This plate comes from the Registered Office of F. Morse Pty Ltd. The name ‘Morse’ has been associated with the local Warrnambool transport industry for more than 100 years from the horse-drawn era to the advent of motorized transport. Frederick Morse was the son of Henry Morse, a teacher at The Grange, Hamilton and at Grasmere in the early 1870s. In 1883 Frederick Morse started business in Fairy Street as a coach builder in a partnership known as Robinson and Morse and in 1891 he set up a business on his own, the Victoria Carriage Works in Lava Street with branches in Port Fairy and Koroit. By the 1890s he was employing 27 people and winning State awards for his Abbot buggies. By the 1920s the Morse business had moved to motorized transport, expanding over the years to car dealerships, caravans, panel works and reconditioning and truck building with the subsidiary businesses of Morsmilk and Morsbearings (both later sold).This plate is of strong significance as a memento of a business in Warrnambool that has been prominent in the local transport industry for 120 years. It is also a memento of the Morse family, notable 19th century settlers in the town and important in local community affairs since that time. This is a wooden frame with a glass front. The frame is painted a grey colour and has holes at the top and bottom for affixing the frame to a wall or door. Behind the glass the words ‘Registered Office F. Morse Pty Ltd’ are painted or incised on to a wooden slab. The words are in yellow and red paint. The frame is a little chipped and the inside of the glass is somewhat blotchy and stained. ‘Registered Office’ ‘F. Morse Pty Ltd’ frederick morse, robinson and morse, morse & co., history of warrnambool, coach building in warrnambool, automotive industry in warrnambool

Thomas Sheraton (1751-1806) appears to have been the first to record the written term “Canterbury” music or magazine stand. In his Cabinet Dictionary of 1803 he refers to “a small music stand” with divisions for holding loose sheet or bound volumes of music. The music stand designed to hold sheet music came into fashion in the late 18th Century in England and was often crafted from mahogany, rosewood or walnut. They were seen as status symbols since music was practiced exclusively by the upper classes of society. In a period when printed music was more widely available and disseminated due to more affordable printing techniques, modern sheet music was very popular and therefore storage for such favoured tunes became a luxury and an opportunity for innovative design by cabinet makers. The Classical period of music, from about 1750 to 1820 and the Romantic Period from around 1815-1910 was the golden age of classical music. And it was at this time that The Canterbury often accompanied the piano in the parlour with styles ranging from Georgian simplicity to Victorian exuberance. Social activities of colonial Victoria would have included evening gatherings of family and friends around the piano to enjoy performances or sing along together with from old and up-to-date music sheets. The Canterbury would also be an elegant and practical place to also store newspapers, magazines, posters and drawings from overseas. The news from ‘home’ would be enjoyed by all. THE INSCRIPTION “Jack Morse” Morse. In 2010 Mr Jack Morse was recognised as one of the “people who have contributed to the long term development of Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village”. He was a member of the Flagstaff hill Planning board and a Current Life Member and had been awarded a Certificate of Service and the provision of an Annual Family Membership for life by Flagstaff Hill. The Morse’s family business, Morse’s Engineering, closed in 2010. It was considered “One of Warrnambool’s longest operating businesses with roots dating to 1883 with the design and manufacture of coaches and buggies, progressing to automotive repairs and later specialising in under-vehicle work” The Canterbury appears to have been handmade prior to 1860 as the dovetails are handmade and there are no saw marks on the drawer sides or back as well the sides. Also the back has small nicks indicating a hand plane or drawer knife was used rather than a saw blade to size the material. Additional indications are that the spindles are slightly different in size meaning they were handmade individually not mass produced. From these indicators the writer believes that the item was made before 1860 as machinery was only used after this date to produce furniture. As yet no individual maker can be attributed to this item, however it is a significant piece historically and is quite valuable if a known maker can be associated with the Canterbury. The item highlights a time in our social history when music played an everyday part in people’s lives as the only entertainment families could enjoy together in their own homes. A Canterbury music stand, having three compartments consisting of twenty turned spindles supporting the slat dividers. A drawer, with two turned wooden handles, is fitted below. The music stand has turnip style turned feet. The drawer front and carcass of the stand are veneered rosewood over a mahogany carcass. The underlined words "Jack Morse" are handwritten underneath the drawer bottom.Hand written inscription on underneath the drawer bottom "Jack Morse".flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, canterbury, music rack, magazine rack, music stand, magazine stand, 19th century furniture, occasional furniture, frederick cornwallis, jack morse, morse’s undercar, music, thomas sheraton, regency furniture, music canterbury

