Showing 229 items
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Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Book, The Passenger
... the cover, taking up a quarter of the cover with white writing... of the cover with white writing outlining the story line. There are 4 ...Book A5 in size, soft cover, black, red and grey cover. Title is slightly diagonally across front cover in white capital letters. Illustration of a man looking back at a train in the background in grey red and black. Red spine with title in white and name of author grey both in capital letters. Back of the book is a dark purple/red colour with small train illustration at bottom in red and grey. There is a white barcode partially covering the illustration of the train. There is a red banner quarter way down the cover, taking up a quarter of the cover with white writing outlining the story line. There are 4 review from News papers two either side of the red banner the review is in red the name of the reviewer and newspaper in white kristallnacht, camp 2, tatura internment camp, "dunera", berlin, ulrich alexander boschwitz, mv abosso -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Book - Diary, The Sailor, the Baron and the Dressmaker
Tells the story of a young German sailor who comes to Australia in 1928 and his life after arriving.Soft covered book, grey coloured with blue printing for title and author. Front has title and authors name and two photos, one male and one female. Spine has blue writing on. Back cover has a square on back with information about the book.Tells the story of a young German sailor who comes to Australia in 1928 and his life after arriving. baron von einsiedel, siegfried hottelman, ellen royal, camp 3, tatura camps, glenn martin -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Souvenir - Wood Sample, Alexander Stephen and Sons, 1869
This teak wood sample was part of a handrail from the wreck of the ship Otago. The Otago 1869-1931 The iron-hulled 3-masted barque Otago was built in Glasgow by Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd, Kelvinhaugh, as a merchant ship and launched in 1869. The vessel changed hands several times in the late 19th century after being sold to an Australian firm in 1871. During one of its voyages, the captain died while the ship was in port at Bangkok. Marine author Joseph Conrad was on board and, being a qualified captain, he took command and continued the journey to Sydney and Mauritius. It was the only ship he ever commanded. In 1903 the Melbourne shipping company Huddart, Parko & Co., purchased the Otago and converted it to serve as a coal hulk for use in Sydney. The Otago was later sent to Hobart, Tasmania, where it continued as a hulk until 1931. It was sold for scrap and eventually abandoned on the banks of the Derwent River at a place now known as Otago Bay, opposite Conrad Drive, Otago. The outline of the hull is still visible and a nearby plaque tells the story. There are other vessels also named Otago, one of them in the same year. Joseph Conrad (1857-1927): - Polish-born Joseph Conrad became a British subject in 1886. He was a renowned marine fiction writer and, for a short time, a mariner and Captain. As a 13-year-old boy, Joseph Conrad desired to be a sailor. At 19, he joined the British merchant marine, working in several roles. He eventually qualified as a captain but only served in this role once: from 1888 to 1889, when he commanded the barque Otago, taking over from the deceased captain and completing the ship’s journey from Sydney to Mauritius. In 1889 he began writing his first novel, Almayer’s Folly. He retired from life as a mariner in 1894, aged 36. Conrad’s affection for Australia and his visits to Australia from 1878 to 1982 were later commemorated by a plaque in Circular Quay, Sydney. Conrad continued as an author; some characters in his books were said to be inspired by his maritime experiences and the people he had met. By the end of his life, he had completed 19 novels, many stories, and essays, plus one incomplete novel, Suspense, which was finished and published posthumously. In 1924, Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald offered Conrad a knighthood for his work but he declined. There is an 1882 sailing ship named the Joseph Conrad, after the author, that is now preserved at the Mystic Seaport Maritime Museum in the USA as part of the fleet of historic ships, used as an exhibit and a training ship. The Danish square-rigged training ship was originally named Georg Stage but was renamed by marine author Alan Villiers when he bought It in 1934. The wood sample from the Otago is significant for its association with renowned marine author Joseph Conrad, who had once commanded the vessel; it was his only command as Captain and was known as Joseph Conrad's Otago. The maritime connection with Conrad extends to items in the collection, including some of his maritime novels based on his first-hand knowledge, a wooden ship model of a ship named after him, and a navigation chart of Otago Harbour. The sample of teak is significant as an example of materials used in the construction of the 1869 iron-hulled sailing