This junior football shield was given by James Fairbairn (1897-1940), a prominent Western District pastoralist, aviator, local politician and Federal Cabinet minister. He was killed in a Canberra air disaster in 1940. The shield shows that several football teams, including West End, Russells Creek and East Warrnambool won the shield in the 1930s. In 1936 the shield was won outright by West End Football Club. This club, founded in the late 19th century, played in Western District Leagues until 1946 when it joined the newly-formed Warrnambool District Football League. In 1971 it merged with the Allansford Football Club to become the West End-Allansford Club and in 2002 the name ceased to exist when the team name was changed back to Allansford Football Club. This trophy is of interest as a football trophy given over 80 years ago and as a memento of the Warrnambool West End Football Club, a team no longer existing. The sport of Australian football has been, and still is, highly prominent in the Warrnambool district with football first played in the town in 1861. This is a wooden shield with nine silver-coloured metal discs affixed to the shield with metal pins. Eight of these discs are shield-shaped. All of the discs have etched inscriptions. The discs are somewhat stained and the wooden shield has traces of paint on it. There is a wire attached to the back of the shield for hanging on a wall. ‘Warrnambool Junior Football League’ ‘Junior Challenge Shield presented by J.V. Fairbairn Esq. M.L.A. 1932’ ‘Won Outright West End Football Club 1936’ west end football club, warrnambool, j.v.fairbairn

The Nillumbik Festival was introduced as a replacement for the Eltham Festival following the disbandment of Eltham Shire Council in December 1994 and the creation of Nillumbik Shire Council. It was an attempt to draw away from Eltham and be more inclusive of the wider communities in Nillumbik. However other local communities had their own festivals and the concept of a Nillumbik Festival was never widely accepted by the community and it shortly reverted back to the Eltham Fesitval in 1997. Page 5 Photo: Acting Sen-Sgergeant Paul MacNicholl of Eltham Police with Jamie-Lee Teagley and friends at the Nillumbik Festival on Saturday Page 6 Photos: Nillumbik Chief Don Cordell with Parade leader Jock Read & Lofty Roma O'Callaghan and Brian McKean of Plenty Valley FM - 88.6 Artist Ray Macminn of Diamond Valley arts Society exhibition The Eastside Jazz Band lead the way in Saturday's Nillumbik Festival Eltham Football Club fellas fly the flag for the Panthers in Main Road Eltham Lionesses Marcia Whitely, Peggy Lear, June Cook & Kath Elliott ALP's Sherryl Garbutt, Harry Jenkins, Sig Jorgensen and Jenny Macklin Diamond Valley Arts Society's Don Cook paints with oils on Saturday It's amaxing who'll you'll meet at the Nillumbik Festival Page 7 Photos: Eltham MLA Wayne Phillips with Jaga Jaga candidate Michelle Penson Greens candidate Julie Coulston with Geraldine Ryan at Knox Park The Anti Ring Road Organisation march on, you guessed it, Main Road Lower Plenty Primary School had an imaginative display in the Parade The Melbourne Kyokushin Club show their defence skills on Saturday Brian Harvey of Diamond Valley Sports Complex at the Fitness Expo Michael Jerrard and president Trevor Taylor of Greensborough- Diamond Creek Apex Jock Kyme drives the Democratic Nillumbik Association float on Main Road Page 8: Letter: Time for a new Eltham Festival by Sigmund JorgensenNewsprint1995, eltham festival, nillumbik festival, 1st eltham brownies, 1st eltham scouts, alistair knox park, allwood house belly dance, anti ring road organisation (arro), brian mckean, circus of chaos, democratic nillumbik association, diamond valley people for nuclear disamament, don cordell, drum group, eastside jazz band, eltham cfa, eltham community health centre, eltham east primary school, eltham fire brigade, eltham football club juniors, eltham north primary school, eltham primary school, eltham ses, eltham south primary school, eltham steam and stationary engine society, grand parade, harry jenkins, jean austin, jenny macklin, jock read, john cust, john huf, julie coulston, kevin abbott, kevin austin, lofty (horse), lower plenty primary school, lyn allison, main road, melbourne kyokushin karate school, montmorency garden club, montmorency south primary school, montsalvat coachlines, nillumbik commissioners, nillumbik garden club, north warrandyte fire brigade, panther place, peter burton, plenty valley 88.6 fm, pryor street, rats of tobruk memorial pipes and drums, research fire brigade, research primary school, robert guy, roma o'callaghan, sheryl garbutt, sigmund jorgensen, tim newhouse, wayne phillips m.p., woodridge pre-school, diamond valley vineyards, dutch social club, edendale community farm, eltham bowling club, eltham eagles in-line hockey, eltham football club, eltham rugby football club, eltham vineyards, ginger garlic, kingstan berries, silvie's delectables, vili's pies, wycliffe bible translators

