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Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Book, Wild Geese Calling
Pattison Collection This item is from the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art, and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. RALPH ERIC PATTISON Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 Pattison accepted a position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council. His huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower area of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine, and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave during 1942 to 1942 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. WARRNAMBOOL MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE Warrnambool's Mechanics' Institute (or Institution as it was sometimes called) was one of the earliest in Victoria. On 17th October 1853, a meeting was held where it was resolved to request the Lieutenant Governor of the Colony to grant land for the erection of a Mechanics' Institutes building. A committee was formed at the meeting and Richard Osburne chaired the first meeting of this committee. The land on the North West corner of Banyan and Merri Streets was granted but there were no funds to erect the building. The Formal Rights of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute's encompassed its aims and these were officially adopted in1859; "This Institution has for its object the diffusion of literary, scientific, and other useful knowledge amongst its members, excluding all controversial subjects, religious or political. These objects are sought to be obtained by means of a circulating library, a reading room, the establishment of classes, debates, and the occasional delivery of lectures on natural and experimental philosophy, mechanics, astronomy, chemistry, natural history, literature, and the useful and ornamental arts, particularly those which have a more immediate reference to the colony." The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute opened its first reading room in November 1884 in the National School building at the corner of Banyan and Timor Streets. The Institute was funded by member subscription, payable on a quarterly, half-yearly or yearly basis. Samuel Hannaford, the Manager of the Warrnambool Bank of Australasia, was the first Honorary Secretary of the Mechanics' Institutes, and an early President and Vice-President. He also gave several of the early lectures in the Reading Room. Another early Secretary, Librarian and lecturer was Marmaduke Fisher, the teacher at the National School. Lecture topics included The Poets and Poetry of Ireland', 'The Birth and Development of the Earth', 'The Vertebrae - with Remarks on the pleasures resulting from the study of Natural History' and 'Architecture'. In 1856 the Reading Room was moved to James Hider's shop in Timor Street, and by 1864 it was located in the bookshop of Davies and Read. In the 1860's the Mechanics' Institute struggled as membership waned but in 1866, after a series of fundraising efforts, the committee was able to purchase land in Liebig Street, on a site then called Market Square, between the weighbridge and the fire station. A Mechanics' Institute building was opened at this site in August 1871. The following year four more rooms were added to the main Reading Room and in 1873 the Artisan School of Design was incorporated into the Institute. The same year Joseph Archibald established a Museum; however, it deteriorated when he was transferred to Bendigo in 1877. In 1880, with Archibald's return to Warrnambool, the Museum was re-established, and in 1885 a new building was built at the back of the Institute to accommodate the re-created School of Design, the Art Gallery and the Museum. In 1887 the Museum section was moved to the former courthouse in Timor Street (for some time the walls of the building formed part of the TAFE cafeteria but all is now demolished)). In 1911 the Museum was transferred back to the original building and the management of the Mechanics' Institute was handed over to the Warrnambool City Council. The Museum and Art Gallery became one and housed many fine works of art, and the Library continued to grow. The building was well patronised, with records showing that at the beginning of the 20th century there were between 500 and 800 visitors. During World War One the monthly figures were in the thousands, with 3,400 people visiting in January 1915. The Museum was a much - loved