Tait collection: item 35 of 62 This is a document giving details of the Letters of Administration following the death of Alexander Gibson McPherson, a farmer of Rochester, Victoria, in December 1883. He died intestate and left an estate worth £215. The beneficiary was his sister, Mary Wright of Somerton. No other details are available on Alexander McPherson. The lawyer in the case was Ernest Chambers who had legal offices in Port Fairy, Warrnambool and Koroit at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. This document was in his possession at his Warrnambool office and passed down to successive lawyers occupying legal premises in Kepler Street. The document was found in the same building, the former premises of the legal firm, Mackay Taylor, where it was located in 2014 and handed over to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society.This document is only of interest as being originally in the possession of Ernest Chambers, a lawyer who was in Warrnambool for several years at the end of the 19th century. No connection between Warrnambool and Alexander McPherson has been found. This is a cream-coloured sheet of parchment paper, folded twice. It contains hand written material in brown ink giving details of the Letters of Administration following the death of Alexander McPherson of Rochester in 1883. A seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with a green ribbon and it has ,a black stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court of Victoria. One page has been ruled at the edges with brown lines. The writing is somewhat faded but the document is legible. In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria in its probate jurisdiction in the Estate of Alexander Gibson McPherson late of Rochester in the Colony of Victoria Farmer a bachelor deceasedalexander mcpherson, ernest chambers, warrnambool, tait collection

August 26, 1957 issue of TIME Magazine, with Althea Gibson on cover. Materials: Paper, Inktennis

Coloured photograph of Rooks Road, Mitcham, looking north. Taken from Gibson Street, Mitcham corner.rooks road, mitcham

Coloured photograph of Rooks Road, Mitcham looking north. Taken from round-about at Gibson Street.rooks road, mitcham

Black and white photograph. Female students pruning a fruit tree in the Orchard with secateurs and sawsOn reverse, "On left H. Mactier on rt. Peg Gibson." female students, h. mactier, peg gibson, students working outside, orchard, pruning, secateurs, pruning saw, fruit tree

This work forms part of the collection assembled by the historian Dorothy Rogers, that was donated to the Kew Historical Society by her son John Rogers in 2015. The manuscripts, photographs, maps, and documents were sourced by her from both family and local collections or produced as references for her print publications. Many were directly used by Rogers in writing ‘Lovely Old Homes of Kew’ (1961) and 'A History of Kew' (1973), or the numerous articles on local history that she produced for suburban newspapers. Most of the photographs in the collection include detailed annotations in her hand.The Rogers Collection provides a comprehensive insight into the working habits of a historian in the 1960s and 1970s. Together it forms the largest privately-donated collection within the archives of the Kew Historical Society.Small black and white photograph of 'Campion Hall' (previously called Dalswraith and Glendalough) in Studley Park Road, Kew."Ca. 1905 / Campion College / built for S.W. Gibson"historic houses -- kew (vic.), campion hall -- house, glendalough, dalswraith-- dalsraith, kew mansions

White porcelain dinner plates with Ballarat School of Mines monogram and gold rim.GIBPAT fine china made expressly for Gibsons and Paterson Japancrockery, smb crockery, porcelain, ballarat school of mines crockery

This book was part of a large group of books referred to as the Pattison Collection, which belonged to the Warrnambool Public Library, part of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute. About RALPH ERIC PATTISON and the ‘PATTISON COLLECTION’ The ‘Pattison Collection’ is a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, 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 WMI was led to ask the City Council to take it over in 1911 due to a lack of financial support. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Public Library as it was then called. Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up a home in Warrnambool. In 1935 when Pattison accepted the 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 areas 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 from 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 NEW WARRNAMBOOL LIBRARY 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 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. WARRNAMBOOL PUBLIC LIBRARY The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) was formed by a voluntary community group in 1863, within six years of Warrnambool’s beginnings, and its Reading Room opened in 1854. The WMI operated until 1963, at which time it was one of the oldest Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria. Mechanics’ Institutes offered important services to the public including libraries, reading rooms and places to display and store collections of all sorts such as curiosities and local historical relics. In 1886 a Museum and Fine Arts Gallery were added to the WMI and by the beginning of the 20th century, there was also a billiards room and a School of Art. By this time all Mechanics’ Institutes in country Victoria had museums attached. Over the years the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Library was also known as the Warrnambool Public Library the Warrnambool Library and the Free Library. Early funding from the government was for the “Free Library”. The inscription in a book “Science of Man” was for the “Warrnambool Public Library”, donated by Joseph Archibald in 1899. Another inscription in the book “Catalogue of Plants Under Cultivation in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens 1 & 2, 1883” was presented to the “Warrnambool Library” and signed by the author W.R. Guilfoyle. In 1903 the Warrnambool Public Library decided to add a Juvenile Department to library and stock it with hundreds of books suitable for youth. In 1905 the Public Library committee decided to update the collection of books and added 100 new novels plus arrangements for the latest novels to be included as soon as they were available in Victoria. In July 1911 the Warrnambool Council took over the management of the Public Library, Art Gallery, Museum and Mechanics’ Institute and planned to double the size of the then-current building. In 1953, when Mr R. Pattison was Public Librarian, the Warrnambool Public Library’s senior section 10,000 of the 13,000 books were fiction. The children’s section offered an additional 3,400 books. The library had the equivalent of one book per head of population and served around 33 per cent of the reading population. The collection of books was made up of around 60 per cent reference and 40 per cent fiction. The library was lending 400 books per day. In 1963 the Warrnambool City Council allocated the site of the Mechanics’ Institute building, which included the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery, for the new Municipal Offices and the Collections were dispersed until 1971. The Warrnambool Library took over the Mechanics’ Institute Library’s holdings on behalf of the Warrnambool City Council. Since the closure of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute the exact location and composition of the original WMI books and items have become unclear. Other materials have been added to the collection, including items from Terang MI, Warrnambool Court House and Customs House. Many of the books have been identified as the Pattison Collection, named after the Librarian who catalogued and numbered the books during his time as Warrnambool Public Librarian in the time before the Mechanics’ Institute closed. It seems that when Warrnambool became part of the Corangamite Regional Library some of the books and materials went to its head office in Colac and then back to Warrnambool where they were stored at the Art Gallery for quite some time. Some then went to the Warrnambool Historical Society, some stayed at the Art Gallery and some were moved to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The various stamps and labels on the books held at Flagstaff Hill show the variety of the collection’s distribution and origin. The books in the collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village date from the 1850s to the late 1950s and include rare and valuable volumes. Many of the books are part of the “Pattison Collection” after the Warrnambool’s Public Librarian, Mr R. Pattison. 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 Rosebowl Author: Aubrey H. L. Gibson. Illustrated by R. Malcolm Warner Publisher: FW Cheshire Date: 1952 The label on the spine cover with typed text RH 910.4 GIB Front loose endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Public Library. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, 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, the rosebowl, aubrey h. l. gibson., r. malcolm warner

