The pages of written text cover everything the RSL does from welfare, commemorative, legal aid, membership, women's auxiliary and housing to name a few. Bert Pollard was an active RSL Member involved in Committee and the District Board. He served in WW2.Diary black plastic covers with gold text on front cover, top has the RSL logo followed by "Serving Still - 1969 - Victorian Branch", inside first page are details re Anzac House Melbourne, there are 28 pages of written text, page for members personal details, 4 blank pages for notes, the Calendar itself folds out for viewing and to enter notes, last page has a 12 month calendar. "Bert Pollard, phone 5433741"brsl, smirsl, diary

Bendigo RSL Sub Branch. This card would have been used pre year 2000. It would be signed by the member of the Welfare Committee and President at the Time.Card, white with all print in black, rear is blank, front has space for names & signatures, this one is unsigned.brsl, smirsl, card, welfare

The recipient is not known and there is no name etc engraved on the rear. There were 6 Life Members of the Bendigo Branch.Badge, metals, colours are blue and red, top has a crown with a membership clip on for the year "1982". Centre is a circular shape with text around, centre is the flag, under is a scroll with the words "LIFE MEMBER". A small gold chain is attached through the scroll area, rear has a pin attachment."Womens Auxiliary - RSL - LIFE MEMBER". On rear raised, "Swann & Hudson"brsl, smirsl, award, life member, wabrsl

The card relates to The Bendigo & District Servicemen's Club as distinct from the Bendigo & District RSL Club Inc. The Servicemen's Club was owned by a Co Operative of the 3 Bendigo RSL's being Bendigo, Kangaroo Flat & Eaglehawk Sub Branches'. The Co Operative Society remained until the year 2000 when the facility became the "Bendigo & District RSL Club Inc". The membership re David Patterson 1978. He was a Bendigo RSL delegate for the Co Operative Society for its entire time until closure in 2000. He was one of the first Vietnam Veterans to serve on the Committee of the Bendigo RSL Sub Branch from 1976 - 78, he was Jnr Vice President for 1977 - 78. Refer Cat No 5825.Card yellow covers folding all text in black, inside is white with black text, signed by member in blue, rear is blank, card is for membership 1978.Inside, "This is the signature of the member of the Bendigo & District Servicemen's Club whose name appears below. This card must be presented at the door when attending the Club - Mr D Patterson 8 Station Street Kangaroo Flat - Secretary A. Harridge - No 054"brsl, smirsl, bdsc, membership

This election is possibly the new Committee to manage the Bendigo & District Servicemen's Club in Havilah Road. Cat No 8080 Committee meeting talks about getting ready for the opening of the facility to members. President W.B. Nicholls refer Cat No 8073P. Snr Vice President D.J. Paterson refer Cat No 8073P. Committee member David Patterson refer Cat No 8070.Document, paper all print in black listing the complete Committee of the Bendigo & District Servicemen's Club, has names, position, address and phone number. One name is unreadable due to damage. "Office Bearers of the Bendigo & District Servicemen's Club elected at the meeting held on Thursday 20th April 1978 at Memorial Hall Bendigo".brsl, smirsl, bdsc, committee

These membership cards were used pre 1990, from then on the League became known as The Returned & Service's League of Australia. These were filled in by a prospective new member and forwarded to RSL HQ in Melbourne for approval.Membership cards, blue with black text double sided, front has spaces for the person to fill in details re name address, and financial to service number, rank, unit, time in service. The rear has space for approval, badge number and financial to."Returned Services League of Australia - (Victorian Branch) - Application for Service Membership"brsl, smirsl, membership

The 67th (Bendigo) Infantry was the local Militia Infantry Unit from 1912-1918. It's members came from Bendigo up to Deniliquin and Bendigo up to Kerang - Swan Hill areas.This is a leather bound book (Manuscript). The type of leather is called "old goat leather". The title and words are gold embossed. It is fastened with 4 brass Chicago screw binders. Inside are pages of A4. size. The history section is of 165 pages - text, images, black and white and colour. The second half of the book is A4 size excel spreadsheet with approx 2100 names.ww1, militia, citizen forces, 67th infantry

