This photograph of the 10 crew of the SPECULANT would have been taken prior to Feb 10th 1911, when the ship was wrecked on the south coast of Victoria at a place called Cape Patton. The barquentine SPECULANT was a steel, three-masted sailing ship built in 1895 in Inverkeithing, Scotland, registered in Warrnambool, Victoria and wrecked at Cape Paton, Victoria, 10th February 1911. The SPECULANT had been involved in the timber trade between the United Kingdom and Russia, until sold to its Warrnambool owners and timber merchants Messrs. P.J. McGennan & Co. (Peter John McGennan) in 1902 for 3000 pounds and had her sailed to Warrnambool as her new port. Peter John McGennan was born in 1844 and worked as a builder and cooper in Holyhead, Anglesea, Wales. He immigrated to Australia in 1869 as a free settler and arrived in Warrnambool in 1871 and undertook management of a property in Grassmere for Mr. Palmer. Peter met his wife Emily in South Melbourne and they married in 1873. They had ten children including Harry who lived to 1965, and Andrew who lived until 1958. (The other children were their four brothers - John who was killed in the Dardenalles aged 35, Frederick who died aged 8, Peter who died aged 28, Frank who died aged 5 weeks - and four sisters - Beatrice who died age 89, Edith who died aged 49, Blanche who died aged 89 and Eveline who died aged 48.) In 1874 Peter starting a boating establishment on the Hopkins River. In 1875 he opened up a Coopers business in Kepler Street next to what was Bateman, Smith and Co., moving to Liebig Street, next to the Victoria Hotel, in 1877. In 1882 he then moved to Lava Street (which in later years was the site of Chandlers Hardware Store). He was associated with the establishment of the Butter Factory at Allansford. He started making Butter Boxes to his own design and cheese batts for the Butter Factory. In 1896 established a Box Factory in Davis Street Merrivale, employing 24 people at its peak, (it was burnt down in 1923); and in Pertobe Road from 1912 (now the Army Barracks building). Peter was a Borough Councillor for Albert Ward from 1885 to 1891, he commenced the Foreshore Trust (including the camping grounds along Pertobe Road), and he was an inaugural Director of the Woollen Mill in Harris Street, buying an extensive share-holding in 1908 from the share trader Edward Vidler. They lobbied the Town Hall to have a formal ‘Cutting’ for the waters of the Merri River to be redirected from its natural opening south of Dennington, to its existing opening near Viaduct Road, in order to have the scourings from the wool at the Woollen Mill discharged into the sea. He sold Butter Boxes around the state, and had to ship them to Melbourne by rail. Peter’s purchase of the SPECULANT in 1902 enabled him to back-load white pine from Kaipara, New Zealand to Warrnambool to make his butter boxes then, to gain profitability, buy and ship potatoes and other primary produce bound to Melbourne. (McGennan & Co. had also owned the LA BELLA, which had traded in timber as well, until she was tragically wrecked with the loss of seven lives, after missing the entrance channel to Warrnambool harbour in 1905. It appears that the SPECULANT was bought to replace the LA BELLA.) In 1911 the SPECULANT had been attempting to depart Warrnambool for almost the entire month of January to undergo docking and overhaul in Melbourne. A month of east and south-easterly winds had forced her to remain sheltered in Lady Bay, Warrnambool apart from one morning of northerlies, when an attempt was made to round Cape Otway; she had to return to shelter in Portland after failing to make any headway. With only 140 tons of sand ballast aboard, the ship would not have been easy to handle. Captain Jacobsen and his crew of nine, mainly Swedes, decided to make for Melbourne, leaving Portland Harbour on 5th February 1911. By the 9th they had reached Cape Otway, where they encountered a moonless night, constant heavy rain, and a heavy sea with a south-easterly wind blowing. After safely rounding Cape Otway the course was changed to east, then north-east to take the vessel to a point six miles off Cape Patton, following the orders of Captain Jacobsen, who told the crew to be very careful with the steering, as the wind and sea was running to leeward. The patent log (used to measure speed) had been out of order for the last four months as no-one in Warrnambool was able to fix it: it was intended to have it repaired in Melbourne. In the meantime the crew measured the vessel's speed by looking over the side and estimating wind strength. This compounded the difficulties of imprecise positioning, as the strong cross wind and sea were acting on the lightly laden vessel to steadily drive it towards the shore. At 3.30am on Friday 10 February 1911 Captain Jacobsen and the first mate were looking over the side of the vessel when they heard the sound of breakers and suddenly struck the rocks. The crew immediately knew they had no chance of getting the SPECULANT off, and attempted to rescue themselves by launching the lifeboat, which was instantly smashed to pieces. One of the crew then volunteered to take a line ashore, and the rest of the crew were all able to drag themselves to shore, some suffering hand lacerations from the rocks. Once ashore they began to walk along the coast towards Lorne, believing it was the nearest settlement. Realising their mistake as dawn broke they returned westwards to Cape Patton, and found a farm belonging to Mr C. Ramsden, who took them in and gave them a change of clothes and food. After resting for a day and returning to the wreck to salvage some of their personal possessions, at 10am on Saturday they set out for Apollo Bay, a voyage that took six hours, sometimes wading through flooded creeks up to their necks. The Age described the wreck as "listed to starboard. All the cabin is gutted and the ballast gone. There is a big rock right through the bottom of her, and there is not the slightest hope of getting her off". A Board of Marine inquiry found that Captain Jacobson was guilty of careless navigation by not taking steps to accurately verify the position of the vessel with respect to Cape Otway when the light was visible and by not setting a safe and proper course with respect to the wind and sea. It suspended his certificate for 6 months and ordered him to pay costs. The location of the wreck site was marked for a long time by two anchors on the shoreline, until in 1970 the larger of the two anchors was recovered by the Underwater Explorers' Club and mounted on the foreshore at Apollo Bay. The bell from the wreck was also donated to the Apollo Bay Surf Lifesaving Club but is recorded to have been stolen. Rusting remains of the wreck can still be found on the shoreline on the southern side of, and directly below Cape Patton. Parts of the SPECULANT site have been buried by rubble from construction and maintenance works to the Great Ocean Road, as well as by naturally occurring landslides. Peter J McGennan passed away in 1920. The Gates in the western wall of the Anglican Church in Henna Street/Koroit St are dedicated to him for his time of community work, which is matched with other prominent Warrnambool citizens; Fletcher Jones, John Younger, J.D.E (Tag) Walter, and Edward Vidler. After Peter J McGennan's death Harry, Andrew and Edith continued to operate the family business until July 11th 1923 when the company was wound up. (Andrew lived in Ryot Street Warrnambool, near Lava Street.) Harry McGennan (Peter and Emily’s son) owned the Criterion Hotel in Kepler Street Warrnambool (now demolished). His son Sid and wife Dot lived in 28 Howard Street (corner of Nelson Street) and Sid managed the Criterion until it was decided by the family to sell, and for he remained Manager for the new owners until he retired. Harry commenced the Foreshore Trust in Warrnambool around 1950. The McGennan Carpark in Pertobe Road is named after Harry and there are Memorial-Stone Gates in his memory. (The Gates were once the original entrance to the carpark but are now the exit.). Peter’s great-grandson, also called Andrew, is a Security Officer in Warrnambool. The Patent Log (also called a Taffrail log) from the SPECULANT, mentioned above, and a number of photographs, are now part of the Collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The SPECULANT is historically significant as the largest ship to have been registered in Warrnambool, and is believed to have been the largest barquentine to visit Melbourne. It is evidence of the final days of large commercial sailing vessels involved in the Victorian and New Zealand timber trade. The SPECULANT is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register VHR S626Photograph, black and white. of the 10 crew of the SPECULANT on board the ship holding two 'Speculant Warrnambool' lifebuoys. Taken early 1900's flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, warrnambool historical photograph, la bella, speculant, cumming and ellis, international timber trade, p. j. mcgennan and co. warrnambool, peter mcgennan, capt. james jacobsen, warrnambool maritime history, h. pengilley apollo bay

