This Sike’s Hydrometer was donated by the Port Fairy Customs Office as it was no longer required by them due to a change in the law. The hydrometer was part of a system for Ullaging or calculating the amount of liquid remaining in a container of liquor such as a barrel, and the amount of alcoholic content in the contents. It can also measure the free space or head space remaining. Hydrometers were used to measure the density, or relative density, of liquids from the late 1600s. In 1816 Bartholomew Sikes won the competition for the most useful accurate hydrometer. Hydrometers were commonly used by distillers, vintners, and brewers to establish accurate measures of alcohol concentration in their beverages. Following this manufacturing process, government inspectors and excise officers used them to check that the labelled indications of alcohol-proof were correct and that the right amounts of duty were being paid.The Sikes hydrometer is of local significance because of its association with the Government's Customs Office in Port Fairy, in the southwest region of Victoria. It is also associated with Bartholomew Sikes, whose design of a hydrometer was chosen in 1816 as being the most useful and accurate hydrometer. The hydrometer has evolved into the digital version available today to measure density of liquids.Sikes Hydrometer and thermometer in a fitted wooden case with crimson lining inside the lid and dark lining in the base. The case has ten vertical pegs to secure the weights. The brass hydrometer has a spherical float and eight thick brass horseshoe-shaped weights. The serial number is on each section of the float and all weights. Both sides of the float’s upper flat stem have a scale from 0-10, with five divisions between each number. The eight weights are numbered from 20 – 90 in increments of 10. The set includes a mercury thermometer mounted on an ivory back plate labelled with Fahrenheit and Centigrade Scales. The Sikes hydrometer set was made by Loftus of London. The hydrometer model is IID 510, Serial Number is 14674, calibrated by Longs, London. All parts of the float and eight weights are inscribed with Serial Number “14674” The float stem is stamped "SIKE'S IID 51o” Calibrator, "LONG LITTLE TOWER ST LONDON" The weights are numbered individually ”20”, “30”, “40”, “50”, “60”, “70”, “80” or “90” Each weight in inscribed; symbol “(J L) [inside an ova, with textured background]” The thermometer inscribed: “LOFTUS OF LONDON”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, measuring instruments, customs tax, weighing instrument, sike’s hydrometer, calibrator long of london, loftus of london instrument maker, loftus, j long, sikes hydrometer, scientific instrument, pressure measurement, measuring instrument, ullage tool, customs, excise duty, tax, alcohol content, proof, calibrate, standard weights and measures, tariff, scientific instrument makers, specific gravity, liquid density, alcohol testing, technology, alcohol measurement, proof spirit, wine and spirits merchants, local business, brass measuring instrument, port fairy, customs office, port fairy customs, joseph long, instrument maker

The customs house located on the corner of Campbell and Gipps Streets next door to the Court housecoloured photograph of bluestone cottage with verandah and timber rail fencesouvenir, port-fairy, customs house, campbell street, gipps street