This yearly effort was conducted from 12.11.1998 - 12.12.1998. At the bottom of each page are details re pick up and delivery of tickets and stocking. The raffle was conducted from 3 different selling points. The names on the roster are a who's who of the RSL at the time, except for two names all the sellers were WW2 era members being a list of President current, ex Presidents, Life members, Committee and notables. The hand written notes were by Jack Barnes OAM. Refer Cat No's 8130P & 8220.Bendigo RSL Xmas stocking raffle roster, 4 pages all white, first two pages are typed in black, one is for the morning roster and one the afternoon, pages 3 & 4 are a handwritten version getting the final ready, text in blue pen with some in red. All are stapled together.On first page in red pen, "98"brsl, smirsl, stocking, xmas, 1998

Princess Mary gift box was intended to be distributed to all members of the British Armed Forces at Christmas 1914, during WW1. It contained various gifts including chocolate, cigarettes and tobacco.Gold colour tin with ornate design on front, with an image of Princess Mary within a circle and laurels. There is a stylised "M" on either side. Along the outside is written "Imperial Brittani cum". On top centre and around the edges is the name of various other allies.Inscribed "Christmas 1914".gift box, ww1, princess mary

Common practice in Ww1 to have personal photos of soldiers on units or places as image on front of postcard and kept as souvenirs.1. B & W photo on postcard of Australian soldier posed in front of a wall. Some indecipherable pencil writing on back. 2. B & W photo on postcard of Australian Soldier standing in front of wall. No writing. 3. B & W photo of A.I.F. Band (25 members) with instruments in a field.1. Indecipherable pencil writing in corner of back. Seems to be a name and address. 3. Front labelled Ä.I.F. Band 1st A.G.H. Sutton Veny Wilts".passchendaele barracks trust, postcards, photos, ww1

Photo taken by a member of the public.Sepia photograph of the panel at Menin Gate Memorial showing names of 38th Battalion 1 AIF soldiers with unknown graves. Names and Ranks of members of 38th Battalion 1st AIF.passchendaele barracks trust, photograph, menin gate memorial, 38th battalion

This cabinet with the "Book of Remembrance" (refer Cat No 8010) was originally placed in the foyer (vestibule) of the Soldiers Memorial Institute Bendigo in 1926. After the renovations to the SMI 2016 - 18 it was then placed in what is now the "Building and RSL History Room"Cabinet heavy timber construction with four legs, has a glass top that opens at the front and lockable. Has a red felt inset for the "BOOK of REMEMBRANCE". At the back of the cabinet set at an angle is a brass plaque with an inscription in black and red with scrolls around. The plaque is on a timber backing attached to the cabinet."THIS CABINET and BOOK of REMEMBRANCE inscribed with the revered names of members of the AIF who enlisted from the Bendigo Military District and served in the GREAT WAR of 1914 - 1919 together with the names of those who subscribed to defray the cost of the Roll of HONOR on the FRONTAGE of this HALL were donated by MAJOR GEO.V.L. LANSELL, V.D. PRESIDENT of the BENDIGO R.S & S.I.L.A as a token of gratitude for the generous and spontaneous public response to the appeal launched and conducted by him for the completion of the BENDIGO SOLDIERS MEMORIAL"brsl, smirsl, remembrance

