This book or register records the date, name and address and ship name and remarks of visiting seafarers from a wide range of origins. The logbook provides an insight into which ships and the origins of their crews were visiting Williamstown and Melbourne in 1933. This together with the 1945 register from Williamstown (see VC MtSV record) provides the earliest such register records surviving in the Mission heritage collection and Archive.Cover: The Victoria Missions to Seamen Melbourne / Sailors' Rest Williamstown/ Visitors' book/ 1933 ( February1933 - March-1944) / Spine:/Sailors' Rest, Williamstown - Visitors' book 1933. Inner page: details of Chaplains and caretakers and contact nos re the Mission.seafarers, seafarer registers, seafarer's rest, seafarer's rest williamstown, visitors log book, box 24, williamstown, sailors, seamen, mrs hodgkiss, j.g. sheel, crew, nationality, padre frank leslie oliver

This book documents visitation fo seafarers to the Williamstown rest from 1945-47. The book appears to have been donated. The contents are signed in some instances by what appear to be whole crew. It provides an insight into the comments and also the practice of some seafarers who adopted other identities such as Churchill or Clement Atlee. The book predates the requirement to supply official ID and registration.The book and register is one of the earliest to survive, only one or two others have survived as records of seafarers visiting the Missions. It is therefore significant as an example of a register and entries names, home ports , ships and commentary. Front cover: VISITORS BOOK in gold gilt. Spine: white sticker WILLIAMSTOWN M.T.S/VISITORS 1945-7.williamstown, seafarers, logbook, signatures, seamen, sailors, mission to seafarers, seamen's mission, betty mcaleese, ships name

Photograph taken in the Celia Little Room at Mission to Seafarers Melbourne. The Celia Little Room was named in honour of the aunt of one of the serving (and resident) chaplains. The room is a multi-function room, being used at times for banquets or, as the photograph shows, for relaxation, by visiting seafarers. The magazine read by the man on the right is the International version of the Life magazine published dated from 24 November 1958, with actress Kim Novak holding a black cat on cover. This photograph was published in the Port of Melbourne Quarterly (July-September 1959) held in the Mission's archives. It was probably donated by the trust to Padre Oliver.Photograph displays the way in which the Celia Little Room, and by extension the Mission to Seafarers, was used by those who utilised the facility during this period.Black and white photograph of three men sitting in Celia Little Room at Mission to Seafarers. Man on left is in a suit, sitting on the arm of a chair, reading a newspaper. There is a coffee table with flowers separating him from the second man, also sitting reading a newspaper. The third man is seated in an armchair reading a copy of Life International magazine, with an ashtray resting on the arm of the chair.armchairs, reading, newspapers, wainscoting, ashtray, robin kent, life magazine, mission to seafarers, mission to seamen, celia little room, coffee table, bell, moreton bay, flowers, seamen, sailors, memorial plaque

Small grey booklet including the report from the Executive Committee, the Chaplain's report, Treasurer's report and a list of subscriptions for 1882. The report encompasses both the Victorian Seamen's Mission and Sandridge (No. 1) Sailors' Rest.The 1882 annual report outlines all the major activities involving the Mission over the course of the year as well as included names of those involved, participating, making decisions or donating time or money. The Danne family had a long standing involvement in the Mission from the latter decades of the 19th Century onwards. Handwritten in pen on top left hand corner: "Rev N.J. Danne"sandridge, sailors' rest, 1882, annual report, victorian seamen's mission, port melbourne, reverend n.j danne, mission to seafarers, seamen's mission, administrative document-annual report