The Australian Customs Service, Melbourne, donated a set of gauging instruments, and Port Fairy Customs donated another instrument, the Sike’s Hydrometer, to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, all of which were no longer required. However these ullaging tools were in use for many years by Customs officials, called Gaugers. Ullaging is a term describing the measurement of the amount of liquid remaining in a container of spirits such as a cask or barrel. It can also measure the free space or head space remaining. The primary role of customs officers in Victoria was to calculate the tariff or excise duty payable on goods imported into Victoria. (Excise duty is a tax on goods produced within a country, and customs duty is imposed on imports.) Customs officers spent a great deal of their time measuring and weighing goods, and then calculating the amount of duty to be paid by the importer. The tariffs for different products varied, and officers consulted published lists. Calculating the duty payable on a barrel of brandy was a detailed task. The gauger had to measure the barrel to determine its volume. Barrels were irregular in shape, and finding the volume required several measurements and checking tables of figures. Alcoholic content was then measured with a hydrometer. The duty paid varied according to the alcoholic strength of the spirits. Uniform national customs and excise duties were operative in Australia from October 1901. These tools were still being used in Australia in the 1950’s. The Federal Government still imposes excise taxes on goods such as cigarettes, petrol, and alcohol. The rates imposed may change in February and August each year in response to changes in the consumer price index. ULLAGING TOOLS (1) Head Rod - this instrument measures the diameter of the heads (top and bottom ends) of a cask or barrel. The shaped brass pieces on the head rod enable the diameter of a barrel to be measured inside the chimes at the head end. The slide rule could then be used to calculate the internal volume of the barrel. On the reverse side is a set of ullaging scales, used like those on any ullaging rule, to calculate the volume of liquid in a partially filled barrel. (2) Bung Rod – this instrument measures the diameter of a cask or barrel when it is lying on its side. It is a rod that fits into the ‘bung’ hole of a cask and is long enough be extended to reach the opposite side of the cask. The brass sliding pointer can be moved to mark the ‘wet’ line. When the rod is removed the bung measurement can be read from the scale on the rod. (3) Long Calipers - this instrument measures the length of the cask between the heads. It has two rules sliding beside each other, each end having another piece of wood fixed firmly at right angles downwards then turned inwards at the ends so as to reach over the heads of the casks without touching the projecting ends. The centre pieces enable it to extend or contract, changing the distance between the two other parallel sides, the distance they are apart being shown by the rule on the sliding pieces. (4) Cross Calipers – this instrument is used to take the bung diameters of casks, or "the Cross " as it is called. This instrument has two rules sliding beside each other, each end having another piece of wood fixed firmly at right angles downwards, together forming a 3 sides of a rectangle with the centre pieces enabling it to extended or contracted, changing the distance between the two other parallel sides, the distance they are apart being shown by a the rule on the sliding pieces. (5) Sike’s Hydrometer – this instrument is used to gauge the strength of different alcoholic spirits when fitted with the different weights in the set. Every set is individually calibrated to ensure that it meets the exact Standard Weight and Measure compliance, then every piece in that set is stamped with the same number by the Calibrator, to ensure that the measurements are taken using the same hydrometer set. [References: A Handbook of Practical Gauging, Janes Boddely Keene of H.M. Customs, 1861, F. Pitman, London; Customs Act, Volume 2, No. 1, April 1999; Old Customs House website ] Head Rod, ullaging gauge. Long wooden rod made of three joined sections, brass hook on end, sliding centre section with hook, measurements marked along each section as on a slide rule. Used for measuring diameter of heads of casks in order for Customs to calculate excise (tax) on the contentsflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, head rod, gauging rod, ullaging rods, measuring instruments, customs tax

The firm Dring and Fage were active from 1790 to 1940 in London and were manufacturers of hydrometers and mathematical instruments they became established in London in 1790 by John Dring, who was a brass worker and hydrometer maker, and William Fage. Dring and Fage manufactured also saccharometers and other instruments used to measure the strength of alcohol. These instruments were primarily used to calculate excises. They traded at various addresses in London and they were at 56 Stamford St. between 1903 and 1938. By 1850 the company was owned by Edward Hall and Edward Jenkin and in 1940 the company became Dring & Fage Ltd, trading till the 1960s. Historically, gauging has meant measuring a volume, these gauging instruments were used by Customs and Excise and manufacturers for determining the volume and contents of liquid containers. For Customs the determination and collection of duty on imported goods which has had a very long history. Chaucer was a Customs Officer as was his father and grandfather, excise was first officially introduced in 1643, with the aim of maintaining military forces raised by the English Parliament at that time. Excise was initially a duty on home produced alcoholic beverages and soap but being easily applied, spread rapidly to a wide range of goods including imports of varying kinds. The government departments of Customs and Excise merged only in 1909 and it is from around this time that our instrument was made and used. The item demonstrates a long social history of the practice of Government's collecting duty on alcoholic beverages and thereby makes this item historically significant as it was used locally at Port Fairy by the ports Customs agents. Gauging rod or bung rod; ullaging gauge. Long brown wooden gauging rod with brass tips and sliding brass marker. Measurements are marked along the length of the rod. Used for measuring volume of liquor in casks in order for Customs to calculate excise (tax) on the contents. Made by Dring & Fage, London.Engraved “Dring & Fage 56 Stamford St London flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, gauging rod, ullaging rods, measuring instruments, customs tax, dring & fage, alcohol measurement