Tait collection: item 54 of 62 This document gives the details of the Letters of Administration of Michael Maloney who died intestate in 1907. He was aged 64. In this document he was described as a farmer from Dennington, near Warrnambool but a Michael Maloney is listed in 1866 as a butcher and this may be the same person or a member of his family. Michael Maloney left real estate to the value of £160 and personal estate to the value of £38. This was passed over to the son, Michael Maloney, a railway employee of Flemington, Melbourne. The lawyers involved in drawing up this document were O’Mahony and Murray who had legal offices in Warrnambool in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Con O’Mahony had established his practice in Warrnambool in the 1880s under the name of Klingender, O’Mahony and Murray and by the 20th century this was operating under the name of O’Mahony and Murray. Con O’Mahony died in 1920. This document was then passed down to successive lawyers occupying the legal premises in Kepler Street where it was located in 2014 (the former premises of the legal firm of Mackay Taylor). This document is of some interest as it gives details of the Letters of Administration of Michael Maloney, a farmer in the Dennington area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It will be useful for researchers. This is a cream-coloured piece of parchment paper folded in two to make four pages. The front page has ruled black margins and there is handwritten material on two of the pages in brown ink. These two pages also have printed italic script on them in black ink with the handwritten material inserted in the spaces left. A seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with a green ribbon and there is a red stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court on the first page. The document is somewhat stained. The document gives the details of the Letters of Administration of Michael Maloney of Dennington who died in 1907. In the Supreme Court of Victoria in the Probate Jurisdiction in the Estate of Michael Maloney, late of Dennington, in the State of Victoria, farmer, deceased, intestate. Letters of Administration.o’mahony and murray,, warrnambool solicitors, michael maloney 1907, warrnambool, michael maloney dennington 1907, michael maloney, tait collection

This ledger contains entries which pertain to sick pay and funeral expenses. Many of the entries are prefaced by Bro and a loose slip of paper in the ledger has The Ancient Order of Foresters, Warrnambool United District. The United Warrnambool District of the Ancient Order of Foresters was formed around 1869. It was changed to the Court Warrnambool No. 4126 at a later date. The Ancient order of Foresters was established in Leeds in England in the mid 1700’s to provide financial and support to its members in times of illness, unemployment, disability and old age. They were particularly active in the lives of members around the time of both world wars and during the depression in the 1930’s. The entries in this journal contain the names of many early people of the area as well as detailed financial records of an early friendly society. It has historical significance and social significance for the district. It also provides an insight into the workings of society in the 19th centuryBrown leather hard cover with gold lettering on red background on spine of ledger.227 pages.Cash Bookwarrnambool, ancient order of forresters, ancient order of forresters warrnambool

The North Warrnambool Rifle Club was operating in Warrnambool in the 1930s. It had 132 members in 1935. A noted member was the well-known local photographer, Arthur Jordan whose father, Joseph, was a crack rifle shot and was a member of the Warrnambool Rifle Club. The Barber Centenary Cup was presumably established to commemorate the Centenary of Victoria as the cup competitions commenced in 1934 and were completed in 1935. The competitions were usually held over distances of 300, 500 and 600 yards. It is not known which member of the several Barber families in Warrnambool at the time donated the cup but G. Barber was a member of the Rifle Club in 1934-5 and winner of the Gray Centenary Cup. W. D. McDonald, the winner of the trophy, was the Captain of the C lub in 1935.This item is significant as it is connected with early 20th century Warrnambool sport (rifle shooting). It shows what sort of award was given for competition winners and reveals the popularity of rifle shooting in Warrnambool in earlier decades, with two clubs existing at that timeThis is a sports trophy cup made of electro-plated nickel silver (now very tarnished). It was a trophy named ‘The Barber Centenary Cup’ given for competitions amongst the North Warrnambool Rifle Club members during 1934-5. On cup: N.W.R.C. The Barber Centenary Cup Won by W.D.McDonald 1935 On base: E.P.N.S. Empire Plate warrnambool;, rifle shooting; barber centenary cup; w.d.mcdonald, barber centenary cup, w.d.mcdonald

