Black and white photo by W. Swift, showing aftermath of the 1920 Gasworks explosion. Crowds in Pickles Street.utilities - gas, built environment - industrial, gasworks, william swift, disaster - explosion

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

Index, ill (b/w plates), p.362.non-fictionAt 11:28 a.m. on Saturday, August 12, 2000, high in the Arctic Circle under the roiling surface of the unforgiving Barents Sea, Captain Gennady Lyachin was taking the Kursk, the pride of Russia's elite Northern Fleet, through the last steps of firing a practice torpedo, part of an elaborate naval exercise. Suddenly, the torpedo exploded in a massive fireball, instantly incinerating all seven men in the submarine's forward compartment. The horror, however, was just beginning. The full, gripping story of the remarkable drama inside the Kursk and of the desperate rescue efforts has never been told - until now.russian submarine kursk explosion, submarine disasters - russia

Seven men were killed at the Great Extended Hustler's mine disaster on 2nd May 1914 by an explosion of dynamite occurring as the men were waiting at the plat to ascend the mine at the end of their shift. No blame was attached to anyone in the findings of the inquisition. It was unknown what caused the dynamite to explode. This document formed part of the research done at the time by Bendigo Historical Society, of the 100 years commemoration of the mine disaster, held at Hustler's Hill in 2014. One page plan, computer generated, annotated to show the worksite of the miners prior to when the explosion occurred at the Great Extended Hustlers mine in May 1914. The location of Martin, Ryan, Thomas, Campbell, Blair and Chinn are described. great extended hustlers, goldmining, accident, 1914

Seven men were killed at the Great Extended Hustler's mine disaster on 2nd May 1914 by an explosion of dynamite occurring as the men were waiting at the plat to ascend the mine at the end of their shift. No blame was attached to anyone in the findings of the inquisition. It was unknown what caused the dynamite to explode. This document formed part of the research done at the time by Bendigo Historical Society, of the 100 years commemoration of the mine disaster, held at Hustlers Hill in 2014. Six page copy of research document, describing the history and geology of the Great Extended Hustlers Mine and the Great Extended Hustlers Reef Q.M. Co.. Topics include: general overview of history, mines along the Hustlers line, characters of the saddle reefs, gold occurrences, effect of pitch, influence of faulting, payable reefs and saddle reefs and spurs. Mine overview researched by Mr. Albert Richardson. great extended hustlers, goldmining, hustlers consols, united hustlers and redan, k.k. mine, comet, hustlers reef no. 1, hustlers reef, hustlers royal reserve co., park shaft, hustlers royal reserve no. 2, city shaft, fortuna hustlers

On May 2nd 1914, 7 miners were killed in a dynamite explosion in the Great Extended Hustler's Gold Mine. It was Bendigo's worst mining disaster and although an inquest found it was an accident, no cause for the explosion was found.Advertising flyer for an event held on May 3-4 2014, to mark the centenary of the mine disaster that killed 7 minersat the Great Extended Hustlers mine. Other activities included a Specimen Cottage exhibit; guided walks around the Hustlers Reef Reserve; displays on site and talks by various speakers on the mine disaster and mining technology. Event was organised by the Bendigo Historical Society in conjunction with the Hustlers Reserve committee.