Folder containing a table of contents and a selection of articles on Gippsland History by John Wells in the West Gippsland Trader Volume 2. The date the articles were published, and title of articles are listed below. 19 Jul 2012 Gembrook - an Attractive Little Town 7 Jun 2012 Getting Rid of the Wood 21 Mar 2013 Getting Into Orbost 13 Dec ? Metung - A BEnd in the River 20 Sep 2012 The Royal Victorian Navy 6 Dec 2012 Tree Ferns to Blackberries 22 Nov 2012 Nowa Nowa Arm and Boggy Creek 18 Oct 2012 Home of the Baw Baw Frog 1 Nov 2012 Clearing the Hills 11 Oct 2012 The Loss of the Monumental City 4 Oct 2012 The Waterloo Township 13 Sep 2012 Birth of the Shire of Morwell 27 Sep 2012 George Black and Tarwin Meadows 9 Aug 2012 The Forgotten Corner of Gippsland 27 Mar 2008 Thomas William Harrison’s Family 3 Jul ? Railway was Enormous Value to Swamp Country 19 Jun 2008 The Narre Warren Reserve Gates 12 Jun 2008 Heavy Harry is a Pretty Crook Giant 2 May ? Small Settlements on a Long Gippsland Track 5 Jun 2008 Land of Bullumwaal ot “Two Spears” 29 May 2008 Bigger Stops on a Long Road 15 May 2008 Crossing the Beautiful Snowy River 17 Apr 2008 I Remember Uncle Jack aqs an Old Man with Something Wrong 25 Jun 2009 The Murder of Cornelius Green 2 Jul 2009 Captain James Cook was too Late 5 Sep 2013 Oil and the Gippsland Lakes 18 Jun 2009 The Suburbs Around Sale 13 May 2010 The Boag Generations go on and on in Gippsland 27 May 2010 Underwater Coal at Yallourn Open Cut 4 Nov 2010 Narracan - the Aboriginal Name for Crow 23 Apr 2009 Driving Along the Omeo Track 2 Dec 2010 Remembering Those Old Wives’ Tales that we all Grew up with 16 Apr 2009 Myrtlebank, the Lost Suburb 16 Dec 2010 The Tragedy of the Loch Ard 9 Dec 2010 The Latrobe River Wharf on the East Bank 2 Jun 2011 Stony Creek Township’s Quiet Past 17 Mar 2011 William Barak Saw the Whites Take Over 5 May 2011 The Squatters’ Names Still Here 12 May 2011 The Diary of C.A.Ramsden (part one) 26 May 2011 South Coast Towns, 1891 19 May 2011 The Second Part of C.A.Ramsden’s Diary 28 Apr 2011 Squatter Names Still Remain on our Maps 13 Oct 2011 The Resting Place of 1131 Australians 29 Sep 2011 The Mitchell Valley Hopfields Oct 6 Lest We Forget - Lijssenthoek 10 Nov 2011 The Kurnai Men UNKNOWN The Returning of Captain Joe McLaughlin 6 Jun 2013 The Marlo Plains 16 May 2013 Bain’s Border Hotel 23 May ? The Mystery Map 30 May 2013 Finding a Road to the Jordan 4 Apr 2013 Rick Solves Mystery of American Captain 2 May ? The Haunted Hills - Tall Story or Truth? 18 Apr ? Interesting Times 15 Aug 2013 Remembering the Good Times 11 Dec 2014 The Old Sale Road - an Important Link 26 Mar 2015 Difficult to Know the Real Story 27 Nov 2014 The State’s Real Birthday 12 Sep 2013 The Herald 1925 2 Oct 2014 Beacons of Hope 9 Oct 2014 The Joys of Parenthood 6 Nov 2014 Aboriginal Life in Gippsland 30 Oct 2014 Growing up in Gippsland - Harriett Quigley 26 Sep 2013 The McHaffie Diary 19 Sep 2013 Outtrim - Once a Boom Town 10 Oct 2013 Happy Hundredth Birthday 4 Sep 2014 Many Towns Simply Disappeared 17 Jul 2014 Long Distance Farmer 25 Sep 2014 Sam Anderson - Gippsland’s First Farmer 28 Aug 2014 Local Oil 90 Years Ago 6 Mar 2014 A Fiery Summer - 1898 20 Feb 2014 The Corduroy Roads 8 May 2014 The Darkness Within 13 Mar ? Draining the Moe Swamp 1 May 2014 Any Ideas on Old Cannon? 