Event upon the appointment of Lt. Col. The Right Hon. Arthur Herbert Tennyson, the Lord Somers, KCMG DSO MC as Governor of Victoria. He served in the role from 28 June 1926 to 23 June 1931, and administered the Commonwealth as acting governor-general from 3 October 1930 to 22 January 1931.Two cream cards, discoloured with age, printed on one side in black on a pink background. governor arthur tennyson somers,

All donated by Ella Chalmers (nee Fry) (1928).(1) Sepia photograph and Newspaper Cutting. Photograph of an illustration from a Newspaper article in the Sun-News Pictorial, Tuesday, September, 27, 1927, "Back from the sweet fragrance of the bush with armfuls of wildflowers for the exhibition of wildflowers to be opened by Lady Somers at St. Kilda Town Hall today. These girls had a happy time at Ringwood yesterday." (2) B/w photograph cut from a journal with the caption, "Students of the Burnley Horticultural College (who started the new term last Tuesday) with Mr. Russ (Practical Demonstrator), Mr. A. Jessep (Principal) and Mr. Harrison (Science Master)." and, "1927." Group of students standing, seated on benches and seated on the lawn in the Ornamental Garden.ella chalmers (née fry), burnley horticultural college, george russ, a.w. jessep, principal, mr. harrison, science master, student group, lady somers, st kilda town hall, exhibition of wildflowers, students, wildflowers, newspaper cutting

Articles in this annual report include: 60th anniversary, approximately 1000 blind people in Victoria, hope that Government will increase it's support which has not varied for over 30 years and comparison of costs compared to the 50th anniversary, visits by Lady Stonehaven and Lord and Lady Somers, resignation of G. Dent and appointment of J. Tanswell as head teacher, George Findlay is entering the final year of his degree and Donald Forbes is in his second year, thanks to Sir Baldwin Spencer for allowing the children to visit the National Museum and touch various items as he spoke about the various exhibits, George Findlay won the 3LO Exhibition for Pianoforte, the success of the Concert Party and the difficulty in securing halls large enough to hold concerts, placement of safety zones by the City of Melbourne and South Melbourne councils opposite the Institute, official opening of the hostel in Raleigh Street by the Lord Mayor, activities providing support for those not working at the Institute include teaching of home trades who manufactured goods will be purchased by the RVIB for sale in their shop, a wholesale tobacco and grocery store, use of the Pipe Organ, musical instruments, wireless set, study, writing, games, typewriting, showers and baths and dressing rooms for on-site use, a brief outline of the blind cricket playing ground and the boat house, the decision to provide free Wireless Sets to those who cannot afford them, H. Foster (foreman of the Mat department) again played Father Xmas at the children's Christmas party, the Orchestra and Concert Party gave their annual free concert to the Tramways Board and employees in appreciation for the free passes for the blind, formation of a Central Auxiliary with representatives from each municipality to help bring the work of the Institute more predominantly to the general public across Victoria, and the passing of workers Margaret Cates, Tom Ginniff and Peter Stevens.1 volume bound with illustrations.royal victorian institute for the blind, annual report, lord somers, lady somers, g dent, j tanswell, george findlay, donald forbes, baldwin spencer, national museum of victoria, cricket, rowing, h foster, auxiliaries, wirths brothers circus, raleigh street hostel, margaret cates, tom ginniff, peter stevens, buildings

Standard Life Governor Certificate from Childrens Hospital Melbourne"Written on Certificate" Presented to Mrs A Blood Signed by: President, Vice President, Hon Treasurer, Hon Secretary. Patronesses: Her Excellency Lady Stonehaven, Lady Somers, Lady Irvine. Date: October 11th 1928.

Standard Life Governor Certificate from Childrens Hospital Melbourne"Written on Certificate" Presented to Mrs A Temple Miles Signed by President, Vice President, Hon Treasurer, Hon Secretary. Patronesses : Her Excellency Lady Stonehaven, Lady Somers, Lady Irvine. Date: September 6th 1928.

The party of people approaching the steps include the Victorian Governor and his wife Lord and Lady SomersGuests arriving at Hotel with Flag outsideQuality paper made in Germany 1 copy B/W 1 copy Sepiaaccommodation, guesthouses, bellfield

The Mt Victory Rd was originally called the Bluff Road After improvements and extension it was renamed at its opening by Lady Somers in Mar 1930Photo shows the newly formed Mt Victory Rd. with the bridle track above it Photo taken from the top of the Elephant's hideaccess routes, roads

Mt Victory Rd once known as the Bluff road was opened by Lady Somers Mar 1930. This section of the raod is beyond Stoney Creek Gorgephoto shows sweeping bend on Mt Victory Rdaccess routes, mt victory rd, roads

Official opening of Mt Victory Rd People in photo Lord and Lady Somers, 2 Johsons Millie Bowtell, Bessie McKeon, M PawseyPhoto shows group standing on road opening of Mt Victory Rd. Lord Somers in foregroundaccess routes, mt victory rd, people, roads

Weekly Times – Major Mitchell. Grampians Road. 2 page. -1 The Balconies -2. Main St looking west - -3. Lady Somers opening Grampians Hwy -4.Stawell, Borough and Shire Councillors -5. Town Hall looking west -6. Halls Gap school children with Lady Somers - 7. new highway -8. residents of Halls Gap -9. McKenzie Falls -10. Official party Mount Victory -11. Main Street looking east -12. School Children Major Mitchell Memorial Cairn -13. Lord Somers unveiling Major Mitchell Cairn Western Hwy -14. Chataqua Peak from new highwaystawell

Correspondence - re Girl Guiding Matters (M Bush) a. (Copy - handwritten) to Merle (Miss) Bush from Margaret Rogers, Cornwall 16/3/1924 re diploma paper results; b. (Copy-handwritten to Miss Merle Bush from Alice Baird & Alice Judson (examiners), Feb 1924; c. (Copy-handwritten) to Lady Somers from Muriel Montgomery, General Secretary re award of Red Cord to M Bush. Dated 22/9/1926; d. (Copy-handwritten) to Miss Bush from (Lady) Linda? Somers, Oct. 29th 1926.person, individual, bush collection - personal, bush collection, collection, correspondence, clubs and associations, organizations, organisations, education, diploma, girl guides association

This garment would have been worn at an evening function by a lady of some considerable means. It dates from the late 19th century.This item has no known provenance and is retained for display purposes.This is a woman's black, knee length, satin theatre coat. It is ornamented with geometric and curved cornelli work. The shawl collar has a pointed back. It is fastened in the front with a large, satin covered black button. It is lined with black satin. It has full length sleeves, turned up at the ends and lined with satin.vintage clothing, woman's evening apparel

Slide. Bendigo Easter Fair. A lady in pink and some little girls in white on a float.slide, bendigo, bendigo easter fair., bendigo easter fair.

BHS CollectionBendigo Advertiser '' The way we were''from 2002. Happy campers: Girl Guides at Somers Hill near One Tree Hill, circa 1937. From left: Beryl Brown, Mary Runnalls, Elaine Emmerson, Audrey Young. The Girl Guides had a stone hut taken from the site on a piece of land donated by the Keck family. It was situated beside the race between Keck's nursery and One Tree Hill. The site was named Somers Hill after Lady Somers, the chief commissioner of the Girl Guides, and the wife of the Governor of Victoria. Vandals completely destroyed the building in the 70s. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

A solf covered book with I Remember... Footscray printed on front with a printed on Lynch's Bridgefootscray, history

Black and white photograph of PMTT No. 4 at the Burke Road terminus with Central Park in the background. Has the driver and conductor in the view along a family of a lady and some children. Also a dog in the photograph. Tram has the destination of Burke Road on the roof and Prahran on the rear. Note the coupling arrangement at the front of the tram. Photograph features on page 55 of Ian Brady's book on the PMTT, "Melbourne's Foremost Municipal Tramway". Photograph from the Bob Prentice Collection. Has remnants of a handwritten note on the rear - has been removed from sheet with remains of the sheet on the rear.trams, tramways, pmtt, burke rd, prahran, drivers, conductors, tram 4