Institution in Warrnambool until the contents of the Museum and Art Gallery were removed to make room for the Warrnambool City Council Engineers' Department. The contents were stored but many of the items were scattered or lost. When the original building was demolished the site became occupied by the Civic Centre, which included the new City Library. (The library was temporarily located in the old Palais building in Koroit Street.) In the process of reorganisation the Collection was distributed amongst the community groups: -The new City Library took some of the historical books and some important documents, historic photographs and newspapers. -The Art Gallery kept the 19th Century art collection and some of the artefacts from the museum. -The Historical Society has some items -The State Museum has some items -Some items were destroyed -Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village has old newspapers, Government Gazettes, most of the Mechanics' Institute Library, ledgers and documents connected to the Mechanics' Institute Library, some framed and unframed artworks and some photographs. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute Library book collection is deemed to be of great importance because it is one of the few collections in an almost intact state, and many of the books are now very rare and of great value. The Pattison Collection, along with other items at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, was originally part of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s collection. The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Collection is primarily significant in its totality, rather than for the individual objects it contains. Its contents are highly representative of the development of Mechanics' Institute libraries across Australia, particularly Victoria. A diversity of publications and themes has been amassed, and these provide clues to our understanding of the nature of and changes in the reading habits of Victorians from the 1850s to the middle of the 20th century. The collection also highlights the Warrnambool community’s commitment to the Mechanics’ Institute, reading, literacy and learning in the regions, and proves that access to knowledge was not impeded by distance. These items help to provide a more complete picture of our community’s ideals and aspirations. The Warrnambool Mechanics Institute book collection has historical and social significance for its strong association with the Mechanics Institute movement and the important role it played in the intellectual, cultural and social development of people throughout the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. The collection of books is a rare example of an early lending library and its significance is enhanced by the survival of an original collection of many volumes. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s publication collection is of both local and state significance. Wild Geese Calling Author: Stewart Edward White Publisher: Hodder Stoughton Date: 1940 The label on the spine with the typed text PAT FIC WHI Pastedown front endpaper has a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute Fly paper has stamps from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Warrnambool Public Library warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, wild geese calling, stewart edward white -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Photograph - Newspaper clipping, J SMITH bread carter for Borer's Bakery, Borer's Geese, c. 1920
Digital image of undated newspaper clipping, probably 1920s-30s, of J. SMITH bread carter for Borer's Bakery and the geese and goats that follow him seeking bread.business and traders - bakers, livestock, j smith, g borer & co -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Mug - China
Commemorative mug presented to the Museum by the Right Honourable Helen Lidell, British High Commissioner, on the occasion of a visit of 22 members of the European Union Heads of Mission, 14 November 2005.The United Kingdom held the Presidency of the EU in 2005.White chine drinking mug with 12 blue geese of various sizes. Yellow printing.UK Presidency of the EU 2005 (12 small flying geese)european union heads of mission, helen lidell, british hish commissioner, commemorative mug -
Federation University Art Collection
Artwork - Sculpture, Christopher Headley, [Geese]
artwork, artist, ceramics, gippsland, chris headley -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Warrnambool Standard Almanac 1914, 1913
