This photograph shows the steam dredge Pioneer working to remove silt in Lady Bay, Port of Warrnambool. The dredge belonged to the Ports and Harbours department in Melbourne. Also in the photograph are two moored vessels, and the Warrnambool Lifeboat shed and Rocket house built on the Warrnambool Breakwater. The Warrnambool Harbour had been experiencing heavy silting and sanding for many years. The problem continued even after the construction of the Breakwater in 1890. The Ports and Harbours' new, larger suction hopper dredge, the Matthew Flinders, was also employed in May 1919 to remove the heavy silting in the Harbour. Both dredges were sent up from Melbourne when required over the years to periodically attend to the silting. The Matthew Flinders was still dredging the Harbour even in the 1930s. (The ship’s original master was J G Rosney. In February 1922 Percy Taylor from Ports and Harbours joined the Matthew Flinders as a Mate. 1923 the master in charge was Captain Dunbar. In August 1926 Percy Taylor was appointed as her Master and was later transferred to the Pioneer as Master in 1933.) 1930 the dredges were no longer required as the Harbour was no longer suitable as a port. However, one source notes that the Matthew Flinders was still dredging the Harbour in 1938.This photograph is significant for its association with the Port of Warrnambool, the Warrnambool Breakwater, and the issue of the silting in Lady Bay. The photograph is significant historically as it shows a point in time when efforts were employed to keep the Port of Warrnambool functioning, allowing shipping activities to continue operating. The need for dredging in the Warrnambool Harbour was a serious and ongoing problem, as silting continued to happen after a series of measures were taken to try and resolve the issue. Eventually, the Harbour could no longer function successfully as a port.Photograph, black and white, showing two similar images and printed together. Images of Lady Bay, Warrnambool, the dredge 'Pioneer' on the left, ships and the Warrnambool Lifeboat and Rocket House on the right, beside the Breakwater. Ca. 1900 to 1930."BL016"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, dredge, mathew flinders i, warrnambool harbour, lady bay, sanding, silting, breakwater, captain dunbar, ports & harbours, marine technology, percy taylor, matthew flinders, pioneer, dredge pioneer, lifeboat house, rocket house

The Lightning was an American-built sailing ship and it is believed the rope block was part of the ship’s rigging or included as cargo. The plaque on the block mentions that the item was, “as supplied by Burrows Ship Chandlers” in 1869. The plaque could also mean that the rope block was supplied by the firm Burrows, Ship Chandler and Shipping Stock, as a replacement block for the Lightning. The American vessel named “Lightning” was a 3-masted, fully rigged extreme clipper ship. She was commissioned by James Baines, of the Black Ball Line in Liverpool, England, during the time of the Australian Gold Rush for the trade of passengers and cargo between England and Australia. Her load listed on early consignments included livestock and animals, including rabbits sent to Thomas Austin of Barwon Park, Winchelsea, Victoria, where the challenging association between Australia's agriculture and the imported rabbits started. The Lightning was built in 1854 by shipbuilder Donald McKay, in East Boston, USA. She was described as spacious and comfortable and regarded as one of the smartest ships of the time. The vessel set many speed records for her voyages and became one of the most famous of racing clippers and one of the fastest ever launched. In 1854, with Captain 'Bully' Forbes and Mate 'Bully' Bragg, Lightning made the return trip from Melbourne to Liverpool in only 64 days, 3 hours and 10 minutes; a record. Captain Enright became the new Master of LIGHTNING soon after this record was established and was regarded as one of the finest mariners in the Australian trade. One of Captain Enright's innovations was to publish a ship's paper called "The Lightning Gazette". What is of additional historic interest is that captain "Bully Forbes" had left the Lightning to captain the ill-fated Schomberg. In 1857, for a very brief time under Capt. Byrne the Lightning was used as a troopship, taking British officers and soldiers, stores and ammunition, to fight in India. In 1859 she then returned to her normal route between Liverpool and Melbourne, apart from 1867 when she made a special trip between Melbourne and Port Chalmers in New Zealand. In 1869 the Lightning was sold to Thomas Harrison of Liverpool, and continued to sail for the Black Ball Line. Master of Lightning, Captain Henry Jones, sailed her to Geelong in October 1869, and whilst docked, he had her loaded with a cargo of wool, copper, wire, tallow and other goods. At about 1 am on 31st October 1869, whilst still docked and fully laden, a fire was noticed on the vessel. Efforts to extinguish the fire were unsuccessful, so she was towed to the "Lightning Shoals" in Corio Bay, where she eventually sank, losing all cargo but no lives. The Lightning is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register (Ref S 415). The vessel is historically significant for being one of the fastest wooden ships ever built. it was notable as the first clipper built in the USA for British owners and as a shipping disaster in Geelong's history. The Lightning spent its whole career carrying cargo and immigrants from England to Australia. Its documented voyages give us a snapshot into shipping history, not only of Australia in the mid-19th century but how the world's commercial transport functioned o promote trade and emigration during this time.Large ship's block, wood, with two wooden sheaves and fibre straps, eye and thimble. The metal plaque attached to the block has an inscription. The block was used on the ship "Lightning".Plaque inscription: "BLOCK OFF THE LIGHTNING / AS SUPPLIED BY / BURROWS SHIPS CHANDLERS / & SHIPPING STOCK CORIO BAY / 1863" (or 1869)flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, sailing ship lightning, extreme clipper ship, american clipper ship, record breaking clipper ship, james baines, black ball line, donald mckay shipbuilder, captain ‘bully’ forbes, australian immigration, liverpool to melbourne migration, captain enright, captain byrne, captain henry jones, corio bay geelong, lightning shoals geelong, rabbits introduced to australia, burrows and bascombe, burrows, ship chandler, corio bay, burrow's ship chandlers and shipping stock,