The reports were produced and readily distributed annually to a number of organisational stakeholders and included reports from the Committee, Chaplain, extracts of letters, Ladies auxiliary and a list of subscribers. In the Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Saturday 24 February 1900, page 15: VICTORIAN SEAMEN'S MISSION The annual meeting of the Victorian Seamen's Mission was held in the institute at Port Melbourne last night. There was a fair attendance, the large proportion being ladies, and the chair was occupied by Sir Frederick Sargood MLC. Mr Hugh R Reid, the president of the institute, was also president. The annual report, which was lead and adopted, stated that the Seamen's Institute at Port Melbourne, and also the Sailors' Rest at Williamstown, had sustained their reputation for usefulness and attractiveness. The attendances had been very large at each place and 114 seamen had taken the pledge at the Port Melbourne Institute. Regreat was felt that owing to the preliminary steps having met with opposition in Parliament the building of the long contemplated additional institute near the Melbourne wharves was deferred but the project had not been abandoned. Large parcels of literature had been distributed gratuitiously among ships' crews and the concerts held for the entertainment of seamen had been very successful. The mission had been in existence for over 40 years. It aimed at promoting the temporal and spiritual welfare of seamen. It had been the means of completely eradicating "crimping" and the sailors' "boarding masters" curie, and otherwise removing many of the abuses which still exist in other ports. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, referred to the great benefits which seamen derived from the institute. He was particularly struck by the fact that during the past year close on 2,000 letters had been written by visiting seamen from the institute namely, 1,720 at Port Melbourne, and 261 at Williamstown. It was also a very note-worthy feature, which perhaps the residents of Williamstown might be able to explain that, whilst out of 49,567 attendances at the Port Melbourne institute 114 had taken the pledge there, there was not a single instance on record of the pledge having been taken at the Sailors' Rest, Williamstown, out of 8,218 attendances. (Laughter) Referring to the projected new institute near the wharves, he was amazed to find that its construction had been, according to the report, orefused by some of the labour members. He did not know the details of the matter, but was of opinion that there was no institution more deserving of the support of labour members than the one advocated. In his opinion, the representatives of labour should disown the action of their delegates in Parliament in this matter. (Cheers ) Selections of vocal and instrumental music were given during the evening.These reports were produced annually and include a number of smaller reports from the Executive Committee, Chaplain and auxiliary. They sometimes included photographs and a list of subscribers and amounts pledged. These reports provide an organisational overview as well as many stories of the people who populated the Mission to Seafarers.Handwritten in ink on top right hand corner: "F T Derham [indecipherable]" Handwritten in ink on bottom left hand corner: "Melbourne Sailors' Home" Cover back page written in black ink: W. Siddley Esq. / 529 Collins Street / Melbourneannual report, 1899, victorian seamen's mission, port melbourne, williamstown, sailors' rest, seamen's mission, mission to seafarers, seamen's institute, sailors' home, f.t. derham, reverend ebenezer james, whc darvall, frederick sargood, hugh r. reid, administrative document-annual report

The Sailors' Rest, located in Ann Street, Williamstown opened on 24 May 1878. An article dating 25 May 1878, in the Williamstown Chronicle, describes the interior of the renovated Wesleyan chuch as depicted on the print: "Inside the building the carpenters and painters have been busily engaged. It has been painted throughout, the lower part of the walls be ing stained blue. There is a form all round the building with tables up the sides, and a number of small round tables are scattered about the roomi. In the centre is a splendid wire stand for pot plants, of which there is a grand display. Pictures adorn, the walls; singing birds warble their sweet strains ; and the silent gold fish of which there are several globes add to the beauty of the display. At the east end of the room is the bar, occupying one corner, while in the other are the shelves which accommodate the books of the Library, while last evening across the end wall was in large illuminated letters-'" The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof." On the platform are a piano and harmonium. The room is very presentable whether in day light or illuminated vith gas." Eva Carmichael, one of the two survivors of the Loch Art tragedy, visited here on 19 July 1878. She had stayed with Mr and Mrs Gibson and travelled from Camperdown to Melbourne (15 July 1878) to sail back to Ireland. Article in the Leader, 20 July 1878, Page 19: "The Saitors' Rest at Williamstown was yesterday visited by Miss Carmichael, Mr. T. Pearce and Mr. and Mrs. Gibson. The objects of the institution were explained to them, and after a brief stay they complimented the committee on their arrangement. The attendance has ho largely increased that the receipts now average £80 per month. The print is a rare insight of the Sailors' Rest in Williamstown, depicitng the room filled with plants, birds in cages, the seamen enjoying some board games, and coffee.Illustration depicting the interios of the Williamstown Sailors' Rest in 1878 with decoration (plants, paintings, birds in cages), and sailors at tables busy playing chess, talking, having a drink.sailors' rest, williamstown, 1878, plants, books, library, tables, sailors, games, chess, coffee, seamen, sir william stawell, hugh ronald reid