This booklet was given to subscribers to the Warrnambool Standard newspaper as an almanac for the year 1914. The Warrnambool Standard Almanacs were produced annually from 1875 to 1930. They contain much local information on Warrnambool and district about businesses, government officials, harbour management, large landowners, banks, churches, schools, societies and organizations etc. The Warrnambool Standard newspaper was established in 1872 and continues to this day. This booklet is of high significance as it contains valuable information about Warrnambool and district for the year 1914. It is an important research tool for those studying and writing the history of Warrnambool and district. This copy has the name ‘Mr Cameron’ on the front over but no details have been found on him and it is not known if he was the original owner of this booklet. This is a soft cover booklet of 115 pages. It has several advertisements at the front and the back of the booklet. The back cover is missing and the front cover has a yellow background with black lettering and a black and white photograph of the Warrnambool Breakwater. The covering on the spine is partly torn away. The booklet is bound with metal staples and contains some photographs in blue tonings and some in black and grey tonings. There are also other illustrations. The writing on the front cover is handwritten in black ink. ‘(When the wild geese come)’ ‘Mr Cameron’ warrnambool standard newspaper, history of warrnambool, standard almanac 1914 -
Clunes Museum
Document - BOOK EXTRACT, SEAL BOOKS, GHOST TOWNS OF AUSTRALIA
PHOTOCOPY OF CHAPTER X - GEESE, GOATS AND GIRLS, PAGES 95-106 PUBLISHED 1965local history, document, pamphlet -
Clunes Museum
Document - BOOK / EXTRACTS, GEORGE FARWELL
THE ABOVE HISTORY WAS DONATED BY WARRICK MITCHELL.PHOTOCOPY OF AN EXTRACT CALLED (GEESE, GOATS, AND GIRLS.) CLUNES FROM THE BOOK "GHOST TOWNS OF AUSTRALIA" BY GEORGE FARWELL.local history, document, mining -
Geoffrey Kaye Museum of Anaesthetic History
Vase, Bessie Biggs, 1981c
This vase was gifted to the Faculty by Dr Walter Wyndham Biggs upon his retirement from the Faculty Board in 1981. Dr Biggs was the first flying anaesthetist of the Flying Surgeon Service based at Longreach in central Queensland. The vase is hand painted by Dr Biggs mother, Bessie Biggs. The manufacturer of the vase, Furstenberg, is one of oldest and most renowned porcelain makers in Europe since 1747. Made in West Germany, the makers mark is found at the base of the vase marked with a blue under glaze symbol of a crown, script F and a number 9. Porcelain vase of bulbous form and narrow neck with gold trim on lip. Black and white hand painted scene of flying geese above a body of water surrounded by reeds.[hand written on base in black ink] Handpainted / by / Bessie Biggs / 1981 [embossed on base] 7405/30 [Blue under-glaze on base] symbol of crown / cursive script F / 9 / FURSTENBERG / SEIT 1747 / WEST GERMANY [Artist signature on painted surface] B BIGGSdr walter biggs, furstenberg, porcelain -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Slide - ALBERT RICHARDSON COLLECTION: VICTORIA QUARTZ 1897
Slide. Hercules and Energetic Mine, Long Gully. Poppet head, chimney stack, mullock heaps, wood stack, engine house and boiler. Large dam in foreground with ducks and geese .No. 11 on bottom of slidemine, gold, unknown mine., bendigo mines-jack hattam collection -
Halls Gap & Grampians Historical Society
Photograph - B/W
This is a pastoral scene in halls Gap. The building is the Halls Gap Public Hall.The photo shows a man with a hat and long walking stick standing in a paddock with a number of geese. In the middle distance is a building surrounded by fruit trees. Behind this tall eucalyptus trees can be seen and in the background is a rocky range.mining, equipmment -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Photograph - Station Hotel, Sandridge, Roger Gould?, 1871
Photographed in 1872 by William PATERSON as one of a series for the Melbourne Exhibition of 1873; original mount hanging in Engineering Department at Port Melbourne Town Hall at 19-9-1994 but now in Port Phillip,City Collection. This set of original prints belonged to Town Clerk Syd ANDERSON, then to his daughter-in-law Phyllis ANDERSON (donor). Accompanied by list of captions, both hand written and typed (the latter a partial listing). Glossy print, copy of photo c1871 of early Station Hotel from the footbridge over the railway line, prior to extension of Bridge Street over the railway. Shows Presbyterian Church, carriages, a number of people, geese on the Railway Reserve.religion - presbyterian church, costume, transport - horse, parks and gardens, sydney sims anderson, town clerks, bridge street, railway reserve, business and traders - hotels -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Cutout - Wooden, 1940's
