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SPECIAL HISTORIC ITEMS
The Queenscliff Maritime Museum collection includes a number of items which of
significance to the heritage of Queenscliffe, Port Phillip and the early
settlement of Victoria.
Click on the headings below to view details of these items.
Read about the following items on this page:
TORPEDO BOAT HMVS LONSDALE
Classified as an
historic vessel and protected by the Victorian Heritage Act 1995, the hulk of the HMVS
Lonsdale is buried in the grounds of the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum.
Built in 1883 in
Chiswick, England, the Lonsdale was commissioned for the defence of Victoria to
counteract possible invasion by Russia or France. Along with her
sister
ship the Nepean, HMVS Cerberus and the first class torpedo boat
Countess of Hopetoun, the Lonsdale was part
of Victoria’s first Navy
in a 'first
line of defence' for colonial Victoria. The fortifications at Point
Nepean, Fort Queenscliff, South Channel Fort and Popes Eye were also part of
this defence.
By 1912 the
Lonsdale was obsolete and withdrawn from service. She was eventually beached as a breakwater
behind the houses in Beach Street Queenscliff. From the early 1930s the
flow of water in and from Swan Bay was altered by the development of the 'Cut'.
Over time the Lonsdale became buried due to the build up of sand
resulting from this and other changes to the harbour. The hulk location is
now a considerable distance from the seashore which continues to change due to
shifting sands around the harbour and ferry terminal.
A dig by Heritage Victoria and Queenscliff Harbour Pty Ltd
in March 2006 ascertained that the conning tower and part of the hull are still in place
but part of the bow had been removed some years previously, as local history
suggested. The Maritime Museum wished to excavate the stern however funding was
not available to undertake this work and the remains have been re-buried.
An interpretive display about the Lonsdale has been erected over the
site of the hulk.
A page for the colonial
Victorian Navy is under development and will appear on this site soon.
Meanwhile more information is available at the Friends of the Cerberus website at
www.cerberus.com.au
Further details of Lonsdale
and
Countess of Hopetoun may be found on the
Maritime
Archaeology Association of Victoria
website.
The heritage listing can be viewed on the Heritage Victoria website at
HMVS Lonsdale.
FISHERMEN’S WAITING SHED
Originally erected on the
old fishermen’s pier in the 1870s, the building was used as a shelter or waiting
shed by Queenscliff fishermen. In 1895 local fisherman Henry Zanoni began to paint
many of the vessels that entered Port Phillip on the inside walls of the shed. He
continued his painting as a hobby over the next 51 years.
For many years
the waiting shed had a collection box fixed to one wall and the money which was
collected was sent to the Geelong Hospital. Consequently, Henry Zanoni was
presented with a Life Membership certificate by the Hospital.
When the pier
was demolished in the 1950s the waiting shed was relocated to the edge of the
creek near the slipway. Some years later it was again relocated to Lower
Princes Park.
When the Maritime Museum was established in the 1980s the waiting shed found a
permanent home in the Museum grounds and has since been classified by the National
Trust.
The heritage listing can be viewed on the Heritage Victoria website at
Fishermen's Waiting Shed.
FISHERMAN’S COTTAGE
The
cottage was built
in Bridge Street Queenscliff by Thomas Ikin, a professional fisherman who
was born in Tasmania in 1840 and came to live in Queenscliff some time before
1870 . This 2-roomed cottage built around 1870-1880s was home to Thomas, his
wife Anna who was the local midwife, and three children.
The cottage was
moved from Bridge Street to the Museum grounds in 1990. At restoration
much original material was left intact but the roof, some weatherboards and
studs were replaced and the fireplace and chimney rebuilt. Where possible
original building materials were used in the restoration. During this work
newspaper used as insulation was found between the weatherboards and lining boards.
The earliest newspaper date found was 1886.
Anne Ikin,
granddaughter of Thomas, was a frequent visitor to the cottage. On 19 September 1990, aged
89 years, Anne described the furnishings and paint colours to us and also
discussed life in the cottage with three children, Obadiah (Anne’s father), John
and Alicia.
Based on Anne's description of the cottage furniture and household items typical
of the period and the simple lifestyle of the local fishing families have been
placed in the cottage. Most of these items have been donated by local
people. Museum volunteers sourced
materials and made furnishings which emulate the styles of the period.
The cottage
provides an insight into the early social history of Queenscliff and the living
conditions of the fishermen in those times. Many comparable
buildings can be found in the Fishermen’s Flat precinct which is adjacent
to the
Queenscliffe
Maritime Museum.
SHANDON DECKHOUSE - CREW QUARTERS
The
Shandon was an iron sailing ship of 1397 tons, with dimensions – length
245.9 feet, beam 37.8 feet and draught of 21.3 feet. Built in 1883 at Port
Glasgow she had a chequered career as a trader for nearly 40 years. She
was converted to a lighter until the end of WWI then re-rigged as a barque
and spent the next four years trading across the Pacific Ocean. In 1922 she was
in use as a coal hulk in Adelaide. During WWII she was a coal hulk in
Townsville.
Shandon had one moment of glory in 1934 when she was involved in
Victoria’s 100th anniversary celebrations. The photo at
left was taken on that occasion and is held by the
State
Library of Victoria. Shandon returned
to Melbourne sometime in 1961 and was broken up at Coode Island in that year.
In need of some
restoration, the Shandon will eventually open as a public display.
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