Hand forged metal tool, possibly a sailmaker's hook with the hook broken. It may be a fire iron. The twisted metal is a skill learned by a blacksmith.The item is a handmade tool, an example of the work of a blacksmith. Smiths were sought after in colonial Australia. Their trade allowed them to custom make work for the different industries necessary for survival in a new land.Sailmaker's stretching tool; long thin metal rod bent in half, with centre forming a handle or loop, and long ends twisted together to form a stem. The loose ends are formed together but appear broken.warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, tool, sailmaker's tool, fire iron, blacksmith, twisted rod, twisted wire, sailmaker's hook

Used for twisting square rod whilst held in a vice.rural industry, farm machinery, trades, blacksmithing

Used for twisting square rod whilst held in a vice.rural industry, farm machinery, trades, blacksmithing

Used for twisting square rod whilst held in a vice.rural industry, farm machinery, trades, blacksmithing

Used for twisting square rod whilst held in a vice.rural industry, farm machinery, trades, blacksmithing

Long steel rod twisted into a corkscrew shape at one end and a round hole at the other. A rod is inserted into the round hole and is turned to drill a hole in a fence post.rural industry, fencing

Textiles, beige lace net curtain,Rows of embroidered blue flowers and green leaves worked in net. Machine made lace net has geometric pattern of squares of diminishing sizes.6 cm border on each side of open square pattern with scalloped edges. Rod pocket casing along top. Bottom of curtain is finished with 5 cm fringing of 2 cm twisted card.textiles, domestic, curtaining