The photograph, taken in the 1890s, shows sailing ships and a wreck in Lady Bay, Warrnambool. Lady Bay was once a very busy port of trade in Warrnambool and was also called the Port of Warrnambool or Warrnambool Harbour. ENTERPRISE (1847-1850) NOTE: The “Enterprise” wrecked in 1850 in Warrnambool should not be confused with John Pascoe Faulkner’s ‘Enterprise’, which was wrecked in NSW in 1847. The 58-ton schooner Enterprise was built by David Hay in Waiheke, New Zealand in 1847 and registered by owners John Watson and Edward Byam in Melbourne, Australia. She was a single-deck sailing ship with two masts, used for carrying cargo such as local agricultural produce and general commodities between Melbourne and other colonial ports. On September 14th, 1850 the Enterprise had sailed from Melbourne under the control of the ship’s Master, James Gardiner Caught, and was moored in at the Tramway Jetty in Lady Bay, laden with wheat and potatoes. The vessel rode out a south-easterly gale but eventually dragged anchor and was beached, bow first and then broadside. Buckwall, a local indigenous man, braved the heavy surf and reached the stricken vessel with a rescue line, saving all five crew on board. There were no passengers on board. The Enterprise wreck was in an area called Tramway Jetty in Lady Bay. Since then the area has become the location of Lady Bay Hotel and now, in 2019, it is in the grounds of the Deep Blue Apartments. In fact, with the constantly changing coastline through built-up sand, the wreck site is now apparently under the No 2 Caravan Park on Pertobe Road, perhaps 150 metres from the high tide. Its location was found by Ian McKiggan (leader of the various searches in the 1980s for the legendary Mahogany Ship). The Warrnambool Wreck Enterprise is listed on the Victorian Heritage Database VHR S238. DIFFERENTIATING the New Zealand Schooner “Enterprise” from John Fawkner’s “Enterprize“ Dr Murray Johns, Melbourne, says in his article The Mahogany Ship Story, “…the Enterprise, wrecked in Lady Bay, Warrnambool in 1850 ... was soon covered by sand but was exposed again after several storms in 1887. “Samples of timber were then cut from the wreck, which would then have been buried for 37 years. In November 1887 the Warrnambool Standard reported that “the timber looks sound and hard, a penknife scarcely making any impression.” “For many years there was confusion about the identity of that ship in Lady Bay. Most people believed it was the wreck of John Pascoe Fawkner’s Enterprize, which had sailed from Tasmania to Victoria bringing the pioneer settlers to Melbourne in 1835. “In fact, as I documented in 1985, the Warrnambool wreck was of an entirely different ship, also called Enterprize [Enterprise], but built in New Zealand in 1847. Fawkner’s ship had already been sold to Captain Sullivan in 1845 and was wrecked on the Richmond Pier in northern New South Wales early in 1847. “In 1985 a piece of timber from the local Enterprise, which had been kept at the Warrnambool Museum since 1892, was identified histologically as a New Zealand timber, not Tasmanian timber such as blue gum, from which Fawkner’s Enterprize would have been built in 1830. This confirmed the identity of the Warrnambool Enterprize.”[Dr. M.W. Johns later wrote an article called “The Schooner Enterprise: A Final Word on a Historic Wreck.”] ABOUT THE S S EDINA The three-masted iron screw steamer SS Edina was built in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1854 by Barclay and Curle. She was adorned with the figurehead of the ‘fair maid of Judea’. The many years of service made SS Edina famous worldwide as the longest-serving screw steamer. (The term screw steamer comes from being driven by a single propeller, sometimes called a screw, driven by a steam engine.) SS Edina’s interesting history includes English Chanel runs, serving in the Crimean Ware carrying ammunition, horses and stores to the Black Sea, and further service in the American Civil War and later, serving in the western district of Victoria as well as in Queensland and carried gold, currency and gold prospectors Australia to New Zealand. SS Edina had the privilege of being an escort vessel to H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh during his visit to Australia in 1867. In March 1863 SS Edina arrived in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne and was bought by Stephen Henty, of Portland fame, to work the cargo and passenger run from Melbourne – Warrnambool – Port Fairy - Portland. After a short time of working the run from Australia to New Zealand, with passengers and cargo that included gold and currency, she returned to her Melbourne - Warrnambool – Port Fairy run, with cargo including bales of wool produced in the western district of Victoria. The Warrnambool Steam Packet Company purchased SS Edina in 1867; she was now commanded by Captain John Thompson and Chief Engineer John Davies. She survived several mishaps at sea, had a complete service and overhaul and several changes of commanders. In 1870 SS Edina was in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, when a gale sprung up and caused a collision with the iron screw steamer SS Dandenong. SS Edina’s figurehead was broken into pieces and it was not ever replaced. SS Edina was re-fitted in 1870 and was then used as a coastal trader in Queensland for a period. She was then brought to Melbourne to carry cargo and passengers between Melbourne and Geelong and performed this service from 1880-1938. During this time (1917) she was again refitted with a new mast, funnel, bridge and promenade deck, altering her appearance. In 1938, after more collisions, SS Edina was taken out of service. However, she was later renamed Dinah and used as a ‘lighter’ (a vessel without an engine or superstructure) to be towed and carry wool and general cargo between Melbourne and Geelong. In 1957, after 104 years, the SS Edina was broken up at Footscray, Melbourne. Remains of SS Edina’s hull can be found in the Maribyrnong River, Port Phillip Bay. This photograph is significant for its association with the screw steamer SS Edina, heritage listed on the Victorian Heritage Database VHR S199. She had endeared herself to the people of Port Phillip Bay as a passenger ferry, part of their history and culture. She played a significant role in the Crimean War, the American Civil War and the gold rush in New Zealand. She also served western Victoria for many years in her cargo and passenger runs. The SS Edina is famous for being the longest-serving screw steamer in the world. After spending her first nine years overseas she arrived in Melbourne and her work included running the essential service of transporting cargo and passengers between Melbourne and the western Victoria ports of Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Portland. The SS Edina was purchased in the late 1860s by the local Warrnambool business, the Warrnambool Steam Packet Co. and continued trading from there as part of the local business community. Her original ‘fair maid of Judea’ figurehead was broken to pieces in a collision with another vessel (the SS Dandenong) in a gale off Warrnambool, Victoria, in 1870. The photograph is significant for its association wreck of the Victorian Heritage Listed schooner Enterprise, VHR S238, being a New Zealand-built but Australian-owned coastal trader. The wreck was also significant for its association with the local indigenous hero, Buckawall, who saved the lives of the five crew on board. Photograph "Vessels in the Bay". Black and white photograph of several vessels in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, including some small vessels and "S.S. Edina", the "Peveril" and "Tommy", plus the remains of the wrecked vessel "Enterprise" in the foreground. Photograph is mounted on beige card with label describing the vessels, plus pencilled vessel names. There are several pin holes in each corner of the photograph. Typed label under the photograph “VESSELS IN THE BAY – “EDINA” “PEREVIL” AND “TOMMY”. / REMAINS OF “THE ENTERPRISE” IN FOREGROUND. (Also crossed out on the label “FIRST VESSEL TO SAIL UP YARRA RIVER). In pencil script above the vessels on the photograph “S.S. Edina”, “Peveril” “Tommy”. On the reverse is a printed sticker with “F-Ph 59/2 74”, red felt-tip pen “88”, green pen script repeating the text that is under the photograph on the front.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, enterprize, port of warrnambool, warrnambool harbour, peveril, tommy, ss edina, lighter dinah, warrnambool steam packet company, lady bay, pleasure steamer, edina, trade, travel, screw ship, coastal trader, cargo, victoria, buckawall, indigenous rescue, indigenous hero

