This minute book documents activities, meetings and finances of the Childers Cove Progress Association between 1932 and 1938. Meetings were held in various location including the Criterion Hotel, Mepunga School, Cove School and the homes of various members.This minute book is of social and historic significance naming many district families associated with this community organisation in the period 1932-1938Red ink stamp Childers Cove Progress Associationchilders cove progress association, minute book, drake, laidlaw, mcgennan, abraham, murnane, mcdowall, keogh, boyle, bonnett, criterion hotel, mepunga school, cove school

These films depict local scenes such as Childers Cove, Warrnambool Breakwater, Thunderpoint and Port Campbell. The other films depict events such as the 1974 Merri Flood and the demolition of the Woollen Mill chimney All these films provide historical, artistic and social views of the district. Eight reels of 8 mm film depicting local scenes and events. Most are shot in colour.Warrnambool events and locations. Wangoom Primary School (4 reels) Flooded Merri Woodford 1974 (1 reel) Warrnambool Breakwater, Thunderpoint, Port Campbell(1 reel) Childers Cove(1 reel) Woollen Mill Chimney Demolition(1 reel)warrnambool, childers cove, 1974 merri flood, warrnambool woollen mill

Historical Information: The anchor is from the wooden sailing ship CHILDREN, which was wrecked at Childers Cove east of Warrnambool on the 15th of January 1839 with the loss of 16 lives. The Children anchor was raised from the wreck site by Flagstaff Hill Divers; Peter Ronald, Garry Hayden (Terang, still), Tim Goodall (now Warrnambool), and Colin Goodall (now Warrnambool), on Sunday 3rd January 1974. A week or so later it was dragged up the cliffs and taken to Warrnambool. It is now on display near the entrance to the Maritime Village and Museum. It appears to be a Pering’s Improved Anchor, developed at Portsmouth after 1813. The addition of broad curvature to the anchor arms provided a stronger purchase than the pre-existing Admiralty Old Pattern Long Shanked Anchor with straight arms. However, the evidence of hammer-welding the separate pieces of the arms and palms to the central shank (peaked crown and flat palms) suggests the manufacture is before the 1831 Rodger’s Anchor design, (which cast both arms and their flukes as one piece that was then attached to the shank by a bolt through the crown). This identification seems consistent with the date of the CHILDREN’s construction in 1824. The CHILDREN was a three masted barque with a wooden hull built at Liverpool in England. She was bought by the Henty family of Portland (Australia Felix) in 1837 for regular coastal trading between Van Diemens Land, the Port Phillip District of New South Wales and South Australia. Only 255 tons burden (92 feet in length, with a beam of 25 feet and depth of 17 feet), she sailed from Launceston bound for Adelaide in late December1838, on her first Australian voyage and under the English master who had brought her out – Captain H. Browne. On board the CHILDREN were 24 passengers, including 9 children; the captain and 14 crew; livestock of 1500 sheep, 8 bullocks and 7 horses; general cargo of beef, pork, tobacco, tripe, butter, limejuice, horse hair, currants, lead shot, beer and spirits; 5,000 house bricks from London; and six whaling boats with associated whaling gear. The vessel was battered by gale force north-westerly winds shortly after setting out from Launceston on 11 January 1839 and adverse sailing conditions persisted for the next four days. At 11 pm on the 15th of January 1839, and many miles north and east of the captain’s navigated position, the CHILDREN struck the Pinnacle, a limestone stack off Childers Cove. Within half an hour the ship was completely destroyed. As well as the loss of livestock and cargo, 16 passengers and crew perished, including the captain, six men, one woman and eight children. In 1931 shifting sands at Childers Cove uncovered the skeleton of an adult male. In 1951 another two skeletons were exposed by storms, an adult male and a child. In 1963 some district scuba divers retrieved a small signal-cannon from the site. And in 1974 Flagstaff Hill recovered the anchor and some house bricks. The shipwreck of the CHILDREN is of state significance – Victorian Heritage Register No. S116.A large forged-wrought iron anchor from the wreck of the CHILDREN. Flat hammer-welded flukes on opposing curved arms and a peaked crown. It has a metal (elbowed) stock or cross-bar and a heavy duty pinned shackle (not ring) for the anchor chain. It is in fair condition but extensively corroded after 135 years on seabed (supported on display) .warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck artefact, maritime museum, the children, childers cove, anchor, pering’s improved anchor, 1839 shipwreck.