This is a photocopy of a booklet produced in the early 1900s by the firm of A.Robinson & Co. of Warrnambool. Alexander Robinson, the son of James and Jane Robinson (farmers) was born in Warrnambool in 1862. He was an award-winning coach and carriage builder, firstly in partnership with Frederick Morse in Fairy Street and later with his own company A. Robinson and Co. By the early 20th century he was also selling and repairing motor cars. Alex Robinson was a Warrnambool City Councillor from 1904 to 1910 and from 1922 to 1927 and Mayor on two occasions. His business site was occupied by Callaghan Motors until 2017. In 2025 the site was for sale after plans to develop it did not proceed.Although this is only a photocopy it is of great interest as the photocopied photographs are clear and show us exactly what type of horse-drawn vehicles were in use in the Warrnambool area at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The firm of A. Robinson was a prominent one in Warrnambool and Alex Robinson was active in civic affairs in the town. This is a photocopy of a booklet produced by Alexander Robinson advertising his Steam Carriage Works in the early 1900s. The pages are bound together with a plastic clip and the back cover is a piece of stiff cardboard. The booklet contains black and white photographs of the factory building and of the buggies, wagons, jinkers and carts for sale. It also has a page detailing the prizes won by the firm at Agricultural Shows all over Victoria.robinson & morse, a.robinson & co., history of warrnambool, coach and carriage making in warrnambool, fairy street

William James Capewell, Ernest James Andrew and George Harrison all of Eltham collected the sum of £150 towards the purchase of Lot 20 Henry Street and whereby a Contract of Sale dated 30 December 1921 agreed to purchase (as Trustees of The Eltham Hall to be used in perpetuity for the benefit of the inhabitants of the Eltham District) the land, furniture, fittings and chattels from Jack Alfred Harrison, George Hugh Bird and Edward Samuel McColl for £750. The first President was declared to be Ernest James Andrew, Honorary Secretary, A.J. Morse, Honorary Treasurer, Charles Robert Nicholls and the first elective committee to be Thomas Nunn Jewell, William John Pasco, George Burchall, William James Burgess, John William Cox, Ernest James Andrew, John Michael Ryan, Frederick William Gillespie Didfield, Charles Harold Williams, Joseph Banks, Laurence Bourke, Charles Robert Nicholls, William James Capewell and James Pascal. This committee was appointed until the Annual meeting of subscribers held in January 1923 at which point all could stand for re-election (held annually). The Trust Deed was signed by Ernest James Andrew, William James Capewell and George Harrison in the presence of John Michael Ryan, Builder of Eltham, 5 August 1922. Originally purchased in 1856 from Thomas Roberts, Yeoman of Little Eltham, for £10 for use by the Wesleyan Chapel, represented by indentured Trustees, Rev. Barnabas Shaw Walker, Minister of the Pentridge Circuit, Francis Thomas, Farmer of Keelbundora, William Harriman, Blacksmith of Nillumbik, Nicholas Rodda, Farmer of Nillumbik, Aaron Grimshaw, Farmer of Greensborough, Joseph Cooper, Gardener of Keelbundora, Peter Dredge, Scholmaster of Jika Jika and Samuel Jeffrey, Farmer of Jika Jika. Lot 20 of Subdivision of Portion 13, Section 4 of the Parish of Nillumbik in the County of Evelyn was located on the southern side of Henry street in Little Eltham North, where the current Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church is situated. It became the location of the Eltham Rechabite Hall. In 1893 a new hall was built and further enlarged in 1919. At the commencement of 1922, the property was purchased from the Independent Order of Rechabites with publicly subscribed funds and a new hall built at a cost of £750 and improved road access constructed to reduce the grade, running from Dudley Street to Henry Street. This hall was eventually replaced with the new Shire Offices and Hall built on the corner of Arthur Street and Main Road, which was opened in 1941. Traces the earliest history of the Eltham Public Hall in Henry Street and the various names, occupations and abodes of the Trustees associated with the propertya.j. morse, charles harold williams, charles robert nicholls, edward samuel mccoll, eltham public hall, eltham rechabite hall, eltham wesleyan chapel, ernest james andrew, frederick william gillespie didfield, george burchall, george harrison, george hugh bird, henry street, jack alfred harrison, james pascal, john michael ryan, john william cox, joseph banks, laurence bourke, thomas nunn jewell, trustee, william james burgess, william james capewell, william john pasco

