We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land. We celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respect to Elders — past, present and future.
Please be aware that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Some material may contain terms that reflect authors’ views, or those of the period in which the item was written or recorded but may not be considered appropriate today. These views are not necessarily the views of Victorian Collections.
Users of this site should be aware that in many areas of Australia, reproduction of the names and photographs of deceased people is restricted during a period of mourning. The length of this time varies and is determined by the community.
Reuse of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander material on this site may require cultural clearances. Users are advised to contact the source organisation to discuss appropriate reuse.
Untitled image
Can you reuse this media without permission? No (with exceptions, see below)
All rights reserved
This media item is licensed under "All rights reserved". You cannot share (i.e. copy, distribute, transmit) or rework (i.e. alter, transform, build upon) this item, or use it for commercial purposes without the permission of the copyright owner. However, an exception can be made if your intended use meets the "fair dealing" criteria. Uses that meet this criteria include research or study; criticism or review; parody or satire; reporting news; enabling a person with a disability to access material; or professional advice by a lawyer, patent attorney, or trademark attorney.
Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)
© Copyright of FOC
Have a question? Contact Friends of the Cerberus Inc
The painting depicts HMVS Cerberus, HMVS Nelson and one of the P&O Mail Steamers.
Of great significance as the colour scheme of Cerberus and Nelson is shown.
Original oil painting by George Frederick Gregory.
G F Gregory 72
The Sea-Cell pamphlet was written by Captain Henry Moors of the Land Forces Signal & Torpedo Corps. In the pamphlet Captain Moors investigates the theory that the zinc case of the torpedo, the iron hull of Cerberus and the sea water combined to form a sea-cell. (battery) Captain Moors investigates whether this sea-cell could have resulted in a current being produced that was strong enough to detonate the torpedo.
Eleven page pamphlet measuring 137 mm x 215 mm exploring the possibility that the Cerberus torpedo accident was caused by a Sea-Cell effect.
sea-cell torpedo
Silver plated soup tureen measuring 390 mm wide, 250 mm deep and 220 mm high.
Presented to J. A. Thompson as a mark of esteem from C. T. Mandeville K. L. Murray O. Richards J. Breaks J. D. Dayle J. Tubb W. A. Holmes A. Mahler R. M. Collins E. J. Huseyman R. Malcolmson J. Frogley A. Harrow J. Nelson T. J. Beatty H. Schreiber A. M. Houston H.M.V.S. Cerberus Nov. 16th 1881.
ammunition
Photograph depicting Peter Ratley aka Peter Searle and his Victorian Navy colleagues standing in front of a tall building with two torpedoes on a trolly in front of them.
Photograph depicting Peter Ratley aka Peter Searle and his Victorian Navy colleagues standing in front of a tall building with two torpedoes on a trolly in front of them.
X over Peter Ratley aka Peter Searle
victorian navy victorian naval forces torpedoes
One inch Nordenfelt machine guns were used on board vessels of the Victorian Navy to combat the torpedo boats. One inch, as opposed to the .45 inch, Nordenfelt guns used by the Land Forces could penetrate the boilers of torpedo boats and thereby stop them.
none
This item is a reproduction.
Replica of an 1877 Victorian flag made of polyester.
victorian flag, 1877 victorian flag
A replica 1870 Victorian flag made of polyester.
1870 victorian flag, victorian flag
Represents the Victorian Navy in 1888. Reproduction of original painting by Arthur Victor Gregory.
Reproduction of the original held by the Royal Historical Society of Victoria.
A blank Victorian Naval Forces Discharge Certificate used when a member of the Victorian Naval Forces left.
Only known copy of a blank certificate with the stub that was retained by the Navy.
Piece of paper with fields to fill in.
victorian navy victorian naval forces discharge certificate
A 14 pounder shell casing manufactured for the two prototype guns used by the Victorian Navy. Unlike the later Mk I and M II 14 pounders which used separate components the ammunition for the prototype guns was assembled into one fixed piece and crimped together.
Only a handfull of these sheels are known to exist as later 14 pounder guns used separate shell casing and projectiles.
Cylindrical shell casing made of brass.
On base - "N"
nordenfelt shell case, ammunition
This fixed round was unique in that it could only be fired from two guns produced by Maxim-Nordenfelt as prototype guns. Subsequent guns were loaded with a separate projectile and shell casing. The 14 pounder Quich Firing (QF) guns were acquired for use on the armed commercial steamer SS Courier. While not in use they were used at Fort Queenscliff before being returned to the Victorian Navy. The guns were then fitted to HMVS Nelson and then HMVS Cerberus in 1897. In 1900 they were fitted to field gun carriages and accompanied the Victorian Naval Contingent to China.
Cylindrical steel projectile with conical nose.
None
ammunition
Nordenfelt Six pounder quick firing guns were used by land and naval forces to counter torpedo boats.
The projectile and its shell casing are of the type and age used by the Victorian Naval Forces but could equally have been used by the land forces.
Cylindrical steel shell with cone shaped nose.
On side - "H/88"
common shell, hotchkiss, 6 pounder, ammunition
As iron was not as strong as steel, iron shells were shorter and did not hold as much gunpowder as steel shells.
This Mk I iron common shell is the only know Mk I shell from the armoury of HMVS Cerberus.
Cylindrical Iron shell with pointed nose.
Base - "[1]0 IN/RL/8" On side - "6/85" "I/R^L"
Mk III steel shell.
Only known Mk III shell used by HMVS Cerberus.
On side - "5/98" "^/AH" Near nose - 716/T
Mk III palliser shot was intended to be fired from the main guns of HMVS Cerberus.
Only know shot from HMVS Cerberus.
Cylindrical steel projectile with pointed nose.
None.
palliser shot, ammunition
Epaulette with gold.
10 inch, Mk II, Steel Common Shell
On side - "21/D 7 C/96" On Base - "[1]0 IN II/[C] s/R.L.
shell, common, common shell, mk ii, ammunition
Metal box with handle and broken catch designed to hold two shoulder epaulettes.
Engraving on lid - "A.M.T."
epaulettes, metal box
Epaulette with gold braid and anchor insignia.
Underside - "W.CHORLEY/OUTFITTER/SYDNEY,/N.S.W.
navy, epaulette
The Torpedo Manual was created in 1889 presumably as part of the training program of the Victorian Naval Torpedo Corps.
This item is significant partly because some of the information in the manual is not found elsewhere but also as it the only known copy of this manual. The manual is also evidence that a more professional approach to training was undertaken by the Victorian Naval Forces after the mid 1880s. Gunner/Instructor Corkle's of the Port Melboune Naval Brigade written in the manual is evidence of the manual's strong provenance.
Victorian Naval Forces Manual printed in 1889 with 62 pages with a burgandy cover. Two sections:- Part 1 - Whitehead Torpedos and their component parts used in the Victorian Naval Forces. Part 2 - Electrical section describing firing circuits, cells, fuzes, dynamoes, search lights.
Inside front cover - "Jno. Co[orkle] /Gunner & Instructor/oPort Melbourne Division/of/Naval Brigade/Port Melbourne/ January 1890." Inside back cover - "J Corkle GI/P.M.B. of N.B./January 1890"
whitehead, torpedo, manual, torpedo corps.
Nordenfelt Six pounder quick firing guns were used by land and naval forces to counter torpedo boats.
The projectile and its shell casing are of the type and age used by the Victorian Naval Forces but could equally have been used by the land forces.
Cylindrical brass tube closed at base and open at other end.
victorian naval forces, victorian navy, nordenfelt quich firing gun, ammunition
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