One of 2 volumes of late 19th early 20th Century letter books. Each volume provides us with extensive listings of correspondence with supporters, fundraisers, patrons, architects, Mission staff and business transactions carried out by the Honorary Secretary Mr WHC Darvall over the period of a decade. Queen Victoria, Governors of Victoria: Earl of Hopetoun, Lord Brassey, Sir George Sydenham Clark, Lord Talbot and Governors General: Baron Northcote, performers such as Nellie Melba, Kitty Grindley, Sir Samuel Gllott president of the Law Institute, Hugh Reid, Crawford Pasco R.N. FRGS are just a few. The late 19th C - early 20th C period covered by the 2 vol collection of correspondence records together with annual reports and minutes documents a significant transition period not only across centuries but also towards a new framework of operations for the original mid 19th C founded Mission to seamen. The death of a long-standing Chaplain, Wesleyan, Ebenezer James in 1901 eventually led to a proposed merger in 1905 which resulted in the amalgamation of the Victorian Mission with the Anglican based Mission to Seafarers under the leadership of Rev'd Gurney Goldsmith who arrived in 1905. The new Mission was launched in 1906 with a long planned and much needed new central building opened in 1907 on the Australian Wharf. Mr Darvall, in his time produced a handwritten 40 page epitomised history, drawn from annual reports and was exceptionally meticulous in his efforts to cross reference related correspondence, press clippings, report material and documents. He was a strong supporter of public Libraries and first town clerk of Beechworth.In handwritten black ink primary inscription on title page (see title field this record...) also: "Commencing on 19th October 1902 Ending ...1905 / Indexed to:.../ WHC Darvall / Hon'y Secretary. "correspondence records, seafarer advocacy, seafarer shore facilities, ship to shore, william henry charles darvall (1830-1906), letters, sailors' rest, welfare, seamen's mission, mission to seamen, mission to seafarers, correspondence, letter book, nellie melba, kitty grindley, lord thomas brassey, crawford pasco

Content: WHC Darvall's death Mission's motor boat New central mission Institute Williamstown Rest condition LHLG and their work Thanks Opening hours AdvertisingPublished for some 30 years by the Victorian Missions to Seamen issued to supporters the series contributes to the history of the organisation. It is a key cross reference supplying many details and dates of Chaplain and LHLG activities in both Melbourne, Port Phillip and other States where Missions were gradually established and information not able to be included in Annual Reports. It is also a source of images.newsletter, victorian seamen's mission, melbourne misson to seamen, jottings from our log, lhlg, rope, flying angel, seagull, advertising, port melbourne, williamstown, sailors' home, australian wharf, seamen's institute, sailors' rest, services, concerts, events, socials, deaths, captain press, w.h.c. darvall, motor boat, geelong, boat builder, manx king, glenlui, dovenby, marion woodside, ainsdale, robert reid, bagatelle board, billiard table, sir wilmot fawkes, lady fawkes, book bags, woolies, michaelmas, 1906, ladies harbour lights guild, captain strickland, quarterly, patron, sir reginald talbot, president, archbishop of melbourne, vice president, f.t. derham, w.h. allard, frederick thomas derham (1844-1922), william henry allard (1860-1927), committee membres, archdeacon hindley, archdeacon crossley, william george hindley, owen thomas lloyd crossley, mary danne, mrs e.w. underwood, captain parsons, captain creswell, captain j.h.fearon, ethel augusta godfrey, hugh r. reid, charles blunt, ditty bags, donachy and sons, rope manufacturers, robur tea, mackenzie mustard, excelsior baking powder, admiral wilmot fawkes, bobs, games

This Wesleyan Chapel was used as the first Sailor's Rest in Williamstown in 1875. Photograph of the first Institute locales in Williamstown.View looking across street to a brick building with arched doorway on a corner block. A sign on the left reads: Sailors' Re[st].Typed sheet attached to verso: No. 15: The Sailor's Rest, Ann Street, Williamstown, about 1885. Written on verso: Photograph - Andrew Rider. Written on verso: Sailors' Rest, Ann St., Williamtown, 1880's.williamstown, ann street, sailors' rest, seamen's mission, andrew rider (1821-1903), wesleyan church