3 Jul 2014 The Magnificent Snowy 14 Aug 2014 Two Gems in the Hills 19 Jun 2014 The Towns Down the Line 27 Feb 2014 State School 2502, Longwarry 18 Sep 2014 Lakes a Natural Fishing Ground 15 May 2014 Police Down the Ages 22May 2014 Iron Horse Came at a Walk 29 May 2014 Prom’s Early Attraction 12 Jun 2014 A Brief History of Meeniyan 5 Jun 2014 Ride on the Old Great Southern 26 Jun 2014 When Victoria Police Went on Strike 23 Apr 2015 Grandma’s Family Lost Heavily 11 Jun 2015 A Rail Journey Almost to Orbost 28 May 2015 Second Battle of Hastings 4 Jun 2015 Dandenong to Trafalgar by Train 18 Jun 2015 The Travelling Picture Man 19 Feb 2015 Water was a Problem 5 Feb 2015 Sandy Point Return Invokes Memories 24 Oct 2013 Lyrebirds Nesting in Trees? 12 Mar 2015 Supplying Melbourne’s Water 9 Aug 2015 They Shall Not Grow Old as we That Are Left 9 Jul 2015 National Parks a Valuable Resource 11 Sep 2014 Living Through the Best and the Worst 12 Feb 2015 Fishing is Part of Port’s History 26 Feb 2015 Chance Lost to Eliminate Rabbits 5 Mar 2015 Bloomfield - End of the Line, in a Way 11 Jul ? Emerald Primary School 22 Aug 2013 The Heartbreak Hills 17 Oct 2013 Port Albert, Land of Elephants 14 Nov 2013 Bullumwaal Land of Two Spears 28 Nov 2013 Coalville - the Forgotten Mine 5 Dec 2013 Early Travel with the Bishop 12 Dec 2013 Bishop Perry in Gippsland 19 Dec 2013 The Great Sale Goldfields Hoax 20 Mar 2014 A Chance to Dazzle the Kids 27 Mar 2014 More of Those Creeks and Rivers 3 Apr 2014 The Arctocephalus is With us Still 10 Apr 2014 Upper Yarra Dam had an Early Start UNKNOWN Harkaway’s Colorful History Contains Some Doubtful Tales UNKNOWN Berwick and the Peninsula in 1886non-fictiongippsland lakes, emerald primary school, meeniyan, upper yarra dam

Folder containing a table of contents and a selection of articles on Gippsland History by John Wells in the West Gippsland Trader Volume 1. The date the articles were published, and title of articles are listed below. 30 Oct 1997 Noojee Railway Line is an Engineering Classic 06 Nov 1997 Railways were a kiss of life for small settlements 13 Nov 1997 Erica was a timber and railway town 20 Nov 1997 People fought for railway line through to Stratford 27 Nov 1997 Tiny towns on the Wonthaggi line Vol 16 No 50 Cobungra station has some wild and beautiful country Vol 16 No 51 The explorers we have forgotten Vol 17 No 30 Hallam store became a place for men to gather 14 Feb 2002 Charlie Styles and his dull grey bedford bus Vol 26 No 10 Southern Community names 03 Aug 2006 A bit more Cloverlea 28 Sep 2006 Many airlines were keen to link wide brown land 26 Oct 2006 The ‘run’ at Top Plain 02 Nov 2006 Briagolong and the Garden of Eden 09 Nov 2006 I found a treasure in a milk bar 16 Nov 2006 Got five bob in your pocket, or should I say fifty cents? 23 Nov 2006 Trains were important in developing Gippsland 30 Nov 2006 The main line into Gippsland 07 Dec 2006 Alfred Howitt was a great man who deserves recognition Dec 2006? Christmas again? Already? 15 Feb 2007 The Great Southern Railway 08 Mar 2007 Expectations about water quality have changed since the old days 29 Mar 2007 Navigating by tree tops 12 Apr 2007 The Gippsland railway branch lines were very important in many ways 26 Apr 2007 Some community names from our northern hills 10 May 2007 Community names at the eastern end 24 May 2007 A shorter railway with big tonnages 31 May 2007 Cerberus was the guard dog 07 Jun 2007 Suburban stations in Gippsland 14 Jun 2007 How many Longwarry schools were there? 21 Jun 2007 Traralgon run was Hobson’s choice 28 Jun 2007 Maiden and Mormon and Happy Go Lucky 05 Jul 2007 Consider the humble rabbit trap 12 Jul 2007 Five acre blocks are everywhere 26 Jul 2007 Fencing, but not the Olympic variety 02 Aug 2007 Hanging the barbed wire fences 09 Aug 2007 Collecting and keeping the tucker we gathered 23 Aug 2007 The Longwarry Primary School itself 30 Aug 2007 Surveyors did it hard down Poowong way 06 Sep 2007 Back to the Poowong story 13 Sep 2007 A “think piece” or an indulgence? 