The striking fabric of this wall hanging was recovered from the sinking Schomberg. It was originally one of the many curtains adorning the captain’s cabin and ladies’ saloons that attracted first-class passengers to this luxury vessel, built for comfort and speed. The clipper ship was on its maiden voyage, full of passengers emigrating to Australia in 1855. Its commander was Captain James Nicol Forbes, who had been selected by James Baine & Co for his navigation skills, experience, and reputation for breaking sailing records. However, on December 26th, 1855, the vessel became stranded and sank west of Cape Otway, not quite reaching its destination of Melbourne. A reporter explored the Schomberg before its journey; the following detailed description is an excerpt of his article published in a newspaper after the disastrous voyage was announced. “ … descending by a flight of stairs, covered with carpet of a very rich pattern, we came to the saloon passengers’ cabin. This is a noble place, and all that refined taste would suggest has been done to make each berth a miniature palace. The bedding is of the very best material, and the fittings are replete with every convenience. The carpets are of various coloured velvet pile, and the curtains are of satin damask, lined with white satin … The fronts of the berths are highly decorated, and festoons of flowers are painted on the panels … No two berths are furnished with the same-coloured material … the visitor is, therefore, much pleased with the variety which he has to inspect….” (Trove: Shipping Gazette and Sydney General Trade, 31 Dec 1955, p. 283) The curtain material, ‘folded into a single piece and parcelled for protection’, has been passed down through generations of Captain Forbes’ relatives, starting with his half-sister Isabella Jeffrey Nicol. The curtain has remained with the family, although some transition details are incomplete. About a century later, Isabella and Blakiston Robinson’s great-grandson and his wife had the fabric professionally mounted as a wall hanging to showcase the beauty of the woven brocade. Eventually, the custodianship of the curtain was transferred to the donor, who is also a great-grandson of Isabella and Blakiston. He and his wife hung the curtain on the wall of a high-ceilinged room in their home, away from direct light, making it visible for all to appreciate its beauty and significance. In 2024, they donated the curtain for inclusion among the collection of artefacts that help tell the story of the Schomberg and those who sailed on its first and last voyage. The donor’s aunt was highly involved in the family’s history. She had collected and recorded information that dates back to pre-1341. A footnote included in a handwritten letter dated April 20, 1959, from the late Arthur William Rudd, OBE, MA, LLB, husband of another of the donor’s aunts, states, “The curtains you mentioned came from the Schomberg. AWR.” CAPTAIN JAMES NICOL FORBES (1821-1874) and the donor’s family: - Captain Forbes was born in Aberdeen. In his late teens, he moved to Liverpool, a hub for international trade and an emigration port. By the age of 25, he was master of the Prince of Waterloo and later, the Wakefield. He then commanded the Cleopatra for the James Baines Co., which, two years later, transferred him to command the Maria, providing fast and lucrative passage to the gold fields in Ballarat, Australia. James Baines Co. and shipbuilder Thomas Mackay formed the Black Ball Line of clipper ships in 1852. Forbes was appointed master of the largest ship in the fleet, the marvellous Marco Polo. He broke the record time for the passage to Australia, taking only 68 days at sea, and the return journey in only 76 days, a total of 5 months and 21 days. On his second voyage to Melbourne in the Marco Polo the following year, he took 75 days, and 95 days on the return trip. His accomplishment made him famous. James Baines reported that the Marco Polo was the only ship, sail or steam, to do the round trip within 6 months, and it had done it twice. Captain Forbes then took command of the American-built clipper Lightning, one of four built for the Black Ball line. His 19-year-old half-sister, Isabella Jaffray Nicol, was also onboard when he sailed for Melbourne in 1854. During the 77-day voyage, Isabella met Blakiston Robinson, and not long after the ship arrived in Melbourne on July 31, the couple married, with James Nicol Forbes as a witness, on August 16. When Forbes returned to Liverpool, he took a record-breaking 63 days, which has never been bettered. James Baines Co. ordered a new luxury emigrant ship from Alexander Hall of Aberdeen; the Schomberg was