Joseph Bosisto, MP, had been presented with an extensive collection of seeds by the English firm of Sutton Bros In 1888. He, in turn, presented the collection to the Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria (RHSV) for permanent display. They remained on display in the Pavillion until its demolition in 1951.) Link to Australian Dictionary of Biography: Joseph Bosisto https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bosisto-joseph-3027 Link to history of Suttons Seedshttps://merl.reading.ac.uk/blog/2023/01/story-suttons-seeds-1806-present/Wooden wall-bracket with paper prints of natural grasses pasted on to 12 tin hinged panels. Front panel has 2 Royal Warrants awarded to Sutton & Sons - Seed Merchants, London, 1 dated 1871, the other 1884. Handmade museum standard box with internal support.Inscription on wooden cover which had become detached and now appears to be missing is, 'Natural Grasses, used in Mr Martin Sutton's Prescriptions for Permanent & Temporary Pastures.'joseph bosisto, sutton's bos, rhsv, seed, suttons & sons seed merchants, artifact

In 1888 Joseph Bosisto, M.P. was presented with this collection of seeds by the English firm, Sutton's. He, in turn, presented the collection to the R.H.S.V. for permanent display. It remained on display at Burnley College until 1951. Note by E.B. Littlejohn 25.6.1992, This is part of the Youth Employment Scheme class 1939 with A.W. Jessep, Principal, demonstrating use of secateurs in preparing cuttings."Black and white photograph. 9 male students sitting at wooden desks in a class in the Pavilion. A. W. Jessep, Principal, is standing in front of the group holding secateurs and a few pieces of scion wood. The wall of the classroom is covered with a display of Sutton's Seeds.On reverse, " 'The Age' and 'The Leader' 233 Collins Street, Melbourne."students, sutton's seeds display, joseph bosisto, m.p., rhsv, burnley college, youth employment scheme, 1939, a.w. jessep, principal, royal horticultural society of victoria, secateurs, cuttings, pavilion, publicity

A formal group photograph of the grand opening of the Victoria Street Bridge on March 31 1884. The Argus was to report that: ‘The ceremony of laying the memorial stone of the Victoria-bridge, which connects Kew and Hawthorn with Richmond and Collingwood, was performed yesterday afternoon by the mayor of Richmond (Mr John Adam) in the presence of a large assemblage. Among the gentlemen present at yesterday’s proceedings were the mayor of Collingwood (Mr. M. Dwyer), the Mayor of Melbourne (Councillor C. Smith, M.L. A.) the mayor of Kew (Mr. Barnard), Mr. J. A. B. Koch and Mr. W. W. Shelley (ex mayors of Richmond), Mr. Joseph Bosisto, M.L.A., the Hon. L. L. Smith, Councillor De Mole (ex mayor of Kew), Mr. Jas. Lancashire and Mr. Winter (ex mayors of Ricmond), Mr. Walker (ex mayors of Collingwood), Mr. Johnson (engineer), Mr. C. Rowan, C.E. (engineer of the bridge alterations) and the town clerks of Richmond, Collingwood and Kew.’ Following the opening ceremony ‘… a ponderous steam roller was driven over the structure, with a view to test, or rather to demonstrate its stability … Most of the gentlemen present walked over the bridge, after which they were grouped by a photographer, with the memorial stone as a central feature, and several views of the scene were taken’.An original, rare silver albumen mounted and titled photograph of an important event in 19th century Melbourne.Original photograph mounted on display card of the opening of the Victoria Street Bridge. The original photograph is very faded and has been enhanced to improve the image's viewability.On the reverse of the card is an indecipherable stamp and an inscription identifying the photographers. "T. W. & C. A. McAlpine Bros, Photographers &., Campbell Parade East Richmond Melbourne March 31.1884victoria street bridge, john adam, m. dwyer, c. smith, barnard, j.a.b. koch, w.w. shelley, bridge, kew, collingwood, l.l. smith, joseph bosisto

