A little piece of history

I was lucky enough today to handle a piece of history... a cast lion that is 164 years old.

The inscription reads:

"Presented to Bulkships Limited owners of the M.V. "Mittagong"
By the Councillorsa and Citizens of the Mittagong Shire Council, New South Wales.
...24th June 1963...

R.H. Darch,
....Shire Clerk.

F.A. Bender,
....Shire President.

Donated by Miss E. Bostock

This Lion was cast in Fitzroy Iron for the Official Opening of the Works in 1848
when the first Iron Ore Smelting Works
in Australia were established in Mittagong."