Reprinted history of Murrumbeena Baptist Church 1890 – 1990 compiled for the church’s centenary celebrations in 1990 by Ross Harrison Snow and Geoft Barthold. Each chapter details certain periods of church history and associated events Handwritten notes, including wording on foundation stone, by person unknown & undatedmurrumbeena, murrumbeena baptist church, pitt annie sophia, dandenong road., george samuel, baptist church, emily street, whitlam janet, box henry, snow ross harrison, gallop abel, pay henry mrs., rollings william, barthold geoff, thomas pay, pay e – miss godfrey, w- mrs, pitt st clair percival, godfrey william, pay t. a. h – mrs, blair mrs, white mrs, shearer mrs., box marie miss, box nellie miss, gallop prudence miss, gallop e. j. miss, rosstown wesleyan churches, murrumbeena baptist church, churches, gresswell f. l. mrs, neerim road, public halls, murrumbeena railway station, union chapel, kangaroo road, oakleigh, cole. j. h., turner mr., williamson r. rev, stewart allan., rosstown., architects, laver and flick messrs, mayhew george mr., chambers a. r. mr., godfrey brother, whitley w. t. rev., williamson rev., endersby elizabeth miss., meehani francis, french john, whyte mrs., thompson isabella mrs., burgess mary mrs., organ, tarry j. brother, mclean donald f. rev., wilkins george mr., sutherland mr., sydney street, nopkins ivor. rev, gallop mrs, pay brother, pitt brother, hopkins mrs, thompson ethel. miss, thompson mabel. miss, lavender mr. fred, whitlam george. master, varley frank mr, whitlam fred. mr, varley mrs, hale g. e. rev., whitlam crissie miss, curnick elizabeth miss, byrne mr, clemens f. rev., tennis club, tennis courts, cheffer mr., peace george mr., green mr., nash w. f rev., earl stanley j. rev, earl mrs., parker miss, adelaide street 12 manses, endersby david, harvey nellie. miss, fasham f. miss, mills mr., kelly mr., dyason mr, mckeon mr, lavender b. mr., chaffey alf, nelson norman, guthrie andrew, hopkins mrs., kindergarten, girl guides, loyal orange lodge, hall, fire, juniour christian endeavour league, intermediate christian, endeavour society, endersby mr, wilkins mr, wills mr, kelley mr, golden jubilee 22- 29 sept. 1940, knight e. o. rev, marriott e staunton m stone j., clay clark e. messrs, carter mr, carter mrs, deacenesses, helmore p. h. mrs, ryall c. m. mrs, carbis l. miss, wilson a. mrs, clark e. j. mrs, cornock m. miss, smith a. w. rev, mcdonald h. miss, stewart j. miss, edwards. w. messrs, crowe m. messrs, diggins l. messrs, wilson k. mr, ryall c. m. mr., wright a. mr., watkins mr., smith k. a. rev, scout groups, hobart street – 59 manses, helmer p. mr, filmer mr, carter mr., staunton martin mr., lewis donald rev 1951- 1956, perri john, collrus barry, ferguson mrs, white mrs, outhread noel mr., burleigh betty miss, orchestras, clark ted mr., daniels alan mr, staunton keith mr., staunton martin mr, steer doug mr, pascoe vack mr., ryall mert mr., clay ken mr., carter francis mr., chambers harry mr, hendry t. j. mr, andrews. e. f. rev, venning frank, provis keith, lee milton f. rev, kingdom max rev, kingdom fredq, allison c., eleiner e mrs, provis jan miss, chambers merle miss, collicot allison miss, cook john, cook family, horn neville rev, horn family, benneld family, bennett john., bennetts cliff, wiesmayrs’ family, allison barbara miss, jones ross, jones joy, fverst walter, doyle family, bertram estelle, bertram family, saletta margaret, saletta len, close kevin, close family, close anne, stewart des, stewart family, peel family, fisher family, leis family, arms harry, jones ross, jones family, jones joy, langdon family, bertram bill, staunton ian, staunton yvonne, staunton jean, staunton keith, staunton martin, clifferd. patricia, clifferd. charles, chambers awen, wall brian, wall bev, ryall geoff, ryall kay, ryall edna, davidson max, davidson mary, freeman john, hendry t s, provis keith, terrington michael, terrington doreen, carbis hazel miss, butterworth ern, clay ken, clay mrs., clay judith, clay noelle, muller ron, cook john, kingdom joy, kingdom graham, strong david, owens cliff, chambers harry, christy family, warr bill dr., morrison grace mrs., soderholm harvey, soderholm mrs, harris jeanette mrs, harris trevor rev., freeman pauline, freeman john., hendry t. j., steer doug, owens allison, owens graham, henderson ray, henderson chris, rathbone ian, rathbone pat, jenkins marion, girls’ club, wilson cliff dr., ladies evening group (legs), anderson family, l’ amont family, powell harold., harris luke, harris trevor, davies mrs, young george, anderson russell, wade joan, sauvarin lois, hill fred, wilson david., hansell fiona, hansell jane, brammer leanne, bertram ruth, langton john, crowe ken, dobney john, nobbs steve, jordan mr., steer david., steer doug, murrumbeena christian education centre (cec), suggare alwyn, gray s. mr., wilson clive rev., jephcott hume, jephcott heather, mccleary ross, mccleary glenn, claringbold mary, bennetts marcia., langton phil, worthy reg, thomson ave, mckerlie darrell rev., henderson ray, langenberg stewart van, crowe malcolm., sydney street, wall brian, zegelis imants, allison doug, owens rhonda, anderson peter, provis ken, vaitch fay, longenberg roger van, ife david, warren lena, churches bruce, churches mrs, bennetts john, mcdonald. k., cathie ian., cathie wendy, wright norman rev., alma street, mckerlie darrell rev., hampton keith rev., robinson john rev, jolly rod, crowe malcolm, lakey m, ferdinands ann, ferdinands ken, inders brett, inders jenny, cooke stephen, cooke deanne, langenberg jeremy van, binks paul, wall john, leslie geoff, leslie debbie, macleod nelson, macleod heather, dalton steven, pugh jeff, jones ross, ceulson joy, jackel lindsay, jackel sue, berry graham, wall brian, wheatland don, langton phil, stewart margaret, wheatland elise, wall bev., chambers gwen., foundation stone, morley john rev., sunday seekers, young marrieds, mothers’ group, choirs, walrond cw, turner mr, chisholm mr, mcdonald mr, church furniture, williams brother, sunday schools, victorian baptist preachers’ society, pitt mrs, thompson m miss., pitt w. miss, pay miss, thompson e. mrs., stained glass, christian endeavour society, young worshipper’ league, baptist women’s association, men’s society, murrembeena baptist football club, children’s church, youth council, junior christian endeavour, buds, baptist girls’ fellowship, boys club, baptist men’s society, youth fellowship life boys, boys brigade, alma street 17 chadstone manse, one way searchers’ group