The desk set does not have a maker’s mark so it is unclear where or by whom it was made. The employees of the Public Parks and Gardens presented the desk set to Bosisto in 1882 as a token of gratitude. This is most probably because Bosisto successfully campaigned for gardeners employed at public parks and gardens to receive retirement allowances in the years immediately prior, which all other public servants were entitled to (Geelong Advertiser 1880:3). In addition to his lifetime interest in plants and their medicinal uses, Joseph Bosisto was committed to public service and represented Richmond in the Legislative Assembly from 1874 till 1889. Bosisto was the mayor of Richmond 1865-1867 and Commissioner of the Melbourne International Exhibition 1880-1881. This is the only known presentation swan desk set of its type. The Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences in Sydney has a collection of presentation inkstands. These range from rare gold inkstands to small silver and plated sets; the most similar to this example is noted to be part of a collection of national standing. Related to this item, the Emerald Museum collection also includes vintage Bosisto oil bottles, as well as Camden wollybutt (Eucaplytus macarthuri) live plantings, which are remnants of Bosisto’s eucalyptus distillery industry that operated approximately 500 metres from the former nursery. Both Butterfield Park (past Bosisto eucalyptus oil distillery) in Emerald and the Bosisto factory/depot in Oakleigh are interested in these collection items. The desk set belonged to Melville Lober and originally came from the family's engraving / engineering business, Max Lober P/L, in Bridge Road Richmond, not far from Bosisto Street. Melville's daughter, Mirren Alenson, is not sure if it was given to her father or grandfather to restore and then was not wanted, or if it was left in the Richmond property by the previous owner. he desk set is of historic, social and aesthetic significance. It is the only surviving presentation piece owned by Joseph Bosisto (1824-1898), a prominent chemist, inventor and public figure in Melbourne and nationally. His particular significance for the Emerald area is that he set up eucalyptus distilleries at Emerald, Menzies Creek, and Macclesfield in 1882. Made from silver and electroplated silver (base), this desk set features two cast figures of swans in blackened silver finish, each sitting on a stylised acanthus leaf. The swans support and elevate the central candle stand with their outstretched wings, while flanking a gilt inscription engraved in the center of a rectangular base with curved sides and an applied gadrooned rim. At front and back there is a recess to hold pens, and the sides have a circular recess for ink glass-bottles (missing). The whole rests on four cast acanthus feet and the two cast side handles feature a scroll-and-palmette motif. The inkwell is not marked, and the maker is not known; it was probably imported from England or assembled in Australia from imported components.On inkstand inscribed: ‘PRESENTED TO/ Joseph Bosisto Esq. MLA/ BY/ THE EMPLOYEES OF THE PUBLIC PARKS AND GARDENS/ 1882’.bosisto, eucalyptus distilleries

Joseph Bosisto was a Yorkshireman who had qualified as a Pharmacist in Leeds and London. He arrived in Adelaide in 1848 at the age of 21. In 1851 he moved to Victoria in search of gold, but instead opened a pharmacy in Richmond, where he built a laboratory to investigate the chemical and medicinal properties of Australian plants. As a result of the collaboration with von Meuller the essential oil industry of Australia began in 1852, when Bosisto commenced operations in a small, rudely constructed still at Dandenong Creek, Victoria, using the leaves of a form of E. radiata (then known as E. amygdalina) which grew profusely in the district. Bosisto soon built other distilleries at Emerald, Menzies Creek and Macclesfield. World War II soldiers packed it in their mess kits to keep foot fungus in the tropics at bay. Small clear glass Eucalyptus Oil bottle with metal screw lid and large label on front.Front Label - War Time Pack Back - This bottle remains property of J Bosisto &Co Pty Ltd Richmond Victoria Bottom-F1196bottle eucalyptus-oil bosisto-joseph

.1) London International Exhibition of 1873 (Melbourne 1872-3) Official Record containing introductions, catalogue of exhibits, index of exhibitors, reports and recommendations of experts, official awards of commissioners and essays and statistics on the social and economic resources of the Colony of Victoria, mining and mineral statistics .2) International Exhibition Essays, 1872-3: * Progress of Victoria by William Henry Archer. This includes birth places for the People of Victoria (1871), Education. * The climate of Victoria by Robert L.J. Ellery * Wines * Preserved Meats * The climate of Victoria in reference to vegetable production. * Agriculturenon-fictionballarat distillery company, ballarat meat preserving company, william bardwell, joseph bosisto, j. brache, clunes gold mining company, hubert de castella, gutheil, butner & co., lambert & co., fabrizzio crippa, robert brough smyth, william henry archer, robert ellery, g.l. graham, wines, john bleasdale, preserved meat, james harrison, agriculture, vienna universal exhibition, mining and mineral statistics, matilda lang

