This toy cat was part of the cargo from the Fiji and amongst the articles salvaged from the wreck. The three-masted iron barque Fiji had been built in Belfast, Ireland, in 1875 by Harland and Wolfe for a Liverpool based shipping company. The ship departed Hamburg on 22nd May 1891 bound for Melbourne, under the command of Captain William Vickers with a crew of 25. The ship’s manifest shows that she was loaded with a cargo of 260 cases of dynamite, pig iron, steel goods, spirits (whisky, schnapps, gin, brandy), sailcloth, tobacco, coiled fencing wire, concrete, 400 German pianos (Sweet Hapsburg), concertinas and other musical instruments, artists supplies including brushes, porcelain, furniture, china, and general cargo including candles. There were also toys in anticipation for Christmas, including wooden rocking horses, miniature ships, dolls with china limbs and rubber balls. On September 5th, one hundred days out from Hamburg in squally and boisterous south west winds the Cape Otway light was sighted on a bearing differing from Captain Vickers’ calculation of his position. At about 2:30am, Sunday 6th September 1891 land was reported 4-5 miles off the port bow. The captain tried to put the ship on the other tack, but she would not respond. He then tried to turn her the other way but just as the manoeuvre was being completed the Fiji struck rock only 300 yards (274 metres) from shore. The place is known as Wreck Bay, Moonlight Head. Blue lights were burned and rockets fired whilst an effort was made to lower boats but all capsized or swamped and smashed to pieces. Two of the younger crewmen volunteered to swim for the shore, taking a line. One, a Russian named Daniel Carkland, drowned after he was swept away when the line broke. The other, 17 year old able seaman Julius Gebauhr, a German, reached shore safely on his second attempt but without the line, which he had cut lose with his sheath-knife when it become tangled in kelp. He rested on the beach a while then climbed the steep cliffs in search of help. At about 10am on the Sunday morning a party of land selectors - including F. J. Stansmore, Leslie Dickson (or Dixon) and Mott - found Gebauhr. They were near Ryans Den, on their travels on horseback from Princetown towards Moonlight Head, and about 5km from the wreck. Gebauhr was lying in the scrub in a poor state, bleeding and dressed only in singlet, socks and a belt with his sheath-knife, ready for all emergencies. At first they were concerned about his wild and shaggy looking state and what seemed to be gibberish speech, taking him to be an escaped lunatic. They were reassured after he threw his knife away and realised that he was speaking half-English, half-German. They gave him food and brandy and some clothing and were then able to gain information about the wreck. Some of the men took him to Rivernook, a nearby guest house owned by John Evans, where he was cared for. Stansmore and Dickson rode off to try and summon help. Others went down to the site of the wreck. Messages for rescuing the rest of the crew were sent both to Port Campbell for the rocket rescue crew and to Warrnambool for the lifeboat. The S.S. Casino sailed from Portland towards the scene. After travelling the 25 miles to the scene, half of the Port Campbell rocket crew and equipment arrived and set up the rocket tripod on the beach below the cliffs. By this time the crew of the Fiji had been clinging to the jib-boom for almost 15 hours, calling frantically for help. Mr Tregear from the Rocket Crew fired the line. The light line broke and the rocket was carried away. A second line was successfully fired across the ship and made fast. The anxious sailors then attempted to come ashore along the line but, with as many as five at a time, the line sagged considerably and some were washed off. Others, nearly exhausted, had to then make their way through masses of seaweed and were often smothered by waves. Only 14 of the 24 who had remained on the ship made it to shore. Many onlookers on the beach took it in turns to go into the surf and drag half-drowned seamen to safety. These rescuers included Bill (William James) Robe, Edwin Vinge, Hugh Cameron, Fenelon Mott, Arthur Wilkinson and Peter Carmody. (Peter Carmody was also involved in the rescue of men from the Newfield.) Arthur Wilkinson, a 29 year old land selector, swam out to the aid of one of the ship’s crewmen, a carpenter named John Plunken. Plunken was attempting to swim from the Fiji to the shore. Two or three times both men almost reached the shore but were washed back to the wreck. A line was thrown to them and they were both hauled aboard. It was thought that Wilkinson struck his head on the anchor before s they were brought up. He remained unconscious. The carpenter survived