Miss Eva Carmichael, the subject of the photograph, was one of only two survivors from the wreck of the Loch Ard, wrecked on Mutton Bird Island near Port Campbell, Victoria, on June 1st, 1878..The photograph holds great significance for its connection to Eva Carmichael, one of two survivors from the wreck of the Loch Ard. It is also significant for its connection to the Loch Ard, one of the most tragic shipwrecks in Victoria's coastline and listed on the Historic Shipwreck Register.Photographic portrait mounted on brown cardboard of Miss Eva Carmichael. Miss Carmichael is standing near an upholstered chair and rests wth both hands upon a masonry pillar. Behind her is a balustrade in the classic style common to that period. The background consists of a large tree giving the impression of a garden setting. It was produced at the studio of Arthur & Son, Mount Gambier, 1878. Inscriptions handwritten below the photograph. Handwritten in white "Miss Carmichael" Stamped "Arthur & Son / MOUNT GAMBIER"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, photograph, shipwreck loch ard, eva carmichael, portrait, arthur & son, mount gambier, loch ard, shipwreck, mutton bird island

The Age newspaper October 17 1854. One of three first printed number 1 volume 1. Printed signature of John Pascoe Fawkner.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, newspaper, the age newspaper, john pascoe fawkner

Glass kerosene table lamp, conical shape at base with scalloped pattern at edge of base. Base comes in to a stem then becomes rounded at top, has a rounded pattern. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

