Pills containing ‘Nux Vomica’. This is the botanical name with the active ingredient of Strychnine, This medication, in the small 1g dose, could have been used for a calming effect on the patient.Bottle clear glass with paper label and screw plastic cap. Contains white Nux Vomica pills, Prepared by Martin and Pleasance, Chemists, Melbourne. Homeopathic medication. 1g tablets."MERC COR 6X" on labelflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, nux vomica, strychnine, medication, martin & pleasance chemist melbourne, treatment

Bottle clear glass with glass stopper, has ground glass base and square grip. Contains brown liquid, paper label on front. Used in pharmacy.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Bottle clear glass with stopper used in pharmacy contains green pills. Gilded label on front. Stopper has a scalloped edge.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Bottle clear glass with stopper and gilded label used in pharmacy containing dark brown liquid. Stopper has a mushroomed top with scalloped edge.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Bottle clear glass with glass stopper and gilded glass label. Used in a pharmacy. Stopper has scalloped edge. Paper label on back. Contains red liquid.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Beaker glass with wide base, clear with black printed markings. Made in England. Used for measuring liquids in a pharmacy.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Beaker glass clear, with green printed "Selby" mark in oval on side.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Funnel glass clearflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Bottle clear glass with glass stopper and recessed paper label. Used in pharmacy. Contains remnants of brown liquid, probably syrup zingie. Stopper has scalloped edge.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Beaker glass clear with green printed "Selby" mark. Pouring lip broken.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Flask clear glass "Florence" 500 ml Pyrex Made in Englandflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, flask, pyrex, glass flask, pyres flask

Bottle clear glass with cork stopper. 2 paper labels. Used in a pharmacy. Contains brown translucent liquid. Rectangular bottle with narrow neck.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Bottle clear glass with cork stopper. 2 paper labels. Used in a pharmacy. Contains brown translucent liquid. Rectangular bottle with narrow neck.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Bottle clear glass with ground glass stopper. Has a rectangular grip. Paper label on side. Used in a pharmacy. Contains crystals of resin. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Bottle clear glass with ground glass stopper and paper label. Stopper has a rectangular grip. Paper label on side. Used in a pharmacy. Contains fine white powder, probably Aluminium Hydroxide.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Bottle clear glass with ground glass stopper and paper label. Used in a pharmacy. Contains fine white crystals, probably Ammonium Chloride. Bottle has 3 chipped holes.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Bottle clear glass with glass stopper and gilded label. Used in a pharmacy. Contains brown powder. Stopper has a scalloped edge. Paper label on back and on base. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Most surgical wounds are closed primarily, but some are allowed to heal by secondary intention. This usually involves repeated packing and dressing of the raw wound surfaces. Although the long-term care of such wounds has devolved to the care of nurses in the community or out-patient setting, the initial wound dressing or cavity packing is done by the surgeon in the operating theatre. Many surgeons are unaware of the growth of the discipline of wound care, and still use traditional soaked gauze for dressing and packing open surgical wounds and cavities. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1963638/ The control of bleeding and wound management is vitally important for the survival of the patient.Clear glass round jar and lid, with heavy metal screw turning. Contains 12 yards of 1/2 unmedicated absorbent ribbon gauze.Manufactured in England for F H Faulding & Co Ltd. Absorbent Ribbon Gauze. Green Cross. Unmedicated. 12 yards. ½ inch.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, medical, ribbon gauze, faulding

Most surgical wounds are closed primarily, but some are allowed to heal by secondary intention. This usually involves repeated packing and dressing of the raw wound surfaces. Although the long-term care of such wounds has devolved to the care of nurses in the community or out-patient setting, the initial wound dressing or cavity packing is done by the surgeon in the operating theatre. Many surgeons are unaware of the growth of the discipline of wound care, and still use traditional soaked gauze for dressing and packing open surgical wounds and cavities. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1963638/The control of bleeding and wound management is vitally important for the survival of the patient.Clear glass jar containing gauze bandage, entitled "Ribbon Gauze" for plugging. Trade name "Amuson". Label badly damaged. Lid is metal with heavy turning. Appears to be well corroded. Octagonal shaped bottle.Amuson. Adelaide. 'Ribbon gauze for plugging.'flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, medical, ribbon gauze, amuson