Articles in this annual report include: dismay at continued amount of Government financial support has been capped for over 30 years despite increased costs, visits by Lady Stonehave, Lord and Lady Somers, the reduction in sale prices due to overwhelming competition with machinery made goods, resignation of M.A. Tanswell and appointment of H.E. Finlayson, to perpetuate the loss of Lady Brunton (a vocal supporter of the Institute) her husband Lord Brunton invested 350 pounds for the purpose of establishing the "Lady Brunton Memorial Prize Fund for Educational Purposes", a Girl Guide and Brownie troop were formed during the year, George Findlay received his degree in Music, many pupils completed their Pianoforte examination at the University Conservatorium with Honours, over 14,000 people attended Concert Party performances in Ballarat and Bendigo and nearly 3000 people packed into Melbourne Town Hall, thanks to the Advance Agent (R Reid), Manager (Alf Broadway) and volunteer Stage Manager (W Sewell) who helped our artists put together their momentous events, piano tuners continue to see a demand for their services under the skilled tuition of Alex Johnson, request for amended legislation so that people can train as masseurs, a hostel for males will be completed in a few months time and the womens hostel is proving invaluable to young women and female adult workers, free Wireless Sets distributed have had their licences renewed and batteries replaced with many letters of appreciation coming in from families who have seen a world of change for those who can now listen to the wider world, grant of two acres of land for use as a sporting ground by the St Kilda Council, new rowing shed and club house to be built at Albert Park so that all blind people can avail themselves of this pastime, visiting cricket teams from New South Wales and Adelaide at a social evening, continued work with homecraft workers, concert in Ormond Hall for Tramways Board and employees to thank them for free passes and the passing of pupil Mavis Thompson.1 volume bound with illustrations.royal victorian institute for the blind, annual report, j tanswell, harry finlayson, lady brunton, lord brunton, girl guides, brownies, george findlay, r reid, alf broadway, w sewell, alex johnson, raleigh street hostel, rowing, cricket, mavis thompson