On 29 August 1908 Melbourne gaped in wonder as 16 white-hulled battleships of the United States Atlantic Fleet, carrying 14,000 naval personnel, steamed into Port Phillip Bay. The ‘Great White Fleet’ was circumnavigating the globe on a tour launched by President Theodore Roosevelt. The cruise was a display of naval power and practical exercise, testing the battle-readiness of the US Navy and demonstrating its ability to patrol and protect the west coast and American interests in the Pacific including Australia.An original unframed photograph of the United States Altantic Fleet entering Port Phillip Bay in 1908 and a copy framed and mounted under glass.Port Phillip Bay 1908; United States Atlantic Fleetthe great white fleet, us atlantic fleet, 1908, port phillip bay

Word of mouth (Half Moon Bay) 2018 is a two-panel work which is the largest painting the artist has made to date. It is a colourful and fun, light-hearted scene of an imaginative party that the artist would love to attend at Half Moon Bay in Black Rock. Depicted in the work are over 30 figures, including international tourists, family and friends of McHaffie as well as famous identities such as musicians David Bowie and Solange Knowles, and fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. McHaffie’s DJ friend Lucreccia Quintanilla has set up a DJ deck and speakers on the beach while the party goers are wading in the shallow waters, dancing on the cliff and mingling on the beach in what appears to be an idyllic summer’s day in Bayside.oil on linen (diptych)painting, beach, half moon bay, black rock, bayside, coast, party, rob mchaffie, dj, dance, musician, karl lagerfeld, david bowie, solange knowles, lucreccia quintanilla, port phillip bay, word of mouth, mooji, jon campbell, tourists, family, friends, cliff, rocks, water

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 of sea shells and bones. The remains of an Aboriginal feast. Close-up of shell on a midden at Cat Baylocal history, photography, aboriginal midden, black & white photograph, aborigines, aboriginal middens, cat bay phillip island, john jenner, bryant west

Port of Portland AuthorityView of Portland Bay with a bluff in foreground left. On top of bluff is a lighthouse and a white cottage. Lighthouse is white with a red roof. Cottage has a tall flagpole flying a red flag. Two figures stand in front of cottage. Below bluff are two further figures looking out to see. In background right is a town and harbour. Further figures can be seen on the beach. Framed in ornate gilded frame.Front: (no inscriptions) Plaque on frame read: "PRESENTED BY MRS. J.E. GRICE GRAND DAUGHTER OF STEPHEN GEORGE AND JANE HENTY." Back: (unknown)portland bay, thomas clark

The group of buildings running down Bay Street from Liardet Street were know as the Market Buildings. On the corner was I & S BURNS No 1 Cash Grocer. Part of this site is currently occupied by Coles Port Melbourne supermarket.Photograph of the Market Buildings in Bay Street running down from Liardet Street. At the top of the corner building it reads I & S Burns No 1 Cash Grocers.On reverse 'Market Buildings PM L Cou..... Bay Street Cr Liardett Street'market buildings, built environment - commercial, business and traders - grocers and supermarkets, coles supermarket, i & s burns no 1 cash grocer, i & s burns

