Historical information
This photograph is part of reproductions of images from the MTS archive collection.
Physical description
Framed and mounted black and white reproduction of photograph from the archive
Mounting & framing
Mounted and framed
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This photograph is part of reproductions of images from the MTS archive collection.
Framed and mounted black and white reproduction of photograph from the archive
Mounted and framed
claude james eldridge-doyle, bill doyle, reverend c.j. eldridge-doyle, reverend t.p. kerfoot, reverend frank leslie oliver, felicity eldridge-doyle, orcades
newspaper clipping with portrait
written in black ink: The Age, 20 June 1960
claude james eldridge-doyle, bill doyle, reverend c.j. eldridge-doyle, orcades
Black and white photograph with a white border. Image is taken from inside the main hall of the Mission to Seafarers Melbourne depicting the stage with its curtains, the floorboard, chairs.
window, jukebox, main-hall, wainscote, wood-panelling, arch, chairs, mission to seafarers, mission to seamen, music, floorboards, flowers, flying angel club, stage, curtains
Sir Reginald Alexander Dallas Brooks (1896–1966), State Governor of Victoria 1949 - 1963 was the Patron of the Mission and guest speaker at a special fundraising dinner held to commemorate the centenary of a mission to seamen in Victoria. The image depicts the State Governor flanked by Archbishop of Melbourne and E.B.Coles, Chairman of the Mission, presenting a cheque as donation, at the centenary dinner. The photograph was published in the 1956 Annual Report (page 5).
The Centenary dinner held in 1956 marked a key milestone in the maintenance of services to seafarers in Victoria. The State Governor presence as special guest and speaker helped to launch a key fundraising drive that was much needed.
large rectangular b/w photograph in landscape format depicting three men on the left a clergyman, centre a man with a moustache in a dark suit and on right man in a light suit and wearing spectacles seems to be presenting a cheque.
mission to seafarers, donors, state governors, sir reginald alexander dallas brooks, centenary, 1956, e.b. coles, centanery appeal, g.j. coles
Sir Reginald Alexander Dallas Brooks (1896–1966), State Governor of Victoria 1949 - 1963 was the Patron of the Mission and guest speaker at a special fundraising dinner held to commemorate the centenary of a mission to seamen in Victoria. The image depicts the State Governor flanked by Archbishop of Melbourne and E.B.Coles, Chairman of the Mission, presenting a cheque as donation, at the centenary dinner. The photograph was published in the 1956 Annual Report (page 5).
The Centenary dinner held in 1956 marked a key milestone in the maintenance of services to seafarers in Victoria. The State Governor presence as special guest and speaker helped to launch a key fundraising drive that was much needed.
large rectangular b/w photograph in landscape format depicting three men on the left a clergyman, centre a man with a moustache in a dark suit and on right man in a light suit and wearing spectacles seems to be presenting a cheque.
mission to seafarers, donors, state governors, sir reginald alexander dallas brooks, centenary, 1956, e.b. coles, centanery appeal, g.j. coles
Sir Reginald Alexander Dallas Brooks (1896–1966), State Governor of Victoria 1949 - 1963 was the Patron of the Mission and guest speaker at a special fundraising dinner held to commemorate the centenary of a mission to seamen in Victoria. The image depicts the State Governor flanked by Archbishop of Melbourne and E.B.Coles, Chairman of the Mission, presenting a cheque as donation, at the centenary dinner. The photograph was published in the 1956 Annual Report (page 5).
The Centenary dinner held in 1956 marked a key milestone in the maintenance of services to seafarers in Victoria. The State Governor presence as special guest and speaker helped to launch a key fundraising drive that was much needed.
large rectangular b/w photograph in landscape format depicting three men on the left a clergyman, centre a man with a moustache in a dark suit and on right man in a light suit and wearing spectacles seems to be presenting a cheque.
