Showing 67 items
matching shire of belfast
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Friends of St Brigids Association
Book - A Shamrock beneath the Southern Cross : An History of the Shire of Belfast, Marriott, Pamela M. 1988. A Shamrock beneath the Southern Cross : An History of the Shire of Belfast.[Warrnambool, Vic.] : P. Marriott, 1988 184 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 22 cm
... Shire of Belfast... Cross : An History of the Shire of Belfast.[Warrnambool, Vic...: An History of the Shire of Belfast Book Marriott, Pamela M. 1988 ... -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph - Portrait, Cr PJ Farley President of Shire of Belfast 1947-48, 53-54, 59-60, 65-66
... Cr PJ Farley President of Shire of Belfast 1947-48, 53-54...shire of belfast... Farley President of Shire of Belfast 1947-48, 53-54, 59-60, 65-66 ...Black and white photograph Cr PJ Farley 1947-48 53-54 59-60 65-66belfast, president, portrait, government, shire, council, municipal, local-government, cr.p.j.farley, shire of belfast -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, Cr J Ritchie Shire of Belfast President1866-67 1869-70
... Cr J Ritchie Shire of Belfast President1866-67 1869-70... at the age of 86 years in 1887 elected Shire of Belfast President... Ritchie Shire of Belfast President1866-67 1869-70 Black and white ...Cr J Ritchie came from Scotland at Hobart in 1833 having been 9 months on the outward journey. he took up land at South Esk and remained there for 6 years.later on advice of the Henry brothers he came to Victoria and after a preliminary inspection of the land charted the brig “William” and with all of his possessions, including 2000 sheep and two servants he arrived in Portland Bay in January 1840 and as he already held a squatting licence No 230 became a settler in the district. he moved along the coast toward Goose Lagoon but due to a drought the water had dried up and forced him to move further eastward to the Upeer Hopkins but the lack of any but brackish water he was forced to return to Aringa. Aringa comprised of 26,000 acres between the Shaw and Moyne Rivers, 640 acres became freehold at one pound and acre with the right to take up leasehold at a low rate according to the number of stock. At Aringa he designed and built his first home part of which still stands today. He married Sarah Elizabeth Davis in 1852 at Weerongurt Station (Mr John Cox’s property). Mrs Ritchie died in 1920. he was elected Shire of Belfast President for the periods of 1866-67 and 1869-70 John had originally chosen to practice law as his vocation in Scotland but abandoned law for the open air life and died at the age of 86 years in 1887 elected Shire of Belfast President for the periods of 1866-67 and 1869-70Black and white portrait photograph Cr J Ritchie 1866-67 1869-70belfast, president, council, portrait, government, shire, municipal, local-government -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, Cr D Carroll Shire of Belfast President 1907-08-09,1918-19
... Cr D Carroll Shire of Belfast President 1907-08-09,1918-19...Councillor D Carroll was President of Belfast Shire Council... Carroll Shire of Belfast President 1907-08-09,1918-19 Black ...Councillor D Carroll was President of Belfast Shire Council in the Years 1907,1908,1909 and 1918-1919Black and white portraitbelfast, president, portrait, government, shire, municipal, local-government -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, Cr JF Duffus 1st Shire of Belfast President 1863-1865
... Cr JF Duffus 1st Shire of Belfast President 1863-1865... was accordingly the first Belfast Shire President for 2 year. Cr Duffus... Duffus 1st Shire of Belfast President 1863-1865 Black and white ...James migrated from Scotland and was elected as a member of the Belfast Road Board in October 1857 and continued in office as Chairman of the Board until 1863 when the Shire was proclaimed. He was accordingly the first Belfast Shire President for 2 year. Cr Duffus was the original owner of the property Known as “Naringashern” (not sure of the spelling)Black and white portrait belfast, president, portrait, government, shire, municipal, local-government, belfast district road board, narigashern -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, Shire of Belfast, Cr J McInerney 1905-06,1913-14
... Shire of Belfast... pursuits. belfast president portrait government shire municipal ...John McInerney was a native of Yambuk and represented the Yambuk Riding. He engaged in dairying and pastoral pursuits.Black and white portraitCr J McInerney 1905-06,1913-14belfast, president, portrait, government, shire, municipal, local-government, j mcinerney -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, Cr J Jellie Shire of Belfast President 1871-72
