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 Home of the Blizzard Vol 2 Being the Story of the Australian Antartic Expedition 1911 - 1915 Author: Douglas Mawson Publisher: William Heinemann Date: 1915Label on spine cover with typed text 919.9 MAW Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Public Librarywarrnambool, 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 home of the blizzard vol 2

Advertisement for Sub-divisional sale by auction on Saturday, 22nd April, 1961, with terms of sale of 10 home sites with frontages to New Street, Ringwood, Victoria.Location map showing land for sale on New Street, Ringwood, north of Palmerston Road. Auctioneers in conjunction - Yeo, Crosthwaite & Co., 108 Queen Street Melbourne (Telephone) MU 8605, and Perpetual Realty Corporation Pty. Ltd., 62 Swanston Street, Melbourne (Telephone) MF 3721.

Black and white photo - Home of Mr. & Mrs. J. Graham, 301 Mitcham Road, Mitcham. In 1945 it was 496. Rae Matthews - Daughter. Since demolished.graham, mrs j, j, matthews, rae

Black & white photo of 'Hillview', Springfield Road, Blackburn, home of Mr and Mrs Charles Toogood between 1915 and 1941. Copy of photo taken in 1938.hillview, springfield road, blackburn, toogood, charles rupert toogood, edith

Used in 'Blackburn - a picturesque history' by Robin Da CostaBlack & white photo of 26 Blackburn Road. Originally family home of Rooks. 1964 became administration office for Librarian and staff , and Legal Aid Centre.-++rooks family, 26 blackburn road, blackburn

Set of six black & white photos of the Lyell family home (Andrew & Emma Lyell) built by Algernon Elmore at 18 Laurel Grove, Blackburn in 1914.lyell andrew, lyell emma, elmore algernon john, laurel grove blackburn no. 18, russell janet

Original Building dates from around 1855, strong connection with Robert Allen, prominent citizen in early goldrush, links through him to Allen Store and Old Library.Built by prominent citizen and benefactor, early gold-rush dwellingEyre Cottage, former home of Robert Allen, c 1855, on S/W cnr. of Eyre and Winter Streets, side view from N/W.buninyong, eyre st, winter st, robert allen, streetscape, building

The newsletters cover the period during the Second World War from August 1943 to February 1946 with 19 editions. These were produced every few months. They include some personal notices, church news, baptisms. There are a few biographies of those who enlisted, in the last edition. George Leslie Rayment (born 1894, Surrey Hills; died 1976, Blackburn) married Grace Lewis in Surrey Hills in 1918. They had 2 daughters - Norma Leslie (1923-1996) and Dr Dulcie Grace Rayment, a noted obstetrician & gynaecologist (died 2014). George Rayment was the donor's wife's grandfather.A spiral-bound copy of some of the editions of the 'Home Front News'. The editor was George Leslie Rayment and the newsletter was produced for the Surrey Hills Methodist Church's congregation.surrey hills methodist church, (mr) les rayment, (miss) effie craig, (dr) edna gault, (dr) edward gault, (mr) george leslie rayment, george leslie rayment

Black and white photograph of Captain Miles standing in garden in front of his house. (2 copies one of which appears to be an original mounted on cardboard, produced by Mervyne Studio, Ringwood.Typed on rear of original photograph: "Capt. E.T. Miles & his home. (Built 1920). Later became C. of E. Vicarage, 1964. Typed below: "Captain Miles and his home. 1935. Site is now Church of England. Miles died in 1944. 'Glamorgan'."

The Daily Express Newspaper Dated 31/5/1940The Daily Express Newspaper Dated 31/5/1940The Daily Express Newspaper Dated 31/5/1940Dunkirk -Tens of Thousands Safely Home Already - Three Destroyers Lost - Bomb Fear Starts Evacuation Again.dunkirk -tens of thousands safely home already - three destroyers lost - omb fear starts evacuation again.

Sepia photograph Below the photograph is the inscription: The Inspection of British Might Home Fleet by members of Parliament at Spithead July 9 1914.

Painting of the house built on "Oakpark" by Joseph English.Oil on board in a gold painted frame.Label: John Pascoe Fawkner's/Home/1840/Glenroy/by Jean Jackson/36 Acacia Street/Glenroy $250painting, john pascoe fawkner, houses of broadmeadows

Black and white photograph showing damage to weatherboard house. (3 images)Written on back of each photograph: "A.T. Miles old home, 48 Warrandyte Road. Burnt August 1974."

The house was built in 1910. The Clota and Sans families were part of a group of families of Spanish (Catalan) background who lived around Surrey Hills, many of whom are buried in Box Hill Cemetery. The house was built for Antonio and Josepha Clota and passed on to their daughter Josephine Sans and her family. Antonio's full name: Antonio Eusebio Miquel CLota (1869-1940; died Surrey Hills) had 3 brothers who came to Australia with him. Louis Clota (1864-1925); Marcus Clota (1866-1940) died Surrey Hills; Eusebio Clota (1869-1919). Their parents remained in Spain. Josephine Clota and Kim Sans had photos taken on the front entrance to the house when they were married on 9 May 1919. The wedding was reported in Punch.Black and white photo of the home of Mr and Mrs Antonio Clota; later the home of their daughter Josephine and son-in-law, Kim Sans and family. It shows bluestone curb and channelling in Union Road and a substantial wire mesh fence. The street tree looks like a plane tree and is a relatively young plant. Ther house is single storey brick with a tile roof and solid pillars supporting the verandah.houses, antonio clota, josepha comellas, josepha clota, catalan families, josephine clota, josephine sans, kim sans, joaquim sans, francis clota, frank clota, box hill cemetery