The Brasseys visited Australia in winter 1887. Lady Annie Brassey mentions the Williamstown and Port Melbourne Sailors' Rest and Seamen's meeting. See p. 292 (18 June 1887)Lady Brassey and her husband Lord Thomas Brassey donated the proceeds of the Sunbeam visitation in Williamstown to the Sailor's Rest (£63). They also presented the Port Melbourne Sailors' Rest with a cheque of £50 as a contribution to the new building fund. Lady Brassey died of malaria at the end of their voyage and was buried at sea. Lord Brassey also donated £10 every year to the Seamen's Mission. Lady Brassey was remembered during the opening of the new building in Port Melbourne in February 1889. A portrait of her was dedicated in November the same year. The collection of photo albums is held in the Huntington Library in California. The lists describing each album are attached in the media. Lord Brassey came back in Victoria on the Sunbeam to become the new Governor in 1895.PDF copy with illustrationsnon-fictionlady anne brassey nee allnutt (1839-1887), sunbeam, sailors' rest, williamstown, sandridge, port melbourne, seamen’s mission

Minutes of the Williamstown committee of the Sailors' Rest created in 1878, and open on 24 May 1878. At the end, the pages also contains a list of books in the library of the Sailors' Rest and names of borrowers.sailors' rest, williamstown, sir william stawell, j. john halley, john courtis, library, books, minutes books

The illustration published in the Illustrated Australian News (Melbourne, Vic. : 1876 - 1889), p. 144, on 2 September 1885, depicts Sandridge now Port Melbourne in 1885 from a seamen's point of view on board a ship.This engraving is a rare depiction fo the Bethel church as there is no early photograph. The Sailors' Rest is located at the back. In 1887, the church was demolished to erect the building still standing on the corner of Nott Street and Beach Road.Copy of an engraving depicting a sailor sitting on the mast of the ship and looking at the shore from the sea. A Bird's-eye View Of Melbourne From Sandridge.nott street, sandridge, melbourne, port melbourne, beach road, seamen, ships, sails, sailing ships, customs house, bethel church

This poster dates from a time when the Geelong Mission was based more centrally. The Mission currently operates from Corio Bay. The poster demonstrates the type of entertainment and activities available mid twenty century. The poster also indicates another name by which the Mission was known ie. King Edward VII Sailors' Rest.This document is indirectly related to the object MTSV_0617. Representing the close links of the Mission to Seafarers over the last century with British Merchant Shipping and Seamen.Poster for facilities available at King Edward VII sailors' rest in Geelong.Pencilled alterations.poster, seafarers, mission to seafarers, seamen rest, geelong, british sailors' society, entertainment, king edward vii sailors' rest, sailors, seamen, entertainments, canteen, dances, concerts, library, lounge, recreation

This portrait could be of Captain Daniel McCallum. In the Williamstown Chronicle dating back Saturday 16 March 1895 we could read: " An interesting ceremony will be performed at the Sailor's Rest next Thursday 21st. inst., when a large photo of the late Captain D. McCallum (which has been presented to the Rest) will be unveiled, in the presence, it is expected, of several of those who assisted Captain McCallum in his good, work amongst the sailors, and others who were closely connected with the Mr Ronald Reid a will supply the musical part of the pogramme." Captain McCallum was secretary of the Williamstown Sailors' Rest, located in Ann Street, and had himself saved the rest paying some of its debt. He died in 1887.Many portraits of supporters were unveiled in the several buildings of the Mission. Sadly few reached us and are difficult to identify.Studio portrait of a man sitting, with moustache, wearing a 3 piece suit with buttonhole spray, walking cane ad bowler hat.Signature in red ink in the bottom right corner: "CHUCK-artist"portait, bowler hat