... Cr J Jellie Shire of Belfast President 1871-72... Jellie Shire of Belfast President 1871-72 Black and white ...Councillor James Jellie came to Melbourne from Ireland in 1841 and moved to Belfast in 1843. he then relocated to Warrnambool in 1849 where he worked as a farmer. He later entered into business as an auctioneer, loan and estate agent and valuation and several large properties passed through his hands. He was one of the partners in the auctioneering firm that sold Atkinson’s Crown Special Survey. His municipal activities extended to the Shire of Warrnambool as well as the Borough of Belfast.Black and white portrait government, belfast, president, portrait, shire, municipal, local-government, auctioneer, james jellie -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, Cr G Haynes Shire of Belfast President 1874-75-76
... Cr G Haynes Shire of Belfast President 1874-75-76... Haynes Shire of Belfast President 1874-75-76 Black and white ...Councillor George Haynes a native of Staffordshire, England settled in Belfast in 1854 where he carried on the business of Draper and general merchant. George was also one of the original founders of the Mechanics Institute in Port Fairy. He was also a member of Belfast Municipal Council (later Borough of Port Fairy) for 18 years and was it’s first Mayor. he was President of the Hospital Benevolent Asylum Committee and for some years a member of the School Board of Advice.Black and white portraitbelfast, president, portrait, government, shire, municipal, local-government, george haynes, mechanics institute -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, Cr J Meagher Shire of Belfast president 1876-77
... Cr J Meagher Shire of Belfast president 1876-77... Meagher Shire of Belfast president 1876-77 Black and white ...He was chairman when the ill fated fire occurred at the Shire Office in Sackville Street, and which later led to the conviction of the Engineer, Mr D.J.Howes who was soon after reprieved, upon a potion by 758 ratepayers and residents of the district.Black and white portraitbelfast, meagher, president, portrait, government, shire, municipal, local-government, howes -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, Cr P McGrath Shire of Belfast President 1879-80-81, 82-83
... Cr P McGrath Shire of Belfast President 1879-80-81, 82-83... McGrath Shire of Belfast President 1879-80-81, 82-83 Black ...Councillor P.McGrath lived on the Koroit-Woolsthorpe Road and engaged in farming pursuits. He gained fame by his masterly handling of the subdivision of the Shire into 3 Ridings practically of equal valuation and they remained that way until the amalgamation of the shire and the Borough council.Black and white portraitgovernment, belfast, president, portrait, shire, council, municipal, local-government -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, Cr J Gibson Shire of Belfast President 1884-85 87-88
... Cr J Gibson Shire of Belfast President 1884-85 87-88... Gibson Shire of Belfast President 1884-85 87-88 Black and white ...Councillor J. Gibson on leaving to sail to Australia from Ireland was shipwrecked two days out and most of the passengers were lost. He owned the property at Clonlara, and bred horses. He was a native of Cavan Ireland. Black and white portrait belfast, president, portrait, government, shire, council, municipal, local-government, clonlara -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, Cr W Leddin Shire of Belfast President 1890-91 1900-01
... Cr W Leddin Shire of Belfast President 1890-91 1900-01... Leddin Shire of Belfast President 1890-91 1900-01 Black and white ...Councillor William Leddin resided at Yambuk.Black and white portraitbelfast, president, portrait, government, shire, council, municipal, local-government, yambuk -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, Cr William Boyd Shire of Belfast President 1891-92 95-96
... Cr William Boyd Shire of Belfast President 1891-92 95-96... William Boyd Shire of Belfast President 1891-92 95-96 Black ...Councillor William Boyd was the son of Alexander Boyd who emigrated from Scotland and purchased the property known as Tarrone station in 1884. William managed the station grazing cattle and sheep. The area was later to become part of the Soldier Settlement land after the Second World War.Black and white portraitbelfast, president, government, portrait, shire, council, municipal, local-government, tarrone -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, Cr AF Molan Shire of Belfast President 1892-93
... Cr AF Molan Shire of Belfast President 1892-93... Molan Shire of Belfast President 1892-93 Black and white ...Councillor AF Molan owned land in Crossley close to where the Shamrock Hotel was built. The Council held it’s meetings at this hotel for some time.Black and white portraitgovernment, belfast, president, portrait, shire, municipal, local-government, cr af molan -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, Cr G Ritchie Shire of Belfast President 1893-94-95
