"The marine Hydrographers of the British Admiralty wanted desperately to chart a safe passage through the Great Barrier Reef and the gap between the northern tip of Australia and Papua New Guinea, which would open up the new colony to the East Indies trade. They commissioned the Rattlesnake, a 28 gun frigate of the Royal Navy, whose captain was a keen amateur artist and whose name, Owen Stanley, was given to the mountain ranges of PNG. After the passage out, Stanley brought aboard Oswald Brierly, later to be the marine painter to Queen Victoria, and together these men made two voyages through the Great Barrier Reef, painting and sketching all the while. They produced a visual record of 19th century contact between Europeans and the indigenous people of Northern Australia and New Guinea in an album which contains the original of this copy. It is held in the Mitchell Library in Sydney." (ref. State Library New South Wales) Sir Oswald Brierly, a young marine artist, arrived in Sydney in 1842 on the yacht Wanderer. Settling at the whaling station of Boyd Town in Twofold Bay, he painted extensively and left a vivid account of the whaling life during the five years he spent there. However it was the open sea and adventure that lead Brierly to accept a position on the HMS Rattlesnake as shipboard artist. This item is associated with the anchor of the The Rattlesnake. This anchor is in the main street of Orbost in front of what was once the museum.This is a copy of a picture of the H.M.S. Rattlesnake at sea with a canoe of Aborigines rowing towards it.h.m.s.-rattlesnake brierly-oswald stanley-owen

This cannon ball formed the basis of a discussion with artillerist Peter Webster and historical society members in 2011. The following ideas were put forward. It was approximately 5 inches in diameter and weighed 10lb, Such cannon balls were used in an 18 calibre cannon, which were used only on ships. (12 calibre guns were field artillery). Australia was behind England in its artillery use and used hand me downs. In the 1800's Australia did an audit of artillery and cleared out those no longer in use. By the time of the 1830's 18lb cannons were largely obsolete and removed from service Australia used 18 calibre cannons in Northern Australia at Port Essington and Fort Dundas (Melville Island) Perhaps this cannon ball has no real connection with Australia and came as ballast from some other country.This is one of the more interesting items in our collection and there has been much conjecture over the years as to the story of how it ended up in Warrnambool. In that way it has built its own mystery and provenanceRound metal ball measuring 5 inches in diameter, weighing 10lb. The surface is pitted with the original surface visible in some parts.defence, war, ships, cannon ball, exploration, warrnambool, warrnambool history, warrnambool cannonball

This painting of the barque Sydney Griffiths and two smaller ships, ‘the brothers’ and Essington’ graced the offices of Powling solicitors for 3 generations. This painting illustrates the scene of the first export of wool from Belfast to England.Depicts a significant moment in time when the first shipment of wool from the port was being loaded for London.A watercolour painting on paper and linen in a gold and Black frame showing the Barque "Sydney Griffiths" sailing before Griffith island, also shown "Essington" and "The Brothers" John Griffiths House and other buildings on shoreThe Barque "Sydney Griffiths" Capt. Cowtan leaving Port Fairy for London, February 8th 1851. "Essington" "Brothers"local history, illustrations, powlings, watercolours, exports, essington, sydney griffiths, shipping, the brothers, wool export, capt cowtan

Ill, p.327.non-fictionFactual account of life in the Northern Territory in the late 19th century; - 1st section - Authors adventures as a shipwrecked mariner at Wark Aboriginal Settlement and Port Essington; 2nd section - Detailed narrative of the authors work & explorations as a customs official and as a patrol police officer, stationed at Port Darwin; Description of Malays and their trading ventures by proas; Relations between Malays and Aborigines employment of latter in collecting, trepangs, pearls, tortoise-shells - physical and cultural influences (e.g. intermixture, and language) feuds and murders; Notes on food gathering and hunting (use of wommera) - tracking - corroborrees settling of disputes by simulated fighting - group murder and guilt rites (Malays and Chinese), canoes decorated - Maria Is. sacred burial ground qualities of Aborigines; noted; Intertribal fighting - Woolna tribe against local Darwin Aborigines; Cannibalism at Limba Luchumbo - King River; Contact between Aborigines and settlers, ranging from extreme cruelty to great friendships; Aboriginal girls stolen for domestic work causing trouble; Further accounts of Chinese - opium & gold smuggling; Search for Dylompo - Groote Eylandt unsuccessful. northern australia - description and travel, northern australia - economic relations

non-fictionLudwig Leichhardt (1813 -1848) is known as one of the most individualistic of Australian explorers. This is the first substantial account of his life and work, based on his diaries, logs and field books. Leichhardt's accomplishments have been uncarefully handled by many researchers and much hearsay and supposition has marred the record of the explorer's life. Not assisting in these efforts is the fact that his journals and logbooks were all written in the Gothic form of the German language and have been largely indecipherable and, in places, open to misinterpretation. With the publication of this volume, the story has been set straight. Using unprecedented access to Leichhardt's writings, including his personal correspondence, the author throws new light upon the scandals and defamations which historians - many with vested interests - have heaped upon him. It also includes Leichhardt’s observations of Aboriginal culture round Durundur Station; references to meetings with groups by 1844-1845 expedition to Port Essington; predominantly friendly relations with tribes; instruction in bush foods and medicines; Koko-Pera attack; appendix includes table of Tribal areas traversed 1844-5.ludwig leichhardt 1813 - 1848, exploration australia, australia -- discovery and exploration, leichhardt biography