The Appendix of Art Schools under the Technological commission includes Ballarat City Schoolof Art (Academy of Arts, Ballarat West), Ballarat East School of Art (Ballarat East Public Library, Barkly St) and Ballarfat West School of Art (Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute).1 Twenty-three page typed report on foolscap sized paper dated 1886. It includes an appendix of a List of Schools of Art Under the Auspices of the technological COmmission for the year ending December 1886. .2 Twenty page photocopy of typed report on foolscap paper. Dated 1886. It includes a syllabus of technological subjects recognised by teh City and Guilds of London Institute. .3 Thirty-one page typed report on foolscap sized paper. Dated 1887 .1 and .2 are sectioned - 2 large sheets folded to make 8 pages. Sections are them stapled together .1 and .2 Victorian Government reports printed by John Ferres, Government Printer, Melbourne .3 Report printed by Robert S. Brain, Government Printer, Melbourne Each report is numbered bottom left-hand side: .1 No. 21-[1s.3d]; .2 No. 67-[1s]; .3 No.36-[1s3d]technology, technical education, royal commission for technical education, education, henry brougham loch, joseph bosisto, art schools, science schools, w.c. kernot, frederick mccoy, c.r. blackett, f. stanley dobson, andrew burns, j.g burns, ballarat west school of art, ballarat city school of arts, r. baker, e.h.l. swift, a. doepel, henry wheeler, w.h. batten, james oldham, henry j. hall, kew school of art, maryborough school of art, trades hall female school of art, clunes school of art, castlemaine school of art, professor huxley, edward fraser, a. humphreys, j. oldham, f.j. hall

The School of Mines Ballaarat. Annual Report 1883. Statement of Receipts and expenditure, general balance sheet, and list of subscriptions donations 1882. Sketch of School of Mines. Sketch Section from Lal Lal to the Moorabool (looking north) Geological map of Lal Lal. In the County of Grant. Annual Report, Balance Sheet, Certificates granted by the Council, Examination Papers - Elementary Science Classes (Appendix), Extracts from Visitors' Book, Fees, Form of Bequest, Honorary Correspondents. Life Governors, Museum - open to visitors, Notes on the Geology of Lal Lal (with Geological Plan & Sections), Obituary, Office Bearers, Paper of Particulars, Rules of the Ballaarat Field Club and Science Society (Appendix), Report of the Curator of the Museum and Library, Report of the Superintendent of Laboratories, Report of the Lecturer in Mathematics, Report of the Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering, Report of the Lecturer in Telegraphy, Report of the Lecturer in Materia Medica, Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the year 1882, Subjects and Lectures, Subjects and Examiners, Subscriptions and Donations, from 1st January to 31st December 1882.Ballaarat School of Mines annual Report. Hard cover red book of 101 pages. Includes plans on Lal Lal and surrounds. ballarat school of mines, annual report, balance sheet, certificates granted by the council, examination papers, extracts from the visitors' book, fees, form of bequest, honorary correspondents, life governors, museum, notes on the geology of lal lal, obituary: charles william thomas. one of the examiners in mining and surveying, office bearers, paper of particulars, rules of the ballaarat field club and science society, report of the curator of the museum and library, report of the superintendent of laboratories, report of the lecturer in mathematics, report of the lecturer in mechanical engineering, report of the lecturer in telegraphy, report of the lecturer in materia medica, statement of receipts and expenditure for the year 1882, subjects and lectures, subjects and examiners, subcriptions and donations, from 1st january to 31st december 1882, alf. mica smith, professor of chemistry, alf. mica smith, metallurgy, f. m. krause - professor of geology, mineralogy, scientific mining, t. h. thompson, practical mining, w. h. shaw mechanical engineering, h. reid, mechanical