These bricks are a sample of “5000 house bricks from London” carried by the CHILDREN as ballast, and intended for the Portland Bay settlement of her owners Henty Bros. Flagstaff Hill divers recovered them from Childers Cove in February 1974, and noted, “These bricks are the major feature of the wreck site. Subsequent notes indicate “The hull structure has broken up, leaving few visible remains, except for piles of house bricks intended for the Hentys of Portland”. According to Lloyds Shipping Register 1837-1839, the CHILDREN was built in 1825 at Liverpool and operated by owners Gordon & Co, of London, London registered number 123/1837; James Henty then bought her in 1837 as a three-masted barque of 254 tons, with a hull of “part pitch pine, felt sheathed” and “coppered 1837”. Launceston registered number 6/1837; in 1838 the CHILDREN, under her master Captain H. Browne, completed a successful round trip from Launceston to London (carrying wool and whale oil loaded in Portland), returning in late November of that year (carrying general cargo including the house bricks). On the 11th of January 1839, the CHILDREN sailed from Launceston for Adelaide, with 24 passengers, 14 crew, and an awkward mixed cargo, including 1500 sheep, 8 bullocks, 7 horses, and farming implements, and six whaleboats with associated whaling gear. One account states that when the CHILDREN “put out from port she was light and badly ballasted”. The vessel immediately encountered four days of hurricane-force storms, eventually clearing on the early morning of the 14th to “west force 10”, but too late to take accurate measurements of the sun or stars to establish their position relative to the coast. The CHILDREN collided with a limestone stack at the entrance of Childers Cove, and the seas smashed her into pieces within half an hour. All the cargo and 16 lives were lost (including 8 children). The Hentys contributed £150 towards a fund for the 22 survivors at a memorial service held in Launceston later that year. It was a major financial setback for the Hentys, but one from which they recovered. In a submission to the Governor of New South Wales dated 24 March 1840, the Hentys summarised their work over the previous six years of settlement: “Six stations have been occupied, one at Portland Bay…three at the open country about 60 miles inland called ‘Merino Downs’…They have erected two houses at Portland Bay and two others at Merino Downs”.These bricks are significant as a sample of 5000 house bricks carried from London as ballast by the Children and were intended for the Portland Bay settlement of her owners James Henty & Co. The CHILDREN was one of the first vessels to be lost in the Western District of Victoria, east of Warrnambool, on January 14th 1838, breaking up within twenty minutes. The wreck is also significant as one of the first vessels to have been lost in the Western District of Warrnambool and as such is registered on the Victorian Heritage Register S116.Five ‘house bricks from London’, some with white marine encrustation, recovered from the wreck of the ship CHILDREN. The bricks are oblong shaped and constructed of a blue-coloured and coarse-grained conglomerate. One brick is higher, shorter and narrower, than the other four bricks.Nonewarrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck artefact, maritime museum, london house bricks, children shipwreck, james henty and co, henty brothers, childers cove, early shipowreck