this ordeal but Wilkinson later died and his body was washed up the next day. It was 26 year old Bill Robe who hauled out the last man, the captain, who had become tangled in the kelp. The wreck of the Fiji was smashed apart within 20 minutes of the captain being brought ashore, and it settled in about 6m of water. Of the 26 men on the Fiji, 11 in total lost their lives. The remains of 7 bodies were washed onto the beach and their coffins were made from timbers from the wrecked Fiji. They were buried on the cliff top above the wreck. The survivors were warmed by fires on the beach then taken to Rivernook and cared for over the next few days. Funds were raised by local communities soon after the wreck in aid of the sufferers of the Fiji disaster. Captain Vickers was severely reprimanded for his mishandling of the ship. His Masters Certificate was suspended for 12 months. At the time there was also a great deal of public criticism at the slow and disorganised rescue attempt to save those on board. The important canvas ‘breech buoy’ or ‘bucket chair’ and the heavy line from the Rocket Rescue was in the half of the rocket outfit that didn’t make it in time for the rescue: they had been delayed at the Gellibrand River ferry. Communications to Warrnambool were down so the call for help didn’t get through on time and the two or three boats that had been notified of the wreck failed to reach it in time. Much looting occurred of the cargo that washed up on the shore, with nearly every visitor leaving the beach with bulky pockets. One looter was caught with a small load of red and white rubber balls, which were duly confiscated and he was ‘detained’ for 14 days. Essence of peppermint mysteriously turned up in many settlers homes. Sailcloth was salvaged and used for horse rugs and tent flies. Soon after the wreck “Fiji tobacco” was being advertised around Victoria. A Customs officer, trying to prevent some of the looting, was assaulted by looters and thrown over a steep cliff. He managed to cling to a bush lower down until rescued. In 1894 some coiled fencing wire was salvaged from the wreck. Hundreds of coils are still strewn over the site of the wreck, encrusted and solidified. The hull is broken but the vessel’s iron ribs can be seen along with some of the cargo of concrete and pig iron. Captain Vickers presented Bill Robe with his silver-cased pocket watch, the only possession that he still had, as a token for having saved his life and the lives of some of the crew. (The pocket watch came with 2 winding keys, one to wind it and one to change the hands.) Years later Bill passed the watch to his brother-in-law Gib (Gilbert) Hulands as payment of a debt and it has been passed down the family to Gilbert Hulands’ grandson, John Hulands. Seaman Julius Gebauhr later gave his knife, in its hand crafted leather sheath, to F. J. Stansmore for caring for him when he came ashore. The knife handle had a personal inscription on it. A marble headstone on the 200m high cliffs overlooking Wreck Beach, west of Moonlight Head, paying tribute to the men who lost their lives when Fiji ran aground. The scene of the wreck is marked by the anchor from the Fiji, erected by Warrnambool skin divers in 1967. Amongst the artefacts salvaged from the Fiji are bisque (or china) toys, (including miniature animals, limbs from small bisque dolls), rubber balls, a slate pencil, a glass bottle, sample of rope from the distress rocket and a candlestick holder. These items are now part of the Fiji collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum, along with Captain Vickers’ pocket watch and Julius Gebauhr’s sheath knife.This toy cat is classified as Fiji 10 on the SWR Flagstaff Hill’s Fiji collection is of historical significance at a State level because of its association with the wreck Fiji, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register VHR S259. The Fiji is archaeologically significant as the wreck of a typical 19th century international sailing ship with cargo. It is educationally and recreationally significant as one of Victoria's most spectacular historic shipwreck dive sites with structural features and remains of the cargo evident. It also represents 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 Fiji 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. China toy cat salvaged from the wreck of the Fiji. The cat is in a resting pose. This solid, moulded toy is made of bisque (sometimes described as bisque or porcelain) and the material is tan in colour with a slightly pitted surface.1891, china, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwrecked artefact, flagstaff hill maritime village, shipwreck coast, warrnambool, porcelain, moonlight head, wreck bay, cargo, bisque, toys, miniature animals, cat

