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Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Domestic object - Candle Bracket, c. 1878
This candle bracket was recovered from the wreck of the sailing ship Loch Ard after the to the disaster in 1878. The bracket has been hand forged into a pleasing shape and design. The candle holder on the arm of the bracket cn swivel from side to side allowing the light to be adjusted. LOCH ARD 1873-1878 – The Scottish-built clipper ship Loch Ard was bound for Melbourne in 1878 with 54 people on board. The mixed cargo it carried included items for the 1880 International Exhibition in Melbourne, one of which was the now famous Majorca ware Minton ‘Peacock’ statue. The Loch Ard was wrecked on June 1st when the ship crashed into Mutton Bird Island, east of Port Campbell. The only survivors were Tom Pearce, a crew member, and Eva Carmichael, a young passenger who was rescued by Pearce. The Gibsons, owners of nearby Glenample Homestead, cared for Tom, and for Eva who stayed longer before returning to Ireland. The wreck of the Loch Ard was discovered in 1967, before the introduction of the Victorian historic shipwreck legislation. In 1969 it was decided that all recovered material should be lodged with the Receiver of Wrecks. In 1980 Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum Divers received a permit to recover artefacts from the wreck to safeguard them from looters. In 1982 the site was listed as a Historic Shipwreck, and the Maritime Archaeology Unit recovered loose artefact material. The candle bracket is an example of light fittings from the ship ‘Loch Ard’ or from part of the ship’s cargo, imported for use in Colonial Victoria in the 19th to early 20th century. 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. Candle bracket, bronze with fancy floral design. Bracket has been hand wrought with varying widths of flat iron. Bracket’s arm swivels on a pin front of bracket. Bracket was 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, shipwreck artefact, loch ard, victoria, eva carmichael, tom pearce, antique, candle holder, candle bracket, candlestick holder, lighting, ship lighting, ship hardware -
Mission to Seafarers Victoria
Photograph - Photograph and letter, attached, T. Bateman, The members of the crew S.S. Siltonhall 1929, 16/10/1929
This letter was written by a representative of the crew of the SS Siltonhall to the Mission to Seafarers in Oct 1929. Their ship caught fire in the Indian Ocean and were rescued by the SS Anthea. The crew was sent to Melbourne and spent some time at the Mission. Article in the Argus, Tuesday 15 October 1929, page 6 "THE SILTONHALL'S SEAMEN. TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS Sir, the story of the disaster to the s.s. Siltonhall is still fresh in the public mind. The ship caught fire and she was abandoned and sank in the Indian Ocean. The crew took to the boats and were rescued and brought safely in to Melbourne. They have been with us now for nearly a week now, taking full advantage of the hospitality of the Mission to Seamen Institute.So far they have been provided with the bare necessities of one complete suit of clothing by the shipping authorities. They leave here to return home to England on Wednesday. If anyone will kindly contribute any articles of clothing or boots they will be most acceptable, especially as the men will be going to a cooler climate. Please send them to me. Yours Sincerily, HOWARD S. BAILEY, Chaplain, Missions to Seamen, Australian Wharf, Oct. 14."This letter and photograph indicate the valuable service that the Mission to Seafarers provides to crews of ships wrecked off the Australian coast. The smiling crew of the S.S. Siltonhall evidently appreciated that when they were in desperate need they were cared for. The picture was possibly taken in a nautical context, perhaps at the docks or on board a ship.B/W photograph of group of 22 men. Letter signed T. Bateman from crew of the SS Siltonhall dated Oct. 16th 1929. "Oct 16th 1929. / The members of the crew of the SS Siltonhall, / which caught fire in the Indian Ocean, and / was abandoned on Sept 21st 1929, wish to / thank the 'Missions to Seamen', and all those / concerned, for their hospitality, in the way of / Concerts, Socials, etc., also for boots and clothing / gratefully received. / On behalf of the crew. T. Bateman." photograph, letter, 1929, siltonhall, ship, crew, mission, seafarers, wreck, fire, bateman, melbourne, australia, shipwreck, reverend howard s. bailey, j. bateman -
Mission to Seafarers Victoria
Book (Item) - Scrapbook, Edith E Hitchcock, Victoria Missions to Seamen, Spencer Street Railway Station, 1931-1943
The scrapbook, compiled by Edith E Hitchcock, displays a variety of newspaper clippings with photographs relating to ships, sailors, their hobbies, Padre Oliver. Page 1 - Map of the British Empire Page 3 - Newspaper clipping with photographs: "Happy Sailors Lads" onboard the CB Pedersen C.1935 Page 5 - Photograph depicting three children watching of a ship at sea Page 7 - 1937: article: with photograph"Sea Captain and Artist": Captain A.C.G. Dreillek, Swedish ship Yngaren (similar photo published in 1937 in the Courier Mail Brisbane) Page 9 - 1935: "Reunited": Dog Patsy with ship Pegasus crew members / "Sydney Harbour Bridge": Phillip Vanderhill, Cook of the Kota Inter and its sitar creation Page 11: Mr G. Gatty and Tim, the cat from the Esperance Bay / Herbert the hen, pet on the ship King Arthur / Frank Simpson, quartermaster and painter from the ship City of Dieppe. Page 13: Conway Seymour and shipmate aboard the Orford. Page 15: 3 photographs of French sailors from the cruiser Rigault de Grenouilly in 1936. Page 16: Photograph of A.J. Kramer working on a ship model aboard the Dutch ship, Kota Inten. Page 17: 1936: Photographs of sailors from the French ship Rigault de Grenouilly and the American ship: California State berthed in Prince's Pier. (plus two large loose clippings with portraits of same sailors). Page 18: 1934: Ball on the Manunda to raise funds for the Mission: photograph of Captain Robert Sunter, Padre Oliver, Moira Oliver, Mrs Harold Clapp. Page 19: Photograph of French sailors from the Rigault de Grenouilly in a bus en route to the Dandenong Ranges. Page 21: Photographs of a shipwreck (probably Kakariki in 1938, see next page). Page 23: Aerial photograph of the shipwreck Kakariki in Hobson's Bay in 1937 Page 25: Photograph of the shipwreck Kakariki in Hobson's Bay in 1937. Page 26: Photograph of the shipwreck Kakariki in Hobson's Bay in 1937. Page 27: Photograph of the survivors from the shipwreck Kakariki in the Mission in 1937: A. Bunyard, W. Fisk, J. Greene, L. Tarlington, J. McInnes, G. Coote, G. Sugar. Page 28: Photograph of the survivors from the shipwreck Kakariki in the Caradale in 1937: W. Fisk, T.W. White. Page 29: Missioneers talk to Firemen: Padre Oliver and his assistant, L.V. Owen talking to ship's firemen.(the Argus, 24 July 1931) Page 31: 3 articles with photographs: American cadets from the California State / Governor's Surprise Visit: Lord Huntingfield visiting Padre Oliver in the Mission (the Argus, 19 May 1936) / Sea Scouts on Liner: Padre Oliver on the P&O Cathay (the Argus, 16 June 1936) Page 33: Harbour Lights: padre Oliver, Lord Somers and Rev. R. Kerdell / Visit of the Duchess to the Mission (the Argus, 26 february 1945). Page 34: Photograph titled "An old salt still yearns for the sea- 369 miles away". Page 35: two clippings : Presentation of cheques for Merchant Navy: Betty Raymond giving a cheque to Padre L.L. Elliott / A cheque for the Seamen's Mission: Photograph of Padre Oliver with a cheque. Page 37: 4 clippings with photographs: Padre Oliver playing the piano for the cadets of the C.B. Pedersen / Miss Gladys Grant with parcels (from the Age 10 November 1943) / All Nations' Dance / Christmas at the Flinders Street mission, Padre Oliver cutting the cake (The Age, 15 December 1942) Page 39: Unveiling of the Memorial window to Captain Robert Sunter in 1936. Page 41: 2 clippings: At the Seamen's Mission: photographs of J. W. Neill and Padre Oliver / Married: Albert Robertson and Beryl Landrigan / Postcard of the St Peter Chapel. Page 43: 2 postcards: The Cloisters / The Mission view from Flinders Street. Page 45: Postcard of the windvane. / clipping of Sailors from the Zealandic. Page 46: 2 clippings: Virtually a Man without a country: Frans Nobel on the ship Milleeta / Seaman, Soldier, Waiter, Singer, Cook Finds Peace (Frans Nobel).(1939) Page 47: That Land Looks Good: two seamen from the tanker British Fame Page 48: large clipping of the C.B. Pedersen "Like a page from the past".(april-May 1935) Page 49: Photograph of Padre Oliver in his army uniform.This scrapbook is significant because it makes reference to contemporaneous events related to the Mission to Seafarers. On the inside cover is the name Edith E. Hitchcock.edith e. hitchcock, scrapbooks, c.b. pedersen, hobbies, ship models, painting, frank leslie oliver, mv manunda, captain robert sunter, windvane, rigault de genouilly, french, german, california, kakariki, ship pegasus, sydney harbour bridge, sugar, kota inten, philip vanderhill, lord somers, reverend r. kerdell, r.m.s. moldavia, victoria dock, ww2, pets, bird, dog, cat, gladys grant, alphonse polo, eugene emonin, raoul gannson, esperance bay, g. gatty, captain a. macwhirter, frank simpson, city of dieppe, conway seymour, orford, a.j. kramer, dutch, moira bird oliver (nee good), mrs harold clapp, caradale, 3uz radio, betty raymond, l.l. elliott, j.h. bustard, merchant navy patriotic fund, g.h. martin, j.w. neill, albert robertson, beryl landrigan, zealandic, frans nobel, milleeta, british fame -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Book - Rag Book, Dean & Son, The Life of a Bold AB on his Ship in the Rolling C, c. 1902
This cloth or rag book “The Life of a Bold AB on his Ship in the Rolling C” is a child’s ABC or A-Z illustrated book written in poetic form with the theme of the British Navy at turn of 20th century. This rare book is one of the first cloth books manufactured for children. It is likely that the book was illustrated by Will Kidd and published in London by Dean and Son, circa 1902, according to research of similar books. The book was sent to Flagstaff Hill as padding around the donated medal of Nelson Johnson for bravery at the time of the shipwreck of Eric the Red. This medal is also in our collection. The book was published by Dean & Son of London, established around 1800.This book is an early example of early 20th century children's literature.Rag book (or cloth book), child's book "The Life of a Bold AB on his ship in the rolling C". Illustrated ABC book with poetic text, telling the story of a young sailor's life at sea. Images are screen printed onto cloth pages. Bottom edges are salveges, top and side edges are frayed. The book is bound by stitching through the middle of the centre pages. Original red coloured print of front cover has faded. Theme of book is British Navy at turn of 20th century. Published by Dean and Sonflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, dean and son, child’s book, cloth book, rag book, children’s sailor book, 20th century children's literature, abc book, nautical book, maritime storybook, dean & son, toy book -
