Showing 357 items matching "industry - manufacturing - foundries"
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Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation SocietyPhotograph - Peter Griffin at microscope, Grimwade Castings, Port Melbourne, 1950s
... industry - manufacturing - foundries...Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society Port Melbourne Town Hall 333 Bay Street Port Melbourne melbourne industry - manufacturing - foundries peter griffin grimwade castings pty ltd B&W photo of Peter Griffin at microscope, Grimwade Castings c 1950 Photograph Peter Griffin at microscope, Grimwade Castings, Port Melbourne ...B&W photo of Peter Griffin at microscope, Grimwade Castings c 1950industry - manufacturing - foundries, peter griffin, grimwade castings pty ltd -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation SocietyPhotograph - Peter Griffin supervising, Grimwade Castings, Port Melbourne, 1950s
... industry - manufacturing - foundries...Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society Port Melbourne Town Hall 333 Bay Street Port Melbourne melbourne industry - manufacturing - foundries peter griffin grimwade castings pty ltd B&W photo of Peter Griffin supervising the molten metal being taken from the furnace at Grimwade Castings, 1950s Photograph Peter Griffin supervising, Grimwade Castings, Port Melbourne ...B&W photo of Peter Griffin supervising the molten metal being taken from the furnace at Grimwade Castings, 1950sindustry - manufacturing - foundries, peter griffin, grimwade castings pty ltd -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation SocietyPhotograph - Grimwade Castings, Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne, 1960s
... industry - manufacturing - foundries...Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society Port Melbourne Town Hall 333 Bay Street Port Melbourne melbourne industry - manufacturing - foundries peter griffin grimwade castings pty ltd Colour photo of front of Grimwade Castings, Williamstown Road. 1960s Photograph Grimwade Castings, Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne ...Colour photo of front of Grimwade Castings, Williamstown Road. 1960sindustry - manufacturing - foundries, peter griffin, grimwade castings pty ltd -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation SocietyPhotograph - Engineer inspecting a casting at Grimwade Castings, 1950s
... industry - manufacturing - foundries...Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society Port Melbourne Town Hall 333 Bay Street Port Melbourne melbourne industry - manufacturing - foundries peter griffin grimwade castings pty lty B&W photo of engineer inspecting a large metal casting at Grimwade Castings, 1950s Photograph Engineer inspecting a casting at Grimwade Castings ...B&W photo of engineer inspecting a large metal casting at Grimwade Castings, 1950sindustry - manufacturing - foundries, peter griffin, grimwade castings pty lty -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation SocietyDocument - 2008 Calendar, Pat Grainger, Historic Port Melbourne - From the Album, Oct 2007
... Industry - Manufacturing...Industry - Foundries...Production volume: 550 copies Business and Traders - Hotels Business and Traders Transport - Tramways Piers and Wharves - Princes Pier Religion - Anglican (Holy Trinity) Industry - Manufacturing Industry - Foundries Social Activities Celebrations Fetes and Exhibitions Armed Services - Navy Built Environment - Commercial Grimwade Castings Pty Ltd Steel Castings Peter GRIFFIN Christina Irvine EDWARDS Sarah 'Stella' EDWARDS William FAULKNER Elizabeth FAULKNER The Monts Montague Port Melbourne Bowling Club Returned Services League RSL Great White Fleet John STOREY John PARK Louisa Storey COGGIN Ron ROBERTSON Edwin WHITING Jim WOOD William GLEESON George FARAM Meenie MCLEAN Margaret MCLEAN Abraham Lincoln Hotel Anzac Day Cable Trams US Navy Historic Port Melbourne - 'From the album' Calendar for 2008 - Mrs Coggin's shop on cover. ...Researched, written and designed by member Pat Grainger as a fundraiser for PMH&PS. Production volume: 550 copiesHistoric Port Melbourne - 'From the album' Calendar for 2008 - Mrs Coggin's shop on cover. Features sentiments from the autograph albums of two Edwards women All following years calendars also recorded against cat no 1864business and traders - hotels, business and traders, transport - tramways, piers and wharves - princes pier, religion - anglican (holy trinity), industry - manufacturing, industry - foundries, social activities, celebrations fetes and exhibitions, armed services - navy, built environment - commercial, grimwade castings pty ltd, steel castings, peter griffin, christina irvine edwards, sarah 'stella' edwards, william faulkner, elizabeth faulkner, the monts, montague, port melbourne bowling club, returned services league, rsl, great white fleet, john storey, john park, louisa storey coggin, ron robertson, edwin whiting, jim wood, william gleeson, george faram, meenie mclean, margaret mclean, abraham lincoln hotel, anzac day, cable trams, us navy -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation SocietyDocument - 2009 Calendar, Pat Grainger, Historic Port Melbourne - From the Album, Oct 2008
... Industry - Manufacturing...Industry - Foundries...Production volume: 675 copies industry - fishing arts and entertainment - visual arts armed services - navy built environment - commercial faram brothers hardware millie mcleavy waterside workers edward rice henry rice ernest rice edward walter (ted) raven swallow & ariell ltd eli 'dick' edwards jacob édwards thomas edwards vincent 'ben' edwards claude butcher george beazley graham soccer club harry ashworth ken smallpage port melbourne soccer club wilbraham frederick evelyn liardet wfe liardet caroline frederica liardet jack gould charles nettleton daintree & fauchery william david swift doug smallpage arthur rowan alison kelly lloyd holmes ron laing david thompson glen stuart stefan cannatelli geoff cross pat grainger george joosten peter libbis peter parrington jim peterson elizabeth rodda us navy william dalglish william paterson Transport - Motor Vehicles Transport - Railways Piers and Wharves - Princes Pier Business and Traders Religion - Anglican (Holy Trinity) Industry - Manufacturing Industry - Foundries Social Activities fetes Business and Traders - Hotels Historic Port Melbourne - 'Images from the Borough' Calendar for 2009 - Fishermen on cover.. ...Researched, written and designed by member Pat GRAINGER as a fundraiser for PMH&PS. Production volume: 675 copiesHistoric Port Melbourne - 'Images from the Borough' Calendar for 2009 - Fishermen on cover.. Features photographers who have recorded Sandridge/Port Melbourne. All following years calendars also recorded against cat no 1864industry - fishing, arts and entertainment - visual arts, armed services - navy, built environment - commercial, faram brothers hardware, millie mcleavy, waterside workers, edward rice, henry rice, ernest rice, edward walter (ted) raven, swallow & ariell ltd, eli 'dick' edwards, jacob édwards, thomas edwards, vincent 'ben' edwards, claude butcher, george beazley, graham soccer club, harry ashworth, ken smallpage, port melbourne soccer club, wilbraham frederick evelyn liardet, wfe liardet, caroline frederica liardet, jack gould, charles nettleton, daintree & fauchery, william david swift, doug smallpage, arthur rowan, alison kelly, lloyd holmes, ron laing, david thompson, glen stuart, stefan cannatelli, geoff cross, pat grainger, george joosten, peter libbis, peter parrington, jim peterson, elizabeth rodda, us navy, william dalglish, william paterson, transport - motor vehicles, transport - railways, piers and wharves - princes pier, business and traders, religion - anglican (holy trinity), industry - manufacturing, industry - foundries, social activities, fetes, business and traders - hotels -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.Photograph, Luke Group, 1959
... ...manufacturing industry...foundries...foundry in Queen's Parade, Melbourne which made badges and manufactured items for the Armed Forces during the First World War. He bought 40 acres of cherry orchard in Mitcham in 1952 from a Miss Cook, then went to England and attracted finance from Singer Brass Founders. The company became Luke and Singer. The three factories on site were Luke Manufacturing - stainless steel products and hospital equipment, Luke and Singer - a non-ferrous foundry producing components for industry...Later the manufacture of refrigeration and air conditioning was added at the rear of the complex. luke manufacturing k.g.luke group luke and singer concentric engineering wheatland vic manufacturing industry foundries engineering industries A small aerial photograph and 2 A4 photocopies of the K.G.Luke Group of companies in 1959. ...K.G. Luke had a foundry in Queen's Parade, Melbourne which made badges and manufactured items for the Armed Forces during the First World War. He bought 40 acres of cherry orchard in Mitcham in 1952 from a Miss Cook, then went to England and attracted finance from Singer Brass Founders. The company became Luke and Singer. The three factories on site were Luke Manufacturing - stainless steel products and hospital equipment, Luke and Singer - a non-ferrous foundry producing components for industry such as nuts and cutlery, and Concentric Engineering - machinery components. Later the manufacture of refrigeration and air conditioning was added at the rear of the complex. A small aerial photograph and 2 A4 photocopies of the K.G.Luke Group of companies in 1959. The factory site is divided into three groups with Whitehorse Road situated at the bottom of the photo and Cook Road Mitcham to the left. Notes at ND6245luke manufacturing, k.g.luke group, luke and singer, concentric engineering, wheatland, vic, manufacturing industry, foundries, engineering industries -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.Brass Plate, Bruce & McClure Distributer, C early 20th century
... foundry works. They won 11 first prizes at the Grand national Show of 1907 and in 1914 designed and manufactured a new water boring machine which could also be used for oil and gold exploration They operated from Lava Street well into the 1940's as well as from the geelong area. This plaque is possibly from one of their machines. A tangible link to one of Warrnambool's manufacturing businesses which was innovative and an essential part of the beginnings of machine use in farms and industry ...Bruce & McClure were manufacturers of windmills and agricultural machinery including motor engines , pumps, tanks,and appliances for supplying and conserving water.Also included was brass,iron and steel foundry works. They won 11 first prizes at the Grand national Show of 1907 and in 1914 designed and manufactured a new water boring machine which could also be used for oil and gold exploration They operated from Lava Street well into the 1940's as well as from the geelong area. This plaque is possibly from one of their machines.A tangible link to one of Warrnambool's manufacturing businesses which was innovative and an essential part of the beginnings of machine use in farms and industry in the district. Cast iron plaque with moulded text which is coloured in gold. rectangular with rounded corners. Back is painted grey.Bruce & McClure Distributer Pat 2480.21warrnambool, bruce & mcclure, bruce & mcclure machinery -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.Ceramic - Bottle, The Bendigo Pottery Co. Pty. Ltd, A Darby, Late 1890s
... Foundry). He used the Maltese Cross as his logo on his bottles. He also had a cordial factory in Rochester, Victoria about the same time. In 1899 Alfred Darby advertised that he had re-located his cordial business to the old ‘Echo’ newspaper building in Koroit Street but it is not known whether the business opened there or if it did, for how long. This ceramic bottle is of interest as one of the late 19th century bottles used by Alfred Darby, a soft drinks manufacturer in Warrnambool. Cordial manufacturing was an important industry ...This bottle has been produced in the Epsom factory of the Bendigo Pottery works and used by Alfred Darby for bottling his ginger beer in the late 1890s. In 1897 Alfred Darby leased the cordial factory in Henna Street,Warrnambool, formerly the McSweeney Cordial Factory (and today the Alderdice Brass Foundry). He used the Maltese Cross as his logo on his bottles. He also had a cordial factory in Rochester, Victoria about the same time. In 1899 Alfred Darby advertised that he had re-located his cordial business to the old ‘Echo’ newspaper building in Koroit Street but it is not known whether the business opened there or if it did, for how long. This ceramic bottle is of interest as one of the late 19th century bottles used by Alfred Darby, a soft drinks manufacturer in Warrnambool. Cordial manufacturing was an important industry in Warrnambool for over 100 years.This is a ceramic brown and buff-coloured ginger beer bottle. It has a black logo in the shape of a Maltese Cross stamped on one side and the maker’s name etched into the clay near the base. It has no stopper and the main body of the bottle is somewhat stained. ‘A. Darby Henna Street Warrnambool’ ‘The Bendigo Pottery Coy. Pty. Ltd. Epsom Bendigo’ cordial manufacturers in warrnambool, history of warrnambool -
The Beechworth Burke MuseumPhotograph, 1910
... industries began to expand dramatically in Beechworth, particularly during the 1860s, leading to a strengthening of the towns economy. As early as 1853, areas surrounding the waterway known as Spring Creek were surveyed with the intent of mapping out plans for new roads and building allotments. Land was sold and new buildings were erected, creating an expansion of the Beechworth township and retail services. One building shown in this photograph is Straughair and Duncan's Beechworth Foundry. This business was established in 1858 through the partnership of Mark Straughair and John Duncan. It dealt mostly in the manufacturing...industries began to expand dramatically in Beechworth, particularly during the 1860s, leading to a strengthening of the towns economy. As early as 1853, areas surrounding the waterway known as Spring Creek were surveyed with the intent of mapping out plans for new roads and building allotments. Land was sold and new buildings were erected, creating an expansion of the Beechworth township and retail services. One building shown in this photograph is Straughair and Duncan's Beechworth Foundry. This business was established in 1858 through the partnership of Mark Straughair and John Duncan. It dealt mostly in the manufacturing ...Taken in 1910, this photograph depicts a scene of Bridge road in Newtown, Beechworth. Walking on the road are two men on horseback, one of which is pulling a carriage with a small dog standing beside it. Behind them are a line of small buildings and shops. Small industries began to expand dramatically in Beechworth, particularly during the 1860s, leading to a strengthening of the towns economy. As early as 1853, areas surrounding the waterway known as Spring Creek were surveyed with the intent of mapping out plans for new roads and building allotments. Land was sold and new buildings were erected, creating an expansion of the Beechworth township and retail services. One building shown in this photograph is Straughair and Duncan's Beechworth Foundry. This business was established in 1858 through the partnership of Mark Straughair and John Duncan. It dealt mostly in the manufacturing of castings and mining machinery, receiving orders from all over the Ovens district. The Business eventually collapsed after the deaths of Straughair in 1882 and Duncan in 1896 but was reopened by W.H. Phillips in 1905. The two other buildings are both associated with the name McKenzie. Evidence suggests that the McKenzie family has a long association with the town of Beechworth. This photograph is historically significant as it provides insight into the nineteenth and twentieth century industrial expansions that happened in the area of Newtown, leading to the urbanisation of Beechworth. Black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper mounted on card.Reverse: Newton / 1997.2648 / 33 Newton Beechworth / 84-219-1 / McKenzies / BMM3055 / newtown beechworth, bridge road, 1910, j. duncan, r. mckenzie, m. straughair, industrial growth, ford street, beechworth foundry, straughair and duncan, mckenzie and sons grainstore, mckenzie family store -
The Beechworth Burke MuseumPhotograph, c1900
... Foundry was vital to the industry of the town and surrounding district in the early years of the town’s development. Originally opened as the New Ford Street Foundry by A. Roger in 1858, J Duncan and M Straughair amalgamated and established the Beechworth Foundry in 1867. The business was extensive and operated out of many buildings, each with their own specialisation. All of the buildings pictured in this image are part of the larger Beechworth Foundry. In the late 1860s it employed 16 men. The foundry was fundamental to the running of the town and surrounding district, as it manufactured...Foundry was vital to the industry of the town and surrounding district in the early years of the town’s development. Originally opened as the New Ford Street Foundry by A. Roger in 1858, J Duncan and M Straughair amalgamated and established the Beechworth Foundry in 1867. The business was extensive and operated out of many buildings, each with their own specialisation. All of the buildings pictured in this image are part of the larger Beechworth Foundry. In the late 1860s it employed 16 men. The foundry was fundamental to the running of the town and surrounding district, as it manufactured ...The Beechworth Foundry was vital to the industry of the town and surrounding district in the early years of the town’s development. Originally opened as the New Ford Street Foundry by A. Roger in 1858, J Duncan and M Straughair amalgamated and established the Beechworth Foundry in 1867. The business was extensive and operated out of many buildings, each with their own specialisation. All of the buildings pictured in this image are part of the larger Beechworth Foundry. In the late 1860s it employed 16 men. The foundry was fundamental to the running of the town and surrounding district, as it manufactured all manner of items, including tools and machinery for the mining and agricultural industries. The foundry business collapsed in 1896 after the death of it’s founder, John Duncan, the same year (Straughair had died in 1882). The foundry was reopened by W H Phillips in 1905 and taken over by H Delora in 1906 This image is significant as it shows some of the many buildings of the Beechworth Foundry, which was a fundamental business to the running of the town and surrounding district, and supplied many of the tools and machines required for the mining and agricultural industries, as well as other aspects of life between the 1850s and early 1900sSepia rectangular photograph printed on paper. It has rough, torn-looking edgesReverse 97.2321 / BMM A03115duncan, john duncan, j duncan, m straughair, straughair, foundry, beechworth foundry, industry, factory, newtown, new ford street foundry, a roger, roger, w h phillips, phillips, w phillips, h delora, delora, metalwork, farming and agriculture, tools, mining, workmen -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation SocietyPhotograph - Bay Street, Sandridge, 1870s
... Industry - Manufacturing Business and Traders - Pawnbrokers Sydney Sims ANDERSON Town Clerks Bay Street Liardet Street Foundry Hotel Business and Traders - Hotels "P. ...Photographed in 1872 by William PATERSON as one of a series for the Melbourne Exhibition of 1873; original mount hanging in Engineering Department at Port Melbourne Town Hall at 19-9-1994 but now in Port Phillip,City Collection. This set of original prints belonged to Town Clerk Syd ANDERSON, then to his daughter-in-law Phyllis ANDERSON (donor). Accompanied by list of captions, both hand written and typed (the latter a partial listing).View southeast in Bay Street from roof of building on north west corner of Bay and Liardet Streets c1871. Includes hotel identified in caption as "Foundry" on opposite corner (if captions were written in the 1920s the Port Theatre had already been constructed at this site, but there once was a 'Foundry' Hotel on that corner*); ginger beer/lemonade factory (Dawborns?) and pawnbroker; Graham Family Hotel can be seen in the distance at far left; also Holy Trinity (iron, with tower), Victorian Sugar Works, Post Office/Mail Exchange. Pre 1873 * '...try Hotel' visible?"P. Anderson" ink, on back:"11" in ballpoint on upper left face of photoindustry - manufacturing, business and traders - pawnbrokers, sydney sims anderson, town clerks, bay street, liardet street, foundry hotel, business and traders - hotels -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and VillageEquipment - Pattern, Briggs Brass Foundry, 1912-1972
