HMAS Warrnambool (FCPB 204) was a Fremantle-class Patrol Boat. The Warrnambool was Launched in 1980 and Decommissionbed in 2005.Designs for new class of patrol boat began in the late 1960s, the HMAS Warrnambool (FCPB204) was launched on 1980 and de commissioned in 2005. The Warrnambool was built by North Queensland Engineers and Agents and carried a company of 22 personnel.A black and white photograph in a black wooden frame with a gold stripe on the inside edge of the frame. There is a presentation plaque on the glass of the frame.The presentation plaque 'Presented by the Officers abd Ships Company HMAS Warrnambool'hmas warrnambool (fcpb204), patrol boat,

This photograph is connected to the first HMAS Warrnambool (J202), which was one of 60 Bathurst class corvette vessels built during World War II by Mort's Dock & Engineering Co Ltd of Sydney under the commission of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). It was the namesake of the City of Warrnambool in Victoria. The armed minesweeper was 57 metres long and could had a complement of 85 personnel. Its armament included 1 × 4 inch Mk XIX gun, 1 × 40 mm Bofors AA gun (installed later), 3 × 20 mm Oerlikon guns (1 later removed), machine guns and depth charge chutes and throwers. It was launched in Sydney in May, 1941. The HMAS Warrnambool began service with patrols off Bass Strait in 1941. In December the ship docked in Warrnambool Harbour and the crew marched in a parade along Timor Street. The ship’s crew received a donation of 110 books from the Warrnambool Patriotic Fund, and a plaque of the City of Warrnambool’s Coat of Arms presented by the Mayor, Cr. John R Astbury. In September 1942 a Dutch East Indies family, Samuel and Annie Jacob and seven of their eight children, was rescued by the HMAS Warrnambool and evacuated to Darwin. The family settled in Melbourne, then in 1944 Samuel tragically died. After the war ended the family was threatened with deportation under Australia’s Immigration Restriction Act 1901 (known also as the White Australia policy). Annie married her landlord, John O’Keefe but was still issued a deportation order in 1949. The family appealed to the High Court and the case became famous for being the first successful legal challenge to the Act. The HMAS Warrnambool was in Darwin during the time it was bombed, attacked by the Japanese while rescuing 73 crew from a merchant vessel that had also been attacked. The ship was involved in several other rescues and carried troops to New Guinea. Other events included escort and patrol duties on Australia's east coast, then at Fremantle and back to Darwin. When the Japanese surrendered on September 11, 1945, at the end of World War II, the ship was at Timor. It performed mine clearance work around the Solomon Islands and New Guinea after the war. On 13th September 1947 the ship was sent to lead a flotilla at the Great Barrier Reef, off the Queensland coast. The mission was to clear the defensive British mines that were laid during1941-43 to protect Australia’s boarders. The HMAS Warrnambool hit a mine near Cockburn Reef, exploded and sank shortly afterwards. One of the 70 or so men on board was killed at the time and thirty-two men were badly injured; three of these also lost their lives. The four deceased were Victorian seamen. The wounded men were transferred by boats to the nearby HMAS Swan II, where the Swan’s and the Warrnambool’s doctors cared for them. The HMAS Swan II took the survivors to Cairns, and from there the men were flown by RAAF to either Brisbane or Sydney hospitals. The HMAS Warrnambool was the only RAN ship to be sunk by a mine, and the four who lost their livers were the last naval casualties from World War II. The ship’s wartime service was recognised by three honours. In May 1948 a number of items were recovered by Navy divers from the wreck of HMAS Warrnambool. The items included the ship’s bell (inscribed HMAS Warrnambool 1941) and the round plaque with the Seal of the Warrnambool City Council. In 1949 the plaque was returned to the Council, and the bell was donated to the Australian War Memorial. Further objects were recovered by the new owners of the wreck, Southern Cross Diving and Salvage, in 1972-75. A memorial plaque, honouring the memories of all those who served on the HMAS Warrnambool until is sunk on September 13 1947, was erected in Warrnambool on September 13, 1995. NOTE: (1)- The second HMAS Warrnambool (FCPB204), also the namesake of the City of Warrnambool, was built in 1980 in Cairns, one of fifteen Fremantle Class Patrol Boats ordered by the RAN. It was just over 41 metres long