On long term loan from Heidi Vollmer who sold her home and moved into a unit. Has nowhere to store the cutout at presentA girl dressed in a black pinafore, dream blouse, cream and red apron and red hat with cream dots, with a small branch from a tree over her shoulder. 2 cream coloured geese at her feet. Gloss paintgirl and geese, cutouts, vollmer f&a, vollmer h, camp 3, tatura, ww2, handcrafts, woodwork -
Clunes Museum
Photograph - PHOTOGRAPH HARRY GORING / SCARF DRILL, BAWDEN PHOTO
.1 COPY OF PHOTOGRAPH OF "SCARF DRILL" 12 GIRLS IN WHITE DRESSES AND SCARVES .2PHOTOGRAPH OF OLD CLUNES IDENTITY HARRY GORING HE SERVED IN THE NEW ZEALAND WAR. HARRY IS STANDING IN FRONT OF HIS WEATHERBOARD HOME. GEESE AND A PILE OF WOOD IN FRONT.2 ON BACK IN HANDWRITING: AN OLD IDENTITY FROM CLUNES. HARRY GORING SERVED IN THE NEW ZEALAND WAR. ON FRONT: A CRIMEAN VETERANS HOME NEAR YEAscarf drill, harry goring -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Domestic object - Haeusler Collection Child's Ceramic Bowl
The Wodonga Historical Society Haeusler Collection provides invaluable insight into life in late nineteenth and early twentieth century north east Victoria. The collection comprises manuscripts, personal artefacts used by the Haeusler family on their farm in Wodonga, and a set of glass negatives which offer a unique visual snapshot of the domestic and social lives of the Haeusler family and local Wodonga community. The Haeusler family migrated from Prussia (Germany) to South Australia in the 1840s and 1850s, before purchasing 100 acres of Crown Land made available under the Victorian Lands Act 1862 (also known as ‘Duffy’s Land Act’) in 1866 in what is now Wodonga West. The Haeusler family were one of several German families to migrate from South Australia to Wodonga in the 1860s. This bowl is one of several objects in the Haeusler Collection concerning early childhood that provide insight into family and home life in early twentieth century Wodonga. The Hauseler Collection bowl was manufactured by Empire Porcelain Co (Ltd) in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, England. Empire Porcelain Co (Ltd) was established in 1896 and manufactured bone china and earthenware until the company's closure in 1967. It can be dated to the first half of the twentieth century, likely c.1910s-1920s. Staffordshire became a centre for ceramic production in the 17th century due to the local availability of pottery materials including clay, salt, lead and clay. This item has well documented provenance and a known owner. It forms part of a significant and representative historical collection which reflects the local history of Wodonga. It contributes to our understanding of domestic and family life in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history, social history, and women’s history.Child's ceramic bowl with black print. The print in the centre of the bowl features a child with a wind instrument and three dancing cats. The outer rim of the bowl features a black circular print of roosters, dogs, cats, geese, rabbits and squirrels. The bottom of the bowl is embossed with details of manufacture. "ENGLAND" is embossed on bottom of the bowl via ceramic mould/ "EP.Co Stoke on Trent" is embossed on the bottom of the bowl in black via print. tableware, haeusler collection, children, ceramic, social history, domestic, family -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - FORTUNA COLLECTION: HUSTLERS AND ENERGETIC MINE
Black and white photograph of mine site. Metal poppet head in centre, engine room buildings on LH side. Brick chimney extreme left. Large mullock/sand heap on RH side. Mine dam in foreground, three geese floating in water. In front of poppet head, horse drawn wooden cartbendigo, mining, hercules and energetic mine -
Ballarat Heritage Services
Work on paper - Printmaking - Silkscreen, [Fruit Bats] bu Roy Burnyila