20 Sep 2007 Longwarry “extra late final” 04 Oct 2007 Platina’s gone but not forgotten 11 Oct 2007 Robert Nield – Murray is back at it 18 Oct 2007 Spetts’ cottage at Walhalla 25 Oct 2007 Across the Alps to Omeo 08 Nov 2007 Where the gold lies deep in settlements that died 15 Nov 2007 Mines aplenty in the Walhalla area 22 Nov 2007 The other Violet Town – Jolly’s 29 Nov 2007 Mallacoota archaeology 06 Dec 2007 The Cassilis township or call it a settlement 13 Dec 2007 George Bass missed French Island 08 Feb 2008 David Mickle relates many stories of railway accidents 11Sep 2008 Lord Howe has a long history 18 Sep 2008 Quarry Hills important link for Berwick 25 Sep 2008 Tall ships, short ships, schooners and sloops 26 Jun 2008 We find Yanakie Jack again 03 Jul 2008 The well known Baw Baw Track 10 Jul 2008 Land of the moon? 07 Aug 2008 I loved eeling in the Tarago River 14 Aug 2008 Don’t let the red steer loose 28 Aug 2008 Yes, there is a place called Jumbuk 04 Sep 2008 The land of the big trees 23 Oct 2008 Still looking for Gippsland’s first town 13 Nov 2008 Journey to the bowels of the earth 30 Oct 2008 For King and Country – J.M. Laidlaw 06 Nov 2008 Jesse Huggett lived an adventurous life 22 Nov 2008 Churchill Island, yet again 04 Dec 2008 Bowman’s Track – if we can find it 11 Dec 2008 Draining of the great Koo Wee Rup Swamp 18 Dec 2008 The swampies had a go 02 Apr 2009 Looking for natural gas not offshore oil 21 Aug 2008 The Dreaded Summer Wildfire 17 Jul 2008 The Tangel (or Tanjil) hills District 7 Feb 2012 The Tanjil Area Goldrush 29 Aug 2013 Saddled and Spurred 9 Feb 2012 Many Racecourses Have Disappeared 16 Feb 2012 Fraser’s Hotel in Glenmaggie 23 Feb 2012 “Nothing Today, Jack!” on the Berwick Hill 1 Mar 2012 The Schnapper Point Line 8 Mar 2012 The Imaginary Town of Tambo 22 Mar 2012 The Tanjil Story Part One 15 Mar 2012 Inverloch Served Mosquito Fleet of Mis-Matched Boats 21 Jun 2012 The Last Bits of the Line 29 Mar 2012 “Gold Rush” to the Tanjil Area led to Reef Mining Companies 16 Aug 2012 New Life for Old Port Welshpool? 30 Aug 2012 The Capital of South Gippsland 28 Jun 2012 The Last Bits of the Line 5 Jul 2012 Ferdinand Von Mueller - a Man of Knowledge 12 Jul 2012 Stones in the Creek 19 Jul 2012 Gembrook - an Attractive Little Town 7 Jun 2012 Getting Rid of the Wood 21 Mar 2013 Getting Into Orbost 13 Dec ? Metung - A BEnd in the River 20 Sep 2012 The Royal Victorian Navy 6 Dec 2012 Tree Ferns to Blackberries 22 Nov 2012 Nowa Nowa Arm and Boggy Creek 18 Oct 2012 Home of the Baw Baw Frog 1 Nov 2012 Clearing the Hills 11 Oct 2012 The Loss of the Monumental City 4 Oct 2012 The Waterloo Township 13 Sep 2012 Birth of the Shire of Morwell 27 Sep 2012 George Black and Tarwin Meadows 9 Aug 2012 The Forgotten Corner of Gippsland 27 Mar 2008 Thomas William Harrison’s Family 3 Jul ? Railway was Enormous Value to Swamp Country 19 Jun 2008 The Narre Warren Reserve Gates 12 Jun 2008 Heavy Harry is a Pretty Crook Giant 2 May ? Small Settlements on a Long Gippsland Track 5 Jun 2008 Land of Bullumwaal ot “Two Spears” 29 May 2008 Bigger Stops on a Long Road 15 May 2008 Crossing the Beautiful Snowy River 17 Apr 2008 I Remember Uncle Jack aqs an Old Man with Something Wrong 25 Jun 2009 The Murder of Cornelius Green 2 Jul 2009 Captain James Cook was too Late 5 Sep 2013 Oil and the Gippsland Lakes 18 Jun 2009 The Suburbs Around Sale 13 May 2010 The Boag