Teachers at Nunawading High School were required to hold one afternoon a week with students undertaking some form of activity. There were various clubs such as gardening, chess, etc. Given George's background with art, craft and woodwork, he organised an activity for students to assemble balsa wood airplane kits which were test flown on the school grounds; Canternury Road in the background. Nunawading High School opened on Canterbury Road (near Mahoneys Road) in 1955. Enrolments grew rapidly and by 1969 there were over 1,100 students, making it one of the largest schools in the state. In 1989 it was merged with Burwood Heights High and Blackburn South High to become a junior campus of Forest Hills Secondary College. However, the junior campuses were closed in 1997, and the former Nunawading High was bulldozed to make way for a housing estate. "Lost Schools of the 1990s", Learning from the Past, http://learningfromthepast.com.au/lost-schools-of-the-1990s/ George Coop was a teacher of art, craft, wood working and graphics at Nunawading High School until it merged into Forest Hills Secondary College at which point he retired.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5062 black and white transparencycanterbury road,model airplane, nunawading high school

Teachers at Nunawading High School were required to hold one afternoon a week with students undertaking some form of activity. There were various clubs such as gardening, chess, etc. Given George's background with art, craft and woodwork, he organised an activity for students to assemble balsa wood airplane kits which were test flown on the school grounds; Canternury Road in the background. Nunawading High School opened on Canterbury Road (near Mahoneys Road) in 1955. Enrolments grew rapidly and by 1969 there were over 1,100 students, making it one of the largest schools in the state. In 1989 it was merged with Burwood Heights High and Blackburn South High to become a junior campus of Forest Hills Secondary College. However, the junior campuses were closed in 1997, and the former Nunawading High was bulldozed to make way for a housing estate. "Lost Schools of the 1990s", Learning from the Past, http://learningfromthepast.com.au/lost-schools-of-the-1990s/ George Coop was a teacher of art, craft, wood working and graphics at Nunawading High School until it merged into Forest Hills Secondary College at which point he retired.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5062 black and white transparencycanterbury road,model airplane, nunawading high school

Teachers at Nunawading High School were required to hold one afternoon a week with students undertaking some form of activity. There were various clubs such as gardening, chess, etc. Given George's background with art, craft and woodwork, he organised an activity for students to assemble balsa wood airplane kits which were test flown on the school grounds; Canternury Road in the background. Nunawading High School opened on Canterbury Road (near Mahoneys Road) in 1955. Enrolments grew rapidly and by 1969 there were over 1,100 students, making it one of the largest schools in the state. In 1989 it was merged with Burwood Heights High and Blackburn South High to become a junior campus of Forest Hills Secondary College. However, the junior campuses were closed in 1997, and the former Nunawading High was bulldozed to make way for a housing estate. "Lost Schools of the 1990s", Learning from the Past, http://learningfromthepast.com.au/lost-schools-of-the-1990s/ George Coop was a teacher of art, craft, wood working and graphics at Nunawading High School until it merged into Forest Hills Secondary College at which point he retired.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5062 black and white transparencycanterbury road,model airplane, nunawading high school

Teachers at Nunawading High School were required to hold one afternoon a week with students undertaking some form of activity. There were various clubs such as gardening, chess, etc. Given George's background with art, craft and woodwork, he organised an activity for students to assemble balsa wood airplane kits which were test flown on the school grounds; Canternury Road in the background. Nunawading High School opened on Canterbury Road (near Mahoneys Road) in 1955. Enrolments grew rapidly and by 1969 there were over 1,100 students, making it one of the largest schools in the state. In 1989 it was merged with Burwood Heights High and Blackburn South High to become a junior campus of Forest Hills Secondary College. However, the junior campuses were closed in 1997, and the former Nunawading High was bulldozed to make way for a housing estate. "Lost Schools of the 1990s", Learning from the Past, http://learningfromthepast.com.au/lost-schools-of-the-1990s/ George Coop was a teacher of art, craft, wood working and graphics at Nunawading High School until it merged into Forest Hills Secondary College at which point he retired.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5062 black and white transparencycanterbury road,model airplane, nunawading high school