Article on home-made telephone system linking the Pask family children and others in Blackburn in 'The Sun' 12 June 1961. Copy from scrapbook of Jessie Williams.Article on home-made telephone system linking the Pask family children and others in Blackburn in 'The Sun' 12 June 1961telephones, williams, jessie, pask, colin, lynette, lorraine, mcnaught, margaret, henderson, roger, jennifer

Coloured postcard with a photo of Christina Cock and two views of the Lake Park Nursing Home.|Christina is the oldest Australian. Born in 1887 and at time of cataloguing is still alive.cock, christina, blackburn, lake park nursing home

Photo sent to Mary Jack, Pittsburgh, USA by Charles Schwerkolt. Accompanying text sent by Charles 'Enclosed please find a few snaps of the old homestead at Mitcham. You asked me to get a photo of the verandah side. Well, there is a verandah on both sides and one end as you can see. This is a photo of the front. The door has been nailed up for 20 years. It is riddled with termites (white ants) and cannot be used.'Black and white photo of August Schwerkolt's 2nd Home shows front door riddled with white ant - nailed up for 20 years. Thin Black Border.schwerkolt cottage, schwerkolt, charles clarence victor, whalen, rosalie, jackschowsky, mary elizabeth

Black & white photos (two) of early Blackburn home next to Watts Dairy, on the cnr of Albert Street and Railway Road. Demolished in 1977 and now the site of a carpark.watts dairy, albert street blackburn, railway road blackburn

Article - "A home with a history" by Nora Cooper featuring Sweeney's Cottage at Culla Hill in Eltham, a pioneer settler of the district on pages 6-9 and 49-50Magazine missing cover (pages 1, 2, 51,52); p49/50 torn, several articles where pictures have been cut out or sectioned Dispay panel of a second copy of article pages adhered to boardaustralian home beautiful magazine, culla hill, eltham, houses, sweeney's cottage, sweeneys lane, thomas sweeney, display panel

Women’s magazines just after WWII played a “reflecting role,” meaning they cooperated with government agendas while still including topics of readers’ interests Women’s employment rate had skyrocketed during WWII. However, even though the number of women working outside the home grew rapidly most of them were still engaged entirely in homemaking. Therefore women’s magazines centered mostly on the stresses and shortages of wartime. Articles as well as advertisements presented information on “product rationing, tips on keeping the family healthy, guidelines for thrifty shopping and advice on how to look good through it all.This is an example of an English women's magazine published post WW11.It gives practical advice on needlework / knitting and evidences the widespread interest in contemporary fashion. In doing so it shows what were the fashionable, but broadly affordable, women's and children's clothing styles of their day. These magazines also reflect women's interests.A 64 pp magazine, titled Woman and Home and Good Needlework Magazine. On the front cover is a coloured drawing of a fashionably dressed and made-up woman with red hair and holding a bunch of similarly coloured flowers (gerberas?) At the bottom left are knitted baby clothes - pattern inside - as well as a man and woman wearing fashionable clothing - suggesting patterns are inside the magazine. The magazine cost 1/6 and is dated October 1951.magazine-woman-and-home

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 card'Windy' Gale's burnt out home, Wild Dog Creek Road 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

Varnished dark brown wooden shield with engraved silver plaques attached. Winners: California Hill Amount of money raised given together with the number of 'bags'."BENDIGO BRANCH METHODIST BABIES HOME COMPETITIVE BOTTLE SHIELD 1937-1942" "THE 'EDWARDS' SHIELD WON BY CALIFORNIA HILL"methodist babies' home bendigo branch

Black and white photograph. (2 images)Written on back of each photograph: "Dr. Hewitt's old home after alterations, 6 Warrandyte Rd, 8/79."

Black and white photograph of weatherboard house. (2 copies- 1 large, 1 small)Written on backing sheet of large copy: " 'Johnswood', Home of Charles Wedge, President of old Ringwood East Progress Association. Related to John Helder Wedge, Batman's surveyor.1964." Written on back of small copy: "Home of CHarles Edward Lyndhurst Wedge. Died 1962." Demolished 1967

cottage, building, home, house, william rutledge, sydney

paintingcottage, building, home, house, belfast close, jake mcinnes

The Australian Home Medical and Recipe Book. Copyright owners: Messrs W. Wright & Co "This Book is now being sold throughout Australia for the purpose of assisting unemployed Returned Soldiers" shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, warrnambool, 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 australian home medical and recipe book

1 page one sided and handwritten in black ink in capital letters on a creamy colour paper: recollection of Nancy Oakley about the Melbourne Sailors Home located on Siddeley Street.nancy oakley, betsy dingle, williamstown, sailors' home, mission to seamen, marjorie duckett nee maclennan, nancy dingle, theo h. swanton

Phonograph record, black shellac, no cover. Burgundy Regal label. Side A: Till the Boys Come Home March. Side B: Heroes All March. The Silvester Stars Band.Reference No. G 7157