ship, built in Glasgow, Scotland, specifically for use to sail across the world with cargo to trade between the colonies including Australian ports. Wood sample; a rectangular section of a teak wood handrail that has a bead planed along one side. Two cards with the sample have inscriptions, one handwritten and one typed. The sample is from the wreck of the barque Otago, once under the command of Captain Joseph Conrad. Handwritten card: "PART OF TEAK HANDRAIL / from / Joseph CONRAD'S ship / OTAGO / (HULK at RISDON, DERWENT River, TASMANIA) Typed card: "PART OF THE TEAK HANDRAIL / FROM JOSEPH CONRAD'S SHIP / "OTAGO" / (HILK AT RISDON, DERWENT / RIVER, TASMANIA)"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, joseph conrad, joseph conrad's ship, captain joseph conrad, otago, barque otago, merchant ship, cargo ship, hulk, 1869 ship, iron hull, sailing ship, handrail, fitting, souvenir, wood sample, teak, new zealand, sydney, newcastle, tasmania, hobart, derwent river, otago harbour, otago bay, conrad drive, 19th century, mauritius, marine author, marine novel, alex villiers, georg stage -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Audio - CD, 80 Years in Australia
The CD tells the story of the Templer Society of Australia and how they came to Australia. The story of 10 Templer families. The typed sheets are a transcript of what is on the CD.Black multi ring folder containing CD and 9 pages of typing. Round CD with coloured picture of hut and trees. Writing in black. In black and clear case.Templer Society of Australia 80 Years in Australia German Internment 1941 -1947 by Doris Frank (MP4)templer society, ernst lewandowsky, alfons konig, lothar bohmer, dr wilhelm eilers, rudolf girschik, fritz lippmann, wilhelm eppinger, hedwig schnerring, wilhelm fugmann, dr martin winkle, doris frank, camp 10 loveday sa, camp 1a internment camp, richard graze, oscar hahn, ekkehard beinssen, werner glockemann -
Hymettus Cottage & Garden Ballarat
Work on paper - Book, By Her Hand
Set in tenth century England in the time of Aethelflaed of Mercia and the consolidation of Mercia, Wessex and other regions prior to the rise of Edward 1st. The work relates the story of a girl who is subjected to a hard father and suffers from the devastation of Viking raids before advancing through her maturity and independence from male domination.See image.fictionSet in tenth century England in the time of Aethelflaed of Mercia and the consolidation of Mercia, Wessex and other regions prior to the rise of Edward 1st. The work relates the story of a girl who is subjected to a hard father and suffers from the devastation of Viking raids before advancing through her maturity and independence from male domination. mercia, wessex, england, aethelflaed, the peak district -
Greensborough Historical Society
Book, ANZACS at War: the story of Australian and New Zealand Battles. by John Laffin, 1965_
This books details various actions in which ANZAC troops were engaged from the Boer War to World War II224p., black and white photographs, maps. Hard cover book with dust jacket. Dust jacket illustration of shadows of soldiers on green background, title in white writing.anzacs, australian army, boer war, world war i, world war ii -
Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
Furphy Water Tanks 1942
The Furphy Water Cart, made in Shepparton is an iconic part of Australian manufacturing history. Troops gathered around these sturdy carts during WW1 to have a drink of water, to swap stories, and embellish them a bit along the way. This led eventually to the term 'furphy' entering the Australian vernacular, meaning a rumour, gossip or fake news. Many people have probably heard ... “GOOD, BETTER, BEST - NEVER LET IT REST - TILL YOUR GOOD IS BETTER - AND YOUR BETTER, BEST." But the random squiggles across the centre of a Furphy water tank are not Arabic writing as many believe but Pitman Shorthand that translates as … “WATER IS THE GIFT OF GOD, BUT BEER AND WHISKY ARE CONCOCTIONS OF THE DEVIL, COME AND HAVE A DRINK OF WATER”. Several versions evolved over the decades and this 1942 cart also has an illustration of a stork holding a baby with more squiggles underneath, also in shorthand, which is a quote often first attributed to the WW1 Prime Minister Billy Hughes ... "PRODUCE AND POPULATE OR PERISH”. The Forests Commission owned lots of Furphy water tanks and Rocky Marsden managed to rescue and restore two of them which are at the North Altona workshops.Two Furphy water tanks forests commission victoria (fcv), fire pump, bushfire -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book - Publication, PrintWorks Warrnambool, My Grandmothers' Story, 2006
This book details the life of Jessie MacGillivray.This is a soft cover book of 144 pages plus 16 pages of black and white photographs and other images. The front cover has a buff-coloured background featuring some original diary writing with an inset of a black and white photograph of Jessie MacGillivray. The back cover has a black and white photograph of the Peterborough coastline. The book has 16 chapters of text.non-fictionThis book details the life of Jessie MacGillivray.peterborough (vic.) history, history of warrnambool, jessie macgillivray -
Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch
Book, Aussie - The Australian Soldier's Magazine, 1918
This book is a collection of magazines entitled Aussie - The Australian Soldier's Magazine Volumes 1 - 13 Dated January 1918 to April, 1919 Price 10 centimes and are a collection of stories, poems and Aussie humour. The magazines are the originals that were printed at the time 1918-1919 and they have been bound into a collection Book of cream coloured pages with two columns of writing with pictures. Book contains a collection of magazines Volumes 1 - 13Aussie aussie - the australian soldiers magazine, 1918, ww1 -
Greensborough Historical Society
Book, The Royal Tour of Australia and New Zealand in pictures, 1954_
Following the death of King George VI, the Queen's trip to Australia and New Zealand was postponed until 1954. This book is a photographic story of their travels around Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands.A pictorial record of the first visit to Australia by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1954Hard cover, Illus. (some colour). Cover illustration of Australian flag with white writing over.queen elizabeth 2, house of windsor, duke of edinburgh, royal tour of australia 1954 -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Book, The Miners Right
This item is from the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art, and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. RALPH ERIC PATTISON Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 Pattison accepted a position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council. His huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower area of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine, and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave during 1942 to 1945 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. WARRNAMBOOL PUBLIC LIBRARY The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) was formed by a voluntary community group in 1863, within six years of Warrnambool’s beginnings, and its Reading Room opened in 1854. The WMI operated until 1963, at which time it was one of the oldest Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria. Mechanics’ Institutes offered important services to the public including libraries, reading rooms and places to display and store collections of all sorts such as curiosities and local historical relics. In 1886 a Museum and Fine Arts Gallery were added to the WMI and by the beginning of the 20th century there was also a billiards room and a School of Art. By this time all Mechanics’ Institutes in country Victoria had museums attached. Over the years the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Library was also known as the Warrnambool Public Library the Warrnambool Library and the Free Library. Early funding from the government was for the “Free Library”. The inscription in a book “Science of Man” was for the “Warrnambool Public Library”, donated by Joseph Archibald in 1899. Another inscription in the book “Catalogue of Plants Under Cultivation in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens 1 & 2, 1883” was presented to the “Warrnambool Library” and signed by the author W.R. Guilfoyle. In 1903 the Warrnambool Public Library decided to add a Juvenile Department to library and stock it with hundreds of books suitable for youth. In 1905 the Public Library committee decided to update the collection of books and added 100 new novels plus arrangements for the latest novels to be included as soon as they were available in Victoria. In July 1911 the Warrnambool Council took over the management of the Public Library, Art Gallery, Museum and Mechanics’ Institute and planned to double the size of the then-current building. In 1953, when Mr. R. Pattison was Public Librarian, the Warrnambool Public Library’s senior section 10,000 of the 13,000 books were fiction. The children’s section offered an additional 3,400 books. The library had the equivalent of one book per head of population and served around 33 percent of the reading population. The collection of books was made up of around 60 percent reference and 40 percent fiction. The library was lending 400 books per day. In 1963 the Warrnambool City Council allocated the site of the Mechanics’ Institute building, which included the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery, for the new Municipal Offices and the Collections were dispersed until 1971. The Warrnambool Library took over the Mechanics’ Institute Library’s holdings on behalf of the Warrnambool City Council. Since the closure of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute the exact location and composition of the original WMI books and items has become unclear. Other materials have been added to the collection, including items from Terang MI, Warrnambool Court House and Customs House. Many of the books have been identified as the Pattison Collection, named after the Librarian who catalogued and numbered the books during his time as Warrnambool Public Librarian in the time before the Mechanics’ Institute closed. It