This is an early 20th Century photograph of the Warrnambool Pipe Band with the three men identified. The Band has been photographed at a recreation ground indicating that the Band was possibly performing at a Western Caledonian Games or gathering.The Warrnambool Pipe Band was established in 1906 and went into recess from 1916 to 1935. Today under the name of Warrnambool and District Pipes and Drums it performs regularly in the area.No other information is available on the men identified. This item is of considerable significance because it conveys a fine impression of members of the Warrnambool Pipe band in the early 20th Century. It is a rare item, redolent with history. A black and white faded.photograph attached to a piece of grey cardboard.The mount is torn in three corners. On the front and back of the mount are handwritten notes in ink. The photograph depicts members of the Warrnambool Pipe Band dressed in uniform with some pipes and drums. Some men are not wearing a band uniform. There are 39 men photographed.The photograph has been marked with three arrows pointing to those identified by the notes . Warrnambool Pipe Band Donald Bruce Uncle to Jim Bruce below Jas. Bruce son of Euphemia Bruce The Isle of Skye Jo Lucas "A louse" who married Maggie McDonald to her sorrow whose mother was Ann Bruce

These typed notes have been prepared by Tom Wicking to be used in conjunction with his collection of slides on local history. Tom Wicking was a noted local historian, particularly well-known in the 1970s and 80s. He was an early active member of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society and was involved in the establishment of Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in the mid 1970s. He also produced a revised edition of the booklet containing notes on the origin of street names in Warrnambool. Wicking Place in Warrnambool is named after him.He died in the late 1990s. These notes and slides were part of Wicking’s deceased estate and have been de-acquisitioned from the Flagstaff Hill collection and passed to the Warrrnambool and District Historical Society through the estate of Les O’Callaghan.These notes were for use in slide shows etc and have a limited use today as the historical information contained therein is continually being revised and technology has changed The slide material has been scanned and will be better utilized this way in a power point presentation etc. Typed sheets on aspects of Warrnambool and district history – note-book size (13 packs); quarto size (1 pack). warrnambool, tom wicking

This calendar was issued to customers of Harry Taylors Mens Shopin Warrnambool in 1962. Harry Taylor came to Warrnambool in 1932 and opened a menswear shop in Liebig Street. By 1962 Harry’s sons were running two shops at 132 and 136 Liebig Street. In the 1980s the shop at 132 Liebig Street was known as Taylors Colonial. Today this shop is still operated by members of the Taylor family under the name of Surfodesy. Members of the Taylor family been associated with men’s wear and sports wear shops in Warrnambool, for over 80 years and so any historical item connected with the shops is of some importance. The production for customers of a yearly calendar by businesses was, and still is, a feature of our social history.This is a 1962 calendar printed in blue and red on white paper. It has been produced for Harry Taylor’s Men’s Shop in Warrnambool and features two photographs, one of Margaret Smith, the tennis player and one of the Duke of Edinburgh. There is much typed material showing dates etc of prominent sports activities in Australia in 1962. A calendar for 1962 is at the bottom of the page.warrnambool, calendar

This leaflet lists five pieces of embroidery made by the South Western Branch of the Embroiderers Guild of Victoria and presented to the City of Warrnambool, one piece made for Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, one piece containing the names of 170 members of the branch and one piece made for the Jones Foundation. The South Western Group of the Embroiderers Guild of Victoria was formed in Warrnambool in 1974. In 1976 they presented their first public piece of embroidery, a patchwork quilt for the Lighthouse Keepers’ Cottage to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village .This leaflet is useful for its summary of the embroideries completed by the local embroidery branch involving many of its members. This is a four page leaflet depicting eight works of embroidery made by the Embroiderers Guild of Victoria, South Western Branch. The eight embroidery pieces are displayed in colour with written material attachedFront cover: Embroidery in Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia, The Embroiderers Guild (logo), A guide to the embroideries completed by The Embroiderers Guild, Victoria, South Western Branch, P.O. Box 433 Warrnambool 3280, W.C.C. Logo and a 50 year logo embroiderers guild, south western branch, warrnambool