Document. Greeting Cards. Small creamy card with cut out window. Through the window is a sepia rural scene with two cows, a lady, a bridge and some trees. Around the window is an embossed border inside a gold glitter border. At the top right and bottom left corners are embossed ivy like leaves which extend into the window. The edges are scallop cut. Card & insert held together with a pa;le blue twisted cord.person, greeting cards, malone collection, malone collection, greeting cards, mr. and mrs. john elliot, commercial bank footscray

(a) Copy of Caleb Thomas Plan - Sheet No VI (774) on the New Chum Line dated 4/12/1885. Plan shows the new St Mungo, Duchess Tribute, South Devonshire, Alberts Shaft, Duchess of Edinburgh, United Devonshire (later W. V. Devonshire), Princess Alexandra (later The United Devonshire) and the Ext'd St Mungo. (b) Sheet No VA (775) dated 30/5/1885. Eaglehawk District. Mines mentioned are: Phoenix Coy, Unicorn Coy Lease, Unicorn Shaft, Sth St Mungo, St Mungo Coy and the Lady Barkly. Also some numbered, unnamed shafts. Plans mentions shaft number, no of compartments and distance in yards and feet between each mine. Document is part of the Albert Richardson Collection. document, gold, mining reports, mining reports, caleb thomas plans, st mungo, duchess tribute, south devonshire, alberts shaft, duchess of edinburgh, united devonshire (later w. v. devonshire), princess alexandra (later the united devonshire), ext'd st mungo, phoenix coy, unicorn co lease, unicorn shaft, sth st mungo, st mungo coy, lady barkly

Background on Bridle Path up Stony Creek Gorge Pre 1840 C. B. Hall, squatter on Mokepilly Run 1841-1842, first European to discover the Fyans Creek valley, the entrance of which became known as Hall's Gap. He later recorded that he followed a number of tracks which he assumed had been made by the Aboriginies and described one as "leading up a wild romantic glen and over on to the source of the Glenelg River". This could well have been the route taken up Stony Creek gorge by the first timber-cutters in this part of the Grampians to the saddle between the Wonderland and Mt. Difficult ranges known as Valley Gap 1850s/60s Timber cutters and shingle splitters were reported to be moving into the eastern side of the Grampians and by the mid 1860s there were a number of families connected to the supplying of timber to Pleasant Creek living in the "Hall's Gap ranges". John Wakeham, the first store owner in Pleasant Creek in 1854, established a timer-mill in upper Stony Creek Gorge in the late 1850s. Wakeham is credited for the clearing and levelling of the first bridle-path up the gorge. 1870s By the mid 1870s the track had been extended over Valley Gap to the Victoria Forest (the upper region of the Victoria Valley). McKeon's bullock team was known to have hauled red gum from the Valley to Stawell in the late 1870s and the 1880s. 1880s In 1887 an article in the Pleasant Creek news describes the Stony Creek Gorge track as "being a ledge alongside the mountain range, formed in the early days with the aid of earth and timber, along which the bullock teams used to travel to Horsham and plains of the Wimmera beyond." 1890s Gold was discovered in the catchment area of Stony Creek and by the end of the 1890s a new track was built from "near the junction of Fyan's and Stony Creeks, up the gorge to the diggings settlement. The mining Department had paid L300 for its construction and, when completed, the track was "three miles and 30 chains in length, the side cuttings at the narrowest part being 10 feet between" and "the watercourses which cross the track at various points" having been "filled up with rocks rolled down the sides of the hills, and consequently there can be no damage caused by bushfires which destroyed the former wooden bridges erected on the old track to Wakeham's saw-mill, the remains of which are still to be seen at the side of the diggings" The article goes on to further describe the track as one which "can with ease travel with a two horse conveyance either up or down" and that the workmen engaged in the construction of the track would be attending "a ball that night at McKeon's farm near the mouth of the gap to celebrate the successful completion of the undertaking". 1900s At what time the bridle path was extended beyond Valley Gap to the Wartook basin on the Mt. Difficult Range has not yet been determined. However, it is known that, by the turn of the century, people were travelling between Halls Gap and the caretakers' residence at Wartook Reservoir along what was now known as the "Bluff Road. Wartook's embankment had been constructed in 1887 and at that time there was already a track from Rosebrook Station homestead (near the present day Wartook Pottery) to the reservoir. Philip Rose owned both Rosebrook and Wartook Stations from the mid 1840s to the late 1850s and had regularly leased the Wartook basin to Cobb & Co. to rest horses there. 1920s Following the war of 1914-1918, tourism really took off in the Grampians, and Halls Gap rapidly grew. People would travel as far as they could on the many tracks then hike to the many lookouts being discovered by local tour guides. This led to the need for access across the range so that horse riders and the increasing number of vehicles could travel between Horsham and Halls Gap. To this end, the Bluff Road was improved and extended on 1929 and at its opening in March, 1930, by Lady Somers it was renamed the Mt. Victory Road.Map of Mt Victory Road and othersaccess routes, mt victory rd, bridle path, roads