Teachers at Nunawading High School were required to hold one afternoon a week with students undertaking some form of activity. There were various clubs such as gardening, chess, etc. Given George's background with art, craft and woodwork, he organised an activity for students to assemble balsa wood airplane kits which were test flown on the school grounds; Canternury Road in the background. Nunawading High School opened on Canterbury Road (near Mahoneys Road) in 1955. Enrolments grew rapidly and by 1969 there were over 1,100 students, making it one of the largest schools in the state. In 1989 it was merged with Burwood Heights High and Blackburn South High to become a junior campus of Forest Hills Secondary College. However, the junior campuses were closed in 1997, and the former Nunawading High was bulldozed to make way for a housing estate. "Lost Schools of the 1990s", Learning from the Past, http://learningfromthepast.com.au/lost-schools-of-the-1990s/ George Coop was a teacher of art, craft, wood working and graphics at Nunawading High School until it merged into Forest Hills Secondary College at which point he retired.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5062 black and white transparencycanterbury road,model airplane, nunawading high school

Teachers at Nunawading High School were required to hold one afternoon a week with students undertaking some form of activity. There were various clubs such as gardening, chess, etc. Given George's background with art, craft and woodwork, he organised an activity for students to assemble balsa wood airplane kits which were test flown on the school grounds; Canternury Road in the background. Nunawading High School opened on Canterbury Road (near Mahoneys Road) in 1955. Enrolments grew rapidly and by 1969 there were over 1,100 students, making it one of the largest schools in the state. In 1989 it was merged with Burwood Heights High and Blackburn South High to become a junior campus of Forest Hills Secondary College. However, the junior campuses were closed in 1997, and the former Nunawading High was bulldozed to make way for a housing estate. "Lost Schools of the 1990s", Learning from the Past, http://learningfromthepast.com.au/lost-schools-of-the-1990s/ George Coop was a teacher of art, craft, wood working and graphics at Nunawading High School until it merged into Forest Hills Secondary College at which point he retired.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5062 black and white transparencycanterbury road,model airplane, nunawading high school

Teachers at Nunawading High School were required to hold one afternoon a week with students undertaking some form of activity. There were various clubs such as gardening, chess, etc. Given George's background with art, craft and woodwork, he organised an activity for students to assemble balsa wood airplane kits which were test flown on the school grounds; Canternury Road in the background. Nunawading High School opened on Canterbury Road (near Mahoneys Road) in 1955. Enrolments grew rapidly and by 1969 there were over 1,100 students, making it one of the largest schools in the state. In 1989 it was merged with Burwood Heights High and Blackburn South High to become a junior campus of Forest Hills Secondary College. However, the junior campuses were closed in 1997, and the former Nunawading High was bulldozed to make way for a housing estate. "Lost Schools of the 1990s", Learning from the Past, http://learningfromthepast.com.au/lost-schools-of-the-1990s/ George Coop was a teacher of art, craft, wood working and graphics at Nunawading High School until it merged into Forest Hills Secondary College at which point he retired.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5062 black and white transparencycanterbury road,model airplane, nunawading high school

Teachers at Nunawading High School were required to hold one afternoon a week with students undertaking some form of activity. There were various clubs such as gardening, chess, etc. Given George's background with art, craft and woodwork, he organised an activity for students to assemble balsa wood airplane kits which were test flown on the school grounds; Canternury Road in the background. Nunawading High School opened on Canterbury Road (near Mahoneys Road) in 1955. Enrolments grew rapidly and by 1969 there were over 1,100 students, making it one of the largest schools in the state. In 1989 it was merged with Burwood Heights High and Blackburn South High to become a junior campus of Forest Hills Secondary College. However, the junior campuses were closed in 1997, and the former Nunawading High was bulldozed to make way for a housing estate. "Lost Schools of the 1990s", Learning from the Past, http://learningfromthepast.com.au/lost-schools-of-the-1990s/ George Coop was a teacher of art, craft, wood working and graphics at Nunawading High School until it merged into Forest Hills Secondary College at which point he retired.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5062 black and white transparencycanterbury road,model airplane, nunawading high school

Gary Stranks - middle row, 3rd from leftDigital file only scanned by EDHS from item on loancentral park, eltham football club, eltham junior reds football team, eltham shire office, gary stranks, municipal offices, shire offices

Unidentified newsclipping, possibly the Valley Voice, c.1978 about Eltham Basketball Club finishing the season with four premierships and five second place penants in the Eastern Districts Junior Basketball Association.Digital file only scanned by EDHS from item on loanandrew sivijs, bill spratling, bruce hultgren, byron chilcott, clark tuffen, craig anderson, craig ballis, daryl ramsay, david hickman, david van der berg, eastern districts junior basketball association, elizabeth clancy, eltham basketball club, gary stranks, grant smith, ida haanappel, james haines, julie hardstaff, katrina lang, kluke hawthorne-smith, lisa thompson, lorne smith, margaret stuart, matthew streat, michael o'kelly, mnarrelle haines, nigel purchase, pauline venn, peter reed, rod schell, ross hultgren, shane haanappel, shayne arnold, stephen fisher, sue crocker, sue davidson, sue thompson, tony minichilli, xavier dimattina