Generations go on and on in Gippsland 27 May 2010 Underwater Coal at Yallourn Open Cut 4 Nov 2010 Narracan - the Aboriginal Name for Crow 23 Apr 2009 Driving Along the Omeo Track 2 Dec 2010 Remembering Those Old Wives’ Tales that we all Grew up with 16 Apr 2009 Myrtlebank, the Lost Suburb 16 Dec 2010 The Tragedy of the Loch Ard 9 Dec 2010 The Latrobe River Wharf on the East Bank 2 Jun 2011 Stony Creek Township’s Quiet Past 17 Mar 2011 William Barak Saw the Whites Take Over 5 May 2011 The Squatters’ Names Still Here 12 May 2011 The Diary of C.A.Ramsden (part one) 26 May 2011 South Coast Towns, 1891 19 May 2011 The Second Part of C.A.Ramsden’s Diary 28 Apr 2011 Squatter Names Still Remain on our Maps 13 Oct 2011 The Resting Place of 1131 Australians 29 Sep 2011 The Mitchell Valley Hopfields Oct 6 Lest We Forget - Lijssenthoek 10 Nov 2011 The Kurnai Men UNKNOWN The Returning of Captain Joe McLaughlin 6 Jun 2013 The Marlo Plains 16 May 2013 Bain’s Border Hotel 23 May ? The Mystery Map 30 May 2013 Finding a Road to the Jordan 4 Apr 2013 Rick Solves Mystery of American Captain 2 May ? The Haunted Hills - Tall Story or Truth? 18 Apr ? Interesting Times 15 Aug 2013 Remembering the Good Times 11 Dec 2014 The Old Sale Road - an Important Link 26 Mar 2015 Difficult to Know the Real Story 27 Nov 2014 The State’s Real Birthday 12 Sep 2013 The Herald 1925 2 Oct 2014 Beacons of Hope 9 Oct 2014 The Joys of Parenthood 6 Nov 2014 Aboriginal Life in Gippsland 30 Oct 2014 Growing up in Gippsland - Harriett Quigley 26 Sep 2013 The McHaffie Diary 19 Sep 2013 Outtrim - Once a Boom Town 10 Oct 2013 Happy Hundredth Birthday 4 Sep 2014 Many Towns Simply Disappeared 17 Jul 2014 Long Distance Farmer 25 Sep 2014 Sam Anderson - Gippsland’s First Farmer 28 Aug 2014 Local Oil 90 Years Ago 6 Mar 2014 A Fiery Summer - 1898 20 Feb 2014 The Corduroy Roads 8 May 2014 The Darkness Within 13 Mar ? Draining the Moe Swamp 1 May 2014 Any Ideas on Old Cannon? 3 Jul 2014 The Magnificent Snowy 14 Aug 2014 Two Gems in the Hills 19 Jun 2014 The Towns Down the Line 27 Feb 2014 State School 2502, Longwarry 18 Sep 2014 Lakes a Natural Fishing Ground 15 May 2014 Police Down the Ages 22May 2014 Iron Horse Came at a Walk 29 May 2014 Prom’s Early Attraction 12 Jun 2014 A Brief History of Meeniyan 5 Jun 2014 Ride on the Old Great Southern 26 Jun 2014 When Victoria Police Went on Strike 23 Apr 2015 Grandma’s Family Lost Heavily 11 Jun 2015 A Rail Journey Almost to Orbost 28 May 2015 Second Battle of Hastings 4 Jun 2015 Dandenong to Trafalgar by Train 18 Jun 2015 The Travelling Picture Man 19 Feb 2015 Water was a Problem 5 Feb 2015 Sandy Point Return Invokes Memories 24 Oct 2013 Lyrebirds Nesting in Trees? 12 Mar 2015 Supplying Melbourne’s Water 9 Aug 2015 They Shall Not Grow Old as we That Are Left 9 Jul 2015 National Parks a Valuable Resource 11 Sep 2014 Living Through the Best and the Worst 12 Feb 2015 Fishing is Part of Port’s History 26 Feb 2015 Chance Lost to Eliminate Rabbits 5 Mar 2015 Bloomfield - End of the Line, in a Way 11 Jul ? Emerald Primary School 22 Aug 2013 The Heartbreak Hills 17 Oct 2013 Port Albert, Land of Elephants 14 Nov 2013 Bullumwaal Land of Two Spears 28 Nov 2013 Coalville - the Forgotten Mine 5 Dec 2013 Early Travel with the Bishop 12 Dec 2013 Bishop Perry in Gippsland 19 Dec 2013 The Great Sale Goldfields Hoax 20 Mar 2014 A Chance to Dazzle the Kids 27 Mar 2014 More of Those Creeks and Rivers 3 Apr 2014 The Arctocephalus is With us Still 10 Apr 2014 Upper Yarra Dam had an Early Start UNKNOWN Harkaway’s Colorful History Contains Some Doubtful Tales UNKNOWN Berwick and the Peninsula in 1886non-fictionwonthaggi railway line towns, great southern railway, baw baw track