The set consisted of a key battery and buzzer it was used for training potential radio operators in the Morse code. It was manufactured by blue point in the 1950s. The company was founded in the Sydney suburb of Erksville in 1936 by a German immigrant, Frederick Boyd Dirks who named his company F Dirks. The company produced Bakelite products such as ashtrays single strip heaters, and Morse key components, In 1946 the company named was changed to Blue Point products Pty Ltd. The name was inspired by the name “Blau Punkt” a German electrical supplier. in 1973 the company was purchased by Gerard Industries which was known for its line o Clipsal products, An item made in Australia for training purposes of new radio operators and is significant in that it is part of Australia's social history and shows the development of Australian electrical manufacturing. Australian blue point telegraph practice /training set XX20A circa 1950 Bakelite, stamped XX20A under, three terminals - two marked "+" and "-".flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

This tape is from the first telegram ever sent in Western Australia. This important event occurred on 21 June 1869. At this time the transmitted message was received on paper tape and later transcribed onto a telegram form for delivery. The original tape was presented to the Honourable Frederick Palgrave Barlee, Colonial Secretary of Western Australia, as a souvenir. "FPB" appears on an engraved shield on the lid. James Coats Fleming, the first telegraphist and later Superintendent of Telegraphs, sent the telegram. During 1875, Colonial Secretary Barlee transferred from Perth to Belize and then to Trinidad where he died in 1884. The fate of the case and spool, souvenir of that first telegram, was unknown. In July 1940, the WA Agent-General in London advised the Premier's Department in Western Australia that a Mrs EW Hillyer of Hertfordshire had the spool and case and was willing to sell it for ten guineas ($21). The Postmaster General's Department agree to the purchase and it duly arrived by registered mail. As a communications museum was planned in Melbourne, it was sent there to be included in the collection. Nothing more was heard until early 1980s when the relic arrived at the Post and Telecommunication museum in Perth. The case had been found in an old Melbourne strongroom where it had apparently been placed for safe-keeping and then forgotten. Initial attempts to decode the message on the tape were unsuccessful. Eventually, it was discovered that the Western Australian Telegraph Company, responsible for that first transmission, had devised its own code. A copy was obtained from the Battye Library and the message deciphered.This Morse tape is of historic significance as the first telegram ever sent in Western Australia. The occasion was momentous as the transition point between isolation and ease of connection for business and personal communications. The case is of aesthetic interest for the craftsmanship involved in the engraved text. Further, the tape has research potential owing to the unique information contained within this tape; that is, the code of the Western Australian Telegraph Company. This tape, may in turn be used to decode further messages sent by the Western Australian Telegraph Company. As the first telegraph message sent in Western Australia, this tape is rare. Despite a tumultuous journey from 1869 to the early 1980s, the tape's ceremonial wooden case provides provenance information which supports the tape's historic importance.Small wooden case (.1) holding a length of morse tape (.2) which was the first telegram ever sent in Western Australia . Wound onto a mother of pearl reel (.3). Accompanying signs and decoded message (.4,.5)..1 engraved on a metal shield shaped plaque on the lid: "WESTERN AUSTRALIAN / TELEGRAPHS / FPB" Inside: 'TRANSLATION OF REGISTER / TO THE CHAIRMAN OF FREMANTLE TOWN TRUST / His Excellency Colonel Bruce heartily congratulates the / inhabitants of Fremantle on this annihilation of distance / between the Port and the Capital, and he requests that this, / the first message, may be made publicly known. / GOVERNMENT HOUSE, / PERTH, June 21, 1869 / Transmitted 11 am / J.C.F."|.2: "Instrument Register / of the First / Telegraphic Message / in / Western Australia"|.3: "The first Telegraph Pole / in / WESTERN AUSTRALIA / was erected by / The Hon. Frederick P. Barlee / Colonial Secretary / on 19th Febr. 1869"telegram, commemorative item, morse inker, morse tape, morse code, code, postmaster-general's department

This item was donated by Leading Aircraftman Gregory Frederick Mead (A316860) who was with the Royal Australian Air Force and served in Vietnam with Base Support Flight from May 1968 to September 1968 and No. 1 Operational Support Unit from September 1968 to May 1969Metal, plastic, pale blue paint, black and silver knobs, On/Off switch, morse key. Sticky taped on white paper reads Morse Code Trainer.NS No. 5805-99-580-8558 Key telegraph F.I.L.71 Ser.No 2353signals, trainer, morse code, leading aircraftman gregory frederick mead, a316860, royal australian air force, raaf, base support flight, no. 1 operational support unit