This painting of the “La Bella” is associated with Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from the wreck of the “La Bella”. It was painted around the 1980s by maritime artist Philip J. Gray. Some 15 – 17 ships are believed to have sunk in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the seafloor; the “La Bella” and the “Edinburgh Castle”. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. The Kosnar Picture Framing and Mirrors Shop identified the "GRAY 3135, Y04/111" as their job number for the framing and said that the label "ANOTHER KOSNAR FEATURE" was last used before about 1990. About artist Philip J. Gray “Philip is one of Australia’s leading maritime artists and his meticulous research and social commentary paintings of ships, such as, the Loch Ard and Schomberg form an important part of Warrnambool’s Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum.” [Dr Marion Manifold, Artist and Art Historian, 2014] Philip James Gray was born in London but has lived most of his life in Australia. He graduated from a London school of art as an illustrator, specialising in technical and scientific illustration as well as other commercial and applied art. He was also a student for a time of Fyffe Christie - British figurative artist, mural painter and humanitarian – who had a great influence on his career. Philip has always worked as a professional artist and illustrator. Many publications on maritime history have featured his work. His paintings have been released and sold all over the world as limited edition prints. The State Library of Victoria’s ‘Latrobe Collection’ holds two of his paintings. His street painting of ‘The Ashes Contest’ decorates the brick wall of Old Bakery Laneway in Sunbury and a Sunbury café owner commissioned him to paint the ‘Sunbury Pop Festival’ as a remembrance of local history. Philip has been an active member of the Sunbury Art Society in Victoria for several years, serving on the committee for some of that time and being involved in exhibitions. He enjoys helping new artists and sharing his skills and experience. About the “La Bella” The wreck of the La Bella lies at the bottom of the Warrnambool Harbour in Lady Bay. Some 15 ships are believed to have been wrecked there but only two have been discovered on the sea floor; the La Bella and the Edinburgh Castle. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. The story of the final voyage of the La Bella is summarised as follows … The ship from which the sailors were rescued was the three-masted, iron and steel barquentine the La Bella, built in Norway in 1893. She was one of two iron and steel ships by Johan Smith, the company being one of the leading shipping families in Tvedestrand, Norway. She was significant to Norwegian shipping, being one of only 27 iron and steel ships ever built in Norway. La Bella was registered in New Zealand and engaged from 1902 in inter-colonial trading of timber in the pacific, between New Zealand and Australia and was often in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. On 5th October 1905 the twelve year old La Bella left Lyttleton, New Zealand carrying a cargo of timber bound for Warrnambool, Australia . She was manned by a crew of twelve: the Master, (Captain Mylius, previously 1st Mate of La Bella, appointed Captain to La Bella on 6th February 1903) 2 Mates, Cook, six able seamen, one ordinary seaman and a boy. Bad weather en-route caused her to shelter at Burnie on Tasmania's North West coast. On November 10th, the 37th day of her journey, La Bella approached Warrnambool. Captain Mylius steered her towards Lady Bay Channel in heavy south-west seas and evening mist. He ordered the helmsman to steer for the light. As the ship came round, a tremendous sea struck her on the port quarter, causing her to breach broadside in a north-westerly direction into breakers. The helm was brought round twice more, but each time heavy seas broke over her, the third time throwing the La Bella on to a submerged reef in Lady Bay now known as La Bella Reef (about 100 yards from the Warrnambool breakwater). The sea was so rough that it even wrenched a one-and-a-half ton anchor from its fastenings and into the sea. As Captain Mylius headed to the steel wheelhouse, intending to send up a rocket flare, a huge sea slammed the steel door into him (resulting in massive bruising front and back) Despite his injuries he still managed to set off a blue light, which he held up in his hands. La Bella’s lifeboats were filled with sea water and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on shore that there was a ship in distress. The Harbour Master, Captain Roe (who lived in the Harbour Master’s House opposite Flagstaff Hill), organised a group of volunteers to crew the lifeboat because the trained crew was unavailable; the crewmen were working on a steamer in Port Fairy at the time. He then poured oil onto the water to try and smooth the sea. At around 11pm three of the crew took shelter in the steel forecastle but the sea crashed into it and broke it up. While the rest of the crew and onlookers watched helplessly in the moonlight the bodies were washed away into the sea, never to be seen again. Some of the crew lashed themselves to the weather rail to keep from being washed away. Watson, the ordinary seaman, became tangled in the rigging lines and was too weak to move, so the 2nd Mate, Robertson, put a line onto him so that he wouldn’t wash off. Around 11pm three of the crew were unconscious from exhaustion. The situation on La Bella was becoming dangerous. The 2nd Mate moved to the ‘house’ and soon afterwards the ship slipped in the heavy sea. The lashings of the 1st Mate and the ‘boy’ Denham had kept them safe until about 2am when they were washed overboard; no one was able to help. One by one, the