The Melbourne General Cemetery, 15 pages, History of cemetery. Soft brown cover. B&W Photos Purchased from RHSV Melbourne 11/77 Indexed by Helen Mainka With Index.Trustees of cemeterycemetery, melbourne general, melbourne, cemetery

This work forms part of the collection assembled by the historian Dorothy Rogers, that was donated to the Kew Historical Society by her son John Rogers in 2015. The manuscripts, photographs, maps, and documents were sourced by her from both family and local collections or produced as references for her print publications. Many were directly used by Rogers in writing ‘Lovely Old Homes of Kew’ (1961) and 'A History of Kew' (1973), or the numerous articles on local history that she produced for suburban newspapers. Most of the photographs in the collection include detailed annotations in her hand. The Rogers Collection provides a comprehensive insight into the working habits of a historian in the 1960s and 1970s. Together it forms the largest privately-donated collection within the archives of the Kew Historical Society.Sixteen page booklet published to commemorate the founding of the Melbourne General Cemetery. Melbourne : Spectator Publishing, [19--] [16] p. : ill. ; 20 cm. melbourne general cemetery, cemeteries -- history

Site map of Melbourne General Cemetery, not dated but current at 2026Double sided graded map in green and white with black text and coloured symbolsmelbourne general cemetery, melbourne history, cemeteries, southern melbourne cemeteries trust

George and Anne Evans settled in Sunbury in 1836 after migrating to Van Diemens Land from Plymouth in 1825. He took upland along the Jacksons Creek and built his Emu Bottom Homestead. He married Anne, who was forty years younger than him on 11 May 1843 and they had six children. He and his wife Anne are buried in Melbourne General Cemetery in Compartment 'H'.George died on 26 August 1876 and Anne died on 12 January 1893. George Evans was a one of the first Europeans to take up land in the the area that was originally known as Buttlejork ( Batterjork) in the area now known as Sunbury. A black and white photograph with a cream border of the headstone of George and Anne Evans.evans, george., evans, anne., emu bottom, headstones

Colonel Tom Price, following a distinguished military career in India, was tasked with raising Victoria's military forces in 1885. The mounted arm was the Victorian Mounted Rifles. Contingents of the VMR served in the South African War 1899-1902. Following Federation, the companies of the VMR became Australian Light Horse regiments. For a number of years the 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles visited the site of the grave to clean it.Example of service to the memory of the founder of the regiment.Black and white photograph of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles soldier removing leaves and debris from the surrounds of the gravestone of Colonel Tom Price founder of the Victorian Mounted Rifles in Melbourne General Cemetery. price colonel tom, victorian mounted rifles, vmr, cemetery, melbourne

Copy of a photograph of the headstone of Rev.Michael Clarke who was a Primitive Methodist Minister who was stationed at Castlemaine, Campbell's Creek, and Eaglehawk during the 1850s and 1860s, and one of his sons married into the Avery family of Bendigo. Buried at Melbourne General Cemetery. Tin Trunk in shipping container 20.1.2022Ian Clarkereligions, christian, primitive methodist

Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), Tuesday 26 October 1937, page 16 Pioneers' Day. Novemher 19 has been fixed as Pioneers' day The annual historical service organised by tho Pioneers' Association will be held in the Melbourne General Cemetery on Sunday. November 21. Addresses will be delivered by Messrs. W. A. Sanderson. J. Selby. E. Tozer. 13. W. Mylrea and C. R. Long. The memorial over the grave of William Pascoe Crook will be unveiled by Rev. W. Alblston. president of the Congregational Union. An aboriginal concert will be held in the Central Hall on November 10.

The Melbourne General Cemetery opened in June 1853. The first male buried there was John Alexander Burnett, chief clerk to the mercantile firm of Dalgety, Borradale & Co. The headstone reads: In Memory of James Alexander Burnett, Merchant, Who Died 25 May 1853, Aged 36 Years. Burnett Street, St Kilda, is named after him. The street was created by F. G. Dalgety when he sold his land in St Kilda (12 acres known as 'Dalgety's Paddock') on 12 April 1853.Colour photographIst Grave in Melbourne Cemetery of St Kilda identity John Alexander Burnettst kilda, john alexander burnett, melbourne cemetery

Boroondara Cemetery, established in 1858, is within an unusual triangular reserve bounded by High Street, Park Hill Road and Victoria Park, Kew. By the 1890s, the Boroondara Cemetery was a popular destination for visitors and locals admiring the beauty of the grounds and the splendid monuments. The Boroondara Cemetery is of historical significance for the graves, monuments and epitaphs of a number of individuals whose activities have played a major part in Australia's history. They include the Henty family, artists Louis Buvelot and Charles Nuttall, businessmen John Halfey and publisher David Syme, artist and diarist Georgiana McCrae, actress Nellie Stewart and architect and designer of the Boroondara and Melbourne General Cemeteries, Albert Purchas.Walking tour led by Kew Historical Society members for members of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria in 1977. The photograph shows members of both parties assembled at a grave in the Cemetery. The photograph was one of six taken by KHS member Stewart West on that occasion, and subsequently donated by him to the collection by him.Reverse: "Front row in dark coat and glasses - Mrs Mills, With dark glasses reading - Mrs Ekberg (KHS member); Second from right Mr Slattery then president of Society; Far left Miss B Mackie (KHS member)" boroondara general cemetery, kew cemetery, walking tours