... The foundry’s ability to cast essential products was important to local and regional industries, like fishing, farming, manufacturing and commercial businesses. ...The wooden pattern forms part of a larger collection; some of them were secured within a durable wooden crate. The cast pattern was an essential tool at Briggs Brass Foundry, specifically designed for creating sand casts. Sand casting is a time-honoured technique, with a history exceeding 2,000 years. The handcrafted nature of this process produces brass and copper alloy items particularly suitable for maritime applications. Typical products include bells, boat hooks, cowls, propellers, handles, lids, rowlocks, hooks, letters, bolts, rail holders, brackets, deck plates, flanges, rudder guides, portholes and covers. The distinctive bronze mixture used at Briggs’ Foundry is copper based. It is composed of local ingots of copper, tin, zinc and lead, blended in precisely measured quantities. The resulting alloy is non-ferrous, known for its exceptional durability and longevity. HISTORY OF BRIGGS MARINE: The Briggs Brass Foundry, trading as Briggs & Son Foundry, was established in 1912 by Herbert Harrison Briggs (1863-1931) with his son George Edward Briggs. In 1922, the youngest son, Cyril Falkiner McKinnon Briggs, joined the foundry. After Herbert died in 1931, his sons George and Cyril ran the foundry. The business became known as Briggs Marine Foundry, the “non-ferrous founders” and “bell specialists”. The foundry products were made using the traditional sand-casting method, which is now over two thousand years old and is becoming a dying art. The foundry operated at 70 Wellington St, Collingwood, and specialised in casting ship bells and other marine equipment and fittings. It also made decorative items such as miniature ship propellers. The great-granddaughter of Herbert Briggs inherited a Briggs brass bell, similar to one at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. In 1965, Cyril was the only remaining family member involved in Briggs Marine Products. The firm relocated to Chesterville Rd, Moorabbin and Cyril went into partnership with Frank Lee. In the same year, the firm exhibited its products at the 1965 Boat Show. When Cyril passed away in 1967, Frank took over the business with two new partners. After Frank Lee died in 1971, the foundry was run by his son and daughter-in-law, Les and Eva Lee. Briggs Marine still exists today, but the Briggs family is no longer involved. Briggs Foundry had a community-minded retail branch in Warrnambool, selling cast boat fittings and equipment to fishermen and others in the regional marine industry. The branch closed in 1972. In Flagstaff Hill’s formative years, 1972-1975, many Briggs Marine brassware products were generously donated from its Melbourne foundry, along with casting patterns, tools, machinery and a cupboard. EXHIBITION and LEGACY: The donated items were displayed in a simulated Brass Foundry within the Village, where visitors could view them and gain insight into the foundering and metalwork trades that supported maritime industries, including shipwrights and boatbuilders. The castings produced at the foundry were also vital for farmers, manufacturers and other local industries. This exhibit was part of a broader showcase of working crafts, trades and services typical of a Maritime town. The display was available to the public from the completion of the building in 1986 until 1994, when the space was repurposed. It is believed that Briggs Marine’s family members gave personal assistance in setting up the displays in the original village shops, particularly the ‘Brass Foundry’ building. A notable feature of the Village Brass Foundry was the historic Cornish chimney, presented as a working model. This chimney visually demonstrated the process of smelting metal in furnaces and pouring it into sand moulds. Constructed from specially curved bricks, the chimney now stands at about two-thirds of its original height, having been relocated from the Grassmere Cheese factory. The hand-cast sand patterns hold considerable significance due to their association with Briggs Brass Founders, a firm established in the early 20th century and widely recognised for its expertise in producing, repairing, and restoring ship bells and marine equipment. Known for their specialisation in non-ferrous metal casting, Briggs Brass Founders supplied high-quality fittings and equipment for maritime use. The company extended its operations by opening a branch in Warrnambool, where it actively supported the local community. The foundry’s ability to cast essential products was important to local and regional industries, like fishing, farming, manufacturing and commercial businesses. Through its presence, its reputation was reinforced as both a skilled manufacturer and a community-minded enterprise. The foundry is notably associated with the Schomberg Bell at Flagstaff Hill, having restored this small, historic bell to its original condition. The Schomberg Bell is a fine example from a luxury migrant vessel dating back to the mid-19th century, reflecting the craftsmanship and heritage preserved by Briggs Brass Foundry. Pattern; round wooden shape with a wide concave centre and a round flat handle in the middle, painted dark brown. The underside has a large wooden disc added to the centre. The pattern is part of a set of foundry patterns from Briggs Brass Foundry.flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, briggs' bronze, traditional method, trade, sand cast, cast, brass alloy, copper alloy, pattern, mould, foundry, brass foundry, metal foundry, casting, sand mould, sand casting, marine equipment, marine tools, marine fittings, copper tin zinc lead, non-ferrous, non-corrosive, brassware, metalware, foundering, metalwork, maritime, bell founders, ship chandlers, marine products, biggs, briggs family, herbert harrison briggs, h h briggs, george edward briggs, cyril falkiner mckinnon briggs, cyril briggs, briggs & son brass foundry, h h briggs & sons foundry, briggs marine, alliance casting & engineering solutions, grassmere cheese factory, cornish chimney, curved bricks, collingwood, moorabbin, collingwood foundry, moorabbin foundry, 1912, briggs, briggs brass foundry, briggs marine foundry, briggs marine products, frank lee, les lee, eva lee, briggs marine warrnambool, non-ferrous founders, bell specialists, ship bell specialists, founders, metalworking, traditional sand casting, casting pattern, foundry pattern -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and VillageEquipment - Pattern, Briggs Brass Foundry, 1912-1972
... The foundry’s ability to cast essential products was important to local and regional industries, like fishing, farming, manufacturing and commercial businesses. ...The wooden pattern forms part of a larger collection; some of them were secured within a durable wooden crate. The cast pattern was an essential tool at Briggs Brass Foundry, specifically designed for creating sand casts. Sand casting is a time-honoured technique, with a history exceeding 2,000 years. The handcrafted nature of this process produces brass and copper alloy items particularly suitable for maritime applications. Typical products include bells, boat hooks, cowls, propellers, handles, lids, rowlocks, hooks, letters, bolts, rail holders, brackets, deck plates, flanges, rudder guides, portholes and covers. The distinctive bronze mixture used at Briggs’ Foundry is copper based. It is composed of local ingots of copper, tin, zinc and lead, blended in precisely measured quantities. The resulting alloy is non-ferrous, known for its exceptional durability and longevity. HISTORY OF BRIGGS MARINE: The Briggs Brass Foundry, trading as Briggs & Son Foundry, was established in 1912 by Herbert Harrison Briggs (1863-1931) with his son George Edward Briggs. In 1922, the youngest son, Cyril Falkiner McKinnon Briggs, joined the foundry. After Herbert died in 1931, his sons George and Cyril ran the foundry. The business became known as Briggs Marine Foundry, the “non-ferrous founders” and “bell specialists”. The foundry products were made using the traditional sand-casting method, which is now over two thousand years old and is becoming a dying art. The foundry operated at 70 Wellington St, Collingwood, and specialised in casting ship bells and other marine equipment and fittings. It also made decorative items such as miniature ship propellers. The great-granddaughter of Herbert Briggs inherited a Briggs brass bell, similar to one at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. In 1965, Cyril was the only remaining family member involved in Briggs Marine Products. The firm relocated to Chesterville Rd, Moorabbin and Cyril went into partnership with Frank Lee. In the same year, the firm exhibited its products at the 1965 Boat Show. When Cyril passed away in 1967, Frank took over the business with two new partners. After Frank Lee died in 1971, the foundry was run by his son and daughter-in-law, Les and Eva Lee. Briggs Marine still exists today, but the Briggs family is no longer involved. Briggs Foundry had a community-minded retail branch in Warrnambool, selling cast boat fittings and equipment to fishermen and others in the regional marine industry. The branch closed in 1972. In Flagstaff Hill’s formative years, 1972-1975, many Briggs Marine brassware products were generously donated from its Melbourne foundry, along with casting patterns, tools, machinery and a cupboard. EXHIBITION and LEGACY: The donated items were displayed in a simulated Brass Foundry within the Village, where visitors could view them and gain insight into the foundering and metalwork trades that supported maritime industries, including shipwrights and boatbuilders. The castings produced at the foundry were also vital for farmers, manufacturers and other local industries. This exhibit was part of a broader showcase of working crafts, trades and services typical of a Maritime town. The display was available to the public from the completion of the building in 1986 until 1994, when the space was repurposed. It is believed that Briggs Marine’s family members gave personal assistance in setting up the displays in the original village shops, particularly the ‘Brass Foundry’ building. A notable feature of the Village Brass Foundry was the historic Cornish chimney, presented as a working model. This chimney visually demonstrated the process of smelting metal in furnaces and pouring it into sand moulds. Constructed from specially curved bricks, the chimney now stands at about two-thirds of its original height, having been relocated from the Grassmere Cheese factory. The hand-cast sand patterns hold considerable significance due to their association with Briggs Brass Founders, a firm established in the early 20th century and widely recognised for its expertise in producing, repairing, and restoring ship bells and marine equipment. Known for their specialisation in non-ferrous metal casting, Briggs Brass Founders supplied high-quality fittings and equipment for maritime use. The company extended its operations by opening a branch in Warrnambool, where it actively supported the local community. The foundry’s ability to cast essential products was important to local and regional industries, like fishing, farming, manufacturing and commercial businesses. Through its presence, its reputation was reinforced as both a skilled manufacturer and a community-minded enterprise. The foundry is notably associated with the Schomberg Bell at Flagstaff Hill, having restored this small, historic bell to its original condition. The Schomberg Bell is a fine example from a luxury migrant vessel dating back to the mid-19th century, reflecting the craftsmanship and heritage preserved by Briggs Brass Foundry. Pattern; rectangular wooden block made from laminated sections of wood painted black. A half-cylinder shape was carved into the long side, and a dowel shape was placed at the lower side. The pattern is part of a set of foundry patterns from Briggs Brass Foundry.flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, briggs' bronze, traditional method, trade, sand cast, cast, brass alloy, copper alloy, pattern, mould, foundry, brass foundry, metal foundry, casting, sand mould, sand casting, marine equipment, marine tools, marine fittings, copper tin zinc lead, non-ferrous, non-corrosive, brassware, metalware, foundering, metalwork, maritime, bell founders, ship chandlers, marine products, biggs, briggs family, herbert harrison briggs, h h briggs, george edward briggs, cyril falkiner mckinnon briggs, cyril briggs, briggs & son brass foundry, h h briggs & sons foundry, briggs marine, alliance casting & engineering solutions, grassmere cheese factory, cornish chimney, curved bricks, collingwood, moorabbin, collingwood foundry, moorabbin foundry, 1912, briggs, briggs brass foundry, briggs marine foundry, briggs marine products, frank lee, les lee, eva lee, briggs marine warrnambool, non-ferrous founders, bell specialists, ship bell specialists, founders, metalworking, traditional sand casting, casting pattern, foundry pattern -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and VillageEquipment - Pattern, Briggs Brass Foundry, 1912-1972
... The foundry’s ability to cast essential products was important to local and regional industries, like fishing, farming, manufacturing and commercial businesses. ...The wooden pattern forms part of a larger collection; some of them were secured within a durable wooden crate. The cast pattern was an essential tool at Briggs Brass Foundry, specifically designed for creating sand casts. Sand casting is a time-honoured technique, with a history exceeding 2,000 years. The handcrafted nature of this process produces brass and copper alloy items particularly suitable for maritime applications. Typical products include bells, boat hooks, cowls, propellers, handles, lids, rowlocks, hooks, letters, bolts, rail holders, brackets, deck plates, flanges, rudder guides, portholes and covers. The distinctive bronze mixture used at Briggs’ Foundry is copper based. It is composed of local ingots of copper, tin, zinc and lead, blended in precisely measured quantities. The resulting alloy is non-ferrous, known for its exceptional durability and longevity. HISTORY OF BRIGGS MARINE: The Briggs Brass Foundry, trading as Briggs & Son Foundry, was established in 1912 by Herbert Harrison Briggs (1863-1931) with his son George Edward Briggs. In 1922, the youngest son, Cyril Falkiner McKinnon Briggs, joined the foundry. After Herbert died in 1931, his sons George and Cyril ran the foundry. The business became known as Briggs Marine Foundry, the “non-ferrous founders” and “bell specialists”. The foundry products were made using the traditional sand-casting method, which is now over two thousand years old and is becoming a dying art. The foundry operated at 70 Wellington St, Collingwood, and specialised in casting ship bells and other marine equipment and fittings. It also made decorative items such as miniature ship propellers. The great-granddaughter of Herbert Briggs inherited a Briggs brass bell, similar to one at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. In 1965, Cyril was the only remaining family member involved in Briggs Marine Products. The firm relocated to Chesterville Rd, Moorabbin and Cyril went into partnership with Frank Lee. In the same year, the firm exhibited its products at the 1965 Boat Show. When Cyril passed away in 1967, Frank took over the business with two new partners. After Frank Lee died in 1971, the foundry was run by his son and daughter-in-law, Les and Eva Lee. Briggs Marine still exists today, but the Briggs family is no longer involved. Briggs Foundry had a community-minded retail branch in Warrnambool, selling cast boat fittings and equipment to fishermen and others in the regional marine industry. The branch closed in 1972. In Flagstaff Hill’s formative years, 1972-1975, many Briggs Marine brassware products were generously donated from its Melbourne foundry, along with casting patterns, tools, machinery and a cupboard. EXHIBITION and LEGACY: The donated items were displayed in a simulated Brass Foundry within the Village, where visitors could view them and gain insight into the foundering and metalwork trades that supported maritime industries, including shipwrights and boatbuilders. The castings produced at the foundry were also vital for farmers, manufacturers and other local industries. This exhibit was part of a broader showcase of working crafts, trades and services typical of a Maritime town. The display was available to the public from the completion of the building in 1986 until 1994, when the space was repurposed. It is believed that Briggs Marine’s family members gave personal assistance in setting up the displays in the original village shops, particularly the ‘Brass Foundry’ building. A notable feature of the Village Brass Foundry was the historic Cornish chimney, presented as a working model. This chimney visually demonstrated the process of smelting metal in furnaces and pouring it into sand moulds. Constructed from specially curved bricks, the chimney now stands at about two-thirds of its original height, having been relocated from the Grassmere Cheese factory. The hand-cast sand patterns hold considerable significance due to their association with Briggs Brass Founders, a firm established in the early 20th century and widely recognised for its expertise in producing, repairing, and restoring ship bells and marine equipment. Known for their specialisation in non-ferrous metal casting, Briggs Brass Founders supplied high-quality fittings and equipment for maritime use. The company extended its operations by opening a branch in Warrnambool, where it actively supported the local community. The foundry’s ability to cast essential products was important to local and regional industries, like fishing, farming, manufacturing and commercial businesses. Through its presence, its reputation was reinforced as both a skilled manufacturer and a community-minded enterprise. The foundry is notably associated with the Schomberg Bell at Flagstaff Hill, having restored this small, historic bell to its original condition. The Schomberg Bell is a fine example from a luxury migrant vessel dating back to the mid-19th century, reflecting the craftsmanship and heritage preserved by Briggs Brass Foundry Pattern: pair of U-shaped carved blocks, unpainted. The blocks have opposing metal pins and holes to hold them together. One block has a disc shape carved into the base. The pattern is part of a set of foundry patterns from Briggs Brass Foundry.flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, briggs' bronze, traditional method, trade, sand cast, cast, brass alloy, copper alloy, pattern, mould, foundry, brass foundry, metal foundry, casting, sand mould, sand casting, marine equipment, marine tools, marine fittings, copper tin zinc lead, non-ferrous, non-corrosive, brassware, metalware, foundering, metalwork, maritime, bell founders, ship chandlers, marine products, biggs, briggs family, herbert harrison briggs, h h briggs, george edward briggs, cyril falkiner mckinnon briggs, cyril briggs, briggs & son brass foundry, h h briggs & sons foundry, briggs marine, alliance casting & engineering solutions, grassmere cheese factory, cornish chimney, curved bricks, collingwood, moorabbin, collingwood foundry, moorabbin foundry, 1912, briggs, briggs brass foundry, briggs marine foundry, briggs marine products, frank lee, les lee, eva lee, briggs marine warrnambool, non-ferrous founders, bell specialists, ship bell specialists, founders, metalworking, traditional sand casting, casting pattern, foundry pattern -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and VillageEquipment - Pattern, Briggs Brass Foundry, 1912-1972
