One of a series of photographs taken by Michael Ritchie who was enthusiastic deck hand on Wattle. Photographs taken when Wattle was at Rye for the Christmas/New Year period, most likely 1997. Sailing schedule,shows 5 cruises per day, ticket prices, cruise destination of Seal Colony.and tea, coffee & scrolls available. Colour photograph of Wattle moored at Rye Pier, looking to stern. Gangway, lifeboat, signs, Red Ensign visible. Skipper Leigh Doeg selling tickets to 2 parents,2 children on right hand side of photographsteam tug wattle, rye pier, seal colony cruises, leigh doeg, michael ritchie

The ocean Steamtug "Racer" was built in 1886 in Sunderland by "Boolds, Sharer and Company" for the "Queenstown Tug and Shipping Company". It is mentioned in several newspapers that soon afterwards it sank in Queenstown Harbour, Ireland and remained submerged for six months before being raised. It was a steel screw boat with a sluice keel, was 185 tons and 420 feet long. It was purchased around 1889 by the "Melbourne Coal, Shipping and Engineering Company Ltd" as it had sufficient power to work with the huge iron clippers that the company were dealing with. It survived several dangerous incidents on its voyage out to Melbourne. On May 28th in the middle of the night in a heavy gale, the tug was swamped by heavy seas and then several hours later was almost run down by a very large ship (the clipper Loch Vennachar) in full sail. The "Racer" (later owned by the "Melbourne Steamship Company") became one of the fastest and best-known tugs in the Port of Melbourne - working in the port until 1935. The "Racer" was involved in many rescues and dangerous incidents during its 45 years including the attempted rescue of the "Craigburn" near Cape Schanck, the rescue of the "Edina" from a reef near Williamstown and the rescue of the "Netherby" from heavy seas near Inverloch. In March 1930 she was caught by a strong wind when turning in the Yarra River and crashed into the Spencer Street Bridge - resulting in some damage to the scaffolding on the bridge and slight damage to the tug. In 1906 the "Racer" created a record for the fastest tow when it towed the 900-ton barque "Elizabeth Graham" from Sydney to Melbourne in 73 hours. In 1934 it was withdrawn from commission with plans for it to be broken up for scrap metal but was bought by a Melbourne businessman to be converted into a three masted schooner trading between Tasmania and Melbourne. George (Joe) Cunningham was born in 1892 in Geelong. His father, Alexander Cunningham was a ship builder and carpenter. George worked on oceangoing ships as a young man but after his marriage, had a twenty-six year career on Tugboats. He worked as a deckhand on the "Racer" and then worked his way up as a mate and then master on the "Maitland" and "Tooronga". Later he was in charge of two larger boats - the "Alvina" and "Helen Moore" and was engaged in salvaging the Union Steamship vessel "Karkariki" near Gellibrand Pile Light at the entrance to Hobsons Bay. George Cunningham died in 1978. This photograph was one of ten photographs donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village by Fred Trewartha. Frederick John Fox Trewartha (Fred) was a well-known Warrnambool businessman. He was born in Beeac near Geelong in 1920 and came to Warrnambool with his family as a very young child. He was apprenticed to his father John, as a saddler and later opened his own shop on Raglan Parade. He then moved into working with tarpaulins and canvases for the trucking industry. Fred was keenly interested in photography (and was a member of the Warrnambool Cine Club), yachting and boat building. He kept his yacht moored at Port Fairy for many years and participated in sailing events locally and interstate. He also built boats with his sons. He had the opportunity to meet many older sailors and it's thought this photo (and others in the set) may have been given to him by one of these men. Fred Trewartha died in 2016 in Warrnambool.This item is significant as a reminder of the important role tugboats and their crews played in the maritime history of Melbourne and the surrounding seas. This is a close-up view of a tugboat showing a man leaning against the upper deck. Two lifebuoys (with the words S. S. Racer Melbourne) are attached to the side of the deck and a funnel and an airvent are in the background. A handwritten note in pencil saying "Geo Cunningham on board Racer "is on the back of the photograph.Back - "Geo Cunningham on board Racer" Front (on lifebuoys) - "S. S. RACER MELBOURNE"flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, tugboats, steamtug boats, racer, george cunningham, port of melbourne, melbourne steamship company, rescues, craigburn, steamtug, edina, elizabeth graham, netherby, yarra river, ships, historic maritime photographs, boolds sharer and company, queenstown tug and shipping company, melbourne coal shipping and engineering company limited

This signal lamp was originally fitted on the steam tug 'Wattle'RAN Career 1932 to 1969: Wattle's construction and career as a non-commissioned vessel of the Royal Australian Navy. Saved from the Scrapyard 1969 to 1979: Sydney-based enthusiasts rescue Wattle from the scrapyard, forming an association with Sydney Heritage Fleet. Melbourne Pleasure Steamer 1979 to 2007: A volunteer group brings Wattle to Melbourne to restore, then sails Port Phillip on outings and excursions. Restoration Journey 2007 to 2015: Wattle is hoisted onto the hard to undergo major restoration work. Back in the Water, 2015 to present: Wattle returns to the water for further restoration, and in 2019 sails again on Port Phillip.Brass candle powered signal lamp with a lens circumference of 14cm, mounted on a timber plinthSundercombes Patent Eclipsesignal light, marine fittings, steam tug 'wattle'