Roy BURNYILA (31/12/1954- ) Skin name: Bangardi Language: Ganalbingu Dreaming: Yirritja Clan: Gurrumba Gurrumba Region: Arnhem Land Burnyila learnt to paint from his father. The Arafura Swamp and personal totems such as the Yalman (water lilies), Gumang (magpie geese), Warrnyu (flying fox), Banda (Longneck turtles) and Bapi (snakes) are featured inhis work. Burnyila is renowned for his single coloured lined rarrk (cross hatching). Screenprint of fruit bats, printed in colour inks, from multiple stencils. The work features cross hatching (rarrk).roy burnyila, aboriginal -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - LONG GULLY HISTORY GROUP COLLECTION: HERCULES/ENERGETIC MINE
Black and white photocopy of the Hercules/Energetic Mine. The photo shows the poppet legs, mine building and brick chimney. There is also heaps of tailings. In the foreground is a dam, with what looks like ducks/geese on it. Written on the back: One of the mines that Sir John Quick worked in. He used to drive a Horse Whim. Hercules / Energetic Mine. Energetic Mine first then amalgamated to H/E.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - hercules/energetic mine, sir john quick -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Magazine - AILEEN AND JOHN ELLISON COLLECTION: WALKABOUT MAGAZINE 1969
Walkabout magazine Australia's way of life magazine. February 1969, price 40 cents. On the cover Australia's film makers, the art of the Boyds. The photo on the cover captures the dedication and concentration of Australia's film makers. Contents: Mail bag - Publisher's column - Two thousand weeks - journey to a lonely mountain - Those brilliant Boyds - Maldon, a museum piece - Our changing language - A paradox of geese - Above Barron waters - On the move - Book reviews.book, magazine, travel -
Bendigo Art Gallery
Print - Work on paper, Ohara SHOSON, Birds, c.1955
c.l; japanese charactersprint, printmaker, printmaking, woodblock, woodcut, japanese, japan, birds, flying, geese -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Slide - Photograph, On the Eltham Road, Walter Withers (1906), Heidelberg School Artists Trail, Alistair Knox Park, Eltham, c.Nov. 2001
The Heidelberg School Artists Trail was established in about 1999 with about 52 signs across four local governemnt areas including Nillumbik and Banyule. It extends from Heidelberg through Eltham and Warrandyte and to the Dandenongs. It features signs depicting paintings of artists in the location in which they were painted. This one acknowledges "On the Eltham Road", 1906. Transcription of the text states: "In this cheerful rural landscape, Walter Withers has captured the spirit of early Eltham. Eltham was a quiet, sleepy village, where geese wandered up the main Road and the locals either walked or rode their horses or bicycles around the township. Walter Withers was known to load up his bicycle with his collapsible easel, folding stool, paint box, water bottle and canvases, and would head off for a day’s painting. He was also known for his walking, as was his family, and they became known as the ‘Walking Withers’ Part of a slide show presentation "A Trip Down the Diamond Creek" by Russell Yeoman to the Eltham District Historical Society meeting of 14 Nov. 200135mm colour positive transparency Mount - Black and Whiteeltham, alistair knox park, heidelberg school artists trail, on the eltham road, public art, sign, walter withers -
Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages
Book, Sue Wesson et al, Aboriginal flora and fauna names of Victoria : as extracted from early surveyors' reports, 2001
The Flora and Fauna Names Project is an initiative of the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages and the Victorian Biodiversity Strategy. The researcher has examined material from the archives of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE), the State Library of Victoria, the Victorian Public Records Office and the Australian Archives Office. This first stage of the project focussed on the NRE archives, in particular the field notebooks of the earliest surveyors and their maps although other NRE resources, libraries and public records were accessed. A total of 3028 words were found of which a significant proportion have previously been unknown to linguists. It appears that the place names and word lists in early surveyors notebooks, the 1858 surveyors responses to the Surveyor General and an extensive Wiradjuri wordlist by James Baylis have not yet been widely used or published. Fifteen percent of these 3028 words describe flora and fauna and six percent describe habitat. Of particular interest is the evidence provided by these lists of the existence of fauna in the mid nineteenth century in regions where it is now extinct. For example, magpie geese, eastern quolls, bustards and pademelons were assigned names in the Jardwadjali language area of the upper Glenelg and Wimmera Rivers. The outcomes of this project may help to assist in ascertaining the distribution of flora and fauna assets in Victoria.maps, b&w photographs, colour photographs, illustrations, word listswiradjuri, jardwadjali, glenelg river, wimmera river -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Document - Menu, Bill of Fare ship Schomberg, circa 1855 - May 12 1856