... Cr G Ritchie Shire of Belfast President 1893-94-95... Ritchie Shire of Belfast President 1893-94-95 Black and white ...Councillor Geoff Ritchie was the son of John Ritchie who had been one of the early Presidents. He lived on a station called “Boodcarra” and was engaged in pastoral pursuits.Black and white portraitbelfast, president, portrait, government, shire, council, municipal, local-government, cr geoff ritchie -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, Cr J Cruickshank Shire of Belfast President 1901-02-03
... Cr J Cruickshank Shire of Belfast President 1901-02-03... Cruickshank Shire of Belfast President 1901-02-03 Black and white ...Councillor J Cruikshank. Owned “Terka” station near Kirkstall. The property had for some years sheltered and fed a number of kangaroos and he expressed the wish that they would be given a home there. The homestead is a bluestone building with a shingle roof, built by Robert Ireland of Port FairyBlack and white portrait of a male with a beard and moustachebelfast, president, portrait, government, shire, council, municipal, local-government, terka, kirkstall, cr j cruikshank -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, Cr W Riddell Shire of Belfast president 1914-15
... Cr W Riddell Shire of Belfast president 1914-15... Riddell Shire of Belfast president 1914-15 Black and white ...Councillor Riddell’s property on Riddells Lane, Kirkstall was mainly used for grazing. He was actively associated with all types of sport and was a judge at Kirkstall and Koroit race meetings.Black and white portraitportrait, belfast, president, shire, government, municipal, local-government, kirkstall, riddells lane -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, Cr S Baird 1867-68,1868-69,1870-71
... Shire of Belfast... of the Shire of Minhamite from the Belfast Shire. Councillor Baird... of the Shire of Minhamite from the Belfast Shire. Councillor Baird ...Councillor Samuel Baird’s residence was the property known as ‘Warrong Station” north of Kirkstall. During the last year of his presidency he played an important part in obtaining the severance of the Shire of Minhamite from the Belfast Shire. Councillor Baird was the first president of the Minhamite Shire.Black and white portrait president, portrait, government, shire, municipal, local-government, minhamite shire, shire of belfast -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph - Collage, multiple shire Presidents
... shire of belfast... 16 portraits belfast president portrait government shire ...Black and white photograph of a page displaying 16 portraitsbelfast, president, portrait, government, shire, council, municipal, local-government, shire of belfast -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, multiple shire Presidents
... Multiple Shire of Belfast Presidents from 1969 to 1989 5... belfast portrait government shire council municipal local ...Multiple Shire of Belfast Presidents from 1969 to 1989 5 photographs Photograph taken of a page president, belfast, portrait, government, shire, council, municipal, local-government -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, Cr MG Wortley 1975-76 78-79
... Cr MG Wortley President of the Shire of Belfast... President of the Shire of Belfast for the years 1975-76, 78-79 ...Cr MG Wortley President of the Shire of Belfast for the years 1975-76, 78-79Sepia coloured Photograph belfast, president, portrait, government, shire, council, municipal, local-government -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph
... Conheady Shire of Belfast President 1919-20 1928-29.... Cr P Conheady Shire of Belfast President 1919-20 1928-29 ...Councillor Conheady occupied a farm at Rosebrook. Cr P Conheady Shire of Belfast President 1919-20 1928-29Black and white portraitpresident, government, belfast, portrait, shire, municipal, local-government, conheady -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Certificate - Ticket Book, Main Belfast Road Toll, 2s 6d, 1860s