Winners of Grand Final against TemplestoweDigital file only scanned by EDHS from item on loanb. sinclair, central park, eltham football club, eltham junior reds football team, eltham shire office, f. leech, gary stranks, j. stickland, k. lynch, m. ryan

E Grade Eltham U-14 Grand Final Team defeated MontmorencyDigital file only scanned by EDHS from item on loanb. chilcott, b. sinclair, c. crick, c. tuffen, d. march, d. ramsey, d. symons, eltham football club, g. scott, gary stranks, i . chesser, j. stickland, j. walker, k. lynch, m. peters, p. becker, p. kernaghan, p. smith, r. alexander, s. leech, t. walsh

Uniform items worn by Katriona (McLeod) Fahey (1966) at Clarendon Presbyterian Ladies College during the early 1960s. Donation also included matriculation timetable and biology exercise book. Uniform items for Clarendon Presbyterian Ladies College from the 1960's comprising winter tunic, winter coat, summer and winter hat. tie, senior blazer (including junior blazer pocket) and two badges (CCAC - Clarendon Current Affairs Club and CPLC). katriona-fahey, katriona-mcleod, clarendon-presbyterian-ladies-college, 1960s, uniform, clarendon-current-affairs-club, exercise-book, matriculation

10 hard covered, black books with red spine. The books contain the bound Victoria Education Gazettes for the 1930s. .4) Handwork in rural schools, Young Farmers' Clubs, Domestic Arts, Arbour Day, LEague of Youth of Australia. Health Education, Metal Trades, Industrial Studies, HOrticulture, Hinkler Memoria Trees, Musical Appreciation, British Breeds of Sheep. Train Journey Through Germany, History Handwork - Roman Times, Claude Seareby (photo), Norsemen, Techncical Schools Exhibition, Knots, Balllarat Junior Technical School Terraced Gardenseducation gazette, ballarat junior technical school terrace gardens

