The Loch Ard Peacock

Two items aboard the Loch Ard were destined for display at the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880.  This Peacock was one of them, I'm not sure what the other one was, although other items of Milton Pottery were in the hold. An exhibition catalogue from 1880 is available for perusal, but it does not mention the lost peacock.

The Loch Ard Peacock at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum.  Photograph by Simon Hamlet.

The peacock now described as the Loch Ard Peacock would have once been labelled a Minton Majolica Peacock.  Minton referring to the manufacturing house and majolica referring to the type of glaze used.  Its creator was the French animal sculptor, Paul Comolera.  In 1873 Comolera kept a live peacock in his studio to inform his production of this piece (The Australian).  Reports of the number of peacocks manufactured to this pattern vary, with published estimates between 8 and 20.

Other examples of the peacock are held at:

• The Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney (acquired in 1984 for its opening in 1988)
• The Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool (acquired 1891)
• Christie's listed one for auction in 2010

Remarkably the Loch Ard Peacock washed ashore in Loch Ard Gorge mostly intact, two days after the sinking of the Ship.  It was known to have come ashore and was identified for what it was even though salvaging rights were not yet decided.  This indicates that the crate would have been opened.

Salvaging rights to the wreck were sold at public auction 10 days after the wreck, by which time some of the material which had washed ashore had been washed out again in another storm.  Fortunately the peacock been moved beyond the reach of the following storms.

The Peacock is the most valuable shipwreck artefact in Australia, valued at $4 Million dollars.  It is one of very few artefacts listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.  The Heritage Register normally lists buildings.

The list below is a highlight list for the artefact since its recovery.

• 1878 - Retrieved from the wreck, owned by the Miller family of Geelong.
• 1935 - Displayed at Melbourne National Museum Exhibition - on loan.
• 1943 - Purchased by Ridley-Lee of Hiedleberg
• 1974 - Put up for auction during the sale of the Ridley-Lee estate but failed to reach the $4500 reserve.
• 1975 - Purchased by Flagstaff Hill for $4500, in part by public subscription by the people of Warrnambool.
• 1980 - Displayed at the Royal Exhibition Building (Melbourne) centenary celebrations.
• 1988 - Displayed at the Victorian Exhibition at Expo 88, Brisbane
• 2010 - Entered into the Victorian Heritage Register.

return to the Under the Lino : Loch Ard Index