seems that when Warrnambool became part of the Corangamite Regional Library some of the books and materials went to its head office in Colac and then back to Warrnambool where they were stored at the Art Gallery for quite some time. Some then went to the Warrnambool Historical Society, some stayed at the Art Gallery and some were moved to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The various stamps and labels on the books held at Flagstaff Hill show the variety of the collection’s distribution and origin. The books in the collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village date from the 1850’s to the late 1950’s and include rare and valuable volumes. Many of the books are part of the “Pattison Collection” after the Warrnambool’s Public Librarian, Mr. R. Pattison. Rolf Boldrewood (1826-1915) ‘Rolf Boldrewood’ is the pen-name used by Thomas Alexander Browne as a writer. Browne was the eldest child of Captain Sylvester John Brown and Elizabeth Angell nee Alexander. He was born in London on 6th August 1826 and arrived in Australia with his parents and siblings when he was 5 years old and grew up in Sydney. In the 1860’s Browne added the ‘e’ to his surname. As a 17 year old Browne took up land in the Western District of Victoria between Portland and Port Fairy on a property named “Squattlesea Mere”. He remained there until 1858, enjoying the squatters’ life on his 32,000 acre property, growing potatoes and running cattle and horses. He sold in 1858 and purchased a sheep station on the Murray River near Swan Hill. He later sold this and bought another sheep station near Narrandera until bad seasons and severe droughts eventually caused him to change his career after 25 years as a squatter. Over the next 25 years Browne held the position of Police Magistrate and as a gold commissioner in various locations. His third career as an author lasted approximately 40 years. In 1865 he wrote two articles on pastoral life while he was recovering from a riding accident. In the 1870’s his writing was bringing in the income to support his family, changing his focus to the writing of novels. A series of these was written for the Australian market and published in The Sydney Mail and the Centennial Magazine. His later novels were aimed at the overseas markets. His best known novel “Robbery Under Arms” was written from 1882 to 1883 and has been serialised on radio in Australia and Britain. The novel was filmed in 1907, 1920 and 1957, and in 1985 it was made into a television series. It is now an Australian Classic. He also wrote short stories, several nonfiction graziers’ guides, and an autobiography named “Old Melbourne Memories” in 1884. [This information has been taken from Wikipedia; Australian Authors-Perry Meddlemiss; Australian Dictionary of Biography, Browne, Thomas Alexander (1826-1915)] The Pattison Collection, along with other items at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, was originally part of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s collection. The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Collection is primarily significant in its totality, rather than for the individual objects it contains. Its contents are highly representative of the development of Mechanics' Institute libraries across Australia, particularly Victoria. A diversity of publications and themes has been amassed, and these provide clues to our understanding of the nature of and changes in the reading habits of Victorians from the 1850s to the middle of the 20th century. The collection also highlights the Warrnambool community’s commitment to the Mechanics’ Institute, reading, literacy and learning in the regions, and proves that access to knowledge was not impeded by distance. These items help to provide a more complete picture of our community’s ideals and aspirations. The Warrnambool Mechanics Institute book collection has historical and social significance for its strong association with the Mechanics Institute movement and the important role it played in the intellectual, cultural and social development of people throughout the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. The collection of books is a rare example of an early lending library and its significance is enhanced by the survival of an original collection of many volumes. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s publication collection is of both local and state significance. The Miners Right A tale of the Australian Goldfields Author: Rolf Boldrewood Publisher: Macmillan And Co Date: 1922Label on spine cover with typed text R.A. 823.91 BOL Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Public Library warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, great ocean road, the miners right, australian goldfields, australian rush, rolf boldrewood, gold rush -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Book, Pergamon Press, Antarctic Meteorology, 1960