... , Printers’ Loose tickets: ‘Shire of Warrnambool, Main Belfast Road..., Printers’ Loose tickets: ‘Shire of Warrnambool, Main Belfast Road ...The Shire of Warrnambool operated toll gates from 1866 to 1869 as a means of revenue rai sing for road construction. There were three toll gate locations – on the main Belfast (Port Fairy) Road at Dennington Bridge, on the Woodford Road at Russells Creek and on the Geelong Road at the Allansford Bridge. The toll gates were unpopular and unprofitable for the lessees as travellers were able to avoid the tax by skirting around the gates. They had toll houses besides the gates. The printers of these tickets, Fairfax and Laurie were the lessees at the time of the Warrnambool Examiner newspaper. This paper, founded by Richard Osburne and John Wilkinson, and published with some gaps from 1851 to 1880, is a key source today of Warrnambool’s history at that time. These toll gates tickets are significant because:- 1. They date back to the 1860s and were only issued from 1866 to 1869. 2. They are the only artefacts we hold of the time when toll gates were operating in our local district 3. They are the best example of how the Shire of Warrnambool in its early history raised revenue for road building and maintenance This is a book of toll gate tickets for sale at the Main Belfast (Port Fairy) Road Toll Gate. The tickets (about 50) are yellow and in duplicate with provision to detach the outer ticket for the purchaser to keep. The tickets (two shillings and sixpence) are bound with an adhesive tape and the cover is mottled in pattern (brown and blue). There are also four loose tickets in blue (3 shillings). Back Cover: ‘136’ Tickets in book: ‘Shire of Warrnambool, Main Belfast Road, Toll Gate 2s 6d., Fairfax and Laurie, Printers’ Loose tickets: ‘Shire of Warrnambool, Main Belfast Road, Toll Gate, 3s.’ shire of warrnambool, toll gates -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, Belfast Shire Presidents Gallery
... Belfast Shire Presidents Gallery...Belfast Shire Presidents Gallery from 1863 - 1979... Shire Presidents Gallery Black and white photograph Belfast ...Belfast Shire Presidents Gallery from 1863 - 1979Black and white photographbelfast, president, portrait, government, shire, council, municipal, local-government -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Document - Ledger Shire of Warrnambool, Engineer’s Letter Book, 1939-1941, Circa 1939
... of the shire such as Belfast, Allansford, Garvoc, Laang, Naringal... Shire of Warrnambool Document Engineer’s Letter Book, 1939-1941 ...This ledger contains outward correspondence from the Shire of Warrnambool, Engineer from the period 1939-1941. It covers matters such as bridges, roads noxious weeds, drainage. It relates to areas of the shire such as Belfast, Allansford, Garvoc, Laang, Naringal, Peterborough and Penshurst. It mentions people by the names of Coleman, Brennan, Dyson, Hurley, Jordan, Gray, Sadler.This collection of letters provides a very good overview of issues and work covered in the period 1939-1941.Dark grey mottled card cover with light brown binding. Contains 5 letters to page, index. The copies of letters sent are on pink paper and numbered 1-500.Engineering Department is written in black on spine of journal.shire of warrnambool, letterbook, engineers letterbook, warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Document - Main Belfast Road Toll Gate Ticket Collection, 1860s
... Belfast Tickets: Shire of Warrnambool, Main Belfast Road... with information on the toll gate tickets. Belfast Tickets: Shire ...The Shire of Warrnambool operated toll gates from 1866 to 1869 as a means of raising revenue for road construction. There were three toll gate locations – on the main Belfast (Port Fairy) Road at Dennington Bridge, on the Woodford Road at Russells Creek and on the Geelong Road at the Allansford Bridge. The toll gates were unpopular and unprofitable for the lessees as travellers were able to avoid the tax by skirting around the gates. They had toll houses besides the tollgates. The printers of these tickets, William Fairfax and Henry Laurie, were the lessees at the time of the Warrnambool Examiner newspaper. This paper, founded by Richard Osburne and John Wilkinson, and published with some gaps from 1851 to 1880, is a key source today of Warrnambool’s history at the time. These toll gate tickets are significant because:- 1. They date back to the 1860s and were only issued from 1866 to 1869 2. They are the only artefacts we hold of the time when toll gates were operating in our local district 3. They are the best example of how the Shire of Warrnambool in its early history raised revenue for road building and maintenance. These are eleven toll gate tickets, ten for the Belfast (Port Fairy) Road toll gate and one for the Woodford Road toll gate. One is mounted on a Swintons store label (6 pence) and four are mounted on cardboard (2 shillings, sixpence, and two shillings and sixpence) and six are loose (three shillings, two shillings and sixpence and threepence). The Belfast Road tickets are yellow, green, blue and cream and the Woodford Road one is white. All have black printing. There is also an undated newspaper cutting with information on the toll gate tickets. Belfast Tickets: Shire of Warrnambool, Main Belfast Road, Toll Gate and the price Woodford Road: Shire of Warrnambool, Woodford Road, Toll Gate, 1s 6d Six of the eleven tickets also have ‘Fairfax and Laurie, Printers’ The sixpence ticket on card has the name R P Christian in ink written on the back of the card. shire of warrnambool, toll gates, r p christian, woodford road, main belfast road, swintons pty ltd -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Book - Album, Sands & McDougall Limited, To Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen from the Municipalities of the Colony of Victoiia, 1897