... The foundry’s ability to cast essential products was important to local and regional industries, like fishing, farming, manufacturing and commercial businesses. ...The wooden pattern forms part of a larger collection; some of them were secured within a durable wooden crate. The cast pattern was an essential tool at Briggs Brass Foundry, specifically designed for creating sand casts. Sand casting is a time-honoured technique, with a history exceeding 2,000 years. The handcrafted nature of this process produces brass and copper alloy items particularly suitable for maritime applications. Typical products include bells, boat hooks, cowls, propellers, handles, lids, rowlocks, hooks, letters, bolts, rail holders, brackets, deck plates, flanges, rudder guides, portholes and covers. The distinctive bronze mixture used at Briggs’ Foundry is copper based. It is composed of local ingots of copper, tin, zinc and lead, blended in precisely measured quantities. The resulting alloy is non-ferrous, known for its exceptional durability and longevity. HISTORY OF BRIGGS MARINE: The Briggs Brass Foundry, trading as Briggs & Son Foundry, was established in 1912 by Herbert Harrison Briggs (1863-1931) with his son George Edward Briggs. In 1922, the youngest son, Cyril Falkiner McKinnon Briggs, joined the foundry. After Herbert died in 1931, his sons George and Cyril ran the foundry. The business became known as Briggs Marine Foundry, the “non-ferrous founders” and “bell specialists”. The foundry products were made using the traditional sand-casting method, which is now over two thousand years old and is becoming a dying art. The foundry operated at 70 Wellington St, Collingwood, and specialised in casting ship bells and other marine equipment and fittings. It also made decorative items such as miniature ship propellers. The great-granddaughter of Herbert Briggs inherited a Briggs brass bell, similar to one at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. In 1965, Cyril was the only remaining family member involved in Briggs Marine Products. The firm relocated to Chesterville Rd, Moorabbin and Cyril went into partnership with Frank Lee. In the same year, the firm exhibited its products at the 1965 Boat Show. When Cyril passed away in 1967, Frank took over the business with two new partners. After Frank Lee died in 1971, the foundry was run by his son and daughter-in-law, Les and Eva Lee. Briggs Marine still exists today, but the Briggs family is no longer involved. Briggs Foundry had a community-minded retail branch in Warrnambool, selling cast boat fittings and equipment to fishermen and others in the regional marine industry. The branch closed in 1972. In Flagstaff Hill’s formative years, 1972-1975, many Briggs Marine brassware products were generously donated from its Melbourne foundry, along with casting patterns, tools, machinery and a cupboard. EXHIBITION and LEGACY: The donated items were displayed in a simulated Brass Foundry within the Village, where visitors could view them and gain insight into the foundering and metalwork trades that supported maritime industries, including shipwrights and boatbuilders. The castings produced at the foundry were also vital for farmers, manufacturers and other local industries. This exhibit was part of a broader showcase of working crafts, trades and services typical of a Maritime town. The display was available to the public from the completion of the building in 1986 until 1994, when the space was repurposed. It is believed that Briggs Marine’s family members gave personal assistance in setting up the displays in the original village shops, particularly the ‘Brass Foundry’ building. A notable feature of the Village Brass Foundry was the historic Cornish chimney, presented as a working model. This chimney visually demonstrated the process of smelting metal in furnaces and pouring it into sand moulds. Constructed from specially curved bricks, the chimney now stands at about two-thirds of its original height, having been relocated from the Grassmere Cheese factory. The hand-cast sand patterns hold considerable significance due to their association with Briggs Brass Founders, a firm established in the early 20th century and widely recognised for its expertise in producing, repairing, and restoring ship bells and marine equipment. Known for their specialisation in non-ferrous metal casting, Briggs Brass Founders supplied high-quality fittings and equipment for maritime use. The company extended its operations by opening a branch in Warrnambool, where it actively supported the local community. The foundry’s ability to cast essential products was important to local and regional industries, like fishing, farming, manufacturing and commercial businesses. Through its presence, its reputation was reinforced as both a skilled manufacturer and a community-minded enterprise. The foundry is notably associated with the Schomberg Bell at Flagstaff Hill, having restored this small, historic bell to its original condition. The Schomberg Bell is a fine example from a luxury migrant vessel dating back to the mid-19th century, reflecting the craftsmanship and heritage preserved by Briggs Brass Foundry. Pattern; an unpainted, rectangular wooden frame with a top and sides, similar to a small rectangular stool. A solid half-cylinder shape was added under the horizontal 'seat' with another smaller half-cylinder attached to it, end-to-end. A string is tied between two metal loops attached to the back. There are two X marks stamped into the back. The pattern is part of a set of foundry patterns from Briggs Brass Foundry.Stamped: "X" "X"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, briggs' bronze, traditional method, trade, sand cast, cast, brass alloy, copper alloy, pattern, mould, foundry, brass foundry, metal foundry, casting, sand mould, sand casting, marine equipment, marine tools, marine fittings, copper tin zinc lead, non-ferrous, non-corrosive, brassware, metalware, foundering, metalwork, maritime, bell founders, ship chandlers, marine products, biggs, briggs family, herbert harrison briggs, h h briggs, george edward briggs, cyril falkiner mckinnon briggs, cyril briggs, briggs & son brass foundry, h h briggs & sons foundry, briggs marine, alliance casting & engineering solutions, grassmere cheese factory, cornish chimney, curved bricks, collingwood, moorabbin, collingwood foundry, moorabbin foundry, 1912, briggs, briggs brass foundry, briggs marine foundry, briggs marine products, frank lee, les lee, eva lee, briggs marine warrnambool, non-ferrous founders, bell specialists, ship bell specialists, founders, metalworking, traditional sand casting, casting pattern, foundry pattern -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and VillageEquipment - Pattern, Briggs Brass Foundry, 1912-1972
... The foundry’s ability to cast essential products was important to local and regional industries, like fishing, farming, manufacturing and commercial businesses. ...The wooden pattern was possibly made for casting a part for Craftman Marine, makers of engines for boats and other applications. It is part of a larger collection; some of them were secured within a durable wooden crate. The cast pattern was an essential tool at Briggs Brass Foundry, specifically designed for creating sand casts. Sand casting is a time-honoured technique, with a history exceeding 2,000 years. The handcrafted nature of this process produces brass and copper alloy items particularly suitable for maritime applications. Typical products include bells, boat hooks, cowls, propellers, handles, lids, rowlocks, hooks, letters, bolts, rail holders, brackets, deck plates, flanges, rudder guides, portholes and covers. The distinctive bronze mixture used at Briggs’ Foundry is copper based. It is composed of local ingots of copper, tin, zinc and lead, blended in precisely measured quantities. The resulting alloy is non-ferrous, known for its exceptional durability and longevity. HISTORY OF BRIGGS MARINE: The Briggs Brass Foundry, trading as Briggs & Son Foundry, was established in 1912 by Herbert Harrison Briggs (1863-1931) with his son George Edward Briggs. In 1922, the youngest son, Cyril Falkiner McKinnon Briggs, joined the foundry. After Herbert died in 1931, his sons George and Cyril ran the foundry. The business became known as Briggs Marine Foundry, the “non-ferrous founders” and “bell specialists”. The foundry products were made using the traditional sand-casting method, which is now over two thousand years old and is becoming a dying art. The foundry operated at 70 Wellington St, Collingwood, and specialised in casting ship bells and other marine equipment and fittings. It also made decorative items such as miniature ship propellers. The great-granddaughter of Herbert Briggs inherited a Briggs brass bell, similar to one at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. In 1965, Cyril was the only remaining family member involved in Briggs Marine Products. The firm relocated to Chesterville Rd, Moorabbin and Cyril went into partnership with Frank Lee. In the same year, the firm exhibited its products at the 1965 Boat Show. When Cyril passed away in 1967, Frank took over the business with two new partners. After Frank Lee died in 1971, the foundry was run by his son and daughter-in-law, Les and Eva Lee. Briggs Marine still exists today, but the Briggs family is no longer involved. Briggs Foundry had a community-minded retail branch in Warrnambool, selling cast boat fittings and equipment to fishermen and others in the regional marine industry. The branch closed in 1972. In Flagstaff Hill’s formative years, 1972-1975, many Briggs Marine brassware products were generously donated from its Melbourne foundry, along with casting patterns, tools, machinery and a cupboard. EXHIBITION and LEGACY: The donated items were displayed in a simulated Brass Foundry within the Village, where visitors could view them and gain insight into the foundering and metalwork trades that supported maritime industries, including shipwrights and boatbuilders. The castings produced at the foundry were also vital for farmers, manufacturers and other local industries. This exhibit was part of a broader showcase of working crafts, trades and services typical of a Maritime town. The display was available to the public from the completion of the building in 1986 until 1994, when the space was repurposed. It is believed that Briggs Marine’s family members gave personal assistance in setting up the displays in the original village shops, particularly the ‘Brass Foundry’ building. A notable feature of the Village Brass Foundry was the historic Cornish chimney, presented as a working model. This chimney visually demonstrated the process of smelting metal in furnaces and pouring it into sand moulds. Constructed from specially curved bricks, the chimney now stands at about two-thirds of its original height, having been relocated from the Grassmere Cheese factory. The hand-cast sand patterns hold considerable significance due to their association with Briggs Brass Founders, a firm established in the early 20th century and widely recognised for its expertise in producing, repairing, and restoring ship bells and marine equipment. Known for their specialisation in non-ferrous metal casting, Briggs Brass Founders supplied high-quality fittings and equipment for maritime use. The company extended its operations by opening a branch in Warrnambool, where it actively supported the local community. The foundry’s ability to cast essential products was important to local and regional industries, like fishing, farming, manufacturing and commercial businesses. Through its presence, its reputation was reinforced as both a skilled manufacturer and a community-minded enterprise. The foundry is notably associated with the Schomberg Bell at Flagstaff Hill, having restored this small, historic bell to its original condition. The Schomberg Bell is a fine example from a luxury migrant vessel dating back to the mid-19th century, reflecting the craftsmanship and heritage preserved by Briggs Brass Foundry. Pattern; rectangular wooden block with a corner cut diagonally. A five-sided shape has been carved into the centre, with one side curved inwards and slightly shallower than the other sides. The cut-out area is painted black. Three holes are drilled in the cut-out side to align the pattern with another piece of work. A wooden slat is fixed across the diagonal side. The back of the pattern has a handwritten inscription, possibly by two writers. The pattern is part of a set of foundry patterns from Briggs Brass Foundry and is connected to Craftman Marine.In black handwriting: "1 # H AL" Handwritten in a different hand: "CRAFTMAN MARINE" Written the the first hand: BRIGGS" (or "BRICK")flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, briggs' bronze, traditional method, trade, sand cast, cast, brass alloy, copper alloy, pattern, mould, foundry, brass foundry, metal foundry, casting, sand mould, sand casting, marine equipment, marine tools, marine fittings, copper tin zinc lead, non-ferrous, non-corrosive, brassware, metalware, foundering, metalwork, maritime, bell founders, ship chandlers, marine products, biggs, briggs family, herbert harrison briggs, h h briggs, george edward briggs, cyril falkiner mckinnon briggs, cyril briggs, briggs & son brass foundry, h h briggs & sons foundry, briggs marine, alliance casting & engineering solutions, grassmere cheese factory, cornish chimney, curved bricks, collingwood, moorabbin, collingwood foundry, moorabbin foundry, 1912, craftman marine, craftsman marine, briggs, briggs brass foundry, briggs marine foundry, briggs marine products, frank lee, les lee, eva lee, briggs marine warrnambool, non-ferrous founders, bell specialists, ship bell specialists, founders, metalworking, traditional sand casting, casting pattern, foundry pattern -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and VillageEquipment - Pattern, Briggs Brass Foundry, 1912-1972
... The foundry’s ability to cast essential products was important to local and regional industries, like fishing, farming, manufacturing and commercial businesses. ...The wooden pattern is part of a set that is stored in a strong wooden crate and may be part of another similar pattern. It was used at Briggs’ Brass Foundry for making sand casts. The traditional craft of sand casting is over 2000 years old. The handcrafted process produces brass and copper alloy goods that are well suited to marine use; bells, boat hooks, cowls, propellers, handles, lids, rowlocks, hooks, letters, bolts, rail holders, brackets, deck plates, flanges, rudder guides, portholes and covers. Briggs’ Bronze mixture is a copper-based alloy made from local ingots of copper, tin, zinc and lead in carefully measured quantities. The finished product is non-ferrous and can last indefinitely. The crate of patterns was donated by the Briggs family in the early years of Flagstaff Hill, along with other related items such as brassware, tools and machinery. The donated items were displayed in a simulated Brass Foundry in the Village along with other working crafts, trades and services found in a Maritime town. The items were on show from the completion of the building in 1986 until 1994 when the building was repurposed. The patterns represent the trades of foundering and metalwork, both supporting maritime industries such as shipwrights and boatbuilders. Farmers, manufacturers and other local industries also needed the castings made by foundries. The Brass Foundry included a historic Cornish chimney set up as a working model, to tell the story of smelted metal heated in furnaces then be poured into the sand moulds. This chimney was made from specially curved bricks and is now about two-thirds of its full height when originally located at the Grassmere Cheese factory. The hand-cast sand patterns hold considerable significance due to their association with Briggs Brass Founders, a firm established in the early 20th century and widely recognised for its expertise in producing, repairing, and restoring ship bells and marine equipment. Known for their specialisation in non-ferrous metal casting, Briggs Brass Founders supplied high-quality fittings and equipment for maritime use. The company extended its operations by opening a branch in Warrnambool, where it actively supported the local community. The foundry’s ability to cast essential products was important to local and regional industries, like fishing, farming, manufacturing and commercial businesses. Through its presence, its reputation was reinforced as both a skilled manufacturer and a community-minded enterprise. The foundry is notably associated with the Schomberg Bell at Flagstaff Hill, having restored this small, historic bell to its original condition. The Schomberg Bell is a fine example from a luxury migrant vessel dating back to the mid-19th century, reflecting the craftsmanship and heritage preserved by Briggs Brass Foundry. Pattern; unpainted, square wooden block with a semi-circle of dowel added to the centre of the side with rounded corners. Three short dowel pegs are inserted on one flat side; one below the semi-circle and one near the lower corners in an overall triangle configuration. The pattern is part of a set of foundry patterns from Briggs Brass Foundry.flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, briggs' bronze, traditional method, trade, sand cast, cast, brass alloy, copper alloy, pattern, mould, foundry, brass foundry, metal foundry, casting, sand mould, sand casting, marine equipment, marine tools, marine fittings, copper tin zinc lead, non-ferrous, non-corrosive, brassware, metalware, foundering, metalwork, maritime, bell founders, ship chandlers, marine products, biggs, briggs family, herbert harrison briggs, h h briggs, george edward briggs, cyril falkiner mckinnon briggs, cyril briggs, briggs & son brass foundry, h h briggs & sons foundry, briggs marine, alliance casting & engineering solutions, grassmere cheese factory, cornish chimney, curved bricks, collingwood, moorabbin, collingwood foundry, moorabbin foundry, 1912, briggs, briggs brass foundry, briggs marine foundry, briggs marine products, frank lee, les lee, eva lee, briggs marine warrnambool, non-ferrous founders, bell specialists, ship bell specialists, founders, metalworking, traditional sand casting, casting pattern, foundry pattern -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and VillageEquipment - Pattern, Briggs Brass Foundry, 1912-1972
... The foundry’s ability to cast essential products was important to local and regional industries, like fishing, farming, manufacturing and commercial businesses. ...The wooden pattern forms part of a larger collection; some of them were secured within a durable wooden crate. The cast pattern was an essential tool at Briggs Brass Foundry, specifically designed for creating sand casts. Sand casting is a time-honoured technique, with a history exceeding 2,000 years. The handcrafted nature of this process produces brass and copper alloy items particularly suitable for maritime applications. Typical products include bells, boat hooks, cowls, propellers, handles, lids, rowlocks, hooks, letters, bolts, rail holders, brackets, deck plates, flanges, rudder guides, portholes and covers. The distinctive bronze mixture used at Briggs’ Foundry is copper based. It is composed of local ingots of copper, tin, zinc and lead, blended in precisely measured quantities. The resulting alloy is non-ferrous, known for its exceptional durability and longevity. HISTORY OF BRIGGS MARINE: The Briggs Brass Foundry, trading as Briggs & Son Foundry, was established in 1912 by Herbert Harrison Briggs (1863-1931) with his son George Edward Briggs. In 1922, the youngest son, Cyril Falkiner McKinnon Briggs, joined the foundry. After Herbert died in 1931, his sons George and Cyril ran the foundry. The business became known as Briggs Marine Foundry, the “non-ferrous founders” and “bell specialists”. The foundry products were made using the traditional sand-casting method, which is now over two thousand years old and is becoming a dying art. The foundry operated at 70 Wellington St, Collingwood, and specialised in casting ship bells and other marine equipment and fittings. It also made decorative items such as miniature ship propellers. The great-granddaughter of Herbert Briggs inherited a Briggs brass bell, similar to one at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. In 1965, Cyril was the only remaining family member involved in Briggs Marine Products. The firm relocated to Chesterville Rd, Moorabbin and Cyril went into partnership with Frank Lee. In the same year, the firm exhibited its products at the 1965 Boat Show. When Cyril passed away in 1967, Frank took over the business with two new partners. After Frank Lee died in 1971, the foundry was run by his son and daughter-in-law, Les and Eva Lee. Briggs Marine still exists today, but the Briggs family is no longer involved. Briggs Foundry had a community-minded retail branch in Warrnambool, selling cast boat fittings and equipment to fishermen and others in the regional marine industry. The branch closed in 1972. In Flagstaff Hill’s formative years, 1972-1975, many Briggs Marine brassware products were generously donated from its Melbourne foundry, along with casting patterns, tools, machinery and a cupboard. EXHIBITION and LEGACY: The donated items were displayed in a simulated Brass Foundry within the Village, where visitors could view them and gain insight into the foundering and metalwork trades that supported maritime industries, including shipwrights and boatbuilders. The castings produced at the foundry were also vital for farmers, manufacturers and other local industries. This exhibit was part of a broader showcase of working crafts, trades and services typical of a Maritime town. The display was available to the public from the completion of the building in 1986 until 1994, when the space was repurposed. It is believed that Briggs Marine’s family members gave personal assistance in setting up the displays in the original village shops, particularly the ‘Brass Foundry’ building. A notable feature of the Village Brass Foundry was the historic Cornish chimney, presented as a working model. This chimney visually demonstrated the process of smelting metal in furnaces and pouring it into sand moulds. Constructed from specially curved bricks, the chimney now stands at about two-thirds of its original height, having been relocated from the Grassmere Cheese factory. The hand-cast sand patterns hold considerable significance due to their association with Briggs Brass Founders, a firm established in the early 20th century and widely recognised for its expertise in producing, repairing, and restoring ship bells and marine equipment. Known for their specialisation in non-ferrous metal casting, Briggs Brass Founders supplied high-quality fittings and equipment for maritime use. The company extended its operations by opening a branch in Warrnambool, where it actively supported the local community. The foundry’s ability to cast essential products was important to local and regional industries, like fishing, farming, manufacturing and commercial businesses. Through its presence, its reputation was reinforced as both a skilled manufacturer and a community-minded enterprise. The foundry is notably associated with the Schomberg Bell at Flagstaff Hill, having restored this small, historic bell to its original condition. The Schomberg Bell is a fine example from a luxury migrant vessel dating back to the mid-19th century, reflecting the craftsmanship and heritage preserved by Briggs Brass Foundry. Pattern: thick square mostly unopainted wooden block with a solid half-cylinder added to the top, which has rounded shoulders. A disc is added to the front, aligned with the curve at the top. The top curve has orange paint, and the dial is pink. Three holes are drilled in the back, in a triangular configuration. It is similar in shape to a mantle clock or an early-style radio. The pattern is part of a set of foundry patterns from Briggs Brass Foundry.flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, briggs' bronze, traditional method, trade, sand cast, cast, brass alloy, copper alloy, pattern, mould, foundry, brass foundry, metal foundry, casting, sand mould, sand casting, marine equipment, marine tools, marine fittings, copper tin zinc lead, non-ferrous, non-corrosive, brassware, metalware, foundering, metalwork, maritime, bell founders, ship chandlers, marine products, biggs, briggs family, herbert harrison briggs, h h briggs, george edward briggs, cyril falkiner mckinnon briggs, cyril briggs, briggs & son brass foundry, h h briggs & sons foundry, briggs marine, alliance casting & engineering solutions, grassmere cheese factory, cornish chimney, curved bricks, collingwood, moorabbin, collingwood foundry, moorabbin foundry, 1912, briggs, briggs brass foundry, briggs marine foundry, briggs marine products, frank lee, les lee, eva lee, briggs marine warrnambool, non-ferrous founders, bell specialists, ship bell specialists, founders, metalworking, traditional sand casting, casting pattern, foundry pattern -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and VillageEquipment - Pattern, Briggs Brass Foundry, 1912-1972