A “Bill of Fare” is a menu or list of food offered for a meal. This Bill of Fare from the sailing ship Schomberg is handwritten in pen in hard-to-read script on the printed pages specifically for the Schomberg ship, of the Black Ball Line of Australian Packets. (‘Packets’ were vessels that had a regular trade run of cargo, passengers and mail; the sailing ship Schomberg was designed for long voyages between England and Australia.) These menus posed a puzzle as they have the handwritten dates of, May 10 and 12, 1856, by which time the Schomberg had sunk (she sunk on December 26, 1855). The donor of these pages of Bill of Fare is a stamp collector from Melbourne. He came across the menus in a package that he bought in 1980 at a stamp auction in Tasmania. He decided to give the menus to Flagstaff Hill this year during his annual family holiday in Warrnambool. A 1981 newspaper article about this donation included an interview with Flagstaff Hill’s curator Mr Peter Ronald, who said that the stationery of these menus is genuine. He went on to say that there would have been much stationery printed for use on the Schomberg although she sank on her maiden voyage. These menus could have been written at a dated late because the surplus Schomberg stationery could have been used for menus on other ships. We will probably never be sure of the answer but none-the-less the pages are still connected to the Schomberg. Below is what we believe the menu consists of although some of the writing is indecipherable - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (first menu) Roast Mutton Boiled Mutton? Ox Tail Mulligatawny? Or possibly Ox Tail Vegetables? Mutton Pies? ------------------------------- Vegetables Potatoes ---------------------------------- Dessert Fruit Puddings? Saturday May 10, 1856 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - AND - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (second menu) Boiled Mutton Roast Mutton? Roast Geese? Ox Tail?? Calves Head Broth? ------------------------------- Vegetables Potatoes ------------------------------- Dessert Tarts? Rice Pudding? ?...Maids?? Monday May 12, 1856 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Background of “SCHOMBERG” When SCHOMBERG was launched in July, 1855, she was considered the “Noblest ship that ever floated on water.” SCHOMBERG’s owners, the Black Ball Line (one of three companies by that name), commissioned the ship for their fleet of passenger liners. She was built by Alexander Hall of Aberdeen, UK at a cost of £43,103. She was constructed with 3 skins: one planked fore and aft, and two diagonally planked, fastened together with screw threaded trunnels (wooden rails). Her first class accommodation was luxurious: velvet pile carpets; large mirrors; rosewood; birds-eye maple; mahogany; soft furnishings of gold satin damask; an oak-lined library; and a piano. Overall she had accommodation for 1000 passengers. SCHOMBERG’s 34 year old master, Captain James ‘Bully’ Forbes, had promised Melbourne in 60 days at the launch, "with or without the help of God." James Nicol Forbes was born in Aberdeen in 1821 and rose to fame with his record-breaking voyages on the famous Black Ball Line ships MARCO POLO and LIGHTNING. In 1852 in the MARCO POLO he made the record passage from London to Melbourne in 68 days. There were 53 deaths on the voyage but the great news was of the record passage by the master. In 1954 Captain Forbes took the clipper LIGHTNING to Melbourne in 76 days and back in 63 days, this was never beaten by a sailing ship. He often drove his crew and ship to breaking point to beat his own records. He cared little for the comfort of the passengers. On this, the SCHOMBERG’s maiden voyage, he was going to break records. SCHOMBERG departed Liverpool on her maiden voyage on 6 October 1855 flying the sign “Sixty Days to Melbourne”. She departed with 430 passengers and 3000 tons cargo including iron rails and equipment intended to build the Melbourne to Geelong Railway as well as a bridge over the Yarra from Melbourne to Hawthorn. She also carried