A newspaper article was published at the time of the donation of this four-volume set of The Imperial Dictionary of The English Language. The article refers to the Geelong Maritime Society donating the funds to purchase the set of books. The Geelong Maritime Society Inc. was formed to save the Steam Tug Victor from being scrapped. Its public appeal raised funds for this purpose, but its efforts to stop the tug's destruction were unsuccessful. The Society was disbanded in February 1990 and generously donated the raised funds to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village. Flagstaff Hill used the funds to purchase the four-volume set of The Imperial Dictionary of the English Language by John Ogilvie. The books are appropriately housed in the library cabinet of the Common School in Flagstaff Hill's village. Each book has a label with an inscription acknowledging the Geelong Maritime Society Inc.'s donation. STEAM TUG VICTOR: The steam tug Victor, built in 1951 at Gainsborough, UK, was said to be the most powerful tug in Victoria. It was once used in Geelong. A private party, currently, in 2025, researching the steam tug Victor, discovered the information that connected the vessel to the books in Flagstaff Hill's library. This set of reference books was published in 1882. The volumes are typical of books used for education in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The publisher used both print and illustrations for explanations.The Imperial Dictionary of The English Language: a complete encyclopedic lexicon, literary, scientific and technological, Volume 1 by John Ogilvie, LL.D., Author of "The Comprehensive English Dictionary," "The Student's English Dictionary," &c. &c. New edition, carefully revised and greatly augmented. Edited by Charles Annandale, M.A. Illustrated by above [by Charles Annandale, M.A.]. Three thousand engravings printed in the text. Vol. IV. SCREAM-ZYTHUM. With supplement and appendix. Publisher: Blackie & Son, 49 AND 50 Old Bailey, E.C. London, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dublin Printer: W. G. Blackie and Co., Villafield, Glasgow. UK. Volumes Dated: 1882 and 1883 Publisher's logo on the Fly page. Large book, brown covered board, gold embossed details on spine, and front cover impressed with a decorative diamond logo of Blackie and Sons and its motto, within a rectangle. A label inside the front cover acknowledges the donor, Geelong Maritime Society Inc. Inside this first volume was a newspaper clipping, undated. Logo and motto: "(Shield Infront of a ribbon) with entwined letters "B & S" [Blackie & Son] and "Lucem Libris Disseminamus" [Laten: We disseminate light through books] Label: "Donated by Geelong Maritime Society Inc which was disbanded in February 1990" with blue rope border, and logos of a sailing ship and an anchor. Titles of newspaper clippings: "Queer Beasts of the Bush: The Legend of the Bunyip, by J. C. Le Souef" "Nature's Puzzle World: How Lillies Close Their Petals" "In the Forties: A Pastoral Pioneer" [about Charles M. Gray] flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, book, the imperial dictionary of the english language vol 1, john ogilvie, blackie & son, 1882, dictionary, encyclopedia, geelong maritime society inc., reference books, common school, steam tug victor, 1942

This life saving device was on the steam tug Wattle to be thrown to a person if they fell overboard. This ring has either been repainted since Wattle moved from Sydney to Melbourne or was part of the new equipment installed when Wattle was transferred to Melbourne in 1971Ring of buoyant material painted in white, red and blue with metal inner rim and metal outer rim with loops for attaching throwing rope. The life buoy is constructed of a foam centre and outer coating of fiberglass. An inner metal rim reinforces the construction while the outer metal rim assists with reinforcement but also provides 4 loops at 2pm, 4pm, 8pm and 10pm locations on the face of a clock. These loops have rope threaded through them to provide hand hold and grips and a method of attaching the life buoy to the boat. Decorated with red and blue lettering and insigniaPrinted on ring "WATTLE / MELBOURNE"melbourne, wattle, insignia, rope, life buoy, life ring, life saving, floating, floatation, steam tug

Various artifacts from the steamship 'Wattle'. The Steam Tug Wattle, a steel ship, was built as a harbor tug in 1933. Steam is supplied from a two-furnace Scotch Marine wet-back boiler which was originally fired with dewatered and filtered waste oil but has recently been converted to burn distillate for environmental and maintenance reasons. It was launched at Cockatoo Island on 27 June 1933 by Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Co. Ltd. (CODECO) on order from the Commonwealth Shipping Board. Now fully restored it operates excursions in Port Phillip and the Yarra. One of a very few still operating steam tugs.Brass inclinator mounted on timber plate.steam tug wattle, harbour tugs

This is an oil painting of the Steam Tug Wattle after conversion to a passenger carrying vessel. She was a popular tourist outing for people in the Port Philip Bay area. This painting shows that Wattle was appreciated as a historic vessel, a fun mode of transportation and that there was some appeal to seeing images in her likeness such as this painting.Oil painting of the Steam Tug Wattle after conversion to a passenger-carrying vessel.The port side of the ship is shown in an open water landscape, and is moving towards the left hand edge of the frame The painting is signed in the bottom right hand corner " '98 David Carden"oil painting, passenger vessel, tourists, wattle, painting, bay steamers maritime museum, port phillip bay