The cast of a captive Golden Cat was made by David Pepper-Edwards at Taronga Zoo, Sydney, NSW. David Pepper-Edwards used a number of plaster cast footprints for comparison of unidentified field casts.Three plaster casts of a Golden Cat footprint. These casts were used in the identification of photographs and sightings of large cats in the Australian Bush. Australian Animal Folklore CollectionVerso: TZ, Golden Cat, male, 5/04australian animal folklore collection, david pepper edwards, pepper edwards, big cat, cat, golden cat, plaster cast, footprint, mythical, myth, folklore

This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 1000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007. Australian Print Council Commissioned Printart, artwork, cat poljski, poljski, australian print council, available, printmaking, etching, aquatint, photo etching

This is a cast of unknown origin and was probably made commercially. David Pepper-Edwards used a number of plaster cast footprints for comparison of unidentified field casts.Two plaster casts of a Bob Cat footrpint. These casts were used in the identification of photographs and sightings of large cats in the Australian Bush. Australian Animal Folklore CollectionversoL Bob Cataustralian animal folklore, david pepper edwards, pepper edwards, bob cat, big cat, cat, footprint, cast

"Lucky" the theatre cat was found inside one of the walls, with three mummified mice (shown in photograph), at Her Majesty's Theatre, Lydiard Street, Ballarat.Colour photograph of a mummified cat in display cabinetcat, mummified cat, mummu

This toy cat was sold in the Port of Echuca Discovery Centre shop. It looked like the Port cat, who's name was Stretch. He was popular with the public. The public liked to play with him, and they also could donate money to his food fund. Stretch died in 2020 A toy white and grey synthetic cat. The cat has yellow button eyes and pink and grey ears. There is a green ribbon tied around the cats neck with a sign which says Not For Sale.Bocchetta. Creating joy since 1948. Designed in Australia. All rights reserved. Patent pending. Manufactured in Indonesia under Bocchetta know how and quality standards. All new materials - Synthetic fibres Polyester fibres- poly beans filling. Not For Salecat, port cat, port of echuca cat

TIMETABLE: Ashwood College CAT Timetable- 1994Details of subjects for CAT Assessment Timetable- 1994TIMETABLE: Ashwood College CAT Timetable- 1994 From Time Capsule- ARC022401994, timetable, school assessment, cat, cat timetable

David Pepper-Edwards used a number of plaster cast footprints made at Taronga Zoo in the identification of Big Cat sightings in the bush.David Pepper-Edwards used a number of plaster cast footprints made at Taronga Zoo in the identification of Big Cat sightings in the bush.australian animal folklore collection, david pepper edwards, pepper edwards, big cat, cat, plaster cast, footprint

National Gallery of Australia dates similar nursery rhyme series work to c.1978 Charles Blackman received an O.B.E for services to visual arts in 1977. From Wikipedia: Blackman, born 12 August 1928 in Sydney, left school at 13 and worked as an illustrator with The Sun newspaper while attending night classes at East Sydney Technical College (1943–46) though was principally self-taught. He was later awarded an honorary doctorate. He came to notice following his move to Melbourne in the mid-1940s, where he became friends with Joy Hester, John Perceval and Laurence Hope as well as gaining the support of critic and art patron John Reed. His work met critical acclaim through his early Schoolgirl and Alice series, the latter Blackman's conception of Lewis Carroll's most famous character. For some time while painting the Alice series, Blackman worked as a cook at a café run by art dealer Georges Mora and his wife, fellow artist Mirka Mora. In 1959 he was a signatory to the Antipodean Manifesto,[3] a statement protesting against the dominance of abstract expressionism. The manifesto's adherents have been dubbed the Antipodeans Group. Blackman's own work is associated with dreamlike images tinged with mystery and foreboding. In 1960 he and his family lived in London after Blackman won a Helena Rubenstein travelling scholarship, settling in Sydney upon his return five and a half years later.[4] In 1970 he moved to Paris, when awarded an atelier studio in the Cité internationale des arts. He lived there for a year at the same time as John Coburn, and subsequently returned often, as Paris was for him a lasting source of inspiration. After 27 years of marriage, Blackman divorced his wife Barbara in 1978, largely because of his alcoholism. He married the young artist Genevieve de Couvreur, a 19-year-old friend of his children.[5] She divorced him after eight years, as his alcoholism grew deeper, and in 1989 he married a third wife, Victoria Bower, whom he also later divorced. He had six children, Auguste, Christabel, Barnaby, Beatrice, Felix and Axiom, most of them artists and musicians in their own rightRectangular framed etching featuring nursery rhyme characters. At lower left, a cat is sitting on a stool while playing the violin, with a dog and a spoon to the right of it. A large cow is in the air above them. The cow has a dish above it and a crescent moon below it. Grass-like lines run along the bottom edge of the picture. Four leaf-like shapes float around the image. Blonde timber frame, white mount.l.l.c. - "13/20" lower centre - "HI DIDDLE DIDDLE THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE" l.r.c. - "CHARLES BLACKMAN"nursery rhyme, cat, fiddle, violin, cow, moon, dish, dog, spoon, 1970s