Black and white small portrait size photograph Susan Gibson, Miss Australia Quest entrant Lakes Entrance Victoriacommunity services, people, contestants

Black and white photograph. Garden View looking south. Luffmann Ponds, Old Cypress Bed, Emily Gibson bedsOn reverse, "From roof of School of Horticulture April 1953."garden view, school of horticulture, 1953, ponds, emily gibson beds, luffmann ponds, lily ponds, old cypress bed

Small envelope which contained three original photos and three postcards, donated to the society by founding member Helen Gibson c.1993. Envelope is pre-paid from the Arthritis Foundation of Victoria, Inc. Handwritten on it are 1. 'X10', written by Marian Matta while organising photos for cataloguing; 2. 'for Helen Gibson', presumably written by Gwen Thomas'; and 3. 'From Gwen Thomas – originally from Miss Field. Gwen also has a set of School Magazines – 1928. Any historical value?', written by Helen Gibson.

Eight members of the Gaming Branch in 1940. J Gibson, A DeLaRue, F Henderson, T Meekle, A guys, A Mason, H Dawson. police vehicles; motor transport branch; motor transport section; wireless patrol

Handwritten letter dated 20th July 1891 addressed to Cohns Secretary re: delivery of scrip in name of signed M. O. Gibson.bendigo, industry, cohn bros brewery

BHS CollectionSmall booklet of thirty-two pages titled "Maldon & Gold", compiled by Col Gibson, produced by the Maldon Progress Publicity and Tourist AssociationAileen Ellison 25 March, 1979 on front page. Mr. Frances Gray, Reef Street Maldon ph. 752522 inside back covermaldon, gold

Black and white photo of Joe Gibson in swimming trunks and standing inside between two pillars. Written on the front of the photo: 1955-56 Vic Country Champs Junior Mens Backstroke 1st place Junior Mens 110 F/S 3rd 1955 Joe Gibson Written on the back of the photo: Melb Victorian Junior Swimming Champion.recreations, sports, swimming

Reflections of Julie Gibson on her time both as a pupil and as a teacher at Golden Square PS. Bottom of page picture of Grade 5/6 1960.bendigo, education, golden square primary school

Black and white photograph. Garden view looking down from the Administration Building at the Emily Gibson garden beds in front of it. A group of students on the path.garden view, administration building, garden beds, emily gibson, students

Worn by Jean Gibson, born 1909 sister of Helen Gibson.Pair of silver cameo earrings.earrings, jewellery

Set of three Newspaper clippings written by Jacqui Macdonald, about the withdrawal and storage of W class trams. ,1 - The Age 11/2/1992 - titled "State accused of campaign to run down heritage trams", quotes Don Gibson Chairman of the Friends of the W class at the National Trust and Minister Peter Spyker. Comments around the cost of maintenance. .2 - The Age 27-4-1992 - titled "Historic trams to go into permanent storage", includes a photo of SW5 758, to a North Melbourne warehouse in Alfred St, about 50 trams, without bogies, PTC spokesman said to secure storage. .3 - The Age 28/4/1992 - titled "Trust furious at plans to mothball old trams" - Quotes Don Gibson, not happy, more trams than needed, space issue, cost of overhauls, compared to new trams. Has a photo of Mr Brown, opposition transport spokesman, policy to keep as many as possible and run them.trams, tramways, w class, maintenance, national trust, withdrawn trams, stored trams, tram 758

Note by T.H. Kneen 20 February 1991, "East facade, lawns and gardens in foreground. A very large Pinus radiata was removed from the approximate position of the staked tree in the middle foreground. It was removed by George Manley (43-57) and Andy Tylee (51-53) possibly in 1952."2 copies black and white photograph. Administration Building in the background with Emily Gibson beds in front. Willow at the edge of the ponds was replaced. Staked tree no longer there. Early 1950sgardens, trees, george manley, andy tylee, administration building, pinus radiata

Seven police members of the Gaming Branch standing in front of a 1937 Ford and a 1940 Chevrolet in 1940. J Gibson, A DeLaRue, F Henderson, T Meekle, A Guys, A Mason, H Dawson.police vehicles; motor transport branch; motor transport section; wireless patrol