Pattison Collections 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 areas 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 from 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. WARRNAMBOOL PUBLIC LIBRARY The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) was formed by a voluntary community group in 1863, within six years of Warrnambool’s beginnings, and it's Reading Room opened in 1854. The WMI operated until 1963, at which time it was one of the oldest Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria. Mechanics’ Institutes offered important services to the public including libraries, reading rooms and places to display and store collections of all sorts such as curiosities and local historical relics. In 1886 a Museum and Fine Arts Gallery were added to the WMI and by the beginning of the 20th century, there was also a billiards room and a School of Art. By this time all Mechanics’ Institutes in country Victoria had museums attached. Over the years the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Library was also known as the Warrnambool Public Library the Warrnambool Library and the Free Library. Early funding from the government was for the “Free Library”. The inscription in a book “Science of Man” was for the “Warrnambool Public Library”, donated by Joseph Archibald in 1899. Another inscription in the book “Catalogue of Plants Under Cultivation in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens 1 & 2, 1883” was presented to the “Warrnambool Library” and signed by the author W.R. Guilfoyle. In 1903 the Warrnambool Public Library decided to add a Juvenile Department to library and stock it with hundreds of books suitable for youth. In 1905 the Public Library committee decided to update the collection of books and added 100 new novels plus arrangements for the latest novels to be included as soon as they were available in Victoria. In July 1911 the Warrnambool Council took over the management of the Public Library, Art Gallery, Museum and Mechanics’ Institute and planned to double the size of the then-current building. In 1953, when Mr R. Pattison was Public Librarian, the Warrnambool Public Library’s senior section 10,000 of the 13,000 books were fiction. The children’s section offered an additional 3,400 books. The library had the equivalent of one book per head of population and served around 33 per cent of the reading population. The collection of books was made up of around 60 per cent reference and 40 per cent fiction. The library was lending 400 books per day. In 1963 the Warrnambool City Council allocated the site of the Mechanics’ Institute building, which included the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery, for the new Municipal Offices and the Collections were dispersed until 1971. The Warrnambool Library took over the Mechanics’ Institute Library’s holdings on behalf of the Warrnambool City Council. Since the closure of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, the exact location and composition of the original WMI books and items has become unclear. Other materials have been added to the collection, including items from Terang MI, Warrnambool Court House and Customs House. Many of the books have been identified as the Pattison Collection, named after the Librarian who catalogued and numbered the books during his time as Warrnambool Public Librarian in the time before the Mechanics’ Institute closed. It seems that when Warrnambool became part of the Corangamite Regional Library some of the books and materials went to its head office in Colac and then back to Warrnambool where they were stored at the Art Gallery for quite some time. Some then went to the Warrnambool Historical Society, some stayed at the Art Gallery and some were moved to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The various stamps and labels on the books held at Flagstaff Hill show the variety of the collection’s distribution and origin. The books in the collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village date from the 1850s to the late 1950s and include rare and valuable volumes. Many of the books are part of the “Pattison Collection” after the Warrnambool’s Public Librarian, Mr R. Pattison. 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. Eggs and Baker or The Days of Trial Author: John Masefield Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd Date: 1936 The label on the spine with the typed text PAT FIC MAS Pastedown front endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Public Library covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Servicewarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, masefield, john, eggs and baker, john masefield, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, pattison collection, warrnambool library, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library

Large yellow and green paper music book; "Book 1 Phil Baker Modern Piano Accordion Method". Published by J. Albert & Son, Pty. Ltd.

William Turner, a Scottish born free-lance designer, who was contracted to GP&J Baker, painted the image on which the design was based in 1918. Turner had trained as a furniture designer before leaving for London in the 1890s, where he rose to prominence as an Arts & Crafts designer. The bird that gives this design its name is adapted from Robert Havell’s ‘A Collection of Birds of Paradise’, published in 1835, and was a favourite of Victorian chintz designers.“Paradise Bird” has been in continuous production since its creation. The hand-block print, of which these curtains are an early example, was supplemented by a version engraved on copper rollers in 1962, and was updated onto screens in 1982. The curtains have significance to the collection because of their intrinsic value and for the link to one of the historic mansions in the City of Boroondara. The curtains by G.P & J Baker of London use one of the exemplary designs in this manufacturer’s output. The first use of the design was in 1918, following the Great War, and the design is said to reflect the hope for peace which was a feature of the postwar years. The curtains are an early example of the Paradise Bird design, and were block printed. A pair of curtains originally situated in one of the front reception rooms of 'Tourmont' in Balwyn Road, Balwyn (now Fintona Girls’ School). The fabric in the curtains was manufactured by the English firm of GP&J Baker. The textile design is variably named as ‘Paradise Bird’ or more recently, ‘Hydrangea Bird’. Turner’s bird perches in a blossoming branch directly above a woodpecker, which is an attribute of Mars, god of war. Thus the design reads as a symbolic statement where War is reversed and Paradise returns (a hopeful message at the end of WWI). “Paradise Bird” has been in continuous production since its creation. . curtains, fabric design, historic buildings

