Virtually There 3D Resources

Can you find :

• The Ship’s Bell – the Ship’s Bell was rung at different times to tell the sailor’s what time of the day it was. Sailors were divided into two shifts called watches. When one Watch was on duty the other watch could sleep.
• The Wheel – the helmsman steered the ship and had to have a look out at the front of the ship to warn of dangers ahead. What possible dangers could a ship face at sea?
• The Deckhouse – the Deckhouse included the crew’s sleeping quarters, the Galley and a cabin for the Sailmaker and a cabin for the Ship’s Carpenter
• The Galley – a ship’s kitchen is very busy as they have to provide meals for the crew at different times throughout the day. What sort of food did sailors eat?
• The Anchor – the anchors were stowed on the deck until they were used to stop the ship from moving when in a bay or port. Could you use an anchor to stop a ship when out at sea?
• The Binnacle – this is used to help the Helmsman and Officers steer the ship on a set course. What do you think is inside the Binnacle?

Find out about the Plimsoll Line

Discover some different types of sailing ships and boats.

The Brig

The Brigantine

The Barque

The Square Rigger

The Schooner

1. Bedrooms on ships are called cabins. How many cabins can you find?
2. Why does the Captain have his own special cabin?
3. What special things does the Captain have in his cabin?
4. How many masts are there on the ship?
5. What is the deck made from?
6. What are the sides of the ship made from?
7. Make a list of all the different materials you can find aboard a ship.
8. How did sailors climb up the masts?
9. Why are there so many ropes?
10. What safety equipment can you find aboard to help sailors if they fell over board?
11. On the top deck near the anchors there is a tall green metal cylinder that appears to spin around called a capstan. What do you think this did?
12. In front of the Ship’s Wheel is a brass binnacle. What do you think was inside the binnacle?

Can you see the Silence Mask on the left?

This was a mask worn by prisoners on the ground floor. The mask prevented other prisoners from identifying them. They had to wear the mask at all times outside their cell and not talk to other prisoners. Prisoners began their time in Gaol in the 19th Century in this way. Inside their cell they had a Bible and were expected to spend time in solitary confinement considering their deeds and need to improve their ways.

Do you think this would help prisoners become better citizens?

Why do we have Gaols? How does a Gaol have a role in preventing crime?

Read the story of Earnest Knox who was hung for murder of a pawnbroker in 1894. He was 18 years old.

What is a pawnbroker? Why were pawnbrokers often at risk of burglary?

What has changed in terms of sentencing since 1894 for a serious crime such as murder?

What has changed in terms of sentencing for crimes committed by young people and children?

Ned Kelly was hung at the Old Melbourne Gaol on 11 November 1880.

Find out about the Kelly story.

What crime was he sentenced to death for?

When did he become a bushranger?

Were bushrangers common in Ned Kelly’s time?

Ned Kelly shot two police officers at Stringybark Creek in 1878 yet some people regard Ned Kelly as a hero while others regard him as a murderer and thief.

Why do you think Ned Kelly has become a famous figure in Australian history?

This is a large cell. Prisoners began their stay in Gaol in silence in solitary confinement in the ground floor cells. They would go to a group cell with other prisoners after a few months if they were well behaved.

This cell would have been cramped with as many as 9 prisoners. A single bucket would have been used as a common toilet. The cell would have smelt terrible and been cold in winter and become very hot in summer.

Despite the awful conditions of a group cell solitary confinement was regarded as a severe punishment. Why?

What do you see?

These are Death Masks. They are plaster casts of the heads of prisoners who were executed at the Gaol in the 19^th Doctors and scientists made the casts of prisoners because they believed in the science of phrenology.

Phrenology was the study of bumps and shapes on the human skull which were thought to indicate personality and behavioral disorders. This so called science was shown to be completely false in the late 19^th Century.

What other things do you notice about the 19th Century Gaol system and punishment system that we no longer believe are true or acceptable?

What things do you think are the same?

What are the walls made from in this cell?

Why do you think they are different from the stone walls?

What evidence does this provide regarding the mental state of some of the prisoners who may have been locked up here?

Read about Governor Castieau.

He raised his family in a fine residence inside the Gaol’s walls.

What do you think a childhood growing up in the Gaol would have been like if you were one of his children?

How would you feel about the Gaol if it were your family home?

What do these accounts tell us about the sorts of prisoners sentenced to spend time in gaol in the 19th Century?

What do these accounts tell us about the role of the gaol in managing welfare?

VAGRANCY—Emma Loyd, alias Love-

ridge, was charged with being an idle, drunken

and disorderly person. The amiable Emma, in

a state of dishabille not altogether elegant,

claimed the protection of the Bench, professing

to have been perfectly regular in her habits,

even to the extent of having paid a fine of five

shillings regularly for some weeks past. Ap-

pearances not being in her favor, she was sen-

tenced to a two months’ residence in the House

of Correction.

– The Argus, 13 January 1851

Jane Monteith, a hideous looking old

woman, was charged with threatening the

life of Mrs. Madden. The latter said in

the box that on Saturday the 14th the

prisoner who resides in the same house as

witness, began flourishing an axe in the

back yard, and came into Mrs. Madden’s

room and threw the fire out of the grate

on the floor. Witness then sent for Con-

stable Doyle and gave the prisoner in

charge. The Bench were addressed by

the prisoner in a rambling manner and

Inspector Brown, who was present in court,

said he thought she was mad and accord-

ingly the Bench remanded her to gaol for

medical treatment.

– North Melbourne Advertiser, 20 May 1887