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of Arthur Woodley with a Model Yacht and Model Steam Tug made by him during his school dayslocal history, photography, photographs, model ships, two seaworthy model boats and arthur woodley, black & white photograph, shipping, models, arthur woodley, john jenner, bryant west

Photo taken on the day of the Wattle's removal from the River Yarra by two mobile cranes, the vessel is suspended above the river. A very significant moment in the life of the Wattle as this was the first day of the major restoration project that continues from 2009 through 2012 aiming to finish in mid 2013. Prior to this restoration project there was a long lead up to find funding and resources to restore the Wattle and ensure that Wattle was not scrapped. The majority of this preparation and restoration work was and continues to be completed by volunteers.Colour photograph in a gilded wooden frame. S.T. Wattle being lifted by two cranes from the Yarra River onto 24 South Wharf. A number of crew can been seen wearing safety attire assisting with the manouvering of the vessel.photograph, wattle, river yarra, mobile crane, crane, steam tug, volunteers, bay steamers maritime museum, 2009

Beginning of the long-awaited restoration by Bay Steamers volunteers. A very significant moment in the life of the Wattle as this was the first day of the major restoration project that commenced in October 2009 and continued to 2020. Prior to this restoration project there was a long lead up to find funding and resources to restore the Wattle and ensure that the ship was not scrapped. The majority of this preparation and restoration work was and continues to be completed by volunteers. Photograph shows the state of the vessel up on blocks and prior to the start of hull restoration in October 2009.Coloured photograph in gilded wooden frame shows Wattle viewed from her port quarter and facing the Yarra River.steamer wattle, steam tug, wattle, restoration, volunteers, bay steamers maritime museum, river yarra, port of melbourne

In 1991, the Port of Melbourne deemed the efforts of the Wattle volunteers in preserving local maritime heritage significant enough to present a plaque as a mark of respect.Wooden board with three brass plates attached. The wooden board is square at the top and curves to a point at the base. The top brass plaque is rectangular and bears an inscription, the central plate is mostly round and bears the crest of Melbourne, the bottom plate is a ribbon shape and bears the Latin inscription of the city of MelbourneEngraved on the top plate "Presented to the Steam Tug Wattle / By the Mayor, Councillors & Citizens of Port Melbourne / To acknowledge the role of the Wattle in preserving / our maritime heritage May 1991"port of melbourne, wattle, councillors, mayor, maritime heritage, 1991, volunteers, bay steamers maritime museum, heritage, plaque

Wooden bung removed from the steam tug wattle. Found in the bilges of the vessel in the concrete ballast.At an unknown time the bung was used to plug a leak in the hull and concreted over. Uncovered during restoration of forward starboard section of the hull.Circular wooden bung enclosed in a small section of green canvas with fragments of concrete attachedwattle, wooden bung, canvas, restoration

Various artifacts from the steamship 'Wattle'. The Steam Tug Wattle, a steel ship, was built as a harbor tug in 1933. Steam is supplied from a two-furnace Scotch Marine wet-back boiler which was originally fired with dewatered and filtered waste oil but has recently been converted to burn distillate for environmental and maintenance reasons. It was launched at Cockatoo Island on 27 June 1933 by Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Co. Ltd. (CODECO) on order from the Commonwealth Shipping Board. Now fully restored it operates excursions in Port Phillip and the Yarra.Solar Reflector with spirit level in wooden boxst wattle, navigational intruments

This ceramic soap dish was recovered from the wreck of the 1882-1883 George Roper between the late 1960’s to early 1970’s. It is one of the shipwreck artefacts in the John Chance Collection. Soap dishes were often part of a wash set that also included a water jug and wash bowl. The holes in the dish allowed water to drain out of the dish, keeping the soap dry for next use. The GEORGE ROPER 1882 - 1883 - The George Roper was a 4-masted iron sailing ship built in Liverpool, England, in 1882 for fast international trade with Australia. The large vessel was launched in February 1883. The ship was on its first trip, departing Liverpool for Melbourne, captained by John Ward and a crew of 31. She had almost reached her destination on July 4 1883, approaching Port Phillip Bay and being towed by the steam tug William. The weather changed to rough with fog and both the George Roper and the William hit the dangerous Lonsdale Reef at Port Phillip Heads. The Captain and crew were eventually rescued and taken to Queenscliff. Salvage syndicates were able to recover a lot of the cargo before the George Roper broke up and sank. Amongst the cargo was soft goods, draperies, household items, spirits of malt and distilled liquors, chemicals, dynamite, and 1,400 tons of steel rails for the Victorian Government. Also in the hold were Russell Stourbridge bricks, as paying ballast. This 1880s soap dish is an example of personal hygiene accessories and may have been part of a set comprising jug, bowl and dish.. The soap dish is also significant as it was recovered by John Chance, a diver from the wreck of the George Roper in the 1960s-70s. Items that come from several wrecks along Victoria's coast have since been donated to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village’s museum collection by his family, illustrating this item’s level of historical value. The soap dish is significant for its association with the barque George Roper, which is considered historically and archaeologically significant and as such, is listed on the Victorian Heritage Database, VHR S286. The George Roper is an example of a vessel built specifically for fast travel to and from Australia with a large shipment of cargo. Its cargo of steel rails adds to the historical significance of international trade to the growing colony of Australia and Victoria in particular, with rail transportation soon to become a faster and safer form of transportation between colonial towns. Divers can still access parts of the scattered wreck and other artefacts recovered in the 1970s and 1980s can be viewed in both public and private collections. Soap dish; glazed white porcelain. Round shallow bowl with blue patterned border, resembling butterflies. Two raised, concentric rings are moulded into the base. Six pierced holes are evenly spaced between the rings, five holes are in the centre of the dish.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, john chance, west coast trader, george roper, captain john ward, russell stourbridge bricks, port phillip heads, lonsdale reef, dive wreck, vhr s286, coastal trader, ceramic, vintage, personal hygiene, bathroom accessory, soap dish

