The cape is of a style from the Victorian or the Edwardian Era and so provides a good example of women's clothing from that time. The light colour, silk material and lace suggest a cape used for special occasions with the possibility of initially being a wedding cape.The item is of significance historically and socially as an example of women's clothing in the Victorian and Edwardian eras.Ladies cape consisting of two circular tiers and a collar. The inner tier is knee length with a thin lace insert around the hem. The outer tier is elbow length with a wide lace edge and the thin lace insert inside this. The collar has lace edging and a lace insert of the same width. The lace used is of a repeat flower pattern most likely made of a combination of silk and cotton. The cape material appears to be a cream ribbed silk with the lining being of a polished cotton or silk variety. Both materials have a silken sheen in the right light. A silk ribbon ties the cape at the neck. The lining and lace have been sewn with fine hand stitching.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, ladies cape, double cape, silk cape, layered cape, cape with lace collar, decorative lace edging, victorian era, edwardian era

The striking fabric of this wall hanging was recovered from the sinking Schomberg. It was originally one of the many curtains adorning the captain’s cabin and ladies’ saloons that attracted first-class passengers to this luxury vessel, built for comfort and speed. The clipper ship was on its maiden voyage, full of passengers emigrating to Australia in 1855. Its commander was Captain James Nicol Forbes, who had been selected by James Baine & Co for his navigation skills, experience, and reputation for breaking sailing records. However, on December 26th, 1855, the vessel became stranded and sank west of Cape Otway, not quite reaching its destination of Melbourne. A reporter explored the Schomberg before its journey; the following detailed description is an excerpt of his article published in a newspaper after the disastrous voyage was announced. “ … descending by a flight of stairs, covered with carpet of a very rich pattern, we came to the saloon passengers’ cabin. This is a noble place, and all that refined taste would suggest has been done to make each berth a miniature palace. The bedding is of the very best material, and the fittings are replete with every convenience. The carpets are of various coloured velvet pile, and the curtains are of satin damask, lined with white satin … The fronts of the berths are highly decorated, and festoons of flowers are painted on the panels … No two berths are furnished with the same-coloured material … the visitor is, therefore, much pleased with the variety which he has to inspect….” (Trove: Shipping Gazette and Sydney General Trade, 31 Dec 1955, p. 283) The curtain material, ‘folded into a single piece and parcelled for protection’, has been passed down through generations of Captain Forbes’ relatives, starting with his half-sister Isabella Jeffrey Nicol. The curtain has remained with the family, although some transition details are incomplete. About a century later, Isabella and Blakiston Robinson’s great-grandson and his wife had the fabric professionally mounted as a wall hanging to showcase the beauty of the woven brocade. Eventually, the custodianship of the curtain was transferred to the donor, who is also a great-grandson of Isabella and Blakiston. He and his wife hung the curtain on the wall of a high-ceilinged room in their home, away from direct light, making it visible for all to appreciate its beauty and significance. In 2024, they donated the curtain for inclusion among the collection of artefacts that help tell the story of the Schomberg and those who sailed on its first and last voyage. The donor’s aunt was highly involved in the family’s history. She had collected and recorded information that dates back to pre-1341. A footnote included in a handwritten letter dated April 20, 1959, from the late Arthur William Rudd, OBE, MA, LLB, husband of another of the donor’s aunts, states, “The curtains you mentioned came from the Schomberg. AWR.” CAPTAIN JAMES NICOL FORBES (1821-1874) and the donor’s family: - Captain Forbes was born in Aberdeen. In his late teens, he moved to Liverpool, a hub for international trade and an emigration port. By the age of 25, he was master of the Prince of Waterloo and later, the Wakefield. He then commanded the Cleopatra for the James Baines Co., which, two years later, transferred him to command the Maria, providing fast and lucrative passage to the gold fields in Ballarat, Australia. James Baines Co. and shipbuilder Thomas Mackay formed the Black Ball Line of clipper ships in 1852. Forbes was appointed master of the largest ship in the fleet, the marvellous Marco Polo. He broke the record time for the passage to Australia, taking only 68 days at sea, and the return journey in only 76 days, a total of 5 months and 21 days. On his second voyage to Melbourne in the Marco Polo the following year, he took 75 days, and 95 days on the return trip. His accomplishment made him famous. James Baines reported that the Marco Polo was the only ship, sail or steam, to do the round trip within 6 months, and it had done it twice. Captain Forbes then took command of the American-built clipper Lightning, one of four built for the Black Ball line. His 19-year-old half-sister, Isabella Jaffray Nicol, was also onboard when he sailed for Melbourne in 1854. During the 77-day voyage, Isabella met Blakiston Robinson, and not long after the ship arrived in Melbourne on July 31, the couple married, with James Nicol Forbes as a witness, on August 16. When Forbes returned to Liverpool, he took a record-breaking 63 days, which has never been bettered. James Baines Co. ordered a new luxury emigrant ship from Alexander Hall of Aberdeen; the Schomberg was the largest sailing ship ever built in Britain. On October 6, 1855, the vessel departed Liverpool commanded by Captain Forbes, with 430 passengers on board, 54 of whom were First Class. It had almost completed its voyage to Melbourne when, on the night of December 26, it ran aground west of Cape Otway. Captain Doran, master of the steamer Queen, responded to the distress signal while on its way to Portland and, with the agreement of his passengers, rescued as many as possible from the Schomberg and returned to Melbourne with them. Captain Helpman, master of the steamer Champion, rescued most of the remaining Schomberg passengers on December 27. On Friday, 28th, Captain James Lawrence was on his way to Adelaide in the steamer Burra Burra, and called past the Schomberg. He reported that the remaining crew were all doing their duties, but the Schomberg was deteriorating on a sand spit and had about 16 feet of water in its hold. That same day, the schooner Jane Elizabeth collected 220 packages of passengers’ luggage to deliver to Melbourne on the 29th. Two steamers also arrived on the 29th with 20 men to collect passengers’ luggage and valuable ship’s cargo items. They were accompanied by water police, customs agents, company representatives and a Lloyds agent. The decision was made to abandon ship on the 30th due to rough and unsafe conditions. The officials and Captain Forbes voyaged to Melbourne, while the seamen remained behind awaiting rescue. Evacuation by sea became too risky, so on January 2, 1856, while the first Mate and Steward remained at the wreck site, the rest of the crew began the 70-mile march to Warrnambool, led by the band. They arrived on January 5th and left for Melbourne on the steamer Champion on January 10th. Parts of the Schomberg wreck ended up in New Zealand. The curtain is important for its connection to the Schomberg, which was unique for being designed and built in Aberdeen, and commanded by an Aberdonian who was the most celebrated clipper captain of the age. The ship was the largest sailing ship ever built in Britain, and reported as the largest vessel that sailed to Australia. The curtain is an example of the rich decorative furnishings available in 1855. The preservation and respect the donor and his family have shown towards the curtain over many decades reflect its important role in telling the family’s history; the journey, the romantic attachment, the family connection to the sea, and travel in gold rush times. The curtain is significant for its connection to James Nocol Forbes, a famous sailing ship commander who broke several sailing records, one of which has never been bettered. This wall hanging, also known as the Schomberg Curtain, was created from a curtain recovered from the stranded luxury ship Schomberg in December 1855. The woven satin damask fabric in blue and cream has been meticulously joined to blend the intricate pattern. The reverse features a soft cream lining. The hems at the top and bottom of the fabric hold wooden rods. The side edges feature decorative braid that has been hand-stitched in place. On the reverse, the bottom hem includes the same braid, which remains unseen from the front, and the centre of the top hem has a hand-worked, unused buttonhole. Each of the hems varies in depth. The curtain was tastefully mounted later to highlight the beauty of the original saloon curtain. A decorative twisted cord of cream silk threads, accented with gold highlights and decorative tassels, was coiled and attached to the ends of the top rod. The elegant display was completed with an ornate gold hook, chosen to complement the wall hanging.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, shipwreck artefact, memorabilia, curtain, saloon curtain, schomberg, wall hanging, decorative object, domestic item, warrnambool, flagstaff hill, maritime museum, maritime village, maritime history, shipwreck, stranding, schomberg curtain, schomberg wall hanging, luxury ship, 1855, damask, silk damask, blue and cream, captain’s cabin, ladies’ saloon, clipper ship, migrant, emigrant, liverpool to australia, captain james nicol forbes, james forbes, captain forbes, bully forbes, james baines & co, james baines, cape otway, aberdeen, prince of waterloo, wakefield, cleopatra, maria, thomas mackay, black ball line, marco polo, sailing record, lightning, isabella jaffray nocol, blakiston robinson, alexander hall, steamer queen, captain helpman, james lawrence, steamer burra burra, steamer jane elizabeth, water police, customs agents, lloyds agent, ship’s band, walk to warrnambool, march to warrnambool, steamer champion, agnes nicol robinson, arthur william rudd obe ma llb

This photograph shows Nelson Burn reading a telegram from the queen to his grandmother, Mrs Paul Hocking, on her 100th birthday. Her husband, James Hocking, was the first watchmaker in Orbost. He had been a lay preacher at Wangaratta and Yan Yean before coming to Orbost. He was an 1891 Rechabite and an Orbost Shire Councillor. Eliza Ann Hocking (nee Eddy) was born on 16.7.1856 at Blackwater Hall in England, She had arrived in Australia on the sailing boat "Poocia" on 8-7-1880. The voyage following the Cape route took about 7 weeks. For a time, with her husband, she lived at Chewton, on the gold fields, before coming to Orbost. She was a foundation member of the Methodist Ladies’ Guild in 1912. She lived in Salisbury Street, Orbost. She died on 9.4.1957. Colin Nelson Burn, born 7.7.1921, was her grandson, son of Robert Alfred Burn and Edith Jane Hocking. He began Sta-Brite' Painting and Decorating Services in Salisbury Street, Orbost. He served in the forces during World War II. He was a Life member of the Snowy Rovers Football Club. He joined the Orbost Fire Brigade on 1-5-1946. He died 1.2.2015. His son, Peter continues the painting business in Orbost. (info. from John Phillips)This is a pictorial record of an Orbost resident reaching 100 years. A 100 year birthday is a significant milestone. The Hocking / Burn family have been associated with the Orbost district since 1889.A large black / white photograph of an elderly lady standing beside a younger man who is holding a letter and reading to her.hocking-mrs burn-nelson telegram-queen-100th-birthday