This is an earlier example of how mosquitos and other annoying insect bites were treated.Quick treatment of insect bites could often prevent the development of serious medical conditions and diseases.Bottle clear glass originally containing liquid. Now empty. Marked "M. Ballantyne". Plastic top broken.‘Use Mosouitofly. A preventative and cure for all insect bites. Does not evaporate quickly. M Ballantyne, Pharmaceutical Chemist, Malvern & Mordiallac.' flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, mosquitos, insects, first aid, medicine, bites

Breast expressers or breast pumps are used by lactating mothers to remove breast milk. The milk can be stored for later use, perhaps allowing carers to take over feeding the baby if the mother is not available. The milk may also be removed if the mother has excess milk that causes discomfort and can lead to painful Mastitis. This particular breast pump works by suction. The excess milk is gathered in the glass chamber during the process. More modern breast pumps operate using electricity.This personal milk expresser or breast pump/reliever is complete with its box. It represents equipment used by lactating mothers over decades.Expresser and box. Clear glass horn shaped milk expresser with red rubber bulb (commonly called a breast pump or breast reliever). Coronet brand, made in England. "Guaranteed CORONET English Made"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, expresser, breast pump, milk expresser, breast reliever, medicine, breast feeding equipment, motherhood, breast care, lactation, mastitis, baby care