mission to seafarers, donors, state governors, sir reginald alexander dallas brooks, centenary, 1956, e.b. coles, centanery appeal, g.j. coles, ship model, flag
This photograph was published in the Geelong Advertiser on Friday 23 November 1906, page 4 with this article: "Owing to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the Victorian Missions to Seamen has been supplied with a long felt want in the shape of a modern motor launch to facilitate and render more efficient the work among the vessels in the Yarra and Hobson's Bay. The order for the construction of the boat, was placed with Mr. Chas. Blunt, of the Eastern Beach, and complimentary references were made to her graceful line- as she rode in light .trim after the launching on Wednesday afternoon. She is 31ft. long. Oft. beam, and has a depth of 3ft. The frame is of jarrah and ben* blackwood. and inch kauri planking has been used in building Iter. A neat deck-house with Oft. headroom is situat ed-umidsliip*. and a short mast is pro vided to carry the well-known blue flag of the -.fission. The launch motors will develop a speed of between nine and ten miles an hour: The finishing touches have yet to be given her. and she will afterwards be row«l to have her engines fitted in. -The launch will he ready for service for the busy wheat season com mencing at- the end of the year. The launching ceremony took place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the builder's yards, in the .presence of njarge gather ing of spectators. The Archdeacon of Geelong. the Rev. O. P. C'ros-.ley. ecu ducted a short dedication service, and the other clergymen who took part in the service were the Primate of Aus tralia. the Right Rev. Dr. Sauiuarcz Smith: the Rev. A. Giirney Goldsmith, the Missions chaplain: and the Rev. H. Kelly. The Bishop of Newcastle, Dr. Stretch, and the chaplain of the New castle Mission, the Rev. AYnddy. and Canon Nash were also present. The Primpte. addressing the gar boring as "My good friends of Geelong." said be had never been in sight of the hay before. bill had'gladly accepted the in vitation to say a few words in connec tion with the dedication of tiro launch. He had always been interested in mis sions of all sorts, as they ali as Christian men and women 110 doubt- were, and lie was particularly interested in Missions to Seamen, because in the Society at' borne, with which this Society was con nected, he had a son-in-law who was mission chaplain in the Medway. He therefore know something about a launch for the purpose of a mission like this, and also knew 'something about missions to seamen. In Sydney for some time past it had been doing good work—work which he was sure they would all feel was of the widest possible value. This year he was at the annual meeting of the Missions to Seamen in London presided over by the Bishop o-f Stcphney. -He (the Primate) at that meeting remarked that the Mission in it, value was personal, local and Im perial. It was of personal value to thee who came under the ministra tions of the church, and in the social as pect : it was local because where the Mission existed the feelings of the lo cality were thrown out. in sympathy with j tlie -Mission, and the people themselves thus benefited. It was also a matter of Imperial interest because it- was really i a world-wide Mission, inasmuch as the | sailors as they" went from one part of the world to another were in themselves j missionaries either for evil or for good, i Thev might he missionaries with a mcs i sago which might degrade and "work ail I evil influence amongst, men, and with i conduct which might reflect a reproach !' upon Christian profession. On the other hand, they might be Chrisian men endeavoring more and more to show the .example of the Christian life in the J midst of very big difficulties and tempta tions. • -Ho came to show liis sympathy with tlio appropriately-named '"'Southern Cross," and from what lie had boon told he believed she was a good boat, a good gift, and launched for a good purpose. They should be thankful that it was a good boat and .thankful because it was a good gift by an anonymous donor, whom he congratulated on doing such a useful thing." The idea of the launch ing ceremony was to ask the blessing of God because ".Except the Lord hless'the house their labor is hut lost'that build it." The Archdeacon expressed thanks to the Primate for attending the cere mony, and regretted that the Arch bishop was unable to attend. They dc- | sired that the boat- should always be as sociated with the.Church Congress 1906. I The opening hymn was "For those in j peril on the sea," followed hv Psalm I 107, "'They'that, go down to the sea in 1 Ships." Tlio prayers included an ap peal foiUDirine blessing on .the launch, and for tho preservation of those who may travel in her. ' Xlio Benediction was pronounced by the Primate, and the christening cere mony performed by Hiss Connibere. From the bow there was suspended a bottle of pure water covered with red, white and blue streamers and roses. Dashing the bottle in,fragments against the launch's bow. Miss Connibere named her the "Southern Cross." Cheers were given for the launch/and as she travell ed down the slip further cheers were given. She carried the Mission flag at tho masthead, and between Union Jacks at tho bow and stern, a long string of flags fluttered gaily* in the breeze. The collection was in aid of the Mis sions to Seamen and the Geelong Sailors' Rest.
Reproduction of a photograph from a newspaper.