This ceramic cover was recovered from the wreck of the 1882-1883 George Roper between the late 1960’s to early 1970’s. It is one of the shipwreck artefacts in the John Chance Collection. The purpose of the cover is unclear. The holes could be for ventilation. The cover may have been used to protect food or keep it at an even temperature. It may also have been used for covering fragrant petals, allowing some scent to escape through the holes. The residue around the underside of the holes and their random placement indicate that the cover could be partially handmade. The discolouration could have come from its time in the sea. The GEORGE ROPER 1882 - 1883 - The George Roper was a 4-masted iron sailing ship built in Liverpool, England, in 1882 for fast international trade with Australia. The large vessel was launched in February 1883. The ship was on its first trip, departing Liverpool for Melbourne, captained by John Ward and a crew of 31. She had almost reached her destination on July 4 1883, approaching Port Phillip Bay and being towed by the steam tug William. The weather changed to rough with fog and both the George Roper and the William hit the dangerous Lonsdale Reef at Port Phillip Heads. The Captain and crew were eventually rescued and taken to Queenscliff. Salvage syndicates were able to recover a lot of the cargo before the George Roper broke up and sank. Amongst the cargo was soft goods, draperies, household items, spirits of malt and distilled liquors, chemicals, dynamite, and 1,400 tons of steel rails for the Victorian Government. Also in the hold were Russell Stourbridge bricks, as paying ballast. The ventilated cover is as an example of domestic ceramic ware of the 1880s. The cover also holds significance as it was recovered by John Chance, a diver from the wreck of the George Groper in the 1960s-70s. Items that come from several wrecks along Victoria's coast have since been donated to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village’s museum collection by his family, illustrating this item’s level of historical value. The George Roper is considered historically and archaeologically significant and as such, is listed on the Victorian Heritage Database, VHR S286. It is an example of a vessel built specifically for fast travel to and from Australia with a large shipment of cargo. The George Roper’s cargo of steel rails adds to the historical significance of international trade to the growing colony of Australia and Victoria in particular, with rail transportation soon to become a faster and safer form of transportation between colonial towns. Divers can still access parts of the scattered wreck and other artefacts recovered in the 1970s and 1980s can be viewed in both public and private collections. Cover; unglazed white ceramic, oval shape. The cover has holes randomly poked through its surface, one large hole is a six pointed star shape. Underneath there is a narrow rim placed slightly inside the edge. There is residue on the underneath around the holes. There is orange-brown discolouration and areas where the surface is lighter coloured. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, john chance, west coast trader, george roper, w. h. potter & sons, w.t. dickson and son, captain john ward, russell stourbridge bricks, port phillip heads, lonsdale reef, dive wreck, vhr s286, coastal trader, ceramic, vintage, ventilated cover, domestic item

SS Iberia was an ocean liner completed in 1954 for the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O). Along withother liners, Iberia mainly provided passenger service between the United Kingdom and Australia. In the Annual Report 1954, Padre Oliver mentions: " Two fine new P & O ships made their maiden voyages during the year: "Arcadia" and "Iberia". In each case I was privileged to help to represent the Mission at the official luncheon."Marine artColour printed reproduction of a painting or lithograph print featuring 20th C passenger liner, hull and superstructure primarily painted white, under steam at sea. Small tug/fishing vessel in foreground. Larger steam ship on horizon. Print on plain board backing with plain mitred timber frame. Eyelet screws with wire.Printed signature lower right. 'JOHNSTON'iberia, passenger ship, p&o, marine painting, passenger ships, artwork-paintings, peninsular and oriental steam navigation company

