These long handled "Blacksmith" tongs were used in the late 1800's to mid 1900's by a blacksmith(or others) within the Kiewa Valley. During these times blacksmiths would regularly visit "remote" rural properties and work on any "hard to manufacture" items. A few properties had either stockmen,farm hands, or owners able to do "minor" blacksmith work. The ability to undertake blacksmith functions was sometimes "by necessity" handled by a local "jack of all trades" person. During this period however demand for rural based blacksmiths was very high. The rural store, however was usually very small and many "off" the shelf rural appliances and apparatus available in the larger rural towns were not available to the semi remote rural areas.This long handled shaped nipper tongs is very significant to the Kiewa Valley because it represents one of the essential mores relating to isolated rural regions as was the Kiewa Valley at this period in time (1800's to mid 1900's). This "ingrained " more was the ability to achieve anything that was required to maintain a living standard or survival in a remote grazing, mining and farming region. The remoteness was due to the small population, poor transport routes and flood prone roads winding through the lower lying flat plains of the Kiewa Valley. Any blacksmith work whilst grazing Cattle on the Bogong High Plains or any part of the Kiewa Valley, had to be done in situ. The part of the "culture" of this regions was that of "self help" either from within the family or from a friendly neighbour.Long handled blacksmith's tongs. The handles are rusted and painted orange. The nippers have one central fixing and are flat edged.tools, blacksmith, horses, trades

These long handled "V" shaped tongs were used late 1800's to mid 1900's by a blacksmith within the Kiewa Valley. During these times blacksmiths would regularly visit "remote" rural properties and work on any "hard to manufacture" items. A few properties had either stockmen,farm hands, or owners able to do "minor" blacksmith work. The ability to undertake blacksmith functions was sometimes "by necessity" handled by a local "jack of all trades" person. During this period however demand for rural based blacksmiths was very high. The rural store, however was usually very small and many "off" the shelf rural appliances and apparatus available in the larger rural towns were not available to the semi remote rural areas.This long handled "V" shaped nipper tongs is very significant to the Kiewa Valley because it represents one of the essential mores relating to isolated rural regions as was the Kiewa Valley at this period in time. This "ingrained " more was the ability to achieve anything that was required to maintain a living standard or survival in a remote grazing, mining and farming region. The remoteness was due to the small population, poor transport routes and flood prone roads and lower flat plains of the Kiewa Valley. Any blacksmith work whilst grazing Cattle on the Bogong Plains had to be done in situ.Long handled tongs with "V" shaped ends on the nippers (used by blacksmiths)I.T.O.C.tools, blacksmith, horses, wrought iron tools

This extract from an advertisement in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper of 1/12/1959 places the era in which this water bag was prolific throughout rural Australia. " ABERDEEN CANVAS GOODS for the man on the land here is Australia's most useful, convenient and hygienic water bag. Its special unbreakable plastic nozzle is fitted with a perforated filter strainer. Made from long flax canvas, its universal handle enables it to be hung on bumper bar, wire fence or on hook or nail" The availability of clean cool drinking water in remote rural locations was essential for survival under the blistering Australian summer sun. This was in a pioneer era when transport, roads and convenience stores were ,in a lot of "outback" Australia, in short supply and survival was dependent upon what could be carried by vehicle or pack horse.When the Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme became a reality, the use of the water bag was one of the essential personal items of survival given to each person working in the forests and on and in the high plains environment. Even in an outside stationary work place the availability of cool clean water was a prerequisite. The canvas water bag allowed any wind or airflow to cool down the water, even on very hot days, to provide a refreshing and throat quenching supply of water. These bags could be fastened onto the front of vehicles or hanging from shady tree branches thereby permitting air flow around the bag. During the "wearing in" period the residual taste from the canvas was fairly strong, this became considerably less as time and a half moved on. This "Aberdeen" long flax canvas water bag is held together on two sides and the top by strong heavy cotton stitching. The iron fashioned carrying handle has, protruding from its top elevation ,a very strong hook (well in excess of the bags' weight requirement). At the top, of the bag, and on one side only, is a brown coloured bakelite spout (with an inbuilt filter) protruding upwards. This spout has its matching , screw on, lid complete with attachment chain (not fixed at the handle end)On the front of the bad and stenciled in bold lettering, "ABERDEEN" and directly below "Travellers" and below this "FILTER BAG". Below this are two parallel black lines enclosing an ochre coloured band(12mm wide) running around the bottom section of the bag. Below this band is stenciled the number 14 in black (25mm high) figures. The spout lid has stamped on the top surface and within the outline of Australia, "ABERDEEN FILTER WATER BAG". Above this and close to the edge of the lid is pressed "PAT. No 9149/32 and down at the bottom rim is stamped "RD. No. 9870". canvas, water bag, water container, camping equipment, survival pack

