This copper nail, sometimes known as a ‘Dumpy Bolt’ or spike, was salvaged from the hull of the wreck of the “George III”. It dates back to at least 1810. It was found by an abalone diver on the south east coast of Tasmania. The nail would have been used to hold the layers of the ship’s keel frame and the planking together. The nail has been passed from the abalone diver to an interested business man on a trip to the south of Hobart, on again to the business man’s close friend who then donated it to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The metal of nails such as this one, after being in the sea for a long time, become affected by the natural reaction of the sea water, causing it to degenerate and thin, and the stress from the force of the sea over the years alters its shape. Iron nails had been used on ships previously, but they quickly corroded in the salt; ships needed regular, costly and time-consuming maintenance to replace the iron nails. Towards the end of the 18th century the British Navy trialled the use of copper nails, finding them to be very successful. Merchant ships began to adopt this process in the early 19th century, although it made ship building very expensive and was more often used for ships such as the “George III” that sailed on long voyages. The three masted sailing ship “George III” was a convict transport ship built in Deptford, England, in 1810. On 14th December 1834 she left Woolwich, England, bound for Hobart Town, Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania), under Captain William Hall Moxey. She was carrying 220 male convicts plus crew, guards and their families, totalling 294 persons (another 2 were during the voyage). Amongst the cargo were military stores including several copper drums of gun powder. On 27th January 1835 the “George III” was near the Equator, about half way into her journey. A fire broke out and the gun powder was in danger of explosion, threatening the whole ship. Two convicts braved the heat and smoke, entered the store and seized the gun powder drums, suffering burns for their efforts but saving a probable disaster. The fire destroyed some of the provisions and food was scarce. Many became ill with scurvy and some died during the journey. Nearing the end of their journey on 10th April 1835 the “George III” was headed through the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, south east Tasmania, between the mainland and Bruny Island. She was sailing in the moonlit night to hasten her arrival in port due to the great number of sick on board. She struck uncharted rocks, known only to the local whalers, between Actaeon Reef and Southport Lagoon and within hours began to break up. The ship’s boats were used to first rescue the women and children. Firearms were used to help quell the panic of the convicts below decks and some were killed by the shots. Many convicts, including the sick, were drowned. In all, 133 lives were lost including 5 of the crew, guards and their families. It was the third worst shipping disaster in Tasmanian waters. A monument in honour of the prisoners who perished in the “George III” has been erected, noting the date of the wreck as “Friday 10th April 1835.” (NOTE: there are a few differences between sources regarding dates of the shipwreck, some saying March and others April 1835. There are also differences in the figures of those on board and the number of lives lost.) The copper nail is significant as an example of sailing ship construction; fasteners used in the early 19th century on ships carrying convicts to Australia. The nail is also significant for its association with the ship “George III”. The “George III” is registered on the Australian National Shipwreck Database, ID 7195 as an Historic Shipwreck. She is the third worst shipwreck in Tasmanian waters. She is also associated with Early Australian History and the transportation of convicts to Australia. The incident of the fire on board and the bravery of the convicts in making the gun powder safe is an example of the social character of the people in early Tasmanian colonisation. Copper nail (also called a Dumpy bolt or spike) from the convict ship George III, wrecked in 1835. Nail is long, bent in an ‘L’ shape about 3/5ths along, tapering from both ends to the bend. Both ends are flat and do not taper to a point, nor have a thread. The shorter end has been polished, showing bright copper. There is pitting along the nail and virdigris is evident on the longer, unpolished end. The nail is displayed with the longer section resting on a wooden board between two ‘U’ shaped uprights, the shorter section upright. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, george iii, ship construction, ship nail, 1835 shipwreck, 19th century shipwreck, william moxey, d'entrecasteaux channel, convict transportation, copper nail, dumpy bolt, spike, keel nail