Fujifilm / Quality Dry Photo paper
southern cross, motor boat, mission to seamen, seamen's mission, charles blunt, blunt boatbuilders, geelong
Draft for the 1920 Annual Report: Visit of HRH Prince of Wales on 12 June 1920
prince of wales, cinema, reverend alfred gurney goldsmith
Since the 1960s, the Mission had to adapt to the seafarers coming from Asia.
flying angel club, chinese, mandarin, koala, kangaroo, lounge, tv, games, soccer, sports, souvenir, shop, post, library, books, chapel, pastoral service, seafarers' rights, exchange, hospitality, japanese
The Australian Heritage Festival is a yearly event organised by the National Trust. Organisations can register their events held during a month, with dates varying in each state. In 2023, tours of the Mission were organised over three week ends. And two sessions about the restoration of the Manse chairs were presented by Tim Wilmot from the Furniture History Society. The chairs, table and butler table were relocated in the Manse dining room for the occasion.
The Mission to Seafarers holds tours and other events every year during this Festival for the community to discover its history.
australian heritage festival, events, victorian program, national trust, furniture history society, tim wilmot, 2023
From the book Colonial Clippers: "Carmichael’s Superb Wool Clipper “Mermerus.” This beautiful ship was one of the finest and most successful of all the iron wool clippers, and as a specimen of an iron sailing ship she could hardly be beaten, either for looks, speed or sea worthiness. Barclay, Curle never turned out a more graceful and handsome ship as looks; and like all Carmichael’s, she was most beautifully sparred, crossing the main skysail yard, which was so characteristic a feature of their ships. I give her spar plan below. This is her original spar plan. Barclay, Curle planned her spars for three skysails, but the fore and mizen were not sent aloft. Mermerus had a poop 54 feet long, and a foc’s’lehead 32 feet long. She carried a cargo of 10,000 bales of wool, representing the fleeces of a million sheep and worth £130,000 more or less as wool varied in price. 228 She never made a bad voyage under the Golden Fleece house-flag, and the regularity with which she arrived every year in time for the February wool sales caused her to receive the most out-spoken praise. On one occasion, when as usual she had arrived in time and several notable ships had missed the sales, Mr. Young, of the Australian Mortgage Land and Finance Company, greeted one of the Carmichaels in Cornhill with the heart-felt remark:—“That ship of yours is the most satisfactory ship in the wool trade.” Most of those connected with the Mermerus regarded her with great affection and spoke of her as a living thing. Mr. John Sanderson, a well-known Melbourne merchant, was often heard to say:—“The Mermerus is a wonderful ship, I can always depend on the Mermerus.” The Melbourne people, indeed, looked upon her as the pride of their port; and Lord Brassey, when Governor of Victoria, heard so much about her that he paid her a special visit and inspected her with the approving eye of a seaman. Captain W. Fife commanded her until 1888, and then Captain T. G. Coles had her until she was sold to the Russians. Except for her third voyage she was always in the Melbourne trade, but in April, 1874, she went out to Sydney. On this passage she took out a dozen South Sea Island missionaries as passengers. Whilst in the North Atlantic she happened to be becalmed for a few hours, and several turtle were noticed lying asleep on the water close to her. Captain Fife, who was a great fisherman, immediately launched a boat and succeeded in capturing six of them. The Mermerus duly arrived in Sydney early one morning in June after a splendid passage of 72 days. The passengers, on the morning of her arrival, were229 joined at breakfast by a troop of friends, who so enjoyed themselves that they all returned, sky-pilots and friends as well, to the mid-day shipboard dinner, and at its finish declared that they would all return again for supper. This was too much for Captain Fife and he plainly said so. The parsons thereupon began grumbling at his meanness, whereat the irate skipper fairly boiled over:—“You are the greediest lot I ever carried,” he thundered; “on a 70-day passage you have eaten up 140 days of cabin stores and six turtle besides—and you call me a stingy Scottie. Now clear out and never let me see you again.” This voyage she did not come home with wool, but went up to Newcastle, N.S.W., and loaded coal at 24s. for San Francisco. After making the passage across the Pacific in 56 days, she loaded 2420 tons of wheat at £4 1s. 3d. for Liverpool. She finally arrived in the Mersey on the 25th May, 104 