Boroondara Cemetery, established in 1858, is within an unusual triangular reserve bounded by High Street, Park Hill Road and Victoria Park, Kew. By the 1890s, the Boroondara Cemetery was a popular destination for visitors and locals admiring the beauty of the grounds and the splendid monuments. The Boroondara Cemetery is of historical significance for the graves, monuments and epitaphs of a number of individuals whose activities have played a major part in Australia's history. They include the Henty family, artists Louis Buvelot and Charles Nuttall, businessmen John Halfey and publisher David Syme, artist and diarist Georgiana McCrae, actress Nellie Stewart and architect and designer of the Boroondara and Melbourne General Cemeteries, Albert Purchas.Walking tour led by Kew Historical Society members for members of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria in 1977. The photograph shows a Kew youth placing a sprig of Rosemary on Ellen Quick's grave. The photograph was one of six taken by KHS member Stewart West on that occasion, and subsequently donated by him to the collection by him.Reverse: "Kew youth placing a sprig of rosemary on grave of Ellen Quick nee Derrick who was the first burial on 12/3/1859. Her family Derricks were early Kew Landowners." boroondara general cemetery, kew cemetery, walking tours, ellen quick, dannock family, kew pioneers

Thomas Caradoc Rose Price CB was born in Tasmania 21 October 1842. Following a distinguished military career in India, in 1885 he was tasked with raising Victoria's military forces. The mounted arm was the Victorian Mounted Rifles. Contingents of the VMR served in the South African War 1899-1902. Colonel Tom Price commanded the 2nd Victorian contingent, 1900. Following Federation, the companies of the VMR were reorganised into Australian Light Horse regiments. Colonel Tom Price died in Melbourne 3 July 1911 aged 68 and is buried in Melbourne General Cemetery. It was said of Price that “He made the regiment”, but he insisted “The Regiment made him and made his, a household name.” Hard bound book entitled "Heroes and Gentlemen: Colonel Tom Price and the Victorian Mounted Rifles" by Winty Calder.boer war, victoria, mounted rifles, light horse, price, calder

James Jones was the son of Philip Jones, a Chairmaker, and Ann Jones who settled in East Brighton after the sale of land c1852 in the area of the Henry Dendy Special Survey of 1841. Mary Ann Moore was the daughter of Thomas Moore, a Gardener, and Sarah Harris who also settled in Brighton c1852. James and Mary Ann Jones settled and raised their family in East Brighton now Bentleigh. Mr John Herron resided at 4 Vickery St Bentleigh until 1989. Sadly Martha Jones born 1888 died in 1890 and James Jones had to purchase a plot at Brighton General Cemetery for her burial. Baby Ethel May was interred in 1893 and then Mary Ann in 1903 and James in 1940. Their stillborn baby was buried in the Wesleyan public grave in 1900James Jones and Mary Ann Moore were born in Brighton c1857 and c 1859 into pioneer market gardener families in the area of the Dendy Special Survey of 1841. They married in 1883 and raised their family in East Brighton, now Bentleigh. Sadly infectious diseases took the lives of many infants throughout the Colony of Victoria due to the poor state of water supply and sewerage disposal and locally the swamps of the Elster Creek were a constant breeding ground. Martha Jones born 1888 died 1890 and was interred in Brighton General Cemetery in a family plot purchased by her father James Jones. In 1893 another daughter Ethel May died and was buried in the family plot. A stillborn baby was interred in the public grave of Brighton General Cemetery in May1900. Mary Ann Jones died at age 43years and was interred in January 19033 Original documents associated with the death of Mary Ann Jones 18th January 1903. 1) An original paper receipt No. 4797 for payment on 19th January 1903 by James Jones to Brighton General Cemetery of £1 . 1s for the burial of Mary Ann Jones in a plot 4 feet x 8 feet, in the Wesleyan section portion 199 compartment G. 2 ) An original part- section of Form of Notification of Death from The Alfred Hospital Prahran with personal particulars and burial details , signed by the Undertaker. 3) An original Mourning Card 1) BRIGHTON GENERAL CEMETERY / 4797 ( stamped) / 19th Jan. 1903 (hand written) / Received from “Mr James Jones”(hand written) / the sum of £1 . 1s being the following / charges in Wesleyan (hand written) / Portion No, 199 compt.G Name of / Deceased ‘Mary Ann Jones”(hand written) / For re-opening grave interment ‘third’ £1 . 1s./ signed by S. P. Simmonds Secretary. 2) ‘Brighton’ (written over Melbourne) GENERAL CEMETERY FORM OF… / No. of Order____ Date of… / PARTICULARS / Signature of Undertaker J H Lear On back of notice are guides to the questions 3) In Loving Remembrance of / Mary Ann Jones / Dearly Loved Wife of James Jones / Died January 18th 1903 / Aged 43 Years / Poem - “One Less at Home “ / DEEPLY REGRETTED / Art Engraving Company, Royal Arcade, Elizabeth Street, Melbourne * wesleyan church, brighton general cemetery, vaccination, pioneers, early settlers, typhoid, brighton, moorabbin, bentleigh, market gardeners, jones james, jones mary ann, jones martha, dendy henry, dendys special survey 1841, infectious diseases, water supply, elster creek, melbourne, orford g h, printers, southern cross office, “brighton leader” print, bay street brighton, jones ethel may, public grave brighton