HISTORICAL INFORMATION In an article dated 26 March 1963, the Warrnambool Standard reported: “A cannon which has lain on the ocean floor since the barque, Children, was wrecked at Childer’s Cove on January 15, 1839, was raised by three Warrnambool skindivers at the week-end…The cannon, weighing about 750 lb. and 4-ft. 6-in. in length…is in excellent order considering the length of time it has remained under-water”. No conservation measures were taken at that time, other than chipping off the marine growth with hammers and cold chisels. The minutes for the 4 February 1974 meeting of the Flagstaff Hill Planning Board recorded that “a cannon recovered some time ago was lying in the garden of [one of the three original divers] and that it could be picked up at any time”. Peter Ronald, past Manager and Diver for Flagstaff Hill, notes that the CHILDREN cannon would have been recovered by the other divers around 1964. When the cannon came into care of Flagstaff Hill it was given basic conservation relevant to the time. (At the same meeting the Board was advised of the recovery of an anchor from the wreck of the CHILDREN by Flagstaff Hill divers (Peter Ronald, Colin Goodall and Gary Hayden, and Hank Howey and Andrew Coffee), and its interim relocation in the sea at the end of the Warrnambool Breakwater while awaiting conservation). The CHILDREN was owned by the pioneering Henty family of Portland. She was en route from Launceston to Adelaide, when she foundered in rough conditions at Childers Cove on 14 January 1839. The CHILDREN was a small three-masted barque, only 29 metres long and 254 tons weight, with 14 crew members and 24 passengers (including 9 children) on board. The ship was also carrying an awkwardly ballasted cargo of 1500 sheep, 8 bullocks, 7 horses, 5000 London house bricks, 6 whaling boats, and general trade goods. When the CHILDREN was driven into the limestone stack at the entrance to the cove, the seas smashed her into pieces within half an hour, and 16 lives were lost. The CHILDREN was an all-wooden ship, built in 1825 at Liverpool, and her shipwreck in 1839 is one of colonial Victoria’s earliest and most significant maritime disasters. There is little left to mark the tragedy on the seabed now, apart from some of the house bricks intended for the Henty’s Portland Bay settlement. Despite its poor condition, the CHILDREN’s signal cannon remains an important and interpretable record of her demise, (along with her anchor, the bottom half of her ship’s bell, and portions of a brass porthole - artefacts that are also in the Flagstaff Hill collection). In 2015 the CHILDREN cannon will undergo further conservation. (Conservation Management Plan for Victorian Guns and Cannon, South Western Victoria, May 2008, ref W/F/06) The shipwreck of the CHILDREN is of state significance — Victorian Heritage Register No. S116.A 1.3 metre iron 6pdr cannon recovered from the wreck of the CHILDREN. The shape of the cannon tapers from a thick round breech to a flared muzzle, with an 8 centimetre bore, and two side trunnions for pivoting on a wooden gun carriage. It was recovered from the shipwreck site of the CHILDREN by local divers in 1963. This small muzzle-loading signal cannon is in poor and unrestored condition. The cannon’s upper profile of smooth grey metal casing has corroded off, leaving an extensively oxidised rough red surface of crumbling iron. The bottom half of the cannon remains intact although the outer smooth casing also appears to be separating from the iron core of the barrel. Original grey casting is also missing from the breech and muzzle ends of the cannon. Corrosion and spalling of the upper surface layer of the cannon has removed the maker’s marks and specificationsflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, the children, ship’s cannon, signal cannon, childers cove, 1839 shipwreck, conservation of marine artefactsm, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, cannon, 6pdr small bore cannon, children cannon, defence, children, shipwreck, 1839

This remnant of a ships bell was recovered from the wreck site of the CHILDREN by Flagstaff Hill Divers on 1 October 1973. (Diving identification number S.M24/10-73, Accession number 24). The artefact had lain in the ocean off Childers Cove since the vessel’s disastrous sinking there on 15 January 1839. Other similarly high value metallic objects raised from the site, and now in the Flagstaff Hill collection, are the ship’s signal cannon (1963), and the ship’s anchor (1974). A ship’s bell was normally struck by the lookout at the foreward part of a vessel, following orders (“Strike the bell”) from the officer of the watch at the helm, or as a warning signal of danger ahead. Its main function was to keep the crew aware of time. Each 24 hour period was divided into 4 hour work-shifts, or watches, and each of these was divided into 8 half hours, or glasses (each half hour being determined by the time it took between each turn of the ship’s hourglass). The six watches were the first watch from 8pm to midnight, the second or middle watch from midnight to 4am, the third or morning watch from 4 to 8am, the fourth of forenoon watch from 8am to midday, the fifth or noon watch from midday to 4pm, and the sixth or dog watch from 4 to 8pm. Within each watch the first half hour would end with one bell, the second with two bells, the third with three bells, and so on until their work-shift ended with the ringing of eight bells. The CHILDREN left Launceston on 11 January 1839 and immediately struck heavy weather. By the evening of 15 January Captain Browne had been continuously on duty for 4 days and needed sleep, his First Mate (T. Gay) was incapacitated with seasickness, and the task of command was given to the Second Mate (W. Wentworth). At two bells into the first watch, or 9 o’clock that night, the captain went below. Two hours later, at six bells into the first watch, or 11 o’clock that night, the lookout cried “Breakers close ahead”. Within a minute the ship struck the rocks at the entrance of Childers Cove. Within twenty minutes the huge seas had taken her stern, three masts and much of her weatherside, leaving survivors clinging to the forecastle. Within two hours the wreck had completely disappeared. If anyone could have rung the bell by then, it would have been to strike two bells into the middle-watch, or one o’clock on the morning of 16 January. An 1859 Victorian Register of Wrecks from 1835 to 1858 remarks the CHILDREN “Ran ashore through an error in the reckoning and a bad lookout [and] Became a total wreck”. 22 passengers and crew survived the tragedy, but 16 lives were lost, including the captain and second mate, and 8 children. The shipwreck of the CHILDREN is of State significance ― Victorian Heritage Register S116A part of a brass ship’s bell, recovered from the wreck of the CHILDREN. The upper part, or dome of the bell, has corroded away, leaving the lower portion, or mouth of the bell, largely intact. However this lower surviving portion has been severed vertically with a clear (saw?) cut, leaving a regular 1cm gap down one side of the bell. It is an evocative relic, attractively aged on the seafloor, bearing layers of aqua-marine verdigris and white limestone accretion on a dull bronze surface. There is no visible ship’s name on the bell. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, the children, bell, ships bell, childers cove, henty brothers, james henty & co, sea-watches, nautical time, james henty & co, bell from the children