Local Otways residents (Gadubanud Country) were interviewed by artist/researcher Amy Tsilemanis for the 2023 storytelling project Heart Maps, a collaboration with the Apollo Bay Museum and Historical Society. Themes include memories of communication technologies, entertainments, school, work, community, and life near the ocean. More information here: https://amytsilemanis.com.au/portfolio/heart-mapsapollo bay, fishing, seafood

Local Otways residents (Gadubanud Country) were interviewed by artist/researcher Amy Tsilemanis for the 2023 storytelling project Heart Maps, a collaboration with the Apollo Bay Museum and Historical Society. Themes include memories of communication technologies, entertainments, school, work, community, and life near the ocean. More information here: https://amytsilemanis.com.au/portfolio/heart-mapsapollo bay, fishing, seafood

Local Otways residents (Gadubanud Country) were interviewed by artist/researcher Amy Tsilemanis for the 2023 storytelling project Heart Maps, a collaboration with the Apollo Bay Museum and Historical Society. Themes include memories of communication technologies, entertainments, school, work, community, and life near the ocean. More information here: https://amytsilemanis.com.au/portfolio/heart-mapsapollo bay, nursing, ww2

Local Otways residents (Gadubanud Country) were interviewed by artist/researcher Amy Tsilemanis for the 2023 storytelling project Heart Maps, a collaboration with the Apollo Bay Museum and Historical Society. Themes include memories of communication technologies, entertainments, school, work, community, and life near the ocean. More information here: https://amytsilemanis.com.au/portfolio/heart-mapsapollo bay, tourism

Local Otways residents (Gadubanud Country) were interviewed by artist/researcher Amy Tsilemanis for the 2023 storytelling project Heart Maps, a collaboration with the Apollo Bay Museum and Historical Society. Themes include memories of communication technologies, entertainments, school, work, community, and life near the ocean. More information here: https://amytsilemanis.com.au/portfolio/heart-mapsapollo bay, community, radio, youth club

Local Otways residents (Gadubanud Country) were interviewed by artist/researcher Amy Tsilemanis for the 2023 storytelling project Heart Maps, a collaboration with the Apollo Bay Museum and Historical Society. Themes include memories of communication technologies, entertainments, school, work, community, and life near the ocean. More information here: https://amytsilemanis.com.au/portfolio/heart-mapsapollo bay

Local Otways residents (Gadubanud Country) were interviewed by artist/researcher Amy Tsilemanis for the 2023 storytelling project Heart Maps, a collaboration with the Apollo Bay Museum and Historical Society. Themes include memories of communication technologies, entertainments, school, work, community, and life near the ocean. More information here: https://amytsilemanis.com.au/portfolio/heart-mapsapollo bay, hordern vale

Local Otways residents (Gadubanud Country) were interviewed by artist/researcher Amy Tsilemanis for the 2023 storytelling project Heart Maps, a collaboration with the Apollo Bay Museum and Historical Society. Themes include memories of communication technologies, entertainments, school, work, community, and life near the ocean. More information here: https://amytsilemanis.com.au/portfolio/heart-mapsapollo bay, hospital, nursing

Local Otways residents (Gadubanud Country) were interviewed by artist/researcher Amy Tsilemanis for the 2023 storytelling project Heart Maps, a collaboration with the Apollo Bay Museum and Historical Society. Themes include memories of communication technologies, entertainments, school, work, community, and life near the ocean. More information here: https://amytsilemanis.com.au/portfolio/heart-mapsapollo bay, farming, killala rd

Local Otways residents (Gadubanud Country) were interviewed by artist/researcher Amy Tsilemanis for the 2023 storytelling project Heart Maps, a collaboration with the Apollo Bay Museum and Historical Society. Themes include memories of communication technologies, entertainments, school, work, community, and life near the ocean. More information here: https://amytsilemanis.com.au/portfolio/heart-mapsapollo bay, fishing

Local Otways residents (Gadubanud Country) were interviewed by artist/researcher Amy Tsilemanis for the 2023 storytelling project Heart Maps, a collaboration with the Apollo Bay Museum and Historical Society. Themes include memories of communication technologies, entertainments, school, work, community, and life near the ocean. More information here: https://amytsilemanis.com.au/portfolio/heart-mapsapollo bay, community radio