Boroondara Cemetery, established in 1858, is within an unusual triangular reserve bounded by High Street, Park Hill Road and Victoria Park, Kew. The caretaker's lodge and administrative office (1860 designed by Charles Vickers, additions, 1866-1899 by Albert Purchas) form a picturesque two-storey brick structure with a slate roof and clock tower. A rotunda or shelter (1890, Albert Purchas) is located in the centre of the cemetery: this has an octagonal hipped roof with fish scale slates and a decorative brick base with a tessellated floor and timber seating. The cemetery is surrounded by a 2.7 metre high ornamental red brick wall (1895-96, Albert Purchas) with some sections of vertical iron palisades between brick pillars. Albert Purchas was a prominent Melbourne architect who was the Secretary of the Melbourne General Cemetery from 1852 to 1907 and Chairman of the Boroondara Cemetery Board of Trustees from 1867 to 1909. He made a significant contribution to the design of the Boroondara Cemetery. (Source: Heritage Victoria)This photograph is one of the earliest known photographs of the cemetery, showing the early plantings and fences.Later print copy of an undated original photographic positive of the entrance to the Boroondara General (Kew) Cemetery. The Cemetery had been opened in 1855. This view is from Bulleen Road (now High Street) showing a group of 12 or 13 men standing in a line outside the entrance. At this time, the clocktower and high brick fence had not been constructed, but the trees have reached a substantial heightPencil inscription on reverse - "Boroondara Cemetery Entrance 1862"boroondara general (kew) cemetery, cemeteries -- melbourne (vic.)

A slab hut situated in Research, Victoria. An elderly man and woman stand in front of their small bark slab home with bark chimney. It has a tin roof and tin water tank to the side. A small garden is situated at the front. Reproduced on pp 38-39 of 'Pioneers & Painters: One Hundred years of Eltham and it's Shire" (1971) Article in "Australian Family Tree Connections" February 2000 by B. J. Parkinson claims that the people in this photo are "Jonas and Christina Jane (Gregg) PRIOR in front of their home at Ferny Hill, near Eltham, Victoria, 1877". Photocopy of photo also attached to 14 online family trees for the Prior family on Ancestry.com without the words "A Bush Home". References found to Prior in historical newspapers and the property "Ferny Hill". Jonas was a convict from Kent, England. He arrived in Hobart in 1821 aged 19 years. He married Christina Gregg in Hobart about 1834 and had 11 children. They came to Victoria about 1846. He died at Ferny Hill, near Research, Eltham in 1878 aged 74 years and was buried at Melbourne General Cemetery. His occupation was gardener.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Neg Print 20 x 25 cmshire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, research (vic.), ferny hill, jonas prior, christina prior, hut, prior, convict, pioneers and painters

Thomas Henry Deakin (1845-1915), born in Monmouthshire, Wales married Janet (Jessie) Longmore (1851-1939), born in Morayshire, Scotland on 17 April 1878 in Emerald Hill. It is not known when Thomas migrated. His father William also came as he is buried in Melbourne General. His mother Augusta Amelia Phillips may have died in Wales. The couple has 2 sons and 4 surviving daughters, most of whom were born in Emerald Hill. In 1903 the family were living at 437 City Road, Emerald Hill and both Thomas and his son John Henry are listed as bootmakers. By 1914 they have moved to Station Street, Alphington. Thomas is listed as Independent Means; daughter Elsie as a nurse; daughter Jessie as a music teacher and daughter Minnie as a bookbinder. Buried in Melbourne General Cemetery, Section D (Baptist): Transcription "Sacred to the memory of William DEAKIN died 29 Nov 1885 also his son Thomas Henry beloved husband of Jessie DEAKIN died 3 Jul 1915, 70 years also Jessie DEAKIN wife of Thomas Henry DEAKIN died 21 Mar 1939, 87 years."This is part of a large collection of material related to the Deakin, Mair and Young families.A sepia copy of a formal portrait of Thomas Henry Deakin. Taken part in profile, he is formally dressed and has a moustache and beard and a slightly receding hairline.REAR: In blue biro "Grandpa Deakin / (John Henry)" Research and other photos indicate that this is Thomas Henry Deakin not his son John Henry.thomas henry deakin

This photograph is a copy of an original painting by the Australian marine artist A V Gregory (1867-1957), also known as Arthur Victor Gregory. Gregory lived and worked in South Melbourne. He took over the Gregory Studio owned by his father, George Frederick Gregory, painting actively between 1899 and 1932. He usually signed his works as ‘A V Gregory’. Some of his original works have been sold for thousands of dollars. The barque "La Bella" was built in 1893 in Norway. On 31st October she commenced her maiden voyage. After six voyages, the vessel was offered for sale in Hamburg. After much negotiation, she was sold on December 1900 for £3,600 to Mr D C Turnbull and sailed back to New Zealand. The "La Bella" was primarily used on the Australian-New Zealand run, her cargo being timber, coal and produce. In October 1904, she ran aground at Owhira bay, New Zealand. The vessel was subsequently refloated. In November 1904, the "La Bella" attempted to enter Warrnambool Harbour without a pilot aboard. The vessel struck Annabella reef and many members of the crew perished. The "La Bella" captain was later charged and found guilty of negligence. In 1905 he was charged and tried for manslaughter. He died of a heart attack later that year and is buried in an unmarked grave at Melbourne General Cemetery.The detailed image of the vessel depicted in this photograph shows one of the many sail and steam vessels painted by the renowned Victorian marine artist A V Gregory, whose original works are highly valued today by marine collectors.Photograph of a painting of the three-masted sailing ship "La Bella" sailing through Port Phillip Heads. The original painting is by marine artist A V Gregory. A label is pasted below the photograph. The artist's signature is visible.Signed "GREGORY-01" Painted on the ship's bow "LA BELLA" Typed label "Painted by Gregory completed in 1901, showing the La Bella sailing through Port Phillip Heads'.flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, la bella, d c turnbull, warrnambool harbour, lady bay