exhausted crew were being washed overboard, too weak to hold on any longer. During the night the La Bella had broken into two and the deckhouse ran out towards the sea. Two more men drowned when trying to reach the lifeboat. By sunrise the only survivors of the twelve were the Master, 2nd Mate and three seamen. Early in the morning Captain Roe used the rocket apparatus on shore to try and shoot a line to the ship for a safer rescue but each attempt fell short of the target. Several attempts were made by the lifeboat to rescue the stricken sailors, but the rough conditions made this difficult for the boat to get close enough to the ship and the lifeboat had to return to shore. During a final attempt to reach the ship Captain Mylius ordered his men to jump into the sea. Leonard Robertson, 2nd mate, jumped and swam towards the lifeboat, taking hold of the boat hook offered to him. Oscar Rosenholme managed to reach the boat floating on a piece of timber from the ship’s load and a third survivor, Noake, also made the boat. Along with the lifeboat rescue crew, 25 year old William Ferrier rowed his small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain, whom he landed on the breakwater. Ferrier then returned to the ship to attempt a final rescue, losing his oars and rowlocks into the high sea. Using just a spare paddle he skulled towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the lashing that held him to the ship; the terrified sailor dropped from the ship and into the dingy. Shortly after the last man was rescued, the La Bella was lifted by a huge wave and crashed back down on the reef; she broke up and sank. The ordeal had lasted ten hours. The survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. In the following days an unidentified body of a young person was washed ashore; it was either Watson or Denham. The body was buried in the Warrnambool cemetery with an appropriate gravestone and inscription. William Ferrier became a national hero as news of the daring rescue spread. In recognition of his bravery in the two daring rescues he was awarded the Silver Medal for Bravery by the Royal Humane Society and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams and a cheque for £20 from the Governor General, over £150 subscribed by the public, including Warrnambool and district and readers of The Argus, and a gold medal from the Glenelg Dinghy Club of South Australia. Ferrier’s rescue efforts are one of the most heroic in Victoria’s shipwreck history. (William Ferrier’s son, Frank, received a similar award almost fifty years later, when he helped rescue four members of the crew on the yacht Merlan, after it ran on to a reef near the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. ) The wreck of La Bella now lies on her port side in 13 metres of sheltered water inside the reef she struck. The bow section is relatively intact and part of the stern has drifted north-easterly towards the mouth of the Hopkins River. The reef the La Bella struck now bears its name. Those five rescued from the La Bella were Captain George Mylius, Leonard Robertson (2nd Mate, 21 years old), R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. Those seven who lost their lives were Mr Coulson (1st mate), Charles Jackman (cook) Gustave Johnson, Pierre Johann and Robert Gent (all able seamen), Harry Watson (ordinary seaman) and Jack Denham (ship’s boy). Captain Mylius was found guilty of careless navigation; he had sailed into the bay without the services of a pilot. His Master Certificate was suspended for twelve months. Later he was also charged with manslaughter of one of the crew who had died when the La Bella was wrecked, but found not guilty. The event’s adverse publicity and damage to his career took a toll on his health and he died of a heart attack six months after the wreck; he was only thirty-seven. His body was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. The La Bella was “the best documented of all sailing ships owned in New Zealand”. Her record books, ship logs, correspondence and supporting papers are still available. At the time of the tragedy she was owned by Messers David C.Turnbull and Co. of Timaru, New Zealand timber merchants and shipping agents, who had purchased her on 13th December 1901. A detailed account of the last journey of La Bella can be read in “Leonard Robertson, the Whangaroa & La Bella” written by Jack Churchouse, published in 1982 by Millwood Press Ltd, Wellington, NZ.This painting of the La Bella by Philip J. Gray is part of the La Bella Collection and is significant at both a local and state level. Its connection to the La Bella shipwreck and the rescue of five survivors highlights the dangers of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast. The painting connects with other objects and artefacts associated with the wreck of the La Bella. This painting is significant because of its association with the sailing ship “La Bella” . the “La Bella” is of local and state and national significance. It is one of the only two shipwrecks discovered in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, out of the 15-17 shipwrecks in the bay. Large framed painting of the three masted barquentine "La Bella" fully rigged. Painted by Phillip J Gray. A fine printed line squares off the painting. Beneath painting and line is a gold plate with black copper plate designating "La Bella" is encased in glass, surrounded by a silver-metal frame. Yellow and brown paper label is adhered to back of painting. Picture framed by Kosnar in Melbourne."The La Bella" on gold plaque Logo of "K" inside a brown square. "GRAY 3135, Y04/111", "ANOTHER KOSNAR FEATURE" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, painting, la bella, artist phillip j gray, maritime painting, lady bay warrnambool