Local Otways residents (Gadubanud Country) were interviewed by artist/researcher Amy Tsilemanis for the 2023 storytelling project Heart Maps, a collaboration with the Apollo Bay Museum and Historical Society. Themes include memories of communication technologies, entertainments, school, work, community, and life near the ocean. More information here: https://amytsilemanis.com.au/portfolio/heart-mapsapollo bay, pubs

Local Otways residents (Gadubanud Country) were interviewed by artist/researcher Amy Tsilemanis for the 2023 storytelling project Heart Maps, a collaboration with the Apollo Bay Museum and Historical Society. Themes include memories of communication technologies, entertainments, school, work, community, and life near the ocean. More information here: https://amytsilemanis.com.au/portfolio/heart-mapsapollo bay, golf course, surf lifesaving club

Photograph or illustration from a magazine or book with a photograph of a cross bench tram - tram 12 in Moorabool St. Photo taken from an elevated position and looking towards Corio Bay. Has some horse-drawn carts in the view. The chimney of the MESCo power station can be seen. On the reverse is a photo of the Geelong wharves, with some ships docked on the wharf.Yields information about the view of Moorabool St c1915.Black and white photographs from an illustration.tramways, trams, geelong, moorabool st, cross bench tram, geelong wharf, tram 12

Rose Series postcard No. P 3334 titled "Bay Street Port Melbourne", looking south from near Bridge Street. Has two cable cars in the view, the northbound one has the destination of "Spring St". Has a Theatre on the left side of the photo along with a "Hail cars Here" tram stop sign on a pole. Photo c1920.Yields information about Bay St Port Melbourne. C1920Postcard - printed real photograph with Rose Stereograph Co. name on the rear.Has the stamp of Ken Magor on the rear.trams, tramways, cable trams, bay st, port melbourne

This is a B & W photo of four men standing in front of a tank. The men are wearing a form of helmet and earphones. They have light webbing & belts on. The men are in shorts. In the left background can be seen another tank.On rear is written 2/8" Armoured Regiment, Milne Bay. Burrell 2nd Left 1943.ww2, 2/8 arm regt, milne bay

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 at Cat Bay by H. R. Balfour showing shells left from innumerable Aboriginal feasts c. 1800local history, photography, aboriginal feast site, black & white photograph, aborigines, shell fish feasts, cat bay, john jenner, bryant west, h r balfour

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 at Cat Bay by H. R. Balfour showing shells left from innumerable Aboriginal feasts. c.1800local history, photography, aboriginal feast site, black & white photograph, aborigines, shell fish feasts, cat bay, h r balfour, john jenner, bryant west

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 at Cat Bay by H. R. Balfour showing shells left from innumerable Aboriginal feasts. c. 1800local history, photography, aboriginal feast site, black & white photograph, aborigines, shell fish feasts, cat bay, h r balfour, john jenner, bryant west

Port of Portland Authority archivesFront: Lady Bay Reclamation: Dumping of surplus overburden in Lady Bay/ Jan. 1960 (typed below image, centre) Back: (no inscriptions)port of portland archives, lady bay, reclamation

Photograph of the wrecked SPECULANT taken shortly after the ship was wrecked at Cape Patton, Victoria. 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 S626Black and White photograph of the Barquentine Speculant, on rocks at Cape Patton. On front hand written in white "Wreck of Speculant on Cape Patten". On reverse side it states that the photograph was "taken by Mr. H. Pengilley Apollo Bay Hotel, Apollo Bay" On front, white hand writing, "Wreck of Speculant on Cape Patten". On reverse "taken by Mr. H. Pengilley Apollo Bay Hotel, Apollo Bay" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, 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, cape patton victoria, warrnambool historical photograph

Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s chief executive, had plenty of political support in the territory’s pro-Beijing legislature to pass a bill that would allow extraditions to mainland China. The legislators were set to begin discussing the bill in early June, and intended to vote on it just weeks later. A series of protests took place, and after a June 16 protest saw the largest turnout yet, Ms. Lam made a major concession: She postponed the bill, at least temporarily. It was an undeniable victory for the protesters — but it did little to quell the unrest. Since the bill could later be reintroduced, protesters felt they remained in danger. The police tactics to break up the demonstrations on June 12, including the use of more than 150 tear gas canisters to push protesters far away from the government office, created a new set of demands from the protesters. Now, instead of just calling for the withdrawal of the bill and Ms. Lam’s resignation, they said they wouldn’t be content unless there was an independent investigation of officers’ conduct. They also wanted the release of protesters arrested on June 12, and for the government to rescind its description of the demonstrations as a “riot,” a designation that carries legal significance. None of that has happened. Many analysts say Ms. Lam is unlikely to step down, nor would Beijing accept her resignation if she offered it. She has more wiggle room on the other demands, but has not indicated any willingness to budge. The Hong Kong Protests are a leaderless, digital movement.There is no single leader or group deciding on or steering the strategy, tactics and goals of the movement. Instead, protesters have used forums and messaging apps to decide next steps. Anyone can suggest a course of action, and others then vote on whether they support it. The most popular ideas rise to the top, and then people rally to make them happen. At its best, this structure has empowered many people to participate and have their voices heard. Protesters say it keeps them all safe by not allowing the government to target specific leaders. Their success in halting the extradition bill, which was shelved by the territory’s chief executive, speaks to the movement’s power. Despite the lack of a clear leader, protesters have shown extensive coordination at the demonstrations, having planned the specifics online beforehand. Supply stations are set up to distribute water, snacks, gloves, umbrellas and shields made of cardboard. Volunteer first aid workers wear brightly colored vests. People form assembly lines to pass supplies across long distances, with protesters communicating what they need through a series of predetermined hand signals. Anyone walking in dangerous areas without a helmet or a mask is quickly offered one. No individual can speak on behalf of the protesters, which makes negotiations difficult, if not impossible. (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/02/world/asia/hong-kong-protest-explained.html, accessed 07/07/2019) Hong Kong’s amended extradition law would allow the extradition of suspects to mainland China for the first time. Supporters say the amendments are key to ensuring the city does not become a criminal refuge, but critics worry Beijing will use the law to extradite political opponents and others to China where their legal protections cannot be guaranteed. The government claims the push to change the law, which would also apply to Taiwan and Macau, stems from the killing last year of a Hong Kong woman while she was in Taiwan with her boyfriend. Authorities in Taiwan suspect the woman’s boyfriend, who remains in Hong Kong, but cannot try him because no extradition agreement is in place. Under the amended law, those accused of offences punishable by seven years or more in prison could be extradited. The new legislation would give Hong Kong’s leader, known as the chief executive, authority to approve extradition requests, after review by the courts. Hong Kong’s legislature, the legislative council, would not have any oversight over the extradition process. Many Hong Kongers fear the proposed extradition law will be used by authorities to target political enemies. They worry the new legislation spells the end of the “one country, two systems” policy, eroding the civil rights enjoyed by Hong Kong residents since the handover of sovereignty from the UK to China in 1997. Many attending the protests on Sunday said they could not trust China as it had often used non-political crimes to target government critics, and said they also feared Hong Kong officials would not be able to reject Beijing’s requests. Legal professionals have also expressed concern over the rights of those sent across the border to be tried. The conviction rate in Chinese courts is as high as 99%. Arbitrary detentions, torture and denial of legal representation of one’s choosing are also common. Many in the protests on Sunday 09 June 2019 said they felt overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness in the face of mainland China’s increasing political, economic and cultural influence in Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s top political leader is not elected by ordinary voters but by a 1,200-strong election committee accountable to Beijing. Half of its legislature are chosen through indirect electoral systems that favour pro-Beijing figures. Many Hong Kongers also cited the jailing of leaders and activists from the 2014 Occupy Central movement– a 79-day mass civil disobedience movement – as well as the disqualification of young localist lawmakers as signs of the erosion of civil freedoms. Resentment towards China has been intensified by soaring property prices – with increasing numbers of mainland Chinese buying properties in the city – as well as the government’s “patriotic education” drive, and the large numbers of mainland tourists who flock to Hong Kong. Many Hong Kongers are also concerned about China’s growing control over the city’s news media, as they increasingly self-censor and follow Beijing’s tacit orders. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/10/what-are-the-hong-kong-protests-about-explainerPhotograph of a crowd or protestors against proposed extradition laws gathering on the streets of Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, leading down to the gathering area. carrie lam, hong kong protests, extraditions, protest, protestors