A hand made mussel bag using improvised materials used for removing and temporarily storing mussels

Queenscliff fishermen's practical use of everyday materials to create fishing equipment.

An improvised mussel bag consisting of a plastic pipe held in a circle by a metal hose clamp and a rope net suspended from it. Used to gather and hold mussels.

fishing, mussels, fishing equipment

Alice Zanoni [Alice Lillian Bourke 1879 - 1957] and Charles Zanoni's children were Norman, Charles, Ruby and Max [William K Zanoni's father]. Charles' brother Henry Zanoni painted the ships in the fishermen's waiting shed in the QMM.

Prominent Queenscliff family with connection to the fishing, boat building industries and the Pilot Service.

A framed photograph of Alice and Charles Zanoni

fishermen, henry zanoni, fishermen's waiting shed, boat builders, queenscliff, local history

105 page leather bound atlas containing some coloured illustrations of maps of the countries of the world up to 1861. Published by William Blackwood & Sons, 1861. Folio [51x34cm] size with 9 pages of introductory text followed by 48 double-page spread and part coloured maps.

non-fiction

Atlas of the word in 1861

geography, world atlas, keith johnstone

The Marine Safety Act, Victoria requires that lights must be displayed from sunset to sunrise and in times of restricted visibility during daylight hours. A vessel's lights should indicate: what type of vessel it is, what the vessel is doing, the direction that the vessel is travelling in. E.G. For vessels under 50 m in length, a second masthead light is optional. For vessels under 12 m in length, sidelights may be a combined lantern on fore and aft centreline.

Every vessel at sea must show light to indicate type of vessel, directionof travel and speed.

Three metal navigational lights; red port, green starboad and clear head light.

S/N Side Light (red) Elect. S/N 432 Side Light (Green) Elect. S/N 433 Head Light Elect.

navigation light, marine safety, navigation, safety equipment

Two technical ship design books in German published in 1858.

non-fiction

Two technical books in German published in 1858 regarding the design and theory of shipbuilding.

shipbuilding, technical books

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 plinth

Sundercombes Patent Eclipse

signal light, marine fittings, steam tug 'wattle'

These brass containers held strike anywhere matches used by the Lifeboat service to light fuses to launch rescue rockets.

Example of a type of match and its container used by the lifeboat crews in training and rescue operations where a rescue rope rocket had to be launched.

A brass container for matches with one Vesta match used for lighting fuse for rescue rope rocket

matches, strike anywhere matches, rescue equipment, rope rockets

The SS Loongana operated in the Bass Strait from 1904 to 1934. She was replacied as a Tasmanian Ferry by the Nairana in 1921.

A passanger ship which operated from Melbourne to Tasmania and to New Zealand beteen 1904 and 1934.

A B&W photoraph mounted on cardboard backing of the SS Loongana under steam.

ss loongana, bass strait, tasmanian ferries, port phillip

This vessel was owned by Huddart Parker & co a shipping line started in Geelong and later transferred to Melbourne.

The SS Elingamite operated between 1876 and 1961. It was one of the seven major coastal shippers in Australia at a time when shipping was the principal means of interstate and trans-Tasman transport.

Congratulatory letter from the cabin passengers of the SS Elingamite dated the 19th November 1887 addressed to Captain P.W. Bull. The letter is behind glass in a timber frame.

captain pw bull, ss elingamite, huddart parker & co, immigration, travel, england - australia route

Used by those that could afford them when travelling. Thuis item was purchased from the Royal Auto Club, London.

This piece of luggage is rarely seen in use today, so is of interest general interest.

An ovel shaped leather hat box with R.W.R. inscribed below the lock.

R.W.R. inscribed below the lock

travel, luggage, hats, hat boxes

The reef off Point Gellibrand at Williamstown was lit for nearly 120 years by a series of lights, beginning with three separate lightships over the mid-late 1800s, to a pile light which lasted seventy years before it was dramatically destroyed when hit by a ship the Melbourne Trader on the foggy morning of 21 June 1976.

A pastel painting of the Gellibrand Pile Light made by Denise Clarke in 1999.

Gellibrand Light; Denise '99

point gellibrand pile light

HMAS Una was a Royal Australian Navy sloop that began its life as the German motor launch Komet. The ship, and her 57 crew, was captured by an infantry detachment of the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force 9 October 1914, with no loss of life. Komet was then sailed to Sydney as a prize. During the time in which the Una was in service under Australia, the sloop was used as a Patrol and General Purpose Vessel. The sloop was used to patrol the areas of New Guinea, New Britain, New Hebrides and Malayan waters. After World War I, Una was decommissioned and taken to Port Phillip Bay, renamed Akuna and used as a pilot vessel. She was finally broken up in Melbourne in 1955.