Edward Kellett was born in Chorley, Lancashire, England, son of John Kellett and unknown mother. It is not known when he arrived in Melbourne but he married Selina Wells in 1852 at St Peters, Eastern Hill. She was born in c1827 in Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, daughter of William Wells and Elizabeth Allan. Her family arrived from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire on the 'Osprey' on 22 March 1849. Edward and Selina had 8 children - 5 girls and 3 boys; 3 died in infancy. All were born in Collingwood before the family came to Surrey Hills. Edward and Selina were the first owners of ‘Yielima’ at 32 Erasmus Street, Surrey Hills, built c1887. It was known by this name until c1922. Edward pre-deceased his wife. Edward's funeral notice in The Argus of 11 July 1893 states that he was a corn merchant of Exhibition Street. His property was sworn at 1512 pounds, 1232 in realty and 280 pounds personally. He was buried in Melbourne General Cemetery (CofE Compartment K, No 306). Selina is listed in Erasmus Street in the 1903, 1905 and 1908 electoral rolls as a boarding house keeper. She died at Surrey Hills on 22/10/1911. In her will she left realty valued at 900 pounds and personally at 220 pounds. She was buried with her husband. 'Yielima' was sold on 19 February 1919 with a sale of contents on 18 March 1919. The portrait is by an unknown artist. It was passed down through the family of his eldest son Edward Allan Kellett and then his daughter Ethel Emily Kellett. A digital copy of a portrait of Edward Kellett dressed in a dark suit with tie secured by a tie pin. He is bald but remaining hair is greying and wavy and he has a full beard.yielima, erasmus street, surrey hills, 1887, (mr) edward kellett, corn merchant, mrs selina kellett, miss selina wells

Agnes (b 1894, Linton; died 1977, Box Hill) had been a masseur before entering medical school at Melbourne University. She transferred to Edinburgh and graduated from there. She joined her sister Amelia Roberta, known as Roberta, at ‘Luxmee’, 4 Windsor Crescent. She was born in 1891 and died at Surrey Hills on 1 May 1972. She had a long illness before her death. Agnes is seated left foreground; Roberta is standing at the right. Their father James Blair Donaldson had been a doctor at Linton, near Skipton and a brother, James Blair Donaldson Jnr (1888-1971) was a doctor in Skipton. A second brother Alexander Somerville Donaldson (1887-1963) also lived in Surrey Hills. He had a number of addresses and occupations including: 1927 - 44 Albany Crescent (Chauffeur); 1949 - 5 Beatrice Avenue (mechanic) and 1963 - 28 Albert Crescent (gardener). Their mother was Amelia Jane Emerson. Transcription of grave in Section C, Baptist in Melbourne General Cemetery gives further family details: “In affectionate remembrance of Jane Duff the beloved wife of Robt. DONALDSON who died at Carlton, Victoria, 8 Aug 1889, age 56 years and of their children David Russell and Mary McIntosh who died in infancy. Until the Easter glory lights the skies; until the dead in Jesus shall arise and He shall come, but not in lowly guise Good night. East also Agnes SHEPHERD mother of Jane D. DONALDSON born at Dundee Scotland 30 Apr 1800, died at Carlton 8 Apr 1891. West also Robt. DONALDSTON teacher died 13 Jul 1910, age 80 years Emily Mary DONALDSON died 24 Jan 1923, age 64 years Alexander Somerville DONALDSON beloved husband of Mary died 26 Oct 1963 Dr. James Blair DONALDSON of Linton, Scotland born 11 Mar 1859, died 7 Sep 1944 also Amelia Jane beloved wife of the above born 11 Nov 1859, died 13 Jul 1946 beloved parents of Somerville, Blair, Roberta and Agnes.” A black and white photograph of seven ladies on the porch of a building.miss agnes donaldson, miss roberta donaldson, dr roberta donaldson, dr agnes donaldson, miss amelia roberta donaldson, dr amelia roberta donaldson

Known as ‘Yielima’ 1888-1922 and ‘St. Aubins’ 1922-1956, this ‘modernized’ mansion was built about 1887 for Edward Kellett. He was born in Chorley, Lancashire, England. Edward Kellett married Selina Wells in 1852 at St Peters, Eastern Hill. She was born in c1827 in Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, daughter of William Wells and Elizabeth Allan. The family arrived from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire on the 'Osprey' on 22 March 1849. The couple had 8 children - 5 girls and 3 boys; 3 died in infancy. All were born in Collingwood before the family came to Surrey Hills. Edward's funeral notice in The Argus of 11 July 1893 states that he was a corn merchant of Exhibition Street. His property was sworn at 1512 pounds, 1232 in realty and 280 pounds personally. He was buried in Melbourne General Cemetery (CofE Compartment K, No 306). Selina is listed in Erasmus Street in the 1903, 1905 and 1908 electoral rolls as a boarding house keeper. She died at Surrey Hills on 22/10/1911. In her will she left realty valued at 900 pounds and personally at 220 pounds. She was buried with her husband. 'Yielima' was sold on 19 Febraury 1919 with a sale of contents on 18 March 1919. From 1922-1947 Thomas Daniel O’Callaghan (c1871-1962), a police magistrate, made his home here. He is remembered as being of ‘soldierly demeanour, with a flowing mane of hair’. He always carried a walking stick and wore a flower in his buttonhole. His wife was Florence (nee Harling, c1873-1933) pre-deceased him. They had previously lived in Essendon, Moonee Ponds and Stawell before coming to Erasmus Street. After moving out of Erasmus Street he is listed in the 1949 and 1954 electoral rolls at 90 Durham Road, Surrey Hills. In 1952 the property was purchased by Father Timothy Fitzpatrick, Parish Priest of Our Holy Redeemer Parish, Surrey Hills. It consisted of a large two storey house, a coach house and stable, and an acre and a half of land. In 1954 the coach house and stable were converted into the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour and the following year Father John Kelly was appointed parish priest. and resided in the house. At this time the house was not in good repair. "The gentleman who had lived there alone since his wife died many years before, lived in the servants quarters and the rest of the house had been badly neglected. (REF: https://ourholyredeemer.cam.org.au/history) At the beginning of 1957 the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart opened a school next door. As they travelled from Balwyn on a daily basis, the property at 301 Elgar Road was purchased as a presbytery and 'Yielima' became a convent. The stables continued to be used as a church until 1964 when a new church was completed and opened by His Grace Archbishop Simmonds on the 20th of March. There were never large numbers of double-storey Victorian mansions in Surrey Hills. 'Yielma' is significant as one of the few remaining ones. It is also significant for its association with the Catholic Church.A black and white photograph of an Italianate style home with a weatherboard building with a cross on it in front of the main building and to the left of the photograph. There are some well established trees in the garden, a car parked in the parking area and a picket fence along the front.yielima, st aubins, house names, erasmus street, surrey hills, 1887, (mr) edward kellett, (mr) thomas daniel o'callaghan, corn merchant, police, italianate style, wattle park roman catholic church, (mrs) florence o'callaghan, mrs selina kellett, miss selina wells, convent, presbytery, our lady of perpetual succour