A non-fiction book detailing information about Antarctic weather patterns.Blue Harback 483 page book. Writing on the spine in gold lettering with an image of an ancient Greek (Spartan?) soldier in a circle at the bottom. Two gold lines across the bottom of the spine. The front and back cover are blank. No dust cover. Inside is an order form for ordering more books from the same published - Pergamon Press.non-fictionA non-fiction book detailing information about Antarctic weather patterns.meteorological, weather, antarctic, 1950s, maritime, nautical, portland -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Craft - Ship Model, Joseph Conrad, 20th century
The ship model of the Joseph Conrad represents the craft of ship model making, which has been enjoyed by many people over the years. Although the model is made from modern materials, it shows the elements of a sailing ship of a bygone era. About the sailing ship JOSEPH CONRAD: - The vessel Joseph Conrad began as the Danish iron-hulled sailing ship Georg Stage, launched in 1882. It was used as a training ship for Danish sailors. In 1905, while docked in Copenhagen, the ship was rammed by a larger ship, and 22 boys were killed while sleeping in the hull. The ship was later raised and on guard during World War I. Alan Villiers was an Australian author of seafaring books as well as a sailor. He bought the wooden sailing ship George Stage and renamed it Joseph Conrad in honour of the renowned Polish-born maritime author and once the captain of the barque Otago. In 1934 Villers sailed the ship on a two-year voyage around the world. In 1936, it was sold to an American, who later donated it for use again as a training ship. After World War II the ship was no longer used, and in 1947 it was transferred to the Mystic Seaport Museum for training use again as well as an exhibit. JOSEPH CONRAD (1857-1927): - Joseph Conrad was Polish-born and became a British subject in 1886. He was a renowned marine fiction writer and also, for a short time, a mariner and Captain. As a boy of 13 years old, Joseph Conrad desired to be a sailor. At 19, he joined the British merchant marines, working in several roles. He eventually qualified as a captain but only served in this role once, from 1888-89, when he commanded the barque Otago sailing from Sydney to Mauritius. In 1889 he also began writing his first novel, Almayer’s Folly. He retired from life as a mariner in 1894, aged 36. Conrad’s visits to Australia from 1878 to 1982, and his affection for Australia, were later commemorated by a plaque in Circular Quay, Sydney. Conrad continued as an author. It is said that many of the characters in his books were inspired by his maritime experiences and the people he had met. By the end of his life, he had completed many stories and essays, and 19 novels, plus one incomplete novel titled ‘Suspense’ that was finished and published posthumously. Shortly before he passed away, in 1924, Conrad was offered a Knighthood by Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald for his work but declined the offer. The ship model represents the design of sailing ships built in the 1880s and can be used as a reference in understanding the construction of the ships of the Victorian era. The model is important for its connection to the vessel Joseph Conrad which was used as a training ship for seafarers, and even now is used to teach maritime skills, as well as an exhibit, in the maritime museum, Mystic Seaport. The model's name is significant for its association of its name with the famed early 20th-century maritime author, Joseph Conrad.Ship model; A three-masted sailing ship named the Joseph Conrad, with cabins on deck, lifeboats, a ladder on the side and a figurehead on the bow. The hull is black at the top and red below. The ship's name is painted on both sides of the bow. JOSEPH CONRADflagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, joseph conrad, captain joseph conrad, maritime author, marine author, nautical author, sailor, seafarer, ship model, two-masted ship, iron hull, sailing ship, georg stage, 1882 ship, danish ship, training ship, boys killed, alan villiers, ship joseph conrad, mystic seaport, museum ship, otago -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Booklet - Unit History, The Story of 547 Signal Troop/1966/1972/Edition #2
"The Story of 547 Signal Troop in South Vietnam 1966 to 1972", by Robert (Bob) Hartley, AM and Barry Hampstead. The manuscript tells the story of the unit, including its establishment, training, deployment, personnel, general life and operations while in Vietnam, the withdrawal, and return to Australia. It contains images, maps, operational information and first hand accounts of soldiers' experiences. This item contributes to an understanding of how Australia's involvement in the war in Vietnam (1962-1975) had a lasting impact on Australian servicemen.2 spiral- bound copies of booklet contains 691 pages of black and white writing, maps and photographs. Front page image is of a kangaroo holding lightning bolt with "Snoopy" in pouch. 547 signal, snoopy, robert hartley, signals, hartley -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Decorative object - Peacock, Minton Majolica life-size model, Paul Comolera, artist, Designed: c. 1873; Made: c. 1875