with a compliment of 22 personnel. It patrolled Australia’s northern waters for illegal fishing vessels. This vessel was decommissioned in 2005. (2)- There was also a steam and sail ship named the S.S. Warrnambool, built in 1892 in London and broken up in 1926.This photograph is significant for its association with Royal Australian Navy and its vessel, HMAS Warrnambool (j202). The HMAS Warrnambool played a nationally significant role in overturning Australia’s Immigration Restriction Act 1901 (colloquially known as the White Australia policy). The ship rescued, and brought to Australia, Samuel and Annie Jacob and their family after they evacuated Dutch East India. The family was threatened with deportation and made the first successful appeal to High Court regarding that Act. The HMAS Warrnambool has - Local significance for being the namesake of the City of Warrnambool - Local significance, having docked in Warrnambool Harbour - Local significance, the crew having paraded in Timor Street, Warrnambool - State significance for its first patrol being in Bass Strait. - National significance, being present in Timor at the Japanese surrender - National significance as part of Australia’s defence force history, being one of only four Bathurst class corvettes lost while in Australian service, the only Bathurst class corvette lost after World War II, the only RAN vessel to be sunk by a mine, and associated with the last four Navy deaths of WWIIBlack and white photograph of vessel H.M.A.S. Warrnambool J202 on an open sea. The identifying number is painted on the hull. The ship is flying a white ensign. A lifeboat is suspended near the centre of the ship. Figures can be seen on deck. Hand written inscription on the reverse side. On ship's hull "J202" On reverse of photo "From P.O. FRED MATTHEWS. 23378. R.A.N." "MARIBYRNONG MAIDSTON RSL" "H.M.A.S. WARRNAMBOOL"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, photograph, h.m.a.s. warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, mort's dock & engineering co ltd, hmas warrnambool, hmas warrnambool i, hmas warrnambool j202, hmas swan ii, j202, world war ii, bathurst class corvette, royal australian navy, ran, sydney built ship, bass strait patrol, sea mine patrol, mine sweeper, mine clearance, navy divers, great barrier reef, cockburn reef, southern cross diving and salvage, warrnambool city council, cr j r astbury, mayor j r astbury, warrnambool patriotic fund, seal, coat of arms, ship’s bell, hmas warrnambool 1941, shipwreck by sea mine 1947, sea rescue, life saving, lifesaving, sinking ship, sunk ship, immigration restrictions act 1901, white australia policy, samuel and annie jacob, john o'keere, minesweeper

This photograph and a matching earlier photograph are images of a 1989 oil-on-canvas painting owned by the donor. They show the British sail and steam ship SS Warrnambool at Dover Strait in the English Channel. Each photograph was accompanied by a letter, one written in 2001 and the other in 2003, confirming that the artist of the painting was by Charles Keith Miller, signed with his initials “CKM” and dated “1893”. The images show the ship’s home flag with a diagonal blue anchor flying from the masthead. The same symbol is painted on the ship’s black funnel. The signal flags on the foremast display ‘M’ ‘R’ ‘V’ ‘B’, with each flag signalling a meaning in the International Code of Signals. While the SS Warrnambool was visiting Melbourne on its maiden voyage on December 1, 1892, a painting of that Lind Line ship by marine artist C.K. Miller was presented to the Town Council of Warrnambool by Mr. William Lund of London, owner of the Lind Line, or Blue Anchor Line. At that time, the Ladies of Warrnambool presented the ship with a ‘house’ flag bearing the Blue Anchor Line’s symbol, made by them especially for the occasion during the preceding moth. On December 6, the homeward bound ship anchored for a short time off the Port of Warrnambool, and a boat was launched from Lady Bay to take a group of friends to the ship with a delivery of gifts. After three cheers each for the ship and its Captain the SS Warrnambool continued its journey towards Britain via Adelaide. Although the painting was gifted in December 1892, it is post-dated “1893”. The reason for the discrepancy is unclear but whatever the reason, the provenance of the painting was confirmed at auctions of this painting and other works by the same artist. CHARLES KEITH MILLER 1836-1907:- Captain Charles Miller left his home in Scotland at the age of 15 years for a life at sea. He earned his Master’s Certificate ten years later. After being