In the 1870's HMVS Cerberus was the pride of the New Navy of the colony of Victoria and perhaps the most powerful warship in the Southern Hemisphere. Today the owner and artists of Pivotal Galleries are joining with sailors and historians to try to save this unique piece of Australian and maritime heritage.
Save the Cerberus will run from 7-18 October 2009 & feature over a dozen new original art works.
Cerberus was a revolutionary new design of warship featuring heavy armour & revolving turrets, on the centre line, housing big guns, that was an early breakaway from the broadside guns of the sailing Wooden Walls that fought under Lord Nelson at Trafalgar.
She was so powerful that she never needed to fire her massive 10 inch guns in anger &, after service in both the Victorian Navy and the Royal Australian Navy, she was scuttled as a breakwater off Black Rock in Port Phillip Bay in the 1920's.
Today a ship described by Naval historians as 'the prototype of all subsequent Battleships' is a rusting hulk close to the City of Melbourne.
Model of HMVS Cerberus in her prime - Peter DeGruchy
Tamsin Davidson of Pivotal Galleries in Melbourne, in association with the Save the Cerberus Alliance, decided to do something to help preserve this unique Ironclad monitor & is holding a special 'Save the Cerberus' exhibition at her gallery in Bridge Road Richmond.
The exhibition will feature over a dozen new original artworks by leading contemporary Australian artists, alongside 19th century paintings, a large model of Cerberus, photographs & original artifacts from the ship including a huge 10 inch shell. The grand opening on the evening of the 7 October will include volunteers from the 'Victorian Navy' in full naval rig.
Gallery owner Tamsin Davidson said 'Pivotal Galleries is putting on an exhibition in support of a cause that is distinctly Melbournian, and historically important in a maritime sense.'
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