Note: Between April 1923 and August 1926, electric trains from Melbourne terminated at Eltham. A connecting steam train ran between Eltham and Hurstbridge. Pages from a scrapbook belonging to Heather Jenkins (nee Cone) who lived as a child in the Police Residence at 728 Main Road, Eltham from 1911 to the early 1920s. (Reported in Newsletter No. 98, Sept. 1994) Heather McKnight Cone born Eltham 1911 (Vic. 19538/1911), daughter of John Thomas Cone (b1859) and Charlotte Helena McKnight Cone (nee Black, schoolteacher b1875) who were married in 1906 (Vic7936/1906). It was John’s second marriage, his first wife, Mary Jane Lannin (b1865) died in 1899. Constable John Thomas Cone, Badge #3935 served at Eltham Police Station 1 May 1911 to 9 July 1922. He died at Eltham in October 1922 and was buried October 6 at Melbourne General Cemetery. The procession commenced from his home in Main Road, Eltham. Cone was succeeded by Constable William Charles Sergeant Badge #4625 who served from 1 August 1922 to 1 March 1927 Electoral Roll Records Eltham Police Residence, Main Road 1911-1922, Cnst. John Thomas Cone and Charlotte Helena Cone and daughter Heather McKnight Cone (b1911) Eltham, John Street 1925-1934, James Gardiner Jenkins, Railway employee Eltham (Main Road?) 1924: Charlotte Helena Cone, home duties Malvern, 229 Glenferrie Rd Charlotte Helena Cone, Registrar of Births 1934 Heather McKnight Cone, Clerk, 1934 James Gardiner Jenkins, Railway employee 1935-1936 Glen Iris, 13 Ashburton Rd Charlotte Helena Cone, Home duties 1936-1946 Heather McKnight Cone, Clerk 1936-1954 Heather McKnight Jenkins, Receptionist 1963-1972 James Gardiner Jenkins, Railway employee 1936-1972 From records and family trees (Ancestry.com) James Gardiner Jenkins was born in 1892 in Whittlesea. He served in the AIF in WW1. According to Electoral Roll records, Jim was employed with the railways at Eltham, living in John Street. It was probably around then that he met and married Fanny Davidson Carrucan. They were married in 1925 (Vic 7206/1925). Fanny died 1929 at age 30. At the time of Fanny’s death in 1929, Jim Jenkins was 37, Charlotte Cone was 54 and Heather Cone 18. Some time between 1924 and 1934 but most probably closer to 1934, Charlotte and daughter Heather left Eltham and were living at 229 Glenferrie Road, Malvern. By 1935 Jim Jenkins was living with them. By 1936 all three moved to 13 Ashburton Road, Glen Iris where it appears they may have lived out their lives. Charlotte died in 1952, and Heather was still living under her maiden name in 1954 but by 1963 was recorded as Heather Jenkins. Jim is last found in the Electoral Rolls for 1972; he died in 1975. Heather died in 2010. JENKINS. - Heather. Passed away peacefully at Cabrini Ashwood on Oct. 24, 2010 Reunited with Jim and Jonathon No Funeral at her request [Herald Sun 26/10/2010] Sources: • VIC BDM • Electoral Roll Records via Ancestry.com • Family Notices (1922, October 6). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 16. Retrieved July 30, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205053816 • Police Honour Roll Eltham Police Station Heather Jenkins was the daughter of Constable John Thomas Cone, Badge #3935 served at Eltham Police Station 1 May 1911 to 9 July 1922.Glued on a brown paper scrapbook page (torn from scrapbook) with 8 black and white/sepia photos of varying sizes, 1 newspaper clipping and one greeting card with printed sketch and handwritten captions in ink. On back of page is 1 black and white photo and a large newspaper clipping.eltham railway station, heather jenkins (nee cone)