... of Belfast, page 10 Shire of Portland, page 10 Shire of Warrnambool... of Koroit, page 9 Shire of Belfast, page 10 Shire of Portland, page ...This book is a black and white facsimile of the coloured, commemorate album presented to Queen Victoria on her Diamond Jubilee in June, 1897, celebrating the 60th Anniversary of her reign on the British throne. The Municipalities also received original copies, each numbered as limited editions. The first two pages of the album are an address to Queen Victoria from the Municipalities of the Colony of Victoria, Australia, written in fancy Old English calligraphy. The remaining twenty-three pages display images representing each of the 208 municipalities as in 1897 and include a medallion of their Coat of Arms and statistics such as population, size and valuation, signatures of the Shire Presidents and Secretaries. The album’s publisher, Sands & Mc Dougall Limited, was first established in Sydney. This book was published by the Melbourne Branch. Local areas mentioned in the album include – Town of Warrnambool, page 5, Borough of Portland, page 7 Borough of Port Fairy, page 9 Borough of Koroit, page 9 Shire of Belfast, page 10 Shire of Portland, page 10 Shire of Warrnambool, page 10 Shire of Mortlake, page 12 TRANSCRIPTION OF THE ADDRESS TO QUEEN VICTORIA – “May it please Your Majesty, We Your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the representatives of the Municipal Government of the entire Colony of Victoria, humbly approach Your Majesty with earnest assurances of our attachment and devotion to Your Majesty’s Throne and person. We beg to offer to Your Majesty respectful and heartfelt congratulations on completion of the 60th Year of Your Majesty’s reign and to express our grateful recognition of the beneficent influence exercised by You as our Queen during that long period. We are proud of the honour that united, we form the Colony which bears Your Majesty’s name and the unity of this, our expression of congratulation and thankfulness, is truly typical of the united love of the people of this Colony for You as our Queen and for our Nation. With devout thankfulness to our Almighty God for wisdom, guidance and strength vouchsafed in You as our Sovereign, and for unexampled blessings bestowed upon us Your people, we offer earnest prayer that the continuance of Your Majesty’s reign may be a season of peace amongst the Nations of the World and of closer and still happier kinship between the many and wide unretruding sections of our Empire. As witness, the Corporate Seals of the 208 Municipalities of the Colony of Victoria. This 21st day of June 1897.”This facsimile album is significant for its association with early Australian history, the influence of the British Monarch over its Colony, and the establishment, growth and extent of the Colony of Victoria. The album gives a summary of a set year and the statistics of each Municipality. This gives added significance to the history of South-West Victoria, including Warrnambool, allowing a comparison of then and now. The album's inclusion of the Address to Your Majesty shows the respect of the people of Victoria towards the British Monarchy.Book, hard cover, bound in black leather with gold embossed title and border on the front cover, gold lines top and bottom of spine and gilt edged pages. Inside covers are lined in white embossed fabric. Twenty-five pages are all thick, cream coloured card with a rectangular border in the centre of each page. Attached inside the boarders are black and white copies of illustrations and text. A green printed label is attached inside the back cover.“SANDS & Mc DOUGALL LIMITEDN/Manufacturers/MELBOURNE”flagstaff hil, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, queen victoria, diamond jubilee, 60th anniversary, album, municipalities of victoria, colony of victoria, 1897 statistics of victoria, sands & mcdougal, facsimile album, australian history, victorian history, historical document, address to your majesty, address to queen victoria, victoria queen of britain, queen of the united kingdom, 60th anniversary of reign, 1819-1901, jubilee 1897, 208 municipalities, seals of victoria, statistics in victoria 1897, presentation album, british monarchy -
Mortlake and District Historical Society
Document, Mortlake Mechanics' Institute Scroll
