Warrnambool's Mechanics' Institute (or Institution as it was sometimes called) was one of the earliest in Victoria. On 17th October 1853 a meeting was held where it was resolved to request the Lieutenant Governor of the Colony to grant land for the erection of a Mechanics' Institutes building. A committee was formed at the meeting and Richard Osburne chaired the first meeting of this committee. The land on the North West corner of Banyan and Merri Streets was granted but there were no funds to erect the building. The Formal Rights of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute's encompassed its aims and these were officially adopted in1859; "This Institution has for its object the diffusion of literary, scientific, and other useful knowledge amongst its members, excluding all controversial subjects, religious or political. These objects are sought to be obtained by means of a circulating library, a reading room, the establishment of classes, debates, and the occasional delivery of lectures on natural and experimental philosophy, mechanics, astronomy, chemistry, natural history, literature, and the useful and ornamental arts, particularly those which have a more immediate reference to the colony." The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute opened its first reading room in November1884 in the National School building at the corner of Banyan and Timor Streets. The Institute was funded by member subscription, payable on a quarterly, half yearly or yearly basis. Samuel Hannaford, the Manager of the Warrnambool Bank of Australasia, was the first Honorary Secretary of the Mechanics' Institutes, and an early President and Vice-President. He also gave several of the early lectures in the Reading Room. Another early Secretary, Librarian and lecturer was Marmaduke Fisher, the teacher at the National School. Lecture topics included The Poets and Poetry of Ireland', 'The Birth and Development of the Earth', 'The Vertebrae - with Remarks on the pleasures resulting from the study of Natural History' and 'Architecture'. In 1856 the Reading Room was moved to James Hider's shop in Timor Street, and by 1864 it was located in the bookshop of Davies and Read. In the 1860's the Mechanics' Institute struggled as membership waned but in 1866, after a series of fund raising efforts, the committee was able to purchase land in Liebig Street, on a site then called Market Square, between the weighbridge and the fire station. A Mechanics' Institute building was opened at this site in August 1871. The following year four more rooms were added to the main Reading Room and in 1873 the Artisan School of Design was incorporated into the Institute. The same year Joseph Archibald established a Museum; however it deteriorated when he was transferred to Bendigo in 1877. In 1880, with Archibald's return to Warrnambool, the Museum was re-established, and in 1885 a new building was built at the back of the Institute to accommodate the re-created School of Design, the Art Gallery and the Museum. In 1887 the Museum section was moved to the former court house in Timor Street (for some time the walls of the building formed part of the TAFE cafeteria but all is now demolished)). In 1911 the Museum was transferred back to the original building and the management of the Mechanics' Institute was handed over to the Warrnambool City Council. The Museum and Art Gallery became one and housed many fine works of art, and the Library continued to grow. The building was well patronised, with records showing that at the beginning of the 20th century there were between 500 and 800 visitors. During World War One the monthly figures were in the thousands, with 3,400 people visiting in January 1915. The Museum was a much loved Institution in Warrnambool until the contents of the Museum and Art Gallery were removed to make room for the Warrnambool City Council Engineers' Department. The contents were stored but many of the items were scattered or lost. When the original building was demolished the site became occupied by the Civic Centre, which included the new City Library. (The library was temporarily located in the old Palais building in Koroit Street.) In the process of reorganisation the Collection was distributed amongst the community groups: -The new City Library took some of the historic books and some important documents, historic photographs and newspapers. -The Art Gallery kept the 19th Century art collection and some of the artefacts from the museum. -The Historic Society has some items -The State Museum has some items -Some items were destroyed -Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village has old newspapers, Government Gazettes, most of the Mechanics' Institute Library, ledgers and documents connected to the Mechanics' Institute Library, some framed and unframed art works and some photographs. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute Library book collection is deemed to be of great importance because it is one of the few collections in an almost intact state, and many of the books are now very rare and of great value. The Science and Practice of Butter Making in Australasia Author: William Brown Publisher: McCarron Bird & Co Date: 1889Label on spine cover with typed text RA 637.2099 BRO Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, great ocean road, book, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, warrnambool public library, the science and practice of butter making in australasia, william brown

Photocopy of illustration of women making camouflage nets at Phillips home in Blackburn. From scrapbook of Jessie Williams . N.D. [1940?]Photocopy of illustration of women making camouflage nets at Phillips home in Blackburn. phillips, f (mrs), williams, jessie, world war 1939 - 1945, camouflage nets, lee, elsie

Charles Kingford Smith and C.T.P. Ulm discuss making a flight to New Zealand, together with their American wireless operator and navigator.aeroplane, charles kingsford smith, c.t.p. ulm, aviation, flight

A drawing-together of available historic congrational material for the centenary celebrations of the formation of the Croydon Methodist Church in 1906 and Croydon Presbyterian Church in 1907.Cover design includes text in circular format - Celebrating 100 years of making a difference in mission, witness and service in the past, in the present, into the future.