Photograph of Childer's Cove flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Massacre Bay is located on Victoria's Great Ocean Road, and is in the centre of the Bay of Martyrs. The bay consists of 20 m high, red limestone bluffs. This paper by Ken Clements considers the origin of the term martyr in connection to this location, and where the Aboriginal massacre may have taken place. Thirteen page document by Ken Clements relating to Peterborough, Victoria. Contents include coastal features, local Aborigines, Bay of Martyrs, Massacre Bay, Massacre Hill, Buckley Creek Run, Pioneer Pastoralists, British Traversers, settlers, Peterborough, Maps, tourism, history method. Photographs by Laurie Moore.aborigines, bay of martyrs, massacre bay, massacre hill, buckley creek run, pioneer pastoralists, british traversers, settlers, peterborough, maps, tourism, history method, childers cove, barque children, murnane bay, sandy bay, dog trap bay, buckley creek, viviennes lookeout, stanhope bay, buttres bay, burnies beach, armstrong creek, flaxman hill, antares rock, lovers nook, crofts bay, clements, worm bay, halladale point, the well, wold dog cove, james irvine monument, curdies inlet, squirrel creek, wallaby creek, boggy creek, whiskey creek, pioneer beach, schomberg rock, young australia, spit, crown of thorns, newfield bay, the grotto, london bridge, point hesse, high cliffs, the arch, cape martyr, little massacre bay, aboriginal massacre, ken clements

This album is possibly a collection printed from newspaper files. It has a wide variety of local scenes from haymaking, sports, social functions, beach scenes. Some names have been written in greylead, identifying some of the people in the photos and others are recognizable backgrounds such as the Peterborough Golf ClubWhile these images are not of true photographic quality, they do provide images of local scenes and activities which were relevant to the area in the mid 20th century. Some such as lifesaving carnivals, bike riding and golf continue to this day, others showing the hand raking of hay are long gone.Green card cover with red binding. This album contains printed copies of local scenes and people. The photos are numbered in purple pencil from1 to 312. The first photograph in the book is The Needle at Childers Cove and the last page is a group of people behind a picket fence.warrnambool, photographs of warrnambool, newspaper photographs warrnambool

This ledger contains outward correspondence from the Shire of Warrnambool, Engineer from the period November 1935 to September 1937. It covers matters such as bridges, roads noxious weeds, drainage. It contains areas such as Wangoom Nirranda, Childers Cove, Hopkins Falls, Panmure and local names such as Jenkins, Holloway, Delaney, Davidson, Digby, Bennett, Kruger, McDowall. This collection of letters provides a very good overview of issues and work covered in the period 1935-1937.Grey card cover with dark green binding. Alphabetical index at the front . Following pages are light pink paper and numbered 1-500, two to a page. Label inside front cover Arnall & Jackson, printers lithographers, bookbinders, publishers, Manufacturing Stationers, 428 Collins St Melbourne. Repeat Order No B 87970 ledger engineer's correspondence, 1935 -1937, shire of warrnambool, warrnambool