This journal provides the reader with glimpses of the adventures and hardships of a seaman's life. Many of the stories are of sailing ships.Contributes to our knowledge of the importance of shipping and places on record those stories of the sea which would otherwise be lost.Contents Foreword - - 5 Editorial - - 9 Steam Tug Wattle - G.C. Hogben - 11 The Legend of the Marco Polo Pride of all New Brunswick - Sponsors of the Marco Polo Restoration Project - 17 Yarra Mud Re-visited - Harrow Morgan - 21 Abandon Ship (in Dry Dock) - T. E. Goldfinch - 33 The Golden Plover Lives Again - Alison Forte - 37 San Pedro Offshore - P.H. Lewis - 41 White Sails in Australian Waters - Late D. McLennan - 45 Barque Polly Woodside - - 52 The Edwin Fox Restoration Picton, New Zealand - - 55 A Gulf Trader - R.N. Thiele - 57 The Great Britain (Poem) - C.E. Bonwick - 65 Singapore for Orders - - 67 Memories of a Master Under Sail The China Coast - Late Captain William Phillip - 71 Junior Marine Radio Officer on the S.S. Iron Flinders - Ellery Teare - 75 Australia’s Oldest Vessel — The Portland Lifeboat - Reprinted from the Journal of Portland Smelter Services Pty. Ltd. - 79 Any port in a Storm - W.P. Shemmeld - 81 A Happy Introduction to Sail - Captain George Molyneux - 87 Restored Ships in Sydney Harbour - Jean Barrie - 89 The Voyage of the Jane Richardson — 1889 Part II - Late E. Binham - 99 Preservation of HMAS Castlemaine. - Peter J. Williams - 103 When Blood Stained the Wattle - Late D. McLennan - 107 Book Reviews - - 112sailing ships, steamships, shipping, seafaring life, shiplovers' society of victoria, dog watch, wattle tug, tug boat

P.S Decoy was built in Scotland and reassembled in 1878 in Melbourne. It steamed to Goolwa, arriving in July 1878. It was used on the Darling River, and as a South Australian tug. In 1905 it sailed to Fremantle W.A for use as an excursion vessel. It was towed back to work on the inland river trade on the Darling -Murray system in 1909. It is now a house boat at Mannum. It's owner is Dick Bromhead.( Ref; Parsons, Ron. "Ships of the inland Rivers. P. 65.)The P.S Decoy is significant because it worked as a passenger vessel as well as a transport vessel. It was built in Scotland and reassembled in Melbourne. It was built to use coal, but when it started work on the inland rivers system it was converted to wood fuel.Two black and white photographs ( P000385.1 is missing) of the P.S Decoy passing under a bridge. There are high banks behind the boat and there are nine people on board.On the boat is the word 'Decoy' written on the bow and under the wheelhouse.p.s decoy, darling river, murray river, goolwa, mannum, passenger vessel, bromhead, dick

P.S Decoy was built in Scotland and reassembled in 1878 in Melbourne. It steamed to Goolwa, arriving in July 1878. It was used on the Darling River, and as a South Australian tug. In 1905 it sailed to Fremantle W.A for use as an excursion vessel. It was towed back to work on the inland river trade on the Darling -Murray system in 1909. It is now a house boat at Mannum. It's owner is Dick Bromhead.( Ref; Parsons, Ron. "Ships of the inland Rivers. P. 65.)The P.S Decoy is significant because it worked as a passenger vessel as well as a transport vessel. It was built in Scotland and reassembled in Melbourne. It was built to use coal, but when it started work on the inland rivers system it was converted to wood fuel.A black and white copy of a photograph of the P.S Decoy tied up to a riverbank with a barge alongside . The banks are high and there are buildings on the top of the banks.On the boat is the word 'Decoy' written on the bow .p.s decoy, darling river, murray river, goolwa, mannum, passenger vessel, bromhead, dick

This black and white photograph of the tugboat NYORA towing the steam ship INVERNESS-SHIRE was taken between 1915, when the INVERNESS-SHIRE was dis-masted, and 9the July 1917, when NYORA tragically sank. The sailing ship INVERNESS-SHIRE was a four masted steel barque built in 1894 by Robert Duncan & Co. Limited, Glasgow, U.K. (The supervising engineer during the building was William Cumming. He accompanied every ship he’d built on their maiden voyages from UK to Melbourne.) In 1916 she was purchased by A/S Christiansand (Sven O. Stray), Kristiansand, Norway and renamed SVARTSKOG. In October 1920 she disappeared at sea, carrying a cargo of coal, and all hands were lost. The steam powered NYORA was a powerful tugboat and a salvage vessel built by J.P. Rennoldson & Sons Ltd, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, UK. She was originally launched with the name NEPEAN in May 1909, then as NYORA in August 1909 and registered in Melbourne in November 1909 by owners Huddart Parker Pty Ltd. She was made of steel, had triple-compounded steam engines, and her dimensions were 306 ton, 135.0 x 25.1 x 13.6ft. The Melbourne tug NYORA was known as “one of the best known tugs in Victoria, and carried the latest appliances for firefighting and salvage purposes.” She serviced the Port of Melbourne for most of her career. In July 1917 NYORA was towing the American schooner ASTORIA from Port Pirie to Sydney, because ASTORIA’s engines had broken down; she had been delivering a large cargo of timber. On July 9th the vessels were two days out from Port Pirie. At 10:30am NYORA foundered after casting off at Cape Jaffa, 50 miles south of Kingston, South Australia, and sank. Only 2 of the 16 crew survived; NYORA’s Master, Captain W.M. McBain (William Murray) and helmsman, able seaman Gordon Lansley. They were rescued by the two Cape Jaffa light keepers, Jamieson & Clark, who launched the rescue from the Cape Jaffa lighthouse on Margaret Brock Reef. Both men were brought to the lighthouse keeper’s cottage where they recuperated after their long exposure to the rough. (The Queenscliff Sentinal of 14th July 1917 noted that both saved men originated from the same district; Gordon Lansley was from Queenscliff and Captain McBain formerly from Point Lonsdale.) The ASTORIA was “in a very dangerous position ten miles west of the Margaret Brock reef near the Cape Jaffa lighthouse, setting towards the land.” Captain Solly from Beachport later said “Owing to the position … the ship was very fortunate in making Guichen Bay in safety, as she did” (Guichen Bay is south of Robe). Captain Bull, manager of Huddart Packer Pty Ltd, NYORA’s owner, was unable to see any reason for the foundering, as the NYORA was well known for its seaworthiness. At a hearing later on, the Marine Board could blame on no-one either, but found that the ship had been swamped by heavy seas, and had listed to one side when a load of 40 tons of coal in sacks on her deck shifted. The tow line to the ASTORIA was cut to try and save the tug but a huge wave swamped her, crashed open the engine room door and flooded the compartment. It was impossible to launch the lifeboats due to the listing of the sea and NYORA sank within 15 minutes. There was some criticism of the length of time it took Captain Solly and the lifeboat crew to get from Beachport to Cape Jaffa to help with the rescue. However, they had great difficulty in the very strong seas, taking 9 hours just to reach Robe, which was only 32 miles away. There they filled the tanks with ample benzene for the task ahead (impossible to do at sea at the time), took in food and brought on board the Robe Harbour Master, Mr Sneath. The Harbour Master was then able to safely pilot the lifeboat to Cape Jaffa in the smoother coastal waters, saving very much time, but by the time they arrived at Cape Jaffa the 2 survivors had already been taken to the lighthouse on the mainland. There was also a question as to the chances of the ship ASTORIA lowering a lifeboat to help with the disaster. Captain Solly explained that it would have been impossible without sacrificing the lives of the lifeboat crew , due to the great height of the ship out of the water and the roughness of the sea. Captain Svenson, of the ASTORIA, said himself “We are ourselves in a helpless position” and “"Cannot see anything of lifeboats”. One of the 14 lost crew of the NYORA was Hugh Edwards, whose body was not recovered. The descendants of Captain William McBain have continued the seafaring heritage. His son was also a tugboat captain (Captain Norman Clive McBain), working mostly from Reid Street Pier, Williamstown, who would often take his own grandson out to sea to spend time with him on his tugboat. Now that grandson has built a tugboat in memory of his heritage and spends time in it with his own grandson. The Cape Jaffa original lighthouse has been dismantled and moved to Kingston and is now a Lighthouse Museum. The attached photographs of Margaret Brock Reef, and the Cape Jaffa Lighthourse keeper's cottage (now in ruins) is courtesy of Capt. William McBain's great grandson, who visited the area in 2015. There is a model of the NYORA in Museum Victoria, donated by Huddart Packer & Co Ltd. in 1937. This photograph is significant for its association with the tugboat NYORA, that is part of the seafaring history of the Port of Melbourne and associated Victorian ports. Black and White photograph of the tugboat NYORA and steam ship INVERNESS-SHIRE. C. 1915-1917.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, historic maritime photograph, lighthouses, shipwrecks, steamships, j.p. rennoldson & sons ltd, huddart parker pty ltd, nepean, nyora, inverness-shire, astoria, captain w.m. mcbain, william cummings supervising engineer, cape jaffa lighthouse, beachport lifeboat, captain solly, captain svenson, margaret brock reef

This ship was number 1 of 2 ships named Bangalore and run by P & O. This ship has listed the same tonnage as that on the inscription on the frame of this work. The ship was subsequently sold in 1886 sold to Hajee Cassum Joosub and used for passengers on pilgrimage into Jeddah. Another view of the history of the Bangalore is that to be found at the Maritime Museums of Sydney listing of another painting of the Bangalore which provides a somewhat different history. It is possible that the story of Bangalore 1 and Bangalore 2 have become conflated further research is needed to verify. see Links field. SS BANGALORE was built in 1867 by William Denny of Dumbarton. Owned by P&O, SS BANGALORE operated from Bombay and Galle to Melbourne and Sydney from 1872 to 1886 as a passenger and mail ship. In 1891 BANGALORE was sold to Wilh. Wilhelmsen, Norway and renamed SS CORINGA.Marine art, Maritime artP&O S.S. Bangalore by George Frederick Gregory (1821-1887)Thinly painted image on board featuring centrally a moored, at anchor, 19th C dual masted steamship with black funnel and flying at the stern a red ensign. To either side are conventional rigged clippers or sailing ships. Near the bow of the steamship there seems to be a tug or paddle steamer face on. In the foreground is a small rowing boat with boatman and two passengers, a male and a female. The painting on board is mounted in a large polished or varnished cedarwood frame with edge carving and a decorative pitted slip which holds in place a thin piece of glazing. Backing paper and seal has all been removed except for hanging wire. Central at front lower edge of frame is a small chipped wood plaque with inscription.Painted in black on plaque and coloured black: "P & O S.S. "BANGALORE" / 2342 tons Built 1867"s.s. bangalore, marine painting, sailing ships, 1867, william denny, artwork-paintings, peninsular and oriental steam navigation company, steamship, p&o, sandridge, port melbourne, hobson's bay, charles dickson gregory, centenary maritime exhibition, george frederick gregory (1821-1887), ss bangalore