The Birds of Australia is a 12 volume work, in a total of 14 books. The books were used as an ornithological handbook. They contain scientific text as well as over 600 hand-coloured lithographed plates by J.G. Keulemans, H. Grönvold, Roland Green, H. Goodchild and G.E. Lodge. The work was written, sponsored and organised by Gregory M. Matthews, F.R.S.C. Erc. who were a wealthy Australian and an amateur ornithologist? His titles included – -Fellow of the Linnean and Zoological Societies of London -Member of the British Ornithologists’ Union -Corresponding Fellow of the American Ornithologists’ Union The volumes in our collection were originally donated to the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute and Free Library by William Lindsay. THE LINDSAYS (quoted from the book Of Many Things – A History of Warrnambool Shire by C.E. Sayers) The Lindsays were amongst the most prominent families in the Shire of Warrnambool, as pastoralists, sportsmen, municipal councillors, community leaders. The first of the family William arrived in Melbourne in 1841 and started a business as a livestock agent. The gold rushes sent him to the central Victoria diggings dealing in cattle. This was a business that boomed in the early 1850s, and he prospered. In 1859 he took over the Quamby run near Woolsthrope from Paul de Castella, the Yarra Valley Swiss vigneron who had brought the leasehold and improvements in 1853 from George You, who had pioneered the run. Quamby was originally 25,000 acres. It was heavily timbered, rough country, much of it swampy, a characteristic of the district. Lindsay used it to fatten cattle which gave large returns with the booming gold diggings towns paying high prices for beef. In 1862 purchases at auction made Quamby a freehold. In the next six years, a further 20,000 acres of Crown land were brought at auction to make the run one of the largest in the south-west district. The great profits from his cattle trading enabled Lindsay to make improvements to the holding, and to Union which was added in 1864. Much of the thick timber was cleared and the worst of the swamps drained. Union was 15,000 acres of freehold land when Kennedy sold it to Lindsay. It was heavily timbered, mostly blackwood, with large belts of wattle and honeysuckle. Much of the heavy native was ringbarked and cleared; much more was swept away by bushfire. It was expensive work, but Lindsay’s bank passbook was heavy with credit, and he did not spare money to make both Quamby and Union heavily developed stock runs. He was as lavish in social living; the bluestone Quamby homestead was one of the most hospitable in the district when William Lindsay was host there; its paddocks carried high-quality thoroughbreds: its stables housed steeplechasers and flat racers which won many races on Warrnambool and other courses; its coach houses were filled with carriages which took his guests to the great racing carnivals of the district. After William Lindsay died in 1897, in his eighty-fifth year, his two sons, William and James, managed Union and Quamby as a joint venture. This partnership ended in 1906 when William took over Union and James kept Quamby. The following year 10,000 acres of Union was subdivided and sold in lots of 100 acres to 700 acres for dairying and general farming. It was well-improved country, much of it alluvial flats. By then many of the paddocks were sheltered with blue gum belts, and they carried good pastures. The three Lindsays, father and two sons, gave many years of service to the Shire, and to many charitable, sporting, social and community organisations in the Warrnambool district. William Lindsay senior, was a Shire councillor for 15 years, and President several times. James Lindsay followed his father as a north riding councillor. He served nineteen years, from 1887 until his death in March 1908. He was President four times. Jimmy Lindsay was one of the most popular men in the south-west of Victoria. He was a fine sportsman: horse breeder, owner and a dashing amateur rider. He lived lavishly and played hard. For many years he guarded a herd of kangaroos, as many as 100 head, at Quamby. Descendants of the Lindsay kangaroos are still in the district. James Lindsay’s wife, Margaret Esther was a daughter of Samuel Shaw Parker, the first engineer of the Shire. Nell Lindsay, a daughter, lives in the Bluestone Quamby homestead. Only a little more than 60 acres of the original run still belongs to the property. William Lindsay junior succeeded his brother as a Shire councillor. He served for 25 years from 1908 until his death in 1934. So, the Lindsays, father and two sons, served as Shite councillors for an unbroken period of sixth-five years. William Lindsay junior had a life-long interest in horse racing, as breeder, owner and enthusiastic amateur steeplechase rider. He was elected a member of the Warrnambool racing club in 1901 and was president of the club for thirty-two years. He raced and rode horses for the love of the sport. He won the Villiers and Heytesbury Hunt Cup in the 1870s on his own horse, Ventura. In the year he died his horse Flavedo won the Warrnambool Grand Annual steeplechase. It was a sensational race. All of the contestants fell or lost their riders. When Flavedo baulked at a jump, its jockey R. Sweetman, remounted and completed the course to win the race. All of the Lindsays were passionately fond of the thoroughbred horse. Nell Lindsay talking to the author in the drawing-room of Quamby homestead - with many memories for her of its lavish years – said of a brother that he was put on a horse when he was two years old and never got off. William Lindsay junior made Union into a fine, high-producing property, breeding cattle and horses. He added to the bluestone house that David Kennedy started, established plantations of pines and gums, and made an attractive garden. 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 meeting room in November 1854 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 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. THE PATTISON COLLECTION This book is also part of 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. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library, as the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute was then called. When the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute 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 Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually, the components of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute 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 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 Birds of Australia by Gregory M. Matthews is now considered a rare and valuable scientific and historic work on its own. These 12 volumes were donated in 1934 to The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute and were included as part of the Pattison 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 Birds of Australia Vol 1 Author: Gregory M Mathews Publisher: Witherby & Co, 326 HIGH HOLBORN LONDON Date: 1910-1911 Tan, leather bound illustrated workLabel on spine cover with typed text RA 598.2994 MAT Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute that reads Presented by W Lindsay Esq, “Union”, Woolsthorpe. Accession Number 15232 Date Received: 3-34 “W. Lindsay” embossed in gold on front cover, bottom right of bookflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, the birds of australia, gregory m. matthews, witherby & co., h.f. & g. witherby, w lindsay, william lindsay, pattison collection, the birds of australia vol 1, union station, woolsthrope, quamby station, warrnambool mechanics’ institute and free library