enginnering, phoenix foundry company (limited), a. a. buley, mathematics, f. m. krause, land, mining and engineering surveying, w. d. campbell, telegraphy, james oddie, vice-president, alf. mica smith, natural philosophy (elementary mechanics and hydrostatics, magnetism and electricty, sound, light and heat), j. f. usher, materia medica, pharmacy and physiology, examiner, professor h. m. andrew, m. a., examiner, h. d. de la poer wall, m. a, c. e., examiner, thomas mann, b. a., examiner, p. c. fitzpatrick, c. s., examiner, h. rosale, j.p., f.g.s, m.e. and m, examiner, john lewis, examiner, w. c. kernot, m.a., c.e., examiner, professor mccoy, examiner, j. cosmo newbery, c.m.g., b. sc., examiner, baron von mueller, k.c.m.g., m. et ph. d., f. r.s., examiner, sam. w. macgowan, examiner, w. p. bechervaise, examiner, r. l. j. ellery, f.r.s. govt. astronomer, examiner, f. m. krause, c.e., examiner, j. m. bickett, examiner, n. kent, examiner, a. martin, examiner, r. s. mitchell, examiner, w. h. keast, examiner, p. matthews, examiner, d. milliken, examiner, j. t. richards, examiner, jonathan robinson, examiner, t. h. thompson, examiner, h. brookes allen, m.d., examiner, joseph bosisto, examiner, c. r. blackett, m.l.a., examiner, wm. johnson, analyst to the government of victoria, ferdinand krause, ballarat field naturalists club, ferdinand von mueller, thomas mann, a.a. buley, ferrdinand krause, alfred mica smith, james oddie, william johnson, jonathan robinson, james bickett, r.l.j. ellery, cosmo newbery, ballarat field naturalists

The School of Mines Ballaarat. Annual Report 1883. Statement of Receipts and expenditure, general balance sheet, and list of subscriptions donations 1883. Annual Report, Balance Sheet, Certificates granted by the Council, Examination Papers - Elementary Science Classes (Appendix), Fees, Honorary Correspondents. Life Governors, Museum - open to visitors, Office Bearers, Paper of Particulars, Report of the Curator of the Museum and Library, Report of the Superintendent of Laboratories, Report of the Lecturer in Mathematics, Report of the Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering, Report of the Lecturer in Telegraphy, Report of the Lecturer in Materia Medica, Report of the Lecturer of Astronomy, Scale of Charges for Assays and Analyses, Examinations Held, Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the year 1883, Subjects and Lectures, Subjects and Examiners, Subscriptions and Donations, from 1st January to 31st December 1883.Ballaarat School of Mines annual Report. Soft cover pale green booklet of 67 pages. Includes a colour Geological Map of Lal Lal and a sketch Section from Lal Lal to the Moorabool. Inscription on front cover 'Office Copy' On pages 4 and 5 some names have been crossed out and others added.ballarat school of mines, annual report, balance sheet, certificates granted by the council, examination papers, fees, honorary correspondents, life governors, museum, office bearers, paper of particulars, ballarat school of mines museum, library, superintendent of laboratories, mathematics, mechanical engineering, telegraphy, lecturer in materia medica, statement of receipts and expenditure for the year 1882, examiners, subcriptions and donations, alfred mica smith, chemistry, metallurgy, f.m. krause, ferdinand krause, geology, mineralogy, scientific mining, t.h. thompson, practical mining, w.h. shaw, h. reid, mechanical enginnering, phoenix foundry company (limited), phoenix foundry, arthur. a. buley, mining, engineering surveying, walter. d. campbell, j. wall, astronomy, james oddie, natural philosophy, elementary mechanics and hydrostatics, magnetism and electricty, sound, light and heat, j.f. usher, materia medica, pharmacy, physiology, w.h. shawmechanical engineering, h.m. andrew, h.d. de la poer wall, thomas mann, p.c. fitzpatrick, h. rosale, john lewis, w.c. kernot, mccoy, j. cosmo newbery, baron von mueller, samuel w. macgowan, w.p. bechervaise, r.l.j. ellery, astronomer, j.m. bickett, james bickett, n. kent, a. martin, r.s. mitchell, w.h. keast, p. matthews, d. milliken, j.t. richards, jonathan robinson, h. brookes allen, joseph bosisto, c.r. blackett, m.l.a., william. johnson, government of victoria analyst, moorabool, lal lal, skipton, coal, skipton coal discovery, lal lal creek, moorabool falls, lal lal race course, lal lal falls, moorabool river, william h. keast

