Built in 1858 at the Port and Harbour Master's yard in Williamstown Victoria, the Portland Lifeboat was overseen by Harbour Master Charles Ferguson. It is understood to have been constructed from the same moulds used to build the Port Fairy Lifeboat, designed by William White, in 1857. Both boats are similar to the lifeboats designed in England by James Peake and adopted by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in the UK. The Portland Lifeboat's 9.14 m (30 ft) long hull is double diagonally planked in New Zealand kauri, and many of the planks run from gunwale to gunwale in one piece under the inner keel section. Eucalyptus and oregon were used elsewhere and the local blacksmith made the iron work. The fastenings are copper. There are two flotation or buoyancy tanks at either end, with prominent whaleback style decking. Under the thwarts is a deck with scuppers so that the craft is both buoyant and self draining whenever large waves are taken aboard in rough conditions. The lifeboat was oar-powered with a sailing rig. The original rig was a lug mainsail, but this was replaced with a lug and headsail rig taken from a fishing boat in 1903. The lifeboat was manned by volunteer crews, mostly local fishermen from Portland. They maintained this service until 1915 when the boat was replaced with a new motorised craft. The lifeboat's most outstanding service was to the steamer ADMELLA in 1859 when the ship grounded on a reef off Cape Banks in South Australia, 150 km to the west of Portland. Survivors clung to the rigging in heavy seas for over a week and 89 people lost their lives in the shipwreck. Taken to the scene by the steamer LADY BIRD, the Portland Lifeboat was unable to assist until eight days after the ADMELLA's grounding when the seas abated enough for the lifeboat to manoeuvre close to the ship and rescue the last 19 survivors. Since its retirement in 1915 the lifeboat has been a memorial to those who manned it and those it rescued. For a long period it was on display in the Portland Gardens, first in the open and then under a canopy. In 2008 it was on display inside the Portland Maritime Discovery Centre, still in original condition complete with the rig from 1915. It is one of the oldest vessels of its type in Australia, and the world.Portland LifeboatPhotograph showing the Portland Lifeboatphotography, portland lifeboat, admella

A try pot is a large pot used to remove and render the oil from blubber obtained from whales. The blubber would be placed into these pots and melted down for further use. Early on in the history of whaling, vessels had no means to process blubber at sea and had to bring it into port for processing.Indian pot, circular, painted flat black 2 handles located opposite each other. Wire loop between handles (perhaps not original) 5 circular 'ribs' cast in sides of pot. Believed to be used for drying whale blubber.Nonewhaling, industry, trypot

Port of Portland collection. This lamp was originally part of the 'Tarragal', tug boat.Stern navigational light. White-painted copper case with hinged lid. Fastened with hinged latch and clasp on a chain. 180 degree dioptric lens. Fitted with incandescent lamp. Folding handle on top. Three mounting lugs around base.Front: MASTHEAD/ Seahorse/ G. B./ 59680 Back: (no inscriptions)tarragal, port of portland collection, navigation, light

PPPA (Port of Portland Authority)Black & white photo of several people, including Malcolm Fraser, standing at the foot of steps leading down from RAAF plane. Royal Visit 1970

Port of Portland Authority ArchievesColoured aerial photo of Dutton Way, Showing the rock wall and groynes

Port of Portland Authority archives.Front: (no inscriptions) Back: (no inscriptions)port of portland archives

Port of Portland Authority archives.Front: (no inscriptions) Back: (no inscriptions)port of portland archives

Port of Portland Authority archives.Front: (no inscriptions) Back: (no inscriptions)port of portland archives

Port of Portland Authority archives.Front: (no inscriptions) Back: (no inscriptions)port of portland archives

Port of Portland Authority archivesFront: (no inscriptions) Back: (no inscriptions)port of portland archives

Port of Portland Authority archives.Front: (no inscriptions) Back: (no inscriptions)port of portland archives

Port of Portland Authority archives.Front: (no inscriptions) Back: (no inscriptions)port of portland archives

Port of Portland Authority archives.Front: (no inscriptions) Back: (no inscriptions)port of portland archives

Port of Portland Authority archivesFront: (no inscriptions) Back: (no inscriptions)port of portland archives

ex-'Tarragal', tug boat, Port of Portland|Port of Portland Authority CollectionFront: Seahorse/ G. B./ 59679 (on lid) PORT Back: (no inscriptions)port of portland archives

Port of Portland Authority archives.Front: (no inscriptions) Back: (no inscriptions)port of portland archives

Port of Portland Authority archivesFront: (no inscriptions) Back: (no inscriptions)port of portland archives

Port of Portland Authority archives.Front: (no inscriptions) Back: (no inscriptions)port of portland archives

Port of Portland Authority archives.Front: (no inscriptions) Back: 'Impression of Ultimate Development of Port of Portland, Victoria.' 'Bruce Ormandy' 1977-port of portland archives, portland harbour