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

White plastic bound book, front and back covers made from marine blue card, silver whales and text on front cover, silver seals and text on back cover. Text of book handwritten.

The case was provided by the Sullivan family in memory of John Loring Sullivan who was lost at sea on 30.11.1934.Circular ring, white and red painted canvas on buoyant material perhaps cork. "Coramba' and PORT FAIRY lettered in black. A rope loop fastened in 4 places around the edge of the buoy. The buoy hangs in a glass fronted clear finish timber case, stands vertically on 2 timber footings. The 2 hanging brackets are made form stainless steel. Memorial plaque in centre of case.Front: 'Coramba' 'Port Fairy' Back: -lifesaving, marine, maritime history

Port Fairy Historical SocietyNo details supplied.

19/04/2000Canvas covered ring of bouyant material (possibly cork), painted white and red. Rope loop fastened to back of ring. Mounted in glass fronted wooden case mounted on timber footings. Small memorial plaque in centre of back board of case.Front: On upper section of ring "Coramba", on lower section "Port Fairy"

RACV road map, Warrnambool District, Port Fairy to Lorne. Large coloured map of Warrnambool District. Small maps of Apollo Bay, Colac, Camperdown, Tower Hill and Warrnambool. When folded, black and white photo on cover of 12 Apostlesracv, road touring, road map, victoria

RACV road map, Portland district, Port MacDonnell to Warrnambool. Large coloured map of Portland District, small maps of Portland, Mt Gambier, Hamilton, Mount Eccles National Park, Coonawarra Wineries. When folded, black and white phot of child fishing on jetty on Moyne River, Port Fairy on coverroad touring, racv, map

Printed leaflet of 'Amended Laws', outlining the changes to Laws 40 A and 41, which were made at the AGM, Port Fairy, 22 Jan 1903. Printed both sides

City of Portland Collection|Kurtze Museum|19/4/2000. The lifebuoy came from the S S Casino. A popular cargo ship, the Casino was a regular sight on the Moyne river and along the coast. The ship was an integral part of coastal life until she was shipwrecked in the 1930's, and objects from the Casino can now be found in collections from across the region.S S CasinoCanvas covered ring of bouyant material (possibly cork), with rope loop fixed to 4 ponts on the outside edge. Inscription "S.S. CASINO" centre top, "PORT FAIRY" at centre bottom, a flag painted centre left and centre right.Front: Centre top "S. S. CASINO"|Centre bottom "PORT FAIRY"|flag on centre left and centre rightss casino, port fairy, cargo ship, lifebuoy

Contemporary postcard of Victorian lightbouses. 4 rectangular and one oval full coloured photos of lighthouses at Point Lonsdale, Aireys Inlet, Cape Nelson, Port Fairy and Cape Otway. 'Lighthouses Great Ocean Road, Victoria Australia' in white on black, bottom margin. Travellers notes logo on right.

Minutes of Annual Meeting of the AOF, held at Oddfellows' Hall, Port Fairy on Thursday Jan 23 1908. 10 pages, white paper, black print

Book of play by William Shakespeare (The Warwick Shakespeare) 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'Four Athenians run away to the forest only to have Puck the fairy make both of the boys fall in love with the same girl. The four run through the forest pursuing each other while Puck helps his master play a trick on the fairy queen. In the end, Puck reverses the magic, and the two couples reconcile and marry.shakespeare, novel, literature

Book of play by William Shakespeare (The Junior School Shakespeare) 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' Red cloth soft cover, black printFour Athenians run away to the forest only to have Puck the fairy make both of the boys fall in love with the same girl. The four run through the forest pursuing each other while Puck helps his master play a trick on the fairy queen. In the end, Puck reverses the magic, and the two couples reconcile and marry.

Port Fairy Police Station records.Hand written supplementary Police Report of Criminal Offence unlawful assault, Port Fairy police station.

Hand written supplementary Police Report of Criminal Offence - shop breaking and stealing, Port Fairy police station

This album was handed in at Portland Transfer station, as it was never collected it was donated to the collection.Photograph album, green covers, black and white photos of Mt Gambier, Portland, Port Fairy, Great Ocean Rd, Twelve apostles, Yallourn, and a zoo.

Hand written police Criminal Offence report - unlawful assault; Port Fairy Police Station

Black and white photo. Beauty Contest 1952. Seven women in evening wear with sashes, one seated who appears to be Queen 1951. Sash wearers inclue: Miss Portland, Miss Heywood, Miss Coleraine, Miss Port Fairy, Miss Hamilton and Miss CastertonBack: 'J. Moore' - red biro, '1952' - black pencil

Victorian Railways cloakroom ticket, green and buff heavy card. No. 0128 Port Fairy.victorian railways

Hand written supplementary Police Report of Criminal Offence - horse stealing, Port Fairy police station

Donated by the Port Fairy Historical SocietyPortland glass milk bottle, lighthouse logo, 'Superior' milk, registered brand. One imperial pint size.dairy, rural industry

Envelope, 1st Day Cover, sinking of the SS Casino, 1932. Depiction of SS Casino on left, 27 cent and 3 cent stamp cancelled Port Fairy, Apollo Bay, replica of registration of vessel stamp, 6 June 1992.first day cover, ss casino, shipwreck, shipwreck coast

Western Wonderland Tourist Association pamphlet. Contains tourism information for area bounded by Mt. Gambier, Casterton, Coleraine, Hamilton, Warrnambool, Pt Fairy and Portland.tourism, advertising

Hand written supplementary Police Report of Criminal Offence - saddle stealing, Port Fairy police stationport fairy police station report of criminal offence

Hand written supplementary Police Report of Criminal Offence - horse stealing, Port Fairy police station, 27 Nov 1914

Hand written supplementary Police Report of Criminal Offence - larceny, 8 bags of oats, Port Fairy police station.

Hand written supplementary Police Report of Criminal Offence - larceny in a dwelling, Port Fairy police station

Port Fairy Police Station recordsHand written , supplementary Police Criminal Offence report - Larceny, Port Fairy Police Station, 23 Apr 1913Front: Hand written - ' Please copy Portland & Heywood'

Port Fairy Historical SocietyCylinder of wood, believed to be from SS 'Admella', inscribed on one end in black 'SS Admella 1859'.