This printing plate was made for Dr Horace Holmes to be used by him as a calling card. Dr Horace Holmes, born in Tasmania in 1877, came to Warrnambool in 1905 taking over the practice of Dr Fleetwood at ‘Ierne’, at the corner of Spence and Kepler Streets. In 1906 he built a new home at the corner of Liebig Street and Raglan Parade and moved his practice there in 1912 (Currently occupied by Oz Child in 2024). Dr Holmes retired in 1939, briefly returned to medical practice as a locum during the war years, and died in 1959. He was a foundation member of the Warrnambool Rotary Club. This printing plate is a significant item as it belonged to Dr Holmes, a prominent doctor and a leading community member in Warrnambool for 50 years. It also is a good example of a custom of the time – the use of a calling card when visiting homes or contacting clients and business people. (This practice continues today)This is a printing plate for Dr Horace Iles Holmes. It is made of brass and is quite worn, particularly on the reverse side where the name of the manufacturer is almost obliteratedDr Horace Iles Holmesdr horace holmes, printing plate

These items have no known provenance and no information has been found on the Barnards on the printing blocks, delivery paper and stamps. The stamp for ‘W.I.O. Barnard’ was sent to an address in Camberwell so it is presumed that the Barnard family members were in Melbourne and not in the Warrnambool district.The only interest in these items is in the printing blocks and stamps. They are good examples of the type of printing used in the early 20th century and the type of stamp used by individuals for letterheads, visiting cards, personal items etc. There are 5 objects in this collection:- 1. A small red cardboard box 2. A printing block with a tapered wooden base and metal type – E.D. Barnard There are three small nails holding the type to the wooden block. 3. A printing block with a metal ring handle – R. Barnard 4. Five metal type letters (G, I, K, O, W) 5. A much-tattered sheet of paper showing delivery of stamp to ‘W.I.O. Barnard’ Wooden Block – E.D. Barnard Metal Block – R. Barnard Box - stamped E.D. Barnard Paper – ‘Linen Stamp Co. 231 Elizabeth St. Melbourne, Please deliver stamp and pad at 2/6, Name: W.I.O. Barnard, Address: 29 Bowen St. Camberwell, Signature: E. Barnard’ barnard, printing blocks

Tait collection: item 33 of 62 This probate document gives details of the will of Thomas Smith, a farmer in the Wangoom district who was a pioneer settler, having arrived in the area about 1848. He erected the Shamrock Hotel in Dennington in 1868 and it was opened for business in 1869 with David Duffy as the first licensee. Thomas Smith was the licensee in 1870 and members of his family (Cornelius, Robert and Mary Smith) held the licence of the hotel until 1880. A codicil to the will gave Mary Smith, Thomas’ daughter, the hotel land and building. This hotel closed in 2011. Thomas Smith signed the original will with a cross (his mark). Other names mentioned in the probate document are Frederick Wilkinson, Master-in-Equity, Ernest Chambers, Solicitor, John Drayton, Clerk to E. Chambers, William Ardlie, Senior, Solicitor, Thomas Goodall, Clerk to William Ardlie, Richard Sheldrick, Clerk to William Ardlie, Walter Davies, Stationer.This is a significant document as Thomas Smith was a prominent owner of land, especially in the Dennington area. The Shamrock Hotel in Dennington was built by Smith and still owned by him when he died in 1880. The will gives important details of the estate of Thomas Smith and adds to our knowledge of his life and work. Document – Probate, 1880/1907 - the Will and Codicil of Thomas Smith, Farmer of Dennington The will has six ruled paper pages of typewritten material. Each page has printed ruled red lines top, bottom and sides and all are tied with green corded string. There are handwritten corrections and signatures, including those of Ernest Chambers, Solicitor of Warrnambool and John Drayton, Clerk to E. Chambers.Thomas Smith Shamrock Hotel, Dennington Ernest Chambers, Solicitor thomas smith wangoom 1848, shamrock hotel dennington, warrnambool history, thomas smith 1880