25th edition. Coloured detailed maps accessed by a street or location index. Cover: (Includes) New Southbank map including Crown Complex, enlargements of Footscray and Kensington, bike paths, walking tracks & horse trails, latest public transport information, South east Australia tours maps, Vic Roads new route numbers, map of Australia1 atlas (22, 772 p.) : col. maps ; ISSN 03113957streets, maps, roads, melbourne

This plate comes from the Registered Office of F. Morse Pty Ltd. The name ‘Morse’ has been associated with the local Warrnambool transport industry for more than 100 years from the horse-drawn era to the advent of motorized transport. Frederick Morse was the son of Henry Morse, a teacher at The Grange, Hamilton and at Grasmere in the early 1870s. In 1883 Frederick Morse started business in Fairy Street as a coach builder in a partnership known as Robinson and Morse and in 1891 he set up a business on his own, the Victoria Carriage Works in Lava Street with branches in Port Fairy and Koroit. By the 1890s he was employing 27 people and winning State awards for his Abbot buggies. By the 1920s the Morse business had moved to motorized transport, expanding over the years to car dealerships, caravans, panel works and reconditioning and truck building with the subsidiary businesses of Morsmilk and Morsbearings (both later sold).This plate is of strong significance as a memento of a business in Warrnambool that has been prominent in the local transport industry for 120 years. It is also a memento of the Morse family, notable 19th century settlers in the town and important in local community affairs since that time. This is a wooden frame with a glass front. The frame is painted a grey colour and has holes at the top and bottom for affixing the frame to a wall or door. Behind the glass the words ‘Registered Office F. Morse Pty Ltd’ are painted or incised on to a wooden slab. The words are in yellow and red paint. The frame is a little chipped and the inside of the glass is somewhat blotchy and stained. ‘Registered Office’ ‘F. Morse Pty Ltd’ frederick morse, robinson and morse, morse & co., history of warrnambool, coach building in warrnambool, automotive industry in warrnambool

Shows typical dress of the period. Preferred form of transport in the area.This is a typical representation of the people and the transport of the time and is relavent to the Western Districts.Rectangle, Black & White. Male sitting on a horse wearing a hat and clothes typical to the time. He has a garter on his sleeve. There are gum trees in the background.Back: "Jack Kerr" written in black pen. The words Post card, correspondence, address only, Kodak Australia and a line stamped in black ink.horse, clothing, east, western, hobbies, farming, streatham, westmere, mininera, nerrin, transport, districts

This lamp was used on the first coach from Cunninghame (Lakes Entrance) to Orbost. The coach started for Orbost from Roadknight's, near Cunninghame (Lakes Entrance), at 7.30a.m. The journey was 32 miles and took eight hours. The fare was 25 shillings return. This item is an example of an item used in the time of horse and carriage transport.An old black kerosene coach lamp with a large glass lens. The glass is cracked. It has a metal stack with a handle.lamp lighting kerosene coach

Used during WW1.This item is a reminder from WW1 of those from Orbost who played a role in this conflict.A pair of brown leather horse leggings with brass fixtures.horse-leggings transport ww1

This horseshoe comes from England. It is unusual because it cannot be heated and shaped.Horses played a vital role in the agricultural history of Orbost. This item is connected to that role.A small cast iron horse shoe which is very corroded.horseshoe transport horses

This horseshoe was found at the Richardson Saw Mill at Tabbara.A very large horseshoe with indentations down the sides with nail holes. horse-shoe transport horses richardson

Wagon wheels were required equipment in Australia early days. They were used for transporting goods, commodities, agricultural materials, supplies, and sometimes people. Horse-drawn wagons are an important part of Orbost’s agricultural history.Two large solid elm bullock dray wheel hubs. They have a hole through the centre for spokes and have cut out sections at the sides. They are possibly hand-made. 456.1 is lighter coloured.wheel-hubs transport-bullock handcraft carving