A Guide for Drivers on the Whipstick Tour. First page gives assembly area, driving in convoy and negotiating water or boggy patches across the road. Amended written at the end of the page. Directions with mileage and items of interest for the tour on Sunday September 9th (no year). A Whipstick Map 1971 showing State Forest, Crown Lands, Uncleared Mallee - Private (shown in different colours) Water Reserve and Roads. Noted are Flora and Fauna - Plants, Birds & Mammals, and areas of State Forest and Southern State Forest with Mallee Scrub area noted. Also State Forest & Crown Lands Total Area and a map scale. The Bendigo Whipstick mentions area, suggestions of where the name Whipstick came from, shrubs and flowers with their flowering times, descriptions of some of them and some information on the Mallee Fowl. The Eucalyptus Oil Industry paragraph mentions the beginnings of the industry. Mentioned are the different uses of oils (perfumery, industrial and medicinal) and the different species of eucalypt used for each and various products. Also notes on the growing, harvesting and refining of eucalyptus. P Ellis at the end of the page. The next two and a half pages mentions reserves, and at the end acknowledgements. Includes a spare copy of 'The Bendigo Whipstick' by P Ellis.bendigo, history, early bendigo, peter ellis collection, a guide for drivers on the whipstick tour, the whipstick 1971 map, shire of marong, shire of east loddon, shire of huntly, borough of eaglehawk, city of bendigo, shire of strathfieldsaye, the bendigo whipstick, eucalyptus oil industry, eaglehawk town hall, lightning hill lookout, eaglehawk rifle range, new moon mines, blue jacket reservoir, maggetti's wine hall, camp hotel (ex), skylark dam, eucalyptus oil production, eucalyptus factory, whipstick eucalyptus farm, ruedin's eucalyptus factory, dutch bowls, governor philip, sir joseph banks, john white, baron von mueller, joseph bosisto, commonwealth government, perfumery oils, industrial oils, medicinal oils, p ellis, dr frith, csiro wildlife division, harley webster, forests commission, vincent serventy, victorian national parks association, bendigo field naturalists club

96 p.; 30 cmnon-fictionA photographic history of Emerald, Victoriaemerald (vic.), photographs, this is a reprint of emerald in focus : a photographic history published in 2006. this edition contains minor corrections and revisions for accuracy. contents table and index added. nobelius nursery emerald vic, joseph bosisto, tivoli homestead clematis vic, nightingale's nursery avonsleigh vic, sarah watson, george hunt, legg family, george davey, emerald state school, macclesfield cricket team, emerald rifle club, emerald cricket club, emerald football team, emerald basketball team, st mark's church emerald vic, st joseph church emerald vic, emerald museum, avonsleigh house, banool tearooms, berneray guest house, brookdale guest house, cascades guest house, fernlea guest house, la belle guest house, lumeah guest house, nottingham house, the chalet guest house, the grange guest house, woodlands guest house, mckenzie timber mill

For 100 years Doncaster-Templestowe was a major fruit producing area. The industry had a profound effect on the landscape and vegetation. Although orcharding families came from a variety of backgrounds, German families were an important sub-group.A comprehensive history of fruit growing in the Doncaster-Templestowe area between 1850s and 1950s when orchards began to be subdivided for housing. It includes B&W photos and line drawings and maps. It covers details of the varieties grown, the families involved, pests, machinery involved, markets, blacksmiths and reasons for the demise of the industry in the area.irvine green, eric collyer, doncaster-templestowe historical society, gottlieb thiele, ruffey creek, bismarck street, victoria street, thomas petty, george hislop, john whitten, john clay, august aumann, carl hanke, gottfried uebergang, waldau, max schramm, german lane, george street, john tully, henry crouch, george tortice, august zerbe, jane serpell, sidney williams, phylloxera, joseph bosisto, richard serpell, frederick thiele, w s williams, edwin lawford, james read, john finger, richard clay, ferdinand finger, leeds street, wetherby road, john russell, sarah uebergang, mary hislop, rudolph werner, john petty, archibald mclaren, john hicks, joe hicks, john smedley, william smedley, william hunter, sylvester mullens, laurie's forge, curtis hillman, anne hillman, dan harvey, calder's forge, hillman's