This bat was awarded to Thomas William Southcombe in 1876 for the best batting average during the 1875-6 season at Warrnambool Cricket Club. Thomas William Southcombe was the son of Thomas and Mary Southcombe of Port Fairy. With his parents, Thomas and Mary, he arrived in Port Fairy in 1854. Thomas Senior was a carpenter who established several businesses in Port Fairy and served on the local Council for many years as a Councillor and Mayor. Thomas Junior appears to have migrated to U.S.A. and died there in 1904. The cricket bat was manufactured by the British firm of James Lillywhite, Frowd & Co. James Lillywhite was an English cricketer whose uncle had originally established the sports store and manufacturing business which lasted under various names until the 21st century. A cricketer named Lillywhite played in Warrnambool in 1874 with an All England Team under the captaincy of W.G.Grace. It is not known whether this was James Lillywhite or another member of the Liilywhite family as several of them played first class cricket.. The impression of the signature of W.H.Ponsford on the bat is an intriguing one. W.H. (Bill) Ponsford was a famous Australian cricketer who retired in the late 1930s. The Southcombe cricket bat was given by Mary Southcombe (Thomas’ sister) to the old Warrnambool Museum in 1923 and it is surmised that Bill Ponsford visited Warrnambool in 1957 (tthis appears to be the date under the signature imprint) and was shown the bat. It is then surmised that he rested a piece of paper or an album page on the bat while he signed his name and the impression of the signature has come through onto the bat. The old Museum closed in the 1960s and the bat was then passed on to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society from the Warrnambool City Council collection of items from the Museum. This bat is of considerable importance because of its provenance and its connection with the Warrnambool Cricket Club, the Southcombe family of Port Fairy, the Lillywhite manufacturers, the old Warrnambool Museum and Bill Ponsford. It is also a good example of the type of cricket bat used in Australia in the 1870s. This is a wooden cricket bat (light colour wood, presumably willow) with a handle covered in oiled thread. It has an etched inscription on one side of the bat and the names of the manufacturer and distributor on the other side. There is also a faint impression of another signature. The blade of the bat is slightly curved. ‘W.C.C. Season 1875-6 Presented to T.W. Southcombe, for Best Batting Average’ ‘James Lillywhite Frowd & Co., Manufacturers, Borough, England’ ‘Made for George Marsh, Melbourne’ ‘W.H.Ponsford, -/1/1957’ warrnambool cricket club, thomas william southcombe, w.h.ponsford, warrnambool’s old museum

These are three volumes of Peloubet’s Select Notes. The book contents are described as ‘Inductive, Suggestive, Explanatory, Illustrative, Doctrinal and Practical’. The books were issued as curriculum material for Sunday Schools and were first published in the mid 1870s and continued to be published for the next 100 years. These three volumes belonged to M. P. McMeekin and this is presumed to be Margaret Parker McMeekin (1868-1948), the daughter of John McMeekin and Isabella Parker of Warrnambool. John McMeekin was the Rate Collector and Inspector and then the Valuer for the Warrnambool Shire in the 1860s, 70s and 80s. Two sons, William and James, operated a produce export business in Kepler Street under the name of McMeekin Brothers and another son, Charles was an auctioneer in Warrnambool. It is surmised that Margaret McMeekin was a Sunday School teacher either in Warrnambool or Port Fairy. These books are of interest as examples of what was taught in Sunday Schools in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They are also of interest because they belonged to Margaret McMeekin, a member of a prominent family in Warrnambool at that time. These are three books of a religious nature written by F. and M. Peloubet and published in 1895, 1898 and 1904. .1 A hard cover book of 346 pages with a greenish brown cover and gold lettering on the spine. Two blue stamps of the Warrnmbool & District Historical Society and a handwritten name are on the first page .2 A hard cover book of 344 pages with a brown cover and gold lettering on the spine. Two blue stamps of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society are on the first and last page. The cover has worn edges. .3 A hard cover book of 358 pages with a greenish brown cover and gold lettering on the spine. There are two blue stamps of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society on the first and last page. There is a black and white full page plate at the beginning of the book and this is protected by a piece of tissue. ‘M.P. McMeekin, Port Fairy’ (1895 volume) sunday schools, margaret mcmeekin, warrnambool history