In April 1869 when the foundation stone of the Mortlake Mechanics' Institute was laid by Thomas Shaw of Wooriwyrite, this parchment scroll was sealed with other documents in the foundation stone. In 1891 when further alterations were made the hall these documents were retrieved from the stone. This building was erected to house the local library whichup until that time had been housed in the Morllake Common School.Discoloured foolscap parchment with copperplate lettering, some water damage which has caused the obliteration of the names of the Members of the Building Committee, Hon.Secretary and Architect. At a Public Meeting presided over by John Grieve Esq. President of the Shire/The foundation stone/of this building/was laid by - /Thomas Shaw Junior Esquire the President of the Institute on Monday/the 29th day of March A. D. 1869 in the 32nd year of the Reign of Her/Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria Sir I. A. T. Manners Sutton/being Governor of this Colony of Victoria/With this Scroll is Deposited/A copy of The Argus Newspaper of 28th March 1869/A copy of The Warrnambool Examiner of ? March 1869/A copy of The Belfast Examiner of 17th March 1869/Members of/The Building/ Committee/Hon.Secretary and Treasurer/Architect/Contractors/Messrs Jenkins and Harvey,Mason/Mr Joseph Wyatt,Carpenter.institute, free, libraries, public buildings, mortlake, mechanics -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Souvenir - Rope Sample, before September 1891
The rope was part of the distress rocket used during the time that the sailing ship Fiji was in distress, before it became a wreck. The three-masted iron barque Fiji had been built in Belfast, Ireland, in 1875 by Harland and Wolfe for a Liverpool based shipping company. The ship departed Hamburg on 22nd May 1891 bound for Melbourne, under the command of Captain William Vickers with a crew of 25. The ship’s manifest shows that she was loaded with a cargo of 260 cases of dynamite, pig iron, steel goods, spirits (whisky, schnapps, gin, brandy), sailcloth, tobacco, coiled fencing wire, concrete, 400 German pianos (Sweet Hapsburg), concertinas and other musical instruments, artists supplies including brushes, porcelain, furniture, china, and general cargo including candles. There were also toys in anticipation for Christmas, including wooden rocking horses, miniature ships, dolls with china limbs and rubber balls. On September 5th, one hundred days out from Hamburg in squally and boisterous south west winds the Cape Otway light was sighted on a bearing differing from Captain Vickers’ calculation of his position. At about 2:30am, Sunday 6th September 1891 land was reported 4-5 miles off the port bow. The captain tried to put the ship on the other tack, but she would not respond. He then tried to turn her the other way but just as the manoeuvre was being completed the Fiji struck rock only 300 yards (274 metres) from shore. The place is known as Wreck Bay, Moonlight Head. Blue lights were burned and distress rockets fired whilst an effort was made to lower boats but all capsized or swamped and smashed to pieces. Two of the younger crewmen volunteered to swim for the shore, taking a line. One, a Russian named Daniel Cartland, drowned after he was swept away when the line broke. The other, 17 year old able seaman Julius Gebauhr, a German, reached shore safely on his second attempt but without the line, which he had cut lose with his sheath-knife when it become tangled in kelp. He rested on the beach a while then climbed the steep cliffs in search of help. At about 10am on the Sunday morning a party of land selectors - including F. J. Stansmore, Leslie Dickson (or Dixon) and Mott - found Gebauhr. They were near Ryan's Den, on their travels on horseback from Princetown towards Moonlight Head, and about 5km from the wreck. Gebauhr was lying in the scrub in a poor state, bleeding and dressed only in singlet, socks and a belt with his sheath-knife, ready for all emergencies. At first they were concerned about his wild and shaggy looking state and what seemed to be gibberish speech, taking him to be an escaped lunatic. They were reassured after he threw his knife away and realised that he was speaking half-English, half-German. They gave him food and brandy and some clothing and were then able to gain information about the wreck. Some of the men took him to River nook, a nearby guest house owned by John Evans, where he was cared for. Stansmore and Dickson rode off to try and summon help. Others went down to the site of the wreck. Messages for rescuing the rest of the crew were sent both to Port Campbell for the rocket rescue crew and to Warrnambool for the lifeboat. The S.S. Casino sailed from Portland towards the scene. After travelling the 25 miles to the scene, half of the Port Campbell rocket crew and equipment arrived and set up the rocket tripod on the