A cylindrical clear glass crystallising dish with a spout. Designed to facilitate the slow evaporation of a liquid, leaving behind solid crystals. The crystallising dish was donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village by the family of Doctor William Roy Angus, Surgeon and Oculist. It is part of the “W.R. Angus Collection” includes historical medical equipment, surgical instruments and material once belonging to Dr Edward Ryan and Dr Thomas Francis Ryan, (both of Nhill, Victoria) as well as Dr Angus’ own belongings. The Collection’s history spans the medical practices of the two Doctors Ryan, from 1885-1926 plus that of Dr Angus, up until 1969. ABOUT THE “W.R.ANGUS COLLECTION” Doctor William Roy Angus M.B., B.S., Adel., 1923, F.R.C.S. Edin.,1928 (also known as Dr Roy Angus) was born in Murrumbeena, Victoria in 1901 and lived until 1970. He qualified as a doctor in 1923 at University of Adelaide, was Resident Medical Officer at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 1924 and for a period was house surgeon to Sir (then Mr.) Henry Simpson Newland. Dr Angus was briefly an Assistant to Dr Riddell of Kapunda, then commenced private practice at Curramulka, Yorke Peninsula, SA, where he was physician, surgeon and chemist. In 1926, he was appointed as new Medical Assistant to Dr Thomas Francis Ryan (T.F. Ryan, or Tom), in Nhill, Victoria, where his experiences included radiology and pharmacy. In 1927 he was Acting House Surgeon in Dr Tom Ryan’s absence. Dr Angus had become engaged to Gladys Forsyth and they decided he further his studies overseas in the UK in 1927. He studied at London University College Hospital and at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and in 1928, was awarded FRCS (Fellow from the Royal College of Surgeons), Edinburgh. He worked his passage back to Australia as a Ship’s Surgeon on the on the Australian Commonwealth Line’s T.S.S. Largs Bay. Dr Angus married Gladys in 1929, in Ballarat. (They went on to have one son (Graham 1932, born in SA) and two daughters (Helen (died 12/07/1996) and Berenice (Berry), both born at Mira, Nhill ) According to Berry, her mother Gladys made a lot of their clothes. She was very talented and did some lovely embroidery including lingerie for her trousseau and beautifully handmade baby clothes. Dr Angus was a ‘flying doctor’ for the A.I.M. (Australian Inland Ministry) Aerial Medical Service in 1928 . Its first station was in the remote town of Oodnadatta, where Dr Angus was stationed. He was locum tenens there on North-South Railway at 21 Mile Camp. He took up this ‘flying doctor’ position in response to a call from Dr John Flynn; the organisation was later known as the Flying Doctor Service, then the Royal Flying Doctor Service. A lot of his work during this time involved dental surgery also. Between 1928-1932 he was surgeon at the Curramulka Hospital, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. In 1933 Dr Angus returned to Nhill and purchased a share of the Nelson Street practice and Mira hospital (a 2 bed ward at the Nelson Street Practice) from Dr Les Middleton one of the Middleton Brothers, the current owners of what previously once Dr Tom Ryan’s practice. Dr Tom and his brother had worked as surgeons included eye surgery. Dr Tom Ryan performed many of his operations in the Mira private hospital on his premises. He had been House Surgeon at the Nhill Hospital 1902-1926. Dr Tom Ryan had one of the only two pieces of radiology equipment in Victoria during his practicing years – The Royal Melbourne Hospital had the other one. Over the years Dr Tom Ryan had gradually set up what was effectively a training school for country general-practitioner-surgeons. Each patient was carefully examined, including using the X-ray machine, and any surgery was discussed and planned with Dr Ryan’s assistants several days in advance. Dr Angus gained experience in using the X-ray machine there during his time as assistant to Dr Ryan. When Dr Angus bought into the Nelson Street premises in Nhill he was also appointed as the Nhill Hospital’s Honorary House Surgeon 1933-1938. His practitioner’s plate from his Nhill surgery is now mounted on the doorway to the Port Medical Office at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, Warrnambool. When Dr Angus took up practice in the Dr Edward and Dr Tom Ryan’s old premises he obtained their extensive collection of historical medical equipment and materials spanning 1884-1926. A large part of this collection is now on display at the Port Medical Office at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in Warrnambool. In 1939 Dr Angus and his family moved to Warrnambool where he purchased “Birchwood,” the 1852 home and medical practice of Dr John Hunter Henderson, at 214 Koroit Street. (This property was sold in1965 to the State Government and is now the site of the Warrnambool Police Station. and an ALDI sore is on the land that was once their tennis court). The Angus family was able to afford gardeners, cooks and maids; their home was a popular place for visiting dignitaries to stay whilst visiting Warrnambool. Dr Angus had his own silk worm farm at home in a Mulberry tree. His young daughter used his centrifuge for spinning the silk. Dr Angus was appointed on a part-time basis as Port Medical Officer (Health Officer) in Warrnambool and held this position until the 1940’s when the government no longer required the service of a Port Medical Officer in Warrnambool; he was thus Warrnambool’s last serving Port Medical Officer. (Masters of immigrant ships arriving in port reported incidents of diseases, illness and death and the Port Medical Officer made a decision on whether the ship required Quarantine and for how long, in this way preventing contagious illness from spreading from new immigrants to the residents already in the colony.) Dr Angus was a member of the Australian Medical Association, for 35 years and surgeon at the Warrnambool Base Hospital 1939-1942, He served with the Australian Department of Defence as a Surgeon Captain during WWII 1942-45, in Ballarat, Victoria, and in Bonegilla, N.S.W., completing his service just before the end of the war due to suffering from a heart attack. During his convalescence he carved an intricate and ‘most artistic’ chess set from the material that dentures were made from. He then studied ophthalmology at the Royal Melbourne Eye and Ear Hospital and created cosmetically superior artificial eyes by pioneering using the intrascleral cartilage. Angus received accolades from the Ophthalmological Society of Australasia for this work. He returned to Warrnambool to commence practice as an ophthalmologist, pioneering in artificial eye improvements. He was Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist to Warrnambool Base Hospital for 31 years. He made monthly visits to Portland as a visiting surgeon, to perform eye surgery. He represented the Victorian South-West subdivision of the Australian Medical Association as its secretary between 1949 and 1956 and as chairman from 1956 to 1958. In 1968 Dr Angus was elected member of Spain’s Barraquer Institute of Barcelona after his research work in Intrasclearal cartilage grafting, becoming one of the few Australian ophthalmologists to receive this honour, and in the following year presented his final paper on Living Intrasclearal Cartilage Implants at the Inaugural Meeting of the Australian College of Ophthalmologists in Melbourne In his personal life Dr Angus was a Presbyterian and treated Sunday as a Sabbath, a day of rest. He would visit 3 or 4 country patients on a Sunday, taking his children along ‘for the ride’ and to visit with him. Sunday evenings he would play the pianola and sing Scottish songs to his family. One of Dr Angus’ patients was Margaret MacKenzie, author of a book on local shipwrecks that she’d seen as an eye witness from the late 1880’s in Peterborough, Victoria. In the early 1950’s Dr Angus, painted a picture of a shipwreck for the cover jacket of Margaret’s book, Shipwrecks and More Shipwrecks. She was blind in later life and her daughter wrote the actual book for her. Dr Angus and his wife Gladys were very involved in Warrnambool’s society with a strong interest in civic affairs. He had an interest in people and the community They were both involved in the creation of Flagstaff Hill, including the layout of the gardens. After his death (28th March 1970) his family requested his practitioner’s plate, medical instruments and some personal belongings be displayed in the Port Medical Office surgery at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, and be called the “W. R. Angus Collection”.The W.R. Angus Collection is significant for still being located at the site it is connected with, Doctor Angus being the last Port Medical Officer in Warrnambool. The collection of medical instruments and other equipment is culturally significant, being an historical example of medicine from late 19th to mid-20th century. Dr Angus assisted Dr Tom Ryan, a pioneer in the use of X-rays and in ocular surgery.Heavy clear glass pouring dish, with pouring lip possibly used in preparation of pharmaceutical mixtures.None.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, crystallising dish, glass