This is an early school arithmetic book with the front preface indicating it is the third edition published in 1842. The book appears to have been used about the 1860s by members of the Bell family who probably lived at Cudgee. The names of the children, presumably the Bell children, are scattered throughout the book – Margaret, Walter, Sarah and William. No information is available on this Bell family though there are records of births in Warrnambool of Bell children in the 1850s to William and Jane Bell. Cudgee, a small settlement on the Cudgee Creek, is about 16 kilometres from Warrnambool. This book is of some minor interest because of its age and because it has some association with the Bell family who may have lived at Cudgee in the mid 19th century. The exercises in the book are of interest as examples of the arithmetical problems given to children in the mid 19th century. This is a hard cover book of 282 pages. The cover is dark brown with gold lettering on the spine but the front cover and part of the first few pages are missing. The pages are ragged and dog-eared and quite dirty in places. There is handwritten material in both pencil and ink on the front pages, throughout the text and on the back page. ‘Margaret’ ‘Walter’ ‘Sarah’ ‘William Bell’ ‘Cudgee’ mathematics, bell family, cudgee, warrnambool history

This plate has been made by the Globe Pottery Company of England and supplied by the china merchant firm of John Dynon and Sons of Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. It was used at the Criterion Hotel in Warrnambool. The Criterion Hotel, situated on the western side of Kepler Street near Lava Street, was established in 1872 with the first licensee being John Tate. The hotel closed in 2008, was partially destroyed by fire in 2010 and was demolished in 2010. This plate, being marked with the name ‘Cobridge’, was made before 1934. In the first three decades of the 20th century the licensees at the Criterion Hotel were members of the Humm family, Theresa Lynch, Henry McGennan and Margaret McGennan. The dinner plate could have been used for all or part of these years and could have been used later as well. This plate is of considerable interest as it was used at the Criterion Hotel, a prominent hotel in Warrnambool for over 130 years. This is a circular white china plate with a rim and a slight indentation at the base. There is a red embedded stamp in the shape of a belt on the top edge and the grey stamp of the maker on the bottom of the plate. This plate was probably used as a small dinner plate. There are a few small imperfections and stains on this plate.‘Criterion Hotel Warrnambool’ ‘Globe Pottery Co. Ltd. Cobridge England Vitrified, John Dynon & Sons, Melbourne’ humm family, mcgennan family, theresa lynch, criterion hotel, history of warrnambool

This book was written by C. Frusher Howard in 1874 and this copy is the 1892 edition. C. Frusher Howard was the alias of Joseph Ostler (‘Frusher’ was his mother’s maiden name) and he was the first district secretary of the Moorabbin Roads Board. He absconded with its funds in 1867. After some time in the goldfields of U.S.A. and a bigamous marriage he published ‘The Art of Reckoning’ which was highly successful in Britain and U.S.A. He was able to pay back the money he had embezzled. He advertised that he was a Fellow of the Society of Science, Letters and Art, London, but this was a profit-making society owned by an individual and enabled members to wear academic dress and use the title of ‘Professor’. Ostler had in reality no academic qualifications. In the early 1890s he lectured on his ideas on mathematical calculation and publicized his four books in India, Egypt, Palestine and South Africa. In 1896 he returned to Australia and at the 1896-7 Warrnambool Industrial and Art Exhibition Howard gave daily lectures on mathematical calculations and illustrated these with the aid of a blackboard. The inscription in this book does not appear to have any local significance but the book is of interest because the author, C. Frusher Howard, was a lecturer at the Warrnambool Industrial and Art Exhibition of 1896-7. This is a soft cover book of 142 pages. There are several pages at the back of the book advertising other books published by Cassell and Company. The cover is brown with an ornate border on the front cover and black printing on the front cover, spine and back cover. The lettering on the spine has been mostly worn away. The first page has a black and white sketch of the author, C. Frusher Howard, in academic dress. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘C.F. Hamilton, South Heathcote, 1893’ c. frusher howard (joseph ostler)