Wagon wheels were required equipment in Australia early days. They were used for transporting goods, commodities, agricultural materials, supplies, and sometimes people. Horse-drawn wagons are an important part of Orbost’s agricultural history.A hand carved wagon spoke made of treated ironbark.wagon-spoke transport handcraft carving

Carrol Preston has used newspaper references from 1877 through to 1917, to document the history of the Orbost - Bairnsdael railway line.. It starts with the lobbying and jockeying, and moves through to the opening in 1916. The title is a reference to plans to further extend the railway beyond Orbost - but "The Iron Horse stopped at Orbost Railway Station". Most articles are from the Snowy River Mail and Bairnsdale Advertiser. All newspaper articles are dated and sourced. About 1912 work began at Newmerella on clearing the track for the railway line from Bairnsdale to Orbost. A canvas town sprang up on the higher land adjacent to the river flats. Local farmers supplied meat, milk and fresh produce to the camp, as well as gaining employment carting and labouring. The line opened in 1916, the Orbost railway station being built on the Newmerella side of the river.This item is associated with the history of the Orbost-Bairnsdale railway line and therefore reflects the role that the rail line played in the social and economic history of Orbost. On April 10 1916, the first scheduled train service left Orbost for Bairnsdale. The Bairnsdale-Orbost railway was opened to serve the agricultural and timber industries. This book has been compiled by a local historian. A spiral bound book titled, "The Iron Horse Stopped at Orbost Railway Station". The cover is blue / green with the title in black and red print. Underneath is a railway track leading to the bottom of the page. The book is 110 pages, A4 size and contains maps and photos. in black print on cover - "The Iron Horse Stopped at Orbost Railway Station ; The newspaper story of the eventual construction of the ORBOST RAILWAY LINE (in red print); Compiled and produced by CARROL PRESTON (in white print)railway-transport orbost-bairnsdale-railway east-gippsland-railway

This is a photograph of Dave Hawkless at Bete Bolong with a wagon load of maize from the farm of Sam Lynn. David Hawkless was married to Mary Downey in 1906. They had five children. This is a pictorial record of the transporting of maize in the Orbost district in the late 19th century. A black / white photograph of a man standing in front of a wagon loaded with sacks. There are six large horses tethered to the wagon. In the background are buildings. The wagon is standing on a gravel road.on back - "D. Hawkless M. Gilbert"hawkless-david maize-orbost transportation-agriculture wagon-horses

Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory at Allansford commenced in 1888. By the early 1900s it had 3 subsidiary creameries where farmers delivered their milk. Often the farmers collected the skim milk to feed pigs. At this time bacon was considered to be a dairy product. There were over 200 butter factories and creameries in Victoria in 1905.This is the only known photograph of the Nirranda Creamery.Black & white photograph showing a two storey weatherboard building with horse and cart loaded with milk cans and a group of men and women standing in front.allansford, nirranda, creameries, transport, costumes, warrnambool cheese and butter factory company