David Pepper-Edwards used a number of plaster cast footprints made at Taronga Zoo in the identification of Big Cat sightings in the bush.Plaster casts of big cat footprints. These casts were used in the identification of photographs and sightings of large cats in the Australian Bush. Australian Animal Folklore Collectionaustralian animal folklore collection, david pepper edwards, pepper edwards, big cat, cat, plaster cast, footprint, mythical, myth, folklore

David Pepper-Edwards used a number of plaster cast footprints for comparison of unidentified field casts.Plaster casts of big cat footprint. These casts were used in the identification of photographs and sightings of large cats in the Australian Bush. Australian Animal Folklore Collectionaustralian animal folklore collection, david pepper edwards, pepper edwards, big cat, cat, plaster cast, cast, resin cast, footprint, mythical, myth, folklore

John Higgins, managing editor of the Maryborough Advertiser was interested in sightings of what some suggested to be a puma or mountain lion in Central Victoria. A number of A4 printouts relating to large cat sightings in the Maryborough (Vic) area, many reported by the Marlborough Advertiser. The large cat referred to is often referred to as a Puma or Mountain Lion. (.7) Profile of Central Victorian Cat Australian Animal Folklore Collectionaustralian animal folklore collection, cat, ferral cat, puma, mountain lion, maryborough, maryborough victoria, ds saunders, bryan walters, bernie mall, peter chapple. graham george, australian cougar, felid, pamela parker, alan foskett, daisy hill, panther, john dix, ray elliott, dennis wiley, police sightings, graham hunt, brian douglas, stuart mill, graeme grant, a. venes, avoca, julie hobbs, greg gallagher, taltarni, moonambel, fred beach, majorca, michael rayner, chateau remy, john robb, wayne irvine, brian anderson, peter davies, talbot, joyce davies, tom davies, len farthing, barry rinaldi, edward stone, brian stone, judith tranter, alan poole, shane long, jim smith, lloyd forge, carisbrook, murray henderson, doug grose, john higgins, footprint cast, australian dasyurids, felis concolor, lioness, lion, shane long, wareek, koo-jar hill, american troops, betley cat, daisy hill cat, phelan road cat, amherst cat, john higgin, angus reynolds, betley tiger, tim clark, walters cougar catcher, identification chart, david towler, bob carr, rare fauna research society, lancefield cat, bernie mace, robert pattison, bryan de lacy, romsey, murray henderson, brian collinson, neil grummett, grummett, kenneth lamont, lamont, foskett, hobbs, rinaldi, poole, forge, henderson, grant, elliott, anderson, stone, irvine, douglas, stewart, long, mythical, myth, folklore

This is number 17 of 27 items in the Daisy Vickers collection of World War One memorabilia. These items were sent or given to Daisy Ogier (nee Vickers) during World War One by Corporal Arthur Anderson who enlisted from Warrnambool in 1915 at the age of 21. He served in Egypt and France and returned to Australia in 1919. Daisy Ogier (1907-1987) was a student and then a teacher at Warrnambool Technical School with her early teaching years there from 1925 to 1936 and in 1949. She became the head mistress from 1950 to 1963 and in 1968. She officially retired in 1976. Daisy Vickers was one of the best loved and dedicated teachers that the school ever had. She married the Reverend Fred Ogier and continued her association with the school after her husband's deathThis card is interesting because of its association with World War One and two local people Daisy Vickers and Arthur AndersonThis coloured postcard features a man looking into an empty bottle held against his eye. There is a grey and white cat wearing a bow in the foreground and black and blue printing. The reverse has hand written ink writing and space for a stamp.My Landlady's Cat wears a Blue Ribbon but I don't believe it's a Teetotaller !!. Il me semble qu'on y a mis un doigt France Jan 26th Dear Daisy I received your letter dated 6th Nov saying you had been to the show what are you learning to play on the piano Arthur daisy vickers, arthur anderson, warrnambool technical school, world war 1 postcard