the largest sailing ship ever built in Britain. On October 6, 1855, the vessel departed Liverpool commanded by Captain Forbes, with 430 passengers on board, 54 of whom were First Class. It had almost completed its voyage to Melbourne when, on the night of December 26, it ran aground west of Cape Otway. Captain Doran, master of the steamer Queen, responded to the distress signal while on its way to Portland and, with the agreement of his passengers, rescued as many as possible from the Schomberg and returned to Melbourne with them. Captain Helpman, master of the steamer Champion, rescued most of the remaining Schomberg passengers on December 27. On Friday, 28th, Captain James Lawrence was on his way to Adelaide in the steamer Burra Burra, and called past the Schomberg. He reported that the remaining crew were all doing their duties, but the Schomberg was deteriorating on a sand spit and had about 16 feet of water in its hold. That same day, the schooner Jane Elizabeth collected 220 packages of passengers’ luggage to deliver to Melbourne on the 29th. Two steamers also arrived on the 29th with 20 men to collect passengers’ luggage and valuable ship’s cargo items. They were accompanied by water police, customs agents, company representatives and a Lloyds agent. The decision was made to abandon ship on the 30th due to rough and unsafe conditions. The officials and Captain Forbes voyaged to Melbourne, while the seamen remained behind awaiting rescue. Evacuation by sea became too risky, so on January 2, 1856, while the first Mate and Steward remained at the wreck site, the rest of the crew began the 70-mile march to Warrnambool, led by the band. They arrived on January 5th and left for Melbourne on the steamer Champion on January 10th. Parts of the Schomberg wreck ended up in New Zealand. The curtain is important for its connection to the Schomberg, which was unique for being designed and built in Aberdeen, and commanded by an Aberdonian who was the most celebrated clipper captain of the age. The ship was the largest sailing ship ever built in Britain, and reported as the largest vessel that sailed to Australia. The curtain is an example of the rich decorative furnishings available in 1855. The preservation and respect the donor and his family have shown towards the curtain over many decades reflect its important role in telling the family’s history; the journey, the romantic attachment, the family connection to the sea, and travel in gold rush times. The curtain is significant for its connection to James Nocol Forbes, a famous sailing ship commander who broke several sailing records, one of which has never been bettered. This wall hanging, also known as the Schomberg Curtain, was created from a curtain recovered from the stranded luxury ship Schomberg in December 1855. The woven satin damask fabric in blue and cream has been meticulously joined to blend the intricate pattern. The reverse features a soft cream lining. The hems at the top and bottom of the fabric hold wooden rods. The side edges feature decorative braid that has been hand-stitched in place. On the reverse, the bottom hem includes the same braid, which remains unseen from the front, and the centre of the top hem has a hand-worked, unused buttonhole. Each of the hems varies in depth. The curtain was tastefully mounted later to highlight the beauty of the original saloon curtain. A decorative twisted cord of cream silk threads, accented with gold highlights and decorative tassels, was coiled and attached to the ends of the top rod. The elegant display was completed with an ornate gold hook, chosen to complement the wall hanging.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, shipwreck artefact, memorabilia, curtain, saloon curtain, schomberg, wall hanging, decorative object, domestic item, warrnambool, flagstaff hill, maritime museum, maritime village, maritime history, shipwreck, stranding, schomberg curtain, schomberg wall hanging, luxury ship, 1855, damask, silk damask, blue and cream, captain’s cabin, ladies’ saloon, clipper ship, migrant, emigrant, liverpool to australia, captain james nicol forbes, james forbes, captain forbes, bully forbes, james baines & co, james baines, cape otway, aberdeen, prince of waterloo, wakefield, cleopatra, maria, thomas mackay, black ball line, marco polo, sailing record, lightning, isabella jaffray nocol, blakiston robinson, alexander hall, steamer queen, captain helpman, james lawrence, steamer burra burra, steamer jane elizabeth, water police, customs agents, lloyds agent, ship’s band, walk to warrnambool, march to warrnambool, steamer champion, agnes nicol robinson, arthur william rudd obe ma llb