... The foundry’s ability to cast essential products was important to local and regional industries, like fishing, farming, manufacturing and commercial businesses. ...The wooden pattern forms part of a larger collection; some of them were secured within a durable wooden crate. The cast pattern was an essential tool at Briggs Brass Foundry, specifically designed for creating sand casts. Sand casting is a time-honoured technique, with a history exceeding 2,000 years. The handcrafted nature of this process produces brass and copper alloy items particularly suitable for maritime applications. Typical products include bells, boat hooks, cowls, propellers, handles, lids, rowlocks, hooks, letters, bolts, rail holders, brackets, deck plates, flanges, rudder guides, portholes and covers. The distinctive bronze mixture used at Briggs’ Foundry is copper based. It is composed of local ingots of copper, tin, zinc and lead, blended in precisely measured quantities. The resulting alloy is non-ferrous, known for its exceptional durability and longevity. HISTORY OF BRIGGS MARINE: The Briggs Brass Foundry, trading as Briggs & Son Foundry, was established in 1912 by Herbert Harrison Briggs (1863-1931) with his son George Edward Briggs. In 1922, the youngest son, Cyril Falkiner McKinnon Briggs, joined the foundry. After Herbert died in 1931, his sons George and Cyril ran the foundry. The business became known as Briggs Marine Foundry, the “non-ferrous founders” and “bell specialists”. The foundry products were made using the traditional sand-casting method, which is now over two thousand years old and is becoming a dying art. The foundry operated at 70 Wellington St, Collingwood, and specialised in casting ship bells and other marine equipment and fittings. It also made decorative items such as miniature ship propellers. The great-granddaughter of Herbert Briggs inherited a Briggs brass bell, similar to one at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. In 1965, Cyril was the only remaining family member involved in Briggs Marine Products. The firm relocated to Chesterville Rd, Moorabbin and Cyril went into partnership with Frank Lee. In the same year, the firm exhibited its products at the 1965 Boat Show. When Cyril passed away in 1967, Frank took over the business with two new partners. After Frank Lee died in 1971, the foundry was run by his son and daughter-in-law, Les and Eva Lee. Briggs Marine still exists today, but the Briggs family is no longer involved. Briggs Foundry had a community-minded retail branch in Warrnambool, selling cast boat fittings and equipment to fishermen and others in the regional marine industry. The branch closed in 1972. In Flagstaff Hill’s formative years, 1972-1975, many Briggs Marine brassware products were generously donated from its Melbourne foundry, along with casting patterns, tools, machinery and a cupboard. EXHIBITION and LEGACY: The donated items were displayed in a simulated Brass Foundry within the Village, where visitors could view them and gain insight into the foundering and metalwork trades that supported maritime industries, including shipwrights and boatbuilders. The castings produced at the foundry were also vital for farmers, manufacturers and other local industries. This exhibit was part of a broader showcase of working crafts, trades and services typical of a Maritime town. The display was available to the public from the completion of the building in 1986 until 1994, when the space was repurposed. It is believed that Briggs Marine’s family members gave personal assistance in setting up the displays in the original village shops, particularly the ‘Brass Foundry’ building. A notable feature of the Village Brass Foundry was the historic Cornish chimney, presented as a working model. This chimney visually demonstrated the process of smelting metal in furnaces and pouring it into sand moulds. Constructed from specially curved bricks, the chimney now stands at about two-thirds of its original height, having been relocated from the Grassmere Cheese factory. The hand-cast sand patterns hold considerable significance due to their association with Briggs Brass Founders, a firm established in the early 20th century and widely recognised for its expertise in producing, repairing, and restoring ship bells and marine equipment. Known for their specialisation in non-ferrous metal casting, Briggs Brass Founders supplied high-quality fittings and equipment for maritime use. The company extended its operations by opening a branch in Warrnambool, where it actively supported the local community. The foundry’s ability to cast essential products was important to local and regional industries, like fishing, farming, manufacturing and commercial businesses. Through its presence, its reputation was reinforced as both a skilled manufacturer and a community-minded enterprise. The foundry is notably associated with the Schomberg Bell at Flagstaff Hill, having restored this small, historic bell to its original condition. The Schomberg Bell is a fine example from a luxury migrant vessel dating back to the mid-19th century, reflecting the craftsmanship and heritage preserved by Briggs Brass Foundry. Pattern: a pair of blocks that form a rectangle with a carved centre hole and a disc shape inside. The block is made from laminated pieces of wood with cut corners. Both sides have four drilled holes in a square configuration, but in different positions. The cut faces, and the space carved into them, are painted red; one piece has two dowel pins that fit into two drilled holes on the other. The pattern is part of a set of foundry patterns from Briggs Brass Foundry.flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, briggs' bronze, traditional method, trade, sand cast, cast, brass alloy, copper alloy, pattern, mould, foundry, brass foundry, metal foundry, casting, sand mould, sand casting, marine equipment, marine tools, marine fittings, copper tin zinc lead, non-ferrous, non-corrosive, brassware, metalware, foundering, metalwork, maritime, bell founders, ship chandlers, marine products, biggs, briggs family, herbert harrison briggs, h h briggs, george edward briggs, cyril falkiner mckinnon briggs, cyril briggs, briggs & son brass foundry, h h briggs & sons foundry, briggs marine, alliance casting & engineering solutions, grassmere cheese factory, cornish chimney, curved bricks, collingwood, moorabbin, collingwood foundry, moorabbin foundry, 1912, briggs, briggs brass foundry, briggs marine foundry, briggs marine products, frank lee, les lee, eva lee, briggs marine warrnambool, non-ferrous founders, bell specialists, ship bell specialists, founders, metalworking, traditional sand casting, casting pattern, foundry pattern -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and VillageEquipment - Foundry Patterns set, Briggs Brass Foundry, 1912-1972
... The foundry’s ability to cast essential products was important to local and regional industries, like fishing, farming, manufacturing and commercial businesses. ...The wooden pattern forms part of a larger collection; some of them were secured within a durable wooden crate. The cast pattern was an essential tool at Briggs Brass Foundry, specifically designed for creating sand casts. Sand casting is a time-honoured technique, with a history exceeding 2,000 years. The handcrafted nature of this process produces brass and copper alloy items particularly suitable for maritime applications. Typical products include bells, boat hooks, cowls, propellers, handles, lids, rowlocks, hooks, letters, bolts, rail holders, brackets, deck plates, flanges, rudder guides, portholes and covers. The distinctive bronze mixture used at Briggs’ Foundry is copper based. It is composed of local ingots of copper, tin, zinc and lead, blended in precisely measured quantities. The resulting alloy is non-ferrous, known for its exceptional durability and longevity. HISTORY OF BRIGGS MARINE: The Briggs Brass Foundry, trading as Briggs & Son Foundry, was established in 1912 by Herbert Harrison Briggs (1863-1931) with his son George Edward Briggs. In 1922, the youngest son, Cyril Falkiner McKinnon Briggs, joined the foundry. After Herbert died in 1931, his sons George and Cyril ran the foundry. The business became known as Briggs Marine Foundry, the “non-ferrous founders” and “bell specialists”. The foundry products were made using the traditional sand-casting method, which is now over two thousand years old and is becoming a dying art. The foundry operated at 70 Wellington St, Collingwood, and specialised in casting ship bells and other marine equipment and fittings. It also made decorative items such as miniature ship propellers. The great-granddaughter of Herbert Briggs inherited a Briggs brass bell, similar to one at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. In 1965, Cyril was the only remaining family member involved in Briggs Marine Products. The firm relocated to Chesterville Rd, Moorabbin and Cyril went into partnership with Frank Lee. In the same year, the firm exhibited its products at the 1965 Boat Show. When Cyril passed away in 1967, Frank took over the business with two new partners. After Frank Lee died in 1971, the foundry was run by his son and daughter-in-law, Les and Eva Lee. Briggs Marine still exists today, but the Briggs family is no longer involved. Briggs Foundry had a community-minded retail branch in Warrnambool, selling cast boat fittings and equipment to fishermen and others in the regional marine industry. The branch closed in 1972. In Flagstaff Hill’s formative years, 1972-1975, many Briggs Marine brassware products were generously donated from its Melbourne foundry, along with casting patterns, tools, machinery and a cupboard. EXHIBITION and LEGACY: The donated items were displayed in a simulated Brass Foundry within the Village, where visitors could view them and gain insight into the foundering and metalwork trades that supported maritime industries, including shipwrights and boatbuilders. The castings produced at the foundry were also vital for farmers, manufacturers and other local industries. This exhibit was part of a broader showcase of working crafts, trades and services typical of a Maritime town. The display was available to the public from the completion of the building in 1986 until 1994, when the space was repurposed. It is believed that Briggs Marine’s family members gave personal assistance in setting up the displays in the original village shops, particularly the ‘Brass Foundry’ building. A notable feature of the Village Brass Foundry was the historic Cornish chimney, presented as a working model. This chimney visually demonstrated the process of smelting metal in furnaces and pouring it into sand moulds. Constructed from specially curved bricks, the chimney now stands at about two-thirds of its original height, having been relocated from the Grassmere Cheese factory. The hand-cast sand patterns hold considerable significance due to their association with Briggs Brass Founders, a firm established in the early 20th century and widely recognised for its expertise in producing, repairing, and restoring ship bells and marine equipment. Known for their specialisation in non-ferrous metal casting, Briggs Brass Founders supplied high-quality fittings and equipment for maritime use. The company extended its operations by opening a branch in Warrnambool, where it actively supported the local community. The foundry’s ability to cast essential products was important to local and regional industries, like fishing, farming, manufacturing and commercial businesses. Through its presence, its reputation was reinforced as both a skilled manufacturer and a community-minded enterprise. The foundry is notably associated with the Schomberg Bell at Flagstaff Hill, having restored this small, historic bell to its original condition. The Schomberg Bell is a fine example from a luxury migrant vessel dating back to the mid-19th century, reflecting the craftsmanship and heritage preserved by Briggs Brass Foundry. Wooden rectangular crate with removable wooden lid. Inside is a set of wooden patterns of various shapes and sizes for making sand moulds in a metal foundry. The crate is made from thick wooden planks nailed together. The extended wooden struts on the long sides form a frame to hold the wooden lid. A pair of metal handles is at each short end of the crate, fixed with strong metal bolts. Between each pair of handles is an inscription stamped into the wood. The underside of the crate has red paint splashes. There are insect holes in the wood, but no active infestation. The patterns were made and used at Briggs Brass Foundry in Melbourne.Stamped: "H.33 / II" (H may be N or a square B)flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, pattern, mould, foundry, brass foundry, metal foundry, crate, box, wooden container, briggs, traditional method, trade, sand cast, cast, brass alloy, copper alloy, marine equipment, marine tools, marine fittings, briggs' bronze, copper tin zinc lead, non-corrosive, briggs family, brassware, metalware, foundering, metalwork, maritime, casting, cornish chimney, curved bricks, grassmere cheese factory, 1912, herbert harrison briggs, h h briggs, george edward briggs, briggs & son foundry, collingwood, cyril falkiner mckinnon briggs, cyril briggs, h h briggs & sons foundry, bell founders, schomberg bell, alliance casting & engineering solutions, collingwood foundry, ship chandlers, marine products, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, briggs & son brass foundry, briggs marine, moorabbin, briggs brass foundry, briggs marine foundry, briggs marine products, frank lee, les lee, eva lee, briggs marine warrnambool, non-ferrous founders, bell specialists, ship bell specialists, founders, metalworking, traditional sand casting, casting pattern, foundry pattern -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and VillageSpoon, circa 1878
... manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. ...manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. ...This tea spoon is from the wreck of the LOCH ARD, a Loch Line ship of 1,693 tons which sailed from Gravesend, London, on 2 March 1878 with 17 passengers and a crew of 36 under Captain George Gibbs. “The intention was to discharge cargo in Melbourne, before returning to London via the Horn with wool and wheat”. Instead, on 1 June 1878, after 90 days at sea, she struck the sandstone cliffs of Mutton Bird Island on the south west coast of Victoria, and sank with the loss of 52 lives and all her cargo. The manifest of the LOCH ARD listed an array of manufactured goods and bulk metals being exported to the Colony of Victoria, with a declared value of £53,700. (202 bills of lading show an actual invoice value of £68, 456, with insurance underwriting to £30,000 of all cargo). Included in the manifest is the item of “Tin hardware & cutlery £7,530”. This teaspoon is one of 482 similar items of electro-plated cutlery from the LOCH ARD site, comprising spoons and forks of various sizes but all sharing the same general shape or design and metallic composition. 49 of these pieces display a legible makers’ mark — the initials “W” and “P” placed within a raised diamond outline, which is in turn contained within a sunken crown shape — identifying the manufacturer as William Page & Co of Birmingham. An electroplater’s makers’ marks, unlike sterling silver hallmarks, are not consistent identifiers of quality or date and place of manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. In this case, the maker’s marks are often obscured by sedimentary accretion or removed by corrosion after a century of submersion in the ocean. However sufficient detail has survived to indicate that these samples of electro-plated cutlery probably originated from the same consignment in the LOCH ARD’s cargo. The following descriptions of maker’s marks are drawn from 255 tea spoons, 125 dessert spoons, and 99 table forks. These marks are clearly visible in 66 instances, while the same sequence of general outlines, or depression shapes, is discernible in another 166 examples. 1. A recessed Crown containing a raised Diamond outline and the initials “W” and “P” (the recognised trademark of William Page & Co) 2. An impressed Ellipse containing a raised, pivoted, Triangle in its lower part and bearing a Resurrection Cross on its upper section (a possible dissenting church symbol reflecting religious affiliation); OR a rounded Square impression containing a raised, ‘lazy’, letter “B” (possibly mimicking sterling silver hallmark signifying city of manufacture i.e. Birmingham) 3. An impressed rounded Square filled with a raised Maltese Cross (the base metal composite of nickel silver was also known as ‘German silver’ after its Berlin inventors in 1823) 4. A recessed Circle containing a Crab or Scarab Beetle image; OR a recessed Circle containing a rotated ‘fleur de lys’ or ‘fasces’ design 5. A depressed Diamond shape enclosing a large raised letter “R” and a small raised letter “D” (mimicking the U.K. Patent Office stamp which abbreviated the term ‘registered’ to “RD”, but also included date and class of patent) Suggested trade names for William Page & Co’s particular blend of brass plating are ‘roman silver’ or ‘silverite’. This copper alloy polishes to a lustrous gold when new, discolouring to a murky grey with greenish hue when neglected. HISTORY OF THE LOCH ARD The LOCH ARD belonged to the famous Loch Line which sailed many ships from England to Australia. Built in Glasgow by Barclay, Curdle and Co. in 1873, the LOCH ARD was a three-masted square rigged iron sailing ship. The ship measured 262ft 7" (79.87m) in length, 38ft (11.58m) in width, 23ft (7m) in depth and had a gross tonnage of 1693 tons. The LOCH ARD's main mast measured a massive 150ft (45.7m) in height. LOCH ARD made three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its final voyage. LOCH ARD left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of Captain Gibbs, a newly married, 29 year old. She was bound for Melbourne with a crew of 37, plus 17 passengers and a load of cargo. The general cargo reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. On board were straw hats, umbrella, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionary, linen and candles, as well as a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead and copper. There were items included that intended for display in the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. The voyage to Port Phillip was long but uneventful. At 3am on June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs was expecting to see land and the passengers were becoming excited as they prepared to view their new homeland in the early morning. But LOCH ARD was running into a fog which greatly reduced visibility. Captain Gibbs was becoming anxious as there was no sign of land or the Cape Otway lighthouse. At 4am the fog lifted. A man aloft announced that he could see breakers. The sheer cliffs of Victoria's west coast came into view, and Captain Gibbs realised that the ship was much closer to them than expected. He ordered as much sail to be set as time would permit and then attempted to steer the vessel out to sea. On coming head on into the wind, the ship lost momentum, the sails fell limp and LOCH ARD's bow swung back. Gibbs then ordered the anchors to be released in an attempt to hold its position. The anchors sank some 50 fathoms - but did not hold. By this time LOCH ARD was among the breakers and the tall cliffs of Mutton Bird Island rose behind the ship. Just half a mile from the coast, the ship's bow was suddenly pulled around by the anchor. The captain tried to tack out to sea, but the ship struck a reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Waves broke over the ship and the top deck was loosened from the hull. The masts and rigging came crashing down knocking passengers and crew overboard. When a lifeboat was finally launched, it crashed into the side of LOCH ARD and capsized. Tom Pearce, who had launched the boat, managed to cling to its overturned hull and shelter beneath it. He drifted out to sea and then on the flood tide came into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. He swam to shore, bruised and dazed, and found a cave in which to shelter. Some of the crew stayed below deck to shelter from the falling rigging but drowned when the ship slipped off the reef into deeper water. Eva Carmichael had raced onto deck to find out what was happening only to be confronted by towering cliffs looming above the stricken ship. In all the chaos, Captain Gibbs grabbed Eva and said, "If you are saved Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a sailor". That was the last Eva Carmichael saw of the captain. She was swept off the ship by a huge wave. Eva saw Tom Pearce on a small rocky beach and yelled to attract his attention. He dived in and swam to the exhausted woman and dragged her to shore. He took her to the cave and broke open case of brandy which had washed up on the beach. He opened a bottle to revive the unconscious woman. A few hours later Tom scaled a cliff in search of help. He followed hoof prints and came by chance upon two men from nearby Glenample Station three and a half miles away. In a state of exhaustion, he told the men of the tragedy. Tom returned to the gorge while the two men rode back to the station to get help. By the time they reached LOCH ARD Gorge, it was cold and dark. The two shipwreck survivors were taken to Glenample Station to recover. Eva stayed at the station for six weeks before returning to Ireland, this time by steamship. In Melbourne, Tom Pearce received a hero's welcome. He was presented with the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria and a £1000 cheque from the Victorian Government. Concerts were performed to honour the young man's bravery and to raise money for those who lost family in the LOCH ARD disaster. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: the apprentice, Tom Pearce and the young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. Ten days after the LOCH ARD tragedy, salvage rights to the wreck were sold at auction for £2,120. Cargo valued at £3,000 was salvaged and placed on the beach, but most washed back into the sea when another storm developed. The wreck of LOCH ARD still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island. Much of the cargo has now been salvaged and some was washed up into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. One of the most unlikely pieces of cargo to have survived the shipwreck was a Minton porcelain peacock - one of only seven in the world. The peacock was destined for the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. It had been well packed, which gave it adequate protection during the violent storm. Today, the Minton peacock can be seen at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in Warrnambool. From Australia's most dramatic shipwreck it has now become Australia's most valuable shipwreck artefact and is one of very few 'objects' on the Victorian State Heritage Register. The LOCH ARD shipwreck is of State significance – Victorian Heritage Register S 417. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from LOCH ARD is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S417). The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the LOCH ARD. The LOCH ARD collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The LOCH ARD collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes). The collection is also historically significant for its association with the LOCH ARD, which was one of the worst and best known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history. Unrestored tea spoon from the wreck of the LOCH ARD. The spoon design has a flattened fiddle-back handle, with a thin stem or shank, flared collar, and elongated bowl. The spoons metallic composition is a thin layer of brass alloy which has partially corroded back to a nickel-silver base metal. Only 15% of original electroplating remains with bright vertigris on 5% of spoon surface.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, electroplated cutlery, loch ard shipwreck, nickel silver, william page & co, birmingham, brass plating, makers marks -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and VillageDomestic object - Spoon, circa 1878
... manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. ...manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. ...This tea spoon is from the wreck of the LOCH ARD, a Loch Line ship of 1,693 tons which sailed from Gravesend, London, on 2 March 1878 with 17 passengers and a crew of 36 under Captain George Gibbs. “The intention was to discharge cargo in Melbourne, before returning to London via the Horn with wool and wheat”. Instead, on 1 June 1878, after 90 days at sea, she struck the sandstone cliffs of Mutton Bird Island on the south west coast of Victoria, and sank with the loss of 52 lives and all her cargo. The manifest of the LOCH ARD listed an array of manufactured goods and bulk metals being exported to the Colony of Victoria, with a declared value of £53,700. (202 bills of lading show an actual invoice value of £68, 456, with insurance underwriting to £30,000 of all cargo). Included in the manifest is the item of “Tin hardware & cutlery £7,530”. This teaspoon is one of 482 similar items of electro-plated cutlery from the LOCH ARD site, comprising spoons and forks of various sizes but all sharing the same general shape or design and metallic composition. 49 of these pieces display a legible makers’ mark — the initials “W” and “P” placed within a raised diamond outline, which is in turn contained within a sunken crown shape — identifying the manufacturer as William Page & Co of Birmingham. An electroplater’s makers’ marks, unlike sterling silver hallmarks, are not consistent identifiers of quality or date and place of manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. In this case, the maker’s marks are often obscured by sedimentary accretion or removed by corrosion after a century of submersion in the ocean. However sufficient detail has survived to indicate that these samples of electro-plated cutlery probably originated from the same consignment in the LOCH ARD’s cargo. The following descriptions of maker’s marks are drawn from 255 tea spoons, 125 dessert spoons, and 99 table forks. These marks are clearly visible in 66 instances, while the same sequence of general outlines, or depression shapes, is discernible in another 166 examples. 1. A recessed Crown containing a raised Diamond outline and the initials “W” and “P” (the recognised trademark of William Page & Co) 2. An impressed Ellipse containing a raised, pivoted, Triangle in its lower part and bearing a Resurrection Cross on its upper section (a possible dissenting church symbol reflecting religious affiliation); OR a rounded Square impression containing a raised, ‘lazy’, letter “B” (possibly mimicking sterling silver hallmark signifying city of manufacture i.e. Birmingham) 3. An impressed rounded Square filled with a raised Maltese Cross (the base metal composite of nickel silver was also known as ‘German silver’ after its Berlin inventors in 1823) 4. A recessed Circle containing a Crab or Scarab Beetle image; OR a recessed Circle containing a rotated ‘fleur de lys’ or ‘fasces’ design 5. A depressed Diamond shape enclosing a large raised letter “R” and a small raised letter “D” (mimicking the U.K. Patent Office stamp which abbreviated the term ‘registered’ to “RD”, but also included date and class of patent) Suggested trade names for William Page & Co’s particular blend of brass plating are ‘roman silver’ or ‘silverite’. This copper alloy polishes to a lustrous gold when new, discolouring to a murky grey with greenish hue when neglected. HISTORY OF THE LOCH ARD The LOCH ARD belonged to the famous Loch Line which sailed many ships from England to Australia. Built in Glasgow by Barclay, Curdle and Co. in 1873, the LOCH ARD was a three-masted square rigged iron sailing ship. The ship measured 262ft 7" (79.87m) in length, 38ft (11.58m) in width, 23ft (7m) in depth and had a gross tonnage of 1693 tons. The LOCH ARD's main mast measured a massive 150ft (45.7m) in height. LOCH ARD made three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its final voyage. LOCH ARD left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of Captain Gibbs, a newly married, 29 year old. She was bound for Melbourne with a crew of 37, plus 17 passengers and a load of cargo. The general cargo reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. On board were straw hats, umbrella, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionary, linen and candles, as well as a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead and copper. There were items included that intended for display in the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. The voyage to Port Phillip was long but uneventful. At 3am on June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs was expecting to see land and the passengers were becoming excited as they prepared to view their new homeland in the early morning. But LOCH ARD was running into a fog which greatly reduced visibility. Captain Gibbs was becoming anxious as there was no sign of land or the Cape Otway lighthouse. At 4am the fog lifted. A man aloft announced that he could see breakers. The sheer cliffs of Victoria's west coast came into view, and Captain Gibbs realised that the ship was much closer to them than expected. He ordered as much sail to be set as time would permit and then attempted to steer the vessel out to sea. On coming head on into the wind, the ship lost momentum, the sails fell limp and LOCH ARD's bow swung back. Gibbs then ordered the anchors to be released in an attempt to hold its position. The anchors sank some 50 fathoms - but did not hold. By this time LOCH ARD was among the breakers and the tall cliffs of Mutton Bird Island rose behind the ship. Just half a mile from the coast, the ship's bow was suddenly pulled around by the anchor. The captain tried to tack out to sea, but the ship struck a reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Waves broke over the ship and the top deck was loosened from the hull. The masts and rigging came crashing down knocking passengers and crew overboard. When a lifeboat was finally launched, it crashed into the side of LOCH ARD and capsized. Tom Pearce, who had launched the boat, managed to cling to its overturned hull and shelter beneath it. He drifted out to sea and then on the flood tide came into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. He swam to shore, bruised and dazed, and found a cave in which to shelter. Some of the crew stayed below deck to shelter from the falling rigging but drowned when the ship slipped off the reef into deeper water. Eva Carmichael had raced onto deck to find out what was happening only to be confronted by towering cliffs looming above the stricken ship. In all the chaos, Captain Gibbs grabbed Eva and said, "If you are saved Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a sailor". That was the last Eva Carmichael saw of the captain. She was swept off the ship by a huge wave. Eva saw Tom Pearce on a small rocky beach and yelled to attract his attention. He dived in and swam to the exhausted woman and dragged her to shore. He took her to the cave and broke open case of brandy which had washed up on the beach. He opened a bottle to revive the unconscious woman. A few hours later Tom scaled a cliff in search of help. He followed hoof prints and came by chance upon two men from nearby Glenample Station three and a half miles away. In a state of exhaustion, he told the men of the tragedy. Tom returned to the gorge while the two men rode back to the station to get help. By the time they reached LOCH ARD Gorge, it was cold and dark. The two shipwreck survivors were taken to Glenample Station to recover. Eva stayed at the station for six weeks before returning to Ireland, this time by steamship. In Melbourne, Tom Pearce received a hero's welcome. He was presented with the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria and a £1000 cheque from the Victorian Government. Concerts were performed to honour the young man's bravery and to raise money for those who lost family in the LOCH ARD disaster. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: the apprentice, Tom Pearce and the young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. Ten days after the LOCH ARD tragedy, salvage rights to the wreck were sold at auction for £2,120. Cargo valued at £3,000 was salvaged and placed on the beach, but most washed back into the sea when another storm developed. The wreck of LOCH ARD still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island. Much of the cargo has now been salvaged and some was washed up into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. One of the most unlikely pieces of cargo to have survived the shipwreck was a Minton porcelain peacock - one of only seven in the world. The peacock was destined for the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. It had been well packed, which gave it adequate protection during the violent storm. Today, the Minton peacock can be seen at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in Warrnambool. From Australia's most dramatic shipwreck it has now become Australia's most valuable shipwreck artefact and is one of very few 'objects' on the Victorian State Heritage Register. The LOCH ARD shipwreck is of State significance – Victorian Heritage Register S 417. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from LOCH ARD is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S417). The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the LOCH ARD. The LOCH ARD collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The LOCH ARD collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes). The collection is also historically significant for its association with the LOCH ARD, which was one of the worst and best known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history. Unrestored tea spoon from the wreck of the LOCH ARD. The spoon design has a flattened fiddle-back handle, with a thin stem or shank, flared collar, and elongated bowl. The spoons metallic composition is a thin layer of brass alloy which has partially corroded back to a nickel-silver base metal. Only 15% of original electroplating remains with verdigris on 5% of spoon surface. Outlines of five makers marks are visible but details are obscured.flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, electroplated cutlery, loch ard shipwreck, nickel silver, william page & co, birmingham, brass plating, makers marks -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and VillageSpoon, circa 1878
... manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. ...manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. ...This tea spoon is from the wreck of the LOCH ARD, a Loch Line ship of 1,693 tons which sailed from Gravesend, London, on 2 March 1878 with 17 passengers and a crew of 36 under Captain George Gibbs. “The intention was to discharge cargo in Melbourne, before returning to London via the Horn with wool and wheat”. Instead, on 1 June 1878, after 90 days at sea, she struck the sandstone cliffs of Mutton Bird Island on the south west coast of Victoria, and sank with the loss of 52 lives and all her cargo. The manifest of the LOCH ARD listed an array of manufactured goods and bulk metals being exported to the Colony of Victoria, with a declared value of £53,700. (202 bills of lading show an actual invoice value of £68, 456, with insurance underwriting to £30,000 of all cargo). Included in the manifest is the item of “Tin hardware & cutlery £7,530”. This teaspoon is one of 482 similar items of electro-plated cutlery from the LOCH ARD site, comprising spoons and forks of various sizes but all sharing the same general shape or design and metallic composition. 49 of these pieces display a legible makers’ mark — the initials “W” and “P” placed within a raised diamond outline, which is in turn contained within a sunken crown shape — identifying the manufacturer as William Page & Co of Birmingham. An electroplater’s makers’ marks, unlike sterling silver hallmarks, are not consistent identifiers of quality or date and place of manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. In this case, the maker’s marks are often obscured by sedimentary accretion or removed by corrosion after a century of submersion in the ocean. However sufficient detail has survived to indicate that these samples of electro-plated cutlery probably originated from the same consignment in the LOCH ARD’s cargo. The following descriptions of maker’s marks are drawn from 255 tea spoons, 125 dessert spoons, and 99 table forks. These marks are clearly visible in 66 instances, while the same sequence of general outlines, or depression shapes, is discernible in another 166 examples. 1. A recessed Crown containing a raised Diamond outline and the initials “W” and “P” (the recognised trademark of William Page & Co) 2. An impressed Ellipse containing a raised, pivoted, Triangle in its lower part and bearing a Resurrection Cross on its upper section (a possible dissenting church symbol reflecting religious affiliation); OR a rounded Square impression containing a raised, ‘lazy’, letter “B” (possibly mimicking sterling silver hallmark signifying city of manufacture i.e. Birmingham) 3. An impressed rounded Square filled with a raised Maltese Cross (the base metal composite of nickel silver was also known as ‘German silver’ after its Berlin inventors in 1823) 4. A recessed Circle containing a Crab or Scarab Beetle image; OR a recessed Circle containing a rotated ‘fleur de lys’ or ‘fasces’ design 5. A depressed Diamond shape enclosing a large raised letter “R” and a small raised letter “D” (mimicking the U.K. Patent Office stamp which abbreviated the term ‘registered’ to “RD”, but also included date and class of patent) Suggested trade names for William Page & Co’s particular blend of brass plating are ‘roman silver’ or ‘silverite’. This copper alloy polishes to a lustrous gold when new, discolouring to a murky grey with greenish hue when neglected. HISTORY OF THE LOCH ARD The LOCH ARD belonged to the famous Loch Line which sailed many ships from England to Australia. Built in Glasgow by Barclay, Curdle and Co. in 1873, the LOCH ARD was a three-masted square rigged iron sailing ship. The ship measured 262ft 7" (79.87m) in length, 38ft (11.58m) in width, 23ft (7m) in depth and had a gross tonnage of 1693 tons. The LOCH ARD's main mast measured a massive 150ft (45.7m) in height. LOCH ARD made three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its final voyage. LOCH ARD left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of Captain Gibbs, a newly married, 29 year old. She was bound for Melbourne with a crew of 37, plus 17 passengers and a load of cargo. The general cargo reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. On board were straw hats, umbrella, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionary, linen and candles, as well as a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead and copper. There were items included that intended for display in the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. The voyage to Port Phillip was long but uneventful. At 3am on June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs was expecting to see land and the passengers were becoming excited as they prepared to view their new homeland in the early morning. But LOCH ARD was running into a fog which greatly reduced visibility. Captain Gibbs was becoming anxious as there was no sign of land or the Cape Otway lighthouse. At 4am the fog lifted. A man aloft announced that he could see breakers. The sheer cliffs of Victoria's west coast came into view, and Captain Gibbs realised that the ship was much closer to them than expected. He ordered as much sail to be set as time would permit and then attempted to steer the vessel out to sea. On coming head on into the wind, the ship lost momentum, the sails fell limp and LOCH ARD's bow swung back. Gibbs then ordered the anchors to be released in an attempt to hold its position. The anchors sank some 50 fathoms - but did not hold. By this time LOCH ARD was among the breakers and the tall cliffs of Mutton Bird Island rose behind the ship. Just half a mile from the coast, the ship's bow was suddenly pulled around by the anchor. The captain tried to tack out to sea, but the ship struck a reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Waves broke over the ship and the top deck was loosened from the hull. The masts and rigging came crashing down knocking passengers and crew overboard. When a lifeboat was finally launched, it crashed into the side of LOCH ARD and capsized. Tom Pearce, who had launched the boat, managed to cling to its overturned hull and shelter beneath it. He drifted out to sea and then on the flood tide came into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. He swam to shore, bruised and dazed, and found a cave in which to shelter. Some of the crew stayed below deck to shelter from the falling rigging but drowned when the ship slipped off the reef into deeper water. Eva Carmichael had raced onto deck to find out what was happening only to be confronted by towering cliffs looming above the stricken ship. In all the chaos, Captain Gibbs grabbed Eva and said, "If you are saved Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a sailor". That was the last Eva Carmichael saw of the captain. She was swept off the ship by a huge wave. Eva saw Tom Pearce on a small rocky beach and yelled to attract his attention. He dived in and swam to the exhausted woman and dragged her to shore. He took her to the cave and broke open case of brandy which had washed up on the beach. He opened a bottle to revive the unconscious woman. A few hours later Tom scaled a cliff in search of help. He followed hoof prints and came by chance upon two men from nearby Glenample Station three and a half miles away. In a state of exhaustion, he told the men of the tragedy. Tom returned to the gorge while the two men rode back to the station to get help. By the time they reached LOCH ARD Gorge, it was cold and dark. The two shipwreck survivors were taken to Glenample Station to recover. Eva stayed at the station for six weeks before returning to Ireland, this time by steamship. In Melbourne, Tom Pearce received a hero's welcome. He was presented with the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria and a £1000 cheque from the Victorian Government. Concerts were performed to honour the young man's bravery and to raise money for those who lost family in the LOCH ARD disaster. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: the apprentice, Tom Pearce and the young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. Ten days after the LOCH ARD tragedy, salvage rights to the wreck were sold at auction for £2,120. Cargo valued at £3,000 was salvaged and placed on the beach, but most washed back into the sea when another storm developed. The wreck of LOCH ARD still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island. Much of the cargo has now been salvaged and some was washed up into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. One of the most unlikely pieces of cargo to have survived the shipwreck was a Minton porcelain peacock - one of only seven in the world. The peacock was destined for the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. It had been well packed, which gave it adequate protection during the violent storm. Today, the Minton peacock can be seen at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in Warrnambool. From Australia's most dramatic shipwreck it has now become Australia's most valuable shipwreck artefact and is one of very few 'objects' on the Victorian State Heritage Register. The LOCH ARD shipwreck is of State significance – Victorian Heritage Register S 417. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from LOCH ARD is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S417). The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the LOCH ARD. The LOCH ARD collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The LOCH ARD collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes). The collection is also historically significant for its association with the LOCH ARD, which was one of the worst and best known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history. Unrestored tea spoon from the wreck of the LOCH ARD. The spoon design has a flattened fiddle-back handle, with a thin stem or shank, flared collar, and elongated bowl. The spoons metallic composition is a thin layer of brass alloy which has partially corroded back to a nickel-silver base metal. Only 10% of original electroplating remains as a dull bronze colour. Outlines of five makers marks are visible.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, electroplated cutlery, loch ard shipwreck, nickel silver, william page & co, birmingham, brass plating, makers marks -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and VillageSpoon, circa 1878
... manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. ...manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. ...This tea spoon is from the wreck of the LOCH ARD, a Loch Line ship of 1,693 tons which sailed from Gravesend, London, on 2 March 1878 with 17 passengers and a crew of 36 under Captain George Gibbs. “The intention was to discharge cargo in Melbourne, before returning to London via the Horn with wool and wheat”. Instead, on 1 June 1878, after 90 days at sea, she struck the sandstone cliffs of Mutton Bird Island on the south west coast of Victoria, and sank with the loss of 52 lives and all her cargo. The manifest of the LOCH ARD listed an array of manufactured goods and bulk metals being exported to the Colony of Victoria, with a declared value of £53,700. (202 bills of lading show an actual invoice value of £68, 456, with insurance underwriting to £30,000 of all cargo). Included in the manifest is the item of “Tin hardware & cutlery £7,530”. This teaspoon is one of 482 similar items of electro-plated cutlery from the LOCH ARD site, comprising spoons and forks of various sizes but all sharing the same general shape or design and metallic composition. 49 of these pieces display a legible makers’ mark — the initials “W” and “P” placed within a raised diamond outline, which is in turn contained within a sunken crown shape — identifying the manufacturer as William Page & Co of Birmingham. An electroplater’s makers’ marks, unlike sterling silver hallmarks, are not consistent identifiers of quality or date and place of manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. In this case, the maker’s marks are often obscured by sedimentary accretion or removed by corrosion after a century of submersion in the ocean. However sufficient detail has survived to indicate that these samples of electro-plated cutlery probably originated from the same consignment in the LOCH ARD’s cargo. The following descriptions of maker’s marks are drawn from 255 tea spoons, 125 dessert spoons, and 99 table forks. These marks are clearly visible in 66 instances, while the same sequence of general outlines, or depression shapes, is discernible in another 166 examples. 1. A recessed Crown containing a raised Diamond outline and the initials “W” and “P” (the recognised trademark of William Page & Co) 2. An impressed Ellipse containing a raised, pivoted, Triangle in its lower part and bearing a Resurrection Cross on its upper section (a possible dissenting church symbol reflecting religious affiliation); OR a rounded Square impression containing a raised, ‘lazy’, letter “B” (possibly mimicking sterling silver hallmark signifying city of manufacture i.e. Birmingham) 3. An impressed rounded Square filled with a raised Maltese Cross (the base metal composite of nickel silver was also known as ‘German silver’ after its Berlin inventors in 1823) 4. A recessed Circle containing a Crab or Scarab Beetle image; OR a recessed Circle containing a rotated ‘fleur de lys’ or ‘fasces’ design 5. A depressed Diamond shape enclosing a large raised letter “R” and a small raised letter “D” (mimicking the U.K. Patent Office stamp which abbreviated the term ‘registered’ to “RD”, but also included date and class of patent) Suggested trade names for William Page & Co’s particular blend of brass plating are ‘roman silver’ or ‘silverite’. This copper alloy polishes to a lustrous gold when new, discolouring to a murky grey with greenish hue when neglected. HISTORY OF THE LOCH ARD The LOCH ARD belonged to the famous Loch Line which sailed many ships from England to Australia. Built in Glasgow by Barclay, Curdle and Co. in 1873, the LOCH ARD was a three-masted square rigged iron sailing ship. The ship measured 262ft 7" (79.87m) in length, 38ft (11.58m) in width, 23ft (7m) in depth and had a gross tonnage of 1693 tons. The LOCH ARD's main mast measured a massive 150ft (45.7m) in height. LOCH ARD made three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its final voyage. LOCH ARD left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of Captain Gibbs, a newly married, 29 year old. She was bound for Melbourne with a crew of 37, plus 17 passengers and a load of cargo. The general cargo reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. On board were straw hats, umbrella, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionary, linen and candles, as well as a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead and copper. There were items included that intended for display in the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. The voyage to Port Phillip was long but uneventful. At 3am on June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs was expecting to see land and the passengers were becoming excited as they prepared to view their new homeland in the early morning. But LOCH ARD was running into a fog which greatly reduced visibility. Captain Gibbs was becoming anxious as there was no sign of land or the Cape Otway lighthouse. At 4am the fog lifted. A man aloft announced that he could see breakers. The sheer cliffs of Victoria's west coast came into view, and Captain Gibbs realised that the ship was much closer to them than expected. He ordered as much sail to be set as time would permit and then attempted to steer the vessel out to sea. On coming head on into the wind, the ship lost momentum, the sails fell limp and LOCH ARD's bow swung back. Gibbs then ordered the anchors to be released in an attempt to hold its position. The anchors sank some 50 fathoms - but did not hold. By this time LOCH ARD was among the breakers and the tall cliffs of Mutton Bird Island rose behind the ship. Just half a mile from the coast, the ship's bow was suddenly pulled around by the anchor. The captain tried to tack out to sea, but the ship struck a reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Waves broke over the ship and the top deck was loosened from the hull. The masts and rigging came crashing down knocking passengers and crew overboard. When a lifeboat was finally launched, it crashed into the side of LOCH ARD and capsized. Tom Pearce, who had launched the boat, managed to cling to its overturned hull and shelter beneath it. He drifted out to sea and then on the flood tide came into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. He swam to shore, bruised and dazed, and found a cave in which to shelter. Some of the crew stayed below deck to shelter from the falling rigging but drowned when the ship slipped off the reef into deeper water. Eva Carmichael had raced onto deck to find out what was happening only to be confronted by towering cliffs looming above the stricken ship. In all the chaos, Captain Gibbs grabbed Eva and said, "If you are saved Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a sailor". That was the last Eva Carmichael saw of the captain. She was swept off the ship by a huge wave. Eva saw Tom Pearce on a small rocky beach and yelled to attract his attention. He dived in and swam to the exhausted woman and dragged her to shore. He took her to the cave and broke open case of brandy which had washed up on the beach. He opened a bottle to revive the unconscious woman. A few hours later Tom scaled a cliff in search of help. He followed hoof prints and came by chance upon two men from nearby Glenample Station three and a half miles away. In a state of exhaustion, he told the men of the tragedy. Tom returned to the gorge while the two men rode back to the station to get help. By the time they reached LOCH ARD Gorge, it was cold and dark. The two shipwreck survivors were taken to Glenample Station to recover. Eva stayed at the station for six weeks before returning to Ireland, this time by steamship. In Melbourne, Tom Pearce received a hero's welcome. He was presented with the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria and a £1000 cheque from the Victorian Government. Concerts were performed to honour the young man's bravery and to raise money for those who lost family in the LOCH ARD disaster. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: the apprentice, Tom Pearce and the young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. Ten days after the LOCH ARD tragedy, salvage rights to the wreck were sold at auction for £2,120. Cargo valued at £3,000 was salvaged and placed on the beach, but most washed back into the sea when another storm developed. The wreck of LOCH ARD still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island. Much of the cargo has now been salvaged and some was washed up into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. One of the most unlikely pieces of cargo to have survived the shipwreck was a Minton porcelain peacock - one of only seven in the world. The peacock was destined for the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. It had been well packed, which gave it adequate protection during the violent storm. Today, the Minton peacock can be seen at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in Warrnambool. From Australia's most dramatic shipwreck it has now become Australia's most valuable shipwreck artefact and is one of very few 'objects' on the Victorian State Heritage Register. The LOCH ARD shipwreck is of State significance – Victorian Heritage Register S 417. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from LOCH ARD is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S417). The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the LOCH ARD. The LOCH ARD collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The LOCH ARD collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes). The collection is also historically significant for its association with the LOCH ARD, which was one of the worst and best known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history. Unrestored tea spoon from the wreck of the LOCH ARD. The spoon design has a flattened fiddle-back handle, with a thin stem or shank, flared collar, and elongated bowl. The spoons metallic composition is a thin layer of brass alloy which has partially corroded back to a nickel-silver base metal. 50% of original electroplating remains. Two of five makers marks are legible: (1) Trade Mark (4) Crab Designflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, electroplated cutlery, loch ard shipwreck, nickel silver, william page & co, birmingham, brass plating, makers marks -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and VillageSpoon, circa 1878
... manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. ...manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. ...This tea spoon is from the wreck of the LOCH ARD, a Loch Line ship of 1,693 tons which sailed from Gravesend, London, on 2 March 1878 with 17 passengers and a crew of 36 under Captain George Gibbs. “The intention was to discharge cargo in Melbourne, before returning to London via the Horn with wool and wheat”. Instead, on 1 June 1878, after 90 days at sea, she struck the sandstone cliffs of Mutton Bird Island on the south west coast of Victoria, and sank with the loss of 52 lives and all her cargo. The manifest of the LOCH ARD listed an array of manufactured goods and bulk metals being exported to the Colony of Victoria, with a declared value of £53,700. (202 bills of lading show an actual invoice value of £68, 456, with insurance underwriting to £30,000 of all cargo). Included in the manifest is the item of “Tin hardware & cutlery £7,530”. This teaspoon is one of 482 similar items of electro-plated cutlery from the LOCH ARD site, comprising spoons and forks of various sizes but all sharing the same general shape or design and metallic composition. 49 of these pieces display a legible makers’ mark — the initials “W” and “P” placed within a raised diamond outline, which is in turn contained within a sunken crown shape — identifying the manufacturer as William Page & Co of Birmingham. An electroplater’s makers’ marks, unlike sterling silver hallmarks, are not consistent identifiers of quality or date and place of manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. In this case, the maker’s marks are often obscured by sedimentary accretion or removed by corrosion after a century of submersion in the ocean. However sufficient detail has survived to indicate that these samples of electro-plated cutlery probably originated from the same consignment in the LOCH ARD’s cargo. The following descriptions of maker’s marks are drawn from 255 tea spoons, 125 dessert spoons, and 99 table forks. These marks are clearly visible in 66 instances, while the same sequence of general outlines, or depression shapes, is discernible in another 166 examples. 1. A recessed Crown containing a raised Diamond outline and the initials “W” and “P” (the recognised trademark of William Page & Co) 2. An impressed Ellipse containing a raised, pivoted, Triangle in its lower part and bearing a Resurrection Cross on its upper section (a possible dissenting church symbol reflecting religious affiliation); OR a rounded Square impression containing a raised, ‘lazy’, letter “B” (possibly mimicking sterling silver hallmark signifying city of manufacture i.e. Birmingham) 3. An impressed rounded Square filled with a raised Maltese Cross (the base metal composite of nickel silver was also known as ‘German silver’ after its Berlin inventors in 1823) 4. A recessed Circle containing a Crab or Scarab Beetle image; OR a recessed Circle containing a rotated ‘fleur de lys’ or ‘fasces’ design 5. A depressed Diamond shape enclosing a large raised letter “R” and a small raised letter “D” (mimicking the U.K. Patent Office stamp which abbreviated the term ‘registered’ to “RD”, but also included date and class of patent) Suggested trade names for William Page & Co’s particular blend of brass plating are ‘roman silver’ or ‘silverite’. This copper alloy polishes to a lustrous gold when new, discolouring to a murky grey with greenish hue when neglected. HISTORY OF THE LOCH ARD The LOCH ARD belonged to the famous Loch Line which sailed many ships from England to Australia. Built in Glasgow by Barclay, Curdle and Co. in 1873, the LOCH ARD was a three-masted square rigged iron sailing ship. The ship measured 262ft 7" (79.87m) in length, 38ft (11.58m) in width, 23ft (7m) in depth and had a gross tonnage of 1693 tons. The LOCH ARD's main mast measured a massive 150ft (45.7m) in height. LOCH ARD made three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its final voyage. LOCH ARD left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of Captain Gibbs, a newly married, 29 year old. She was bound for Melbourne with a crew of 37, plus 17 passengers and a load of cargo. The general cargo reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. On board were straw hats, umbrella, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionary, linen and candles, as well as a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead and copper. There were items included that intended for display in the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. The voyage to Port Phillip was long but uneventful. At 3am on June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs was expecting to see land and the passengers were becoming excited as they prepared to view their new homeland in the early morning. But LOCH ARD was running into a fog which greatly reduced visibility. Captain Gibbs was becoming anxious as there was no sign of land or the Cape Otway lighthouse. At 4am the fog lifted. A man aloft announced that he could see breakers. The sheer cliffs of Victoria's west coast came into view, and Captain Gibbs realised that the ship was much closer to them than expected. He ordered as much sail to be set as time would permit and then attempted to steer the vessel out to sea. On coming head on into the wind, the ship lost momentum, the sails fell limp and LOCH ARD's bow swung back. Gibbs then ordered the anchors to be released in an attempt to hold its position. The anchors sank some 50 fathoms - but did not hold. By this time LOCH ARD was among the breakers and the tall cliffs of Mutton Bird Island rose behind the ship. Just half a mile from the coast, the ship's bow was suddenly pulled around by the anchor. The captain tried to tack out to sea, but the ship struck a reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Waves broke over the ship and the top deck was loosened from the hull. The masts and rigging came crashing down knocking passengers and crew overboard. When a lifeboat was finally launched, it crashed into the side of LOCH ARD and capsized. Tom Pearce, who had launched the boat, managed to cling to its overturned hull and shelter beneath it. He drifted out to sea and then on the flood tide came into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. He swam to shore, bruised and dazed, and found a cave in which to shelter. Some of the crew stayed below deck to shelter from the falling rigging but drowned when the ship slipped off the reef into deeper water. Eva Carmichael had raced onto deck to find out what was happening only to be confronted by towering cliffs looming above the stricken ship. In all the chaos, Captain Gibbs grabbed Eva and said, "If you are saved Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a sailor". That was the last Eva Carmichael saw of the captain. She was swept off the ship by a huge wave. Eva saw Tom Pearce on a small rocky beach and yelled to attract his attention. He dived in and swam to the exhausted woman and dragged her to shore. He took her to the cave and broke open case of brandy which had washed up on the beach. He opened a bottle to revive the unconscious woman. A few hours later Tom scaled a cliff in search of help. He followed hoof prints and came by chance upon two men from nearby Glenample Station three and a half miles away. In a state of exhaustion, he told the men of the tragedy. Tom returned to the gorge while the two men rode back to the station to get help. By the time they reached LOCH ARD Gorge, it was cold and dark. The two shipwreck survivors were taken to Glenample Station to recover. Eva stayed at the station for six weeks before returning to Ireland, this time by steamship. In Melbourne, Tom Pearce received a hero's welcome. He was presented with the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria and a £1000 cheque from the Victorian Government. Concerts were performed to honour the young man's bravery and to raise money for those who lost family in the LOCH ARD disaster. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: the apprentice, Tom Pearce and the young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. Ten days after the LOCH ARD tragedy, salvage rights to the wreck were sold at auction for £2,120. Cargo valued at £3,000 was salvaged and placed on the beach, but most washed back into the sea when another storm developed. The wreck of LOCH ARD still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island. Much of the cargo has now been salvaged and some was washed up into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. One of the most unlikely pieces of cargo to have survived the shipwreck was a Minton porcelain peacock - one of only seven in the world. The peacock was destined for the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. It had been well packed, which gave it adequate protection during the violent storm. Today, the Minton peacock can be seen at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in Warrnambool. From Australia's most dramatic shipwreck it has now become Australia's most valuable shipwreck artefact and is one of very few 'objects' on the Victorian State Heritage Register. The LOCH ARD shipwreck is of State significance – Victorian Heritage Register S 417. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from LOCH ARD is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S417). The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the LOCH ARD. The LOCH ARD collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The LOCH ARD collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes). The collection is also historically significant for its association with the LOCH ARD, which was one of the worst and best known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history. Unrestored tea spoon from the wreck of the LOCH ARD. The spoon design has a flattened fiddle-back handle, with a thin stem or shank, flared collar, and elongated bowl. The spoons metallic composition is a thin layer of brass alloy which has partially corroded back to a nickel-silver base metal. Approximately 30%of original electroplating remains. Small amount of concretion on stem.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, electroplated cutlery, loch ard shipwreck, nickel silver, william page & co, birmingham, brass plating, makers marks -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and VillageSpoon, circa 1878
... manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. ...manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. ...This tea spoon is from the wreck of the LOCH ARD, a Loch Line ship of 1,693 tons which sailed from Gravesend, London, on 2 March 1878 with 17 passengers and a crew of 36 under Captain George Gibbs. “The intention was to discharge cargo in Melbourne, before returning to London via the Horn with wool and wheat”. Instead, on 1 June 1878, after 90 days at sea, she struck the sandstone cliffs of Mutton Bird Island on the south west coast of Victoria, and sank with the loss of 52 lives and all her cargo. The manifest of the LOCH ARD listed an array of manufactured goods and bulk metals being exported to the Colony of Victoria, with a declared value of £53,700. (202 bills of lading show an actual invoice value of £68, 456, with insurance underwriting to £30,000 of all cargo). Included in the manifest is the item of “Tin hardware & cutlery £7,530”. This teaspoon is one of 482 similar items of electro-plated cutlery from the LOCH ARD site, comprising spoons and forks of various sizes but all sharing the same general shape or design and metallic composition. 49 of these pieces display a legible makers’ mark — the initials “W” and “P” placed within a raised diamond outline, which is in turn contained within a sunken crown shape — identifying the manufacturer as William Page & Co of Birmingham. An electroplater’s makers’ marks, unlike sterling silver hallmarks, are not consistent identifiers of quality or date and place of manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. In this case, the maker’s marks are often obscured by sedimentary accretion or removed by corrosion after a century of submersion in the ocean. However sufficient detail has survived to indicate that these samples of electro-plated cutlery probably originated from the same consignment in the LOCH ARD’s cargo. The following descriptions of maker’s marks are drawn from 255 tea spoons, 125 dessert spoons, and 99 table forks. These marks are clearly visible in 66 instances, while the same sequence of general outlines, or depression shapes, is discernible in another 166 examples. 1. A recessed Crown containing a raised Diamond outline and the initials “W” and “P” (the recognised trademark of William Page & Co) 2. An impressed Ellipse containing a raised, pivoted, Triangle in its lower part and bearing a Resurrection Cross on its upper section (a possible dissenting church symbol reflecting religious affiliation); OR a rounded Square impression containing a raised, ‘lazy’, letter “B” (possibly mimicking sterling silver hallmark signifying city of manufacture i.e. Birmingham) 3. An impressed rounded Square filled with a raised Maltese Cross (the base metal composite of nickel silver was also known as ‘German silver’ after its Berlin inventors in 1823) 4. A recessed Circle containing a Crab or Scarab Beetle image; OR a recessed Circle containing a rotated ‘fleur de lys’ or ‘fasces’ design 5. A depressed Diamond shape enclosing a large raised letter “R” and a small raised letter “D” (mimicking the U.K. Patent Office stamp which abbreviated the term ‘registered’ to “RD”, but also included date and class of patent) Suggested trade names for William Page & Co’s particular blend of brass plating are ‘roman silver’ or ‘silverite’. This copper alloy polishes to a lustrous gold when new, discolouring to a murky grey with greenish hue when neglected. HISTORY OF THE LOCH ARD The LOCH ARD belonged to the famous Loch Line which sailed many ships from England to Australia. Built in Glasgow by Barclay, Curdle and Co. in 1873, the LOCH ARD was a three-masted square rigged iron sailing ship. The ship measured 262ft 7" (79.87m) in length, 38ft (11.58m) in width, 23ft (7m) in depth and had a gross tonnage of 1693 tons. The LOCH ARD's main mast measured a massive 150ft (45.7m) in height. LOCH ARD made three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its final voyage. LOCH ARD left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of Captain Gibbs, a newly married, 29 year old. She was bound for Melbourne with a crew of 37, plus 17 passengers and a load of cargo. The general cargo reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. On board were straw hats, umbrella, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionary, linen and candles, as well as a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead and copper. There were items included that intended for display in the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. The voyage to Port Phillip was long but uneventful. At 3am on June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs was expecting to see land and the passengers were becoming excited as they prepared to view their new homeland in the early morning. But LOCH ARD was running into a fog which greatly reduced visibility. Captain Gibbs was becoming anxious as there was no sign of land or the Cape Otway lighthouse. At 4am the fog lifted. A man aloft announced that he could see breakers. The sheer cliffs of Victoria's west coast came into view, and Captain Gibbs realised that the ship was much closer to them than expected. He ordered as much sail to be set as time would permit and then attempted to steer the vessel out to sea. On coming head on into the wind, the ship lost momentum, the sails fell limp and LOCH ARD's bow swung back. Gibbs then ordered the anchors to be released in an attempt to hold its position. The anchors sank some 50 fathoms - but did not hold. By this time LOCH ARD was among the breakers and the tall cliffs of Mutton Bird Island rose behind the ship. Just half a mile from the coast, the ship's bow was suddenly pulled around by the anchor. The captain tried to tack out to sea, but the ship struck a reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Waves broke over the ship and the top deck was loosened from the hull. The masts and rigging came crashing down knocking passengers and crew overboard. When a lifeboat was finally launched, it crashed into the side of LOCH ARD and capsized. Tom Pearce, who had launched the boat, managed to cling to its overturned hull and shelter beneath it. He drifted out to sea and then on the flood tide came into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. He swam to shore, bruised and dazed, and found a cave in which to shelter. Some of the crew stayed below deck to shelter from the falling rigging but drowned when the ship slipped off the reef into deeper water. Eva Carmichael had raced onto deck to find out what was happening only to be confronted by towering cliffs looming above the stricken ship. In all the chaos, Captain Gibbs grabbed Eva and said, "If you are saved Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a sailor". That was the last Eva Carmichael saw of the captain. She was swept off the ship by a huge wave. Eva saw Tom Pearce on a small rocky beach and yelled to attract his attention. He dived in and swam to the exhausted woman and dragged her to shore. He took her to the cave and broke open case of brandy which had washed up on the beach. He opened a bottle to revive the unconscious woman. A few hours later Tom scaled a cliff in search of help. He followed hoof prints and came by chance upon two men from nearby Glenample Station three and a half miles away. In a state of exhaustion, he told the men of the tragedy. Tom returned to the gorge while the two men rode back to the station to get help. By the time they reached LOCH ARD Gorge, it was cold and dark. The two shipwreck survivors were taken to Glenample Station to recover. Eva stayed at the station for six weeks before returning to Ireland, this time by steamship. In Melbourne, Tom Pearce received a hero's welcome. He was presented with the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria and a £1000 cheque from the Victorian Government. Concerts were performed to honour the young man's bravery and to raise money for those who lost family in the LOCH ARD disaster. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: the apprentice, Tom Pearce and the young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. Ten days after the LOCH ARD tragedy, salvage rights to the wreck were sold at auction for £2,120. Cargo valued at £3,000 was salvaged and placed on the beach, but most washed back into the sea when another storm developed. The wreck of LOCH ARD still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island. Much of the cargo has now been salvaged and some was washed up into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. One of the most unlikely pieces of cargo to have survived the shipwreck was a Minton porcelain peacock - one of only seven in the world. The peacock was destined for the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. It had been well packed, which gave it adequate protection during the violent storm. Today, the Minton peacock can be seen at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in Warrnambool. From Australia's most dramatic shipwreck it has now become Australia's most valuable shipwreck artefact and is one of very few 'objects' on the Victorian State Heritage Register. The LOCH ARD shipwreck is of State significance – Victorian Heritage Register S 417. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from LOCH ARD is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S417). The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the LOCH ARD. The LOCH ARD collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The LOCH ARD collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes). The collection is also historically significant for its association with the LOCH ARD, which was one of the worst and best known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history. Unrestored tea spoon from the wreck of the LOCH ARD. The spoon design has a flattened fiddle-back handle, with a thin stem or shank, flared collar, and elongated bowl. The spoons metallic composition is a thin layer of brass alloy which has partially corroded back to a nickel-silver base metal. Only 10% of original electroplating remains with some verdigris. No marks visible.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, electroplated cutlery, loch ard shipwreck, nickel silver, william page & co, birmingham, brass plating, makers marks -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and VillageSpoon, circa 1878
... manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. ...manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. ...This tea spoon is from the wreck of the LOCH ARD, a Loch Line ship of 1,693 tons which sailed from Gravesend, London, on 2 March 1878 with 17 passengers and a crew of 36 under Captain George Gibbs. “The intention was to discharge cargo in Melbourne, before returning to London via the Horn with wool and wheat”. Instead, on 1 June 1878, after 90 days at sea, she struck the sandstone cliffs of Mutton Bird Island on the south west coast of Victoria, and sank with the loss of 52 lives and all her cargo. The manifest of the LOCH ARD listed an array of manufactured goods and bulk metals being exported to the Colony of Victoria, with a declared value of £53,700. (202 bills of lading show an actual invoice value of £68, 456, with insurance underwriting to £30,000 of all cargo). Included in the manifest is the item of “Tin hardware & cutlery £7,530”. This teaspoon is one of 482 similar items of electro-plated cutlery from the LOCH ARD site, comprising spoons and forks of various sizes but all sharing the same general shape or design and metallic composition. 49 of these pieces display a legible makers’ mark — the initials “W” and “P” placed within a raised diamond outline, which is in turn contained within a sunken crown shape — identifying the manufacturer as William Page & Co of Birmingham. An electroplater’s makers’ marks, unlike sterling silver hallmarks, are not consistent identifiers of quality or date and place of manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. In this case, the maker’s marks are often obscured by sedimentary accretion or removed by corrosion after a century of submersion in the ocean. However sufficient detail has survived to indicate that these samples of electro-plated cutlery probably originated from the same consignment in the LOCH ARD’s cargo. The following descriptions of maker’s marks are drawn from 255 tea spoons, 125 dessert spoons, and 99 table forks. These marks are clearly visible in 66 instances, while the same sequence of general outlines, or depression shapes, is discernible in another 166 examples. 1. A recessed Crown containing a raised Diamond outline and the initials “W” and “P” (the recognised trademark of William Page & Co) 2. An impressed Ellipse containing a raised, pivoted, Triangle in its lower part and bearing a Resurrection Cross on its upper section (a possible dissenting church symbol reflecting religious affiliation); OR a rounded Square impression containing a raised, ‘lazy’, letter “B” (possibly mimicking sterling silver hallmark signifying city of manufacture i.e. Birmingham) 3. An impressed rounded Square filled with a raised Maltese Cross (the base metal composite of nickel silver was also known as ‘German silver’ after its Berlin inventors in 1823) 4. A recessed Circle containing a Crab or Scarab Beetle image; OR a recessed Circle containing a rotated ‘fleur de lys’ or ‘fasces’ design 5. A depressed Diamond shape enclosing a large raised letter “R” and a small raised letter “D” (mimicking the U.K. Patent Office stamp which abbreviated the term ‘registered’ to “RD”, but also included date and class of patent) Suggested trade names for William Page & Co’s particular blend of brass plating are ‘roman silver’ or ‘silverite’. This copper alloy polishes to a lustrous gold when new, discolouring to a murky grey with greenish hue when neglected. HISTORY OF THE LOCH ARD The LOCH ARD belonged to the famous Loch Line which sailed many ships from England to Australia. Built in Glasgow by Barclay, Curdle and Co. in 1873, the LOCH ARD was a three-masted square rigged iron sailing ship. The ship measured 262ft 7" (79.87m) in length, 38ft (11.58m) in width, 23ft (7m) in depth and had a gross tonnage of 1693 tons. The LOCH ARD's main mast measured a massive 150ft (45.7m) in height. LOCH ARD made three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its final voyage. LOCH ARD left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of Captain Gibbs, a newly married, 29 year old. She was bound for Melbourne with a crew of 37, plus 17 passengers and a load of cargo. The general cargo reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. On board were straw hats, umbrella, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionary, linen and candles, as well as a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead and copper. There were items included that intended for display in the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. The voyage to Port Phillip was long but uneventful. At 3am on June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs was expecting to see land and the passengers were becoming excited as they prepared to view their new homeland in the early morning. But LOCH ARD was running into a fog which greatly reduced visibility. Captain Gibbs was becoming anxious as there was no sign of land or the Cape Otway lighthouse. At 4am the fog lifted. A man aloft announced that he could see breakers. The sheer cliffs of Victoria's west coast came into view, and Captain Gibbs realised that the ship was much closer to them than expected. He ordered as much sail to be set as time would permit and then attempted to steer the vessel out to sea. On coming head on into the wind, the ship lost momentum, the sails fell limp and LOCH ARD's bow swung back. Gibbs then ordered the anchors to be released in an attempt to hold its position. The anchors sank some 50 fathoms - but did not hold. By this time LOCH ARD was among the breakers and the tall cliffs of Mutton Bird Island rose behind the ship. Just half a mile from the coast, the ship's bow was suddenly pulled around by the anchor. The captain tried to tack out to sea, but the ship struck a reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Waves broke over the ship and the top deck was loosened from the hull. The masts and rigging came crashing down knocking passengers and crew overboard. When a lifeboat was finally launched, it crashed into the side of LOCH ARD and capsized. Tom Pearce, who had launched the boat, managed to cling to its overturned hull and shelter beneath it. He drifted out to sea and then on the flood tide came into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. He swam to shore, bruised and dazed, and found a cave in which to shelter. Some of the crew stayed below deck to shelter from the falling rigging but drowned when the ship slipped off the reef into deeper water. Eva Carmichael had raced onto deck to find out what was happening only to be confronted by towering cliffs looming above the stricken ship. In all the chaos, Captain Gibbs grabbed Eva and said, "If you are saved Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a sailor". That was the last Eva Carmichael saw of the captain. She was swept off the ship by a huge wave. Eva saw Tom Pearce on a small rocky beach and yelled to attract his attention. He dived in and swam to the exhausted woman and dragged her to shore. He took her to the cave and broke open case of brandy which had washed up on the beach. He opened a bottle to revive the unconscious woman. A few hours later Tom scaled a cliff in search of help. He followed hoof prints and came by chance upon two men from nearby Glenample Station three and a half miles away. In a state of exhaustion, he told the men of the tragedy. Tom returned to the gorge while the two men rode back to the station to get help. By the time they reached LOCH ARD Gorge, it was cold and dark. The two shipwreck survivors were taken to Glenample Station to recover. Eva stayed at the station for six weeks before returning to Ireland, this time by steamship. In Melbourne, Tom Pearce received a hero's welcome. He was presented with the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria and a £1000 cheque from the Victorian Government. Concerts were performed to honour the young man's bravery and to raise money for those who lost family in the LOCH ARD disaster. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: the apprentice, Tom Pearce and the young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. Ten days after the LOCH ARD tragedy, salvage rights to the wreck were sold at auction for £2,120. Cargo valued at £3,000 was salvaged and placed on the beach, but most washed back into the sea when another storm developed. The wreck of LOCH ARD still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island. Much of the cargo has now been salvaged and some was washed up into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. One of the most unlikely pieces of cargo to have survived the shipwreck was a Minton porcelain peacock - one of only seven in the world. The peacock was destined for the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. It had been well packed, which gave it adequate protection during the violent storm. Today, the Minton peacock can be seen at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in Warrnambool. From Australia's most dramatic shipwreck it has now become Australia's most valuable shipwreck artefact and is one of very few 'objects' on the Victorian State Heritage Register. The LOCH ARD shipwreck is of State significance – Victorian Heritage Register S 417. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from LOCH ARD is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S417). The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the LOCH ARD. The LOCH ARD collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The LOCH ARD collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes). The collection is also historically significant for its association with the LOCH ARD, which was one of the worst and best known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history. Unrestored tea spoon from the wreck of the LOCH ARD. The spoon design has a flattened fiddle-back handle, with a thin stem or shank, flared collar, and elongated bowl. The spoons metallic composition is a thin layer of brass alloy which has partially corroded back to a nickel-silver base metal. Only 10% of original electroplating remains with some verdigris. Makers marks are obscured.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, electroplated cutlery, loch ard shipwreck, nickel silver, william page & co, birmingham, brass plating, makers marks -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and VillageSpoon, circa 1878
... manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. ...manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. ...This tea spoon is from the wreck of the LOCH ARD, a Loch Line ship of 1,693 tons which sailed from Gravesend, London, on 2 March 1878 with 17 passengers and a crew of 36 under Captain George Gibbs. “The intention was to discharge cargo in Melbourne, before returning to London via the Horn with wool and wheat”. Instead, on 1 June 1878, after 90 days at sea, she struck the sandstone cliffs of Mutton Bird Island on the south west coast of Victoria, and sank with the loss of 52 lives and all her cargo. The manifest of the LOCH ARD listed an array of manufactured goods and bulk metals being exported to the Colony of Victoria, with a declared value of £53,700. (202 bills of lading show an actual invoice value of £68, 456, with insurance underwriting to £30,000 of all cargo). Included in the manifest is the item of “Tin hardware & cutlery £7,530”. This teaspoon is one of 482 similar items of electro-plated cutlery from the LOCH ARD site, comprising spoons and forks of various sizes but all sharing the same general shape or design and metallic composition. 49 of these pieces display a legible makers’ mark — the initials “W” and “P” placed within a raised diamond outline, which is in turn contained within a sunken crown shape — identifying the manufacturer as William Page & Co of Birmingham. An electroplater’s makers’ marks, unlike sterling silver hallmarks, are not consistent identifiers of quality or date and place of manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. In this case, the maker’s marks are often obscured by sedimentary accretion or removed by corrosion after a century of submersion in the ocean. However sufficient detail has survived to indicate that these samples of electro-plated cutlery probably originated from the same consignment in the LOCH ARD’s cargo. The following descriptions of maker’s marks are drawn from 255 tea spoons, 125 dessert spoons, and 99 table forks. These marks are clearly visible in 66 instances, while the same sequence of general outlines, or depression shapes, is discernible in another 166 examples. 1. A recessed Crown containing a raised Diamond outline and the initials “W” and “P” (the recognised trademark of William Page & Co) 2. An impressed Ellipse containing a raised, pivoted, Triangle in its lower part and bearing a Resurrection Cross on its upper section (a possible dissenting church symbol reflecting religious affiliation); OR a rounded Square impression containing a raised, ‘lazy’, letter “B” (possibly mimicking sterling silver hallmark signifying city of manufacture i.e. Birmingham) 3. An impressed rounded Square filled with a raised Maltese Cross (the base metal composite of nickel silver was also known as ‘German silver’ after its Berlin inventors in 1823) 4. A recessed Circle containing a Crab or Scarab Beetle image; OR a recessed Circle containing a rotated ‘fleur de lys’ or ‘fasces’ design 5. A depressed Diamond shape enclosing a large raised letter “R” and a small raised letter “D” (mimicking the U.K. Patent Office stamp which abbreviated the term ‘registered’ to “RD”, but also included date and class of patent) Suggested trade names for William Page & Co’s particular blend of brass plating are ‘roman silver’ or ‘silverite’. This copper alloy polishes to a lustrous gold when new, discolouring to a murky grey with greenish hue when neglected. HISTORY OF THE LOCH ARD The LOCH ARD belonged to the famous Loch Line which sailed many ships from England to Australia. Built in Glasgow by Barclay, Curdle and Co. in 1873, the LOCH ARD was a three-masted square rigged iron sailing ship. The ship measured 262ft 7" (79.87m) in length, 38ft (11.58m) in width, 23ft (7m) in depth and had a gross tonnage of 1693 tons. The LOCH ARD's main mast measured a massive 150ft (45.7m) in height. LOCH ARD made three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its final voyage. LOCH ARD left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of Captain Gibbs, a newly married, 29 year old. She was bound for Melbourne with a crew of 37, plus 17 passengers and a load of cargo. The general cargo reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. On board were straw hats, umbrella, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionary, linen and candles, as well as a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead and copper. There were items included that intended for display in the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. The voyage to Port Phillip was long but uneventful. At 3am on June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs was expecting to see land and the passengers were becoming excited as they prepared to view their new homeland in the early morning. But LOCH ARD was running into a fog which greatly reduced visibility. Captain Gibbs was becoming anxious as there was no sign of land or the Cape Otway lighthouse. At 4am the fog lifted. A man aloft announced that he could see breakers. The sheer cliffs of Victoria's west coast came into view, and Captain Gibbs realised that the ship was much closer to them than expected. He ordered as much sail to be set as time would permit and then attempted to steer the vessel out to sea. On coming head on into the wind, the ship lost momentum, the sails fell limp and LOCH ARD's bow swung back. Gibbs then ordered the anchors to be released in an attempt to hold its position. The anchors sank some 50 fathoms - but did not hold. By this time LOCH ARD was among the breakers and the tall cliffs of Mutton Bird Island rose behind the ship. Just half a mile from the coast, the ship's bow was suddenly pulled around by the anchor. The captain tried to tack out to sea, but the ship struck a reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Waves broke over the ship and the top deck was loosened from the hull. The masts and rigging came crashing down knocking passengers and crew overboard. When a lifeboat was finally launched, it crashed into the side of LOCH ARD and capsized. Tom Pearce, who had launched the boat, managed to cling to its overturned hull and shelter beneath it. He drifted out to sea and then on the flood tide came into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. He swam to shore, bruised and dazed, and found a cave in which to shelter. Some of the crew stayed below deck to shelter from the falling rigging but drowned when the ship slipped off the reef into deeper water. Eva Carmichael had raced onto deck to find out what was happening only to be confronted by towering cliffs looming above the stricken ship. In all the chaos, Captain Gibbs grabbed Eva and said, "If you are saved Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a sailor". That was the last Eva Carmichael saw of the captain. She was swept off the ship by a huge wave. Eva saw Tom Pearce on a small rocky beach and yelled to attract his attention. He dived in and swam to the exhausted woman and dragged her to shore. He took her to the cave and broke open case of brandy which had washed up on the beach. He opened a bottle to revive the unconscious woman. A few hours later Tom scaled a cliff in search of help. He followed hoof prints and came by chance upon two men from nearby Glenample Station three and a half miles away. In a state of exhaustion, he told the men of the tragedy. Tom returned to the gorge while the two men rode back to the station to get help. By the time they reached LOCH ARD Gorge, it was cold and dark. The two shipwreck survivors were taken to Glenample Station to recover. Eva stayed at the station for six weeks before returning to Ireland, this time by steamship. In Melbourne, Tom Pearce received a hero's welcome. He was presented with the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria and a £1000 cheque from the Victorian Government. Concerts were performed to honour the young man's bravery and to raise money for those who lost family in the LOCH ARD disaster. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: the apprentice, Tom Pearce and the young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. Ten days after the LOCH ARD tragedy, salvage rights to the wreck were sold at auction for £2,120. Cargo valued at £3,000 was salvaged and placed on the beach, but most washed back into the sea when another storm developed. The wreck of LOCH ARD still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island. Much of the cargo has now been salvaged and some was washed up into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. One of the most unlikely pieces of cargo to have survived the shipwreck was a Minton porcelain peacock - one of only seven in the world. The peacock was destined for the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. It had been well packed, which gave it adequate protection during the violent storm. Today, the Minton peacock can be seen at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in Warrnambool. From Australia's most dramatic shipwreck it has now become Australia's most valuable shipwreck artefact and is one of very few 'objects' on the Victorian State Heritage Register. The LOCH ARD shipwreck is of State significance – Victorian Heritage Register S 417. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from LOCH ARD is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S417). The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the LOCH ARD. The LOCH ARD collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The LOCH ARD collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes). The collection is also historically significant for its association with the LOCH ARD, which was one of the worst and best known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history Unrestored tea spoon from the wreck of the LOCH ARD. The spoon design has a flattened fiddle-back handle, with a thin stem or shank, flared collar, and elongated bowl. The spoons metallic composition is a thin layer of brass alloy which has partially corroded back to a nickel-silver base metal. 40% of spoon surface is encrusted with red and white sediment and 40% shows verdigris. Makers marks are obscured.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, electroplated cutlery, loch ard shipwreck, nickel silver, william page & co, birmingham, brass plating, makers marks -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and VillageSpoon, circa 1878
... manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. ...manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. ...This tea spoon is from the wreck of the LOCH ARD, a Loch Line ship of 1,693 tons which sailed from Gravesend, London, on 2 March 1878 with 17 passengers and a crew of 36 under Captain George Gibbs. “The intention was to discharge cargo in Melbourne, before returning to London via the Horn with wool and wheat”. Instead, on 1 June 1878, after 90 days at sea, she struck the sandstone cliffs of Mutton Bird Island on the south west coast of Victoria, and sank with the loss of 52 lives and all her cargo. The manifest of the LOCH ARD listed an array of manufactured goods and bulk metals being exported to the Colony of Victoria, with a declared value of £53,700. (202 bills of lading show an actual invoice value of £68, 456, with insurance underwriting to £30,000 of all cargo). Included in the manifest is the item of “Tin hardware & cutlery £7,530”. This teaspoon is one of 482 similar items of electro-plated cutlery from the LOCH ARD site, comprising spoons and forks of various sizes but all sharing the same general shape or design and metallic composition. 49 of these pieces display a legible makers’ mark — the initials “W” and “P” placed within a raised diamond outline, which is in turn contained within a sunken crown shape — identifying the manufacturer as William Page & Co of Birmingham. An electroplater’s makers’ marks, unlike sterling silver hallmarks, are not consistent identifiers of quality or date and place of manufacture. A similar line of five impressions was usually made to impress the consumer with an implication of industry standards, but what each one actually signified was not regulated and so they varied according to the whim of the individual foundry. In this case, the maker’s marks are often obscured by sedimentary accretion or removed by corrosion after a century of submersion in the ocean. However sufficient detail has survived to indicate that these samples of electro-plated cutlery probably originated from the same consignment in the LOCH ARD’s cargo. The following descriptions of maker’s marks are drawn from 255 tea spoons, 125 dessert spoons, and 99 table forks. These marks are clearly visible in 66 instances, while the same sequence of general outlines, or depression shapes, is discernible in another 166 examples. 1. A recessed Crown containing a raised Diamond outline and the initials “W” and “P” (the recognised trademark of William Page & Co) 2. An impressed Ellipse containing a raised, pivoted, Triangle in its lower part and bearing a Resurrection Cross on its upper section (a possible dissenting church symbol reflecting religious affiliation); OR a rounded Square impression containing a raised, ‘lazy’, letter “B” (possibly mimicking sterling silver hallmark signifying city of manufacture i.e. Birmingham) 3. An impressed rounded Square filled with a raised Maltese Cross (the base metal composite of nickel silver was also known as ‘German silver’ after its Berlin inventors in 1823) 4. A recessed Circle containing a Crab or Scarab Beetle image; OR a recessed Circle containing a rotated ‘fleur de lys’ or ‘fasces’ design 5. A depressed Diamond shape enclosing a large raised letter “R” and a small raised letter “D” (mimicking the U.K. Patent Office stamp which abbreviated the term ‘registered’ to “RD”, but also included date and class of patent) Suggested trade names for William Page & Co’s particular blend of brass plating are ‘roman silver’ or ‘silverite’. This copper alloy polishes to a lustrous gold when new, discolouring to a murky grey with greenish hue when neglected. HISTORY OF THE LOCH ARD The LOCH ARD belonged to the famous Loch Line which sailed many ships from England to Australia. Built in Glasgow by Barclay, Curdle and Co. in 1873, the LOCH ARD was a three-masted square rigged iron sailing ship. The ship measured 262ft 7" (79.87m) in length, 38ft (11.58m) in width, 23ft (7m) in depth and had a gross tonnage of 1693 tons. The LOCH ARD's main mast measured a massive 150ft (45.7m) in height. LOCH ARD made three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its final voyage. LOCH ARD left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of Captain Gibbs, a newly married, 29 year old. She was bound for Melbourne with a crew of 37, plus 17 passengers and a load of cargo. The general cargo reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. On board were straw hats, umbrella, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionary, linen and candles, as well as a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead and copper. There were items included that intended for display in the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. The voyage to Port Phillip was long but uneventful. At 3am on June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs was expecting to see land and the passengers were becoming excited as they prepared to view their new homeland in the early morning. But LOCH ARD was running into a fog which greatly reduced visibility. Captain Gibbs was becoming anxious as there was no sign of land or the Cape Otway lighthouse. At 4am the fog lifted. A man aloft announced that he could see breakers. The sheer cliffs of Victoria's west coast came into view, and Captain Gibbs realised that the ship was much closer to them than expected. He ordered as much sail to be set as time would permit and then attempted to steer the vessel out to sea. On coming head on into the wind, the ship lost momentum, the sails fell limp and LOCH ARD's bow swung back. Gibbs then ordered the anchors to be released in an attempt to hold its position. The anchors sank some 50 fathoms - but did not hold. By this time LOCH ARD was among the breakers and the tall cliffs of Mutton Bird Island rose behind the ship. Just half a mile from the coast, the ship's bow was suddenly pulled around by the anchor. The captain tried to tack out to sea, but the ship struck a reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Waves broke over the ship and the top deck was loosened from the hull. The masts and rigging came crashing down knocking passengers and crew overboard. When a lifeboat was finally launched, it crashed into the side of LOCH ARD and capsized. Tom Pearce, who had launched the boat, managed to cling to its overturned hull and shelter beneath it. He drifted out to sea and then on the flood tide came into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. He swam to shore, bruised and dazed, and found a cave in which to shelter. Some of the crew stayed below deck to shelter from the falling rigging but drowned when the ship slipped off the reef into deeper water. Eva Carmichael had raced onto deck to find out what was happening only to be confronted by towering cliffs looming above the stricken ship. In all the chaos, Captain Gibbs grabbed Eva and said, "If you are saved Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a sailor". That was the last Eva Carmichael saw of the captain. She was swept off the ship by a huge wave. Eva saw Tom Pearce on a small rocky beach and yelled to attract his attention. He dived in and swam to the exhausted woman and dragged her to shore. He took her to the cave and broke open case of brandy which had washed up on the beach. He opened a bottle to revive the unconscious woman. A few hours later Tom scaled a cliff in search of help. He followed hoof prints and came by chance upon two men from nearby Glenample Station three and a half miles away. In a state of exhaustion, he told the men of the tragedy. Tom returned to the gorge while the two men rode back to the station to get help. By the time they reached LOCH ARD Gorge, it was cold and dark. The two shipwreck survivors were taken to Glenample Station to recover. Eva stayed at the station for six weeks before returning to Ireland, this time by steamship. In Melbourne, Tom Pearce received a hero's welcome. He was presented with the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria and a £1000 cheque from the Victorian Government. Concerts were performed to honour the young man's bravery and to raise money for those who lost family in the LOCH ARD disaster. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: the apprentice, Tom Pearce and the young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. Ten days after the LOCH ARD tragedy, salvage rights to the wreck were sold at auction for £2,120. Cargo valued at £3,000 was salvaged and placed on the beach, but most washed back into the sea when another storm developed. The wreck of LOCH ARD still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island. Much of the cargo has now been salvaged and some was washed up into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. One of the most unlikely pieces of cargo to have survived the shipwreck was a Minton porcelain peacock - one of only seven in the world. The peacock was destined for the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. It had been well packed, which gave it adequate protection during the violent storm. Today, the Minton peacock can be seen at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in Warrnambool. From Australia's most dramatic shipwreck it has now become Australia's most valuable shipwreck artefact and is one of very few 'objects' on the Victorian State Heritage Register. The LOCH ARD shipwreck is of State significance – Victorian Heritage Register S 417. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from LOCH ARD is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S417). The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the LOCH ARD. The LOCH ARD collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The LOCH ARD collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes). The collection is also historically significant for its association with the LOCH ARD, which was one of the worst and best known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history Unrestored tea spoon from the wreck of the LOCH ARD. The spoon design has a flattened fiddle-back handle, with a thin stem or shank, flared collar, and elongated bowl. The spoons metallic composition is a thin layer of brass alloy which has partially corroded back to a nickel-silver base metal. 80% of the spoon surface is encrusted with red and white sediment. The bowl is corroded and chipped. Makers marks are obscured.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, electroplated cutlery, loch ard shipwreck, nickel silver, william page & co, birmingham, brass plating, makers marks
