Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Book - Cash Book, Richard Hall, Manager of Loch Ard salvage site, 1878
... ...SS napier...The wreck was difficult to access from the shore, so the firm sent its recently purchased steamer, the SS Napier, to allow access from the sea. Sadly, the steamer hit rocks in the process, and it sank nearby with a cargo of general stores for settlers along the coast.
...The wreck was difficult to access from the shore, so the firm sent its recently purchased steamer, the SS Napier, to allow access from the sea. Sadly, the steamer hit rocks in the process, and it sank nearby with a cargo of general stores for settlers along the coast.
...
Richard Hall arrived in Australia shortly before the "Loch Ard" was wrecked at Port Campbell in June 1878. On arrival, Hall was employed by the partners Haworth, Miller & Matthews, a Geelong syndicate established to buy the salvage rights to the wreck and its cargo. The firm sent Hall to Port Campbell as their supervisor. Hall used this cash book at the Loch Ard salvage site, keeping a record of the date, the workers’ names, hours worked and amount paid.
The wreck was difficult to access from the shore, so the firm sent its recently purchased steamer, the SS Napier, to allow access from the sea. Sadly, the steamer hit rocks in the process, and it sank nearby with a cargo of general stores for settlers along the coast.
Rochard Hall’s cash book has been passed down through his family’s generations. Currently, it belongs to his great-grandson, who has generously loaned it for display with other significant Loch Ard relics.
Richard Hall’s cash book is significant as a record of essential details regarding the salvage process in the 1870s, including the date of work, the names of workers involved, the hours they worked, and the payments made. The use of this cash book ensured meticulous documentation of the workforce and financial transactions during the salvage period.
Richard Hall’s cash book has been carefully preserved within his family for generations. Today, it is in the possession of his great-grandson, who has generously loaned it for public exhibition alongside other important relics from the Loch Ard shipwreck. The cash book serves as a tangible link to the events surrounding the salvage and the individuals involved in this historic episode.
The Loch Ard shipwreck itself is a landmark event in Victoria’s maritime history and is registered on the Victorian Heritage Register (Ref S 417). The Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village houses a diverse and substantial collection of artefacts recovered from the Loch Ard, representing one of the largest assemblies of items from this significant shipwreck.
The collection serves as a vital snapshot of history, enabling interpretation of the circumstances and impact of the tragic Loch Ard event. Additionally, the artefacts hold archaeological importance, offering insights into Victoria’s shipping history and early social and historical themes. The collection’s historical significance is further emphasised by its association with what is regarded as the worst and best-known shipwreck in Victoria’s history.
Cash book: a small cash book with printed blue lines and red columns. Entries are handwritten in blue ink. They show the date, the name of the person paid, the amount paid, and the cheque number, or cash.
The book is kindly on loan from Alan Scott, Richard Hall's great-grandson.Handwritten entries in pen and ink.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, richard hall, loch ard, cash book, financial record, salvage, haworth miller and matthews, geelong salvage syndicate, 1878 wreck, port campbell, ss napier, salvage supervisor, salvage manager, salvage workers, richard hall's cash book, loch ard cash book
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Emerald Museum & Nobelius Heritage Park
Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch