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

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

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

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

This model was found in the collection of Bay Steamers Maritime Museum. It is not knowt who created it but it is supposed that it was constructed to educate the many masters of the Wattle in the operation of a steam engine - a not so common mode of power these days. A Bay Steamers Maritime Museum examined the model in March 2012 and discovered that is was in poor repair. Using his existing knowledge, and with reference to some historic texts, he made some repairs and returned the model to working order. Here is his anaylsis of the situation as an excerpt from the Bay Steamers Maritime Museum newsletter Steamlines May 2012 "I was confronted with a model of a steam engine used years ago as a training aid for hopeful steam engineers. Already having a knowledge of steam operations, I considered a museum write-up for that model a ‘piece of cake’. However, on turning the model’s crankshaft, the valve timing seemed ‘out of kilter’ with the movement of the piston. Problem was that the two eccentrics on the crankshaft were not properly secured to it. Eventually I fastened the two eccentrics to the crankshaft where I felt that they should be and then realized that one of them had a chain-driven valve-timing device attached. This would be adjusted while an engine was running to achieve best performance and fuel economy whilst in operation by accurately controlling the period of time during which steam under pressure from the boiler would be admitted to the cylinder and give greater time for the steam to expand in the cylinder, move the piston and turn the crankshaft and thus, drive the attached apparatus. When the valves were correctly set up it was then possible to get the model to function properly.The model comprises a green section, which is the actual the model mounted on a brown painted board. There are two parts of the model, painted white representing the steam passages, and black representing the cast- iron portions of the cylinder-block casting, and of the main valve sliding between the cylinder a second sliding valve. Of the black portions, one slides back and forth being connected to a rod which is connected to an eccentric clamped to the crankshaft and is the nearer to the flywheel of two eccentrics. This eccentric is attached to the crankshaft at an angle of 90 degrees to the crank-pin attached to the flywheel. To operate the model simply turn the flywheel by means of the handle attached to its crank-pin. A second eccentric is also attached to the crankshaft, further away from the first eccentric, and it is adjusted to operate 90 degrees from the first eccentric (that is, 180 degrees from the crank-pin) A piston (painted silver) is located in a plastic cylinder and has a piston rod which passes through one end of the cylinder, (in actual practice a steam-proof gland seals the cylinder against loss of steam) terminating in a cross-head slide between four rails guiding it. From this cross-head, a connecting rod joins the piston-rod to the flywheel via the crank-pin attached to the flywheel which is part of the crankshaft. (In actual practice, a flywheel may not be used, particularly in a multi-cylinder engine.) The white portions of the model painted nearest to the cylinder represent the two steam ports cast into the main cylinder block, whilst one section painted in between those two represents the exhaust outlet (which may be connected to a condenser to conserve water, or to the open air). The main slide valve has three white-painted portions painted thereon. It has two white-painted marks representing the steam passages to the steam ports into the cylinder, and a third section in between the other two, being that part of the valve through which exhaust steam passes in line with the ports in the cylinder block. By rotating the flywheel, the operations of an engine will be observed as steam is admitted to the main valve via the gap between the two jaws of two moveable portions of a second sliding valve which is operated by the second eccentric attached to the crank-shaft. This eccentric is used to finely tune the valve timing of this model to obtain best running results of an engine. There are various methods used for reversing a steam engine. model compound steam engine, steam engine, model, crankshaft, valve, flywheel, wattle, engineer, eccentrics

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

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

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

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'

Eight page A4 document, photocopied, stapled in top left hand corner, titled "Trams and Tourism", looking at the use of trams for tourist purposes in Melbourne, bath tickets, walks, beaches, connecting services with paddle steamers, royal park zoo, Beaumaris tramway, circular tickets, Doncaster, round trip tickets, St Kilda, Wattle park chalet, tourist tickets, tourist tours, tourist trams, Melbourne Pageant-Salute to Australia, V214, L and Y class trams, Melbourne Tourist Tram in June 1992 that did not eventuate. Has references and illustrating of tickets. Written by Robert Green 1994. See Reg Item 5675 for a sample cable tram round trip ticket.trams, tramways, tourist trams, tourist ticket, mmtb, the met, zoo tram, beaumaris, wattle park, doncaster

Colour photograph of wattles along the Tambo River with Killarny flats centre and small limestone cliff on right, view from road down Cunninghams Hill, car parked at old steamer landing Tambo Upper Victoriaagriculture, rivers