1929 saw the establishment of the Ringwood Bowls Club initially located on the land now occupied by the Eastland Shopping Centre. It moved to its current location in Loughnan Road, Ringwood in 1997.Typed letter to Ringwood Borough Engineer from Arthur Blood confirming gift of land adjoining Bowling Green for road-making purposes. Dated 10th August 1930.city of ringwood bowls club, ringwood bowling club, ringwood bowls club, lawn bowls, bowling

Building of Pensioners Cottages at St Andrews; for those burnt out in the 1962 bushfires. A voluntary scheme of Mavis Gill through the Kangaroo Ground Relief CommitteeBlack and white photo mounted on cardMavis Gill making a turn near 'Windy' Gale's place Wild Dog Creek area Photo Geo. W. Bell, Jan. 1962victorian bushfires - 1962, bushfires, dick (windy) gale, fire damage - buildings, george w bell, houses, st andrews, wild dog creek road, mavis gill, pensioners cottages

Sepia image of a group of men with horses and shovels making a dam. There are six men and three horses in the foreground. A building is behind them. Image has been adhered to a backing card.horses, dams, dam building, working life

Colour photograph of hat making equipment,for Heritage Week display at the Local History Centre (former Courthouse), 728 Main Rod Eltham. (Home of Eltham District Historical Society) The equipment was used at the Hat Factory in Eltham which started in the 1940s. The equipment shown includes a mould for making felt hats, stud press, looping machine for berets and hand sewing machine for straw hats. Sign accompanying the display is hand written and reads: "Eltham has not generally been known for manufacturing industry. One factory which started in the 1940s was "the hat factory" in Sherbourne Rd. The equipment displayed here includes moulds for making felt hats, stud press, looping machines for berets, hand sewing machine for straw hats."heritage week, eltham, courthouse, hat factory, hat mould, activities

This photo was taken at Ferry Post, Suez Canal. .2) Two Australian Soldiers around a camp fire at Ferry Post boil a billy for tea..1) Verso: Harry [Holmes] and Gordon [Spittle] make afternoon tea for Cam, who snaps them in tea-making operation. (Ferry Post, Ismailia, Egypt). .2) S.G.S. [S. Gordon Spittle] and Harry [Holmes] making coffee to entertain Cam Williamson on his first visit to our camp. The hat hides Harry's face. These snaps are taken by Cam's Kodak."chatham family archive, chatham, holmes, world war, world war 1, world war i, world war one, france, suez, ferry post, billy tea

Yields information about Richard Gilbert and his involvement in the Ballarat Tramway Museum and its establishment.Newspaper clipping from The Courier, Ballarat, 26/12/2009, titled "Making the most of a lifetime experience" about Richard Gilbert and his involvement with the establishment of the Ballarat Tramway Museum. Includes a photo of Richard.btm, btps

Two Colour photographs of hat making equipment,for Heritage Week display at the Local History Centre (former Courthouse), 728 Main Rod Eltham. (Home of Eltham District Historical Society) The equipment was used at the Hat Factory in Eltham which started in the 1940s. The equipment shown includes a mould for making felt hats, stud press, looping machine for berets and hand sewing machine for straw hats. Sign accompanying the display is hand written and reads: "Eltham has not generally been known for manufacturing industry. One factory which started in the 1940s was "the hat factory" in Sherbourne Rd. The equipment displayed here includes moulds for making felt hats, stud press, looping machines for berets, hand sewing machine for straw hats."heritage week, eltham, courthouse, hat factory, hat mould, activities

Colour photograph of soldiers engaging with local children. Soldier at the centre of picture is shaking hands with one of the children who has a cigarette in his mouth. In back ground is an army truck - cannon at rear and other soldiers picture in Black frame and light Brown mat.My Vietnam Collection. Making new friends - 105 field battery - Vietnam 1969 Copyright Jed Robinson.Gift Horse Gallery - original works by local and Interstate artists and crafts people.photograph, 105 field battery, vietnamese children

Portraits in first section of book photographed by Jack Dooley, Stills Photographer, of Ealing Studios, father of Maureen Jepson of Rutherglen.Booklet advertising the film 'The Overlanders' containing photos and description of the film. 12 pages"A Romance in Film Making, "The Overlanders" Echoing the Heartbeat of Australia's Greatness. One Shilling." "An Ealing Studios Production, Distributed Throughout Australia and New Zealand by British Empire Films Pty. Ltd."films, cinema, jack dooley, maureen jepson, ealing studios

Instruction or book - 16 pages, centre stapled titled "Making the Customer No. 1" customer services guide for PTC staff, mainly rail, with a introduction by David Davies, about providing information, keeping stations clean, displays, personal presentation and appearance.trams, tramways, ptc, behaviour, railways, staff, personnel

Part of a uniform worn by staff and volunteers at the Visitor Centre at the Old Bendigo Post Office for the duration of the exhibition Making a Nation which closed in 2011.Navy blue jacket with embroidered Making a National patch on upper left front. Three buttons on front.Making A Nation / Federation Exhibition / 1901 / Sir John Quick / BENDIGObendigo tourism, bendigo post office

This mat making needle was used by visually impaired workers in the mat making workshop at the Royal Victorian for the Blind Institute during the binding of mats in conjunction with a leather sewing palm to protect their palms. 1 long, curved, thick metal needle'Made in England'assistive devices, employment