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of stranded whale at Cat Baylocal history, photography, stranded whale, black & white photograph, wild life, whales, coastline, cat bay, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of the remains of Aboriginal Ovens at Cat Baylocal history, photography, aboriginal ovens, black & white photograph, aborigines, cooking & feasting, h r balfour, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of the remnants of Aboriginal feasting at Cat Baylocal history, photography, aboriginal feast site, black & white photograph, aborigines, cooking & feasting, h r balfour, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of dune ridges at Cat Bay. Quoin Hill on the skyline.local history, photography, cat bay, black & white photograph, coastline, dunes, dr a b edwards, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of sea shells and bones. The remains of an Aboriginal feast. Close-up of shell on a midden at Cat Baylocal history, photography, aboriginal midden, black & white photograph, aborigines, aboriginal middens, cat bay phillip island, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph taken at Cat Bay by H. R. Balfour showing shells left from innumerable Aboriginal feasts c. 1800local history, photography, aboriginal feast site, black & white photograph, aborigines, shell fish feasts, cat bay, john jenner, bryant west, h r balfour

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph taken at Cat Bay by H. R. Balfour showing shells left from innumerable Aboriginal feasts. c.1800local history, photography, aboriginal feast site, black & white photograph, aborigines, shell fish feasts, cat bay, h r balfour, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph taken at Cat Bay by H. R. Balfour showing shells left from innumerable Aboriginal feasts. c. 1800local history, photography, aboriginal feast site, black & white photograph, aborigines, shell fish feasts, cat bay, h r balfour, john jenner, bryant west

The Kew Historical Society’s collection includes a wide range of leisure objects. Many of the items are European-made, generally of British origin, however there are a number that were made for the Australian market by Australian manufacturers. There were clearly a huge range of toys produced for the Australian and International children’s market in the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries. The examples of toys in the collection include examples of alphabet toys, arcade toys, baby toys, construction toys, dolls, doll accessories, educational toys, soft toys, tin toys, toy animals, toy blocks, toy machines, toy typewriters, etc. Royal blue stuffed toy cat with a red bow at the neck. toys, soft toys, toy cats

As one of Geelong's finest forwards, Lloyd Hagger was relatively tall and possessed the ability to take high-flying, spectacular finger-tip marks at chest height as he tumbled over packs. His accurate punt and drop kicks resulted in many goals for the team. He became well known for scoring many acute angle goals. A mobile performer who could kick effectively with either foot, he played with equal effectiveness at centre half-forward and full forward. His durability was remarkable. During his 12 seasons he only missed eight matches. He was never short of a word on the field. - Col Hutchinson GFC HistorianHand drawing on paper card. Drawing of a black cat with one paw holding on to it's bow. At the bottom of the sketch in blue pen states "SKETCH BY LLOYD HAGGER, 1925". Lloyd Hagger was the original artist behind the cats logo and a Geelong player."SKETCH BY LLYOD HAGGER, 1925"cats mascot, gfc black cat, lloyd hagger, geelong cats

The Cat Protection Society in Elder Street Greensborough is to be redeveloped to continue its work in rehousing stray cats.News clipping, black text and colour image. cat protection society of victoria, elder street greensborough

Greensborough’s Cat Protection Society, established in 1947, called on local animal lovers to house stray cats while the Society prepares for a much needed renovation. News clipping, black text, colour image.cat protection society of victoria

The Greensborough-based Cat Protection Society has apologised after a missing Viewbank moggy was put up for adoption instead of being returned to her frantic owner.News article 1 page, black text.cat protection society of victoria, greensborough, viewbank

Francis Matthew (Frank) Child (1928 – 2020) was the son of Bernard Child (1907 – 1995). Bernard was the son of Ethel May Madden and an unknown father. When Ethel married Ted Child in 1908 Bernard was raised by Ted’s parents Francis and Martha Child. Bernard married Dulcie Paice (1904 – 1990) and they had one son, Frank Child, before they divorced in 1943. Ivy Child was the daughter of Ted Child and Ethel Madden so Frank Child was her nephew.Black and white photograph of a well dressed man kneeling in a garden holding a cat.On reverse; FRANK CHILD + IVY'S CAT DORLAM. CHILD'S ROAD.frank child, ivy child, cat, child family, child's road, childs road