Cubed iron ship tanks were invented by Richard Trevithich in 1808, in partnership with Robert Dickson, and the design was patented that year. The invention eventually replaced the wooden casks or barrels used at the time, as the ship tanks were more secure and their shape was much more economical in storage space. The robust metal tanks were originally made to transport water, but their preserving quality enabled them to transport perishable dry goods such as grain on long voyages, as well as other forms of liquid and solid cargo. The first ship tanks were made from sheets of iron, and later mild steel sheets, with double riveted edges and corners. A round cast iron lid with handle grips was fitted snugly into the top opening, providing an air-tight and water-tight seal. Brass taps were often fitted into the base, which could have been the case with this tank, but it now has a wooden bung in the hole. Sailing ships began using the new ship tanks on Australian voyages from around the 1830s, storing food and water for those on board, and filling them with other cargo. A large number of the ship tanks were repurposed in 1838 for the Victoria Settlement at Port Essington, N.T., as they were able to protect the food, clothing and other stores from termite and insect damage. Other ‘recycled’ ship tanks were cut in half and used as washing tubs or cookers. A 1929 catalogue from Hudson’s Tank Stores advertised square tanks that contained around 600 litres – 160 gallons – which equals an internal measurement of 33.25 inches – 84.5 centimetres – per side ship tanks are still made and sold in 1952 by the Globe Tank and Foundry in Wolverhampton, England, which was incorporated in 1922. Today, ship tanks can be seen around Australia. Wilsonson’s Promontory Lightstation has the lid from a ship tank that was used on site for the storage of water. Some have been repurposed as domestic water tanks and dog kennels, others for eucalyptus distilleries. Flagstaff Hill has two ship tanks. The Campaspe Port at Echuca, once a bustling river port, has a ship tank beside the locomotive yard. The lids of ship tanks are collectible items. Richard Trevithick (1771-1833): - Trevithick was born in 1771 in Cornwall, England. He was a famous British engineer and inventor during the Industrial Revolution, known for his invention of the first full-scale working railway, the high-pressure steam locomotive, which he demonstrated hauling a railway train in 1804. He set up a small workshop in 1808 at 72 Fore Street, Limehouse, London, to make iron ship tanks, and this invention was instrumental in replacing the wooden casks formerly used for storage on ships. He was involved with mining technology, iron foundry and ship equipment. Ship tanks changed the way that cargo was transported on ships and other vehicles from the 1830s and were used into the mid-20th century. The ship tanks’ advantages were that they could store more content, lasted longer, were waterproof and airtight, stackable and could be repurposed for many uses other than water, such as fuel, dry goods and domestic cargo. They have even been used aa dog kennels and cookers. Ship tanks were part of the evolving methos to transport water, food and cargo, which changed in 1956 when Malcolm McLean invented the large, rectangular shipping containers that are in use today; they speed up the process of loading on and off the ships, saving time and money. Ship tank: a cubed iron container with an offset hole on one side. The hole has cutouts for securely attaching a lid. This tank is on its side on the ground with the opening facing sideways. The side facing upwards has a wooden bung in a round hole. The ship tank is made from six square, thick iron sheets, rolled and riveted along the edges. The inside has a black sticky coating, possibly bitumen, and a strong creosote odour. There are small remnants of green paint on the outer surface.flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, iron cube, water tank, shipping container, ship tank, ship's tank, ship tanks, marine container, richard trevithich, 1808, robert dickson, water transport, water storage, iron foundry, steel sheets, iron sheets, revets, victoria settlement, port essington, globe tank and foundry, wolverhampton, british engineer, british inventor, wooden casks