Source: Mr. A. (Bill) Baker, 16 Armadale St., Thornbury. 3071This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital imagesepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, bill baker, blacksmith's shop, main road, sid brown

Brief history of the life of Geoffrey Ernest Baker and memorial card from his funeralTyped article and memorial cardbanyule city council, councillors, geoff baker, geoffrey ernest baker

Wedding Photo - no identification on photo but subsequently identified as Joan Fankhauser and Graeme Frazer 1957. (By Betty Fuller, whose sister attended the wedding - see Notes). Geoffrey Baker Studios

John Davies ran the bakery until 1923, at which time his son, Fred “F.T.” Davies, became proprietor. The business continued to grow under Fred, who turned it into one of the most successful industries in Ballarat. Fred fitted the bakery with a Perkins Continuous Oven, which was quite revolutionary for the time. The bakery was also fitted with Scotch ovens, which were used for ordinary bread-baking, and were worked manually. (https://bih.federation.edu.au/index.php/Davies_Bread)A number of horse drawn carriages, and motor vans in front of a building at 47 Eureka Street known as Davies the Baker. The three men standing together are Frederick Talbot Davies, John Davies and Hector Godfrey Smith (foreman). davies, davies bread, davies the baker, eureka street, horse, horse drawn carriage, confectioner

Description of Baker family, site and house. Choice of slate building material, water tanks and arrangement of spaces.Published as 'Baker House, Bacchus Marsh, Victoria: Architects - Romberg and Boyd' in "World Architecture 3", edited by John Donat (1966).Typewritten, quarto, 2 pagesPencil annotationsbaker family, baker house, bacchus marsh, slate, water tanks, residential architecture, site analysis, robin boyd, manuscript

Photograph taken in 1926 of Baker memorial hall in Fiji. contact print form glass plate? Direct paper exposure? Fiji Missionary? architecture, travel, historicalBlack and white photograph adhered to cardboard. Slight light damage (fogging LHT corner) and minor yellowing.

R. W. Dane Grocer & Baker corner Main Street and Layzell Street from P.C. News Supplement 1888stawell businesses

R. W. Dane Grocer & Baker corner Main Street and Layzell Street from P.C. News Supplement 1888stawell businesses

Blue green book, title and authors names in gold lettering embossed on spine. Dust jacket also blue green, title in red print, authors in black print on both front and spine. Photo of Baker Insitute Award (sculpture by Michael Meszaros) on front. List of contributors on backnon-fictionmemoirs of Baker Medical Research Institute alumnialfred hospital, medical research, baker medical research institute, physicians

Obituary of Marjory (Marg) Lane who passed away on March 27, 2001. The tribute, penned by her nephew Peter Baker and friend Marjory West, chronicle her early family life, experience as a student teacher, and lifetime involvement with the Guiding Association, volunteer service with 3RPH and helping establish Audio Description service for theatre goers. 1 photocopied article on cut down A4 sized pagenon-fictionelizabeth maxwell, neil maxwell, vision australia foundation, marjory lane

The President in 1976 was Eric Baker. He mentioned a restructure of Junior Legacy and encouraged new presidents to participate in Junior Legatee functions. The presidential year ran from March to the following February. Was in a binder of documents that is passed from an outgoing President to the incoming President. It is primarily from the 1930s to 1990s. Most documents are being catalogued separately.A record of the duties of the President in the 1970s.White foolscap paper x 1 page with black type of the President's comments in 1976.presidents, eric baker

Baker and Grocer store, cnr. Main Road and York Street, Eltham, early 1900s. Sign on side of building "Baker, Grocer & Summer Drinks" This image appears to be of the baker/grocery store after it was purchased in 1902 by Mrs Sarah Burgoyne and her husband, John James Thomas Burgoyne. It is possible that Mrs Sarah Burgoyne is the lady in front of the store with her eldest daughter, Charlotte and youngest son, James. Another daughter (Frances) and the family dog are watching from the doorway. In 1902 Mrs Sarah Burgoyne purchased from Wilfred Henry Johnston, the property on the southern corner of Main Road and York Street, Eltham, which consisted of a store and bakery establishment occupied by Mr. Luther Haley whose lease had expired around the same time. Mr. Haley had not been prepared to leave as he was unable to secure at Eltham a suitable house in which to carry on his business. Wilfred Johnston applied for an eviction of Hayley, which was heard at Eltham Courthouse in August 1902. Hayley advised he was building a place near the railway station which he expected to be done in about three weeks’ time. The court gave him the three weeks to vacate. Hayley’s new premises near the station became the present shopping district’s first shop and he ran it successfully till 1917 when the family moved to Clifton Hill, and he became a publisher. Their eldest child Leslie drowned in the Diamond Creek in early 1904, aged 12.Sepia photograph mounted on cardeltham, eltham bakery, grocer, john james thomas burgoyne, main road, sarah jane burgoyne (nee benson), summer drinks, york street