This print shows an image of the three-masted iron clipper Loch Vennachar. The ship was built by Thomson’s on the Clyde under the Glasgow Shipping Co in 1875 and named after a Scottish lake, as were other ships in the Loch Line’s fleet. Loch Vennachar made many journeys from Britain to Australia and was well-known in Australian ports. On one of its homeward-bound journeys from Australia, the ship sank in the River Thames. Its cargo included 850 tonnes of preserved canned rabbits from Warrnambool's Western Meat Preserving Company. The ship was raised and continued trading for another four years. On 14th June 1905, Loch Vennachar departed Glasgow for Adelaide and Melbourne. The last known sighting of it was on 6th September 1875 when overtaken by the SS Yongala; the captains exchanged the “all well” signals. After that, the ship disappeared with loss of all 27 lives, according to a list that was received by Fremantle through the English mail. The list indicated that there were no passengers on that voyage. Sadly, other Loch Line ships med with similar disasters. The list of lost crew on the Loch Vennachar included Thomas. W. Pearce, apprentice, Southampton. His father was Tom Pearce, one of the two survivors of the Loch Ard, wrecked in 1878. Also, Thomas’ grandfather, James Pearce, was the captain of SS Gothenburg at the time of her wrecking in 1875. Consequently, the wrecking of the Loch Vennachar and the Loc Sloy near the southwest point of Kangaroo Island, a lighthouse was erected, officially opening in June 1907. The northern headland of West Bay was named Vennachar Point in memory of the ship in 1908. The wreck was discovered in 1976 by divers from the Society for Underwater Historical Research, over seventy years after being lost off Kangaroo Island.The Loch Vennachar performed a significant role in Australia’s colonial trade, taking goods between Great Britain and Australia. These goods included locally preserved tinned rabbits processed at a factory in Warrnambool for overseas trade.Coloured print from a painting of the sailing ship Loch Vennachar in full sail on the sea. The ship was built in 1875 and wrecked in 1905 off Kangaroo Island.Text under print "Loch Vennacher" and "from 1875 this beautiful 1,400 ton ship was well-known in Australian ports, contributing much to this country's prosperity. Foundered near Kangaroo Island, S.A., in 1905." flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, loch vennachar, loch vennacher, loch line ship, glasgow shipping co, 1975 clipper ship, loch vennachar image., kangaroo island shipwreck, 1905 shipwreck, tinned rabbits, preserved rabbits, western meat preserving company, 1901, 1905

This is a photographic image of the three-masted iron clipper Loch Vennachar created by photographer Fred Kruger of Geelong. Fred Kruger was born in Germany in 1831 and migrated to Victoria before his wife, who arrived in 1863. He began working in photography in the 1850s. He was internationally recognised for his work, which covered a variety of subjects. He settled in Geelong in later years, registering his studio in Skene St, Newtown. He passed away in February 1888. The National Gallery of Victoria now holds much of his work. Loch Vennachar: - Loch Vennachar made many journeys from Britain to Australia and was well-known in Australian ports. On one of its homeward-bound journeys from Australia, the ship sank in the River Thames. Its cargo included 850 tonnes of preserved canned