The Birds of Australia is a 12 volume work, in a total of 14 books. The books were used as an ornithological handbook. They contain scientific text as well as over 600 hand-coloured lithographed plates by J.G. Keulemans, H. Grönvold, Roland Green, H. Goodchild and G.E. Lodge. The work was written, sponsored and organised by Gregory M. Matthews, F.R.S.C. Erc. who was a wealthy Australian and an amateur ornithologist. His titles included – -Fellow of the Linnean and Zoological Societies of London -Member of the British Ornithologists’ Union -Corresponding Fellow of the American Ornithologists’ Union The volumes in our collection were originally donated to the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute and Free Library by William Lindsay. THE LINDSAYS (quoted from the book Of Many Things – A History of Warrnambool Shire by C.E. Sayers) The Lindsays were amongst the most prominent families in the Shire of Warrnambool, as pastoralists, sportsmen, municipal councillors, community leaders. The first of the family William arrived in Melbourne in 1841 and started business as a livestock agent. The gold rushes sent him to the central Victoria diggings dealing in cattle. This was a business that boomed in the early 1850s, and he prospered. In 1859 he took over the Quamby run near Woolsthrope from Paul de Castella, the Yarra Valley Swiss vigneron who had brought the leasehold and improvements in 1853 from George Youl, who had pioneered the run. Quamby was originally 25,000 acres. It was heavily timbered, rough country, much of it swampy, a characteristic of the district. Lindsay used it to fatten cattle which gave large returns with the booming gold diggings towns paying high prices for beef. In 1862 purchases at auction made Quamby a freehold. In the next six years a further 20,000 acres of Crown land were brought at auction to make the run one of the largest in the south-west district. The great profits from his cattle trading enabled Lindsay to make improvements to the holding, and to Union which was added in 1864. Much of the thick timber was cleared and the worst of the swamps drained. Union was 15,000 acres of freehold when Kennedy sold it to Lindsay. It was heavily timbered, mostly blackwood, with large belts of wattle and honeysuckle. Much of the heavy native was ringbarked and cleared; much more was swept away by bushfire. It was expensive work, but Lindsay’s bank passbook was heavy with credit, and he did not spare money to make both Quamby and Union heavily developed stock runs. He was as lavish in social living; the bluestone Quamby homestead was one of the most hospitable in the district when William Lindsay was host there; its paddocks carried high quality thoroughbreds: its stables housed steeplechasers and flat racers which won many races on Warrnambool and other courses; its coach houses were filled with carriages which took his guests to the great racing carnivals of the district. After William Lindsay died in 1897, in his eighty-fifth year, his two sons, William and James, managed Union and Quamby as a joint venture. This partnership ended in 1906 when William took over Union and James kept Quamby. The following year 10,000 acres of Union were subdivided and sold in lots of 100 acres to 700 acres for dairying and general farming. It was well improved country, much of it alluvial flats. By then many of the paddocks were sheltered with blue gum belts, and they carried good pastures. The three Lindsays, father and two sons, gave many years of service to the Shire, and to many charitable, sporting, social and community organisations in the Warrnambool district. William Lindsay senior, was a Shire councillor for 15 years, and President several times. James Lindsay followed his father as a north riding councillor. He served nineteen years, from 1887 until his death in March 1908. He was President four times. Jimmy Lindsay was one of the most popular men in the south-west of Victoria. He was a fine sportsman: horse breeder, owner and a dashing amateur rider. He lived lavishly and played hard. For many years he guarded a herd of kangaroos, as many as 100 head, at Quamby. Descendants of the Lindsay kangaroos are still in the district. James Lindsay’s wife, Margaret Esther was a daughter of Samuel Shaw Parker, the first engineer of the Shire. Nell Lindsay, a daughter, lives in the Bluestone Quamby homestead. Only a little more than 60 acres of the original run still belongs to the property. William Lindsay junior succeeded his brother as a Shire councillor. He served for 25 years from 1908 until his death in 1934. So, the Lindsays, father and two sons, served as Shite councillors for an unbroken period of sixth-five years. William Lindsay junior had a life-long interest in horse racing, as breeder, owner and enthusiastic amateur steeplechase rider. He was elected a member of the Warrnambool racing club in 1901 and was president of the club for thirty-two years. He raced and rode horses for the love of the sport. He won the Villiers and Heytesbury Hunt Cup in the 1870s on his own horse, Ventura. In the year he died his horse Flavedo won the Warrnambool Grand Annual steeplechase. It was a sensational race. All of the contestants fell, or lost their riders. When Flavedo baulked at a jump, its jockey R. Sweetman, remounted and completed the course to win the race. All of the Lindsays were passionately fond of the thoroughbred horse. Nell Lindsay talking to the author in the drawing room of Quamby homestead - with many memories for her of its lavish years – said of a brother that he was put on a horse when he was two years old and never got off. William Lindsay junior made Union into a fine, high-producing property, breeding cattle and horses. He added to the bluestone house that David Kennedy started, established plantations of pines and gums, and made an attractive garden. 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 meeting room in November1854 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 PATTISON COLLECTION This book is also part of 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. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library, as the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute was then called. When the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute 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 Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually the components of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute 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 Birds of Australia by Gregory M. Matthews is now considered a rare and valuable scientific and historic work on its own. These 12 volumes were donated in 1934 to The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute and were included as part of the Pattison 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 Birds of Australia Vol 2 Author: Gregory M Mathews Publisher: Witherby & Co 326 HIGH HOLBORN LONDON Date: 1912-1913 Tan leather bound illustrated work. Label on spine cover with typed text RA 598.2994 MAT Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library that reads “Presented by W. Lindsay Esq. ‘Union’ Woolsthrope” Accession Number: 15233 Date Received: 3-34 “W. Lindsay” embossed in gold on front cover, bottom right of book flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, the birds of australia, gregory m. matthews, witherby & co., h.f. & g. witherby, w lindsay, william lindsay, quamby woolsthorpe, union woolsthorpe, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool art gallery, joseph archibald, warrnambool mechanics’ institute and free library, ralph eric pattison, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, the birds of australia vol 2, quamby station, union station, woolsthrope