This match safe was amongst various items collected from a sea dive in Port Phillip Bay. The diver was the caretaker of the Port Lonsdale Lighthouse, who dived on various wrecks in the bay during the 1960's. After the caretaker's death, his son sold off many of the shipwreck artefacts. The match safe was purchased from the caretaker's son in the 1990's by a previous owner of the Marine Shop, Queenscliff, Victoria. Pocket match safes or match safes were small portable boxes, or containers made in a great variety of forms and shapes, each with lids or covers to contain matches and retain their quality. Matches came into use around the 1830's and were produced extensively between the years 1890 and 1920. During this period everyone carried strike anywhere matches, so they could ignite stoves, lanterns and other devices. Early matches were unreliable and prone to ignite from rubbing on one another or spontaneously. Accordingly, most people carried a match safe to house their matches. Wealthy people had ‘match safes made of gold or silver, while common folk had ones made of tin or brass. They were made throughout the world including the United Kingdom, in the U.S.A., continental Europe and Australia. Significant English makers of cases were, Sampson Mordan and Asprey & Co. Significant American manufacturers of match safes include Wm. B. Kerr, Gorham, Unger Brothers,  Battin,  Blackington ,  Whiting, George Scheibler and Shreve & Co. Different patterns and types run into thousands as well as plain and decorative examples. They were also made in a wide range of materials, including pressed brass, pressed tin, gunmetal, nickel silver, gold, bone, ivory, the wood of varying types, early plastics like tortoiseshell and Bakelite, and ceramics. A distinguishing characteristic of match safes is that they have a ribbed surface, usually on the bottom, for lighting the matches. The item gives a snapshot into the social development through it's application in every day use match safes were used at a time when there were no safety matches and the early use of matches was a dangerous affair given they were easily combustive if rubbed together in a pocket for example. The item is also an example of the shipwreck artefacts gathered along the southwest coast of Victoria.Match Safe; hollow brass cylinder with ribbed match striker texture on base and screw thread around top. Fitted brass lid has an internal screw thread, and the top's flat surface has concentric circles design, with a twisted rope pattern grip around the edge. flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, shipwreck artefact, port phillip bay, port lonsdale lighthouse, wreck, 1960’s diver, queenscliff marine shop, match container, match safe, matches, fire lighter, fire safety, heat, fire, portable match safe, 19th century

1. Belt mounted nylon bag. It has two metal clips at back for mounting. The flap is held shut with two press clips at the rear. Bottom are two eyelets, bootlace size. 2. In the bag is a plastic container with pivoted lid from one side. In the kit is a host of old first aid items.1. Bag. On the lid is the letters ”LJ' 'S” with a medical symbol between the letters. On the front are two illegible letters followed by numbers “5 & 4”. Under the bag flap is stamped:- “Markings 6545-00-100-6239 Case medical instruments and supply set M+. EMGE Aviation-Marine Products Inc” Cont. “DLA-120-78-G-4310” Inside the lid is the Manufacturers details.first aid kit, us army

An emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) is a type of emergency locator beacon, a portable, battery-powered radio transmitter used in emergencies to locate airplanes, vessels, and persons in distress and in need of immediate rescue.Since the inception of Cospas-Sarsat in 1982, distress radio beacons have assisted in the rescue of over 28,000 people in more than 7,000 distress situations. In 2010 alone, the system provided information used to rescue 2,388 persons in 641 distress situations. Two battery operated emergency distress beacons EPIRB [Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon] in orange containers with attached line in yellow canvas bags.I'm going sailing, I'm coming back; B900; radio distress transmitter operating instructions; made by Don Osborne & associates, box 69 052 Aukland 8 New Zealand.iepirb, rescue, emergency beacon

Used by Mr. Gordon Blake of Ocean Grove, retired During WWII. The flares were black gunpowder in cardboard containers. The pistol was previously in possession of Coast Watch Radio and Marine Rescue Squad Inc., Ocean GroveBlack bakelite hand grip. Steel barrel 12cm long x 5cm dia. R F Sedgley Inc. Signal Pistol Mark IV. pt 8582 1-16-43 pAT.8-22-32gordon blake, signal pistol