a cow for fresh milk, pens for fowls and pigs, and 90,000 gallons of water for washing and drinking. SCHOMBERG also carried 17,000 letters and 31,800 newspapers. The ship and cargo was insured for $300,000, a fortune for the time. The winds were poor as she sailed across the equator, slowing SCHOMBERG’s journey considerably. Land was first sighted on Christmas Day, at Cape Bridgewater near Portland, and Captain Forbes followed the coastline towards Melbourne. Forbes was said to be playing cards when called by the Third Mate Henry Keen, who reported land about 3 miles off. Due in large part to Forbes regarding a card game as more important than his ship, SCHOMBERG eventually ran aground on a sand spit near Curdie's Inlet (about 56 km west of Cape Otway) on 26 December 1855, 78 days after leaving Liverpool. The sand spit and the currents were not marked on Forbes’s map. Overnight, the crew launched a lifeboat to find a safe place to land the ship’s passengers. The scouting party returned to SCHOMBERG and advised Forbes that it was best to wait until morning because the rough seas could easily overturn the small lifeboats. The ship’s Chief Officer spotted the steamer SS QUEEN at dawn and signalled it. The master of the SS QUEEN approached the stranded vessel and all of SCHOMBERG’s passengers and crew were able to disembark safely. The SCHOMBERG was lost and with her, Forbes’ reputation. The Black Ball Line’s Melbourne agent sent a steamer to retrieve the passengers’ baggage from the SCHOMBERG. Other steamers helped unload her cargo until the weather changed and prevented the salvage teams from accessing the ship. Later one plunderer found a case of Wellington boots, but alas, all were for the left foot! Local merchants Manifold & Bostock bought the wreck and cargo, but did not attempt to salvage the cargo still on board the ship. They eventually sold it on to a Melbourne businessman and two seafarers. In 1864 salvage efforts were abandoned after two men drowned when they tried to reach SCHOMBERG. Parts of the SCHOMBERG were washed ashore on the south island of New Zealand in 1870, nearly 15 years after the wreck. The wreck of the SCHOMBERG lies in 825 metres of water. Although the woodwork is mostly disintegrated, the shape of the ship can still be seen due to the remaining railway irons, girders and the ship’s frame. A variety of goods and materials can be seen surrounding the wreck, by divers. Flagstaff Hill holds many items salvaged from the SCHOMBERG including a ciborium (in which a diamond ring was concealed in concretion), communion set, ship fittings and equipment, personal effects, a lithograph, tickets and photograph from the SCHOMBERG. These Bills of Fare are significant due to their connection to Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from the Schomberg, which is significant for its association with the Victorian Heritage Registered shipwreck S612. The collection is primarily significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the Schomberg. The Schomberg collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of an international passenger ship. The shipwreck 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 shipwreck and the ship, which was designed to be fastest and most luxurious of its day. The Schomberg 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. Menu, or Bill of Fare, on cream coloured stationery from the sailing vessel “Schomberg”. Two rectangular pieces of paper, each bears the printed words “Black Ball Line of Australian Packets, Bill of Fare, Ship, Schomberg”, a printed symbol of the Black Ball line (a black ball on a red flag) and a decorative border. Both pages are handwritten, in similar but different sized writing, with a Bill of Fare and a date, Page (1) dated May 10th 1856 and (2) dated May 12th ’56, (Both dates are AFTER the Schomberg sank in December 26th 1855.) Both pages have three fold lines spaced across their width. To be used for the return voyage.Printed on the pages ““BLACK BALL LINE OF AUSTRALIAN PACKETS.” “Bill of Fare, / SHIP / “SCHOMBERG”.” Handwritten list of food, and on one page “Saturday May 10 1856” and on the other page “Monday May 12” warrnambool, peterborough, shipwrecked coast, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, maritime museum, great ocean road, flagstaff hill, sailing ship schomberg, shipwreck schomberg, black ball line of australian packets, bill of fare schomberg, menu schomberg 1856, food mid-1800’s, food on ships mid-1800’s, menu, may 10, 1856, may 12, 1856