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Document - Form, Boat Station List
The Court of Marine Inquiry found that the steering gear had failed as the SS Time entered Port Phillip Heads. It was established that the fault lay with the Lloyd's surveyor for not detecting the fault when the Time had been classified Al. No blame was attached to the master. Two Queenscliff fishermen purchased weck for 950 pounds (insured value 30,000 pounds)and its timber cargo - handsome profit. Cargo and most fittings of value recovered. Wreck visible until early 1960s, until during a storm it slid off northern side of Nepean reef and broke up in 20 feet of water. The most noteworthy shipwreck to date at the heads.Two Queenscliff fishermen purchased the weck for 950 pounds (insured value 30,000 pounds) and its timber cargo - handsome profit. The cargo and most of the fittings of value were recovered. The wreck was visible until the early 1960s, until during a storm, it slid off the northern side of Nepean Reef and broke up in 20 feet of water. The most noteworthy shipwreck to date at the heads.A Commonwealth of Australia Navigation Act, Boat Station List form, showing the names of crew assigned to each of 4 lifeboats on the Port [P] and Starboard [S] sides of the SS Time dated 1 August 1949.Form C.B.D.F 3 for 4 lifeboats; Boat Station List navigation act, ss time, port phillip, shipwrecks, lifeboat rules -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Equipment - Sand peg set, Mid-19th to mid-20th Century
This set of Victorian era wooden sand pegs was part of the equipment used by the Rocket Rescue Crew when attending a shipwreck. The broad pegs were designed to give a strong grip on soft sand and soil. The pegs could be used with the sand anchor as well as to give a stronger hold on the tripod holding the hawser. The same design is still available today and is used by the Army and by campers. The rocket rescue crews used a sand anchor at a beach rescue site to weigh down the rescue apparatus. The crew would connect the shackle to the other cable on the anchor and to the loose steel cable to form a triangle with the cable lengths. They would then bury the anchor in about a 0.75-meter trench, keeping the free end of the cable above the surface. This end of the cable was then connected to a block that was attached to the heavy hawser line. The block and a crotch pole were used to keep the hawser line high and taught as the survivors were hauled to shore on a line or in a breeches buoy. Saving lives in Warrnambool – The coastline of South West Victoria is the site of over 600 shipwrecks and many lost lives; even in Warrnambool’s Lady Bay there were around 16 known shipwrecks between 1850 and 1905, with eight lives lost. In 1859 the first Government-built lifeboat arrived at Warrnambool Harbour and a shed was soon built to house it. In 1858 the provision of rocket and mortar apparatus was approved for lifeboat stations in Victoria, and in 1864 a rocket house was built to safely store the rocket rescue equipment. In 1878 the buildings were moved to the Breakwater area, and in 1910 the new Lifeboat Warrnambool arrived with its ‘self-righting’ design. For almost a hundred years the lifeboat and rocket crews, mostly local volunteers, trained regularly to maintain their rescue skills. They were summoned when needed by alarms, gunshots, ringing bells and foghorns. Some became local heroes but all served an important role. By the end of the 1950s, the lifeboat and rescue equipment had become obsolete. Rocket Rescue Method - The Government of Victoria adopted lifesaving methods based on Her Majesty’s Coast Guard in Great Britain. It authorised the first line-throwing rescue system in 1858. Captain Manby’s mortar powered a projectile connected to a rope, invented in 1808. The equipment was updated to John Dennett’s 8-foot shaft and rocket method that had a longer range of about 250 yards. From the 1860s the breeches buoy apparatus was in use. The apparatus was suspended on a hawser line and manually pulled to and from the distressed vessel carrying passengers and items. In the early 1870s Colonel Boxer’s rocket rescue method became the standard in Victoria. His two-stage rockets, charged by a gunpowder composition, could fire the line up to 500-600 yards, although 1000 yards range was possible. Boxer’s rocket carried the light line, which was faked, or coiled, in a particular way between pegs in a faking box to prevent twists and tangles when fired. The angle of firing the rocket to the vessel in distress was measured by a quadrant-type instrument on the side of the rocket machine. Decades later, in about 1920, Schermuly invented the line-throwing pistol that used a small cartridge to fire the rocket. The British Board of Trade published instructions for both the beach rescue crew and ship’s crew. It involved setting up the rocket launcher on shore at a particular angle measured by the quadrant, inserting a rocket that had a lightweight line threaded through its shaft, and then firing it across the stranded vessel, the line issuing freely from the faking board. A tally board was then sent out to the ship with instructions in four languages. The ship’s crew would haul on the line to bring out the heavier, continuous whip line, then secure the attached whip block to the mast or other sturdy part of the ship. The rescue crew on shore then hauled out a stronger hawser line, which the ship’s crew fixed above the whip block. The hawser was then tightened using the block on the shore end of the whip. The breeches buoy and endless whip are then attached to the traveller block on the hawser, allowing the shore crew to haul the breeches buoy to and from the vessel, rescuing the stranded crew one at a time. This set of sand pegs would have been used with sand anchor that is part of the rocket rescue equipment . It is significant for its connection with local history, maritime history and marine technology. Lifesaving has been an important part of the services performed from Warrnambool's very early days, supported by State and Local Government, and based on the methods and experience of Great Britain. Hundreds of shipwrecks along the coast are evidence of the rough weather and rugged coastline. Ordinary citizens, the Harbour employees, and the volunteer boat and rescue crew, saved lives in adverse circumstances. Some were recognised as heroes, others went unrecognised. In Lady Bay, Warrnambool, there were around 16 known shipwrecks between 1850 and 1905. Many lives were saved but tragically, eight lives were lost.Peg or spike; set of twelve wooden pegs, painted red. Pages have a long, thick square shank with bevelled side edges, flat top with broad hook on one side of the top and a point at the other end. A small hole goes from one side to the other side near the centre of the shank, on the face without the hook. flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, flagstaff hill, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, great ocean road, shipwreck, life-saving, lifesaving, rescue crew, rescue, rocket rescue, maritime accidents, shipwreck victim, rocket crew, beach rescue, line rescue, rescue equipment, rocket firing equipment, rocket rescue equipment, rocket apparatus, beach apparatus, breeches buoy, rocket house, rocket equipment, rocket launcher, rocket line, marine technology, beach rescue set, traveller, block, running block, pulley, hawser, faked line, lady bay, warrnambool harbour, port of warrnambool, volunteer lifesavers, volunteer crew, breakwater, rocket rescue method, rocket rescue apparatus, shore to ship, rocket apparatus rescue, stranded vessel, whip line, endless whip, harbour board, sand anchor, rocket set, anchor backer, beach anchor, backer, steel cable, wire cable, sand peg, wooden tent peg, army peg, military peg -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Equipment - Line throwing pistol, 1925-1945
This is a SPRA, or Schermuly’s Pistol Rocket Apparatus. The large firearm type pistol would have been used to throw a line between ships, usually in the event of saving lives. The line throwing pistol consists of a long barrel with handle attached, a pistol grip and trigger, which fires a short blank cartridge. Accessories for the pistol included: flares, 12 gauge adaptor (to shoot 12 gauge flares), a wood plunger, and boxes of faked line. The stamp on the handle, Crown over "NP" is a Birmingham Proof House mark that dates the pistol between 1904 and 1954. However Schermuly's line throwing pistol was invented in the 192s and used on British Naval Ships from 1929. The serial number '22507' is only 806 numbers later than one on sale as a British Military WWII issue SRPA '21701'. This pistol appears to be made 125-1945. The apparatus was used as a life saving device for crew and passengers on vessels in distress that were only a few hundred metres from shore, often eliminating the need to launch a boat and risk lives to go out to the vessel in dangerous conditions. It could also be used from ship to ship rescue. The pistol would launch a line from shore to the vessel. The line would be attached to the vessel, then shore crew would send out equipment, including a breeches buoy, in which the stranded people could be pulled to shore. It has saved many lives at sea. The cartridge is loaded into the breech of the pistol and the rocket is inserted into the muzzle. On pulling the trigger, the gases generated by the fired cartridge eject the rocket on its correct line of flight, and at the same time, burst through the waterproof disc and ignite the propellant mixture, which carries the rocket and line on the remainder of the flight. The rocket consists of a weldless steel case filled with propellant mixture sealed in by a waterproof disc. Fixed to the rocket case is a direction bridle, to the end of which a short length of flexible steel wire is attached, this in turn being connected to the end of the line to be thrown. A complete rocket set, or line throwing kit. would include a wood carrying case, two coils of faked line in separate compartments, three rockets and a can of six cartridges. William Schermuly (1857 – 1929) - Founder of the Schermuly business. In 1897 he invented a trough-fired, line throwing apparatus. In 1920 he and his third son, Alfred James Schermuly, invented the pistol rocket apparatus and promoted this overseas during the 1920s. The system was approved by the British Navy in 1929 through an Act of Parliament, which made it compulsory for ships over 500 tons to carry this equipment. The company, Schermuly Pistol Rocket Apparatus Ltd., grew quickly during and after World War II but business eased off during the 1970s before it eventually closed in the 1990s. Saving lives in Warrnambool – The coastline of South West Victoria is the site of over 600 shipwrecks and many lost lives; even in Warrnambool’s Lady Bay there were around 16 known shipwrecks between 1850 and 1905, with eight lives lost. Victoria’s Government responded to the need for lifesaving equipment and, in 1858, the provision of rocket and mortar apparatus was approved for the lifeboat stations. In 1859 the first Government-built lifeboat arrived at Warrnambool Harbour and a shed was soon built for it on the Tramway Jetty, followed by a rocket house in 1864 to safely store the rocket rescue equipment. In 1878 the buildings were moved to the Breakwater (constructed from 1874-1890), and in 1910 the new Lifeboat Warrnambool arrived with its ‘self-righting’ design. For almost a hundred years the lifesaving and rescue crews, mostly local volunteers, trained regularly to rehearse and maintain their rescue skills. They were summoned when needed by alarms, gunshots, ringing bells and foghorns. In July 1873 a brass bell was erected at Flagstaff Hill specifically to call the rescue crew upon news of a shipwreck. Some crew members became local heroes but all served an important role. Rocket apparatus was used as recently as the 1950s. This line-throwing pistol is part of he Rocket Launching Equipment used to perform life-saving rescue at sea from the 1920s. It is significant for its connection with local history, maritime history and marine technology. Lifesaving has been an important part of the services performed from Warrnambool's very early days, supported by State and Local Government, and based on the methods and experience of Great Britain. Hundreds of shipwrecks along the coast are evidence of the rough weather and rugged coastline. Ordinary citizens, the Harbour employees, and the volunteer boat and rescue crew, saved lives in adverse circumstances. Some were recognised as heroes, others went unrecognised. In Lady Bay, Warrnambool, there were around 16 known shipwrecks between 1850 and 1905. Many lives were saved but tragically, eight lives were lost.Pistol, line-throwing, SPRA (Schermuly's Pistol Rocket Apparatus). This line throwing pistol has a wooden pistol grip, brass trigger mechanism, and a long, wide, steel barrel with Bakelite handle attached to the top. Inscriptions are stamped onto the pistol.Stamped on handle: "5" and "[symbol of a Crown] above NP" , "22507", "[within oval] SPRA" Stamped on barrel: "L22507".gun, pistol, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, line throwing, line throwing pistol, spra, schermuly's pistol rocket apparatus, sea rescue, pyrotechnicks, marine technology, schermuly pistol rocket apparatus ltd., william schermuly, alfred schermuly, pistol line thrower, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, maritime village, lady bay, warrnambool harbour, port of warrnambool, shipwreck, life-saving, lifesaving, rescue crew, rescue, rocket rescue, rocket crew, beach rescue, line rescue, rescue equipment, rocket firing equipment, rocket rescue equipment, maritime accidents, shipwreck victim, rocket equipment, rescue boat, lifeboat, volunteer lifesavers, volunteer crew, life saving rescue crew, lifesaving rescue crew, rocket apparatus, rocket rescue method, shore to ship, rocket apparatus rescue, stranded vessel, line throwing mortar, rocket rescue apparatus, line thrower, lifeboat warrnambool, rocket machine, rocket head, rocket launcher, rocket line, beach rescue set, rocket set, schermuly, line-firing pistol, line throwing gun, pistol rocket apparatus, line throwing cartridge, line-throwing rocket, firearm, life saving, lsrc -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Equipment - Traveller pulley block, 1860s
The life saving breeches buoy was attached to a traveller block such as this one. The assembly was sent from shore to ship and back to transport the stranded people and goods safely to shore. Saving lives in Warrnambool – The coastline of South West Victoria is the site of over 600 shipwrecks and many lost lives; even in Warrnambool’s Lady Bay there were around 16 known shipwrecks between 1850 and 1905, with eight lives lost. Victoria’s Government responded to the need for lifesaving equipment and, in 1858, the provision of rocket and mortar apparatus was approved for the lifeboat stations. In 1859 the first Government-built lifeboat arrived at Warrnambool Harbour and a shed was soon built for it on the Tramway Jetty, followed by a rocket house in 1864 to safely store the rocket rescue equipment. In 1878 the buildings were moved to the Breakwater (constructed from 1874-1890), and in 1910 the new Lifeboat Warrnambool arrived with its ‘self-righting’ design. For almost a hundred years the lifesaving and rescue crews, mostly local volunteers, trained regularly to rehearse and maintain their rescue skills. They were summoned when needed by alarms, gunshots, ringing bells and foghorns. In July 1873 a brass bell was erected at Flagstaff Hill specifically to call the rescue crew upon news of a shipwreck. Some crew members became local heroes but all served an important role. Rocket apparatus was used as recently as the 1950s. Rocket Rescue Method - Rocket rescue became the preferred lifesaving method of the rescue crews, being much safer that using a lifeboat in rough seas and poor conditions. The Government of Victoria adopted lifesaving methods based on Her Majesty’s Coast Guard in Great Britain. It authorised the first line-throwing rescue system in 1858. Captain Manby’s mortar powered a projectile connected to rope, invented in 1808. The equipment was updated to John Dennett’s 8-foot shaft and rocket method that had a longer range of about 250 yards. From the 1860s the breeches buoy and traveller block rocket rescue apparatus was in use. It was suspended on a hawser line and manually pulled to and from the distressed vessel carrying passengers and items. In the early 1870s Colonel Boxer’s rocket rescue method became the standard in Victoria. His two-stage rockets, charged by a gunpowder composition, could fire the line up to 500-600 yards, although 1000 yards range was possible. Boxer’s rocket carried the light line, which was faked, or coiled, in a particular way between pegs in a faking box to prevent twists and tangles when fired. The angle of firing the rocket to the vessel in distress was measured by a quadrant-type instrument on the side of the rocket machine. Decades later, in 1920, Schermuly invented the line-throwing pistol that used a small cartridge to fire the rocket. . The British Board of Trade regularly published instructions for both the beach rescue crew and ship’s crew. It involved setting up the rocket launcher on shore at a particular angle, determined by the Head of the crew and measured by the quadrant, inserting a rocket that had a light-weight line threaded through its shaft, and then firing it across the stranded vessel, the line issuing freely from the faking board. A continuous whip line was then sent out to the ship’s crew, who hauled it in then followed the instructions – in four languages - on the attached tally board. The survivors would haul on the line to bring out the heavier, continuous whip line with a tail block connected to it. They then secured the block to the mast or other strong part the ship. The rescue crew on shore then hauled out a stronger hawser line, which the survivors fixed above the whip’s tail block. The hawser was then tightened by the crew pulling on it, or by using the hooked block on the shore end of the whip and attaching it to a sand anchor. The breeches buoy was attached to the traveller block on the hawser, and the shore crew then used the whip line to haul the breeches buoy to and from the vessel, rescuing the stranded crew one at a time. The rescue crew wore scarlet, numbered armbands and worked on a numerical rotation system, swapping members out to rest them.This traveller block is significant for its connection with local history, maritime history and marine technology. Lifesaving has been an important part of the services performed from Warrnambool's very early days, supported by State and Local Government, and based on the methods and experience of Great Britain. Hundreds of shipwrecks along the coast are evidence of the rough weather and rugged coastline. Ordinary citizens, the Harbour employees, and the volunteer boat and rescue crew, saved lives in adverse circumstances. Some were recognised as heroes, others went unrecognised. In Lady Bay, Warrnambool, there were around 16 known shipwrecks between 1850 and 1905. Many lives were saved but tragically, eight lives were lost. Wood and brass pulley block or 'traveller', used in conjunction with the Breeches Buoy. The block has double brass inline sheaves and brass rollers on each cheek of the pulley. Each shell is scored for the strop. The thimble on the strop has a wooden slat attached for quick release of the Breeches Buoy. A portion of rope is connected.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, flagstaff hill, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, shipwreck, life-saving, lifesaving, rescue crew, rescue, rocket rescue, rocket crew, lifeboat men, beach rescue, line rescue, rescue equipment, rocket firing equipment, rocket rescue equipment, maritime accidents, shipwreck victim, rocket equipment, marine technology, rescue boat, lifeboat, volunteer lifesavers, volunteer crew, life saving rescue crew, lifesaving rescue crew, rocket apparatus, rocket rescue method, shore to ship, rocket apparatus rescue, stranded vessel, line throwing mortar, mortar, rocket rescue apparatus, line thrower, line throwing, lifeboat warrnambool, beach apparatus, breeches buoy, petticoat breeches, petticoat buoy, traveller chair, life jacket, traveller, traveller block, running block, block, pulley, hawser, faking, faking box, faked line, faking board, italian hemp, quadrant, protractor, tally board, light line, whip line, endless whip, beach cart, hand barrow, sand anchor, welsh hand barrow, her majesty’s coast guard, harbour board, government of victoria, harbour master, l.s.r.c., lsrc -
Southern Sherbrooke Historical Society Inc.