The wooden pattern forms part of a larger collection; some of them were secured within a durable wooden crate. The cast pattern was an essential tool at Briggs Brass Foundry, specifically designed for creating sand casts. Sand casting is a time-honoured technique, with a history exceeding 2,000 years. The handcrafted nature of this process produces brass and copper alloy items particularly suitable for maritime applications. Typical products include bells, boat hooks, cowls, propellers, handles, lids, rowlocks, hooks, letters, bolts, rail holders, brackets, deck plates, flanges, rudder guides, portholes and covers. The distinctive bronze mixture used at Briggs’ Foundry is copper based. It is composed of local ingots of copper, tin, zinc and lead, blended in precisely measured quantities. The resulting alloy is non-ferrous, known for its exceptional durability and longevity. HISTORY OF BRIGGS MARINE: The Briggs Brass Foundry, trading as Briggs & Son Foundry, was established in 1912 by Herbert Harrison Briggs (1863-1931) with his son George Edward Briggs. In 1922, the youngest son, Cyril Falkiner McKinnon Briggs, joined the foundry. After Herbert died in 1931, his sons George and Cyril ran the foundry. The business became known as Briggs Marine Foundry, the “non-ferrous founders” and “bell specialists”. The foundry products were made using the traditional sand-casting method, which is now over two thousand years old and is becoming a dying art. The foundry operated at 70 Wellington St, Collingwood, and specialised in casting ship bells and other marine equipment and fittings. It also made decorative items such as miniature ship propellers. The great-granddaughter of Herbert Briggs inherited a Briggs brass bell, similar to one at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. In 1965, Cyril was the only remaining family member involved in Briggs Marine Products. The firm relocated to Chesterville Rd, Moorabbin and Cyril went into partnership with Frank Lee. In the same year, the firm exhibited its products at the 1965 Boat Show. When Cyril passed away in 1967, Frank took over the business with two new partners. After Frank Lee died in 1971, the foundry was run by his son and daughter-in-law, Les and Eva Lee. Briggs Marine still exists today, but the Briggs family is no longer involved. Briggs Foundry had a community-minded retail branch in Warrnambool, selling cast boat fittings and equipment to fishermen and others in the regional marine industry. The branch closed in 1972. In Flagstaff Hill’s formative years, 1972-1975, many Briggs Marine brassware products were generously donated from its Melbourne foundry, along with casting patterns, tools, machinery and a cupboard. EXHIBITION and LEGACY: The donated items were displayed in a simulated Brass Foundry within the Village, where visitors could view them and gain insight into the foundering and metalwork trades that supported maritime industries, including shipwrights and boatbuilders. The castings produced at the foundry were also vital for farmers, manufacturers and other local industries. This exhibit was part of a broader showcase of working crafts, trades and services typical of a Maritime town. The display was available to the public from the completion of the building in 1986 until 1994, when the space was repurposed. It is believed that Briggs Marine’s family members gave personal assistance in setting up the displays in the original village shops, particularly the ‘Brass Foundry’ building. A notable feature of the Village Brass Foundry was the historic Cornish chimney, presented as a working model. This chimney visually demonstrated the process of smelting metal in furnaces and pouring it into sand moulds. Constructed from specially curved bricks, the chimney now stands at about two-thirds of its original height, having been relocated from the Grassmere Cheese factory. The hand-cast sand patterns hold considerable significance due to their association with Briggs Brass Founders, a firm established in the early 20th century and widely recognised for its expertise in producing, repairing, and restoring ship bells and marine equipment. Known for their specialisation in non-ferrous metal casting, Briggs Brass Founders supplied high-quality fittings and equipment for maritime use. The company extended its operations by opening a branch in Warrnambool, where it actively supported the local community. The foundry’s ability to cast essential products was important to local and regional industries, like fishing, farming, manufacturing and commercial businesses. Through its presence, its reputation was reinforced as both a skilled manufacturer and a community-minded enterprise. The foundry is notably associated with the Schomberg Bell at Flagstaff Hill, having restored this small, historic bell to its original condition. The Schomberg Bell is a fine example from a luxury migrant vessel dating back to the mid-19th century, reflecting the craftsmanship and heritage preserved by Briggs Brass Foundry. Wooden rectangular crate with removable wooden lid. Inside is a set of wooden patterns of various shapes and sizes for making sand moulds in a metal foundry. The crate is made from thick wooden planks nailed together. The extended wooden struts on the long sides form a frame to hold the wooden lid. A pair of metal handles is at each short end of the crate, fixed with strong metal bolts. Between each pair of handles is an inscription stamped into the wood. The underside of the crate has red paint splashes. There are insect holes in the wood, but no active infestation. The patterns were made and used at Briggs Brass Foundry in Melbourne.Stamped: "H.33 / II" (H may be N or a square B)flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, pattern, mould, foundry, brass foundry, metal foundry, crate, box, wooden container, briggs, traditional method, trade, sand cast, cast, brass alloy, copper alloy, marine equipment, marine tools, marine fittings, briggs' bronze, copper tin zinc lead, non-corrosive, briggs family, brassware, metalware, foundering, metalwork, maritime, casting, cornish chimney, curved bricks, grassmere cheese factory, 1912, herbert harrison briggs, h h briggs, george edward briggs, briggs & son foundry, collingwood, cyril falkiner mckinnon briggs, cyril briggs, h h briggs & sons foundry, bell founders, schomberg bell, alliance casting & engineering solutions, collingwood foundry, ship chandlers, marine products, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, briggs & son brass foundry, briggs marine, moorabbin, briggs brass foundry, briggs marine foundry, briggs marine products, frank lee, les lee, eva lee, briggs marine warrnambool, non-ferrous founders, bell specialists, ship bell specialists, founders, metalworking, traditional sand casting, casting pattern, foundry pattern