This ship model is of the sailing brigantine MARY CAMPBELL, which once belonged to Captain James Arthur Robilliard. The model was made by Harry McKenna, a well-known ship model maker and Warrnambool resident. CAPTAIN ROBILLIARD James Arthur Robilliard, sea captain and tent maker, was born in 19th April 1843 in St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands. He trained there in his father’s sail loft as a sailmaker. He later became a skipper. His first job was as a sailor in Liverpool, England. In 1875, James Robilliard migrated to Australia as a mate on the “E.M. Young”. Captain Robilliard and his family were amongst the early settlers along the Curdies River in the Heytesbury district. In 1877, he became a Captain. On 14th November 1879, Captain Robilliard married Helen Beckett. James and Helen had ten children: James Arthur (Jnr), Henry William, Nellie Jessie, Alfred Albert, Rubena Nellie, De Jersy Norman, Clifford Beckett, Olive Ida, Frances Ridley Havergal and Nellie Elvie, all born in Victoria. THE MARY CAMPBELL The ship “Mary Campbell” was built by Alexander Newton Jr. She was carvel-planked, of iron bark and blue gum timber. The family shipyard was at Pelican, on the Manning River, NSW, and “Mary Campbell” was first launched by her builder in 1869 as “The Son”. Three months later, she was renamed “Mary Campbell’ by her purchaser J. Campbell in Sydney. She was used to carry equipment for the Sydney Sugar Refinery’s Mill in Southgate, NSW. She then traded for the next 20 years between Australian ports and rivers along the east coast, as well as regular ports in New Zealand. She was “recognised as one of the best carrying little vessels in the timber trade” (Sydney Morning Herald). She had several owners over this time, the last one being Captain James A. Robilliard. On 29th April 1889, “Mary Campbell”, in the charge of her owner, Captain James A Robilliard, was on her way from Clarence River, NSW to Melbourne, Victoria with a cargo of railway girders for the Melbourne Harbour Trust. Captain Robilliard encountered a storm off Port Macquarie. He sailed the vessel south to 25 miles (about 40km) east of Cape Hawke, near Tuncurry and Forster. At 7 pm, he discovered that the cargo had shifted during the stormy seas and the heavy girders had damaged the hull, causing a leak. The pumps were inadequate to stem the fast-flowing leak, and over a meter of water filled the hull during the next 2 hours. Some of the crew began throwing the cargo overboard to lighten the vessel, hoping to keep it afloat until daylight. When the water reached over 2 meters in the hull, they realised their efforts were in vain. At 1:30 am on 30th April 1889, the crew left the vessel. They stood by in the lifeboat until 3 am. The ship was sinking fast, so they left for the shore, looking for a safe place to beach their boat. While still miles off Cape Hawke, all 7 crew members, including the Captain, were rescued by the Government Tug “Rhea” and taken to Port Macquarie hospital, then returned to Sydney in the “Wellington”. Captain Robilliard managed to rescue his ship’s compass, but no cargo was saved from the vessel. It had been under-insured, only covered for half its value, due to a lack of funds. Many years later, in 1976, an anchor was caught up in the net of a trawler south of Forster and thought to be from the “Mary Campbell”. It was donated and installed in the Great Lakes Museum, Tuncurry, NSW. (The same museum also has a half-model of the hull of “Mary Campbell”.) The name of the last ship Captain Robilliard sailed is currently unknown; however, he sailed that ship from the port of Marlborough, Queensland, carting steel railway girders for the Geelong-to-Camperdown line. On one trip, it hit a storm, the cargo shifted, and the ship was wrecked along the NSW coast. After this, Captain Robilliard exchanged sea life for farming in Peterborough. In about 1897, verging on retirement, Capt. Robiilliard superintended the Melbourne Sailors’ Home in Spencer Street, Melbourne, before being asked to leave this position in 1902 for trying to shut down the local hotel! At this time, the Melbourne Sailors’ Home was about to change its location. On 6th May 191,7, Captain James Arthur Robilliard J.P. died at Blackwood Park, in the Cobden district of Brucknell, which is now considered the first official Robilliard family homestead in Australia. He was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery, Victoria. His wife, Helen, passed away in 1947. The Becket and Robilliard family names continue to be well known in the Western District. Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village also has a ship’s compass in the collection that was owned by Capt. J. Robilliard and used on the ship Mary Campbell.This ship model of the MARY CAMPBELL is of local significance for its association with well well-known Warrnambool resident and ship model maker. The model is also significant for its association with the brigantine MARY CAMPBELL, a trading vessel that brought railway girders to the Melbourne Harbour Trust.Ship model "Mary Campbell": a two-masted vessel with black hull, brown masts and black rigging, displayed in a glass case with a timber frame painted green. Made by Harry McKenna.Painted on the bow in white “MARY CAMPBELL” Gold label with black print attached to display case “MODEL BY THE LATE HARRY McKENNA OF WARRNAMBOOL”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, marine artwork, model making, captain james arthur robilliard, j.a. robilliard, vessel mary campbell, ship mary campbell, melbourne sailors home, vessels, harry mckenna, mary campbell