Part of the original front internal swing doors door furniture Barley twist design, with tarnish marks, hollow tube design. Matched handle on front inside door. Also 2 brass rods, parts of interior working, pointed top.building, athenaeum history, doors

The St. Albans High School opened in 1956 and changed its name to St. Albans Secondary College in 19905536.01 - St. Albans Secondary College 1997 Year 9-5.jpg 3rd Row: Rea Ramos, Pauline Velkoska, Louise Papacharalambous, James De Sante, Mark Abela 2nd Row: Derrick Cassar, Andriana Filipovska, Diane Pirotta, Valentina Dupcinov, Mirjana Kostantinovic, Cindy Xerri, Mac Antansov, Tracylee Chapple Front Row: Louise Mifsud, Georgette Vella, Catherine Sweeney, Laura Campbell, Ryan Watt Teacher: Mrs. D. Coleman Absent: Kasey Wapshott, Steven Calpecos, Hugo Ortiz 5536.02 - St. Albans Secondary College 1997 Year 10-6.jpg 3rd Row: Quoc Anh Tran, James Pham, Luke Baldacchino, Chris Kirkopoulos, Leigh Spicer, Nathan Chick 2nd Row: Natasha Krstevski, Quan Thai, Jenny "Giang" Huynh, Lam Tran, Thanh Pham, Lisa Koutroupis, Thu Van Dang, Lena Celvska Front Row: Phuong Uyen Ho, Cuong Kien Le, My Hgoc Bui, Robert Gatt, Emmy Suwunnakal, Mary Hoang, Katherine Santos, Hong Kim Lee Teacher: Ms. J. Simpson Absent: Leng Be, Vu Nguyen, Thanh Truong 5536.03 - St. Albans Secondary College 1997 Year 11.jpg 8th Row: Pama Moses, Adam O'Flynn, Aaron Locke, Maarit Suonkmi, Sandra Petakovic, Sandra Milunovic, Ranko Vujkovic. Adis Kablar, Michael Ilie, Elvis Kesic, Robert Sarna, Yusuf Belik, Gregory Hluschko, Peter Kolevski, Huseyin Ylahayla, Ben Davies, Martin Mell, Dylan Btytex. Tania Briffa 7th Row: Nada Karaman, Maria Budair, Elena Pavicevic, Josip Kasalo, Troy Caldwell, Marvic Muscat, Suhnil Ilondi, Fndil Klancevle, Trong Dinh, Arturo Rojas, James Burt, Marijaneco Petkovski, Simone Wincar, Keana Kowanjko, Brandan Turner, Lucas Papacharalambous, Sandy D'Silva, Vashna Lal, Valentina Petrovska, Joao Jong 6th Row: Kili Nazifi, Tina Kuxanovska, Lidia Kostantinovic, Marina Kovacic, Marj Jankulovska, Elizabeth Majanovic, An Ho, Paul Cachin, Vu Truong, Neshwan Hurmex, Shane ratnam, Jasmin Allisle, Steven Veljanovski, Joe Tran, David Chieng, Baart Klek, Jimmy Ku, Lung Lai, Royee Lay, Cuong Truong 5th Row: Kerine Gun, Sanah Oblan, Diana Razamvska, Samantha Renda, Allison Bacchetti, Anil Mustafa, Linh Nguy, Gina Antonlo, Jacqueline Mifsud, Mellisa Plsani, David Lie, Leslie Kretzchmar, Kamil Sliwinski, Gebreil Medhanye, Son Nguyen, Jeffrey Lim, Sasko Usinov, Joseph Mercieca, David Kent, Bang Quach, Branka Jurilj 4th Row: Loan Le, Lieu Le, Kirsty Jones, Hung Ngo, Phuoe Pham, Branka Dragicevic, Hong Yvong, Melaine Kusznir, Natalie Kolendowska, Le Hang Tran, Yelly Meulenbrock, Betty Filipovska, Arzu Guncelar, Trang Tran, Elisa Tu'Itupou, Mira Mihajlov, Michelle Schreyer, Allison Anderson, Melissa Hardimann, Hau Nguyen, Jolanta Olesky, Stella Balaban, Maria Srokowska, Shane Willie, Warren O'Brien 3rd Row: Liem Tran, Sandra Gatt, Resmije Demiri, Ninna Clkoja, Ruth Farrugia, Anita Grasic, Nicolina Kondoska, Jaleh Forsyth, Faustina Surrao, Gabriela Avram, Natasha Mancevska, Diana Srbinovska, Tu Le, Huynh Nguyen, Phuong Nguyen, Thang Truong, Nhut Huynh, Renee Hill, Anne Tran, Lan Ngo, Duy He, Teng Sim, Ebru Osman, Maureen Binaday, Paul Spiteri, Marco Theodorou, Anh Vu Nguyen, Mauric Rivas-Sayes 2nd Row: Kim Ang Tran, Linh Lu, Christian Robas, Zora Nedelkovska, Hussein Hussein, Muc Nguyen, Am Iloang, Can Tran, Phuong Pham, Janette Jack, My Nguyen, Thinh Pham, Kristina Zelke, Diana Li, Ngoe Wang, Ue Chau Tran, Anna Abela, Vicky Nguyen Front Row: Thi Be Tran, Linda Tan, Jenny Nguyen, Lan Quach, Nhien Nguyen, Senthuy Tran, Soung Van, Thanh Vuong, Thuy Lam, Phuong Le, Trang Nguyen, Thuy Thi Tran, Michelle Seiberras, Sonta Li, Nuni sim, Frances Selberras, Cemaltye