This cap gun was found by a local Warrnambool resident in about 1971. Cap guns first appeared following the end of the American Civil War in the mid-1860s, when firearms companies experimented with toy guns to stay in business. Cap guns became especially popular when the heroes of cinema and television rode through the West ridding the territories of villains. Many cap guns were named after or endorsed by leading matinee idols like Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy, The Lone Ranger, Tonto, Dale Evans, Marshal Matt Dillon, or any of countless others. Cap guns became popular after the second world war and children all over the world emulated their heroes and collected and played with these toy guns. Eventually all of the famous cap gun manufacturers either sold out to other toy companies or started manufacturing other types of toys. Before it was deemed dangerous or politically incorrect for young children to point pistols at each other and fire at will, cap guns were a staple of toy chests. The item demonstrates how society has changed its attitudes and now regard these types of toys as morally unacceptable as they tend to promote violent attitudes towards others. The item demonstrates significantly how our societies social attitudes have changed since world war two from general societal acceptance of such toys to one of distaste.Toy gun; cap gun. Cast iron toy pistol with metal trigger. Name "National" in raised embossing in the casting on the handle on both sides of the gun. Made in 1911."National" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, toys, cap gun, national fireworks distrubuting company, toy guns, toy pistol

Cup-white china invalid cup with spout at front and handle on side. Stamped MAW on bottom.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Eye bath glass on stem oval shaped with pouting lip at either end.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Candle holder, white enamel, round with aperture at centre to hold candle dish catches wax. Object has handle on side.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

This Engine Room section of a ship's telegraph system was part of the equipment of the Ports and Harbour ship the SS Rip. The vessel serviced and maintained the lights and buoys at Port Phillip Bay and Queenscliffe. The SS Rip was possibly the former gunboat "Albert". The ship’s communication system that was used from the late 19th century to early-to-mid-20th-century is called an Engine Order Telegraph (E.O.T.) or ship’s telegraph. The system has two parts, the Bridge Section and the Engine Room Section. The Bridge Section is usually mounted on top of a pedestal, and the Engine Room Section is often attached to a vertical surface. The standard commands printed or stamped onto the dial are the directions of AHEAD and ASTERN, and the speeds of STOP, FULL, EASY, STD. BY. and FIN. ENG. The ship’s pilot on the Bridge of a vessel sends his Orders for speed and direction to the to the Engine Room with the E.O.T. He moves the lever or levers, depending on the number of engines the ship has, to change the indicator on the Bridge Section’s dial to point in the new direction and speed of travel. This change causes the Orders to be duplicated on the Engine Room Section’s dial and a bell to signal the change simultaneously. The engineer then adjusts the ship’s engines and steering equipment to follow the pilot’s Order. The manufacturer, Mulne Bros., was a copper and brass works at 166 Sussex Street Sydney, in December 1892, and previously from 1870 at 128 to 130 Sussex Street. The company made and sold a wide range of equipment including machinery and gauges for the Railways.The Engine Room section is significant for being part of the communications system on the ship SS Rip, owned by Melbourne's Ports & Harbours department and used to service and maintain the navigation signals of Port Phillip Bay and at Queenscliffe in the mid-20th century. The dial is an example of marine equipment made in Australia and used for the safety of Victorian vessels. It is also significant for being made by an early Australian manufacturer, Milne Brothers of Sydney.Engine Room Section of a ship’s telegraph or Engine Order Telegraph (E.O.T.). The round metal dial has inscriptions stamped around the edges. The inscriptions are nautical terms for direction and speed and include the maker’s details. The dial was made by Milne Bros. of Sydney. It was part of the equipment on the "SS Rip" in Victoria.Black paint around dial: "MILNE BROS. / MAKERS / SYDNEY" "FULL EASY STD. BY " "FIN ENG. EASY FULL" ""ASTERN" "STOP" "AHEAD"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, marine technology, marine communications, engine order telegraph, e.o.t., ship’s telegraph, bridge section, engine room section, ship’s engine telegraph section, marine telegraph, milne bros., milne brothers, sydney, copper and brass works, ports & harbours ship, ss rip, gunboat albert, service ship, maintenance ship