Captain Robilliard: James Arthur Robilliard was a sea captain and tentmaker, born on the 19th April 1843 at Saint Helier, Jersey. He trained there in his father's sail loft as a sailmaker. His first job as a sailor was in Liverpool, England, and in 1875, James Robilliard migrated to Australia as a mate on the "E.M. Young". James Robilliard and his family were amongst the early settlers who arrived along the Curdies River in the Heytesbury district of Western Victoria. In 1877, he became a Captain and would have used his compass from ship to ship. On 28th May 1877, in that same district, a small 3-masted schooner, the "Young Australian", was wrecked. This schooner had been built in 1864 at Jervis Bay, NSW. It had been on her way from Maryborough, Queensland, to Adelaide, under the command of Captain Whitfield, when it lost its mainmast in a heavy gale. It was beached at Curdies Inlet in Peterborough, Victoria. Captain Robilliard was placed in charge of the salvaging operation and recovered a good portion of the cargo. Not long after this incident, a Warrnambool shop owner, David Evans, found employment for James Robilliard with Evan Evans, who produced tents, sails, tarpaulins and similar goods; James already had the necessary skills for this work. Evan Evans was the same sailor rescued from the “Young Australian”. Soon after his rescue, Evan recalled he had a relative in Australia in a town called Warrnambool, and while walking in Timor Street, Warrnambool, he saw a sign over a shop that said “David Evans,” and once the two men met, Evan was warmly welcomed. David then helped his relative establish a tent and tarpaulin-making business there. Evan later transferred his successful business to a shop in Elizabeth St, Melbourne, under the name Evan Evans Pty. Ltd.) James Robilliard was a committed Christian and accredited Lay Preacher with the Methodist Church. He travelled around the local district leading the settlers in worship. On 14th November 1879, Captain Robilliard married Helen Beckett. Alfred and Selina Beckett and their family all attended the church at Brucknell, where Captain Robilliard preached. He was said to have been taken by their young daughter, Helen. James and Helen had ten children: James Arthur (Jnr), Henry William, Nellie Jessie, Alfred Albert, Rubena Nellie, De Jersy Norman, Clifford Beckett, Olive Ida, Frances Ridley Havergal and Nellie Elvie, all born in Victoria. In the 1880s, James Robilliard captained the cutter "Hannah Thompson" into Port Campbell, Victoria. This vessel was the first coastal trader to operate between Melbourne and Port Campbell. At one time, Captain Robilliard had to beach the "Hannah Thompson" for repairs. In 1923, the vessel was blown ashore in a gale and wrecked at Oberon Bay, at Wilson's Promontory. In 1889, the compass was saved by Captain James Arthur Robilliard from his sinking brigantine "Mary Campbell". This vessel was used to carry equipment for the Sydney Sugar Refinery's Mill in Southgate, NSW. The ship had been built in 1869 and traded for the next 20 years between Australian ports and rivers along the east coast, as well as regular ports in New Zealand. It was recognised by the Sydney Morning Herald as one of the best "carrying vessels in the timber trade". It had several owners over this time, the last one being Captain James A. Robilliard. On 29th April 1889, the "Mary Campbell", with Captain James A Robilliard as captain and owner, was on its way from Clarence River, NSW to Melbourne, Victoria with a cargo of railway girders for the Melbourne Harbour Trust. Captain Robilliard encountered a storm off Port Macquarie. He sailed the vessel south to about 40km east of Cape Hawke, near Tuncurry. At around 7 pm, he discovered that the cargo had shifted during the storm and the heavy girders had damaged the hull, causing a leak. The pumps were inadequate to stem the fast-flowing leak, and water soon filled the hull during the next two hours. Some of the crew began throwing the cargo overboard to lighten the vessel, hoping to keep it afloat until daylight. When the water reached over 2 meters in the hull, they realised their efforts were in vain. On the 30th April 1889, the crew left the vessel the ship was sinking fast, so they made for the shore. While still miles off Cape Hawke, all seven crew members, including the Captain, were rescued by the Government Tug "Rhea" and taken to Port Macquarie Hospital and later returned to Sydney in the vessel "Wellington". No cargo had been saved, and the consignment had been under-insured, only covered for half its value. The name of the last ship Captain Robilliard sailed is currently unknown; however, he sailed that ship from the port of Marlborough, Queensland, carting steel railway girders for the Geelong-to-Camperdown railway line. On this trip, the ship hit a storm, the cargo shifted, and the ship was wrecked along the NSW coast. After this, Captain Robilliard retired from the sea and began farming in Peterborough. In about 1897, verging on retirement, Capt. Robilliard superintended the Melbourne Sailors’ Home in Spencer Street, Melbourne, before being asked to leave this position in 1902 for trying to shut down a local hotel. On 6th May 1917, Captain James Arthur Robilliard J.P. died at Blackwood Park, in the Cobden district of Brucknell, the first Robilliard family homestead in Australia. He was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery, Victoria. His wife Helen, passed away in 1947. This compass, once belonging to Captain James Arthur Robilliard, is of local and state historical significance for its use by the Captain with his vessel, the "Mary Campbell", a trading vessel that was bringing railway girders to the Melbourne Harbour Trust. He also used this compass on the "Hannah Thompson", listed on the Victorian Heritage Register and known as being the first coastal trader to operate between Melbourne and Port Campbell. The compass is also a very fine example of maritime navigational instruments manufactured and used in the mid-19th century. Marine compass, brass, in a wooden box with a separate, fitted lid. The compass card has sixteen points. The four principal points are marked: North with a star-shape, South with an “S”, East with an “E” and West with an “O” (French word OUEST). Each quadrant of the circle is numbered from 0 – 90 degrees. The card is floating in a liquid. The compass gimbal is attached to the sides of the box and to the front and back of the compass’ cylindrical brass frame. The mahogany coloured timber storage case is joined with brass nails. The centre of the lid has a folding decorative brass handle. The lid fits over the base and closes with a brass screw and hook on both front and back. Maker: Dubas Watchmaker Optician, Nantes, France, c 1860-1870. Compass came from the ship “Mary Campbell”, which sank off the NSW coast in 1889, near Forster. The compass, as well as the ship, belonged to Captain James Arthur Robilliard and was donated by his family. “DUBAS MANTES” stamped into the side of the gimbal. “DUBAS HORLOGER OPTICIEN. NANTES.” printed around the centre of the card. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, marine compass, navigation instrument 19th century, marine instruments, dubas mantes, captain james arthur robilliard, j.a. robilliard, helen beckett, ship young australian, ship young australia(n), ship hannah thompson, ship mary campbell, melbourne sailors home, david evans, evan evans, curdies inlet, brucknell church, curdies railway, great lakes museum, dubas horloger opticien. nantes