This lady's jacket and vest has been made early in the 20th century and worn at formal occasions such as family celebrations, receptions etc.This garment is a fine example of a lady's jacket, made about 100 years ago and could have part of some one's mourning attire. It is a display item.This is a lady's fitted jacket made of black satin with a vest. There is satin brocade on the front sides of the jacket. The jacket has a peplum waist at the back and cuffed long sleeves edged with lace. There are hooks and eyes on the front to allow the jacket to be closed. The vest is made of fine black lace over a cream insert at the front. An added feature is a white lace collar with a black ribbon tie. vintage women's clothing, warrnambool history

This is a book of 170 pages. The cover has a coloured sketch of a soldier on a grey background , two bomb sketches and some black printing. The spine is almost completely missing. The pages contain printed text, maps, sketches, black and white photographs and coloured illustrations. The book is bound with heavy duty staples. There are five loose newspaper cuttings.non-fictionAustralians in World War 1 world war 1, anzacs, australian humour

This bonnet would have been worn when the wearer was out doors and has been, perhaps, remodelled from a previous bonnet. All women wore a head covering out of doors in the past up to about the 1950s.This bonnet has no known provenance but is retained for display purposes as an example of a lady's bonnet from a previous era.This lady's bonnet is made of cream straw with dark brown cloth pleated trimming and cream felt flowers and leaves. The centre of some of the flowers have gold small buttons attached by fine wire covered in straw. Long faded light brown ribbons are attached to the sides of the bonnet to enable it to be tied to the lady's head.vintage women's clothing., bonnets, straw hats

This garment was donated by the daughter of Ena Heazlewood, the maker of the item. Mary Josephine (Ena) Todd was born in Warrnambool in 1920 and worked as a hairdresser at Josephine’s Salon in Warrnambool. In 1942 she married Jack Heazlewood, a stoker on the H.M.A.S. Sydney at the time. He was also born in Warrnambool. The couple later lived in Sydney. This coat was made by Ena Heazlewood and was worn by both her son, John and her daughter, JudithThis coat is of interest as one made by a former Warrnambool lady in the mid 20th century. It is also an example of the style of children’s clothing worn 70 years ago. This is a child’s coat, hand-sewn and made of white cotton (towelling or boucle type material). The coat is lined with white cotton material and has a pointed shirt collar with inset sleeves and flares out slightly from the chest area. The coat opens at the front and has two cream-coloured buttons and two button holes. There is some slight staining on the coat. vintage clothing, todd & heazlewood families, warrnambool