The Williamstown Lightkeepers' was largely formed by the wives of local seafarers and came to an end in 1966 after 23 years. The standard lights âtre mentioned in the 1966 annual report.Lightkeepers was another affiliated category of membership associated with the LHLG which post WW2 became known as Harbour Lights Guild. Williamstown was one of the earliest sites where a Mission to seamen was available in the form of a seamen's rest which relocated within the township several times.Small rectangular brass plaque mounted on a wooden board.The standard lights in this sanctuary were given by the Williamstown Lightkeepers' Auxiliary to commemorate 23 years of devoted work for seafarers in the Williamstown Mission 1966.williamstown, lightkeepers, auxiliary, mission, plaque, memorial, standard lights, 1966, chapel, williamstown lightkeepers auxiliary

The report was produced by and distributed to members, containing reports from the Committee, Chaplain, the Ladies Harbours Lights Guild, as well as a list of subscriptions and rules for the 1910 period. This copy is the first to feature images of all three main Mission venues established in Port Phillip pre WW1.Annual reports were published by the Mission to Seamen each year, and included reports from all seamen's missions and organisations in Victoria, as well as associated groups, such as the Ladies Harbour Lights Guild. These reports provide documentation of the activities conducted by the Mission, as well recording the people involved.written in pencil: MTS0235 (Front cover)1910, annual report, victorian seamen's mission, williamstown, sailors' rest, port melbourne, siddeley street, central institute, seamen's institute, mission to seafarers, melbourne, administrative document-annual report

This item was found in the Bar area of the Flying Angels Club at 717 Flinders St. The inscription "Sailors' Home" may refer to either the establishment formerly on Spencer St or later on Siddeley St built in 1903 and used until 1963. The Sailors' Home and Sailors' Rest were established in various locations in Melbourne and in Williamstown throughout the late19th century and early 20th century. It was of significance as a feature of the township that for some years was the main point of arrival in the early days before establishment and early days of Melbourne. Hugh Ronald Reid, member of the Melbourne Harbour Trust, was a founder of the Sailors' Home. The tureen is one of the rare remaining objects from the Sailors' Home.Small oval shaped condiment tureen or serving dish with lid; white glazed ironstone. Small hole in lid for spoon (missing). Lid and front of tureen have picture of a lifebuoy with a rope around it and "SAILORS' HOME MELBOURNE" written on it. Printed Inscription on the base with pottery crest.SAILORS' HOME MELBOURNE on lid on body. ROYAL IRONSTONE CHINA JOHNSON BROS ENGLAND with a picture of royal arms under base.condiment, ironstone china, johnson bros, sailors' home melbourne, tureen, hugh ronald reid

The item is of the few programme flyers left used by the Mission to advertise the events to seafarers in the building.Brown sheet of paper. top left corner has The Mission To Seamen flag. Leaflet lists New Years events for seamen for the year 1907.lhlg, picnic, new year, 1907, new nears' eve, zoo, zoological gardens, melbourne, charles arthur holmes, alfred gurney goldsmith, chaplain, lay reader, port melbourne, sailors' home, williamstown, sailors' rest, siddeley street, seamen's mission, mission to seamen, events, services, tea

Programme of events for the Grand Nautical Fête at the Mechanics Institute of Williamstown in June 1907 printed in black ink on an orange paper.nautical fete, mechanics institute, williamstown, sir john madden, 1907, sailor's rest, seamen's mission, fundraising

W.H.C. Darvall was a solicitor; ha became the Honoray Secretary of the Mission in 1895. Interested in libraires and archives, he kept a scrapbook of the events organised at the Mission during his time. He also wrote an Epitomised History. Hugh Reid ws a member of the Harbour Trust, the Sailors' Home and the Mission.This letter of recommandation shows that W.H.C. Darvall was highly respected.Typewritten letter in purple ink onto creamy colour paper with The Victorian Seamen's Mission, Institute & Rests letterhead.hugh ronald reid, william henry charles darvall (1830-1906)

This plaque was erected in the Williamstown Sailors' Rest, the former skating ring in Thompson Street. It's one the three memorials to Ethel Godfrey with the stained glass window in the St Peter chapel in the Central Institute (See 0064.2) ) and the optus sectile plaque in the 1888 Port Melbourne Institute (See 2053) . This plaque was moved to the Nelson Place building when the Mission purchased the E,S&A Bank in 1943. In 1982, the plaque ws removed from the Williamstown mission along with 4 other plaques, objects and furniture to furnish the chapel of the new Flagstaff Maritime Museum. The transfer of the 5 plaques was requested in 2020 and they returned to the Mission's collection in 2022.The plaque along with the two other memoriels erected in the memory of Ethel Godfrey demonstrates the gratitude for the her 30 years of work.Rectangular plaque for Ethel Augusta Godfrey ethel augusta godfrey 1861-1935, williamstown, thompson street, seamen's mission, sailors' rest, flasgstaff maritime museum, lhlg

