This item is from the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art, and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. RALPH ERIC PATTISON Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 Pattison accepted a position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council. His huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower area of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine, and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave during 1942 to 1945 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. About Ion L Idriess Ion Llewellyn Idriess was born in Waverley, Sydney, New South Wales on 20th September 1889 and passed away on 6th June 1979 in Mona Vale, Sydney, New South Wales at the age 89. After Idriess finished school he worked in the assay office of Broken Hill Proprietary mine. Both Idriess and his mother had typhoid fever when Ion was about 15 years old and it caused his mother’s death. After spending time with his Grandmother in Sydney he found work on a paddle-steamer and had a relapse of the fever. He then went into the western district of New South Wales where he worked in many different itinerant jobs, including rabbit poisoner, boundary rider, drover, sandalwood harvester, shearer, dingo shooter and opal miner. While opal mining at Lightning Ridge he wrote short stories, about life on the opal fields, for the Bulletin using the name “Gouger”. Idriess then moved to North Queensland in search of gold, tin and sandalwood. He travelled over a great deal of the Cape York Peninsula spending a lot of this travel time with local indigenous people; thus began his lifelong interest in their customs. He then spent time on cattle stations in the Gulf of Carpentaria. In 1914 Idriess travelled to Townsville and enlisted in the 5th Light Horse as a trooper. He became a specialist in sniping and was a spotter for the noted sniper Billy Sing. He saw service in Palestine, Sinai and Turkey. Idriess was wounded at Beersheba and after fighting the Battle of Gaza he was invalided home in March 1918. After recovering from his wounds Idriess again travelled to Cape York Peninsula where he worked with pearlers and missionaries in the Torres Strait Islands. He then went gold mining in Papua New Guinea, buffalo shooting in the Northern Territory of Australia and then exploring in Central and Western Australia. LITERARY WORKS OF IDRIESS In 1928 Idriess settled in Sydney and published the first of his 47 books. In 1931 - “Lasseter’s Last Ride”, became his first best seller. In the years 1932 and 1940 he published three books in each year. “The Cattle King” (1936) and “Flynn of the Inland” (1932) have gone through reprinting forty to fifty times. His last book was published in 1969. Idriess’ books where in general non-fiction and were written in a colourful and immediate story style, taken from life experiences gained during his travels. Idriess was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his service to literature in 1968. The Pattison Collection, along with other items at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, was originally part of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s collection. The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Collection is primarily significant in its totality, rather than for the individual objects it contains. Its contents are highly representative of the development of Mechanics' Institute libraries across Australia, particularly Victoria. A diversity of publications and themes has been amassed, and these provide clues to our understanding of the nature of and changes in the reading habits of Victorians from the 1850s to the middle of the 20th century. The collection also highlights the Warrnambool community’s commitment to the Mechanics’ Institute, reading, literacy and learning in the regions, and proves that access to knowledge was not impeded by distance. These items help to provide a more complete picture of our community’s ideals and aspirations. The Warrnambool Mechanics Institute book collection has historical and social significance for its strong association with the Mechanics Institute movement and the important role it played in the intellectual, cultural and social development of people throughout the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. The collection of books is a rare example of an early lending library and its significance is enhanced by the survival of an original collection of many volumes. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s publication collection is of both local and state significance. About Ion L Idriess Ion Llewellyn Idriess was born in Waverley, Sydney, New South Wales on 20th September 1889 and passed away on 6th June 1979 in Mona Vale, Sydney, New South Wales at the age 89. After Idriess finished school he worked in the assay office of Broken Hill Proprietary mine. Both Idriess and his mother had typhoid fever when Ion was about 15 years old and it caused his mother’s death. After spending time with his Grandmother in Sydney he found work on a paddle-steamer and had a relapse of the fever. He then went into the western district of New South Wales where he worked in many different itinerant jobs, including rabbit poisoner, boundary rider, drover, sandalwood harvester, shearer, dingo shooter and opal miner. While opal mining at Lightning Ridge he wrote short stories, about life on the opal fields, for the Bulletin using the name “Gouger”. Idriess then moved to North Queensland in search of gold, tin and sandalwood. He travelled over a great deal of the Cape York Peninsula spending a lot of this travel time with local indigenous people; thus began his lifelong interest in their customs. He then spent time on cattle stations in the Gulf of Carpentaria. In 1914 Idriess travelled to Townsville and enlisted in the 5th Light Horse as a trooper. He became a specialist in sniping and was a spotter for the noted sniper Billy Sing. He saw service in Palestine, Sinai and Turkey. Idriess was wounded at Beersheba and after fighting the Battle of Gaza he was invalided home in March 1918. After recovering from his wounds Idriess again travelled to Cape York Peninsula where he worked with pearlers and missionaries in the Torres Strait Islands. He then went gold mining in Papua New Guinea, buffalo shooting in the Northern Territory of Australia and then exploring in Central and Western Australia. LITERARY WORKS OF IDRIESS In 1928 Idriess settled in Sydney and published the first of his 47 books. In 1931 - “Lasseter’s Last Ride”, became his first best seller. In the years 1932 and 1940 he published three books in each year. “The Cattle King” (1936) and “Flynn of the Inland” (1932) have gone through reprinting forty to fifty times. His last book was published in 1969. Idriess’ books where in general non-fiction and were written in a colourful and immediate story style, taken from life experiences gained during his travels. Idriess was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his service to literature in 1968. Lasseters Last Ride An Epic of Central Australian Gold Discovery First Published 1931 Author: Ion Idriess Publisher: John Murray Date: 1950Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 919.4 IDR Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Servicewarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, great ocean road, ion idriess, lasseters last ride