The poster includes a cartoon by Arthur Jordan, with a conversation between an ailing man and a good man after baths visits. There are several reviews dating from 1906 to 1908 extolling the healing powers of the baths' waters. In February 1877 a Baths Company (1050 shares) was formed in the town of Warrnambool for the establishment of the baths at the south end of Gillies Street. The baths were filled with sea water from Lady Bay, originally pumped by a windmill situated near the current Surf Lifesaving Club and carried by iron pipes to the Public Baths; later the water was pumped by gas motor. Hot and cold fresh water baths were advertised. The gentlemen’s bath was 100 feet long and 50 feet wide, of graduating depth. A second bath, solely for ladies, was 60 feet long by 30 feet wide. Hot Sea-water Baths were also part of the institution, and were sought after for their ‘wonderful curative powers’, and ‘incomparable’ as a ‘tonic for the feeble’. In June 1881 the Hot Sea Baths were opened, and both hot and cold water baths were supplied at reasonable charges. Patrons came from near and far to receive the benefits. The manager of the Baths was J. Kirkpatrick. The Baths Company struggled for several years without success so in 1883 the baths were sold to the Borough Council for 1250 pounds. The original shareholders received nothing for their outlay; the overdraught was over the sale price. In May 1884 the Council announced that an estimated they has spent 1000 pounds in improving the baths since purchasing them and were now returning an income of 11 per cent. The poster promotes the healing powers of the hot sea water baths that were in use in Warrnambool in the late 19th century through to the early 20th century. The baths were a place for fitness, health and social activity, an example of the recreational activities during this period.Poster, black and white, mounted on card. It shows advertising Warrnambool Sea-water Baths and Hot Sea-water Baths. There are several references promoting the health benefits of baths, dating from 1906-1908. The cartoon was sketched by Arthur Jordan. The poster was printed by The Thompson Printing Co. Warrnambool. Handwritten inscription on the lower edge.Handwritten "10,000 mailed by post through Victoria"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, warrnambool salt baths, warrnambool therapudic baths, arthur jordan, baths company, sea water baths, hot sea water, swimming, healing powers, warrnambool baths, advertisement, thompson printing co. warrnambool

Postcard of R.M.S. Abinsi, Black and White of ship at dock. (SH 002 Ships A-B)flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, postcard, post card, r.m.s. abinsi,, ship

Black and White Postcard of Abraham Rydberg. Ex Greenland and Hawaiian Isles. (SH 001.1 Ships A-B.) 136mm x 90mmflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, abraham rydberg, post card, postcard

Black and White postcard of S.V. Alert sailing into a harbour. ( SH 003 Ships A-B.)flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, s.v. alert, post card, sailing ship

Black and White postcard of the Alice. A. (SH 001.2 Ships A-B.)flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, alice. a. leigh, post card, postcard, sailing ship

Coloured postcard of Schooner Alice S. Wentworth. ( SH 004 Ships A-B.)flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, alice s. wentworth, schooner alice s. wentworth, post card, postcard, sailing ship

Black and White Postcard of the S.S. America, (Sh 005 Ships A-B.)flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, s.s. america, post card, postcard

Black and White Photograph cut from a book of the Abraham Rydberg, ex Hawaiian Isles and Star of Greenland, 117mm x 77mm. SH 006 Ships A-B.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, abraham rydberg, star of greenland,

Black and White postcard of a steam ship of the American National Line, no name of which ship. (SH 007 Ships A-B.)flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, american national line, steam ship of the american national line, post card postcard

Black and White Photograph of a postcard. Inscription reads American Schooner Anne Larsen, unloading contraband arms at Aberdeen, Washington. July 1915. [photograph has been cut from a book] (SH 008 Ships A-B.)flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, post card., american schooner anne larsen, anne larsen, post card, postcard

Black and White Postcard of R.M.S. Appam, at a wharf, (SH 009 Ships A-B).flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, r.m.s. appam, post card, postcard

Black and White Photograph of a reproduction of an un named sailing ship, 145mm x 95mm. SH 010 Ships A-B.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, photograph

Black and White Postcard of H.M.S. Aurora. Has number 3041 on front, (SH 011 Ships A-B).flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, h.m.s. aurora, post card, postcard

Black and White transfer on pale blue back ground of Avie Hove, off Sydney Heads, 988mm x 62mm. SH 012 Ships A-B. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, avie hove

Black and White Postcard of S.S. Argyllshire, at Port Huon for apples. (SH 013 Ships A - B).flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, s.s. argyllshire, port huon, post card, postcard

Photograph of the A.H. Badger, of Melbourne. 150mm x 98mm. SH 014 Ships A - B.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, a.h. badger, photograph

Photograph of the sailing ship Andromeda. 165mm X 119mm. SH 021 Ships A - B. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, andromeda

Black and White Photograph of the sailing ship Apache. 120mm x 164mm. SH 022 Ships A-B.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, apache, photograph

Black and White Photograph of the sailing ship Albyn. 165mm x 120mm. SH 023 Ships A - B.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, albyn, photograph

Black and White Photograph of the sailing ship Activ. 164mm x 120mm. SH 024 Ships A - B.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, activ, sailing ship activ

Black and White Postcard of passenger liner Alcantara. ( SH 026 Ships A - B).flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, alcantara, post card, postcard