Poster - Assorted posters
Assorted posters sent to the society. Contains: 0414 - Laminated poster promoting the history of Aboriginal station Coranderrk. 0415 - Poster commemorating the centenary of Federation. 0416 - Poster commemorating the centenary of Australian Federation. 0417 - Double-sided poster promoting the history of Federation in Australia in 1901. Highlights a snapshot of life in Australia in 1901. 0418 - Double-sided poster commemorating the centenary of Australian Federation. One side is a replica of a Federation poster in 1901, and the other side is a timeline of events leading to Federation in 1901. 0419 - Printed poster for the 'Fire Cycle' event held by the Dandenong Ranges Music Council, Inc. at Belgrave Heights Convention Centre on October 8th-9th 2005. Feature possum on a human's hand in front of a burnt landscape. 0422 - Poster of Station Pier. 0423 - Poster focusing on clay pipes from the shipwreck of "Victoria Tower" near Torquay in 1869. 0424 - 2 posters, one green and one blue, about the life of lyrebirds. -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Photograph - Portrait, Arthur & Son, photographers, Miss Carmichael, 1878
Miss Eva Carmichael, the subject of the photograph, was one of only two survivors from the wreck of the Loch Ard, wrecked on Mutton Bird Island near Port Campbell, Victoria, on June 1st, 1878..The photograph holds great significance for its connection to Eva Carmichael, one of two survivors from the wreck of the Loch Ard. It is also significant for its connection to the Loch Ard, one of the most tragic shipwrecks in Victoria's coastline and listed on the Historic Shipwreck Register.Photographic portrait mounted on brown cardboard of Miss Eva Carmichael. Miss Carmichael is standing near an upholstered chair and rests wth both hands upon a masonry pillar. Behind her is a balustrade in the classic style common to that period. The background consists of a large tree giving the impression of a garden setting. It was produced at the studio of Arthur & Son, Mount Gambier, 1878. Inscriptions handwritten below the photograph. Handwritten in white "Miss Carmichael" Stamped "Arthur & Son / MOUNT GAMBIER"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, photograph, shipwreck loch ard, eva carmichael, portrait, arthur & son, mount gambier, loch ard, shipwreck, mutton bird island -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Loch Ard Gorge, Early 20th century
This is a booklet containing an epic-style poem by Alice Goldstraw on the subject of the wreck of the ‘Loch Ard’. Alice Goldstraw (died 1967) was the daughter of George and Robina Goldstraw who were pioneer farmers in the Cudgee area. The Goldstraw families were prominent in the early history of Warrnambool and district, especially as timber millers. The ‘Loch Ard’ wreck (1878, Mutton Bird Island near Port Campbell) is Victoria’s most famous wreck – 51 lives lost with only two survivors. The story of the survivors, Eva Carmichael and Tom Pearce has legendary status in the stories of shipwrecks in Victoria and has been the subject of articles, songs, poems, plays, novels and films. This booklet is of great significance because it is a well-written poem by Alice Goldstraw, a member of a pioneer family in the Cudgee area. It is a notable early poem about the wreck of the ‘Loch Ard’ which has attracted much interest in the Warrnambool area and beyond. Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in Warrnambool specializes in promoting stories of this wreck and features many relics of the wreck in its collection – the Loch Ard Peacock, the Carmichael watch, the Tom Peace binoculars etc. The laser night show at this Museum currently features the story of the wreck. Original copies of this poem are now rare.This is a soft cover booklet of 20 pages containing a poem about the wreck of the ‘Loch Ard’. The cover is cream-coloured with the front cover having blue print and a sepia-coloured photograph of the Loch Ard Gorge. The booklet has a page of photographs connected to the ‘Loch Ard’ and an ornamental black border around each page of the stanzas. The front cover is somewhat blotched and stained. The booklet has been stapled but the staples have been removed.poetry, loch ard shipwreck, warrnambool authors, alice goldstraw, warrnambool history -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Functional object - Nail, circa 1840
This nail was recovered from the wreck of the Cataraqui in the 1970s. The nail is most likely to have been machine cut and the head hand formed by a blacksmith. THE CATARAQUI The Cataraqui, which was built in 1840 in Quebec, Canada, and wrecked in 1845 off King Island, Australia. The lives of 400 people on the emigrant ship were lost. Many of them were on government assisted passages from Britain and Ireland. Only nine people, one passenger and eight crew, survived the shipwreck. A man who lived on the island, sheltered them and five weeks later the group was rescued by the ship Midge, which took them to Melbourne. It was the largest civilian maritime disaster. The nail is significant as an example of the hardware used in the mid-19th century for ship building. The nail is also significant for its association with the 1840 Canadian built ship, Cataraqui, The Cataraqui is significant in maritime history as the largest civilian maritime disaster.Copper nail, four sided shank, flattened tip with rounded end, pitted and rough, concretion on the shank. The nail is bent. Recovered from the wreck of the 1840-1845 "Cataraqui". flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, nail, copper nail, ship nail, cataraqui ship, ship hardware, canadian ship, 1840 ship, migrant ship, emigrant ship, assisted passage, king island, midge -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Deck light, On or before 1889
This deck light was recovered from the wreck of the Newfield in 1973. The barque Newfield left Liverpool on 1st June 1892 with a cargo of 1850 tons of fine rock salt for Brisbane. About six weeks later the ship ran into very heavy weather approaching the Australian coast. On 28th August at about 9pm her master, Captain George Scott, observed between the heavy squalls the Cape Otway light on the mainland of Victoria, but due apparently to a navigational error (the chronometers were incorrect), he mistook it for Cape Wickham on King Island, some 40 miles south. He altered course to the north expecting to run through the western entrance of Bass Strait, but instead, at about 1:30am, the ship ran aground about about 100 yards from shore, one mile east of Curdies River. The vessel struck heavily three times before grounding on an inner shoal with six feet of water in the holds. The Newfield remained upright on the reef with sails set for a considerable time as the wind slowly ripped the canvas to shreds and the sea battered the hull to pieces. Seventeen men survived the shipwreck but the captain and eight of his crew perished. Local man Peter Carmody was recognised for risking his life in order to help save the lives of the ship's crew. In 1893 he received a letter and accompanying limited edition of the Bramley-Moore medal for saving life at sea; 1872" medal and certificate from the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from the Newfield is significant for its association with the shipwreck Newfield, which is listed on the Victorian Heritage Registry. The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects. The Newfield collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of an international cargo ship. The Newfield collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its association with the shipwreckDeck light recovered from the wreck of the sailing ship “Newfield. Oval semi-spherical shape of clear thick glass.warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, shipwrecked artefact, 1892, 1893, 28 august 1892, 29 august 1892, barque, curdie's river, deck light, newfield, nineteenth century, peter ronald, peterborough, port campbell, shipwrecks, victorian shipwrecks -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Equipment - Breeches Buoy and Traveller Block, 1860s to 1950s
The breeches buoy and traveller block are part of the beach rescue apparatus used by lifesaving crew overseas and in Australia in the 1860s to 1960s. The breeches buoy (or chair bucket or petticoat breeches) were invented by Lieutenant Kisbee by the 1850s. It looks like a pair of canvas shorts with a cork lifebuoy ring attached around the top. The set-up works similar way to a zip wire and allows for two-way travel. Saving lives in Warrnambool – The coastline of South West Victoria has had over 600 shipwrecks and many lost lives; even in Warrnambool’s Lady Bay there were around 16 known shipwrecks between 1850 and 1905, with eight lives lost. In 1859 the first Government-built lifeboat arrived at Warrnambool Harbour and a shed was soon built to house it, followed in 1864 by a rocket house to safely store the Rocket Rescue equipment. In 1878 the buildings were moved to the Breakwater area, and in 1910 the new Lifeboat Warrnambool arrived with its ‘self-righting’ design. For almost one hundred years the lifeboat and rocket crews, mostly local volunteers, trained regularly to maintain and improve their skills, summoned when needed by alarms, gunshots, ringing bells and foghorns. Some became local heroes but all served an important role. By the end of the 1950s the lifeboat and rescue equipment had become obsolete. Rocket Rescue Method - The first use of a lifesaving rocket rescue system is often credited to Captain Manby and his invention of a life mortar, first used in 1808 to fire a line onto a ship to rescue lives. Henry Trengrouse’s invention of 1820 was the first to use a sky rocket’s power to throw a line, and his invention included a chair for carrying the shipwrecked victims to shore. In 1832 John Dennett invented a rocket specifically for shore to ship rescue. It had an iron case and an 8 foot pole attached and could shoot the line as far as 250 yards (about 230 metres). From the 1860s the rocket rescue apparatus was in use. It comprised a breeches buoy and traveller block that was suspended on a line and manually pulled to and from the distressed vessel carrying passengers and items. Colonel Boxer, who had invented an early line-thrower, designed a rocket in 1865 with a range from 300 to 470 yards. It was the first two-stage rocket, with two rockets placed one in front of the other in a tube that carried the rescue line. The hemp line was faked, or coiled, in a particular way in a faking box to prevent twists and tangles when fired, and the angle of firing the rocket was measured by a quadrant-type instrument on the side of the rocket machine. Schermuly invented the line-throwing pistol around 1920, which used a small cartridge to fire the rocket. Victoria’s Government adopted lifesaving methods based on Her Majesty’s Coast Guard in Great Britain, which used Colonel Boxer’s rocket apparatus rescue method. The British Board of Trade published instructions in 1850 for both the beach rescue crew and ship’s crew. It involved setting up the rocket launcher on shore at a particular angle measured by the quadrant, inserting a rocket that had a light-weight line attached, then firing it across the stranded vessel. A tally board was then sent out with instructions in four languages. The ship’s crew would haul on the line to bring out the continuous whip line and attach the whip block to a mast or sturdy part the ship. The rescue crew on shore then hauled out a heavier hawser line, which the ship’s crew fixed above the whip block. The hawser is then tightened using the block on the shore end of the whip. The breeches buoy and endless whip are then attached to the traveller block on the hawser, allowing the shore crew to haul the buoy to and from the vessel, rescuing the stranded crew one at a time. The rocket system could also be used from one ship to another. This item is significant for its connection with local history, maritime history and marine technology. Lifesaving has been an important part of the services performed from Warrnambool's very early days, supported by State and Local Government, and based on the methods and experience of Great Britain. Hundreds of shipwrecks along the coast are evidence of the rough weather and rugged coastline. Ordinary citizens, the Harbour employees, and the volunteer boat and rescue crew, saved lives in adverse circumstances. Some were recognised as heroes, others went unrecognised. In Lady Bay, Warrnambool, there were around 