Bottle clear glass with ground glass stopper. Contains Ephedrine Alk, a yellow crystalline substanceflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Bottle clear glass with dropper top-bottle contains thick brown substance (could be laudanum) Has 15 stamped on bottom..flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Publisher Collins Clear Type Press Date 1934 flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, jane eyre, book, charlotte bronte

The local photograph shows the original footbridge across the Merri River near its mouth, the Viaduct road and the Warrnambool Breakwater with the Titan crane on it. The breakwater's construction was completed in 1890, the year this photograph was taken. The Viaduct has since been filled in to prevent water passing through the pylons, and the footbridge has been replaced. The photograph was presented to Flagstaff Hill on the centenary of South Warrnambool Primary School, 1877 to 1977, by the school's Warrnambool South Primary School Centenary Committee. The centenary was celebrated during August 12-13-14. The school was decommissioned in the 1990s.The photograph is locally significant for recording the completion of the Warrnambool Breakwater, for showing the original design of the Viaduct and for a clear view of the original footbridge across the Merri River. It also records the date of the presentation of the photograph celebrates the centenary of the 1877 to 1977 Warrnambool Sough Primary School.Photograph, black and white, mounted onto cardboard with a pasted-on label below the photograph. It shows the Merri River footbridge, the Viaduct, the Warrnambool Breakwater with the Titan crane, and the Port of Warrnambool. The label has an inscription. The photograph was taken in 1890 and was presented to Flagstaff Hill by the South Warrnambool Primary School's Centenary Committee ca. 1977. The photograph was taken in 1890 and was presented to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum by the South Warrnambool Primary School Centenary Committee in the Centenary year of the South Warrnambool Primary School;1977.Typed onto the label: "PRESENTED TO FLAGSTAFF HILL / BY THE SOUTH WARRNAMBOOL / PRIMARY SCHOOL CENTENARY / COMMITTEE / "VIADUCT TO / WARRNAMBOOL BREAKWATER" / - 1890 - "warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, warrnambool breakwater, viaduct, viaduct road, merri river bridge, merri footbridge, original merri foodtridge, titan crane, warrnambool south primary school, warrnambool south primary school centenary commitee, centenary committee, 1890, 1877, 1877-1977, lady bay, port of warrnambool

