The Flag was donated by the Paynesville Maritime Museum for use from time to time in the Chapel at the Mission to Seafarers Victoria.This type of signal flag was hoisted by ships afloat to indicate that a church service was in progress. Loose weave blend of synthetic and natural fibre large triangular pennant with red cross near hoist hem and long parallel panels of blue and red down the length of the pennant on white ground; rope hoist tethered and steel hoist fixings all calico bound along hem.Inscribed in black texta top corner 5966 and in lwr crnr CHURCHpennants, flags, signal flag, church pennant, paynesville maritime museum

The original book was published in Melbourne by M.L. Hutchinson, 1881. This edition was specially compiled for the Lakes Navigation Company by J. Blackwood Howie.A small book - Exploring the Gippsland Lakes 1882. this is a republication of a C 1882 book titled Tourists and Sportsman's Guide to the Gippsland Lakes and Surrounding Country. This pocket reading republishes a story from 1882 that was aimed at promoting tourism to the Gippsland Lakes. It starts with a train trip from Melbourne to Sale and then boards a steamer to experience the Gippsland Lakes. The book was published by Paynesville Maritime Museum in January 2010. It was compiled by J. Howie Blackwood.gippsland-lakes travel tourism-east-gippsland

Regional fishermen supplied fish to the Melbourne market in these cane baskets. The basket had a flat lid (we are searching for a lid) and bracken fern was packed between the fish as ice was not available at the time. Photos show that fish boxes were introduced in 1900 and no post 1900 photos of baskets in use have been found. The baskets were mainly destroyed once boxes were introduced and only two baskets have been found. . Oval shaped large wicker work basket

Fish were transported tot he Melbourne market in these wicker baskets with layers of bracken fern between the fish. The last known shipment opf fish in baskets from Paynesville was around 1900 as after that the woodedn fish box was introduced.

Photo shows fish baskets being unloaded from the Gippsland Lakes steamer "JCD" at Sale after trans-shipment from Paynesville for the Sale train.

This bollard is from the steamer "JCD" and served both to tie mooring lines and to feed them through. It was recovered from the MacMillan Strait some years after the "JCD" was removed from the water and burned.Cast iron bollard

The steamer "JCD" was built in 1888 and served the Gippsland Lakes until 1934 carrying passengers and freight.

This model of the steamer "JCD" was locally made to record the type.Model of steamship, in glass case

Photo shows the steamer "JCD" deteriorating on the MacMillan Strait foreshore somewhere around 1960. It was later removed and burnt.Photographic image

The SS Gippsland was built at Paynesville in 1908 for the Gippsland Lakes trade and was capable of carrying 450 passengers on the tourist journey from Bairnsdale to Lakes Entrance.Photograph of steamer "Gippsland"

Peter Tierney built the SS Gippsland at the Paynesville Slip to the design of Victor Gotch in 1908. Photo shows the shipwrights standing on the scaffold in front of the ship.Photograph of SS Gippsland in build.

This fish box is as taken from a Paynesville fishing boat circa 1960.Wooden fish box containing fishing net and a lamp

On the Gippsland Lakes fish were caught from small (7m) boats and packed into baskets or boxes on the jetty before shipment to Melbourne.Photo shows fishermen and boats at a local jetty.

The half model is the traditional way for boat-builders to shape a boat before starting construction.Half model of fishing boat mounted on backing board

The fishing boats of Paynesville were small to be able to get into the shallow water where the fish would be located. Upwards of 50 boats were fishing from Paynesville circa 1900Photo shows a fishing boat circa 1910

This bench has been reconstructed using materials from a local boat-builders bench.Boat-builders workbench and tools

At Paynesville the local craftsmen built fishing boats, steamers and workboats and (later) pleasure boats using traditional methods.Photograph of boat-builder standing beside newly completed pleasure boat

Typical of the small toolbox that boat-builders took to the confined areas when working on boatsWooden toolbox containing boat building tools

Boat-builders use the irons to push caulking cotton ito the seams between the planks of the hull to prevent water leaking inSet of steel caulking irons

The drawing board was used to prepare drawings of the parts of the boat so the boat-builders knew what to make.Wooden drawing board, tee square and instruments

The annual regatta circuit of the Gippsland Lakes was very popular with holiday makers and racing would typically attract 3000 spectators to watch. Races were held for both sail and power boatsAdvertising poster on thick paper

Speedboat racing was very popular at Paynesville from the 1930s onward and continues to this dayPhotograph of speedboats racing

This sign was on the iceworks building at the Fishermans Wharf in Paynesville

Reputed to have been the key of the Queenscliff Lighthouse c.1880. It was passed on from Ted Smith, 10 Kings Rd Paynesville, 3880, whose grandfather, John McDonald, was Lighthouse Keeper at Queenscliff about the 1880. From Queenscliff, Mr. McDonald was posted to Gabo Island. Original lighthouse key late 19th centuryqueenscliff light house, cast iron key, keys, john mcdonald, lighthouse keepers