16 known shipwrecks between 1850 and 1905. Many lives were saved but tragically, eight lives were lost.Breeches buoy and traveller lock; white canvas breeches (shorts) with lifebuoy ring attached to its waistband, with ropes for attaching it to the traveller block. Wooden traveller block has double brass inline sheaves and brass rollers on each cheek of the block, and each shell is scored for the strop. The thimble attached to the strop has a wooden slat for quick release of the breeches buoy. The ropes comprise of two equal lengths of rope that have been bunched together to form two loops, then bound together just below the loops, while the four hanging ends are looped around the lifebuoy, equally spaced, with each end finished in an eye-splice. The apparatus is suspended by the loops at the top and attached to the traveller block, which has a quick release device.flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, flagstaff hill, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, great ocean road, shipwreck, life-saving, lifesaving, rescue crew, rescue, rocket rescue, maritime accidents, shipwreck victim, rocket crew, beach rescue, line rescue, rescue equipment, rocket firing equipment, rocket rescue equipment, rocket apparatus, beach apparatus, petticoat breeches, breeches buoy, rocket house, rocket shed, lifeboat men, rocket equipment, rocket machine, rocket head, rocket launcher, rocket line, marine technology, william schermuly, line-firing pistol, line throwing gun, schermuly pistol, pistol rocket apparatus, beach rescue set, traveller, block, running block, pulley, hawser, faking, faking box, faked line, rescue boat, lifeboat, lady bay, warrnambool harbour, port of warrnambool, tramway jetty, volunteer lifesavers, volunteer crew, breakwater, lifeboat warrnambool, rocket rescue method, rocket rescue apparatus, captain manby, mortar, henry trengrouse, sky rocket, john dennett, shore to ship, colonel boxer, two-stage rocket, italian hemp, quadrant, schermuly, line-throwing pistol, line throwing cartridge, rocket apparatus rescue, stranded vessel, tally board, light line, whip line, endless whip, petticoat buoy, traveller chair, traveller block, her majesty’s coast guard, harbour board, line thrower, line throwing, beach cart, hand barrow, sand anchor, hawser cutter, life jacket, faking board, irish hand barrow, government of victoria -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Photograph, circa 1878
Loch Ard was bound for Melbourne in 1878 loaded with passengers and cargo when it ran into a rocky reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: an apprentice, Tom Pearce and a young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. The wreck of Loch Ard still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island and much of the cargo has been salvaged. Some was washed up into what is now known as Loch Ard Gorge following the shipwreck. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. The photograph is significant for its association with the wreck of the Loch Ard. This wreck has been protected as a Historic Shipwreck since 11 March 1982, under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act (1976) 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. 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. The Loch Ard collection meets the following criteria for assessment: Criterion A: Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion B: Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion C: Potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria’s cultural history. Photograph, portrait of Miss Eva Carmichael. Reverse has gold maker’s print and a white adhesive label with hand writing on it.Reverse of photograph shows 3 signatures in script on bottom right corner., Printed text “PHOTOGRAPHIC / SOCIETY OF VICTORIA / MELBOURNE / REGISTERED COPYRIGHT / JULY 24th 878” and “NONE ARE GENUINE UNLESS WITH / SIGNATURES THUS” and “PRESIDENT / VICE PRESIDENT / - - - - - TARY” plus white label, hand written “F- Ph 56/2 – 74” flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, photograph miss eva carmichael, loch ard shipwreck, loch ard survivor -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Photograph, March 1895
Loch Ard was bound for Melbourne in 1878 loaded with passengers and cargo when it ran into a rocky reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: an apprentice, Tom Pearce and a young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. The wreck of Loch Ard still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island and much of the cargo has been salvaged. Some was washed up into what is now known as Loch Ard Gorge following the shipwreck. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. The photograph is significant for its association with the wreck of the Loch Ard. This wreck has been protected as a Historic Shipwreck since 11 March 1982, under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act (1976) 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. 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. The Loch Ard collection meets the following criteria for assessment: Criterion A: Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion B: Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion C: Potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria’s cultural history. Photograph of Miss Eva Carmichaels Cave at Loch Ard Gorge where the survivors found shelter. Reverse has four areas of torn surface, perhaps were photo had been mounted. Hand written text in pencil and in ink.Reverse of photograph Hand written in pencil “ … refuge … which he … offer words … Miss Carmichael. He then … on the …“ Hand written in ink “Loch Ard Gorge / Miss Carmichael’s cave” and “ Mr J Swinton / Warrnambool / March 1895” flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, loch ard shipwreck, 1878 shipwreck, loch ard gorge, miss eva carmichael -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Photograph, March, 1895
Loch Ard was bound for Melbourne in 1878 loaded with passengers and cargo when it ran into a rocky reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: an apprentice, Tom Pearce and a young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. The wreck of Loch Ard still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island and much of the cargo has been salvaged. Some was washed up into what is now known as Loch Ard Gorge following the shipwreck. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. The photograph is significant for its association with the wreck of the Loch Ard. This wreck has been protected as a Historic Shipwreck since 11 March 1982, under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act (1976) 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. 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. The Loch Ard collection meets the following criteria for assessment: Criterion A: Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion B: Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion C: Potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria’s cultural history. Photograph of Loch Ard Gorge graves on hillside, including the Carmichael family, Reginald Jones and Arthur Mitchell Reverse has hand writing in pen and ink, part of details are lost due to photo being trimmed. Also has four areas of torn surface, perhaps were photo had been mounted. Reverse has hand writing “ … Loch Ard Gorge / Graves of / the Carmichael family / Mr. Reginald Jones / Mr Arthur Mitchell “ and “Mr J Swinton / March 1895”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, loch ard shipwreck, carmichael family, arthur mitchell, reginald jones, loch ard gorge graves -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Photograph, circa 1895
Loch Ard was bound for Melbourne in 1878 loaded with passengers and cargo when it ran into a rocky reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: an apprentice, Tom Pearce and a young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. The wreck of Loch Ard still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island and much of the cargo has been salvaged. Some was washed up into what is now known as Loch Ard Gorge following the shipwreck. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. The photograph is significant for its association with the wreck of the Loch Ard. This wreck has been protected as a Historic Shipwreck since 11 March 1982, under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act (1976) 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. 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. The Loch Ard collection meets the following criteria for assessment: Criterion A: Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion B: Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion C: Potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria’s cultural history. Photograph of rocks of Loch Ard Gorge in background, a man is sitting on small rock in the foreground. Reverse has hand writing in pen and inkReverse hand writing “The Loch Ard Gorge / showing the rock / on which Miss Carmichael / was clinging when Pearce / first saw her” and “Mr J Swinton / Warrnambool / March 1895”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, photograph -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Photograph, late 19th century
Loch Ard was bound for Melbourne in 1878 loaded with passengers and cargo when it ran into a rocky reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: an apprentice, Tom Pearce and a young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. The wreck of Loch Ard still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island and much of the cargo has been salvaged. Some was washed up into what is now known as Loch Ard Gorge following the shipwreck. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. The photograph is significant for its association with the wreck of the Loch Ard. This wreck has been protected as a Historic Shipwreck since 11 March 1982, under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act (1976) 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. 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. The Loch Ard collection meets the following criteria for assessment: Criterion A: Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion B: Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion C: Potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria’s cultural history. Photograph of Miss Eva Carmichael holding a book seated at a desk. Oval gilt framed portrait in a green container edged with gilt. Reverse has piece of tape centre left and right. Also has printed maker’s information. Printed by the Photographic Society of Victoria, Melbourne.Printed brown text “PHOTOGRAPHIC / SOCIETY OF VICTORIA / MELBOURNE / REGISTERED COPYRIGHT / JULY 24th 878” and “NONE ARE GENUINE UNLESS WITH / SIGNATURES THUS” and “PRESIDENT / VICE PRESIDENT / SECRETARY” flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, loch ard shipwreck, miss eva carmichael, loch ard survivor -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Documents, Childer's Cove, 1920-1940's