beach below the cliffs. By this time the crew of the Fiji had been clinging to the jib-boom for almost 15 hours, calling frantically for help. Mr Tregear from the Rocket Crew fired the line. The light line broke and the rocket was carried away. A second line was successfully fired across the ship and made fast. The anxious sailors then attempted to come ashore along the line but, with as many as five at a time, the line sagged considerably and some were washed off. Others, nearly exhausted, had to then make their way through masses of seaweed and were often smothered by waves. Only 14 of the 24 who had remained on the ship made it to shore. Many onlookers on the beach took it in turns to go into the surf and drag half-drowned seamen to safety. These rescuers included Bill (William James) Robe, Edwin Vinge, Hugh Cameron, Fenelon Mott, Arthur Wilkinson and Peter Carmody. (Peter Carmody was also involved in the rescue of men from the Newfield.) Arthur Wilkinson, a 29 year old land selector, swam out to the aid of one of the ship’s crewmen, a carpenter named John Plunken. Plunken was attempting to swim from the Fiji to the shore. Two or three times both men almost reached the shore but were washed back to the wreck. A line was thrown to them and they were both hauled aboard. It was thought that Wilkinson struck his head on the anchor before s they were brought up. He remained unconscious. The carpenter survived this ordeal but Wilkinson later died and his body was washed up the next day. It was 26 year old Bill Robe who hauled out the last man, the captain, who had become tangled in the kelp. The wreck of the Fiji was smashed apart within 20 minutes of the last man being brought ashore, and it settled in about 6m of water. Of the 26 men on the Fiji, 11 in total lost their lives. The remains of 7 bodies were washed onto the beach and their coffins were made from timbers from the wrecked Fiji. They were buried on the cliff top above the wreck. The survivors were warmed by fires on the beach then taken to River nook and cared for over the next few days. Funds were raised by local communities soon after the wreck in aid of the sufferers of the Fiji disaster. Captain Vickers was severely reprimanded for his mishandling of the ship. His Masters Certificate was suspended for 12 months. At the time there was also a great deal of public criticism at the slow and disorganised rescue attempt to save those on board. The important canvas ‘breech buoy’ or ‘bucket chair’ and the heavy line from the Rocket Rescue was in the half of the rocket outfit that didn’t make it in time for the rescue: they had been delayed at the Gellibrand River ferry. Communications to Warrnambool were down so the call for help didn’t get through on time and the two or three boats that had been notified of the wreck failed to reach it in time. Much looting occurred of the cargo that washed up on the shore, with nearly every visitor leaving the beach with bulky pockets. One looter was caught with a small load of red and white rubber balls, which were duly confiscated and he was ‘detained’ for 14 days. Essence of peppermint mysteriously turned up in many settlers homes. Sailcloth was salvaged and used for horse rugs and tent flies. Soon after the wreck “Fiji tobacco” was being advertised around Victoria. A Customs officer, trying to prevent some of the looting, was assaulted by looters and thrown over a steep cliff. He managed to cling to a bush lower down until rescued. In 1894 some coiled fencing wire was salvaged from the wreck. Hundreds of coils are still strewn over the site of the wreck, encrusted and solidified. The hull is broken but the vessel’s iron ribs can be seen along with some of the cargo of concrete and pig iron. Captain Vickers presented Bill Robe with his silver-cased pocket watch, the only possession that he still had, as a token for having saved his life and the lives of some of the crew. (The pocket watch came with 2 winding keys, one to wind it and one to change the hands.) Years later Bill passed the watch to his brother-in-law Gib (Gilbert) Hulands as payment of a debt and it has been passed down the family to Gilbert Hulands’ grandson, John Hulands. Seaman Julius Gebauhr later gave his knife, in its hand crafted leather sheath, to F. J. Stansmore for caring for him when he came ashore. The knife handle had a personal inscription on it. A marble headstone on the 200m high cliffs overlooking Wreck Beach, west of Moonlight Head, paying tribute to the men who lost their lives when Fiji ran aground. The scene of the wreck is marked by the anchor from the Fiji, erected by Warrnambool skin divers in 1967.This rope is part of the collection of artefacts from the wreck of the Fiji. Flagstaff Hill’s Fiji collection is of historical significance at a State level because of its