The artefact is a damaged brass cow bell recovered from the 1878 shipwreck of the LOCH ARD near Port Campbell. It was raised by Flagstaff Hill divers in 1973 and is in storage at the Maritime Village. The LOCH ARD was constructed on the Clyde in 1873 for the prestigious Loch Line of colonial clipper ships, designed for the Australian run. She sailed from England on 1 March 1878 carrying 37 crew, 17 passengers and a diverse general cargo ranging from luxury items to bulk railway iron. On 1 June 1878, emerging from fog and hearing too late the sound of breakers against the tall limestone cliffs, the vessel struck the southern foot of Mutton Bird Island and sank in 23 metres of water. Of the fifty-four people on board only two survived, one young male crewman and one young female passenger. A century later, despite the pounding seas and the efforts of looters, the wreck site continued to provide ample evidence of the extraordinary range of goods being imported into the Colony of Victoria in the post-Gold Rush era. Flagstaff Hill divers in the 1970s reported finds of “Bottles of champagne, window panes, rolls of zinc, barrels of cement, iron rails, clocks, lead shot, corrugated iron, lead, marble, salad oil bottles, ink bottles, copper wire, gin bottles, rolls of carpet, floor tiles, copper rivets, gas light fittings, pocket knives, toys, crystal chandeliers, beer mugs, cutlery, candles sticks, wick scissors, cow bells, and sauce bottles.” From this array of objects on the ocean floor emerged the humble brass cow bell. Cow bells were common to colonial agriculture and transport, used wherever animals were turned out to graze overnight and had to be rounded up again next morning. Bells were fastened around the necks of household milking cows, domestic goats, bullock teams, horse teams, and camel teams, to help find them in the pre-dawn light. Station shepherds and cattle drovers also used them to warn of any disturbances to their flocks and herds overnight. The bells were a necessary item in a largely unfenced continent. So important, that Anthony Mongon began making his pot-bells at Yackandandah from 1861, August Menneke produced the “Wagga Pot” from 1867, and Samuel Jones started manufacturing his distinctively shaped “Condamine Bell” in 1868. However, these deeply resonant Australian bells were made from iron — Mongon and Jones were blacksmiths who simply beat old pitsaw blades into shape. Few genuinely brass cow bells were made here, the vast majority being imported from Britain where the industry of brass founding was already well established. (Some bells were also imported from the United States, but these too were nearly all of iron).This bell is historically significant as typical of a cow bell used by farmers and herdsmen in Colonial Victoria. It was included in the cargo of the Loch Ard. Its significance is increased by being one of a collection of artefacts recovered by the Flagstaff Hill Divers from the wreck of the Loch Ard in the early 1970s. Items that come from several wrecks along Victoria's coast have also been recovered for Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village’s museum collection under a Government permit, illustrating this item’s level of historical value. The cow bell is also significant for being part of Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from LOCH ARD, which is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S417). The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the LOCH ARD. The LOCH ARD collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The LOCH ARD collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes). The collection is also historically significant for its association with the LOCH ARD, which was one of the worst and best-known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history.Cow bell; a small brass bell, blunt-wedge shaped. The sides expand outwards from the smaller rectangular roof of the bell to a larger open rectangle or bell mouth. The handle, now missing, was fixed in two places at the top. A neat half-circle piece has been cut from the base on a long edge. Recovered from the wreck of the Loch Ard.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, eva carmichael, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, brass cow bell, colonial cow bells, 1878 shipwreck, shipwreck artefact, flagstaff hill divers, cow bell

Probably acquired because of its connection to rural life and the Irish immigrants settled in the Ballarat DistrictA postcard of a grey horse pulling a cart with a man in a hat holding a whip.chatham-holmes family collection, ireland, irish jaunting car, horse, carriage, cart, transport