Childers Cove is situated about 15 ks east of Warrnambool in the area known as Mepunga. It is named after the shipwreck of 'The Children.The documents relate to the running of the Childer's Cove Progress Association. There are a number of social activities including gymkhanas, racing meetings, making of roads and improving with planting trees There are many names which are still familiar with the area nearly 100 years later, including Wallace, McDowall, Burleigh, Murnane, Bonnett, Abraham Laidlaw Keogh Holloway and Palmer. Some of the meetings were held at the Mepunga South School with others held at Eckers Hotel Warrnambool and some at the race course. Fundraising events were held also from athletic meetings and district school children's races. This collection of papers is representative of many small communities around Australia where people came together and worked to improve their community facilities. It therefore has strong social and historic significance.This is a collection of papers most of which relate to the Childer's Cove Progress Association. Included are: .1 Minute Book/ Exercise book Childer's Cove Progress Association.May 1928-1932 .2 Minute Book/ Exercise book Childer's Cove Progress Association. 1924-1926 .3 Letter from Warrnambool Football Club 1930. .4 Account Archibald MacFarlane & Co March 1929 .5 Western District Racing Association Oct 1929. .6 Federal Taxation Dep Re Entertainment Tax 11/02/1930 .7 Chief Secretary Office re Racing Permits March 1923. .8-.9 Warrnambool Standard Invoices Jan 1930's .10 Archibald MacFarlane & Co Jan 1930. .11 Chief Office for Stamp Duties 12/02/1928 .12 Flyer - Childer's Cove Progress Association April 17 1926. .13 Flyer- Monster Gymkhana 12/02/ 1927. .14 Handwritten Invoice Charles Palmer Nov 1929. .15 Cheque Book Childer's Cove Progress Association 1929-31. .16 Deposit Book Childer's Cove Progress Association 1932-1942 .17 Bundle of invoices. .1 C J Caddy & Sons.2 Western Ice & Ice Products .3 Department of Lands & Survey Aug 1923 .4 J S Tait re Licence April 1924 .5 Warrnambool Standard31/12/1923 .6 Warrnambool Standard 31/03/1924 .7 Devenish & Co August 1924 .8 Warrnambool Standard 31/06/1924 H J Paynter & Co 03/05/1924 .10 Chief Secretary's Office Melbourne 01/05/1924 with receipt. .11 Permit for a race meeting April 19 1924 .12 Commonwealth of Australia Entertainment Tax 06/09/1924.13 Commonwealth of Australia Entertainment Notice 27/08/01924 .14 Commonwealth of Australia Entertainment Tax notice 12/08/1924 .18 William Ardlie handwritten letter 28/03/1928 .19 Envelope Addressed to W R Abrahams .20 Final notice Handwritten Charles Palmer Jan 1930. .21 Balance Sheet Childer's Cove Racing Club 18/03/1929 .22 H J Paynter & Co Account and receipt 25/02/1930. .23 Raglan Parade Timber Yards Alex Donaldson Feb 1930. .24 The School Paper Feb 1964 No 741 childer's cove, mepunga, childer's cove progress association -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Photograph, late 19th century
Loch Ard was bound for Melbourne in 1878 loaded with passengers and cargo when it ran into a rocky reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: an apprentice, Tom Pearce and a young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. The wreck of Loch Ard still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island and much of the cargo has been salvaged. Some was washed up into what is now known as Loch Ard Gorge following the shipwreck. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. The photograph is significant for its association with the wreck of the Loch Ard. This wreck has been protected as a Historic Shipwreck since 11 March 1982, under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act (1976) 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. 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. The Loch Ard collection meets the following criteria for assessment: Criterion A: Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion B: Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion C: Potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria’s cultural history. Black and White photograph of Thomas Pearce. Taken on July 22nd 1878 by the Photographic Society of Victoria. Registered copyright July 24th 1878. Reverse has printed maker’s information.Printed green text “PHOTOGRAPHIC / SOCIETY OF VICTORIA / MELBOURNE / REGISTERED COPYRIGHT / JULY 24th 878” and “NONE ARE GENUINE UNLESS WITH / SIGNATURES THUS” and “PRESIDENT / VICE PRESIDENT / SECRETARY” flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, photograph, thomas pearce, loch ard, photographic society of victoria -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Photograph, late 19th century
Loch Ard was bound for Melbourne in 1878 loaded with passengers and cargo when it ran into a rocky reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: an apprentice, Tom Pearce and a young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. The wreck of Loch Ard still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island and much of the cargo has been salvaged. Some was washed up into what is now known as Loch Ard Gorge following the shipwreck. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. The photograph is significant for its association with the wreck of the Loch Ard. This wreck has been protected as a Historic Shipwreck since 11 March 1982, under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act (1976) 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. 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. The Loch Ard collection meets the following criteria for assessment: Criterion A: Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion B: Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion C: Potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria’s cultural history. Black and White photoghrap of Thomas Pearce. Taken by the Photographic Society of Victoria. Registered copyright July 24th 1878. Reverse has printed maker’s information and a white adhesive label with hand writing on it.Label has hand writing “F-Ph 55/2-74” Printed green text “PHOTOGRAPHIC / SOCIETY OF VICTORIA / MELBOURNE / REGISTERED COPYRIGHT / JULY 24th 878” and “NONE ARE GENUINE UNLESS WITH / SIGNATURES THUS” and “PRESIDENT / VICE PRESIDENT / SECRETARY” flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, photoghrap, thomas pearce, photographic society of victoria, loch ard shipwreck -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Machine - Steering Gear, 1889
Steering Gear Operation: All steering was done from the stern of the ship and a steering mechanism was used to connect the rudder to the ship's wheel, often housed in a box-like construction behind the helm. The rudder was, in turn, mounted on a pintle or stern-post held in place by gudgeon's (sockets). The steering was activated with lines attached to the blocks on the two threads (half left hand, half right hand) of the steering gear. As the helmsman turned the helm in the direction in which he wished the ship to travel, the central screw of the steering gear, which was attached to the back of the helm, turned horizontally. This caused the rods on either side of the gear to move backwards or forwards at the same time, which then turned the pintle and rudder to port or starboard. A brief history of the Newfield (1889-1892): - The Newfield was an iron and steel sailing barque of 1306 tons, built in 1889 by Alexander Stephen & Sons Dundee (Yard No 89) for Brownelles & Co., Liverpool. The Newfield was on a voyage from Sharpness to Brisbane on 29 August 1892, with a cargo of 1850 tons of fine rock salt. The Cape Otway light had been sighted in squally, bumpy weather, but the captain was under the impression it was the King Island light. The ship’s chronometers were wrong, and orders were given to tack the ship away from the light, which headed it straight for the cliffs of the Victorian coast. The vessel struck rocks about 100 yards from shore, and five feet of water immediately filled the holds. The captain gave orders to lower the boats which caused a disorganised scramble for safety among the crew. The panic resulted in the deaths of nine men, including the captain when they drowned after the boats capsized in heavy seas. The seventeen men who regained the ship decided to wait until daylight and rowed to Peterborough in the ship’s jolly boat and gig after locals had failed to secure a rocket apparatus line to the ship. The Marine Board inquiry found the wreck was caused by a "one-man style of navigation" and that the captain had not heeded the advice of his crew.The Newfield wreck and its collection of recovered items are heritage listed and are regarded as historically significant. They represent aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and their potential for us today to interpret the maritime history and social themes of the time. The assemblage of various Newfield artefacts held in the Flagstaff Hill Museum is not only significant for its association with the shipwreck but helps archaeologists when examining the relationship between the objects to better understand our colonial marine past.Ship’s steering gear, cast iron, consists of a long round metal rod into which gears have been machined. The thread of the gear from one end to almost the centre winds in a left hand direction while the thread of the gear from the other end to almost the centre winds in the right hand direction. Each end of the rod has a metal coupler attached and two narrower round rods are also attached to the coupling, one each side of the gear rod, the same length as it and parallel to it. Two more ‘S’ shaped couplers are joined to the gear rod. Each of these have an opening through which the gear rod is threaded and can move along. There is another opening in these couplers through which one of the narrower rods is threaded. The other end of this coupler has half length metal rod attached to it by a bolt through the ring at the end of the rod. One end of the steering gear still has the brass hub of the ship’s wheel solidly attached. The hub no longer has its wooden spokes but the ten holes for the spokes can be easily recognised.Noneflagstaff hill, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, warrnambool, peter carmody, carmody, newfield, shipwreck, peterborough, south west victoria, rocket, rocket crew, shipwreck artefact, flagstaff hil maritime museum, steering, steering gear, screw steering gear, sailing ship -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Machine - Pulley Sheave, Circa 1886
The pulley sheave comes from the Falls of Halladale, a four-masted iron-hulled barque that was built in 1886 for the long-distance bulk carrier trade. The vessel was built for the Falls Line (Wright, Breakenridge & Co., Glasgow, Scotland) at the shipyard of Russell & Co., Greenock on the River Clyde, she was named after a waterfall on the Halladale River in the Caithness district of Scotland. The ship's design was advanced for her time, incorporating features that improved crew safety and efficiency such as elevated bridges to allow the crew to move between forward and aft in relative safety during heavy seas. The Falls of Halladale was the seventh vessel in a series of eight similar iron-hulled sailing ships, all built by Russell & Co and all named after waterfalls in Scotland. The Falls of Halladale was preceded by the Falls of Clyde (1878), the Falls of Bruar (1879), the Falls of Dee (1882), the Falls of Afton (1882), the Falls of Foyers (1883) and the Falls of Earn (1884). The Falls of Halladale was followed by a sister ship, the Falls of Garry (1886). The Falls of Clyde is afloat today and is a major attraction at the Hawaii Maritime Center in Honolulu. The Falls of Halladale is best known for her spectacular demise in a shipwreck near Peterborough, Victoria on the shipwreck coast of Victoria, Australia. On the night of 14 November 1908, she was sailed in dense fog directly onto the rocks due to a navigational error. The crew of 29 abandoned ship safely and all made it ashore by boat, leaving the ship foundering with her sails set. For weeks after the wreck, large crowds gathered to view the ship as she gradually broke up and then sank in the shallow water. Soon after the accident the ship's master, Capt. David Wood Thomson was brought before a Court of Marine Inquiry in Melbourne and found guilty of a gross act of misconduct, having carelessly navigated the ship, having neglected to take proper soundings, and having failed to place the ship on a port tack before it became too late to avoid the shipwreck. Capt. Thomson's punishment included a small fine and he had his Certificate of Competency as a Master suspended for six months. Today the Falls of Halladale is a popular destination for recreational divers. The wreck is easily accessible by scuba divers about 300 m offshore in 3 to 15 m of water. The hull lies on its collapsed starboard side. Some of the original cargo of 56,763 roof slates remains at the site of the wreck along with corroded masses of what used to be coils of barbed wire. Twenty-two thousand slates were salvaged in the 1980s and used to provide roofing at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in Warrnambool. An anchor that was recovered in 1974 is on display at the village. The pulley sheave is significant as a salvaged item from the Victorian heritage-listed Falls of Halladale wreck. As an artifact from the wrecked ship, it helps us to remember today the story of the wrecking and is an important reminder of a marine incident in Victoria's maritime history. Wooden Pulley Sheave from the vessel Falls of HalladaleNoneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, wooden pulley sheave, falls of halladale -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Instrument - Fob watch, 1814