This majestic peacock embodies the technical achievement, skill and ingenuity of artisans during the 19th century. It is now known as the 'Loch Ard Peacock' and was designed and modelled in 1873 by Paul Comolera (1818-1897) and fired in one piece at the Minton factory at Stoke-on-Trent in the United Kingdom in 1875. The peacock has been portrayed in symbolic motifs and has figured heavily in folktales and fables since antiquity, and many cultures around the world see it as a symbol of beauty, rebirth and power. Wealthy Victorians loved majolica, and the large peacock would have been the ultimate home accessory as a conservatory ornament – combining their desire for nature, the exotic and vibrant colours. The peacock model was listed in catalogues by Minton & Co. for a retail price of 35 guineas or sold as a pair for 90 guineas. Minton & Co. was founded in 1793 by Thomas Minton (1765–1836) and became a famous pottery and porcelain manufacturer. Comolera was a French artist and sculptor, renowned for dramatic naturalistic forms and life-size renditions of birds and animals that won him admiration in public and artistic circles. He was employed by Minton & Co. from 1873 to 1880, and the life-sized peacock became his best-known work. Comolera kept a live peacock loaned from the nearby Duke of Sutherland's Trentham Hall Estate in his studio to create a life-size model of fine buff earthenware model, which was then hand painted in brilliantly coloured green and blue glazes to mimic the peafowl’s dazzling plumage. There are no surviving production records, but according to documents in the Minton Archive, nine peacocks were made by Comolera. However, today, some historians now believe that twelve were fired at the Minton factory; research is ongoing. These peacocks were so admired that Minton & Co. used them as exhibition showpieces at International Exhibitions in London, Paris, and the United States of America, ensuring the company had a worldwide reputation. So, when Melbourne hosted an International Exposition in 1880, Minton & Co. sent out ceramics and tiles, and in particular, this peacock was intended to be part of their exhibit in the British Court in the Exhibition Building, built in the Carlton Gardens. The early dispatch date (1878) indicates that the company may have intended to exhibit their wares, including the peacock, at the 1879 Sydney International Exhibition, but the company did not take up this option. The ship that Minton & Co. used to bring the peacock and their other wares to the Australian colonies was the ill-fated Loch Ard, which sunk after striking Mutton Bird Island near Port Campbell, Victoria, in calm foggy weather in June 1878 on the final leg of the ship's journey to Melbourne. The loss of 52 lives made it one of Victoria’s worst shipwrecks. Therefore, this peacock never made it to the grand exposition in Melbourne, as Minton & Co. had planned. Charles McGillivray dragged this peacock, still in its original packing case, onto the beach in the gorge just two days after the Loch Ard went down. The peacock was rescued unscathed apart from a chip on its beak (only repaired in 1988). After a disagreement with a Melbourne Customs Officer, Joseph Daish, McGillivray stopped his salvage operations, leaving the peacock on the beach. The second salvagers were James Miller and Thomas Keys. Miller was a member of the firm Howarth, Miller and Matthews, Geelong, who had brought the salvage rights to the Loch Ard wreck on 10 June. When Miller and Keys arrived at the wreck site, a storm had washed many of the salvaged goods, including this peacoc,k back into the sea. The two men found the peacock in its case ‘bobbing along in the water’ and pulled it back to the beach. To ensure the peacock wasn't washed out to sea again, Miller and Keys hauled the packing case containing the peacock up the gorge's cliff face to the top, ready to be transported. In an interview in 1928, Keys claimed that at the time of the rescue, the head had broken from the body. This account was proven to be true in 1988, following the birds' display in Brisbane. This peacock began its life in Australia, not in the grandeur of an International Exhibition as intended, but in the hallway of a simple domestic house in Geelong. It appears Minton & Co. did not attempt to buy this peacock back. Florence Miller, daughter of James Miller (Loch Ard salvage rights holder), later remarked that the only item of real value rescued from the wreck had been the peacock and that this had been kept by her father in the family home at Malvern for many years and became a treasured family possession. As such, this 'Loch Ard peacock' was almost forgotten and mistaken with other Minton peacocks around the world. Miss Florence Miller tried to sell the peacock due to financial difficulties in the 1930s but was unsuccessful. While attempting to sell her Loch Ard relic, it was displayed in the window of the old Argus newspaper office, which was at 76 Collins Street, Melbourne; the Argus had relocated to the corner of Elizabeth and La Trobe Streets in 1926. Between 1935 and 1939, the old Argus building was occupied by the Joshua N. McClelland Print Room, which sold not only paintings and prints but also antiques and authentic replicas, as well as hosting exhibitions. Miss