After World War I, HMAS Una was decommissioned and taken to Port Phillip Bay, renamed Akuna and used as a pilot vessel. She was finally broken up in Melbourne in 1955.

A sclae drawing showing side view of the double screw passenger steam boat 'Komet' which was captuered by the RAN in WWI

Doppelschrauben Passagierdampfer Aussen Haut [Double Screws, Passenger Steam Boat, Outside Hight]

akuna, ppps, port phillip, hmas una, ran

Manufactured by Glenside Manufacturing of South Australia, this lifejacket was in use from 1945 to 1965 and was in use in WWII.

Lifejacket in use during WWII

Glenside type lifejacket in use in WWII

Standard Glenside Lifejacket, Glenside Manufacturing Frewville SA

lifejacket, ship relics, glenside manufacturing

This type of diving suit was used for construction diving by the Melbourne Port Emergency Service.

Early type of diving suit used in underwater construction since the 1940s before rubber wet or dry suits.

Siebe Gorman standard dress full body diving suit with head cap and goggles

diving suit, diving, underwater construction, mpes

Although the provenance cannot be confirmed it is believed that this lead possibly originated from the SS Time.

Since at least the sixth century B.C. the sounding lead or sounding weight was in use in the Mediterranean area for maritime navigation. It is the oldest known marine navigational instrument and it remained a primary navigational aid in coastal waters and rivers well into the twentieth century.

A sounding lead with rope line attached. One surviving leather fathom depth marker is spliced into the rope.

sound lead, navigation

Between the years 1888 - when the Marine Board had been constituted - and 1901 there had been no fewer than 52 wrecks in Victorian waters. The Maritime Archaeological Unit list 736 shipwrecks in Victorian waters from the years 1800 to 1986.)

Black and white photograph showing sailing vessel 'Artisan' aground near Cape Paterson, Victoria

'artisan, shipwrecks, victorian coast, cape paterson

The 'Loch Ard' is a very significant wreck along the South Coast of Victoria. Many relics were recovered from the wreck and declared after the amnesty.

10 candle wick trimmers [3 incomplete] heavily encrusted after their recovery from the wreck of the 'Loch Ard'

loch ard, diving

The SV PASSAT under sail in the English Channel

Black & white photo of the SV PASSAT

Refer Notes section for details

tall ship (29 sails)

The brigantine TORONTO entering at the Heads of Port Phillip Victoria under sail

Black & white photo of the brigantine TORONTO at the Heads of Port Phillip Victoria

Refer Notes section for details

sailing ship toronto

Ports & Harbour ship towing another ship

Colour photograph of Ports & Harbour maintenance ship, the 'RIP' towing the CASTLEMAINE to Williamstown

Refer Notes section for details

ports & harbour service ship 'rip', hmas castlemaine

Ports & Harbour lights & bouy service ship

Colour photograph of Ports & Harbour maintenance ship, the 'RIP'

Refer Notes section for details

ports & harbour service ship 'rip'

Time-Life Books insert of typical Brigantine style boats/ships

Coloured print of a typical Brigantine by Time-Life Books- un-named boat/ship

Refer Notes section for details

typical brigantine drawing

Time-Life Books insert of typical Man-of-War style boats/ships

Coloured print of a typical Man-of-War by Time-Life Books- un-named boat

Refer Notes section for details

typical man-of-war drawing

Time-Life Books insert of typical Sloop style boats

Coloured print of a typical Sloop by Time-Life Books- un-named boat

Refer Notes section for details

typical sloop drawing

Time-Life Books insert of typical Naval Sloop boats

Coloured print of a typical Naval Sloop by Time-Life Books- un-named boat

Refer Notes section for details

typical naval sloop drawing

Fishing boat

black and white photograph of a family in a sculling dinghy

Refer Notes section for details

fishing boat

gaff-rigged fishing boat

black and white photograph of old piers, breakwaters and a family picnic

Refer Notes section for details

fishing boat

gaff-rigged fishing boat

black and white photograph of the fishing boat JOYCE

Refer Notes section for details

fishing boat

Tugboat JAMES PATERSON

black and white photograph of the tugboat JAMES PATERSON proceeding on the Yarra at the docks in Melbourne

Refer Notes section for details

tugboat james paterson

1918 Peace Procession at Queenscliffe

black and white photographs of people & fishing boats involved in the 1918 Peace Procession at Queenscliffe

Refer Notes section for details

lifeboats, 1918 peace procession