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. 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. The Sewerage of Sea Coast Towns Author: Henry C Adams Publisher: Crosby Lockwood & Son Date: 1911Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 628.2 ADA Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library Front loose endpaper has a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service warrnambool, 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, the sewerage of sea coast towns, henry c adams

British Admiralty Navigation Chart - North-East Coast of New Guinea with Bougainville, New Britain, New Ireland & Admiralty Islandswarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, british admiralty navigation chart, navigation chart, new guinea, bougainville, north-east coast of new guinea, new britain, new ireland, admiralty islands

coastal shipwreck survivorsshipwrecks off Warrnambool Victoria and the survivorsStudio photograph of 4 survivors from the wreck of the La Bella in 1905Reverse " Queenscliff Vic / photo copied June 20th 1986 / Captain Mylius photo not available / Frank B Ferrier 1986".historical references

Trading clipper shipsAustralian coastal tradeTyped essay by J McGrath about American built clippers trading around Australia's coast.Reverse - " NIL ".historical references

Twelve page document titled "A preliminary evaluation report for Proposed Reinstatement of The Ballarat Tramway System", prepared by Don Gibson of the West Coast Railway, dated 21/4/1998. Gives assumptions, discusses Business Objectives, suggested structure of the tram system, tram types and marketing plan. City Tramway. Document fully scanned 2/9/12. trams, tramways, ballarat city tramway, reports, west coast railway

Australian coastal mapsAustralian coastal mapsB&W Coastal map of SW Coast of Australia & the approach to Fremantle WA, from an unknown book, c1864.Reverse " NIL "old maps of australian coast

Black and white photograph of Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew free surfing at the 1977 Stubbies Contest held at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast.

Part of a collection of 'Rose & Valentine' series of Post Cards. Copied by John Jansson 1984View of Cape Woolamai showing the rugged nature of the coastline. Calm seas.The Rose Series P.10449. The Rocky Coast, Cape Wollomai, Phillip Island Victorialocal history, photography, photographs, postcards, cape woolamai, phillip island, black & white postcard copy, coastline

Wooden shield with circular emblem featuring white border with US Coast Guard Squadron One, Vietnam, surrounding crest of ship, shield and No 1plaque, us coast guard squadron one

Based on studies of the language of the Tsimshian people, who live on the northwest coast of British Colombia, Canada. It describes the peocess of community directed documentation for an endangered language based on the dictionary project.Maps, tableslanguage endangerment, tsimshian

Comprehensive book with coloured photos of the Kombumerri people and their traditional life in Queensland?s Gold Coast. Tells of white settlement, historic sites, flora and fauna, customs and myths, repression and land.colour photographs, b&w photographs, mapskombumerri, gold coast, queensland

Part of Woolcock Gallery Collection Exhibition, CEMA, 1989.Drawings of cuttings of a plants with different views and details. Two larger views depict stems with flowers and leaves. These are at the top and the bottom of the image, with the lower stem showing more base of the florettes. Six different views of leaves, three floew details and a smaller stem study accompany the larger studies. The work is mounted in a double matt (off-white on grey) and framed under glass in a wooden frame with silver-paint.Front: Hel. secundiflorum (Cascade Everlasting) " paralium (Coast " ) ~ " thyrsoideum (Sticky " ) (lower left) (pencil) Back: 29 (upper left) (pen)cema, botanical, collin woolcock

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Tsuga heterophylla. West Coast, North America. Note inside: Tsuga heterophylla: "Carminow", Mt Lofty, S Aus. November 1943. Coll: E.S.Booth

Margaret MacKenzie had first hand knowledge of many shipwrecks along Victoria's treacherous 'shipwreck' coast. In her later years her failing sight caused her to attend the nearby eye specialist Dr W.R. Angus in Warrnambool. Dr Angus designed the cover for Margate's book. Margaret's daughter assisted in the writing due to her mother's failing sight.Shipwrecks by M.E. MacKenzie, part of the W.R. Angus Collection. An authentic account of wrecks from Peterborough to Cape Otway, Victoria. Cover printed in blue, black and white, depicts sailing ship approaching cliffs, and a map of the coast of south west Victoria, showing Peterborough and Cape Otway. Art work for cover was done by Dr. W.R. Angusflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecks, m e mackenzie, peterborough, cape otway, shipwreck coast, book, w.r. angus

Image taken of the Geelong Coast Tennis Association - Womens B Grade Premiers for Season 1970-71.1 photograph of Premiership tennis teamStanding: Mrs M. Schmidtke, Mrs M. Jinks, Mrs L. Schonfelder Seated: Mrs M Watkins (Capt.)leopold tennis club, geelong coast tennis association, m jinks, m schmidtke, l schonfelder, m watkins

Image taken of the Geelong Coast Tennis Association - Womens B1 Grade Premiers for Season 1971-72.1 photograph of Premiership tennis teamStanding: Helen Chappell, Barbara Tampion, Sandra Dendle Seated: Ethel Dean (Capt.), Clare O'Haraleopold tennis club, geelong coast tennis association, helen chappell, barbara tampion, sandra dendle, ethel dean, clare o'hara

Image taken of the Geelong Coast Tennis Association - Womens A2 Grade Premiers for Season 1971-72.1 photograph of Premiership tennis teamL to R. Margaret Dowsett, Joyce Ballard, Judy Stacey (Capt.), Dorothy Browneleopold tennis club, geelong coast tennis association, margaret dowsett, joyce ballard, judy stacey, dorothy browne

Image taken of the Geelong Coast Tennis Association - Womens B Grade Premiers for Season 1968-9.1 photograph of Premiership tennis teamStanding: J Taranto, R McCluskey, M Jinks Seated: E Dean (Capt.), D Browneleopold tennis club, geelong coast tennis association, j taranto, r mccluskey, m jinks, dorothy browne, ethel dean

Image taken of the Geelong Coast Tennis Association - Womens C1 Grade Premiers for Season 1971-72.1 photograph of Premiership tennis teamL to R: Dulcie Holmes, Toni Dubois, Edna Gasson (Capt.), Glenys Laytonleopold tennis club, geelong coast tennis association, dulcie holmes, toni dubois, edna gasson, glenys layton

Image taken of the Geelong Coast Tennis Association - Womens A Reserve Grade Premiers for Season 1972-73.1 photograph of Premiership tennis teamStanding: H. Davies, E. Schonfelder, B. Tampion Seated: E. Dean (Capt.)leopold tennis club, geelong coast tennis association, helen davies, e schonfelder, barbara tampion, ethel dean

Image taken of the Geelong Coast Tennis Association - Womens C3 Grade Premiers for Season 1973-74.1 photograph of Premiership tennis teamStanding: Mrs L. Honeyman, Mrs S. Walker, Mrs S. McLean Seated: Mrs M. Gardner (Capt.), Mrs K. Maughanleopold tennis club, geelong coast tennis association, l honeyman, s walker, s mclean, m gardner, k maughan

Image taken of the Geelong Coast Tennis Association - Womens B3 Grade Premiers for Season 1974-75.1 photograph of Premiership tennis teamStanding: Mrs P. Wheeler, Mrs G. Barnett, Mrs G. Jackson Seated: Mrs O. Sofio (Capt.)leopold tennis club, geelong coast tennis association, p wheeler, g barnett, g jackson, o sofio