Florence Miller loaned her peacock for display at the Victorian Historical Exhibition held in the National Gallery on 1st June 1935, the 57th anniversary of the Loch Ard wreck. As a result, the peacock attracted public attention in books, newspapers and magazine articles that told the story of its survival from a shipwreck. Miss Florence Miller was keen to sell the peacock, even writing overseas to Captain Blain on November 30th, 1938, about the possibility of a sale, but this became no longer possible due to the outbreak of war. Recent information points to the Loch Ard peacock being owned by John S R Heath before its sale to Frank Ridley-Lee in May 1941. Research is ongoing, but it seems likely that John Samuel Robert Heath, a leading Melbourne dentist with a practice in Collins Street, and his wife, a dental mechanic, had purchased Miss Miller’s Loch Ard peacock before its sale in 1941. They were lovers of fine arts, music, wine and food. The peacock in the window of the old Argus building could have attracted their attention as they had already purchased the old stone Presbyterian Church on Warrigal Road, Oakleigh, in 1933 and had converted its interior. The home, renamed The Studio, even included Melbourne’s first all-electric kitchen. The peacock was perfect for display in the Studio’s entrance. A magazine article published after the conversion was completed included photographs of the interior. The picture of the ‘portico’ had a caption below that stated, “Some of her [Mrs Heath’s] finest pottery was salvaged from the Loch Ard Wreck”. In 2025, Heath’s two remaining sons remember running around in the entrance with the peacock standing there, oblivious to its value. Heath was an accomplished artist, studying under Max Meldrum. He painted and exhibited his works at The Studio and in a public exhibition, and he was a finalist eight times in the coveted Archibald Prize portrait competition, including the submission of his self-portrait that is now part of his grandson’s collection. The next owner of the Loch Ard Peacock was Frank Ridley-Lee. He displayed it at his home in Ivanhoe after buying it at an auction in May 1941. The peacock remained in the hands of the Ridley-Lee family until it was offered for sale by auction in 1975 as part of an art collection belonging to Mrs Ridley-Lee's estate. The peacock was not sold at this time, as the reserve price of $4500 was not met. This news was passed on to the board of the newly created Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. Urgent efforts were made to collect the necessary money through fundraising by the Warrnambool City Council and public donations. The Fletcher Jones Company and the Victorian Government contributed half the cost. On 9 September 1975, the Loch Ard peacock was purchased by Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, and it found a new home at the maritime museum. Since then, it has only left Warrnambool twice. Firstly, in 1980, at the centenary celebrations of the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, and secondly, in 1988, the peacock was given pride of place at the entrance to the Victorian Pavilion at the Brisbane World Expo, acknowledging that this Minton Majolica peacock is the most significant shipwreck object in Australia. The Minton majolica peacock is considered of historical social and aesthetic significance to Victoria and is one of only a few 'objects' registered on the Victorian Heritage Register (H 2132), as it is a most notable and rare object associated with the Minton factory of the 1870s and works by the celebrated sculptor Paul Comolera along with the wreck of the Loch Ard on the Victorian coastline. This Minton peacock is historically significant for its rarity; it was one of only 9-12 known to exist. The shipwreck of the Loch Ard is also of significance for Victoria and is registered on the Victorian Heritage Register Ref (S 417). Flagstaff Hill has a varied collection of artefacts from Loch Ard and its collection is significant for being one of the largest accumulation of artefacts from this notable Victorian shipwreck. The collections object is to also give us a snapshot into history so we can interpret the story of this tragic event. The collection is also archaeologically significant as it represents aspects of Victoria's shipping history that allows us to interpret Victoria's early social and historical themes. The collection is historically significant is that it is associated, unfortunately with the worst and best-known shipwreck in Victoria's history. The peacock, resplendent in polychrome glaze, stands perched on a rocky plinth decorated with vines, leaves, flowers, blackberries and wild mushrooms. The peacock’s breast is cobalt blue; the wings and legs are in naturalistic colours. The tail is a mass of feathers coloured in green, ochre blue and brown — a fantastic display of artistry and Minton expertise. Inscribed at the base :P Comolera, and a Minton & Co. design number: 2045.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, loch ard, loch ard gorge, peacock, paul comolera, victorian heritage register, minton peacock, minton & co., stoke upon trent, bird figures, mintons, ceramics, international expositions, majolica, naturalistic, staffordshire, john samuel robert heath -