A lone drawer which sits in between two lightly smaller drawers on either side. This drawer features no sliding lid and no label. Stored within this drawer is a small mortar and pestle made of glass which are secured in place by a piece of wood, to which the pestle rests atop. This drawer is found in the front storage location of the parent item and bellow a row of small sized drawers.volum collection

Men resting in the main hall of the Missions to seamen institute, Siddeley Street. Some are reading, the man standing is playing bagatelle, a form of pool game. On the left side at the back is the boot with sign saying: Sailors' lettersIn pencil: 137seaman, siddeley street institute, main hall, letters, bentwood chairs, post office, bagatelle, pool, billiard, games, sailors

The Geelong Rest located at 3 Moorabool Street was created in 1895. The building depicted in the photograph ( taken from the Western Beach Road) is known as the King Edward VII Sailors' Rest building; it was designed by architect Percy Everett and replaced the older building in 1912. In 1901, it became the Geelong branch of the Mission to Seamen. The building is still standing on the waterfront in Geelong and has a commercial use.Medium b & w photograph depicting the front facade of the Sailors' Rest in Geelong.geelong, sailors' rest, seafarer, king edward vii sailors' rest building, 1912, percy everett, kombi

Sailors have the custom of leaving a self portrait in the ports they have visited.These photographs show the importance of places like the Mission where seafarers can rest.Framed montage of passeports pictures and foreign bills.sailors, seamen, seafarers, traditions, myths