association with the wreck Fiji, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register VHR S259. The Fiji is archaeologically significant as the wreck of a typical 19th century international sailing ship with cargo. It is educationally and recreationally significant as one of Victoria's most spectacular historic shipwreck dive sites with structural features and remains of the cargo evident. It also represents aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes).Rope, plaited, brown in colour, cut straight at one end, and the other end is separated into 3 pieces, from distress rockets used during the wreck of the sailing ship Fiji. Rope was in envelope printed with an address, and a description, and there was a display card with further details on it. Printed on the envelope: "Shire of Hampden / PO Box 84, Camperdown 3260" Hand written "rope of wreck of Fiji / 7cm / Mr Wm "Boyce" Display card with rope includes words "Piece of Rope from the Fiji distress rockets and was donated to Flagstaff Hill by a private donor in 1989"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, rope, the fiji, william boyce, distress signal, rocket rescue, life saving equipment -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, Mason, John
Captain John Mason came from Stirling in Scotland, arriving at Port Fairy in 1844. One year after James Atkinson obtained his Special Survey of the area. Thus his life covers all the history of Port Fairy when it was known as Belfast. He married Jane Murray in Portland in 1846 and they had 5 children, Jane died in 1855 and ten years later he married Ann Brown widow of Abijah Brown. They had no children and she died in 1887. In due course he became known as Captain Mason, he was not a sea captain, but captain of the Belfast Volunteers, a Rifle Corps formed in 1859 as a consequence of the Crimean War, and later reconstituted as the Belfast Volunteer Corps. For 40 years he displayed a remarkable versatility in his various occupations. Starting as an Innkeeper - he took over the Stag Inn from Captain Saunders in 1852, for 3 years. He then became a carpenter, stonemason, architect, estate agent honorary technical advisor to the Borough and treasurer to the Shire, and Savings Bank Secretary. They thought so well of John mason in Belfast that they elected him to the first Roads Board in 1853 and to the first Municipal Council in 1856. He was Chairman four times and with Councillors David Talbot and Joseph Whitehead designed the Council's Common Seal and the Motto "Commune Bonum".He was the first Mayor of the Borough in 1863 for a period of 7 weeks. He was responsible for the design, supervision or construction of many of the buildings in the town; most still standing today. He built the Rosebrook Bridge in 1855 and the first official Post Office ( a timber structure in Bank Street) in 1857, replacing it with a stone office in 1865. he built the Court house in 1859 and completed the breakwater between Rabbit Island and Griffith Island started by James Atkinson and John Griffith in 1849, also the first bridge over the Moyne river which connected with Battery Lane and the Bay. Among the many buildings associated with John Mason are Gobles Mill, Tynemouth Villa, 10-12 Princes Street, the Mechanics Institute, the Commercial Hotel, Yambuk and Mickey Bourke's Pub in Koroit. However, he did not build "Riverdale" in Gipps Street as is thought. He had a store and workshop on this site but sold the property in 1872 before the house was built. After an almost uninterrupted term as Councillor starting with the Municipality in 1856, John resigned from the Council in 1873. He well deserved the illuminated address they gave to him and the toast that they drank in the Bank Hotel champagne. Within the year he was working for the Borough as its engineer., surveyor, general supervisor and advisor of public works, simply as the man to whom all difficult problems were referred and at very little expense. John Mason was a great worker for his town and devoted himself unsparingly to the community. That his work was appreciated was shown by the way in which people rallied to his aid when, in the end, he found himself in financial difficulties and his reputation was challenge; arrested for embezzling from the Savings Bank of which he was the actuary in 1882. The money was repaid and the charges found not proven at his trial. He was an early member of the Loyal Prince Albert Lodge, and a founding member of the smaller Loyal Belfast Lodge in 1863. He was also a member of the Horticultural Society. Captain John Mason Died on the 14th of October 1891 (see also 62-04-046 photo)Sepia photograph on heavy cardStevenson & McNicoll photo. 108 Elizabeth Street Melbourne copies can be obtained at anytimedefence, captain, mason, carpenter, councillor, mayor