Ahmet, Hang Pham, Van Nguyen, Ly Lu, Ngoc Truong Teachers: Ms. M. Odde, Mr. J. Myers, Ms. Villani, Ms. R. Marehionda Absent: Gezim Alimsovski, Jana Bilali, Jason Bulter, Agim Emini, Elizabeth Cassar, Tien Quach, Lindita Rustemovska, Si Sin, Stacey Trinh, David Nguyen, Phuc Cao 5536.04 - St. Albans Secondary College 1997 Year 12.jpg 8th Row: Nick Sikman, Danial Love, Ovidiu Neagole, Michael Schrvyer, Peter Silkman, Tomhlav Pitra, Ferid Kbncevik, John Favlkie, Scott Mansfield, Daniel Samarxija, Michael Tasbnsan, Vrild Cehle, Daniel Lieurck, Danny Panlic, Vural Ramadan 7th Row: Veeraj Lal, Zlalko Hovaneck, Thai Tzo, Yi Fan Sun, Sam loutas, Patrick Agius, James Czarnoch, Paul Beska Anthea Lonsdale, Vladmir Ristevski, Andrew McKellar, Fady Ghanem, Mustafa Mustafa, Hien Le, Glang Nguyen, Truong Mai 6th Row: Sean Sutton, Darren Zammit, Tansu Cogar, Percival Jose, Nehir Abdicevie, Moses Mondia, Beadley Stamvenkovic, Kelvin Phan, Mervals Tawafi, Bao Nguyen, Rebecca Lutze, Avnija, Bala, Maryanne Tomsale, Julia Stam, Jodi Galea 5th Row: Angela Atanasovska, Bilyana Markovska, Dafina Kojdovska, Karina Locke, Kimblery Hindmarsh, Laura Obeid, Vang Bui, Cung Vu, Ramses Diana, Anh Tran, Nhiem Nguyen, Khuong Nguyen, Snezana Dimitrljevska, Louise Vella, Nada Mitrovic, Sally Petreski 4th Row: Trang Huynh, Taliya Cikoja, Maria Demetriou, Michelle Sie, Natall Musulin, Vkoteta, Bogojov, Anda Barun, Diana Cekovska, Nada Sismanovic, Vieleta Dimitrijecska, Michelle Stewart, Janelle Francis, Rebecca CAmpbell, Natasha Nikolovska, Sonia Dimitrievska, Menka Cyctanovska, Julie Kiriacoudis, Michelle Merceica, Nahida Garibovic 3rd Row: sandra De Sousa, Sifa Bahriyelli, Minushe Demiri, Alicia Cassar, Sonya Karovska, Kathy Debert, Mallorie Allen, Myrna Foentes, Tracey Singh, Meri Gheju, Suzie Mieecie, Stacey Brown, Julie Velevska, Tania Zdravkecska, Phi Tran Tracey Leung, Thao Phuong,, Ly Nguyen, Joanne Darvell, Thao Tran, Antoinette Alemida, Xuan Phan 2nd Row: Karolina Jovaneski, Suzi Ognenovska, Lily Rustemovska, Kirstin Mizis, Michelle Gatt, Phuong Le, Anna Nguyen, Ubanti, Nguy, Kristina Popovacki, Emina Gee, Anda Barisk, Sneza, Nikovski, Vanessa Catania, Front Row: Ngam ngo, Linh Luu, Phuong Lu, Katrina Gatt, Homaira Tawfi, Rosarin Suwuwwakul, Thanh Tran, Alde Lam, Chantha Kindavong, Huong Nguyen, Trang Nguyen, Nhu Ngo Absent: Emirson Allmovski, Stela Bervanakis, Svetlana Micevska, Hang Nguyen, Thang Nguyen, Jack Phillips, Hoang Phan, Phac Truong, Truong Doan, Chi Mai, Maria Oddo, Rosa Marchionda,John Myers, Carmela Vilbni 5536.05 - St. Albans Secondary College 1997 Staff.jpg 5th Row: Nigel tarr, Glenys Stevens, Brian Mundy, John Lacorcia, Rod Bear, Warren Niddrie, Ian Crocker, Andrew Wuttke, Craig Jennings, Maclor Himbury, Andrew McCarter, Peter Sinclair, Surjeet Singh, John Myers 4th Row: David Russell, Carolyn Learmonth, rosemary Banbury, Cinzia Cunningham, Frances Seketa, Trish Lowe, Stavroula Bekiarism, Stewart Fraserm Jon Kortuem, Les Chapman, Michael bowdenm Andrea Federico, Dorothy Coleman, Judy Simpson, Andrew Morrison 3rd Row: Graham Twist. Shayne Rule, Loue Traianou, Carol Greaves, Mark Micallef, Eric Gerqes, Volanda De Santos, John Cowl, Megan Jeffery, George Peart, Leonie McGannon, Kay Williams, Louise Talevska, Athan Theodorou, Denise Kirton, Andrea Miller, Rose Johnson 2nd Row: Janet McKenzie, Laura Gough, Miranda Truong, Stephaine Leontizdes, Michelle Veith, Thu Tran, Linh Dang, Mario Orsini, Roda Marchionda, Gael Meadowcroft Front Row: Vera Mitrovska, sue Brown, Pam Kernohan, ruth Radke, Ruth Hodgson, Kathy Haris, Roger Martin (Assistant Principal), Stewart Homer (Principal), Jo Doherty (Assistant Principal), Marla Oddo, Effie Goulas, Jaune Stephens, Jo Kelly, Amal Seif, Pam Oliver, Bev Davies st. albans high school, main road east, st. albans, st. albans secondary college