This is a Grade V Arithmetic book used by George Bonnett at Allans Forest School. The Bonnett family farmed in the Mepunga area on the Childers Cove Road. The Allans Forest State School, number 1086, was established in 1871 and closed in 1993. The first Head Teacher was Mr Bradhurst. The school closed in 1903 and re-opened in 1905 as a half-time school with Mepunga East and in 1908 it resumed as a full time school. This book is significant because it was used by George Bonnett at the Allans Forest State School and is a memento of both the Bonnett family of Mepunga and the Allans Forest State School, a school no longer existing. It is also of antiquarian interest as an example of arithmetic school text books used early in the 20th century. This is soft cover book of 128 pages. The cover is grey with black print and black lines around the edges of the front cover. The book has a prefatory note, arithmetical exercises and advertisements for other school text books published by Whitcombe and Tombs. The cover is torn and soiled and partly ripped away. There is handwriting in black ink on the first page.‘George H. Bonnett, Allans Forest State School’bonnett family, mepunga, allans forest state school, warrnambool history

This is a booklet of four poems about the Warrnambool area written and produced by Iris Fisher. The poems deal with aspects of Warrnambool, Allansford, Port Fairy and Koroit. Iris Fisher wrote the poems when she was living in Allansford. She lived for 18 years in Warrnambool and seven in Allansford and is the author of four other books of verse that tell of her life and thoughts in the Western District of Victoria. This book is of interest as it has been written by Iris Fisher who lived in the Warrnambool area for 25 years. The poems contain many references to the history of the four places – Warrnambool, Port Fairy, Koroit and Allansford. This is a small soft cover booklet of 26 pages. It has a mauve-coloured cover with an image of Childers Cove before the Sentinel rock was washed away. The cover printing is a dark red colour. The booklet contains four printed poems and black and white photographs of scenes and people of the Allansford/Warrnambool area. Mostly the illustrations are of an historic nature. The poems are dedicated to ‘Life in the Warrnambool Area’. The booklet is bound with staples.Front Cover: ‘Rhythmns (sic) of the Western District by Iris Fisher’ Inside front cover: ‘10/7/03 To Graeme and Barbara Best Wishes Iris’ allansford, port fairy, koroit, warrnambool, iris fisher

This album shows a collection of photographs some of which are labelled as Munster Services Club. Some show the Bookshop at the TOC H building. There are photos of soldiers in parade drills and in training exercises as well as social events. One is labelled D Craven & Rab, Munster 1954. Another is labelled London bus 2 RTR Munster. The 2 RTR was a tank regiment in the British Army and was stationed at the Swinton Barracks in Munster from 1952-1959. There are also a number of loose photos showing local scenes such as London Bridge and Needle Rock at Childers Cove. Others depict floats in a parade showing Peace Woollen Mill. Others are small postcards of MaryBorough and Brisbane Queensland. There is also a photograph of the Nestanglo basketball team, Victorian champions circa 1940’s. This collection of photographs has limited local relevance as there is limited provenance. However it depicts quite well the activities of the RTR and their activities in Munster in the post WW era.Brown and fawn snake skin patterned card cover with fawn cord binding. Photographs written in gold on front cover. Pages are brown card. Photographs are black and white.Munster Services Club.warrnambool, swinton barracks munster, munster services club 1952-1959, 2rtr munster

According to Lloyd's Shipping Register 1837-1839, the CHILDREN was built in 1825 at Liverpool and operated by owners Gordon & Co, of London. London registered number 123/1837. James Henty then bought her in 1837 as a three-masted barque of 254 tons, with a hull of “part pitch pine, felt sheathed” and “coppered 1837”. Launceston registered number 6/1837. In 1838 the CHILDREN, under her master Captain H. Browne, completed a successful round trip from Launceston to London (carrying wool and whale oil loaded in Portland), returning in late November of that year (carrying a general cargo including the house bricks). On the 11th January 1839, the CHILDREN sailed from Launceston for Adelaide, with 24 passengers, 14 crew, and an awkward mixed cargo, including 1500 sheep, 8 bullocks, 7 horses, and farming implements, and six whaleboats with associated whaling gear. One account states that when the CHILDREN “put out from port she was light and badly ballasted”. The vessel immediately encountered four days of hurricane force storms, eventually clearing on the early morning of the 14th to “west force 10”, but too late to take accurate measurements of the sun or stars to establish their position relative to the coast. The CHILDREN collided with a limestone stack at the entrance of Childers Cove, and the seas smashed her into pieces within half an hour. All the cargo and 16 lives were lost (including 8 children). The Henty’s contributed £150 towards a fund for the 22 survivors at a memorial service held in Launceston later that year. It was a major financial setback for the Henty’s, but one from which they recovered. In a submission to the Governor of New South Wales dated 24 March 1840, the Henty’s summarised their work over the previous six years of settlement: “Six stations have been occupied, one at Portland Bay…three at the open country about 60 miles inland called ‘Merino Downs’…They have erected two houses at Portland Bay and two others at Merino Downs”. The shipwreck of the CHILDREN is of State significance ― Victorian Heritage Register S116Part of terracotta bowl from the wreck of the Children, 2 segments have been glued together.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, children