Narre Warren and District Family History Group
Book, Richard Gavin Gardiner Casey, Personal Experience: 1939-46, 1962
This is not a history of the war years. It is an attempt to record my personal experience of events in three widely separated places in which I served in positions of some authority during the Second World War -- in the United States, the Middle East and India. It has been put together mostly from my personal diaries written day to day as things happened. There is very little in this book for which I do not have personal and detailed record of facts and opinions, put down at the time. I may say that my 1939-46 diaries contain over 700,000 words, so writing this book has been a matter of considerable selection and compression.I have written this story mainly in narrative form, but have introduced a number of selected diary entries from time to time which I think may help to reflect local colour and thinking at the time.I hope that this account of one man’s personal experience may fill in a few gaps in the record.256 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.non-fictionThis is not a history of the war years. It is an attempt to record my personal experience of events in three widely separated places in which I served in positions of some authority during the Second World War -- in the United States, the Middle East and India. It has been put together mostly from my personal diaries written day to day as things happened. There is very little in this book for which I do not have personal and detailed record of facts and opinions, put down at the time. I may say that my 1939-46 diaries contain over 700,000 words, so writing this book has been a matter of considerable selection and compression.I have written this story mainly in narrative form, but have introduced a number of selected diary entries from time to time which I think may help to reflect local colour and thinking at the time.I hope that this account of one man’s personal experience may fill in a few gaps in the record. world war 1939-1945, lord casey, richard gavin gardiner casey -
Narre Warren and District Family History Group
Booklet, Pack Track Writers, Spirit of Cardinia : an anthology of writing from the Pack Track Writers, 1998
An anthology of writings (poems, short stories, historical writings) by the Pack Track Writers61 pages : illustrations, photographsfictionAn anthology of writings (poems, short stories, historical writings) by the Pack Track Writerspakenham, bunyip, iona, yakkerboo -
Narre Warren and District Family History Group
Book, Roy Kyle et al, An Anzac's story, 2005
Roy Kyle started writing his remarkable memoirs at the age of eighty-nine and almost completed his story before he died. Bryce Courtney was asked if he would edit Roy's work with the view to it being published. Roy Kyle was a typical Anzac, fiercely patriotic and prepared to give his life for King and country. He couldn't wait to have a go and enlisted at seventeen, a year underage, and found himself in a trench in Lone Pine on his eighteenth birthday. The battle of Lone Pine, more than any other, established the legend of Gallipoli and was where a new nation was called upon to test its courage. One of the last to leave Gallipoli, Roy Kyle served in Egypt and later at the Somme where he was wounded in the head, arms and back. - back cover. This is the story of the part played by the Anzacs in the Dardanelles Campaign as told by an ordinary soldier.non-fictionRoy Kyle started writing his remarkable memoirs at the age of eighty-nine and almost completed his story before he died. Bryce Courtney was asked if he would edit Roy's work with the view to it being published. Roy Kyle was a typical Anzac, fiercely patriotic and prepared to give his life for King and country. He couldn't wait to have a go and enlisted at seventeen, a year underage, and found himself in a trench in Lone Pine on his eighteenth birthday. The battle of Lone Pine, more than any other, established the legend of Gallipoli and was where a new nation was called upon to test its courage. One of the last to leave Gallipoli, Roy Kyle served in Egypt and later at the Somme where he was wounded in the head, arms and back. - back cover. This is the story of the part played by the Anzacs in the Dardanelles Campaign as told by an ordinary soldier. roy kyle 1897-1996, world war 1914-1918, gallipoli -
Alfred Hospital Nurses League - Nursing Archive
Book - Illustrated book, Judith Salvadori, Earning our badge: group G nurses 1959-1962 Alfred Hospital, Melbourne. Celebrating 50 years to 2012, 2011
Significant record of nursing at the Alfred Hospital in the late 1950's-early 1960's and is accompanied by pictures, stories, anecdotes and documents of that period.White binding, title in red and black writing, some group G nurses photos and AHNL badge on front covernon-fictionSignificant record of nursing at the Alfred Hospital in the late 1950's-early 1960's and is accompanied by pictures, stories, anecdotes and documents of that period.nurses, nurse training, alfred hospital, ahnl