The artefact is a damaged brass cow bell recovered from the 1878 shipwreck of the LOCH ARD near Port Campbell. It was raised by Flagstaff Hill divers in 1973 and is in storage at the Maritime Village. The LOCH ARD was constructed on the Clyde in 1873 for the prestigious Loch Line of colonial clipper ships, designed for the Australian run. She sailed from England on 1 March 1878 carrying 37 crew, 17 passengers and a diverse general cargo ranging from luxury items to bulk railway iron. On 1 June 1878, emerging from fog and hearing too late the sound of breakers against the tall limestone cliffs, the vessel struck the southern foot of Mutton Bird Island and sank in 23 metres of water. Of the fifty-four people on board only two survived, one young male crewman and one young female passenger. A century later, despite the pounding seas and the efforts of looters, the wreck site continued to provide ample evidence of the extraordinary range of goods being imported into the Colony of Victoria in the post-Gold Rush era. Flagstaff Hill divers in the 1970s reported finds of “Bottles of champagne, window panes, rolls of zinc, barrels of cement, iron rails, clocks, lead shot, corrugated iron, lead, marble, salad oil bottles, ink bottles, copper wire, gin bottles, rolls of carpet, floor tiles, copper rivets, gas light fittings, pocket knives, toys, crystal chandeliers, beer mugs, cutlery, candles sticks, wick scissors, cow bells, and sauce bottles.” From this array of objects on the ocean floor emerged the humble brass cow bell. Cow bells were common to colonial agriculture and transport, used wherever animals were turned out to graze overnight and had to be rounded up again next morning. Bells were fastened around the necks of household milking cows, domestic goats, bullock teams, horse teams, and camel teams, to help find them in the pre-dawn light. Station shepherds and cattle drovers also used them to warn of any disturbances to their flocks and herds overnight. The bells were a necessary item in a largely unfenced continent. So important, that Anthony Mongon began making his pot-bells at Yackandandah from 1861, August Menneke produced the “Wagga Pot” from 1867, and Samuel Jones started manufacturing his distinctively shaped “Condamine Bell” in 1868. However, these deeply resonant Australian bells were made from iron — Mongon and Jones were blacksmiths who simply beat old pitsaw blades into shape. Few genuinely brass cow bells were made here, the vast majority being imported from Britain where the industry of brass founding was already well established. (Some bells were also imported from the United States, but these too were nearly all of iron).This bell is historically significant as typical of a cow bell used by farmers and herdsmen in Colonial Victoria. Its significance is increased by being one of a collection of artefact recovered by the Flagstaff Hill Divers from the wreck of the Loch Ard in the early 1970s. Items that come from several wrecks along Victoria's coast have also been recovered for Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village’s museum collection under Government permit, illustrating this item’s level of historical value. The cow bell is also significant for being part of Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from LOCH ARD, which is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S417). The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the LOCH ARD. The LOCH ARD collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The LOCH ARD collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes). The collection is also historically significant for its association with the LOCH ARD, which was one of the worst and best known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history.A small brass cow bell, in poor condition. It is blunt-wedge shaped. The sides expand outwards from the smaller rectangular roof of the bell to a larger open rectangle or bell mouth. A handwritten label is attached to the bel. Recovered from the wreck of the Loch Ard.Label text "["10/6/73, Brass Cow Bell, LOCH ARD, Found in the sandy hole in the centre of the wreck site. Cow bells were part of the cargo" - "10/6/73, LOCH ARD, small brass cow bell salvaged by FHMV divers"]. "LOCH ARD / PETER RONALD"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, eva carmichael, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, brass cow bell, colonial cow bells, 1878 shipwreck, shipwreck artefact, flagstaff hill divers

Research is still being carried out regarding the inscription on this bell. Perhaps it was used for horses during the war. It may have been a souvenir or perhaps just a political statement, similar to 'Buy Australian'. Cow bells were common to colonial agriculture and transport, used wherever animals were turned out to graze overnight and had to be rounded up again next morning. Bells were fastened around the necks of household milking cows, domestic goats, bullock teams, horse teams, and camel teams, to help find them in the pre-dawn light. Station shepherds and cattle drovers also used them to warn of any disturbances to their flocks and herds overnight. The bells were a necessary item in a largely unfenced continent. So important, that Anthony Mongon began making his pot-bells at Yackandandah from 1861, August Menneke produced the “Wagga Pot” from 1867, and Samuel Jones started manufacturing his distinctively shaped “Condamine Bell” in 1868. However, these deeply resonant Australian bells were made from iron — Mongon and Jones were blacksmiths who simply beat old pitsaw blades into shape. Few genuinely brass cow bells were made here, the vast majority being imported from Britain where the industry of brass founding was already well established. (Some bells were also imported from the United States, but these too were nearly all of iron).This bell is historically significant as typical of a cow bell used by farmers and herdsmen in Colonial Victoria. Cow bell, brass, topless pyramid shape, inverted "U" shaped pin attached. Pin and clapper are iron. Bell is embossed on sides. Embossed "ADVANCE / VICTORIA" and "WWI"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, maritime museum, great ocean road, cow bell, horse bell, bell smith, vintage bell, farmer, shepherd, drover, stock bell, brass bell, advance australia, wwi