the captain of sailing ships, he moved to the steamships because they were faster. He married in 1866 and settled in Glasgow. Over the following eleven years, he and his wife had five children, then sadly, his wife passed away. Captain Miller returned to the sea for a while, but in 1888, he gave up his sea life to spend his time as a marine artist. His understanding of seafaring life and vessels, combined with his artistic skills, enabled him to produce fine art, and several galleries and museums have collections of his sought-after works. S.S. WARRNAMBOOL 1892-1925:- The sail and steamship SS Warrnambool was built in 1892 by the Sunderland Ship Building Company for the Lund Line of London, founded by William Lund in 1869, and registered in London. It efficiently carried passengers and cargo worldwide, including Australia, under its master, Captain Joshua Edward Ilbery, who had many years of experience with the Lund’s Blue Anchor Line, or BAL, which owned a fleet of sail and steamships. The funnels its steamships were painted black, with a white band around the top bearing a diagonal blue anchor and chain, also shown on the company’s house flag. The Lund Line ships were given Australian place names beginning with the letter “W”. Master Mariner, Captain Joshua Ilbery, was lost at sea without a trace in 1909, along with the ship SS Waratah. The ‘no frills’ service carried passengers and cargo to and from Europe around the Cape of Good Hope, stopping at various ports. The ship was involved in bringing home returned soldiers in 1895. At one time, it carried a doctor from Victoria, Australia, to assist at the war front in South Africa. The ship had a very good reputation for its cargo arriving almost always in excellent condition. Exported goods from Australia included iron safes, flour, wool, apples, frozen rabbits, butter, cheese, pork, cattle, poultry and sheep. One remarkable delivery contained Ostriches for Queen Victoria, and they survived the journey well. The SS Warrnambool was sold in 1900 to the British and South American Steam Navigation Co. Ltd of Liverpool and was renamed ‘Harmodius’. R.P. Houston & Company of London managed the company, and its Houston Line funnels were red with a black top. The Harmodius was sold in 1919 to K.S.S. Co. Ltd, managed by Kaye Son & Co. Ltd. of Liverpool, and was renamed ‘Kut’. The line had black funnels with a white ‘K’ in a diamond or between white stripes. In 1926, it was purchased by T.W. Ward Ltd. and broken up. NOTE- other vessels named “Warrnambool” Two other vessels carried the name “Warrnambool” (1)- HMAS Warrnambool J202 (1941-1947), a Bathurst-class corvette vessel owned by the Royal Australian Navy, was destroyed by a mine. (2)- HMAS Warrnambool FCPB204 (1980-2005), a Fremantle Class Patrol Boat of the RAN. The photograph is significant for its association with the painting "SS Warrnambool" by renowned marine artist Charles Keith Miller, whose paintings are well valued. The painting by C K Miller, the photograph, both bear the name Warrnambool, and the house flag of the Lind Line, are connected through the gifts exchanged between the ship company owner, the Town of Warrnambool and the Ladies of Warrnambool. The images connect the SS Warrnambool to the international trade of cargo and passengers. Coloured photograph of a painting depicting the Blue Anchor Line’s 1892 steamship S.S. Warrnambool. The three-masted ship in calm water. Its sails are lowered, and smoke is rising from its funnel. It displays four raised signal flags, a house flag and a blue ensign on the ship. The funnel also bears the house flag's symbol. There are figures on deck. The signature of the painting's artist, CKM (Charles Keith Miller), and a title on the lower edge of the photograph.House flag symbol, [diagonal blue anchor on white background] Text "CKM" and "1893" Text "S. S. WARRNAMBOOL."flagstaff hill, warrnambool, photograph, steam ship warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime village, shipwreck coast, ss warrnambool, captain, charles keith miller, ckm, 1893, william lund, warrnambool town council, blue anchor line, lund line, ladies of warrnambool, house flag, diagonal blue anchor, captain miller, sunderland ship building company, migrant ship, 1892 ship, home flag, bal, australian export, s.s.warrnambool, dover strait, english chanel, port of warrnambool, lady bay, mrvb, captain charles miller, captain joshua edward iibery, ostriches, queen victoria, british and south american steam navigation co., harmodius, r.p. houston & company, houston line, k.s.s. co. ltd, kaye son & co. ltd, kut, t.w. ward ltd