WARRNAMBOOL MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE 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 November 1884 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 fundraising 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 courthouse 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 historical 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 Historical 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 artworks 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 Sky Pilot In Arnhem Land Author: K Langford Smith Publisher: Angus & Robertson Date: 1935 The label on spine cover has 919.4 SMI handwritten in white ink Inside Front, loose endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, 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, sky pilot in arnhem land, k langford smith

Ref.No. 15A/96

Book of Pilot's Notes General. Promulgated by order of the Air Council. Contains notes on Aircraft , engines, and dealing with emergencies.

Circa WW2 1940 - 1945. Used for RAAF Trainee pilots for Wirraway and Tiger Moth training. This helmet belonged to Francis Robertson, trainee RAAF Pilot who crashed his aircraft into Nurse Carter's residence at Chiltern (May 30th, 1943) whilst on a training flight from Advanced Training Squadron Deniliquin NSW. The Helmet is associated with Francis Robertson WW2 RAAF Pilot, trained at Number 7 Flying School Deniliquin NSW. Khaki Canvas and metal helmet used in WW2 circa 1943 for trainee pilots of Wirrway's and Tiger moths. Made of sturdy heavy duty canvas with some metal underlay, leather and sheepskin straps, brass attachment buckles. Name of the trainee Pilot : "Robertson". nurse carter's chiltern residence plane crash 1943, ww2 raaf pilot francis robertson

Framed Black and White Photograph of a Helipcopter Pilot's Flying Helmet. The Reflection of the Aircraft Carrier he is about to land on can be seen on his visor.helicopter pilot, photograph

The last Pilot Boat flag to be flown from TSPV Wyuna hauled down on the 29 November 1979This flag is of historical significance to Queenscliffe [Home of the Port Phillip Pilot Service] as it was last flown by the TSPV Wyuna and was hauled down on the 29th November 1979Horizontal Bicolour flag, half white and half red from the Pilot Boat Wyuna."The last pilot flag flown from TSPV Wyuna hauled down 29.11.79". Evan Evans Flags, Melbourne.wyuna, pilot service, flag

Queenscliffe pilot boat historyProbable last photo of AKUNA in Port Phillip1. Photo of Akuna 1 c1925 & copied negative of AKUNA 1Reverse " NIL "queenscliffe pilot boats

Port Phillip pilot boat AKUNA.Port Phillip pilot.Extract copy photo re AKUNA from Australian Coastal Shipping, c1997.Reverse " Gift / Neville Bowler / The Age "

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph taken at the 1st Australian Field Hospital, where the Medic Corporal Alex Berry assists the anaesthetist in preparing an American helicopter pilot for the theatre after he was shot down over South Vietnam.photograph, 1st australian field hospital, medic, cpl alex (chuck) berry, american pilot, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, wounded serviceman, doctors, nurses

Used from 1897-1899 Used on Pilot Vessel Mavis Purchased by PPSP in 1872Brown Hard Coverlog, mavis, schooner, port phillip sea pilots

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of Sister June Minchow assists the anaesthetists while medic John Tulloch looks on in preparing a badly burned American helicopter pilot for surgery in the operating theatre at the 1st Australian Field Hospital, Vung Tau. photograph, sister june minchow, john tulloch - medic, 1st australian field hospital, vung tau, gibbons collection catalogue, medic, wounded serviceman, american helicopter pilot, denis gibbons, surgery

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of Corporal Alex (Chuck) Berry in the operating theatre at the 1st Australian Field Hospital, Vung Tau, South Vietnam. He now checks the pulse of a badly burned American helicopter pilot as he is prepared for surgery.photograph, 1st australian field hospital, vung tau, cpl alex (chuck) berry, american pilot, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, medic, doctors, nurses

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph - In the operating theatre at the 1st Australian Field Hospital, Vung Tau, South Vietnam a surgeon waiing to perform the operation, watches as the theatre medics complete preparation of an American Helicopter Pilot burned when he was shot downphotograph, 1st australian field hospital, vung tau, gibbons collection catalogue, american soldier, surgeons, medics, helicopter pilot, operating theatre, denis gibbons

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of Corporal Alex (Chuck) Berry and the anaesthetist in the operating theatre at the 1st Australian Field Hospital, Vung Tau, South Vietnam. Berry inserts a drip needle into the arm of the badly burned American helicopter pilot as he is prepared for surgery.photograph, 1st australian field hospital, vung tau, cpl alex (chuck) berry, american pilot, anaesthetist, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, medic, operating theatre, doctors, nurses

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps Theatre Sister June Minchow, in the operating theatre, prepares an American pilot badly burned when is helicopter was shot down, for surgery at the 1st Australian Field Hospital, Vung Tau, whil the anesthetist looks on.photograph, 1st australian field hospital, vung tau, sister june minchow, vung tau, royal australian army nursing corps, gibbons collection catalogue, wounded serviceman, wounded american pilot, anesthetist, denis gibbons

Aust. 41349 LAC Farnes R.R. qualified as Wireless Operator 6 Oct.1944.Rectangular blue linen bound hard cover bookR.C.A.F.R.95 M-12-?3(2887) H.Q.588-R-98 Royal Canadian Air Force Flying Log Book for Aircrew other than Pilot Farnes R.R.Aus-41349

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph at the 1st Australian Field Hospital, Vung Tau, South Vietnam, Theatre Sister June Minchow assisted by a theatre Medic wheels an American pilot, badly burned when his helicopter was show down, out of the theatre to the ward while the Anaesthetist clears away.photograph, 1st australian field hospital, vung tau, sister june minchow, medic, american pilot, gibbons collection catalogue, anaesthetist, denis gibbons, wounded american pilot