According to Lloyds Shipping Register 1837-1839, the CHILDREN was built in 1825 at Liverpool and operated by owners Gordon & Co, of London. London registered number 123/1837. James Henty then bought her in 1837 as a three-masted barque of 254 tons, with a hull of “part pitch pine, felt sheathed” and “coppered 1837”. Launceston registered number 6/1837. In 1838 the CHILDREN, under her master Captain H. Browne, completed a successful round trip from Launceston to London (carrying wool and whale oil loaded in Portland), returning in late November of that year (carrying a general cargo including the house bricks). On the 11th January 1839, the CHILDREN sailed from Launceston for Adelaide, with 24 passengers, 14 crew, and an awkward mixed cargo, including 1500 sheep, 8 bullocks, 7 horses, and farming implements, and six whaleboats with associated whaling gear. One account states that when the CHILDREN “put out from port she was light and badly ballasted”. The vessel immediately encountered four days of hurricane force storms, eventually clearing on the early morning of the 14th to “west force 10”, but too late to take accurate measurements of the sun or stars to establish their position relative to the coast. The CHILDREN collided with a limestone stack at the entrance of Childers Cove, and the seas smashed her into pieces within half an hour. All the cargo and 16 lives were lost (including 8 children). The Hentys contributed £150 towards a fund for the 22 survivors at a memorial service held in Launceston later that year. It was a major financial setback for the Henty’s, but one from which they recovered. In a submission to the Governor of New South Wales dated 24 March 1840, the Henty’s summarised their work over the previous six years of settlement: “Six stations have been occupied, one at Portland Bay…three at the open country about 60 miles inland called ‘Merino Downs’…They have erected two houses at Portland Bay and two others at Merino Downs”. The shipwreck of the CHILDREN is of State significance ― Victorian Heritage Register S116Fired brick from the wreck of the Children, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, children

Nails such as this solid copper nail were forged by blacksmiths. A nail of this length could have been used for the ship's decking. It was recovered from the shipwreck of the barque Children. The Children wrecking: The barque Children was one of the first vessels to be lost in the Western District the vessel was wrecked to the east of Warrnambool on 14th January 1838. When it ran ashore in hurricane-force winds, 22 passengers and crew were fortunate to escape being battered to death on the rocks. The Children broke up within 20 minutes, sweeping sixteen of those on board to their deaths. After eleven days, the survivors, all of whom were injured, were rescued and taken to Portland. According to Lloyd's Shipping Register 1837-1839, the Children was built in 1825 at Liverpool and operated by owners Gordon & Co, of London. Registration number 123/1837, James Henty then bought her in 1837 as a three-masted barque of 254 tons, with a hull of “part pitch pine, felt sheathed” and “coppered in 1837” at Launceston registered number 6/1837. In 1838 the Children, under her master Captain H. Browne, completed a successful round trip from Launceston to London (carrying wool and whale oil loaded in Portland), returning in late November of that year carrying a general cargo including house bricks used for ballast. On the 11th of January 1839, the Children sailed from Launceston for Adelaide, with 24 passengers, 14 crew, and an awkward mixed cargo, including 1500 sheep, 8 bullocks, 7 horses, and farming implements, and six whaleboats with associated whaling gear. One account states that when the Children were “put out from port she was light and badly ballasted”. The vessel immediately encountered four days of hurricane-force storms, eventually clearing on the early morning of the 14th. However, it was too late to take accurate measurements of the sun or stars to establish their position relative to the coast. The Children collided with a limestone stack at the entrance of Childers Cove, and the seas smashed her into pieces within half an hour. All the cargo and 16 lives were lost including 8 children. The Henty brothers contributed £150 towards a fund for the 22 survivors at a memorial service held in Launceston later that year. It was a major financial setback for James Henty and his brothers, but one from which they recovered. In a submission to the Governor of New South Wales dated 24 March 1840, the Henty’s summarised their work over the previous six years of establishing the Portland settlement stating. “Six stations have been occupied, one at Portland Bay three at the open country about 60 miles inland called ‘Merino Downs’ They have erected two houses at Portland Bay and two others at Merino Downs”.This nail is significant as part of the vessels original fixtures. The Children was delivering cargo intended for the Portland Bay settlement of her owners the James Henty brothers The wreck is also significant as one of the first vessels to have been lost in the Western District of Warrnambool. As a result the shipwreck of the Children is registered with the Victorian Heritage Register S116. Ship's nail, copper, with a washer attached. The nail has a round head, solid round shank and a flat end. It is bent, twisted and has indentations in the centre section. The nail was recovered from the wreck of the CHILDREN.warrnambool, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, shipwreck artefact, the children, nail, copper nail, ship's nail, children shipwreck