The term 'seat squabs' is no longer commonly used, but is sometimes referred to in the upholstery and motor vehicle industries. Squabs are padded cushions frequently added to wooden chairs or benches to add comfort to their hard forms. They have been made to an 18th-to-19th-century pattern using beautiful, richly coloured satin fabric and fancy cord tassels. The weighted flap at the rear of the squabs helps to keep them in place on the chair, and could be used on the top of the backrest instead of on the seat. These days, squabs are attached with fabric ties or hook-and-loop tabs. These seat squabs were once used in the St Nicholas Seamen's Church at 139 Nelson Place, Williamstown, Victoria, which was purchased and furnished around 1943. The furniture and furnishings are now part of the St. Nicholas Seamen's Church collection. DETAILED HISTORY of the Missions to Seamen: - The Missions to Seamen is an Anglican (Church of England) charity that has served the world’s seafarers since 1856. It was inspired by the work of Rev. John Ashley, who, 20 years earlier, had pioneered a ministry to seafarers in the Bristol Channel in Great Britain. When Ashley retired, others continued the work, founding the Missions to Seamen. It adopted a Flying Angel as its symbol, inspired by a verse from the Bible in Revelation 14. Today, over 200 world ports have Missions to Seamen centres and chaplains. A Missions to Seamen’s club warmly welcomes sailors of all colours, creeds and races and provides a wide range of facilities. The Missions to Seamen organisation changed its name to the Mission to Seafarers in 2000, continuing to include Missions to Seamen clubs in Victoria’s cities of Melbourne, Portland, Geelong and Hastings. Flagstaff Hill’s St Nicholas’ Seamen’s Church is named after its namesake from Williamstown, Victoria, which began in 1857. Bishop Perry opened the first Sailors’ Church, which was known as ‘Bethel’, on an old hulk floating in Hobson’s Bay, Port of Melbourne. In 1860, a Sailors’ Rest started operating from rented premises in Williamstown. In 1878, the Sailors’ Church moved into an old Wesleyan chapel in Ann Street. By the end of that year, they managed to purchase the building, which they had already refurbished. In 1883, they affiliated with the Victorian Seamen’s Mission. A few years later, in 1906, the building had to be demolished because it was no longer safe. While they raised funds for a new building, the Sailors’ Rest temporarily moved to premises in front of Customs House in Nelson Place. Around this time, in 1906, the Ladies Harbour Lights Guild was formed in Australia to support and raise funds for the Mission to Seamen organisation in Melbourne. Two of the most significant ladies of the Guild were founding members Ethel Godfrey and Alice Sibthorpe. During the Mission's time at Siddeley Street, Melbourne, the activities of the Guild raised funds for the Mission to Seamen's Chapel at their new, and still current, premises in Flinders Street, Melbourne, opened in 1917. The Guild continued its important work until the 1960s. In 1908, the Williamstown Mission had enough money to purchase the former Mascotte skating rink on Thompson Street, Williamstown. In August of that year, they were inaugurated into the Victorian Missions to Seamen. They continued at that venue for a few decades. In 1943, the former ES&A Bank building at 139 Nelson Place, Williamstown, was purchased for the new Mission to Seaman’s Club. The official opening was on May 6th, 1944. It was described as a ‘distinctive little building’. Funds had previously been raised for the building and furnishing of the chapel at the rear. The chapel was named St Nicholas’ Seamen’s Church, after St Nicholas, fourth-century bishop and patron saint of sailors. Services were held on Wednesdays and Sundays. The church was supported by the Williamstown Lightkeepers’ Auxiliary, newly founded by Mrs Ethel Margaret Musther in 1943, as well as the Harbour Lights Guild and the League of Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Friends. The Williamstown Mission to Seamen’s Church operated until 1966, when large international ships no longer used the Port of Williamstown. The Commonwealth Government then leased the premises. In the formative years of Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, the Advisory Board decided to include a Missions to Seamen Chapel and Recreation Room in its village. The Missions organisation was a significant feature of ports during the late 1800s and early 1900s, the period that the Village represents. They often erected Missions to house social and worshipful activities for seamen. Flagstaff Hill’s curator, Mr Ken Marshman, approached the Melbourne Board of Management of Missions to Seamen regarding the Williamstown branch. Consequently, the Board permitted the furnishings of the Williamstown chapel to be transferred to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. A provision of the transfer was that the Victoria Missions to Seamen be recognised, that the items would remain as a collection, and that the chapel would be called St Nicholas Seamen’s Church and conduct Divine services. The donation was approved on 21st May 1979. Flagstaff Hill's St. Nicholas Seamen's Church: - The idea behind Flagstaff Hill’s Missions to Seamen’s Church was partly driven by the offer of Stained Glass Memorial Windows that originated from the Warrnambool and District Base Hospital, which was undergoing multi-storey expansion in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The hospital’s Manager/Secretary was eager to see the historic window installed in a suitable place. The church, or chapel, was designed by a local architectural draftsman in collaboration with the Flagstaff Hill Planning Board and was constructed by Mr Leon Habel. The designers hoped the church would be used for formal worship, such as weddings, funerals, and multi-denominational special services like war commemorations. Its design was inspired by the ‘Missions to Seamen’ buildings in Portland and the Port of Melbourne. The furniture and furnishings were placed as accurately as possible according to photographs of the Williamstown St Nicholas Seamen’s Church and with assistance from local clergy. The Recreation Room was furnished and arranged on advice from experienced members of the Missions to Seamen organisation. A framed document in the building recognises the donor of the furnishings, Victoria Missions to Seamen, and includes the names of some original donors and their donated item/s. The building’s design incorporates local features such as Warrnambool sandstone, which was no longer commercially available but was procured from demolished buildings and uniformly cut to use as a veneer over the stronger Mt. Gambier stone. Also, traditional green American roofing slate was used, sourced from the 1908 local shipwreck “Falls of Halladale” by Flagstaff Hill volunteer divers. The bell tower includes a bell believed to be from a local shipwreck. Additional furnishings were acquired locally, and several items were donated by Warrnambool residents. Light fittings in both rooms were assembled to simulate 19th-century gas light fittings. The stained-glass window at the back of the church is a memorial to Dr Connell, a well-respected member of the Warrnambool community. It was originally installed in 1928 in the main building of Warrnambool Hospital. The St Nicholas’ Seamen’s Church at Flagstaff Hill was officially opened by His Worship the Mayor, Cr. John Lindsay, on Sunday, 11th October 1981. The event included a service of thanksgiving conducted by the Warrnambool Ministers Fraternal. Since then, the Chapel has been the historic venue for many weddings. This pair of seat squabs is historically significant for its origin in the St Nicholas Mission to Seamen's Church in Williamstown, established in 1857 to cater for seafarers’ physical, social, and spiritual needs. The organisation originated in Bristol, England, when a Seamen's Mission was formed in 1837. The squabs are also significant for their use in the St Nicholas Missions to Seamen's chapel, Williamstown, as the original building is now listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. Squabs or padded seat cushions, a pair of two. These 18th to 19th-century design squabs have crimson and cream satin fabric on top and underneath, and weighted tassels are attached to their rear corners. They can be used for comfort on hard seats and benches. The squabs were furnishings from the Missions to Seamen chapel in Williamstown, and they are now part of the St Nicholas Seamen's Church Collection.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, st nicholas mission to seamen's church williamstown, mission to seamen williamstown, mission to seamen victoria, st nicholas mission to seamen, st nicholas seamen's church, religion, religious service, sailor's rest, ladies harbour light guild, squab, seat covers, cushions, squabs, religious furnishing, padded seats, seating, accessory