blacksmith works, thomas serpell, gill smith, victorian fruit growers association, h g reynolds, alfred thiele, william webb, fred zerbe, mary anne clay, orchardist's coolstore, r h werner & co, j h land, orchardists and fruit cool stores association, a t petty, r read, r chivers, jack noonan, arthur ireland, jack robinson, george knee, donvale cool store, herb petty, frank petty, fred tolly, gordon white, blue moon fruit co-operative ltd, kathleen petty, peg chivers, jack russell, mathew adams, george mcgahy, edwin bullock, james hodson, edwin wilson, david corbett, edwin lowford, thomas beavis, william hanke, tom petty, edward crossman, andrew zander, carl aumann, heinrich fromhold, thomas chivers, william williams, reinhold denhert, henry finger, august furhmann, henry serpell, john ireland, frank smedley, william kent, william knee, thomas buck, henry white, gottlieb leber, alexander speers

This photograph is believed to have been taken at the Bosisto's distillery on Woori Yallock Creek at what is now Butterfield Reserve, Emerald. Chemist and later parliamentarian Joseph Bosisto (1824-98) established a number of distilleries in the area through the 1860s and 70s; the Butterfield Reserve still is believed to have been established in 1876. This photo may have been taken around 1916, when Australia was still the world's leading supplier of eucalyptus oil - by this time a globally popular product. By the 1920s, Joby Brady and his son were running the distillery business.Bosisto's eucalyptus distillery was an early Emerald industry with global significance; eucalyptus oil was believed to be the first distinctively Australian product exported overseas. This photograph is a very clear representation of the industry - to the extent that it is even used repeatedly in Euca's webpages discussing the history of the industry.Captured in black and white, a working eucalyptus distillery processes large quantities of eucalyptus leaves into eucalyptus oil. Two men stand holding tools, one under the tin roof of the distillery and another on a horsecart carrying a new pile of leaves. Another stands behind the distillery, carrying more leaves. The largest pile of leaves is in front of the still. The still is sheltered by a tin roofed structure with open walls, wooden support beams, and a chimney in the background. Further in the background, trees can be barely seen. This photograph is a scanned copy, glossy on the obverse and with normal paper texture and handwritten notes on the reverse.Reverse: "Distilling Eucalyptus / Bosistoes. Woori Yallock creek Emerald / or Clematis. 1916? / Joby Brady carried on Bosistoes during 1920s / with his son on Woori Yallock Creek"emerald, native plants, 1910s

This bottle was one of the items salvaged from the wreck of the Fiji in 1891. Joseph Bosisto began manufacturing Eucalyptus Oil in Australia from 1854. This bottle is marked ‘J. BOSISTO”, which probably dates it from 1885 when the company J. Bosisto & Co. was formed. The marking on the bottom of the bottle “GERMAN/B_ _ E” could mean that the bottle was imported by J. Bosisto from Germany. In the early years bottles were imported from overseas countries including England and Germany. In 1872 the Melbourne Bottle Works was established to supply the bottles locally and more cheaply but had difficulty keeping up with the supply. From 1865 Australian-made Bosisto’s Eucalyptus Oil began to be exported to England then later to Germany and other countries. Bosisto’s Eucalyptus Oil won many prizes at exhibitions between 1854 – 1891. The three-masted iron barque Fiji had been built in Belfast, Ireland, in 1875 by Harland and Wolfe for a Liverpool based shipping company. The ship departed Hamburg on 22nd May 1891 bound for Melbourne, under the command of Captain William Vickers with a crew of 25. The ship’s manifest shows that she was loaded with a cargo of 260 cases of dynamite, pig iron, steel goods, spirits (whisky, schnapps, gin, brandy), sailcloth, tobacco, coiled fencing wire, concrete, 400 German pianos (Sweet Hapsburg), concertinas and other musical instruments, artists supplies including brushes, porcelain, furniture, china, and general cargo including candles. There were also toys in anticipation for Christmas, including wooden rocking horses, miniature ships, dolls with china limbs and rubber balls. On September 5th, one hundred days out from Hamburg in squally and boisterous south west winds the Cape Otway light was sighted on a