The book was published at the same address as London’s Navigation Waterhouse and Naval Academy. It is likely to be one of the textbooks used in educating seafarers, both naval and merchant. It is the twenty-fifth edition, showing that it was in great demand in the early to mid-19th century. Sea merchants could have used this as a reference for working out freight costs for their cargo. Customs Officers could have referred to it as well to calculate fees and taxes. The book’s owner had inscribed in pen and ink "Rose Anna, Schooner, Melbourne, March 25th 1857". At that time, the registered owners were Thomas Lamb & E. Keays, who were freighting cargo between Melbourne and Geelong. Schooner, ROSE ANNA: - The schooner Rose Anna was built in 1844 at Fremantle, W.A., by H. Edwards for Capt. William Heard. The 2-masted wooden vessel was carvel-built. Captain Heard registered Rose Anna at Fremantle in 1845 and in the same year, registered it at Port Adelaide. in 1852, Rose Anna was crushed and sunk at Port Adelaide by the Selma and raised. In 1852, the schooner was lengthened by William Hardy. In 1853, William Burton and W. Roberts registered Rose Anna at Melbourne. In 1855, W. Roberts registered, followed by John Balston & Thomas Ross. In 1856, it was registered by Thomas Lamb & E. Keays, in 1857 by William Howes & Charles Holland, in 1865 by Charles Holland & John Balfour, and in 1866 registered in Melbourne by mariners John Balfour & David Griffiths. In the 1940s, Rose Anna traded between Hobart, Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Circular Head, Port Fairy, and Port Albert. In the 1950s and 1960s, it traded between Geelong Heads and Hobsons Bay, Melbourne, in lime, wool, general cargo and ballast. In 1857, when Rose Anna’s registered owners were Thomas Lamb & E. Keays, an advertisement was placed in The Age on March 9th, announcing that the Rose Anna was taking freight from Melbourne to Geelong. Later in the year, in October, the registered owners were William Howes & Charles Holland. They were still trading with Geelong, as on October 7th, The Age announced that Rose Anna arrived in Geelong from Melbourne on October 5th. On October 6th, 1866, Rose Anna went ashore while loading wheat at Sandridge, Port Phillip Bay, in severe gales and heavy seas and became a total wreck. The book is significant for its association with reference information to instruct sea merchant traders and naval officers. The publication is in its twenty-fifth edition, indicating the importance of such an instructional book. The book of tables and calculations shows the evolution of such reference texts, going from handwritten notes, to printed tables like these, and forward to slide rules, calculators, and to modern time computers. it demonstrates the importance of accuracy in calculating weights and measures at sea and for the purposes of fess, charges and taxes. The book is important to the history of the schooner Rose Anna, which is listed as a significant vessel on the Victorian Heritage Register, S582, as it has an inscription with the ship's name, date, and destination. Book, tall and narrow, with index tabs on the side edges of the pages. FULL Title: The Seaman and Merchants Complete Expeditious Measurer: The Seaman and Merchants Complete Expeditious Measure; containing a set of tables which show, at one view, the solid contents of all kinds of packags and casks, according to their several lengths, breadths and depths: also, rules for determining the contents of all sorts of casks in wine and beer measure, according to the Imperial Standard. Twenty-Fifth (Stereotype) Edition. Author: Mr J W Norie (John William Norie) Date: 1853 Publisher: Charles Wilson (late J.W. Norrie & Wilson), Bookseller, Publisher and Stationer, At the Navigation Waterhouse and Naval Academy, No. 157, Leadenhall Street, where may be had all the publications of Steel & Co. Late at No. 70, Cornhill. Printer: Bateman and Dennis, 95 Leadenhall Street, London, England, 1853 The book has handwritten, pen and ink inscriptions. It refers to the Schooner, Rose Anna, Melbourne, March 25th 1857.Handwritten in script with pen and ink: "Rose Anna / Schooner / Melbourne, / March 25th 1857"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, the seaman and merchants complete expeditious measurer, book, sea merchants, cargo, calculations, measurements, sea trade, maritime book, sea transportation, cargo rate calculations, naval academy, navy education, navigation, navigation instruction, navigation waterhouse and naval academy, twenty-fifth edition, 19th century, 1853, 1857, customs, freight, ullage, rose anna, schooner, 2-masted, march 25th 1857, melbourne, 25 march 1857, thomas lamb & e. keays, geelong, 1844, h. edwards, fremantle, carvel-built, port adelaide, selma, william hardy, william burton and w. roberts, john balston & thomas ross., charles holland & john balfour, john balfour & david griffiths, hobart, sydney, circular head, port fairy, port albert, hobsons bay, sandridge, port phillip bay

