The main bell from Loch Ard, of Victoria's most famous shipwrecks, was handed to us in November 2003. It has been recoved from the wreck by a scuba diver in 1967 and held privately for 26 years.
The bell was removed using explosives, breaking it into pieces. It was repaired at the time using a mixture of resin and bronze filings
The bell weighs 33kgs (72 pounds) and is missing its clapper. This copper alloy bell is composed of at least six different metals, but is primarily copper and tin. The ratio of three parts copper to one part tin is used to create a type of bronze known as 'bell metal'.
Conservators from Heritage Victoria are still investigating the exact composition of the bell and its repairs in order to permanently stabilise and conserve this significant artefact.
The bell is one of the most important fittings on a ship. It sounded the time and watches, regulating the daily routine of life on board.
A small bell was probably kept aft, near the ships wheel and chronometer (time-piece) and this would initially strike the time. The large bell, perhaps housed in a belfry or hanging from a frame near the lookout would then repeat the small bell's ring loudly so everyone aboard could hear.
There are more than 800 shipwrecks in Victorian waters. Heritage Victoria has only 18 bells recorded in its artefact database.
Loch Ard was declared a Historic Shipwreck under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act in 1989. It is illegal to recover artefacts from historic shipwrecks and archaeological sites.
More information about the Loch Ard shipwreck