The ocean Steamtug "Racer" was built in 1886 in Sunderland by "Boolds, Sharer and Company" for the "Queenstown Tug and Shipping Company". It is mentioned in several newspapers that soon afterwards it sank in Queenstown Harbour, Ireland and remained submerged for six months before being raised. It was a steel screw boat with a sluice keel, was 185 tons and 420 feet long. It was purchased around 1889 by the "Melbourne Coal, Shipping and Engineering Company Ltd" as it had sufficient power to work with the huge iron clippers that the company were dealing with. It survived several dangerous incidents on its voyage out to Melbourne. On May 28th in the middle of the night in a heavy gale, the tug was swamped by heavy seas and then several hours later was almost run down by a very large ship (the clipper Loch Vennachar) in full sail. The "Racer" (later owned by the "Melbourne Steamship Company") became one of the fastest and best-known tugs in the Port of Melbourne - working in the port until 1935. The "Racer" was involved in many rescues and dangerous incidents during its 45 years including the attempted rescue of the "Craigburn" near Cape Schanck, the rescue of the "Edina" from a reef near Williamstown and the rescue of the "Netherby" from heavy seas near Inverloch. In March 1930 she was caught by a strong wind when turning in the Yarra River and crashed into the Spencer Street Bridge - resulting in some damage to the scaffolding on the bridge and slight damage to the tug. In 1906 the "Racer" created a record for the fastest tow when it towed the 900-ton barque "Elizabeth Graham" from Sydney to Melbourne in 73 hours. In 1934 it was withdrawn from commission with plans for it to be broken up for scrap metal but was bought by a Melbourne businessman to be converted into a three masted schooner trading between Tasmania and Melbourne. George (Joe) Cunningham was born in 1892 in Geelong. His father, Alexander Cunningham was a ship builder and carpenter. George worked on oceangoing ships as a young man but after his marriage, had a twenty-six year career on Tugboats. He worked as a deckhand on the "Racer" and then worked his way up as a mate and then master on the "Maitland" and "Tooronga". Later he was in charge of two larger boats - the "Alvina" and "Helen Moore" and was engaged in salvaging the Union Steamship vessel "Karkariki" near Gellibrand Pile Light at the entrance to Hobsons Bay. George Cunningham died in 1978. This photograph was one of ten photographs donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village by Fred Trewartha. Frederick John Fox Trewartha (Fred) was a well-known Warrnambool businessman. He was born in Beeac near Geelong in 1920 and came to Warrnambool with his family as a very young child. He was apprenticed to his father John, as a saddler and later opened his own shop on Raglan Parade. He then moved into working with tarpaulins and canvases for the trucking industry. Fred was keenly interested in photography (and was a member of the Warrnambool Cine Club), yachting and boat building. He kept his yacht moored at Port Fairy for many years and participated in sailing events locally and interstate. He also built boats with his sons. He had the opportunity to meet many older sailors and it's thought this photo (and others in the set) may have been given to him by one of these men. Fred Trewartha died in 2016 in Warrnambool.This item is significant as a reminder of the important role tugboats and their crews played in the maritime history of Melbourne and the surrounding seas. This is a close-up view of a tugboat showing a man leaning against the upper deck. Two lifebuoys (with the words S. S. Racer Melbourne) are attached to the side of the deck and a funnel and an airvent are in the background. A handwritten note in pencil saying "Geo Cunningham on board Racer "is on the back of the photograph.Back - "Geo Cunningham on board Racer" Front (on lifebuoys) - S. S. RACER MELBOURNEflagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, tugboats, steamtug boats, racer, george cunningham, port of melbourne, melbourne steamship company, rescues, craigburn, steamtug, edina, elizabeth graham, netherby, yarra river, ships, historic maritime photographs, boolds sharer and company, queenstown tug and shipping company, melbourne coal shipping and engineering company limited

This set of ten photographs was donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village by Fred Trewartha. Frederick John Fox Trewartha (Fred) was a well-known Warrnambool businessman. He was born in Beeac near Geelong in 1920 and came to Warrnambool with his family as a very young child. He was apprenticed to his father John, as a saddler and later opened his own shop on Raglan Parade. He then moved into working with tarpaulins and canvases for the trucking industry. Fred was keenly interested in photography (and was a member of the Warrnambool Cine Club), yachting and boat building. He kept his yacht moored at Port Fairy for many years and participated in sailing events locally and interstate. He also built boats with his sons. He had the opportunity to meet many older sailors and it's thought these photographs may have been given to him by one of these men. Fred Trewartha died in 2016 in Warrnambool.These photographs are significant because of their association with coastal trading along Victoria's West Coast in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Some of the photographs also reflect the importance of ships to Australia in its world wide trading routes.Collection of ten photographs of different sailing ships and coastal steamers. They are different sizes and at different locations. Nine of the photos are black and white or sepia toned and tend to show the ships either moored at a dock or anchored in a bay. All the photographs have the donor's name and telephone number handwritten on the back as well as a handwritten note naming the ships in the picture.Backs of photographs - Donor's name, telephone number and address handwritten in ink Handwritten notes about ship(s)depicted Some have stamped numbersflagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, great ocean road, shipping, sailing ships, steamers, coastal trade, port fairy, portland, melbourne, fred trewartha, frederick john fox trewartha, photographs, maritime photographs