bearing differing from Captain Vickers’ calculation of his position. At about 2:30am, Sunday 6th September 1891 land was reported 4-5 miles off the port bow. The captain tried to put the ship on the other tack, but she would not respond. He then tried to turn her the other way but just as the manoeuvre was being completed the Fiji struck rock only 300 yards (274 metres) from shore. The place is known as Wreck Bay, Moonlight Head. Blue lights were burned and rockets fired whilst an effort was made to lower boats but all capsized or swamped and smashed to pieces. Two of the younger crewmen volunteered to swim for the shore, taking a line. One, a Russian named Daniel Carkland, drowned after he was swept away when the line broke. The other, 17 year old able seaman Julius Gebauhr, a German, reached shore safely on his second attempt but without the line, which he had cut lose with his sheath-knife when it become tangled in kelp. He rested on the beach a while then climbed the steep cliffs in search of help. At about 10am on the Sunday morning a party of land selectors - including F. J. Stansmore, Leslie Dickson (or Dixon) and Mott - found Gebauhr. They were near Ryans Den, on their travels on horseback from Princetown towards Moonlight Head, and about 5km from the wreck. Gebauhr was lying in the scrub in a poor state, bleeding and dressed only in singlet, socks and a belt with his sheath-knife, ready for all emergencies. At first they were concerned about his wild and shaggy looking state and what seemed to be gibberish speech, taking him to be an escaped lunatic. They were reassured after he threw his knife away and realised that he was speaking half-English, half-German. They gave him food and brandy and some clothing and were then able to gain information about the wreck. Some of the men took him to Rivernook, a nearby guest house owned by John Evans, where he was cared for. Stansmore and Dickson rode off to try and summon help. Others went down to the site of the wreck. Messages for rescuing the rest of the crew were sent both to Port Campbell for the rocket rescue crew and to Warrnambool for the lifeboat. The S.S. Casino sailed from Portland towards the scene. After travelling the 25 miles to the scene, half of the Port Campbell rocket crew and equipment arrived and set up the rocket tripod on the beach below the cliffs. By this time the crew of the Fiji had been clinging to the jib-boom for almost 15 hours, calling frantically for help. Mr Tregear from the Rocket Crew fired the line. The light line broke and the rocket was carried away. A second line was successfully fired across the ship and made fast. The anxious sailors then attempted to come ashore along the line but, with as many as five at a time, the line sagged considerably and some were washed off. Others, nearly exhausted, had to then make their way through masses of seaweed and were often smothered by waves. Only 14 of the 24 who had remained on the ship made it to shore. Many onlookers on the beach took it in turns to go into the surf and drag half-drowned seamen to safety. These rescuers included Bill (William James) Robe, Edwin Vinge, Hugh Cameron, Fenelon Mott, Arthur Wilkinson and Peter Carmody. (Peter Carmody was also involved in the rescue of men from the Newfield.) Arthur Wilkinson, a 29 year old land selector, swam out to the aid of one of the ship’s crewmen, a carpenter named John Plunken. Plunken was attempting to swim from the Fiji to the shore. Two or three times both men almost reached the shore but were washed back to the wreck. A line was thrown to them and they were both hauled aboard. It was thought that Wilkinson struck his head on the anchor before s they were brought up. He remained unconscious. The carpenter survived this ordeal but Wilkinson later died and his body was washed up the next day. It was 26 year old Bill Robe who hauled out the last man, the captain, who had become tangled in the kelp. The wreck of the Fiji was smashed apart within 20 minutes of the last man being brought ashore, and it settled in about 6m of water. Of the 26 men on the Fiji, 11 in total lost their lives. The remains of 7 bodies were washed onto the beach and their coffins were made from timbers from the wrecked Fiji. They were buried on the cliff top above the wreck. The survivors were warmed by fires on the beach then taken to Rivernook and cared for over the next few days. Funds were raised by local communities soon after the wreck