This wagon is linked to Mr Stanley James Bell via his father Mr John Bell, who owned "Warrumyea" at Wangoom. It is believed that Stanley grew up and worked for his father at this property, eventuality inheriting his father's death in 1920. This wagon was likely used at Mr Stanley Bell's property “Warrumyea” at Wangoom around 1920-1940. The wagon was donated in 1984, at which time it was noted as having a brass plate inscribed "Jas", which name Stanley was known by. Also, a painted on the wage was “S J Bell Wangoom”. Remnants of the original paint colours of blue and yellow show on the photograph, which was taken at the time of cataloguing. Mr John Bell Snr from Plymouth, England, arrived in Portland, Victoria, around 1860. He had served in the British navy as a lad for a number of years. On arriving in Australia he travelled to the Wangoom district where he lived for many years. Mr J Bell worked for 20 years as herd manager at “Wangoom Park”., for Mr F Tozer (1843-1954), one of the original pioneers of the western district. He went on to pursue dairying and general farming at his property “Warrumyea” Wangoom. Bell’s son Stanley James Bell went to the Wangoom School. His first reader from this school, published in 1909, has his name inscribed in the flyleaf “Stanley J. Bell, Warrumyea, Wangoom” and is now in the collection of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society. Stanley went on working the property “Warrumyea” and eventually purchased “Wangoom Park” in 1956, where his father had been employed years before. Mr S J Bell died in 1968.The wagon is significant for its association with the farming history of Wangoom and the Warrnambool area in general. Also, the wage is significant for its association with one of the early families that settled in the Warrnambool area and their contribution to the dairying and general farming industries that sprang from their efforts. The wagon has a good provenance linking it to Mr Stanley James Bell and is also a good example of how goods were transported using horse-drawn vehicles at the beginning of the 20th century.Four-wheeled wagon or cart,12 spokes in each wheel, wooden axle with rear hub brake. Hinged and chained tailboard. Wheels have metal rims. Metal frame and wooden superstructure. Wagon has two pairs of staves. Wooden shelves, one missing with turntable. Small toolbox in front. Made by Kelly and Preston of Ballarat. Metal nameplate of the owner attached, "Jas" (S J Bell of Wangoom).. Original inscription, now obscured, was painted “Kelly and Preston Builders Ballarat”. Metal plate inscribed "Jas", and "S J Bell Wangoom". flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, wagon, sj bell, stanley james bell, wangoom park, warrumyea, first reader, john bell 1830-1920, stanley james bell 1904-1968, warrnambool pioneers, f tozer, western district, kelly and preston of ballarat

The artefact is a brass cow bell recovered from the 1878 shipwreck of the LOCH ARD near Port Campbell. It was raised by Flagstaff Hill divers in 1973 and is in storage at the Maritime Village. The LOCH ARD was constructed on the Clyde in 1873 for the prestigious Loch Line of colonial clipper ships, designed for the Australian run. She sailed from England on 1 March 1878 carrying 37 crew, 17 passengers and a diverse general cargo ranging from luxury items to bulk railway iron. On 1 June 1878, emerging from fog and hearing too late the sound of breakers against the tall limestone cliffs, the vessel struck the southern foot of Mutton Bird Island and sank in 23 metres of water. Of the fifty-four people on board only two survived, one young male crewman, Tom Pearce, and one young female passenger, Eva Carmichael. A century later, despite the pounding seas and the efforts of looters, the wreck site continued to provide ample evidence of the extraordinary range of goods being imported into the Colony of Victoria in the post-Gold Rush era. Flagstaff Hill divers in the 1970s reported finds of “Bottles of champagne, window panes, rolls of zinc, barrels of cement, iron rails, clocks, lead shot, corrugated iron, lead, marble, salad oil bottles, ink bottles, copper wire, gin bottles, rolls of carpet, floor tiles, copper rivets, gas light fittings, pocket knives, toys, crystal chandeliers, beer mugs, cutlery, candles sticks, wick scissors, cow bells, and sauce bottles.” From this array of objects on the ocean floor emerged the humble brass cow bell. Cow bells were common to colonial agriculture and transport, used wherever animals were turned out to graze overnight and had to be rounded up again next morning. Bells were fastened around the necks of household milking cows, domestic goats, bullock teams, horse teams, and camel teams, to help find them in the pre-dawn light. Station shepherds and cattle drovers also used them to warn of any disturbances to their flocks and herds overnight. The bells were a necessary item in a largely unfenced continent. So important, that Anthony Mongon began making his pot-bells at Yackandandah from 1861, August Menneke produced the “Wagga Pot” from 1867, and Samuel Jones started manufacturing his distinctively shaped “Condamine Bell” in 1868. However, these deeply resonant Australian bells were made from iron — Mongon and Jones were blacksmiths who simply beat old pitsaw blades into shape. Few genuinely brass cow bells were made here, the vast majority being imported from Britain where the industry of brass founding was already well established. (Some bells were also imported from the United States, but these too were nearly all of iron). This bell is historically significant as typical of a cow bell used by farmers and herdsmen in Colonial Victoria. Its significance is increased by being one of a collection of artefact recovered by the Flagstaff Hill Divers from the wreck of the Loch Ard in the early 1970s. Items that come from several wrecks along Victoria's coast have also been recovered for Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village’s museum collection under Government permit, illustrating this item’s level of historical value. The cow bell is also significant for being part of Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from LOCH ARD, which is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S417). The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the LOCH ARD. The LOCH ARD collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The LOCH ARD collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes). The collection is also historically significant for its association with the LOCH ARD, which was one of the worst and best known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history. Brass cow bell, flat-top pyramid shape, rectangular head, shoulders flare out to a rectangular mouth. The hanging yoke is missing. Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, loch ard, cowbell, great ocean road, loch line, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, cow bell, brass cow bell, shipwreck artefact, flagstaff hill divers, horse bell, bell smith, vintage bell, farmer, shepherd, drover, stock bell, brass bell