This report was prepared by historian Robin da Costa-Adams to assess the cultural heritage significance of "Enniskillen" at 14 Balwyn Road, Canterbury. It includes some family history on a number of prominent families - the McAlpin family, the Hindson family and the architect, Arthur William Plaisted who designed 'Enniskillen' for the McAlpin family. McAlpin's was a major Victorian flour company in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Owned and operated by J. McAlpin and Sons, the company sold its flour products across Australia and overseas. McAlpin's developed a successful marketing campaign which was pitched directly at housewives. One innovation was the publishing of a free cookbook which had recipes in it that used McAlpin's products. These free cookbooks were published successively from the 1930s through to the 1960s in Australia. Arthur Plaisted also designed the Surrey Hills Medical Centre in Union Road c1911. Some of his work is featured on the State Library of Victoria Collection. Robin da Costa-Adams has researched and written many publications including 'Blackburn a picturesque history, 1978'; 'Land of Gold: Gwlad yr Aur: James Tipping and a Mining Heritage'; 'Address (with signatories) from the women of Ballarat & Ballarat East to the women of England 1864 : against transportation of convicts', compiled and indexed by Robin; and 'Connie's Story : commemorating the Life of Mrs Edward (Plorn) Dickens'. Robin has been a tireless campaigner for heritage protection in Canterbury. This document on 'Enniskillen' was included with Robin's submission for 2 VCAT hearings regarding possible development of the property. Both resulted in a judgement against the proposed developments. In the recent (2021) hearing the document was specifically mentioned in the judgement.A report prepared by Robin da Costa-Adams in 2009 to assess the cultural heritage significance of "Enniskillen" at 14 Balwyn Road, Canterbury. It includes some family history on the McAlpin family, the Hindson family and the architect Arthur WIlliam Plaisted family.(mr) arthur plaisted, (mr) walter plaisted, enniskillen, shrublands, house names, (mr) francis henty, (mrs) mary henty, (mr) ernest carter, heathfield, (mr) john hindson, (mrs) alice hindson, (mr) william hindson, (mrs) annie west mcalpin, (mr) john mcalpin, mcalpin bakery, (mr) keith matthies, dental surgeon, (mr) william wolf, architects, (miss) mary beacon, robin ca costa-adams

Details the 244 Irish convicts transported to New South Wales on the ship "Marquis Cornwallis" in 1796.This book is devoted to only Irish convicts as a separate group.A 288 page book with a multi coloured outer cover.Pencil notes on inside cover.irish convicts, marquis cornwallis, transportation

Lists all the convicts in the Third Fleet alphabetically and names the ships on which they were transported.It also gives information such as birth place, length of sentence and date of conviction.A 126 page hard cover book with coloured outer covers.Pencilled words on inner flyleaf.sydney cove, penal colony, transportation, convicts

George Burnett Barton (1836-1901), lawyer, journalist and historian, was born on 9 December 1836 in Sydney. He practised journalism rather than law for which he had qualified in 1860. This is Volume 1 and covers the proposals for colonising New South Wales, the transportation and the early years of Governor Phillip.This is a detailed history of New South Wales compiled from original records and is a very useful research tool.A hard cover 625 pp book with a dark brown cover. On the spine the text is gold. It is titled, "History of New South Wales from the Records, Volume 1". It contains illustrations, facsimiles, maps, portraits and detailed historic information.Vol 1 1783-1789 Bartonnew-south-wales-history convict-settlement phillip-arthur barton-george-burnett

Thomas Francis Meagher was an Irish nationalist and leader of the Young Irelanders in the Rebellion of 1848. After being convicted of sedition, he was first sentenced to death, but received transportation for life to Van Diemen's Land in Australia. (Wikipedia)Portrait of Thomas F. Meagher who was associated with the Young Ireland movement.young ireland, thomas f. meagher, convict, tasmania, van dieman's land

Sydney : Sydney University Press, 1965 248 paegs ; 24 cm non-fictionOriginally published in 1864-5. 'Mortlock was sentenced in 1843 for a violent attack on a Fellow of Christ's Church, Cambridge. Transported to NSW, he experienced almost every aspect of the penal system between 1844-1864.transportation, convicts

William Ullathorne was first Vicar General of Australia under Bishop Polding. His writings on the convict system were influential in exposing "The Horrors of Transportation," giving this title to a pamphlet which he published at the request of the Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. In 1839 he gave evidence before Sir William Molesworth's parliamentary committee on transportation, which materially influenced the decision to discontinue the system. He later became Bishop of Birmingham UK.On base of bust "Ullathorne"

Index, bib, ill,, plates, p.359.fictionAn historical novel which focuses on the seven Irish men who led a nationalist uprising in 1848 to achieve self-rule. The uprising failed and the gentlemen leaders had their sentences commuted to exile in Tasmania, Australia.convicts - tasmania, transportation - ireland

Index, bib. tables, p.362.non-fictionA study of penal transportation from Great Britain and Ireland to Australia and other parts of the British Empire.transportation - history, penal colonies - british empire