Title: The romance of the "Edina" : the world's oldest screw-steamship : with chapters on the auxiliary steamship :Great Britain", and the Port Phillip Bay steamers past and present / by C. Dickson Gregory Author: Gregory, C. Dickson (Charles Dickson) Publication Information: Melbourne : Robertson & Mullens, 1935 Physical Description: xii, 84 p., [24] p. of plates : ill. ; 23 cm Series Link: Queenscliffe Maritime Museum General Note: Item no. Corporate Subject: Edina (Ship) Great Britain (Ship) Subject Term: Shipping -- Victoria Geographic Term: Port Phillip Bay Region (Vic.) -- History Format: Books Holds: 0 Copies: 2This iron hull single screw steamer had a long and distinguished carrier operating between 1853 and 1938. She served in the Crimean war carrying stores and horses to the Black Sea and later trading in the Mediterranean, and carrying cotton for the Confederate States in the American Civil War. Edina arrived in Melbourne under sail in March 1863 and was purchased by Stephen Henty for use from ports in western Victoria and later carried gold prospectors across the Tasman to New Zealand. After a refit in 1870 she was used in the coastal trade along the Queensland coast for Howard Smith until returning to Victoria and the Melbourne-Geelong trade as a cargo-passenger vessel. The Edina had two narrow escapes from destruction in 1898 and 1899 when she collided with other steamers, both being sunk. A further refit in 1917 altered her appearance with a new mast, funnel, bridge and promenade deck. By 1924 Edina had made over 12,000 Melbourne-Geelong passages and carried over one million people on the service. A further collision in July 1931 which sank the tug Hovell forced Edina onto a mudbank on Port Phillip Bay. She was taken out of service in 1938 but was later renamed Dinah and used as a lighter until 1958 when she was broken up and her remains used as land-fill.Extract from the book 'The Romance of the Edina' showing signatures of her last voyage crew in 1938.'The Romance of the Edina'ss edina, port phillip, steam ships

This is one of two cast brass nameplates of James & Alexander Brown in our collection. The Newcastle, NSW, firm was renowned for its coal mining and exporting business established in colonial Australia in 1843. The firm had an office in Melbourne and sold coal for commercial use and from the Wharf for the domestic market. The coal was then distributed along the southwest coast of Victoria in steamships or steam packets and into the regional areas of Victoria by cart and wagon. In 1890 there was a strike of coal workers but the Geelong Advertiser, September 1, 1890, announced that “a firm of coal merchants only recently received some large cargoes from Newcastle”. This supply of coal could have originated at the colliery of James & Alexander Brown. About James & Alexander Brown: - James (1816-1894), John (1823-1846) and Alexander Brown (1827-1877) migrated with their parents from Scotland to Sydney, Australia, in 1842. The next year James leased land and was assisted by his brothers Alexander and John in mining coal in the area near Maitland. The market was very competitive, with the government controlling prices. James was instrumental in a legal battle that resulted in the introduction of open competition for coal mining. James and Alexander had become business partners by 1852 and moved south of Newcastle where they established and worked a profitable mining enterprise. Their assets by 1857 included a ships’ chandlery, a fleet of steamships and an overseas trading business. They were the first firm to import rum, sugar and coffee into Newcastle. By 1892 they were exporting coal to New Zealand, China, North America, and various colonial ports. They had elaborate workshops to service their own steam engines and steamships. They were the first to use a steam collier vessel in Australian waters and they set up the second tug boat in Newcastle, the beginning of being owners of many more tug boats and performing a towing business. By 1868 James & Alexander Brown was the largest coal producer in the colony. James focused on managing the colliery and Alexander on overseas trade. It was estimated that the firm had produced over eight per cent of coal in New South Wales by 1914. James & Alexander Brown advertised in the Melbourne Herald in the early 1900s and kept an office at Queen Street, Melbourne as well as at the Wharf, stating their telephone numbers for both places. The coal was available for ‘Immediate Delivery’ for household and industrial purposes. The advertising claimed that their Pelaw Main coal was the famous household coal that met the highest test in Australia and burned bright and clean. Domestic customers could purchase the coal at the wharf or pay for delivery. Commercial customers could load their purchases into their steamships or wagons for further distribution into regional Victoria. After James’s death in 1894 his son John managed the firm, which was also known as J & A Brown. John passed away in 1930 and his sons took over. In 1931 the firm amalgamated with Abermain Seaham and the new name was J & A Brown & Abermain Seaham Collieries Ltd. commonly abbreviated to JABAS, which merged with Caledonian Collieries Ltd in 1960 and Coal & Allied Industries Ltd. was formed. The pair of nameplates is significant for its connection with the firm James & Alexander Brown. The firm was established in 1845 and became one of the largest collieries in colonial Australia. It was involved in trading within Australia and overseas. James was involved in the introduction of open competition for coal mining prices. They were the first to use a steam colliery in Australian waters and the first to import goods such as rum, sugar and coffee into New South Wales. The firm had a Melbourne office in the early 1900s, selling and distributing coal throughout Victoria, which likely included the Port of Warrnambool, which opened in 1890. The nameplates are likely to have originated from the Melbourne location.Brass Entrance Name Plate, one of a pair. Eight holes are formed through the plate; one in each corner, and four more holes are within the inscription area. The cast plate has three rows of text with the company’s name and type of business. The plate was owned by James & Alex. Brown. "JAMES & ALEXR. BROWN / COLLIERY PROPRIETORS / & STEAMSHIP OWNERS"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, nameplate, james & alexander brown, j & a brown, james & alexr brown, colliery proprietors, steamship owners, ship chandlers, coal mine, coal export, australian import, australian export, newcastle, colliers, coastal trade, steamships