SEE ABOVECOLOURED PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN 2001 OF 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY IN VICTORIA. MOB OF SHEEP MOVING ALONG FRASER STREET UNDER WELCOME BANNER.local history, photography, photographs, events and celebrations

COLOURED PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN 2001 DURING 150TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS OF FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY IN VICTORIA. PHOTO TAKEN LOOKING SOUTH ALONG SERVICE STREET.local history, photography, photographs, events and celebrations

GOLD MONUMENT ERECTED ON SITE OF FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY IN VICTORIA 1851BRICK MONUMENT, SURROUNDED BY MESH FENCE WITH WOODEN POSTS. GRASS GROWING AROUND MONUMENT, MULLOCK HEAPS IN BACKGROUND, HOME ON CAMP PARADE.GOLD MONUMENT CLUNESphotographs, mining civic momentoes, gold monument

Buninyong celebrated 100 years since Hiscock discovered gold there in August 1851.Black and white photograph showing the five descendants of Thomas Hiscock stand in front of the Buninyong granite obelisk which recognises Hiscock's gold discovery at Buninyong in 1851. Verso: "Buninyong Gold Centenary 4 Aug 1951 Hiscocks Obelisk Hiscock Family."hiscock, hiscocks, gold memorial, centenary, anniversary, gold discovery, buninyong, thomas hiscock, gold obelisk

An airmail envelope marking the centenary of Gold Discovery in Bendigo (1851 - 1951), an official Philatelic Exhibition cover, unused. Blue printed standard air mail envelope.history, gold discovery bendigo (1951 -1951) centenary

THIS PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN SERVICE AND FRASER STREET INTERSECTION DURING 150TH CELEBRATION OF THE FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY IN VICTORIA, JULY 2001. PIPE BAND MARCHING ALONG SERVICE STREETlocal history, photography, photographs, events and celebrations

MONUMENT BUILT AND ERECTED ON SITE OF FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY IN VICTORIA 1851. PORT PHILLIP MINE.BLACK AND WHITE POSTCARD OF A BRICK MONUMENT SURROUNDED BY WOOD AND WIRE MESH FENCE WITH CAMP PARADE AND MOUNT BECKWORTH IN BACKGROUND. PLAQUE ON CEMENT BASE OF BRICK PILLAR.MONUMENT AT CLUNES. GOLD WAS FIRST DISCOVERED HERE IN VICTORIA 1851.photography, monuments, memorials& mining

The Cairn commemorates the disclosure of Gold Discovery at Warrandyte on June 30th 1851 beside Anderson's Creek RoadColour photographactivities, gold memorial cairn, warrandyte, andersons creek

BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPH OF MONUMENT CLUNES FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY IN VICTORIA IN JULY 1851. MONUMENT BUILT NEAR THE EXACT SPOT THE FIRST GOLD WAS DISCOVERED IN 1851 BY JAMES ESMOND.local history, photography, photographs, monument, gold

SEE ABOVECOLOURED PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN 2001 DURING CELEBRATION OF THE FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY IN VICTORIA. TWO VOLUNTEER FIREMEN DRAWING REEL AND CART ALONG FRASER STREET, CROWDS LINING THE STREET.local history, photography, photographs, events and celebrations

COLOURED PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN DURING 150TH CELEBRATION OF FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY IN VICTORIA, JULY 2001. LOOKING WEST ALONG FRASER STREET, WELCOME BANNER ACROSS FRASER STREET.local history, photography, photographs, events and celebrations

Diggers & Mining. Gold. Scene on Sandridge pier. In 1853, the first Chinese attracted by news of the gold discoveries reached Victoria. Markings: 25 994.GOL. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields

Newspaper article Bendigo Advertiser 20.11.1970. Article describes the content of a book being released titled ' The History of Gold Discovery in Victoria, James Fleet, cloth bound 512 pages. $8.50'Bendigo Advertiser 20/11/1970.bendigo, mining, discovery of gold

Quarry in the vicinity of Goldfields Cairn, near Forest Creek, taken 19/08/1989 22A Cairn to mark Gold Discovery (the first ) on the Mount Alexander Goldfields at Forest Creek in 1851 22B At the site of the Cairn to mark gold discovery at Forest Creek in July 1951 22C the quarry near Goldfields Cairn 22D quarry in the vicinity of Goldfields Cairn, near Forest Creek 22E Quarry near Cairn to gold discaovery on Mount Alexander , Forest CreekEdith Lunn

The Pioneer Miners’ Monument marks the very first finding of gold at Poverty Point in 1851. The quartz structure features a replica of the 62.8kg Welcome Nugget – the world’s largest at the time, found in Ballarat in 1858. The original was once displayed, and local mothers would sit their babies on top for luck. The artwork tells the story of gold discovery with plaques and dates of some of the more famous gold nuggets finds in Ballarat and is a reminder that these gold discoveries changed the world for Australians. The monument is of aesthetic and historical significance to the people of BallaratFitted copper miniature poppet head set atop a rough made plinth in Quartz and concrete mortar. A copy of the Welcome Nugget (Ballarat) is affixed to the front of the memorial. Includes several plaques listing the nuggets, the companies involved, the shop that paid for the last repair. THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED/ BY THE BALLARAT HISTORICAL/ SOCIETY TO COMMEMORATE THE/ FINDING OF GOLD AT POVERTY/ POINT 21ST AUGUST 1851 AND IS/ DEDECATED TO THE MEMORY OF/ PIONEER MINERS OF BALLARATgold, ballaraat, gold rush

256 page hard cover book 'To the Diggings, A Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Discovery of Gold in Australia'. Illustrated with colour and B&W photos First published 2000. Printed in Singapore by Tat Wei Printing Packaging Pte Ltd. 14 Chapters tracing the history of gold discovery and mining in Australia.Geoff Hocking

Concise historical record of events rather than people. Contents include early settlement, gold discovery in 1853, early water problems, public institutions. Mention of Chinese on Tarrangower, and German and Italian settlers. Book of 86 Pagesmaldon, tarrangower, gold, victoria

A magazine titled ' Victorian Commemoration Year-1951.' It is a programme for the Centenary of Government in Victoria, Centenary of Gold Discovery in Victoria and the Jubilee of the Commonwealth of Australia. 11th November, 1950 - 23rd December, 1951. Victoria, J. J. Gourley, Govt. Printer, Melbourne.event, entertainment, centenary, lydia chancellor collection, collection, celebrations, victoria, gold discovery victoria, jubilee, government, australia, history

COLOURED PHOTOGRAPH - IAN HARRIS TAKING PHOTO OF PARADE MOVING ALONG SERVICE STREET DURING CELEBRATIONS OF 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY IN VICTORIA. PHOTO TAKEN JULY 2001. STREET CLEANER - LITTLE GEORGE - AND HELPER CLEANING ROAD AHEAD OF VINTAGE CARS.local history, photography, photographs, events and celebrations

The item is a Plaque struck in 1951 to celebrate the Centenary of Government in Victoria and the Centenary of the discovery of gold.A round bronze medallion set in a green baize lift out in a black presentation case. It is a 1951 Commemorative Plaque to mark the Centenary of Government in Victoria and Centenary of the Discovery of Gold. There is a printed insert card describing the obverse and reverse sides of the Medallion."Presented to the Shire of Ballan 1951" is engraved on the reverse side. "1851" and "1951" are marked on the lining of the cover of the box.medallion, plaque, shire of ballan, centenary of government

City of Bendigo information, area, population, dwellings, property valuations, municipal revenue, gold yields. Historical information, first gold discovery, first church, Bendigo Hospital, first streets, railway opened, Coliban water supply opened, change of name from Sandhurst. 24 pages in a spring bound folder.bendigo, history, city history

History of Bendigo. Has a panorama included of Pall Mall Bendigo in 1891. General history of Bendigo from gold discovery to the present day, (1891). Mining development, Politics, and matters municipal. Other chapters contain information in relation to Water Supply, Journalism, Public Institutions, the Churches, Amusements, Agriculture, and Viticulture, and lastly Local Industries.George Mackaybendigo, history, city history, mining, politics, municipal, water supply, journalism, public institutions, churches, amusements, agriculture, viticulture, and local industries.