Photographs (2) on same cardboard of ship "Wild Wave"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, photographs, wild wave

Photographs (2) on cardboard 1. Turin with view of Alps in distance 2. Venice The Campanile "Palace of the Doges"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, photographs, turin, venice the campanile, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, palace of the doges

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of an early Map of Phillip Island not drawn to scale. Copy from Records Office, London.On back of photo - "If used must bear acknowedgement - reproduced by permission of the Hydrographer of the Navy" "Received 18/3/1955 from London Records Office per Mr mcGrigor-Phillips" Printed on Map "Phillip Island"local history, photography, photographs, maritime documents, maps, exploration, john jenner, bryant west, phillip island map

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of Launch and Punt with two cars aboard and one driving up the Newhaven Beach. San Remo in the background across The Narrows.local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, boats, launch towed punt - newhaven, black & white photograph, punt and launch, motorcars, newhaven, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph along west side Cowes Jetty showing "Genista" departing.local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, ferries, ferry "genista" - cowes jetty, black & white photograph, genista, cowes jetty, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandClose Photograph of HMAS Australia in Western Port taken from off the starboard bow.local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, boats, shipping, - western port - hmas australia, black & white photograph, hmas australia, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph showing Newman's Punt unloading Utility Truck - six men standing by.local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, boats, newman's punt, black & white photograph, eastern passage, motor vehicle, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of relieving Ferry SS "Plover" at Jetty. Numerous passengers on board and Jetty crowded.local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, ferries, relieving ferry s, "plover", black & white photograph, shipping, ss plover, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of O. Underdown's first boat gaff rigged "Sea Gull" - bought about 1920.local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, boats, sail boat, black & white photograph, sailing boats, o underdown, sail boat sea gull, the "seagull", john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of SS "Oscar" - port side. Some crew visible. The old "Oscar" was renamed "Ventnor".local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, boats, ss "oscar", black & white photograph, shipping, ss oscar renamed ventnor, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of SS "Killara". First vehicular Ferry arriving at Jetty Cowes.local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, ferries, cowes jetty - ferry ss "killara", black & white photograph, transport, cowes jetty, vehicular ferries, ss killara, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of the Ferry SS "Alvina" - port bow.local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, ferries, ss "alvina", black & white photograph, shipping, ss alvina, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of the Ketch "Wairana" in full sail coming up the bay to Cowes.local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, boats, ketch "wairana", black & white photograph, shipping, ketches, wairana, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of O. Underdown's Yacht "Vanguard" in full sail. Vanguard was the winner of 10 races on Westernport between 1920 - 1923.local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, boats, yacht, black & white photograph, shipping, yachts, sailing races, o underdown, vanguard, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of the pleasure boat "Hollydene" in full sail.local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, boats, yachts, black & white photograph, shipping, pleasure craft, yacht hollydene, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of the Canadian Schooner "Louis Theriault" being towed past Cowes Jetty by the tug "James Patterson" 1/02/1919local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, boats, schooner "louis theriault", black & white photograph, sailing ships, shipping, schooner louis theriault, tug james patterson, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of a painting of the Schooner "Stephen"local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, boats, schooner "stephen", black & white photograph, shipping, sailing ships, schooners, stephen, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of J. B. Cleeland's Fishing Ketch "Pearl"local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, fisheries, fishing ketch "pearl", black & white photograph, shipping, fishing boats, ketch pearl, j b cleeland, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of the"Speke" taken 23/02/1906 the morning after the wreck.local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, ship relics, wreck of the sailing ship "speke", black & white photograph, shipping, wrecks, the speke, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of the Figure Head of The "Speke" as found in a shed in 1936.local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, ship relics, figure head of the "speke", black & white photograph, shipping, wrecks, the speke figure head, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of the Figure Head of The "Speke" after restoration by School Boys and their Teacher.local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, ship relics, figure head of the "speke", black & white photograph, shipping, wrecks, the speke figure head, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of a painting of the wreck of The "Speke" with only one mast standing.local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, ship relics, wreck of the sailing ship "speke", black & white photograph, shipping, wrecks, the speke, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of the hull of a new ferry built by M. Crole on the beach at Newhavenlocal history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, ferries, new ferry, black & white photograph, shipping, m crole, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of the wreck of the "Speke" with two and a half masts remaininglocal history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, ship relics, wreck of the sailing ship "speke", black & white photograph, shipping, wrecks, the speke, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of the Trading Steam Ship "Hastings"local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, boats, steam ship "hastings", black & white photograph, shipping, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of the Punt being towed by launch across the Eastern Passage. San Remo in the background.local history, photography, photographs, maritime technology, boats, punt crossing the eastern passage, black & white photograph, shipping, punts, launches, john jenner, bryant west