The artefact is a brass cow bell recovered from the 1878 shipwreck of the LOCH ARD near Port Campbell. It was raised by Flagstaff Hill divers in 1973 and is in storage at the Maritime Village. The LOCH ARD was constructed on the Clyde in 1873 for the prestigious Loch Line of colonial clipper ships, designed for the Australian run. She sailed from England on 1 March 1878 carrying 37 crew, 17 passengers and a diverse general cargo ranging from luxury items to bulk railway iron. On 1 June 1878, emerging from fog and hearing too late the sound of breakers against the tall limestone cliffs, the vessel struck the southern foot of Mutton Bird Island and sank in 23 metres of water. Of the fifty-four people on board only two survived, one young male crewman, Tom Pearce, and one young female passenger, Eva Carmichael. A century later, despite the pounding seas and the efforts of looters, the wreck site continued to provide ample evidence of the extraordinary range of goods being imported into the Colony of Victoria in the post-Gold Rush era. Flagstaff Hill divers in the 1970s reported finds of “Bottles of champagne, window panes, rolls of zinc, barrels of cement, iron rails, clocks, lead shot, corrugated iron, lead, marble, salad oil bottles, ink bottles, copper wire, gin bottles, rolls of carpet, floor tiles, copper rivets, gas light fittings, pocket knives, toys, crystal chandeliers, beer mugs, cutlery, candles sticks, wick scissors, cow bells, and sauce bottles.” From this array of objects on the ocean floor emerged the humble brass cow bell. Cow bells were common to colonial agriculture and transport, used wherever animals were turned out to graze overnight and had to be rounded up again next morning. Bells were fastened around the necks of household milking cows, domestic goats, bullock teams, horse teams, and camel teams, to help find them in the pre-dawn light. Station shepherds and cattle drovers also used them to warn of any disturbances to their flocks and herds overnight. The bells were a necessary item in a largely unfenced continent. So important, that Anthony Mongon began making his pot-bells at Yackandandah from 1861, August Menneke produced the “Wagga Pot” from 1867, and Samuel Jones started manufacturing his distinctively shaped “Condamine Bell” in 1868. However, these deeply resonant Australian bells were made from iron — Mongon and Jones were blacksmiths who simply beat old pitsaw blades into shape. Few genuinely brass cow bells were made here, the vast majority being imported from Britain where the industry of brass founding was already well established. (Some bells were also imported from the United States, but these too were nearly all of iron). This bell is historically significant as typical of a cow bell used by farmers and herdsmen in Colonial Victoria. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from LOCH ARD is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S417). The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the LOCH ARD. The LOCH ARD collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The LOCH ARD collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes). The collection is also historically significant for its association with the LOCH ARD, which was one of the worst and best known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history. Cow bell, brass, covered in encrustation, handle missing from the top.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, maritime museum, great ocean road, shipwreck artefact, loch ard, mutton bird island, glenample, eva carmichael, tom pearce, flagstaff hill divers, cow bell, horse bell, bell smith, vintage bell, farmer, shepherd, drover, stock bell, brass bell