The SS ‘Excelsior’ was an iron screw steamer, built in Southampton, England, in 1882 and first registered in Melbourne, Victoria, in 1882. Her journey from Southampton, England to Melbourne, Victoria is reported to have taken just 66 days. She would prove to be a very popular vessel on Port Phillip Bay, though her reign may have been relatively short as she was sunk in 1890. She was refloated sometime between 1890 to 1900 as some records state 1890, others at 1900. Gross Tonnage: 350, Net Tonnage: 172, Length: 186 ft 6 in (56.85 m), Beam: 21 ft 1 in (6.43 m), Depth: 10 ft 7 in (3.23 m), First Owner: Huddart Parker & Co. A Timeline of SS Excelsior’s life: 15 Jan 1883 → the SS ‘Excelsior’ commenced the Melbourne to Geelong run. 27 Jan 1940 21 Jan 1890 →the SS ‘Flora’ ran aground whilst heading out to Hobart, Tasmania, on a tight bend in the Yarra River at Spotswood. Whilst stuck fast in the mud, the SS ‘Excelsior’ ran into her stern – thankfully the damage to both vessels was only minor. 9 Jan 1897 → The SS ‘Excelsior’ sank the Ketch ‘Lu Lu’ on the south bank of the Hopetoun Channel near Geelong, Victoria. Blame is shared between Captains of both vessels: At the meeting of the Marine Board the report of the nautical expert committee, relative to the collision between the steamer Excelsior and ketch Lulu, was considered. The committee recommended that the matter should be remitted to the Marine Court, and a charge of misconduct preferred against Gilbert Moore, master of the Excelsior. Mr Wilson, one of the committee, dissented. He thought in view of the nature of the evidence charges should be preferred against both masters. Mr Dickens moved an amendment to the latter effect, but it was rejected, and the report adopted. 11 Jul 1899 → The SS ‘Edina’ sinks the SS ‘Excelsior’ during thick fog: Shortly after, half-past 11 o’clock this, morning a serious collision took place in Port Phillip Bay between the steamers Edina and the Excelsior. The Edina was on her way to Geelong, to which place she makes a trip every forenoon in the course of her trade with that port, and the Excelsior was coming up the bay to Melbourne. The weather was calm but thick, and a fog hung over the water. The Edina struck the Excelsior on the port side amidships, and she sank within a quarter of an hour. Both vessels carried a large number of passengers, and large cargoes, but there was very little excitement. The whole thing happened so suddenly that until the crash came those on board the steamers were not aware that any other boat was near at all. When both vessels began to draw away after the collision it was at once seen that the Excelsior was the most seriously injured of the two, and she at once began to settle down rapidly. Some of the Excelsior’s passengers were dragged on board the Edina at once, while the remainder, including the crew, were rescued by boats. As far as can be ascertained no one was drowned, but some 20 or 25 were injured. Dr. Wilson, headmaster of the Brighton Presbyterian Ladies’ College, was perhaps the most seriously injured of the Excelsior’s passengers. He was looking down the companion ladder ‘when the collision took place, and he was thrown violently below, sustaining a compound fracture of the right fore-arm. When attended to it was found, that he suffered severely from the shook of his fall and was rather in a bad way. A lady passenger by the Excelsior had her side lacerated, while another had her ankle sprained. The remainder of the others injured had either small cuts or were suffering from shock. The Excelsior went down stern first, and now lies in about five fathoms of water, with her bow above the surface. The Edina is almost uninjured, but she will be immediately placed in dock, as she is making water slightly. c 1900 → The SS ‘Excelsior’ was raised from her watery grave where a large cut can be seen on the SS Excelsior in dock and reveals the breach made and damage done by the Edina. c 1939 → Records regarding the SS ‘Excelsior’ are elusive until c 1939, when she was commissioned to relocate to Brisbane, Queensland, during the Second World War: The Excelsior came to Brisbane on a voyage north during the 1939-45 War. Being unseaworthy she could not be taken further and was used here as a workshop. After the war, she was discarded on Bishop Island. c 1946 → Sometime after WWII was over, the SS ‘Excelsior’ joined many a ship in the graveyard at Bishop Island in Queensland. The island has been the site for the disposal of many ships. Ships recorded as being discarded here include the Groper, Adonis, Roderick Dhu, Excelsior, Yosemite, Maida, Civility, Captain Cook, Bingera, St. Kilda, Lucinda, Moreton, Miner, Schnapper, Lochiel, Queensland, Victoria, and BadgerThe SS Excelsior is a well known ship from the history of Geelong. Its collision with the equally well known SS Edina is of particular interest to Geelong. She was a famous ship in the reckon of Port Phillip despite her short life stand, especially when compared to the SS Edina. Colour painting of ship departingship collision, ship wreck, ss excelsior, ss edina, bishop island

