). Unlike the Eurasian magpie, it is not part of the Corvidae family. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century. This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen an Australian Magpie with black and white plumage over the body, mounted on a cedar stand. The specimen has a large straight beak and is in an unusual pose for a magpie, compressing the white patch on the back of the neck. The beak has turned yellow where originally grey, potentially leading to a previous misidentification as a white-winged chough.taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, australian magpie, ornithological, ornithology