This book is an early school reader for the Fifth Grade. It appears to be a British publication and has no Australian content (except for a brief biography of Captain Cook). The name ‘Matilda F.’ from Mailors Flat can probably be identified as Matilda Freckleton as the Freckleton family members were prominent settlers in the Mailors Flat area in the early 20th century. Matilda Freckleton (1886-1957) was the daughter of Francis and Catherine Freckleton. She married Calvin Chambers in 1906. This book is of minor interest as it is an example of an early school reader and it probably belonged to an early Mailors Flat resident, Matilda Freckleton. This is a soft cover book of 414 pages. The original front cover has been lost and a piece of grey cardboard has been used as its replacement. The back cover was originally a brown colour. The spine is now covered with a piece of grey material stitched on to part of the original spine. Some front and back pages are missing. The text has three sections and these contain prose extracts, stories, poems, hymns and work exercises. There are some black and white illustrations. A couple of pages are loose. Pasted in at the front and back pages are cuttings from newspapers. The handwritten material is in blue ink and pencil. There are two blue stamps of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. ‘M.E.F., Mailors Flat’ ‘Matilda F., Mailors Flat’ matilda freckleton, mailors flat history, history of warrnambool

The name ‘Ruttledge’ may have no local significance thought the name ‘Rutledge’ is important in our history, commencing with William Rutledge who purchased the Farnham Special Survey in the 1840s( Tower Hill to Dennington). The name ‘Swinton’ is prominent in our history. Mrs John Swinton (Charlotte Scott nee Dunn, 1871-1944) was married to John Swinton, the son of William and Ann Swinton who came to Warrnambool in 1854. William established a store in Timor Street in the 1850s and opened branches of this store in several local towns. The Swinton family still has commercial interests in Timor Street. This book is of interest because it belonged to Charlotte Swinton, a member of the Swinton family important in Warrnambool’s commercial and community history. This is a black leather-covered book of 656 pages plus a Supplement of Hymns of 32 pages. The cover has gold lettering on the front and the spine. The pages have a gilt edging. The inscriptions are handwritten in pencil. The cover is somewhat scuffed and worn. ‘Mrs John Swinton’ ‘A. Ruttledge, 317 Wattletree Rd., E. Malvern’ swinton family, warrnambool, john swinton, charlotte swinton, history of warrnambool

This is an early school reader for junior classes. It was used by members of the Giles family at Wangoom State School. This book has the names Robert Giles and Stella Giles. The Giles family lives on the Allansford Road. Wangoom School commenced in 1865 as Wangoom Common School, No. 645. After 1872 the Common School system was abolished and it became Wangoom State School. It is now closed. This book is of interest as an early 20th century example of a school reader used in Victoria. It has no Australian content. It is also of interest as a book used at Wangoom State School by members of the Giles family, early settlers in the Warrnambool area. This is a hard cover book of 190 pages. The cover is black with embossed lettering and ornamentation (much of which is now indecipherable). The front and the back of the book have missing pages. The text contains many black and white illustrations, some of which have been coloured in by hand. Some pages are torn and the spine of the cover is torn at the top. There is some scribble in the book, with the decipherable material handwritten in black ink. ‘Robert Percy Giles, Wangoom, November 5th 1903’ ‘Stella Giles’ giles family, wangoom state school, history of warrnambool