The firm Dring and Fage were active from 1790 to 1940 in London and were manufacturers of hydrometers and mathematical instruments they became established in London in 1790 by John Dring, who was a brass worker and hydrometer maker, and William Fage. Dring and Fage manufactured also saccharometers and other instruments used to measure the strength of alcohol. These instruments were primarily used to calculate excises. They traded at various addresses in London and they were at 56 Stamford St. between 1903 and 1938. By 1850 the company was owned by Edward Hall and Edward Jenkin and in 1940 the company became Dring & Fage Ltd, trading till the 1960s.Historically, gauging has meant measuring a volume, these gauging instruments were used by Customs and Excise and manufacturers for determining the volume and contents of liquid containers. For Customs the determination and collection of duty on imported goods which has had a very long history. Chaucer was a Customs Officer as was his father and grandfather, excise was first officially introduced in 1643, with the aim of maintaining military forces raised by the English Parliament at that time. Excise was initially a duty on home produced alcoholic beverages and soap but being easily applied, spread rapidly to a wide range of goods including imports of varying kinds. The government departments of Customs and Excise merged only in 1909 and it is from around this time that our instrument was made and used. The item demonstrates a long social history of the practice of Government's collecting duty on alcoholic beverages and thereby makes this item historically significant as it was used locally at Port Fairy by the ports Customs agents. Boxwood barrel calipers, wooden slide-rule with right angles at each end and brass fittings used for measuring casks length."Dring & Fage Makers to the Customs" stamped on side.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, customs, long calipers, excise duty, barrel calipers

This book, written by Pam Marriott, is subtitled ‘A Study of the Belfast and Western District Civil Service 1841-1886’. It contains information on the police, police magistrates, court officials, customs and immigration officials etc who lived and worked in the Port Fairy and Warrnambool districts in the 19th century and many of the incidents and events with which they were connected. The book includes much information that is relevant to Warrnambool’s past. This book is an important acquisition to the Warrnambool & District Historical Society library as it contains information on many 19th century Warrnambool personalities, including policemen and court officials. It also has detailed information on some events that occurred in the Warrnambool district in the 19th century. This is a soft cover book of 480 pages. The cover and spine are white, with a black and white photograph and black printing. The pages include an introduction, eleven chapters of printed material, an index, a bibliography and appendices. There are several black and white photographs, plans, maps and other illustrative material. western district 19th century history, western district civil service 19th century, history of warrnambool

This is a book of 112 pages of text plus 104 pages of aboriginal words and their meanings. The green cover has a gold image of an aboriginal hunter on the front cover and gold printing and a floral image on the spine. The pages contain printed text and some sepia-coloured photographs. non-fictionDescription of Western District Aborigines and a dictionary of three of their languagesjames dawson's book 'australian aborigines', western district aborigines 19th century

96 pages ; 18 cm; 8vo..non-fictionAustralian etiquette guide to rules of good society.etiquette -- australia, etiquette, australia, australia -- social life and customs -- 1901-1945., book

256 p., [8] leaves of plates : ill. ; 19 cm.non-fictionJuvenile Fiction held in Reference Section. Illustrated by J. Macfarlane. lillian pyke, country life -- queensland -- juvenile fiction., railroads -- construction -- juvenile fiction., children's stories., railroad construction workers -- queensland -- juvenile fiction., railroads -- design and construction -- juvenile fiction., australia -- social life and customs -- juvenile fiction., target audience, book

xix, 327 p. : ill., map, ports. ; 24 cm. Includes indexnon-fictionTime Gentlemen Please! : A History of Western District Inns 1840-1915 An historical record of the public houses, which flourished in Belfast and Western District during the timeframe, complete with licensees.bars (drinking establishments) -- victoria -- western district, victoria -- social life and customs -- 1901-1945, victoria -- social life and customs -- 1834-1900, book

River scene of the wharf and the buildings lining the street behind. Black and white photograph taken from Battery Hill looking across Moyne river at Merrijig Inn, Customs House and Courthouse The Rose Series P.1142 copyright- The Moyne River and Port Fairy Victoriastreet, town, moyne, river, couta boat, courthouse, merrijig