The Birds of Australia is a 12 volume work, in a total of 14 books. The books were used as an ornithological handbook. They contain scientific text as well as over 600 hand-coloured lithographed plates by J.G. Keulemans, H. Grönvold, Roland Green, H. Goodchild and G.E. Lodge. The work was written, sponsored and organised by Gregory M. Matthews, F.R.S.C. Erc. who was a wealthy Australian and an amateur ornithologist. His titles included – -Fellow of the Linnean and Zoological Societies of London -Member of the British Ornithologists’ Union -Corresponding Fellow of the American Ornithologists’ Union The volumes in our collection were originally donated to the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute and Free Library by William Lindsay. THE LINDSAYS (quoted from the book Of Many Things – A History of Warrnambool Shire by C.E. Sayers) The Lindsays were amongst the most prominent families in the Shire of Warrnambool, as pastoralists, sportsmen, municipal councillors, community leaders. The first of the family William arrived in Melbourne in 1841 and started business as a livestock agent. The gold rushes sent him to the central Victoria diggings dealing in cattle. This was a business that boomed in the early 1850s, and he prospered. In 1859 he took over the Quamby run near Woolsthrope from Paul de Castella, the Yarra Valley Swiss vigneron who had brought the leasehold and improvements in 1853 from George Youl, who had pioneered the run. Quamby was originally 25,000 acres. It was heavily timbered, rough country, much of it swampy, a characteristic of the district. Lindsay used it to fatten cattle which gave large returns with the booming gold diggings towns paying high prices for beef. In 1862 purchases at auction made Quamby a freehold. In the next six years a further 20,000 acres of Crown land were brought at auction to make the run one of the largest in the south-west district. The great profits from his cattle trading enabled Lindsay to make improvements to the holding, and to Union which was added in 1864. Much of the thick timber was cleared and the worst of the swamps drained. Union was 15,000 acres of freehold when Kennedy sold it to Lindsay. It was heavily timbered, mostly blackwood, with large belts of wattle and honeysuckle. Much of the heavy native was ringbarked and cleared; much more was swept away by bushfire. It was expensive work, but Lindsay’s bank passbook was heavy with credit, and he did not spare money to make both Quamby and Union heavily developed stock runs. He was as lavish in social living; the bluestone Quamby homestead was one of the most hospitable in the district when William Lindsay was host there; its paddocks carried high quality thoroughbreds: its stables housed steeplechasers and flat racers which won many races on Warrnambool and other courses; its coach houses were filled with carriages which took his guests to the great racing carnivals of the district. After William Lindsay died in 1897, in his eighty-fifth year, his two sons, William and James, managed Union and Quamby as a joint venture. This partnership ended in 1906 when William took over Union and James kept Quamby. The following year 10,000 acres of Union were subdivided and sold in lots of 100 acres to 700 acres for dairying and general farming. It was well improved country, much of it alluvial flats. By then many of the paddocks were sheltered with blue gum belts, and they carried good pastures. The three Lindsays, father and two sons, gave many years of service to the Shire, and to many charitable, sporting, social and community organisations in the Warrnambool district. William Lindsay senior, was a Shire councillor for 15 years, and President several times. James Lindsay followed his father as a north riding councillor. He served nineteen years, from 1887 until his death in March 1908. He was President four times. Jimmy Lindsay was one of the most popular men in the south-west of Victoria. He was a fine sportsman: horse breeder, owner and a dashing amateur rider. He lived lavishly and played hard. For many years he guarded a herd of kangaroos, as many as 100 head, at Quamby. Descendants of the Lindsay kangaroos are still in the district. James Lindsay’s wife, Margaret Esther was a daughter of Samuel Shaw Parker, the first engineer of the Shire. Nell Lindsay, a daughter, lives in the Bluestone Quamby homestead. Only a little more than 60 acres of the original run still belongs to the property. William Lindsay junior succeeded his brother as a Shire councillor. He served for 25 years from 1908 until his death in 1934. So, the Lindsays, father and two sons, served as Shite councillors for an unbroken period of sixth-five years. William Lindsay junior had a life-long interest in horse racing, as breeder, owner and enthusiastic amateur steeplechase rider. He was elected a member of the Warrnambool racing club in 1901 and was president of the club for thirty-two years. He raced and rode horses for the love of the sport. He won the Villiers and Heytesbury Hunt Cup in the 1870s on his own horse, Ventura. In the year he died his horse Flavedo won the Warrnambool Grand Annual steeplechase. It was a sensational race. All of the contestants fell, or lost their riders. When Flavedo baulked at a jump, its jockey R. Sweetman, remounted and completed the course to win the race. All of the Lindsays were passionately fond of the thoroughbred horse. Nell Lindsay talking to the author in the drawing room of Quamby homestead - with many memories for her of its lavish years – said of a brother that he was put on a horse when he was two years old and never got off. William Lindsay junior made Union into a fine, high-producing property, breeding cattle and horses. He added to the bluestone house that David Kennedy started, established plantations of pines and gums, and made an attractive garden. 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 meeting room in November1854 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 PATTISON COLLECTION This book is also part of 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. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library, as the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute was then called. When the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute 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 Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually the components of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute 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 Birds of Australia by Gregory M. Matthews is now considered a rare and valuable scientific and historic work on its own. These 12 volumes were donated in 1934 to The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute and were included as part of the Pattison 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 Birds of Australia Vol 3 Author: Gregory M Mathews Publisher: Witherby & Co 326 HIGH HOLBORN LONDON Date: 1913-1914 Label on spine cover with typed text RA 598.2994 MAT Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library that reads “Presented by W. Lindsay Esq. ‘Union’ Woolsthrope” Accession Number: 15234 Date Received: 3-34 “W. Lindsay” embossed in gold on front cover, bottom right of book flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, the birds of australia, gregory m. matthews, witherby & co., h.f. & g. witherby, w lindsay, william lindsay, quamby woolsthorpe, union woolsthorpe, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool art gallery, joseph archibald, warrnambool mechanics’ institute and free library, ralph eric pattison, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, the birds of australia vol 3, quamby station, union station, woolsthrope