rabbits from Warrnambool's Western Meat Preserving Company. The ship was raised and continued trading for another four years. On 14th June 1905, Loch Vennachar departed Glasgow for Adelaide and Melbourne. The last known sighting of it was on 6th September 1875 when overtaken by the SS Yongala; the captains exchanged the “all well” signals. After that, the ship disappeared with loss of all 27 lives, according to a list that was received by Fremantle through the English mail. The list indicated that there were no passengers on that voyage. Sadly, other Loch Line ships med with similar disasters. The list of lost crew on the Loch Vennachar included Thomas. W. Pearce, apprentice, Southampton. His father was Tom Pearce, one of the two survivors of the Loch Ard, wrecked in 1878. Also, Thomas’ grandfather, James Pearce, was the captain of SS Gothenburg at the time of her wrecking in 1875. Consequently, the wrecking of the Loch Vennachar and the Loc Sloy near the southwest point of Kangaroo Island, a lighthouse was erected, officially opening in June 1907. The northern headland of West Bay was named Vennachar Point in memory of the ship in 1908. The wreck was discovered in 1976 by divers from the Society for Underwater Historical Research, over seventy years after being lost off Kangaroo Island.The Loch Vennachar performed a significant role in Australia’s colonial trade, taking goods between Great Britain and Australia. These goods included locally preserved tinned rabbits processed at a factory in Warrnambool for overseas trade.Black and white photograph of the Loch Vennachar at the dock, without sails. (aka Loch Vennacher). Printed below photo "Loch Vennachar of Glasgow, 1485 Tons Reg. AA1 100. T.S. Ozanne, Comander" and "Fred Kruger Photo / Skene Street, Geelong" Printed below photo "Loch Vennachar of Glasgow, 1485 Tons Reg. AA1 100. T.S. Ozanne, Comander" and "Fred Kruger Photo / Skene Street, Geelong" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, loch vennachar, loch vennacher, loch line ship, glasgow shipping co, 1875 clipper ship, loch vennachar image., kangaroo island shipwreck, 1905 shipwreck, fred kruger photographer, photograph loch vennachar, preserved rabbits, canned rabbits, meat preserving company, western meat preserving company, 1901, 1905

This photograph is an image of the Loch Vennacher, taken while she is docked. The photograph is very similar to another in our collection taken by Fred. Kruger, a renowned Victorian photographer, between 1875-1905 and possibly in the Port of Melbourne. Loch Vennachar made many journeys from Britain to Australia and was well-known in Australian ports. On one of its homeward-bound journeys from Australia, the ship sank in the River Thames. Its cargo included 850 tonnes of preserved canned rabbits from Warrnambool's Western Meat Preserving Company. The ship was raised and continued trading for another four years. On 14th June 1905, Loch Vennachar departed Glasgow for Adelaide and Melbourne. The last known sighting of it was on 6th September 1875 when overtaken by the SS Yongala; the captains exchanged the “all well” signals. After that, the ship disappeared with loss of all 27 lives, according to a list that was received by Fremantle through the English mail. The list indicated that there were no passengers on that voyage. Sadly, other Loch Line ships med with similar disasters. The list of lost crew on the Loch Vennachar included Thomas. W. Pearce, apprentice, Southampton. His father was Tom Pearce, one of the two survivors of the Loch Ard, wrecked in 1878. Also, Thomas’ grandfather, James Pearce, was the captain of SS Gothenburg at the time of her wrecking in 1875. Consequently, the wrecking of the Loch Vennachar and the Loc Sloy near the southwest point of Kangaroo Island, a lighthouse was erected, officially opening in June 1907. The northern headland of West Bay was named Vennachar Point in memory of the ship in 1908. The wreck was discovered in 1976 by divers from the Society for Underwater Historical Research, over seventy years after being lost off Kangaroo Island.The Loch Vennachar performed a significant role in Australia’s colonial trade, taking goods between Great Britain and Australia. These goods included locally preserved tinned rabbits processed at a factory in Warrnambool for overseas trade.Black and white photograph of Loch Vennachar (aka Loch Vennacher) at a wharf. There are photo mounts in each corner. The vessel was was built in 1875 and wrecked on Kangaroo Island with the loss of all hands; she was last seen September 6th 1905 flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, loch vennachar, loch vennacher, loch line ship, glasgow shipping co, 1875 clipper ship, loch vennachar image., kangaroo island shipwreck, 1905 shipwreck, photograph loch vennachar, fred kruger photographer, canned rabbits, preserved rabbits, western meat preserving company

Nola (Nettie) Maher was born in Beechworth on 31st December, 1935. Her father returned from World War One and purchased a miner’s cottage in 1919 where Nettie lived in for the majority of her life. Nettie worked for ten years at the Pittman’s Shoe Factory, once located on Ford Street, which was in operation from 1 July 1947 to 28 August 1961. She fondly recalls the camaraderie amongst the staff and certain managers, and details the factory processes, union activities and the work she continued to do once she was married and had children. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke. Nola Nettie Maher’s account of her personal and working life in Beechworth and the local area during the 20th century is historically and socially significant to the cultural heritage of the region. She details important details about life and working in the region post World War Two, including insights into women’s working roles, as well as the social aspects of town life. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book ‘Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.’ While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town’s residents during the 20th century, many of which would have been lost had they not been preserved. This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Nola Maher /beechworth, nola maher, nettie maher, listen to what they say, jennifer williams, oral history, hospital, private hospital, birth, miner’s cottage, kerosine, eucalyptus, rabbit, laundry, dressmaking, dressing certificate, dry cleaners, hotel, shoe, leather, shoe factory, uppers, pittman, ford street, charlie king, union, wages, new years eve, dance, memorial hall, married women, flexible hours, ice cream, milk bar