Watchmaker History: James McCabe born in 1748 and was the son of Patrick McCabe, a notable watchmaker from Lurgan in County Armagh, Ireland. James McCabe immigrated to London in 1775 where he established his own business in Bells Building, Fleet Street. On 2nd April 1781, James McCabe was made an Honorary Freeman of the Clockmakers Company. The House of McCabe was renowned for the sheer variety of its designs and the creativity and prestige of their manufacture was celebrated and revered by owners worldwide. These pieces remain highly collectable today and fetch increasingly higher prices at auction houses worldwide. Watch association with the Loch Ard: The watch was saved from the sea when discovered on the body of Mrs Rebecca Carmichael from Dublin and handed to Eva Carmichael, the only family member to survive the fatal wreck of the Loch Ard on 1st June 1878. Eva gifted the watch to her husband, Thomas Achilles Townsend when they married in 1884; his name is engraved on the rear movement cover. The watch has been held by the family until 2011 when they decided to bring the watch, to Australia for auction. At this time the watch was in the possession of Eva Carmichael's grandson, Robert Townsend. Given its connection with the Loch Ard shipwreck It was purchased at auction by Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village on 25th October 2011 to add to it's Loch Ard collection and is currently referred to as the Carmichael watch. It is now on display alongside the Minton Peacock, which also survived the Loch Ard shipwreck, and other artefacts from the collection. James McCabe was originally a Belfast watchmaker who had moved his business to London. At the time James McCabe was much esteemed for producing fine watches and clocks, especially for export to India. Only the best watches were inscribed “James McCabe” and many with highly decorated cases were intended for the Indian market. Contemporary newspaper accounts of the watches discovery echoed a Carmichael family tradition that the watch had been intended as a gift from the City of Dublin to King George IV to mark his planned visit to the city in 1821 however there is no evidence to support this theory. Dr Evory Carmichael at some stage bought this watch some accounts say from a nobleman for about £100 and so it travelled with him on his final fateful journey to Australia. Today we can only guess at the actions of Mrs Carmichael in the chaos and darkness of the pre-dawn shipwreck. Perhaps the two items that were found on her body, the watch and a locket, were items that reminded her of those she held most dear, her husband and her family. When Mrs Carmichael's body was washed ashore the watch was found secreted in the waistband of her dress. In its own right the watch is of artistic and monetary value and is a rare and beautiful object depicting watch making in the early 19th century. It is a historically significant object in it’s own right and there is additional importance, surviving a significant event in the maritime history of Victoria. The wreck of the Loch Ard, Victoria's greatest maritime disaster has also been declared an event of National Significance because of its strong connection to Australia's immigration and maritime history. The watch, together with the Loch Ard Peacock, make up the two most significant shipwreck artefacts in Australia. Both of these items are of great social significance to not only local people but the wider Australian community. Funding for the watches purchase came from six local trusts and one anonymous citizen and is now on permanent display. Both these artefacts symbolise and helps to interpret the stories of survival along the Shipwreck Coast. Fob Watch, known as the "Carmichael Watch" or the "Loch Ard Watch". 1814 fob pocket watch belonging to the Carmichael family, recovered from the wreck of the Loch Ard. Fob watch (or pocket watch)and winding key, made by James McCabe and Son, of Cornhill, London. The watch is in excellent condition and its design is decorative and intricate. The gold face is covered by glass. The gold rear cover is hinged over a silver inner cover that includes the winding hole. The watch has a knob with a swinging ring from which it can be hung. The dial of the gold watch face is textured and has raised Arabic numerals and every minute is marked around the perimeter by a dot, with the 5-minute dots slightly larger. The numerals and dots are a different coloured gold than the rest of the face. The centre of the face has a wavy pattern fanning out to the base of the numerals. The hour and minute hands are of a dark colour. The stems of the hands are a wavy shape and finish with spade shaped tips; the tip of the hour hand is larger than that of the minute hand. The hour hand reaches to the base of the numerals and the minute hand is long enough to rest between the minute dots. The back of the watch is decorated with a detailed design on a textured gold background. The design is embossed in coloured metals; gold, silver, greenish-gold and pink. In the centre is a dove resting on leaves of a pot plant that sits on a silver circular base. Another dove is flying above it, and their beaks touch together. On the right of the base of the pot plant is a dog resting on its hind legs, body facing away from the plant and head twisted around to look at the birds. On the sides of this design and meeting at the base are sprigs of leaves and buds. Around this central design is a rope-like border. Around the perimeter of the case is a border of leaves and budding stems. The inside of this cover has embossed hallmarks, numbers and etched markings indicating that the watch is 18 carat gold, made by James McCabe, assayed in London in 1814 and the case may have been made by Daniel Willmott, case maker. The silver inner workings cover has a full name beautifully engraved on it. There is a winding hole that accesses a square-ended lever for the key to fit over. The handle of the watch is a twisted gold knob with a hollow ‘D’-shaped swinging ring attached to the end of it. This knob also has a hallmark.On the silver inner workings cover “Thomas Achilles Townshend” is engraved, underscored by a thin, delicately decorated line. On the gold handle is the logo of a crown with “18”’ next to it. Inside the gold rear case is stamped “DW’. Under that is etched “JAN 77 II”. Underneath this are 3 logos; a logo “leopard, crowned”’, a logo “ crown on top of 18”, and a logo “T”. Under these 3 symbols is part of a stamp that could possibly be “IMC”. Under this is “ ’ 5 9 4 ”. Other numbers, symbols and letters are etched into this case including “15001”, “2/5/19”. Others are difficult to read.warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, maritime museum, shipwrecked artefact, shipwreck artefact, carmichael, townshend, townsend, carmichael watch, loch ard watch, pocket watch, loch ard, 1st june 1878, james mccabe, thomas walker, robert townshend, loch ard gorge, great ocean road, victoria., memorial headstone -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Functional object - Key, 1886
The key was recovered from the Falls of Halladale, a four-masted iron-hulled barque that was built in 1886 for the long-distance bulk carrier trade. The vessel was built for the Falls Line (Wright, Breakenridge & Co., Glasgow, Scotland) at the shipyard of Russell & Co., Greenock on the River Clyde, she was named after a waterfall on the Halladale River in the Caithness district of Scotland. The ship's design was advanced for her time, incorporating features that improved crew safety and efficiency such as elevated bridges to allow the crew to move between forward and aft in relative safety during heavy seas. The Falls of Halladale was the seventh vessel in a series of eight similar iron-hulled sailing ships, all built by Russell & Co and all named after waterfalls in Scotland. The Falls of Halladale was preceded by the Falls of Clyde (1878), the Falls of Bruar (1879), the Falls of Dee (1882), the Falls of Afton (1882), the Falls of Foyers (1883) and the Falls of Earn (1884). The Falls of Halladale was followed by a sister ship, the Falls of Garry (1886). The Falls of Clyde is afloat today and is a major attraction at the Hawaii Maritime Centre in Honolulu. The Falls of Halladale is best known for her spectacular demise in a shipwreck near Peterborough, Victoria on the shipwreck coast of Victoria, Australia. On the night of 14 November 1908, she was sailed in dense fog directly onto the rocks due to a navigational error. The crew of 29 abandoned ship safely and all made it ashore by boat, leaving the ship foundering with her sails set. For weeks after the wreck, large crowds gathered to view the ship as she gradually broke up and then sank in the shallow water. Soon after the accident the ship's master, Capt. David Wood Thomson was brought before a Court of Marine Inquiry in Melbourne and found guilty of a gross act of misconduct, having carelessly navigated the ship, having neglected to take proper soundings, and having failed to place the ship on a port tack before it became too late to avoid the shipwreck. Capt. Thomson's punishment included a small fine and he had his Certificate of Competency as a Master suspended for six months. Today the Falls of Halladale is a popular destination for recreational divers. The wreck is easily accessible by scuba divers about 300 m offshore in 3 to 15 m of water. The hull lies on its collapsed starboard side. Some of the original cargo of 56,763 roof slates remains at the site of the wreck along with corroded masses of what used to be coils of barbed wire. Twenty-two thousand slates were salvaged in the 1980s and used to provide roofing at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in Warrnambool. An anchor that was recovered in 1974 is on display at the village. The key is significant as a salvaged item from the Victorian heritage-listed Falls of Halladale wreck. As an artifact from the wrecked ship, it helps us to remember today the story of the wrecking and is an important reminder of a marine incident in Victoria's maritime history. KeyNoneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, falls of halladale, shipwreck peterborough, 1908 shipwreck, great clipper ships, russell & co., key -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Functional object - Rope
The encrusted rope probably used on rigging comes from the Falls of Halladale, a four-masted iron-hulled barque that was built in 1886 for the long-distance bulk carrier trade. The vessel was built for the Falls Line (Wright, Breakenridge & Co., Glasgow, Scotland) at the shipyard of Russell & Co., Greenock on the River Clyde, she was named after a waterfall on the Halladale River in the Caithness district of Scotland. The ship's design was advanced for her time, incorporating features that improved crew safety and efficiency such as elevated bridges to allow the crew to move between forward and aft in relative safety during heavy seas. The Falls of Halladale was the seventh vessel in a series of eight similar iron-hulled sailing ships, all built by Russell & Co and all named after waterfalls in Scotland. The Falls of Halladale was preceded by the Falls of Clyde (1878), the Falls of Bruar (1879), the Falls of Dee (1882), the Falls of Afton (1882), the Falls of Foyers (1883) and the Falls of Earn (1884). The Falls of Halladale was followed by a sister ship, the Falls of Garry (1886). The Falls of Clyde is afloat today and is a major attraction at the Hawaii Maritime Centre in Honolulu. The Falls of Halladale is best known for her spectacular demise in a shipwreck near Peterborough, Victoria on the shipwreck coast of Victoria, Australia. On the night of 14 November 1908, she was sailed in dense fog directly onto the rocks due to a navigational error. The crew of 29 abandoned ship safely and all made it ashore by boat, leaving the ship foundering with her sails set. For weeks after the wreck, large crowds gathered to view the ship as she gradually broke up and then sank in the shallow water. Soon after the accident the ship's master, Capt. David Wood Thomson was brought before a Court of Marine Inquiry in Melbourne and found guilty of a gross act of misconduct, having carelessly navigated the ship, having neglected to take proper soundings, and having failed to place the ship on a port tack before it became too late to avoid the shipwreck. Capt. Thomson's punishment included a small fine and he had his Certificate of Competency as a Master suspended for six months. Today the Falls of Halladale is a popular destination for recreational divers. The wreck is easily accessible by scuba divers about 300 m offshore in 3 to 15 m of water. The hull lies on its collapsed starboard side. Some of the original cargo of 56,763 roof slates remains at the site of the wreck along with corroded masses of what used to be coils of barbed wire. Twenty-two thousand slates were salvaged in the 1980s and used to provide roofing at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in Warrnambool. An anchor that was recovered in 1974 is on display at the village. The encrusted rope is significant as a salvaged item from the Victorian heritage-listed Falls of Halladale wreck. As an artifact from the wrecked ship, it helps us to remember today the story of the wrecking and is an important reminder of a marine incident in Victoria's maritime history.Piece of encrusted rope. Artifact Reg No FoH/1.Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, falls of halladale, shipwreck peterborough, 1908 shipwreck, great clipper ships, russell & co., rope -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Machine - Pulley Sheave, Circa 1886