This master's certificate of service, number 47,391 was issued to Thomas Smith, who was born at Anstruther, on the 18th July 1803, and who was employed as a mate and master for thirty-six years in the British Merchant Service. The certificate was issued at Liverpool on the 21st January 1851.Certificate of Service Masters in small holder. Inscription on container: Certificate of Service Mercantile Marine Act 1851, printed and handwritten 21 Jan 1851. Certificate 12cm x 19cm Container 10.5cm x 7cmflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

A cast iron hook was made for lifting heavy loads in a marine or warehouse environment. The hook would be attached to the end of a chain or rope around a heavy load such as a pallet or container. The other end may have been joined to a pulley or crane for lifting and moving it around. The inscription on the hook shows the SWL or Safe Working Load as 3 Ton. The SWL was used in the industry for many years to rate safe loads but it is no longer used to identify the maximum capacity of equipment. In 2002 the Australian Standard AS 1418 for Cranes, Hoists and Winches changed, and the term Safe Work Load was changed to Rated Capacity, which was defined differently.The hook represents the equipment needed on a ship or at a port, railyard, transport depot or warehouse in the 19th and 20th centuries to move cargo and loads. The inscription of SWL on the hook is significant for its use as a guide for many years to work out the weight of the load the hook could safely hold. However, time and experience have led to a change in Australian Standards and the load is now measured by another formula that gives the load's Rated Capacity.Hook; large iron hook with a ring formed in the top. Inscription stamped into the metal and indicates that the Safe Working Load (SWL) for the hook to lift is 3 Ton.Marked "ani" "SWL 3TON"warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, lifting hook, maritime equipment, lifting equipment, warehousing, cargo, loads, rigging, marine technology, swl, safe working load, 3 ton, rated capacity, load limit

Gramophone cylinders, blue, 6 grooves on interior stored in cardboard round container with detachable lid. Edison Amberol Record, made and sold by National Phonograph Co. at Orange N.J. U.S.A. Song: 1729 Ride of The Thuringia Hussars U.S. Marine Band flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, gramophone cylinders, edison record, national phonograph co, u.s. marine band, ride of the thuringia hussars

Suspension bridge opened 22 November 1940 replaced by new prestressed reinforced concrete container bridge opened 1969Black and white photograph showing a car crossing the suspension bridge between San Remo and Newhaven Phillip Island Victoria