One of a collection of over 400 sketches & photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandSketch Map of Westernport region and environs showing physiographical faults and warps. Drawn by Dr G Bakerlocal history, illustrations, pen & ink, westernport region, black & white sketch, physiography, dr g baker, e s hill d.sc, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of a sketch of a geological section across Mornington Peninsular Western Passage and Phillip Island. Drawn by Dr G Bakerlocal history, photography, geological fault block movements, black & white photograph, geology, phillip island, mornington peninsula, sketches, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of a sketch of the geological section from Pyramid Rock to Cowes - drawn by Dr G Baker, CSIRO, University of Melbourne.Geological section from Pyramid Rock to Coweslocal history, photography, geological section across phillip island, black & white photograph, geography, topography, cowes, pyramid rock, sketches, dr g baker, john jenner, bryant west

Various short pieces of writing, some dated, earliest 1971, latest in 1997. Gwen Baker (1928-2005) was a foundation member of EDHS. See Also Newsleter 162, May 2005 GWENDOLINE MARGARET BAKER NEE BOWES 1928- 2005 Gwen Baker as we knew her, often used her full name in her writings and even acknowledged her maiden family name as a means of reinforcing her own personal identity. Gwen died on 28 Februrary 2005 and has been buried at Arthurs Creek Cemetery in accordance with her wishes. It is typical of her humour that after visiting the site she wrote: "I have seen the Cemetery, so if I wake in sleep it has a nice view" Gwen was a foundation member of our Society. We remember her mainly for her contribution to our meetings, her witty comments or questions to our speakers and, of course, her collection of plants that she contributed to help the finances of our Society. Her friends in the Society also remember her cards and brief letters on a wide range of subjects. Gwen's wide range of interests included pottery, poetry and of course her gardening. She was an active member of many organizations including the Red Cross, Catholic Church, Nillumbik Garden Club and the former Eltham Arts Council. Her small self- published booklet of poems and writings starts with tins item written at 2am on Easter Sunday 1975. THOUGHT The seeming steady stillness of this quiet night has varied sound to one who sits and thinks of life. Of times of your of pleasant things and if the future has in store a place to be - a reason to exist. One hears a bird upon the roof scratching at his mate while in the distance a car goes by returning home quite late. A neighbours dog goes forth and bark! then stillness once again, like sunshine after rain. and so the thinker having heard and thought, carefully turns out the light and goes to bed. 41 pages (20 A4 pages cut in half). Folder 76 from Harry Gilham Collectionpoetry, creative writing, gwen baker

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of cross sectional profile sketches of Phillip Island in eight different aspects drawn by Dr G Baker CSIRO University of Melbournelocal history, photography, phillip island profiles, black & white photograph, geography, topography, sketches, dr g baker, john jenner, bryant west

Written on back of photograph, "Mail - 9/1/1958. Ringwood High School. Scene from the ballet. Reading Left to Right: Back Row Standing: 1. D. Close, 2. J. Baker, 3. ??, 4. ??, 5. ??. Middle Row: 1. S. Pickford, 2. ??, 3. B. Beatie, 4. ? Williams, 5. Sheryl Gogly, 6. ??. Front: 1. Julie Doitry, 2. Pam Deuter".

Hayley Millar Baker is a Gunditjmara and Djabwurrung artist. Her series I Will Survive is about the cautionary tales and bush survival stories that Millar Baker heard as a child. Her Aboriginal and migrant parents and grandparents shared warnings, myths and ghost stories with her. As Millar Baker grew up, these stories evolved, becoming more emotionally charged with each retelling. As stories are retold, they are reformed and embellished, sometimes becoming more vivid and meaningful. In I Will Survive, Millar Baker inserts herself into the stories. Millar Baker says, ‘Recalling memories formed in my childhood and ruminating on these stories in adulthood, I can’t help but dissect my memory’s influences and influencers, and what roles my Aboriginal and migrant parents and grandparents played in feeding lessons and myths into my subconscious.’

Hayley Millar Baker is a Gunditjmara and Djabwurrung artist. Her series I Will Survive is about the cautionary tales and bush survival stories that Millar Baker heard as a child. Her Aboriginal and migrant parents and grandparents shared warnings, myths, and ghost stories with her. As Millar Baker grew up, these stories evolved, becoming more emotionally charged with each retelling. As stories are retold, they are reformed and embellished, sometimes becoming more vivid and meaningful. In I Will Survive, Millar Baker inserts herself into the stories. Millar Baker says, ‘Recalling memories formed in my childhood and ruminating on these stories in adulthood, I can’t help but dissect my memory’s influences and influencers, and what roles my Aboriginal and migrant parents and grandparents played in feeding lessons and myths into my subconscious.’

One of a collection of over 400 sketches & photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandSketch map of Westernport Bay region showing probable drainage directions of the ancient river system. Drawn by Dr G Baker from original maps by E S Hills D.Sc.local history, illustrations, pen & ink, westernport bay region, black & white sketch, physiography, dr g baker, e s hill d.sc, john jenner, bryant west