This reproduction photograph was donated at a major reunion in 2008, organised by students of the school from the 1950s. It pictures Mabel Molland and a young student at Monomeith, home to the school since 1956. Monomeith is a Victorian Heritage Register listed (VHR number H0452), italianate styled brick villa, built in 1887 for one of Williamstown’s most important identities, James Styles. Styles’ distinguished career in public life included membership of the Williamstown Council, a stint in state parliament as the Member for Williamstown (1894-1900) and, in 1901, election to the first commonwealth parliament as a senator. During the 1890s he was also a commissioner of both the Melbourne Harbour Trust and the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works and one of the trustees of the Williamstown Grammar School. The property comprises the residence designed by W Bennett Hall and built by James Styles in 1887 and the former migrant hostel buildings (now administration and classrooms), erected around 1951 by the then owner the Melbourne Harbour Trust, and intended to house migrant workers during the dredging of Port Phillip Bay. By the 1950s, the School had outgrown its home at Holy Trinity Hall and Mabel Molland reached out to Mr. Keith White, president of the Parent's Association and well-respected member of Williamstown Council for assistance. In 1956, following lengthy negotiations led by Mr. White, Monomeith was leased from the Melbourne Harbour Trust under a seven-year lease, which eventuated as a twenty-one year lease, followed by purchase of the property in 1972. Since then this historic building has come to be a much-loved symbol of the history of Westbourne Grammar School. This is a rare image of Mabel Molland at Monomeith, taken in the year prior to her retirement having taken over the school in 1914 and then set it on a path for the future as an incorporated company in the hands of a school council, with Mr Keith White as president, in 1956. Black and white reproduction photograph of a a residence (Monomeith) with steps in the middle ground, leading up to a verandah with ornate ironwork. Mabel Molland stands on the steps and a young student can be seen on the verandah.

Published for a reunion of David and Janet Bowman's decendentsPale Blue card cover with black ink title below which is a stylised map of Australia and The Welsh lion Bi-Centential Logo in bottom RightExchanging One Country for Another. A History of David and Janet Bowman & Family in Port Phillip/Victoria from 1840. Australia 1788-1988stawell immigration

The Joseph H Scammell sailed from New York on 13th January 1891 bound For Melbourne Australia. On 7th May 1891 she hit rough weather outside Port Phillip Bay, and hit the reef 400 metres off Port Danger, at Torquay. The people on board were rescued the next day but the ship broke up and cargo and goods were strewn along the foreshore. An auction of goods was conducted by Burns and Sparrow and this dish was purchased by Edwin Molyneaux, one of the Founding Fathers of Torquay, and donated by his Great Grand daughterThis item was rescued from the only shipwreck off Torquay. The focus of this wreck has formed part of Torquay's history and folkloreA solid rectangular clear cut glass dish, part of collection from the Joseph H. Scammell.Original Note of unknown author "off /Joseph H/Scammell/May7th 1891glass dish, wreck of joseph h scammell

Copy of a map from 'A Short History of Australia' by Ernest Scott.map, explorers, exploration, westernport, port phillip, queenscliffe, melbourne, brighton, williamstown, port arlington, hobson bay, cape otway, geelong, barwon river, ballarat, yarra river, yarra yarra river

Copy of a map from 'A Short History of Australia' by Ernest Scott.map, explorers, exploration, australian alps, westernport, port phillip, hume and hovell, oxley, evans, cunningham, darling downs, liverpool

William Buckley was born in 1780 at Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. After time as a bricklayer and soldier he was caught with stolen property, sentenced on 2 August 1802, and transported to Australia. Between October, 1803, and January, 1804, he escaped from Sullivan's Bay in the Port Phillip district and spent the next 32 years in the company of aborigines wandering between Port Phillip and the near western district as far as Lake Corangamite. In about 1835 he was discovered by three white men, members of John Batman's Port Phillip Association investigating the area with a view to future settlement.Wild white man. Kevin Hayden. Marine History Publications; Geelong (Vic); nd. 28 p.; illus.; map. Soft cover.william buckley; aborigines; otway ranges;

This book is a replica of a booklet printed in the United Kingdom. In 1848, when it was published in London as a guide to prospective emigrants, 23,904 people left the United Kingdom for the Australian colonies and New Zealand. In 1847, with the failure of potato crops threatening famine in Ireland and growing political unrest at home, the British Government had once again encouraged emigration by offering free passage to candidates of 'good character'. Immigration, particularly by the labouring classes, was intended to relieve both the overburdened Mother Country and the colonies which had acute labour shortages. The booklet gives some history of each colony as well as the sale of lands, mines and mining, produce, the price of living, wages and, generally, the situation. The emigrant's friend, or authentic guide to South Australia including Sydney: Port Phillip, or Australia Felix: Western Australia, or Swan River Colony: New South Wales: Van Dieman's Land: and New Zealand. Reprint. Reader's Digest Services Pty Limited; Surrey Hills (NSW); 1974. 40 p. Soft cover. australia; colonies; settlement; nsw; port phillip; western australia; south australia; van dieman's land; new zealand; emigration; immigration;