It is probable that the urinal was situated in the forward part of the ship rather than the stern, being one of two placed on either side of the deck and housed immediately adjacent to the doors into for-castle, or crew sleeping quarters. The toilets on maritime vessels were (and still are) called the ‘heads’, after the sanitation arrangements common until the end of the eighteenth century. The name was given to the ‘head’ of the ship, forward of the forecastle and around the beak or bowsprit. These first lavatories were floored with grating or nets so the force of the sea could wash them clean, and they were always used on the lee or non-weather side so the effluent fell directly into the water rather than back on board. The Children wrecking: The barque Children was one of the first vessels to be lost in the Western District the vessel was wrecked to the east of Warrnambool on 14th January 1838. When it ran ashore in hurricane-force winds, 22 passengers and crew were fortunate to escape being battered to death on the rocks. The Children broke up within 20 minutes, sweeping sixteen of those on board to their deaths. After eleven days, the survivors, all of whom were injured, were rescued and taken to Portland. According to Lloyd's Shipping Register 1837-1839, the Children was built in 1825 at Liverpool and operated by owners Gordon & Co, of London. Registration number 123/1837, James Henty then bought her in 1837 as a three-masted barque of 254 tons, with a hull of “part pitch pine, felt sheathed” and “coppered in 1837” at Launceston registered number 6/1837. In 1838 the Children, under her master Captain H. Browne, completed a successful round trip from Launceston to London (carrying wool and whale oil loaded in Portland), returning in late November of that year carrying a general cargo including house bricks used for ballast. On the 11th of January 1839, the Children sailed from Launceston for Adelaide, with 24 passengers, 14 crew, and an awkward mixed cargo, including 1500 sheep, 8 bullocks, 7 horses, and farming implements, and six whaleboats with associated whaling gear. One account states that when the Children were “put out from port she was light and badly ballasted”. The vessel immediately encountered four days of hurricane-force storms, eventually clearing on the early morning of the 14th. However, it was too late to take accurate measurements of the sun or stars to establish their position relative to the coast. The Children collided with a limestone stack at the entrance of Childers Cove, and the seas smashed her into pieces within half an hour. All the cargo and 16 lives were lost including 8 children. The Henty brothers contributed £150 towards a fund for the 22 survivors at a memorial service held in Launceston later that year. It was a major financial setback for James Henty and his brothers, but one from which they recovered. In a submission to the Governor of New South Wales dated 24 March 1840, the Henty’s summarised their work over the previous six years of establishing the Portland settlement stating. “Six stations have been occupied, one at Portland Bay three at the open country about 60 miles inland called ‘Merino Downs’ They have erected two houses at Portland Bay and two others at Merino Downs”.This urinal is significant as part of the vessels original fittings he Children was delivering cargo intended for the Portland Bay settlement of her owners the James Henty brothers The wreck is also significant as one of the first vessels to have been lost in the Western District of Warrnambool. As a result the shipwreck of the Children is registered with the Victorian Heritage Register S116. A lead urinal with a rounded back at the top splash plate with an attached semi-circular receptacle or basin (20cm deep and projecting forward 30cm). At the sides are flanges with bolt holes connecting to a ship's wall. The urinal is drained by a funnel-shaped outlet also made of lead, reducing from a 10cm radius to a joined 5 cm pipe. The urinal was recovered from the wreck of the CHILDREN.Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, shipwreck artefact, the children, lead ship’s plumbing, crew urinal, the ‘heads’, ship plumbing, james henty, portland bay, urinal, ship's urinal