This framed print of the Loch Vennachar has been framed as a gift given by McPherson's Ltd. of Melbourne Sydney Brisbane Perth, as per the inscription below the print. Loch Vennachar made many journeys from Britain to Australia and was well-known in Australian ports. On one of its homeward-bound journeys from Australia, the ship sank in the River Thames. Its cargo included 850 tonnes of preserved canned rabbits from Warrnambool's Western Meat Preserving Company. The ship was raised and continued trading for another four years. On 14th June 1905, Loch Vennachar departed Glasgow for Adelaide and Melbourne. The last known sighting of it was on 6th September 1875 when overtaken by the SS Yongala; the captains exchanged the “all well” signals. After that, the ship disappeared with loss of all 27 lives, according to a list that was received by Fremantle through the English mail. The list indicated that there were no passengers on that voyage. Sadly, other Loch Line ships med with similar disasters. The list of lost crew on the Loch Vennachar included Thomas. W. Pearce, apprentice, Southampton. His father was Tom Pearce, one of the two survivors of the Loch Ard, wrecked in 1878. Also, Thomas’ grandfather, James Pearce, was the captain of SS Gothenburg at the time of her wrecking in 1875. Consequently, the wrecking of the Loch Vennachar and the Loc Sloy near the southwest point of Kangaroo Island, a lighthouse was erected, officially opening in June 1907. The northern headland of West Bay was named Vennachar Point in memory of the ship in 1908. The wreck was discovered in 1976 by divers from the Society for Underwater Historical Research, over seventy years after being lost off Kangaroo Island. The Loch Vennachar performed a significant role in Australia’s colonial trade, taking goods between Great Britain and Australia. These goods included locally preserved tinned rabbits processed at a factory in Warrnambool for overseas trade.Print of painting clipper ship Loch Vennachar. (aka Loch Vennacher, as spelled on this print). Print is under glass in white painted timber frame. The vessel was wrecked on Kangaroo Island September 1905 with the loss of all hands. There is an inscription below the print"Loch Vannacher" on right below print, "Compliments from McPherson's Ltd. Melbourne,Sydney, Brisbane, Perth" on left below printflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, loch vennachar, loch vennacher, loch line ship, glasgow shipping co, mcpherson's ltd. melbourne sydney brisbane perth, loch vennachar image., kangaroo island shipwreck, 1905 shipwreck, mcpherson's ltd. melbourne sydney brisbane perth, canned rabbits, preserved rabbits, western meat preserving company

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

This toy rabbit was part of the cargo from the Fiji and amongst the articles salvaged from the wreck. 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 captain 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 bisque (or china) toys, (including miniature animals, limbs from small bisque dolls), rubber balls, a slate pencil, a 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 This toy rabbit is classified as Fiji 4 on the SWR 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. The Fiji is archaeologically significant as the wreck of a typical 19th century international sailing ship with cargo. It is educationally and recreationally significant as one of Victoria's most spectacular historic shipwreck dive sites with structural features and remains of the cargo evident. 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. China toy rabbit salvaged from the wreck of the Fiji. The rabbit is in a lying pose. This solid, moulded toy is made of bisque (sometimes described as bisque or porcelain) and the material is an orange-sandy colour with darker orange markings. The surface is slightly pitted.1891, china, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwrecked artefact, flagstaff hill maritime village, shipwreck coast, warrnambool, porcelain, moonlight head, wreck bay, cargo, bisque, toys, miniature animals, rabbit