in aid of the sufferers of the Fiji disaster. Captain Vickers was severely reprimanded for his mishandling of the ship. His Masters Certificate was suspended for 12 months. At the time there was also a great deal of public criticism at the slow and disorganised rescue attempt to save those on board. The important canvas ‘breech buoy’ or ‘bucket chair’ and the heavy line from the Rocket Rescue was in the half of the rocket outfit that didn’t make it in time for the rescue: they had been delayed at the Gellibrand River ferry. Communications to Warrnambool were down so the call for help didn’t get through on time and the two or three boats that had been notified of the wreck failed to reach it in time. Much looting occurred of the cargo that washed up on the shore, with nearly every visitor leaving the beach with bulky pockets. One looter was caught with a small load of red and white rubber balls, which were duly confiscated and he was ‘detained’ for 14 days. Essence of peppermint mysteriously turned up in many settlers homes. Sailcloth was salvaged and used for horse rugs and tent flies. Soon after the wreck “Fiji tobacco” was being advertised around Victoria. A Customs officer, trying to prevent some of the looting, was assaulted by looters and thrown over a steep cliff. He managed to cling to a bush lower down until rescued. In 1894 some coiled fencing wire was salvaged from the wreck. Hundreds of coils are still strewn over the site of the wreck, encrusted and solidified. The hull is broken but the vessel’s iron ribs can be seen along with some of the cargo of concrete and pig iron. Captain Vickers presented Bill Robe with his silver-cased pocket watch, the only possession that he still had, as a token for having saved his life and the lives of some of the crew. (The pocket watch came with 2 winding keys, one to wind it and one to change the hands.) Years later Bill passed the watch to his brother-in-law Gib (Gilbert) Hulands as payment of a debt and it has been passed down the family to Gilbert Hulands’ grandson, John Hulands. Seaman Julius Gebauhr later gave his knife, in its hand crafted leather sheath, to F. J. Stansmore for caring for him when he came ashore. The knife handle had a personal inscription on it. A marble headstone on the 200m high cliffs overlooking Wreck Beach, west of Moonlight Head, paying tribute to the men who lost their lives when Fiji ran aground. The scene of the wreck is marked by the anchor from the Fiji, erected by Warrnambool skin divers in 1967. Amongst the artefacts salvaged from the Fiji are china miniature animals, limbs from small china dolls, rubber balls, this glass bottle, sample of rope from the distress rocket and a candlestick holder. These items are now part of the Fiji collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum, along with Captain Vickers’ pocket watch and Julius Gebauhr’s sheath knife. The glass bottle is registered as “Artefact Reg No Fiji/1”. Flagstaff Hill’s Fiji collection is of historical significance at a State level because of its association with the wreck Fiji, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register VHR S259. It also represents 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 Fiji collection meets the following criteria for assessment: Criterion A: Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion B: Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history Criterion C: Potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria’s cultural history. Clear glass oval medical bottle with rounded corners and flattened sides on front and back surfaces. Opening of bottle has a lip around it and could have been sealed with a stopper. There is a chip in the lip. One face of the bottle has a rectangular border with a name embossed vertically on it, “J. BOSISTO / RICHMOND”. The oval base of the bottle also has letters embossed on it “GE_ _AN” “B _ _ _ _ _”. There is also a large chip out of the base. The sides of the bottle have a vertical joining line. The bottle was recovered from the wreck of the Fiji.Flat side of bottle has rectangular border with “J BOSISTO / RICHMOND” embossed in the centre. The base of the bottle has “G E . . A N/B . . . . . .” embossed on it. Other letters have been removed with the chip. (probable wording was ‘GERMAN/BOTTLE)warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, shipwrecked artefact, fiji, 1891, glass bottle, medicine bottle, bosistos, j bosistos, german bottle