The pulley sheave comes from the Falls of Halladale, a four-masted iron-hulled barque that was built in 1886 for the long-distance bulk carrier trade. The vessel was built for the Falls Line (Wright, Breakenridge & Co., Glasgow, Scotland) at the shipyard of Russell & Co., Greenock on the River Clyde, she was named after a waterfall on the Halladale River in the Caithness district of Scotland. The ship's design was advanced for her time, incorporating features that improved crew safety and efficiency such as elevated bridges to allow the crew to move between forward and aft in relative safety during heavy seas. The Falls of Halladale was the seventh vessel in a series of eight similar iron-hulled sailing ships, all built by Russell & Co and all named after waterfalls in Scotland. The Falls of Halladale was preceded by the Falls of Clyde (1878), the Falls of Bruar (1879), the Falls of Dee (1882), the Falls of Afton (1882), the Falls of Foyers (1883) and the Falls of Earn (1884). The Falls of Halladale was followed by a sister ship, the Falls of Garry (1886). The Falls of Clyde is afloat today and is a major attraction at the Hawaii Maritime Center in Honolulu. The Falls of Halladale is best known for her spectacular demise in a shipwreck near Peterborough, Victoria on the shipwreck coast of Victoria, Australia. On the night of 14 November 1908, she was sailed in dense fog directly onto the rocks due to a navigational error. The crew of 29 abandoned ship safely and all made it ashore by boat, leaving the ship foundering with her sails set. For weeks after the wreck, large crowds gathered to view the ship as she gradually broke up and then sank in the shallow water. Soon after the accident the ship's master, Capt. David Wood Thomson was brought before a Court of Marine Inquiry in Melbourne and found guilty of a gross act of misconduct, having carelessly navigated the ship, having neglected to take proper soundings, and having failed to place the ship on a port tack before it became too late to avoid the shipwreck. Capt. Thomson's punishment included a small fine and he had his Certificate of Competency as a Master suspended for six months. Today the Falls of Halladale is a popular destination for recreational divers. The wreck is easily accessible by scuba divers about 300 m offshore in 3 to 15 m of water. The hull lies on its collapsed starboard side. Some of the original cargo of 56,763 roof slates remains at the site of the wreck along with corroded masses of what used to be coils of barbed wire. Twenty-two thousand slates were salvaged in the 1980s and used to provide roofing at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in Warrnambool. An anchor that was recovered in 1974 is on display at the village. The pulley sheave is significant as a salvaged item from the Victorian heritage-listed Falls of Halladale wreck. As an artifact from the wrecked ship, it helps us to remember today the story of the wrecking and is an important reminder of a marine incident in Victoria's maritime history. Wooden Pulley Sheave from the vessel, Falls of HalladaleNoneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, wooden pulley sheave, falls of halladale -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Functional object - Vent Cover, circa 1886
The vent cover comes from the Falls of Halladale, a four-masted iron-hulled barque built in 1886 for the long-distance bulk carrier trade. The vessel was built for the Falls Line (Wright, Breakenridge & Co., Glasgow, Scotland) at the shipyard of Russell & Co., Greenock on the River Clyde, she was named after a waterfall on the Halladale River in the Caithness district of Scotland. The ship's design was advanced for her time, incorporating features that improved crew safety and efficiency such as elevated bridges to allow the crew to move between forward and aft in relative safety during heavy seas. The Falls of Halladale was the seventh vessel in a series of eight similar iron-hulled sailing ships, all built by Russell & Co and all named after waterfalls in Scotland. The Falls of Halladale was preceded by the Falls of Clyde (1878), the Falls of Bruar (1879), the Falls of Dee (1882), the Falls of Afton (1882), the Falls of Foyers (1883) and the Falls of Earn (1884). The Falls of Halladale was followed by a sister ship, the Falls of Garry (1886). The Falls of Clyde is afloat today and is a major attraction at the Hawaii Maritime Center in Honolulu. The Falls of Halladale is best known for her spectacular demise in a shipwreck near Peterborough, Victoria on the shipwreck coast of Victoria, Australia. On the night of 14 November 1908, she was sailed in dense fog directly onto the rocks due to a navigational error. The crew of 29 abandoned ship safely and all made it ashore by boat, leaving the ship foundering with her sails set. For weeks after the wreck, large crowds gathered to view the ship as she gradually broke up and then sank in the shallow water. Soon after the accident the ship's master, Capt. David Wood Thomson was brought before a Court of Marine Inquiry in Melbourne and found guilty of a gross act of misconduct, having carelessly navigated the ship, having neglected to take proper soundings, and having failed to place the ship on a port tack before it became too late to avoid the shipwreck. Capt. Thomson's punishment included a small fine and he had his Certificate of Competency as a Master suspended for six months. Today the Falls of Halladale is a popular destination for recreational divers. The wreck is easily accessible by scuba divers about 300 m offshore in 3 to 15 m of water. The hull lies on its collapsed starboard side. Some of the original cargo of 56,763 roof slates remains at the wreck's site along with corroded masses of what used to be coils of barbed wire. Twenty-two thousand slates were salvaged in the 1980s and used to provide roofing at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in Warrnambool. An anchor that was recovered in 1974 is on display in the village. The pulley sheave is significant as a salvaged item from the Victorian heritage-listed Falls of Halladale wreck. As an artifact from the wrecked ship, it helps us to remember today the story of the wrecking and is an important reminder of a marine incident in Victoria's maritime history. Vent cover taken from the top of an iron Bollard. Recovered from the wreck of the Falls of Halladale. noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, vent cover, falls of halladale, russell & co. -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Domestic object - Spoon, William Page & Co, Circa 1853-1878
This spoon, made by William Page & Co., is electroplated nickel-silver and was recovered during the late 1960s to early 1970s from an unnamed shipwreck along the coast of Victoria. The shipwrecks in the area range from around the 1840s to the early 1930s. The spoon is part of the John Chance Collection. This spoon is likely to have been recovered be from the wreck of the Loch Ard (1873-1878) as other cutlery in the Flagstaff Hill’s Shipwreck Collection made by William Page was also recovered from the Loch Ard. The ship’s Manifest included a large quantity of cutlery. Also, other objects in the John Chance Collection were also recovered from wreck of the Loch Ard. In the mid-1800s electroplated cutlery became a popular substitute for the traditional but more costly sterling silver pieces. The ‘new’ cutlery was made from a more common base metal, such as nickel or a nickel alloy, then electroplated (coated) with a very thin layer of silver. The eating utensils looked like the expensive, pure silver version but eventually, through use and wear, the base metal would show. Some producers warranted their electroplated silver to be ‘white throughout’. WILLIAM PAGE & CO., BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - Although the electroplated cutlery of William Page & Co. was made in Birmingham, it does not include the embossed Birmingham Assay’s mark of an ‘anchor’ because the metal used for the spoons is not silver. William Page used various Maker’s Marks on his cutlery. The pattern of five embossed marks on this spoon is a typical example, with the embossed sunken crown containing ‘W P’ being the first in the column of symbols. - ‘W P’, within raised diamond outline, within sunken crown - ‘Cross above Triangle’ symbol within sunken oval - ‘Maltese Cross’ symbol within sunken, six-sided shape - ‘crab-like’ symbol within sunken oval - ‘R D’ within sunken diamond William Page established his business in 1834, according to the text around a printed Trademark. The firm William Page & Co. began electroplating in 1855, and from 1880 it operated from Cranemore Street, Cattle’s Grove and also at 55 Albion St, Birmingham. The firm registered a new Trademark [‘W P’ within a diamond boarder within a sunken diamond] in 1897; previously the Mark were the initials WP within a crown, but the British legislation prohibited the use of a ‘crown’ mark on electroplated ware in 1895. In 1936 the firm became William Page & Co. Ltd and became a supplier of spoons to the British Government in 1938, marking its products with the ‘broad arrow’ symbol. The firm also traded with the brand names Armour, Asrista, Bolivian Silver, Roman Silver, Roumanian Silver, Silverite and Trevor Plate. Although this spoon is not linked to a particular shipwreck, it is very likely to have come from the wreck of the Loch Ard; the ship’s Manifest includes a large quantity of cutlery. Regardless, it is recognised as being historically significant as an example of cutlery carried onboard a ship as either personal belongings or cargo and brought into Colonial Victoria in the 19th to early 20th century; through this we have added opportunity to interpret Victoria’s social and historical themes of those times. The spoon also has significance for its connection with many similar William Page pieces of cutlery in our collection that were recovered from the wreck of the sailing ship Loch Ard (1873-1878). William Page & Co. of Birmingham is one of the renowned 19th century manufacturers and electroplaters and was supplier of spoons to the British Government in 1938. The spoon has added significance, as it was recovered by John Chance, a diver of wrecks, including the Loch Ard, in Victoria’s coastal waters in the late 1960s to early 1970s. Items that come from several wrecks have since been donated to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village’s museum collection by his family, illustrating this item’s level of historical value.Spoon; teaspoon, electroplate nickel-silver, discoloured to green and red-brown in places. Fiddle design. Bowl has indents and holes. Five embossed Maker’s Marks on back of handle, arranged in a column from tip towards bowl. Made by William Page and Co., Birmingham. The spoon no longer has its silver plating. The surface has encrustations. Bowl has nicks, indents and holes. Stem is very bent at the shoulder. Discoloured to green and red-brown in places. Embossed Maker Marks - ‘W P’, within raised diamond outline, within sunken crown - ‘Cross above Triangle’ symbol within sunken oval - ‘Maltese Cross’ symbol within sunken, six-sided shape - ‘crab-like’ symbol within sunken oval - ‘R D’ within sunken diamondflagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck artefact, john chance, loch ard, cutlery, flatware, silverware, tableware, eating utensils, dining, spoon, electroplated cutlery, william page & co, william page & co. ltd., birmingham plate, silversmith, antique, vintage, fiddle design, fiddle pattern, teaspoon