The letter to William Ferrier of South Warrnambool from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth recognised the significance of William’s brave and courageous lifesaving act to the people of Australia; “They all feel that your conduct was worthy of the best deeds done by British sailors in the past and they are proud to know that Australia can produce such as you.” The story of that brave rescue follows on below … 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 was 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. She 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 seawater and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on the 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 11 pm 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 11 pm 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 2 am 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 has 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 the 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. As well as this letter, Flagstaff Hill’s La Bella Collection includes a photograph of the wrecked La Bella, a brass rail holder and a postcard of William Ferrier with four of the survivors. 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. This original congratulatory letter sent to William Ferrier by the Prime Minister and Government of Australia demonstrates the importance attached to his efforts for Victoria and to Australia. The letter 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 letter to William Ferrier from the Australian Government acknowledges the bravery of ordinary Australians who risked their lives to save victims of shipwrecks along the coast. The letter is significant to the history of Warrnambool as it honours William Ferrier, a local fisherman whose descendants continue to live in the area. It highlights the way of life of people who lived in coastal towns in 19th century Victoria and the effects of shipwrecks upon them. The letter connects to the postcard of William Ferrier with four of the five rescued crew, the photograph of the wreck of the La Bella and the artefact from the wreck, the rail holder. This letter 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. Letter to William Ferrier of South Warrnambool from the Prime Minister and Members of Parliament commending him on his bravery. The printed letterhead includes a coat of arms in the top centre and the official address. The letter is very neatly hand written in black pen and includes 4 signatures of Members of Parliament. The rectangular paper is cream coloured with some yellow/brown discolouring. It has the letterhead on the right hand side of it and the written letter begins below the letterhead. The paper has been folded so that the right side becomes the cover page of the letter. The writing is continued onto the inside right hand page of the folded paper and the writing ends here. There is more recent writing on the bottom right hand corner of the back page. The paper has been officially folded in half a total 3 times and there is heavy discolouration on the sections that form the front and back of the folded letter. There is a 4th fold line that is less pronounced that the other folds and would make the paper the size to fit into a pocket. At several fold creases the paper has worn through. The edges of the paper have minor tears. The printed coat of arms is that of the House of Representatives. Underneath is printed “The Parliament of the Commonwealth, / Parliament House / Melbourne”. The hand written, letter is dated “14th November, 1905” and addressed to “Mr. William Ferrier / South Warrnambool” The letter begins “The Speaker, the Prime Minister and Members of the Ministry and its supporters, the Leader and Members of the Opposition, the Leader and Members of the Labour Party, being all the Members of the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Australia” … It continues “desire to express to you their appreciation of your bravery in skulling out to the wreck of the “La Bella” at Warrnambool on Saturday, 11th November, 1905, and recovering therefrom two of the crew who were in imminent danger of their lives. They all feel that your conduct was worthy of the best deeds done by British sailors in the past and they are proud to know that Australia can produce such as you.” The letter is “Signed on behalf of the Members – Speaker (Frederick Holder ), Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Joseph Cook ), Prime Minister (Alfred Deakin), Leader of the Labour Party ( J.C. Watson)” On the back of the letter is blue ink handwriting “OWNER / G. FERRIER / TO. BE. PHOTOGRAPHED / 27-4-76”la bella, william ferrier, bill ferrier, lady bay, 1905, 10th november 1905, 11th november 1905, parliament of the commonwealth, prime minister, australian government, new zealand, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village

This brass rail holder fixture would have been used to hold the end of a rail in place. There is no information as to where the fitting or rail would have been placed on the ship; sailing ships had many brass fittings. It was recovered from the wreck of the La Bella, which lies at the bottom of the Warrnambool Harbour. Some 15 ships are believed to have been wrecked in Lady Bay, 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. She 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. 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. As well as this letter, Flagstaff Hill’s La Bella Collection includes a photograph of the wrecked La Bella, a brass rail holder and a postcard of William Ferrier with four of the survivors. This original congratulatory letter sent to William Ferrier by the Prime Minister and Government of Australia demonstrates the importance attached to his efforts for Victoria and to Australia. The letter 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 letter to William Ferrier from the Australian Government acknowledges the bravery of ordinary Australians who risked their lives to save victims of shipwrecks along the coast. The letter is significant to the history of Warrnambool as it honours William Ferrier, a local fisherman whose descendants continue to live in the area. It highlights the way of life of people who lived in coastal towns in 19th century Victoria and the effects of shipwrecks upon them. The letter connects to the postcard of William Ferrier with four of the five rescued crew, the photograph of the wreck of the La Bella and the artefact from the wreck, the rail holder. This item 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. Brass rail holder from the wreck "La Bella". This rail holder would have been used as a fitting for the end of a rail. It is made up of two parts and looks a little like a goblet in shape. The top is a hollow spherical shape with a circular hole cut out on one side, into which the end of a round rail would fit. There are two gouge marks close to each other on one side of the hole, about one centimetre apart, at 1 and 2 o’clock position. The sphere has a hollow pipe-like stem with a screw thread turned into the outside of the lower section and the bottom of the stem has been flared out after having the base fitted. The base is round and has a mound in the centre. The edge has four evenly spaced fixture holes around its edge. The metal shows signs of pitting and has mild encrustation. The fitting of the base is loose, allowing it to swivel in a complete circle. The top of the sphere is rough and has a dent in it. Underneath the base there is verdigris; some has flaked off and reveals a bright golden colour underneath. rail holder, brass rail holder, la bella, lady bay, norway, 1893, new zealand, captain mylius, william ferrier, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village