Nightingale Cape, commenced using 1860s, Ballarat Base HospitalThese grey flannel capes - a kind of flannel scarf with sleeves, worn by patients when sitting up in bed. The design was from the Crimean War Hospital. Commencing in the 1860s the Ladies Aid Society Ballarat, a group of ladies who spent a lot of time sewing & mending at the hospital made these capes. The capes were part of bed linen list. These capes were frequently used in the Queen Victoria Block of the Ballarat Base Hospital as this was a cold area of the hospital. Grey flannel capecapes, nightingales, flannel, ballarat, hospital

The Northern District School of Nursing opened in 1950 to address the issues around nurse recruitment, training and education that had previously been hospital based. The residential school was to provide theoretical and in-house education and practical training over three years. The students would also receive practical hands-on training in the wards of associated hospitals. The Northern District School of Nursing operated from Lister House, Rowan Street, Bendigo. It was the first independent school of nursing in Victoria and continued until it closed in 1989.P.T.S. Training school 54 in dining room at Lister House. 25/4/1962 Black and white photographs; one small and an enlargement copy. Six nurses in capes and caps lining up for service at the counter with two ladies in unform ready to serve them. Miss Long's residence through the glass door can be seen. On Rear of photo is written: Northern District School of Nursing Staff dining room. School 54 P.T.S. 25/4/1962 From left to Right: Denise Read, Lois Letcher (Now Hodge), June Phemister, Elaine Cameron, Heather McBeth (Now Cox), Elva Fenton Domestic Staff: Mrs Harrison and Mrs I Norman. nurse training, ndsn, lister house, school 54, lister house dining room

St John Ambulance Brigade in 1099 the Order of St John of Jerusalem began. Both men and women nursed on a large scale. Both the Knights and Ladies were pledged to the service on mankind. Ther Emblem the eight pointed white cross is still worn by members of the St John Ambulance Brigade. Miniature 30cm doll dresses on blue gown and long matching blue cape. Red insignia front of dress.Dame of Order of St Johnnursing history, nursing uniforms, northern district school of nursing, miniature dopll

Fanny Adams (nee Morwick) was born Fanny Higgs about 29 October 1836 in Surrey England and emigrated to Williamstown. She married George Morwick, in November 1857 and they had 7 children. Her husband worked as a boatman for the Pilot Service and as Assistant Light Keeper at Gabo Island and Cape Otway. Following George Morwick's death in 1872, she married William Adams in December 1873, and had two more children. She operated a hay, corn and fruit shop in Thompson Street which her first husband owned, until 1874, and then took it over again in 1883 until 1891. She also worked as a Midwife and Ladies Nurse. Lady Brassey, wife of Victoria's Governor , took first aid lessons from St John Ambulance tutors. In the late 1870-80s, she formed a female first aid corps known as "The Brassey Nurses" and Fanny Adams was a member of the corps. Fanny Adams died on the 1st August 1928 at the age of 92 years. An article in The Age on the 4 August 1928 reported that "Mrs. Fanny Adams, a resident of Williamstown for 73 years, died in her home there on Thursday at the great age of 92. She was twice married, Mr. Morwick, her first husband, having been lighthouse keeper on Gabo Island and afterwards at Cape Otway. There are 43 descendants, including Mr. G. F. Morwick, the well-known sailmaker and tug owner, and Mrs. Parkin, wife of Mr. Parkin, officer in charge of the Customs department at Williamstown." fanny adams, mrs morwick, williamstown hospital, 1890's

Photograph shows Alex Kirk, his wife Elizabeth (nee Ferguson) and their six surviving children - Elsie, born 1901, Marjorie, born 1903, Laurie, born 1906, Colin, born 1911, Ronald, born 1912, and Dorothy, born 1915. Alex Kirk was a policeman who was stationed in various parts of Victoria, including Dimboola, Numurkah, Moyston, Cape Clear and Linton. See also McBeath family file.Black and white copy of original photograph of an older lady seated with an older man standing behind on her right and three young ladies in white dresses and three young men wearing short pants and jackets standing around her."Mr & Mrs A. Kirk and family c 1920 L - R Elsie, Mr Kirk, Marjorie (Mrs McBeath), Laurie Front - Colin, Ronald, Mrs Kirk, Dorothy".elizabeth kirk nee ferguson, elsie kirk, laurie kirk, colin kirk, rionald kirk, dorothy kirk, alex kirk, marjorie kirk (afterwards marjorie mcbeath)