This is one of two cast brass nameplates of James & Alexander Brown in our collection. The Newcastle, NSW, firm was renowned for its coal mining and exporting business established in colonial Australia in 1843. The firm had an office in Melbourne and sold coal for commercial use and from the Wharf for the domestic market. The coal was then distributed along the southwest coast of Victoria in steamships or steam packets and into the regional areas of Victoria by cart and wagon. In 1890 there was a strike of coal workers but the Geelong Advertiser, September 1, 1890, announced that “a firm of coal merchants only recently received some large cargoes from Newcastle”. This supply of coal could have originated at the colliery of James & Alexander Brown. About James & Alexander Brown: - James (1816-1894), John (1823-1846) and Alexander Brown (1827-1877) migrated with their parents from Scotland to Sydney, Australia, in 1842. The next year James leased land and was assisted by his brothers Alexander and John in mining coal in the area near Maitland. The market was very competitive, with the government controlling prices. James was instrumental in a legal battle that resulted in the introduction of open competition for coal mining. James and Alexander had become business partners by 1852 and moved south of Newcastle where they established and worked a profitable mining enterprise. Their assets by 1857 included a ships’ chandlery, a fleet of steamships and an overseas trading business. They were the first firm to import rum, sugar and coffee into Newcastle. By 1892 they were exporting coal to New Zealand, China, North America, and various colonial ports. They had elaborate workshops to service their own steam engines and steamships. They were the first to use a steam collier vessel in Australian waters and they set up the second tug boat in Newcastle, the beginning of being owners of many more tug boats and performing a towing business. By 1868 James & Alexander Brown was the largest coal producer in the colony. James focused on managing the colliery and Alexander on overseas trade. It was estimated that the firm had produced over eight per cent of coal in New South Wales by 1914. James & Alexander Brown advertised in the Melbourne Herald in the early 1900s and kept an office at Queen Street, Melbourne as well as at the Wharf, stating their telephone numbers for both places. The coal was available for ‘Immediate Delivery’ for household and industrial purposes. The advertising claimed that their Pelaw Main coal was the famous household coal that met the highest test in Australia and burned bright and clean. Domestic customers could purchase the coal at the wharf or pay for delivery. Commercial customers could load their purchases into their steamships or wagons for further distribution into regional Victoria. After James’s death in 1894 his son John managed the firm, which was also known as J & A Brown. John passed away in 1930 and his sons took over. In 1931 the firm amalgamated with Abermain Seaham and the new name was J & A Brown & Abermain Seaham Collieries Ltd. commonly abbreviated to JABAS, which merged with Caledonian Collieries Ltd in 1960 and Coal & Allied Industries Ltd. was formed. The pair of nameplates is significant for its connection with the firm James & Alexander Brown. The firm was established in 1845 and became one of the largest collieries in colonial Australia. It was involved in trading within Australia and overseas. James was involved in the introduction of open competition for coal mining prices. They were the first to use a steam colliery in Australian waters and the first to import goods such as rum, sugar and coffee into New South Wales. The firm had a Melbourne office in the early 1900s, selling and distributing coal throughout Victoria, which likely included the Port of Warrnambool, which opened in 1890. The nameplates are likely to have originated from the Melbourne location.Brass Entrance Name Plate, one of a pair. Eight holes are formed through the plate; one in each corner, and four more holes are within the inscription area. The cast plate has three rows of text with the company’s name and type of business. The plate was owned by James & Alex. Brown. "JAMES & ALEXR. BROWN / COLLIERY PROPRIETORS / & STEAMSHIP OWNERS"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, nameplate, james & alexander brown, j & a brown, james & alexr brown, colliery proprietors, steamship owners, ship chandlers, coal mine, coal export, australian import, australian export, newcastle, colliers, coastal trade, steamships