days out from Frisco. This must have been a good voyage for her owners, as the freight on the outward passage to Sydney alone came to £5000. On her next voyage she left Liverpool Docks on 21st July, 1875, and went from the Tuskar to Melbourne in 69 days; this time she loaded wheat home. She made her best passage out in 1876; leaving London on the 25th June, she took in gunpowder at Gravesend, and arrived in Hobson’s Bay on 30th August, exactly 66 days from the Gravesend powder buoys to Melbourne. The powder was only just 66 days on board, being landed on the 67th day. She crossed the line on 17th July and the Cape meridian on 6th August. Her best homeward run was made the following year, when she was 71 days to the Lizard, and then was held up by head winds. And in230 1886-7 she docked in London only 78 days out from Melbourne. And as she grew older, her splendid average in no way deteriorated. In 1896 she went out to Melbourne in 76 days, and in 1897, her last voyage under the British flag, she went out in 77 days. She was then sold to the Russians, but they kept her going. On 4th February, 1902, she arrived at Port Adelaide from Cardiff only 73 days out, whilst in 1904 she made the best passage home from the Antipodes of the year, from Adelaide to the Wight in 69 days. This beautiful ship came to her end at the beginning of December, 1909. She had sailed from Frederickstadt on 29th November, timber laden for Melbourne, and stranded near Christiansand in a heavy fog; she was floated again, but was found to be so damaged that it was not thought worth the money to repair her, so on 28th April, 1910, she was sold to the shipbreakers.
Captain Coles from the Mermerus was one of the captain signant the 1896 petition.
wool clipper, mermerus, captain t.g. coles, victoria dock, petition, captains' petition
My Little Melbourne Girl, Exploring the love letters of Lillie Duncan
lillie duncan, my little melbourne girl
My Little Melbourne Girl, Exploring the love letters of Lillie Duncan was an exhibition curated by Catherine McLay and held at the Library at the Dock in 2015.
lillie duncan, my little melbourne girl
non-fiction
captain trader horn
Small book with chinese temple photograph tinted in orange hue.
non-fiction
reverend kerr johnston, 1812-1887, agnes cleverley, mary danne
non-fiction
vasa, warship, sweden
non-fiction
ships, australia
non-fiction
shipping companies, union steamship company of new zealand
non-fiction
training ships, apprentices, education, navy school
non-fiction
tug boat
non-fiction
iron clads, peter hore, battleships, wwi, first world war, great war
Black cover with picture of ship and embossed gilded writings
non-fiction
Illustrations of Venetian ships
seafarers, time life books, east india
Black cover with picture of ship and embossed gilded writings
non-fiction
Illustrations of Venetian ships
seafarers, time life books, clippers
non-fiction
clippers, basil lubbock, loch vennachar, loch gary, loch ryan, loch sloy ship, hobsons bay, mermerus
509 pages, illustrated , navy linen cover with light blue dust jacket.
non-fiction
howard timbury, first fleet fellowship victoria, interest group, education, navigation, joshua slocum
509 pages, illustrated , navy linen cover with light blue dust jacket.
non-fiction
howard timbury, first fleet fellowship victoria, interest group, education, navigation
509 pages, illustrated , navy linen cover with light blue dust jacket.
non-fiction
howard timbury, first fleet fellowship victoria, interest group, education, navigation
536 pages, illustrated, navy glossy paper cover with embossed golden anchor and no dust jacket.
non-fiction
Volume I is a practical guide for executive officers covering the syllabus laid down for examination in navigation and pilotage for the rank of Lieutenant, but omitting the study of nautical astronomy and meteorology.
howard timbury, first fleet fellowship victoria, interest group, navigation, education
536 pages, illustrated, navy glossy paper cover with embossed golden anchor and no dust jacket.
non-fiction
Volume I is a practical guide for executive officers covering the syllabus laid down for examination in navigation and pilotage for the rank of Lieutenant, but omitting the study of nautical astronomy and meteorology.
howard timbury, first fleet fellowship victoria, interest group, navigation, education
Letter from Stuart Knox to Reverend Alfred Gurney Goldsmith thanking him for the amalgamation of the Victorian Seamen's Mission to the English Mission to Seamen.
4 pages document, typed in purple ink.
at the back of the fourth page is a handwritten message from WHC Darvall in red ink.
amalgamation, 1906, stuart knox, london, william henry charles darvall (1830-1906)
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