The donor, Ada Barclay, was a member of the Flying Angel Club, Missions to Seamen (which is now Mission to Seafarers) in Townsville and Sydney. One of the badges connects her with the Ladies' Harbour Lights Guild in Queensland. The Sanctuary Window and other items at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village are part of the St Nicholas Seamen’s Church Williamstown Collection. The window is dedicated to the seamen from the Merchant Navy and was organised by a group of women, some of whom were also in the Ladies’ Harbour Lights Guild, dedicated to the care of seafarers across the world. The Sanctuary Window above the altar in Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village's St Nicholas Seamen’s Church’ is titled "Christ Showing the Helmsman the Way". This round, stained glass window was originally installed in the St Nicholas Seamen's Church at 139 Nelson Place, Williamstown, Victoria. The window was donated to St Nicholas Seamen’s Church as a memorial to the members of the Merchant Navy whose lives were lost in the Second World War, 1939-1945. The donor was the Williamstown Lightkeepers Auxiliary, an independent ladies association working with the Williamstown Missions to Seamen. Some of the members of this Auxiliary were also members of the Ladies’ Harbour Lights Guild. This set of badges is significant historically for its connection to the Merchant Navy organisation, the Ladies’ Harbour Lights Guild and the Flying Angels Club. Through this connection, the badges are also connected to the history of the St Nicholas Mission to Seamen's Church in Williamstown, established in 1857 to cater for the physical, social, and spiritual needs of seafarers. It originated in Bristol, England when a Seamen's Mission was formed in 1837. The connection of this set of badges to the Ladies’ Harbour Lights Guild and what is now the Mission to Seafarers, highlights the strong historical and continuing community awareness of the life of people at sea, their dangers and hardships, and their need for physical, financial, spiritual and moral support. Set of four metal and enamel badges pinned in a vertical row to a red ribbon. Each badge is connected with seafarers. Three badges have a crown on the top of a circular badge, a wreath around the circle and the letters "MN" in the centre. One of these also has "Australia" below the circle. The remaining badge has the words "The Ladies' Harbour Lights Guild" around the border on a blue background, and a blue flag in the centre on a gold background. The flag has a gold angelic figure on it. The figure has wings and is holding a book. "MN" "AUSTRALIA". "THE LADIES' HARBOUR LIGHTS GUILD" Badge 02 - "ANGUS & COOTE / SYDNEY" Badge 04 "MANAFOLD / BRISBANE"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, religion, sailors rest, bethel sailors’ church, bethel floating church, ladies’ harbour lights guild, missions to seamen victoria, mission to seafarers, flying angel’s club, st nicholas seamen's church williamstown collection, mission to seamen williamstown, st nicholas seamen’s church flagstaff hill, 139 nelson place williamstown, anglican church, ethel godfrey, alice sibthorpe, pin badge, lapel badge, merchant navy, flying angel mission sydney, angus & coote sydney, manafold brisbane