The local photograph shows the original footbridge across the Merri River near its mouth, the Viaduct road and the Warrnambool Breakwater with the Titan crane on it. The breakwater's construction was completed in 1890, the year this photograph was taken. The Viaduct has since been filled in to prevent water from passing through the pylons, and the footbridge has been replaced. The postcard has a personal message written on the back to a Dr Scott from May. The photograph is locally significant for recording the completion of the Warrnambool Breakwater, for showing the original design of the Viaduct and for a clear view of the original footbridge across the Merri River. It is also of significance for being used by a female to send a greeting from Warrnambool to a doctor. Postcard, coloured, of the Warrnambool Breakwater, with the Merri River footbridge and the Viaduct in the foreground. Pedestrians and a horse-drawn cart are on the Viaduct, The lifeboat house and other buildings are near the beginning of the Breakwater. A three-masted sailing ship is in port. The photograph was taken from Middle Island. A personal message is written on the back, and a title is printed on the front. Produced in Germany in the 1890s.On the front: "Breakwater, Warrnambool" Written on the reverse: "Warrnambool Wishing Dear Dr Scott the Compliments of the Season With love and best wishes, From May"warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, postcard, coloured postcard, warrnambool breakwater, breakwater, viaduct, 1890s, merri river footbridge, dr scott, may

Opera Glasses came into existence as a result of a long line of inventions, and further improvements upon those inventions. The process started in the year 1608 when a Dutch optician by the name of Hans Lipperhey developed the first pair of binoculars with a magnification capability of X3. Less than a year later, a well-known inventor and philosopher by the name of Galileo developed what became known as the Galilean telescope. Advertisements were first found for opera glasses and theatre binoculars in London as early as 1730 in the form of a long collapsible telescope. The "Opera Glass" as it was referred to; was often covered in enamel, gems, ivory, or other art and paintings. For almost 100 years opera glasses existed merely as telescopes. In Vienna, in 1823 the first binocular opera glasses and theatre binoculars began to appear. They were two simple Galilean telescopes with a bridge in the centre, each telescope focused independently from the other by extending or shortening the telescope until the desired focus was achieved, which was useful, yet very cumbersome. Two years later in Paris, Pierre Lemiere improved on this design and created a centre focus wheel. This allowed the focusing of both telescopes together. After this development, opera glasses and theatre binoculars grew in popularity because of the superior view they facilitated in opera and theatre houses. The beautiful design of the glasses themselves also added appeal to the opera-going crowd. By the 1850's opera glasses and theatre, glasses had become a must-have fashion accessory for all opera and theatergoers.Not very significant as not associated with a historic event or person and made during the first half of the 20th Century and many are still available and easily sourced.Vintage Pair of Opera Glasses, with cow bone barrels and eyepieces, both barrel pieces have split in them, both metal end barrels each have a minor dent, optics are pretty clear no mould although have very minor dust spots inside, they look like they were gilded at some point but most of this has rubbed off glasses have a black leather case with blue lining. No markings whatsoever anywhereflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, binoculars, opera glasses, theatre glasses, optical instrument, cow bone

Brass Band Instrument - Cornet "Clear Bore" Class a Light Valve. Boosey & Co makers, 295 Regent Street London. No 80772 (64988) Imported by Allan & Co Pty Ltd Melbourne. Horn 4�" Length 12�"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

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. 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. Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-18 Vol 2-1 Author: C E W Bean Publisher: Angus & Robertson Date: 1937 shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, great ocean road, official history of australia in the war of 1914-18 vol 2-1, official history of australia in the war of 1914-18